#(certainly legally but also logistically)

[depressedrevolutionariesinlove]

“I think, if I’m made to reflect his light, with him looking at me like this, we could burn the world to ashes.”

Lore

It’s certainly been a while, and I feel compelled to let you know some of the backstory/context behind why I’m here:

So, I was born in a country where being any form of gay is illegal; we’re talking indefinite imprisonment, torture, etc. This is is the main reason why I was drawn to historical Laurens and Hamilton—they could relate. (Add to that them having to think about the logistics of revolution and government, which I also did for separate reasons lol.) They were honestly good motivation and made me push myself more than I thought I could. My old education system was terrible and clearly meant to NOT make people equipped to live in a democratic or tolerant society. I looked beyond it, and a lot of what I learned was just to understand what the hell those gayasses were referencing, and hey, it worked.

Over the past year, I worked on getting out. Applying to schools, making a portfolio, and not working myself to death.

I’m now writing from my U.S. college campus. I’m officially out of there. I have a tiny pride flag on my desk that I can’t legally get killed for. Whenever the lack of family/connections gets to me, I look at it and remember that it was absolutely worth it. It’s great to be here. It’s being able to breathe.

Now that I’m settled, I’ll be making stuff for here as I have the time, most likely during breaks. I would literally not have human rights if it weren’t for this, so it’ll continue to be important to me.

So yeah! special thanks to tumblr users @john-laurens and @ciceroprofacto for really getting me into the interesting stuff (read SOA, linked above). Thanks to everyone reading this—I do read most asks even if I haven’t been great at responding so far. And lastly, thank you to James Flint from Black Sails (and the concept of gay rage.)

[rjzimmerman]

Here we go, before the mf is even sworn into office he's scaring the shit out of a whole bunch of people, including ordinary Americans who fear for their country's future, such as me. Does this mean that anybody who might be walking down the street and speaking English with a foreign accent are potentially subject to snatching by the US Army?

Excerpt from this story from Rolling Stone:

Donald Trump‘s determination to conduct mass deportations of undocumented immigrants is very real, and he wants to start cracking down immediately. One of the ways he plans to do so is by declaring a national emergency that will enable him to use the military to help boot migrants out of the United States.

The president-elect on Monday responded “TRUE!!!”  to a Truth Social post about reports that his incoming administration is “prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse the Biden invasion through a mass deportation program.”

The confirmation came at 4:08 a.m.

Trump built his 2024 presidential campaign around a vow to lock down the border and forcibly — and violently — deport the undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States. He spoke repeatedly about an “invasion” of migrants who are “poisoning the blood” of the nation, and even claiming that undocumented immigrants have been “conquering” American cities.

He’s been insistent since winning the election that immigration is his top priority, telling NBC News that his administration will spare no expense when it comes to deportation. “It’s not a question of a price tag,” he said. “It’s not — really, we have no choice. When people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now they’re going to go back to those countries because they’re not staying here. There is no price tag.”

There will certainly be a price tag, however, and it will be high given the logistical implications of removing millions of people from the nation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is not currently equipped to carry out Trump’s deportation agenda, which calls for quadrupling the number of deportations the agency carries out every year. 

Politico reported Monday on some of the tactics the administration plans to start cracking down, noting that deportations will commence within Trump’s first 100 days in office, and that his team is looking for ways to expedite the process that will withstand any legal challenges from rights groups. Trump is also expected to quickly do away with a Biden administration policy that prioritized deporting migrants who threatened public safety and national security, and directed ICE officers to take “the totality of the facts and circumstances” into consideration before deporting migrants with criminal convictions.

Tom Homan, the immigration hardliner Trump recently tapped as his “border czar,” has said criminals will be the first to go, while teasing the administration’s aggressive approach to deportation. “I got three words for them: shock and awe,” Homan told Donald Trump Jr. of the administration’s approach. “Shock and awe. You’re going to see us take this country back.”

[rxvera]

There has been a lot of reports that suggest that there are Israeli/Jewish settlements in West Bank and most of West Bank area is controlled by Israeli Jews. Is it true or not?? And a last question like why unlike pushing settlements out of Gaza they didn’t do it in West Bank. Just a question.

Yeah, that's true. About 60% of the West Bank is under Israeli control. I'm not an expert nor a politician, so don't use me as your main source, but I can give you the broad strokes. There's a lot of historical context and reasoning behind why the occupation has happened the way it was, but most widely it was a result of the Six Day war and the ICOJ's confirmation.

Right now, besides the violation of international law, the most pressing problem with this is that these occupied regions are under primarily martial law. This leads to unfair legal treatment and militant violence (although a large part of the violence is civilian as well). This causes a lot of problems for Palestinian civilians.

There are several reasons that Israel has not pulled out of the West Bank. First is that it would be logistically challenging depending on what route they took. If they removed every Israeli citizen, that would be kicking 450,000 people from their homes (670,000 if you include East Jerusalem), many who have lived there for several generations. Second is basically terrorism. There is a lot of terrorist activity and islamic extremism in West Bank. It would be a security risk to pull all control. The third reason is symbolic/religious reasons. Although, I think it's more important to focus on the functional reality, history, and human lives, than waste time about who deserves what based on what an old book says.

The validity of these claims depends on who you believe. I think the risks and challenges are real, but I also don't think the settlements are right. It's complicated because I think everyone deserves to live safely and displacing people is wrong, but there's so much violence and finding a solution is difficult.

I definitely think point blank pulling all occupation and removing Israeli civilians would end very poorly for everyone. I want Israeli civilians to have security, I don't want to create more hate and violence, and I also don't want an Islamic extremist militant group to take over like they did in Gaza. My aunts are Palestinian-Israeli escapees of Hamas' regime and I do not want anyone else to be subjected to that. I also do not think it's okay what Israel has done to Palestinians in the West Bank.

Overall, anon, I would takeaway that it's a complicated situation with a lot of problems and there's no simple solution that would make everyone happy.

I would recommend trying to avoid sources that make accusations/input opinions when talking about this and try to focus on ones that are purely informational. Even Wikipedia is tricky because it's been updated with a lot of opinions due to informational warfare (but I could talk about the problems of Wiki all day lol). Don't demonize either ethnic group based on this one issue/conflict. No group is wholly responsible for the actions of a few, and that mentality is really what got us into this whole mess.

And to everyone reading, this is just my basic description of the situation as your average person. I'm not the government. I'm not the Knesset. I have no power over the situation. And there will certainly be little value at getting angry with me if you disagree with something I have said.

[shmowder]

Noticed recently that there’s a lack of poly content on this blog and low key I’m shocked but then again I don’t imagine that there’s alot of poly content demand in this fan base but whatever I think it’s time to suggest the idea of a reader with two hands and those hands are for Daniil and artemy why pick one hottie healer when you can have both? Especially when said healers already have homoerotic tension with eachother! This is either going to be the most unstable polycule ever or shockingly calm one there’s really no in between in my opinion

Reader puts Daniil and artemy in a get along shirt and makes them hold hands everytime they fight

Putting them in a get along shirt? These men are making out in the corner of the room as we are speaking rn anon.

I get that the fandom plays on their rivalry for funsies and all but they're actually friends in canon, aren't they? They hold a begrudging amount of respect to one another and would've gotten along wasn't it for the families in powers toying with them like puppets on a string.

I mean Daniil was looking forward to meeting Artemy in a way, Isidor wasn't just an acquaintance to him but a dear colleague. Daniil held admiration for him and described him as selfless and kind hearted, Dankovsky actually complimenting someone!?

Daniil's problem is with the town and not Artemy or Menkhu's ways, Artemy just adores this town above all and took it personally. Otherwise, both of them always acknowledged how skilled the other healer is.

Then the whole murder thing happened, and it gave Daniil a false bad impression, leaving a bad taste in his mouth since Isidor was his friend.

They wouldn't be at each other's throats in a love triangle is what I'm saying, absolutely the opposite in a poly relationship even.

You'd have a harder time tearing them off of one another without them persuading you into joining, Daniil's honeyed words coaxing you, Artemy's heavy gaze undressing you.

A poly with them wouldn't be unstable or always calm, it will certainly have a strong foundation and a lively atmosphere.

Daniil wants his time alone? Artemy will keep you company instead.

Artemy is too overbearing? Daniil will keep him occupied while you get your personal time.

It's hard to feel neglected with Artemy and even harder to feel suffocated with Daniil. They balance each other out, they agree to disagree on certain things while their interests overlap on another.

They're absolutely unstoppable together, good luck winning anymore arguments if the two of them decided to team up or put their mind into something.

But they also share drastically different tastes and prefer contrasting lifestyles. Daniil wants the fame and recognition, he wants to live at the heart of the capital and keep up with the cutting edge technology. The conferences and galas, the upper crust society he wishes to mingle with just for a chance to spread the word about Thanatica even more.

While Artemy doesn't try to impress or appease anyone, he doesn't have anything to prove and couldn't care less about the legality of him preforming medicine. He has all this skill and knowledge which he will gladly put to use on anyone who asks for his help, no payment required in return. He wants a domestic quaint life in his hometown while he walks the footsteps of his father.

That's the one thing the two of them will always disagree about, and there are only so many weekly train rides between the two locations you can endure before it starts making you sick.

Artemy would want you closer in a way? He wants you involved in his life, in Sticky and Murky's life. His kids are part of him, it's a package deal.

While Daniil wouldn't only getting a fraction of your time, he is gentle with children but treats them as... children rather than humans or future adults. While nice, he won't form any deeper connections with them, more akin to an uncle than a parent.

The logistics of making it work will be very hard, not because of their personalities, they get along very well, but because of their contrasting lifestyles and differing ambitious.

The most tension between them there will ever be is when Artemy keeps making scrambled eggs while Daniil huffs and gets up to make his own sunny side eggs since that brute clearly can't follow instructions while Artemy rolls his eyes because once a Capital dandy will always be a Capital dandy huh Danya.

[darkmaga-returns]

The mayor of Denver is backtracking after making controversial comments about his city’s police force physically resisting federal deportation efforts.

President-elect Donald Trump has made his intention to immediately begin deporting illegal immigrants once he takes office very clear, and he has even said he will use military assets and declare a national emergency if necessary. His transition team has reportedly already started working out the logistics of the plan.

This apparently didn’t sit well with Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, who said in an interview with Denverite that it would be akin to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests in China and that community members and local activists would come together to stop deportations.

“More than us having DPD stationed at the county line to keep them out, you would have 50,000 Denverites there. It’s like the Tiananmen Square moment with the rose and the gun, right? You'd have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants. And you do not want to mess with them,” he said.

However, he seems to have had a change of heart after receiving immense backlash over his remarks, telling 9NEWS: “Would I have taken it back if I could? Yes, I probably wouldn’t have used that image.”

He is holding firm in his belief that civil disobedience should be used against policies he doesn’t agree with, but he is trying to advocate for nonviolent forms of protest now. When he was asked whether he would personally be part of those trying to stop the deportations, he replied: “If I believed that our residents are having their rights violated… I would certainly protest it, and I would expect other residents would do the same.”

Trump’s incoming border czar, Tom Homan, has said that he would consider arresting any local leaders who try to stop them from sending illegals back. When asked whether he is willing to face legal consequences such as jail for pushing back against federal policies, Johnston said: “Yeah, I’m not afraid of that, and I’m also not seeking that. I think the goal is we want to be able to negotiate with reasonable people how to solve hard problems.”

[siriannatan]

Empires Arknights AU - Scott fWhip

Is it an excuse to ramble about one of my favourite games? Maybeeeee… {: <3<3<3

Slightly lore-dumpy explanation of stuff (can probably be skipped):

Arknights - tower defence gatcha

Lungmen - mobile, modern Chinese/Japanesee style city

Liberi - bird people {reference}

Lung - asian style dragon {reference} people as oposed to draco {reference}

Ægir - fish people {reference}

Leithanien - Arknights Germany

Victoria - Arknights UK

Wei - leader of Lungmen

Lin's - old Lin, or Rat King is kinda the godfather of Lungmen underworld, his {granddaughter} is to take over after him

Penguin Logistics - a logistics company with an actual penguin for a boss

Siracusa - Arknights Italy, full of wolf-people, minus Vatican, that's Laterano, totally separate place with Sankta - angels with guns

L.G.D. - Lungmen Guard Departmen, kind of Lungmen police

Hoshiguma - member of the Special Service of Lungmen Guard Department {reference}

Ch'en - Special Inspection Unit Chief, L.G.D. {reference}

Scott was having a great day. Yes, he spent most of it in his high-rise office. Taking in appointments, and making phone calls. But at least today no one pulled out a gun on him. Just the thought of the few rude 'customers' was enough to have the Liberi's feathers ruffled. With a sigh, he calmed down and glanced at the clock. Nicely made, imported from Leithanien. He had some fond memories of a brief stay there in his youth. Not that it was that long ago.

He was starting to wonder how long he should stay, waiting for his last guest when his door swung open. An angry Lung, dressed in rather traditional Lungmen garb. Ginger hair tied in a long braid. Scott kind of hated it. Blue eyes narrowed in a glare that the Liberi met with a polite smile.

"Punctual as always, Mr fWhip," he greeted with his best 'Victorian', as fWhip called it, smile.

"Don't give me that, why did you send assassins after me this time?" he asked, taking most of the couch opposite of Scot's desk.

"I simply didn't want you to ignore my invitation, unlike the last time I sent one," Scott's smile faltered slightly. fWhip could be damn annoying. Unfortunately, he was Lungmen's best when it came to explosives and Scott's... business often needed them. "Would you like some tea? I recently received a shipment of Victoria's finest," he offered, the legal part of his business was all about trade. Less legal... also imports but of things Mr Wei would approve. Lin's certainly did like him.

"Sure, why not," the Lung huffed. He did keep his eye on Scott as he made the two cups. "You still insist on dressing like a Victorian," he huffed. For some reason, he was really against Scott's suits.

"Well, that's where I'm from after all," Scott shrugged. And Victorian clothes were comfier for him. He did not mention that.

"What did you get me to come here for? And be glad I didn't report you to Madam Ch'en. She's not let you go no matter how much Lin's like you," he huffed. Ever loyal to Wei. How boring.

"Right to the business," Scott shook his head. "Maybe I just wanted to share a cup of tea with a friend?"

fWhip laughed at that. "Yeah right. What do you want?"

Scott sighed. How Lung of fWhip. "I need help locating a certain box for an acquaintance. Miss Ling brought him here so it's kind of important. But relics are not quite my cup of tea, but then I remembered a friend who has a nice collection," he said, giving up on playing with fWhip.

"Acquaintance? Lin Yühsia? Now that's interesting," fWhip mused. 

"Mhm. I have no idea where she found an Ægir here," not that it was all that interesting to him.

"Why didn't she just go to Penguin Logistics? I'm sure they could find it easily."

"Maybe she needed some more... finesse?" Scott offered with a giggle. "They are certainly fun but I think the Ægir she dragged here would drop dead after just seeing them," he giggled setting a teacup in front of fWhip. Victorian make, of course, just to annoy him further.

"Maybe, but really... Did it have to be damn Siracusans you send? They're a pain to deal with," fWhip huffed, taking a sip. He said nothing so it had to be good.

"You're still here so not that bad," Scott did not regret sending assassins after fWhip. It always got him to his office. "So how about we leave the box for tomorrow, and spend the rest of today on..." he said as he settled next to fWhip, "...me apologising to you?" he finished, one hand resting on fWhip's thigh.

"Fine, but you have a lot to apologise for, I had to talk to L.G.D.'s  Madam Hoshiguma, I don't want to repeat that anytime soon..." fWhip sighed as he finished his tea. It was always fun to hear him indirectly complain about his height.

[kuriipi]

People who keep claiming that "Jin Guangyao didn't have to do what Jin Guangshan told him! He could leave/kill him/steal all their money/go to LXC/NMJ!"

Really seem to like to forget that:

a. Jin Guangyao new way too much for JGS to just let him go?? The man has killed people for less, and he certainly doesn't hold any love for his bastard children.

b. You do realize the only reason JGY goes in the vault is bcs he is the sect leader in mdzs. Like this is pretty elemental, but the vault is only accessed by the sect leader. If Jin sect could just be robbed they wouldn't be the richest sect...

c.Lan sect was burned to the ground at the time and the Jin were helping them rebuilt. Even if they chose to involve themselves and turn against JGS (LXC and LWJ support alone does not guarantee the Lan Sects support, a we've all seen and it also very much doesn't guarantee ones survival, rip wwx...that first time). What power exactly do you think they had against the pretty much Wen sect vol.2 ?? Like by constanntly calling JGS promiscuous (which he was ok) we keep ignoring the crazy amounts of power he held back then...

d. NMJ. Honestly I can't believe I have to keep saying this but if your friend/sworn brother tries to murder you without even giving you a moment to plead your case (you know as is the legal system, or whatever) you tend to not trust them very much after??? Besides NMJ seemed rather content at the time to ignore JGS entirely and just try to blame everything on JGY. You guys please tell me you at least understand that XY was the Jin sects, aka JGS', ward? protege? idk the word but he was under their protection. JGY had no power to do anything about him, even if he wanted to, if JGS didn't permit it. You'd think as a sect leader NMJ's "righteousness" would puss him to talk to his fellow equal, sect leader JGS instead of constantly trying to kill JGY, but oh well.

e. Do you guys think killing your own father is easy? Just emotionally, cause if you do irl seek help tbh that's not normal. Not considering the logistics of killing a sect leader when you're his direct successor (tbh I think that any other method than the one JGY choose wouldn't have held up but that's another story). Like even if people didn't like JGS they liked JGY as head of Jin sect even less.

[gascon-en-exil]

As I mentioned yesterday, Octopath Traveler II put me in the mood to write fanfic - which is unusual as I never write fanfic and in fact have no creative writing ability whatsoever. In spite of that however, I've decided to share my notes on the concept that I'd thought of for a Partitio/Osvald story; possibly someone may enjoy them.

Spoilers for the ends of their stories, and for OT2 in general, under the cut.

It occurred to me that Partitio and Osvald have something rather unusual in common: both have lived in situations where, historically speaking, sexual contact between men would be considered permissible in the near or total absence of women. For Partitio, this was his youth in a frontier mining town; for Osvald, his time in prison, and a freezing-cold prison at that, so you could add the "shacking up for warmth" trope into it as well. Given the number of party and tavern banters that involve the travelers getting drunk and silly, it's entirely plausible that the two of them may have wound up in bed together in this way - and yet have come away from the encounter with so much left unsaid.

In this story Partitio would be gay, but without the experience or the vocabulary to express that as - probably? - befits the setting. Instead he would have fooled around with his posse of friends in his youth, becoming confused and a little sad as each of them in turn found a sweetheart (as in fact happens with one of them in a sidequest) as Oresrush expanded while he remained seemingly uninterested. He'd also have hanging over his head the unmentionable something that had been and - after his story - is again between his father and Roque. Partitio's story suggests that for a portion of his childhood he essentially had two fathers, and it concludes with Papp and Roque getting back together, in some sense. If there was ever anything between the two of them it wouldn't be anything Papp would ever speak of, and certainly not to his son. That would be perhaps why Papp thinks nothing of Partitio bringing home a hulking bear of a man when he's finally decided to take a break from his travels.

That arrangement came from the thought that Osvald is still technically a wanted man at the end of his story. He's presumed dead and the prison on Frigit has been shut down, but if he were to reveal himself there'd be no one alive who could or would be willing to prove his innocence except Elena - and she ends the story in a state of mental recovery that would be unsuited for any legal proceedings. Hence Partitio's friendly offer for his partner to come stay with him and his Pops while Partitio & Roque hammers out the logistics of the western continent's growing railway network. Osvald, knowing that he has to keep a low profile but wanting to keep busy, offers to teach the children of Oresrush whenever the town finds itself lacking a schoolmaster. Every few months he journeys to Conning Creek to check in on Elena from afar, and whenever he goes Partitio remains up the whole night awaiting his return, fearing that he'll instead be greeted in the morning with a letter from Lady Clarissa explaining that Osvald had been identified and apprehended by the authorities. More than once Papp catches Partitio at the proverbial window, and while they still do not speak of anything that may or may not be going on in that house behind closed doors, Papp reassures his son that Osvald will always find his way back. Behind the aforementioned closed doors Partitio grows adventurous in more ways than one; on the first evening that they try anal sex, he ventures to ask if Osvald learned his technique from his time on Frigit Isle. Osvald only stares at him blankly before replying that that had never occurred to him, not with the fire for revenge in his breast sustaining him. Instead, he'd encountered the subject before in books - a response so matter-of-fact that Partitio boggles not only over the fact that people actually wrote books about these things but that it did not even occur to Osvald to find this unusual.

Later they relocate to the eastern continent, renting a modest townhouse in New Delsta with only a handful of servants as Partitio expands his company's world-changing products to new shores and sets to work devising even more innovative uses for steam. This shocks the society papers of New Delsta, who cannot help but regard Partitio - this country-bred nouveau riche bachelor without even the forethought to display his newfound wealth as men of his type would be expected to do - with astonishment and a fair amount of derision. They have little to remark on his quiet, seemingly nameless companion (what else can they call him?), and the two rarely make appearances in public except at the theatre, where burgeoning superstar Agnea has secured a private box for the use of all of her friends and from which Partitio and Osvald take in many of her performances. Osvald submits papers on the nature of the One True Magic anonymously to the library in Montwise; Partitio and Agnea go on several dates (the papers have a field day with this), but the spark isn't there; Temenos arranges a visit and at one point all three men stumble into bed together. Partitio balks at the idea of Temenos having such a casual fling after he'd already lost one (or was it two?) intimate friends, but Temenos laughs this off and with his usual snark prods at Partitio's insecurities. It's a good thing Osvald doesn't think as Partitio does, isn't it? Partitio wants, momentarily, to punch him - but he restrains himself.

Some years pass and Partitio nears thirty. Lady Clarissa writes to Osvald to suggest that time and regular visits have done their work, and that the now-teenaged Elena would like to live with her father again. Partitio's heart breaks when he hears the news, seeing in this the inevitable end of their unnamable whatever-it-was, but he puts on his most cheerful face and treats Osvald out to one last big night on the town. This being Osvald, that mostly means sitting in the secluded corner of their favorite tavern and dining on mediocre pub fare accompanied by an abundant supply of coffee before at last Osvald agrees to have a few drinks, but Partitio can't bring himself to care. As the two of them stroll back to their townhouse well after midnight, one of Partitio's arms slung around Osvald's shoulders, he shares the evening's biggest surprise: he offers to buy Osvald and Elena a house wherever they might want to live, and provide them with an income so the two of them might live however they please and never have to worry about money again.

Osvald peers down at Partitio over his spectacles, and corrects him: surely he must have meant the three of them. Partitio, caught off guard, mumbles that that isn't necessary, that they don't have to keep doing this and that Osvald deserves a happy, normal life with his daughter. There, under the dim lamplight of a dingy New Delsta side street, the two of them are finally forced to confront years of unspoken desire for something genuine and lasting - something which Osvald, unromantic though he might be, had been under the impression that he'd been conveying in a hundred little companionably domestic ways all this time - but he'd failed to account for just how very green his lover really was, even when it came to his greatest desire. When Osvald leans down and kisses a still-spluttering Partitio, it's the first time they've ever done so in public.

They purchase a house in Canalbrine, near enough to the sea to feel familiar to Osvald and Elena, but without the painful memories of Conning Creek. Father and daughter become properly reacquainted and settle into their new residence, and they buy a plot in the local cemetery with a new grave for Rita. Partitio dives into business at the port, unveiling his and Roque's bold plans for steam-powered ships that will halve the time needed to make the crossing and revolutionize intercontinental trade. He always makes time though for the two people he now considers to be his family, ensuring they take breaks from their research to eat and take walks, and taking Elena with him on some of his trips around the western continent - including to Wellgrove's famous department store where he teaches her how to haggle. Osvald chides him for trying to turn Elena into a merchant, but it's all in jest; both of them know the girl fully intends to attend the university in Montwise as soon as she's old enough, building on Osvald's impressive body of work surrounding the Seventh Source. Elena meanwhile never questions why her father and his friend (who calls her "chickadee" sometimes - she rolls her eyes when he does, but smiles to herself all the same) share a room with a single bed; Lady Clarissa had instructed her well in the ways of the world, and she is at ease knowing that her father has found happiness again.

When the day comes for Elena to journey to Montwise, Partitio insists on the three of them traveling to the eastern continent on the Grand Terry. He and Osvald wave Elena off at the train that will take her from the harbor into the Crestlands, both of them crying and not even bothering to hide it although it embarrasses her. They console themselves on the trip back like they've always done in the years since their first wild hookup, and so turn on toward home.

[kroashent]

Val-Cula Daily - May 7

Val's random thoughts as she revisits Dracula Daily (An excellent choice if you missed it the first time around). Today, our friend Jonathan wanders around the castle and actually does his job.

--------

There is a certain idea that vampires are these out-of-touch weirdos, left over from a different time period, and, while Dracula certainly has these traits, he is also presented as being very well read and informed about the world around him, not an isolated monster in a tower, but a well-connected shadow player. This is another chapter that really highlights this understated part of the character.

Jonathan finds his host has "gone out" in the morning, leaving him to explore the castle, remarking both on the vast wealth of the Count, but also his well-stocked and up to date library, including a large collection of English language periodicals and to Jonathan's nerd-lawyer delight, the law list. Having read through the book, Stoker's own legal education, despite never practicing law, is very much in the forefront of the story, to an honestly shocking degree.

Dracula makes his appearance and the two hold a very normal conversation on the Count's desire to visit London, and a mutual acquaintance before turning to the blue flames of a few days ago.

It turns out, these are markers for ancient treasures, visible only on certain nights and are implied to be a major source of Dracula's wealth. I've discussed my thoughts on the blue flames in detail earlier, and its neat that they continue to be a subject of background conversation to the characters.

They turn to legal matters, delving into the real estate dealings and legal details of the property Dracula wishes to purchase. Its usually common in Gothic literature that the protagonist is visiting a haunted locale for legal matters, but the fact that the novel actually goes into the details of these real estate contracts, showing actual work on them rather than forgetting about their role in the plot AND that they remain important throughout the story is interesting to me. It really shows that Stoker's vampire is not purely a monster of another age, but an more insidious threat, existing well within the social and logistical world of Stoker's "modern" world. This mix of ancient and modern is a core theme we will see time and time again, for heroes and villains alike.

[d2kvirus]

26/1/24 Fact or Fiction

Statement #1: Bayley will win the 2024 women’s Royal Rumble. FACT - It makes perfect sense from a storyline standpoint to have Bayley vs Iyo at WM, and given the Rumble and MITB are effectively treated as ersatz titles these days it also fits to have Bayley get a clean sweep of all women's titles, Rumble and MITB

Statement #2: You spell battle royale with an “e”. FICTION - Only when talking about that Japanese film given that's, you know, the title and everything

Statement #3: There should be a Tag Team Royal Rumble match. FICTION - Mainly as it will be a logistical nightmare to a match where the only finish would be one babyface Ricky Mortoning their way through one or two heel tag teams in the final four

Statement #4: For Cody Rhodes to “finish the story” he must defeat Roman Reigns for the WWE Title in a WrestleMania main event. FACT - If he wins the title from Not Reigns that would be a consolation prize at best, and if he's not even in a title match at WM then he's a punchline for the remainder of his time there

Statement #5: You will consume alcohol while watching this year’s Royal Rumble match. FICTION - One time a few years back my local pub showed the Rumble live. Give the show started at 1am, and that was the 2013 Rumble where the booking went into full "Sod you, you're getting Rock vs Cena II" mode, it was not fun walking home at 4am with a few beers in me while being PO'd that the last two matches of the show were effectively Vince sticking his middle finger up at his audience. But he's stuck worse things in worse places, from what I hear...

Statement #6: Draymond Green has a WWE career waiting for him after he retires from the NBA. FICTION - Given he's a dead ringer for Ledley King, Tottenham will surely ask him if he can play centre back as that couldn't be worse than Eric Dier

Statement #7: You recognize The Big Show as the real winner of the 2000 Royal Rumble match. FACT - Because he did. At least Cena & Batista's botch managed to work out in such a way it was obvious the booking was telling the fans to ignore the evidence of their eyes and their ears

Statement #8: An “Even Greater” Royal Rumble with 60 entrants would be fun. FICTION - The 40-man Rumble was pretty bad, so adding 50% more entrants to that would be as terrible as me beginning this response and forgetting that one time they did a 50-man Rumble...

Statement #9: Jinder Mahal’s WWE championship run was underrated. FICTION - It wasn't even rated due to it being the booking equivalent of The Great Molasses Flood of 1919: slow, painful, and horrible to witness

Statement #10: Tony Khan’s tweets are fun. FICTION - While the whole "I can't support AEW as the owner is a bit cringe on Twitter" discourse is almost entirely performative garbage from garbage performers on forums and social media alike, Tony really needs somebody hovering over him to keep him from making the story about him instead of AEW

Statement #11: Santino Marella’s “I wasn’t ready!” elimination from 2009 Rumble match is the funniest moment in Royal Rumble history. FICTION - The ending of the 2005 Rumble is best for its unintended hilarity, not least due to Vince's comedic tumble as he realises he blew out both quads and having to sit there like a toddler giving instructions

Statement #12: You are more interested in what Nic Nemeth does post-WWE than Matt Riddle.  FICTION - If Nemeth bet on himself when his contract was up in the mid-2010s I certainly would have been interested in what he had to offer, but after a decade of forgetting he was still employed at various points I'm far less interested, so Riddle wins by default

Statement #13: Here’s a good idea, a TLC Royal Rumble: entrants can be eliminated by going over the top OR by being put through a table, chairs are ladders are legal, and after all 30 entrants have entered then the remaining wrestlers are able to go after a WrestleMania main event contract hanging above the ring. FICTION - I'm sure that a table battle royal exists somewhere, but there's two obvious problems with using tables for eliminations: the table not breaking, or the table breaking when it's not supposed to. Either way, any stip involving something which can't follow booking instructions like tables, glass or Koji Kitao is destined to have a botched finish sooner or later

Statement #14: In pro-wrestling, a good punch is better than a good chop.  FICTION - Not that I'm against a good worked punch, but what puts a chop over the top for me is the sound when somebody who can really lay them in, be it Gunther or Go Shiozaki or Pentagon Jr

Statement #15: In the next 20 years, someone will break Stone Cold Steve Austin’s record of 3 Royal Rumble match wins. FICTION - Most of the men on two wins have already retired so if they have (for the sake of argument) Cody winning four in a row it will be forced as hell just to create a record for the sake of creating a record - which is why I can't see them trying that with the women's Rumble, given that match is so young that it would look especially obvious if they have Bianca Belair or Rhea Ripley win it every other year to get her numbers up

Statement #16: Kazuchika Okada should go to the WWE. FICTION - Okada should go wherever he feels would be the best place for his career. That might be WWE, that might be AEW, that might be a company which isn't even in the conversation at the moment, but saying he "should" join one company or another is just like the worst part of football discourse for decades before social media became a thing and made it even more irritating

Statement #17: WCW’s three-ring World War 3 battle royale concept should be brought back. FICTION - The main issue with both WarGames and Blood & Guts is there's always the chance the camera misses something in the second ring as it's focusing on something in the first ring (or, in B&G's case, outside the ring or on top of the cage) so a third ring increases the chances of the production truck missing something

Statement #18: If The Rock wrestles at WrestleMania 40 it will NOT be his last match. FACT - Mainly because of the genuine concern that, if he does win at WM, it will be the second time in recent(ish) memory he's come back to end a lengthy title reign, meaning he has to stick around to drop the belt...right?

Statement #19: You prefer to watch actual wrestling over movies about wrestling, like The Iron Claw. FICTION - At no point when watching The Wrestler did the film cut to commercial mid-match, nor did I question Darren Aronofsky's booking decisions...until Noah, anyway, but the point I'm making...

Statement #20: Playing the Royal Rumble mode on the early ’90s WWF WrestleFest arcade game is history’s greatest wrestling video game experience. FICTION - As fun as the Wrestlefest Rumble was, the greatest wrestling game experience for me was borrowing someone's GameShark so I could actually use Jake Roberts in SDvsR 2006, as that was locked behind needing PS2 & PSP crossplay otherwise and I didn't know a single person with a PSP

Statement #21: If the top rope breaks during a battle royale, wrestlers should still be legally eliminated by being throw over the 2nd rope. FACT - Makes sense, as if the top rope breaks the middle rope becomes the top rope. Just don't ask if the top rope breaks on one side but not the other three, that's a headache waiting to happen

Statement #22: 2x Royal Rumble winner John Cena is the greatest wrestler of all time. FICTION - Mitsuharu Misawa is spinning in his urn

Statement #23: Here’s another good idea – a Reverse Royal Rumble: the match starts with all 30 entrants in the ring and every 2 minutes someone is randomly eliminated, but you can can be safe from the random countdown eliminations if you eliminate someone else first. FICTION - New rule for 411mania: anybody suggesting reverse battle royals must post photo ID to prove they aren't Vince Russo - and if they aren't, that makes it even worse

Statement #24: No one ever retires – the Undertaker will wrestle again. FICTION - Plenty of wrestlers retire for real, be it due to injuries which can't be rehabbed or because nobody noticed that they retired. More than anything else, though, since retiring Undertaker has removed the mystique he had for decades with his podcast appearances and so forth, and that genie isn't getting put back in the bottle

Statement #25: IMPACT Wrestling changing their name back to TNA will make you watch again. FICTION - It's not airing in the depths of Freeview in the UK anymore, which is why TNA had a surprisingly large following in the UK 15+ years ago, so unless there's some really good word of mouth that will send me to WatchWrestling I will likely not be actively looking to watch it

Statement #26: WWE should bring back the ECW brand again. FICTION - If there's any brand which WWE bought and then euthanised they should consider bringing back it's Evolve. No, wait, hear me out: the thing with Evolve is there's little to no emotional attachment or cultural cache attached to the brand as there is with ECW or ROH, so if they rebranded NXT LVL UP to Evolve it wouldn't hamstring the show before a second had aired, given the name is mainly associated with Gabe Sapolsky booking shows for DGUSA talent when the Dragon Gate wrestlers weren't available

Statement #27: You would be excited to see Shane McMahon as a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble match this year. FICTION - I'd rather he was a surprise entrant in MITB or the Elimination Chamber, as that means we'd guarantee somebody taking an utterly ludicrous bump in matches which sort of require it

Statement #28: WWE already has too many international PLEs scheduled for this year. FICTION - Actually having PPVs for overseas crowds, and not the UK-only PPVs that WWE used to fob off their UK audience with which HHH always seemed to be "injured" for yet healthy to appear on Raw a couple of nights later, is something WWE needed to consider for the longest time. Remember, that's actual crowds, not Bonesaw McGraw's mates...

Statement #29: It’s sad that one year ago Sami Zayn was the hottest wrestler in the world, but now no one talks about him, he has no chance of winning the Royal Rumble or ever main event-ing a WrestleMania again. FACT - Especially considering that Sami did the impossible and made the Bloodline actually interesting and not JBL's Cabinet with Polynesian tattoos, and he deserved to be rewarded for that with the booking Jey Uso is currently getting

Statement #30: CM Punk will win the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble. FACT - Seems like the wisest call to make: if Rollins is healthy come WM, Punk vs Rollins will go ahead while Cody/Reigns is for all the marbles, but if Rollins isn't healthy there's a story for Punk/Reigns or potential for a Punk/Cody/Reigns three-way - so all Punk has to do is not break his foot doing a spot that makes no sense to wreck those booking plans, or lose his rag on a habitual basis to wreck literally everything around him

[dogsliampaynedoesntinstagram]

Do you think that if Harry and Louis decide they want to get married and have kids, whether it's together or with others (I'm talking specifically about if it's with men) that it'll have a bearing on their decision to CO or it will make no difference? I don't really know how it works. Can people legally get married without it ever being public knowledge? I imagine there are celebrities who have secret families. It just seems a lot more complicated than hiding your sexuality. The kids will grow up at some point. Won't they have to live in isolation from others because they might accidentally reveal something? I was just wondering because they've both said several times that they want kids. Last year in the BHG? interview Harry mentioned something about his legacy going to his kids, and in a RS he said "If I have kids at some point, I will encourage them to be themselves and be vulnerable and share". He talked in a Howard Stern interview too about encouraging his kids to be themselves. It seems important to him. Won't it be hypocritical if he's in the closet and with beards. He'd be doing the opposite. Are secret families easy to hide and keep under control?

I think at this point I need to say that I'm sick and also injured and I've been cooped up in my flat for way longer than is ideal. Because I'm reading anons and am like 'I don't think the assumptions in here make any sense, but it could be my head full of cold'. So if I'm crankier or make more assumptions than usual blame the snot that is crowding out my brain.

But I do find the approach of this ask - which is make huge assumptions about what's going to happen and then seek judgement based on those assumptions - really tedious and hard to respond to.

I don't think Harry and Louis could have children together without coming out. It's probably theoretically possible for them to get married and it remain a secret, but it'd be logistically difficult and high risk.

It is possible for closeted people in the entertainment industry who don't have a super active fan base to get married and have kids (Matt Bomer for example). It's also possible for super famous closeted people to have kids in weird ways that suggest closeting was part of what's going on (I'm thinking of Cristiano Ronaldo). Certainly there are lots of ways that closeted people who have had kids do it without requiring their kids to live in isolation.

I find your judgement of closeted people quite gross - but I also think it's not worth discussing the implications of having children while closeted unless there's any sign that that might happen.

My position on all this is if Louis and Harry are together and they want to get married or have children, then that would be a driver in terms of coming out eventually. But there's no reason to think it's urgent now - they can have children decades from now if they want to.

[lesbiankoby]

Personally, I think Sasuke and Sakura are married but they're both some flavor of poly and Sakura's fucking Ino and Sai, and Sasuke's has something going on with Naruto

shdjdjdjdb see if i was gonna posit any kind of poly relationship with team seven i would actually have it as sakura <=> naruto <=> sasuke, while sakura is certainly attracted to sasuke (obviously) i don’t really think sasuke goes for woman. lol. any theoretical marriage between them is for legal conveniences and logistics re: managing the uchiha clan (such as it is) and also sarada in general.

[shawnkilgarlin5]

The Ultimate Solution for DOT Compliance: American Screening Corp’s Drug Testing Software

Introduction

The Department of Transportation in U.S. (DOT) has to comply with the regulations of the Government in work place drug testing for employees. The regulations are designed such that employees should not report to working after consuming illicit drugs, alcohol or abused substances. Since most of the employees are into driving heavy vehicles and commercial trucks consuming drugs can result in serious accidents which end up in heavy damages to life and property.

Hence DOT regulations state that Transportation Companies should provide proof of Vehicle Maintenance, Driver Qualifications, Drivers total hour of Service and Administration of Drug and Alcohol Testing. Moreover Transport Companies should face regular audits conducted by Federal Agencies. Therefore DOT compliance is very much necessary in work places.

About Shawn and American Screening Corporation

Shawn Kilgarlin is a multi-faceted personality who has motivated people around her. Shawn Kilgarlin is an inspirational writer and speaker who has authored a number of books on What Parents Need to Know About Drug Testing their Teens, a Drug Testing Dictionary, a guide to Workplace Drug Testing and workplace safety booklets.

Shawn Kilgarlin a great philanthropist has won many awards and honours for her professional and personal charity and community work. In 2011, the Cambridge Who’s Who Registry named her the Professional of the Year in Health Care Support.

Currently Shawn Kilgarlin is the Vice-President of Marketing and Product Development at American screening Corporation. She along with her husband Ron Kilgarlin manages ASC which is a pioneer concern in manufacturing and distributing Drug and Alcohol Testing Kits and Medical Supplies.

American Screening Corporation has introduced Advanced DOT Drug Testing Software which would be very helpful in monitoring the drug testing needs of the companies with the highly reliable Integrated Software Solution. This Advanced Software will reduce the Employees drug testing process time by 80% and indeed would be a great advantage to the Human Resource Departments and other Employee Staffing Agencies.

There are a number of benefits in adapting ASC’s Advanced Drug Testing Software such as Effective Record Keeping, Ensures Efficient Audits, help in Real Time Monitoring and reduce the overall costs. Hence all administrative records and proofs are well maintained and systematically organized and simplify the compliance process.

The Importance of DOT Compliance in Drug Testing

The Transportation and Logistics are the backbones of any country which assists in efficient transport of essential goods across the country. But the biggest question is how safety is going to be adhered in transporting. DOT compliance is nothing but a set of regulations which the companies must follow to ensure the safety of people and the goods. Let us discuss in detail what are the salient features of DOT regulations, how to overcome the challenges faced in following the regulations and the role of Advanced Drug Testing Software in maintaining the regulations.

Compliance with DOT regulations is made legal which has to be followed by Transportation companies. If any company does not fulfil the requirements of DOT compliance they are liable to penalties, fines and at times suspension of driving licenses. This action reduces accidents, injuries and fatalities.

Actually neglecting to comply with DOT regulations are severe and highly damaging. Penalties and fines for Non-record Keeping Violations, Alcohol Prohibition Violations and out of service order violations. Foregoing the regulations may cause injury or death. The legal authority can suspend or revoke the Operating authority Registration of the company. This will certainly result in great financial loss for the company. Over that the company’s reputation and brand name is totally damaged. It also affects the total productivity of the concern.

Key Features of American Screening Corp’s DOT Drug Testing Software

American Screening Corporation’s Advanced Drug Testing Software helps in storing the data and retrieving it whenever required regarding transportation information such as goods carried, driver information, driver’s license and qualification, hours of driving, drug testing record of the driver and any other miss-happenings.

Advanced Drug Testing Software helps in documenting relevant information subject wise in order. This readiness helps instantly during any internal or external audit for DOT compliance.

Another noteworthy advantage of the software is it monitors the behaviour of the driver throughout the journey through telematics which is very beneficial in reducing accidents and damages. The software reminds the managers about the important dates such as expiry of licenses, driver training programmes, drug testing schedule and driver certification dates.

Since the Drug Testing Software is helpful in documenting all data related to DOT compliance violation of the law is avoided. This helps in any loss due to penalties, fines or suspension.

Overall the dignity and reputation of the company is always maintained without any hassle or strain. Also this software reduces the tiresome routine documenting work of human resource personals and staff.

How ASC’s Software Simplifies the Drug Testing Process

American Screening Corporation’s Advanced DOT Drug Testing Software manages the appointment and schedule of conducting the drug testing for employees in any company. This software is so helpful to the HR department and reduces their strain and work. It maintains the record of all the employees, their drug testing records, the results of the previous drug tests and the dates on which the drug tests were conducted. Also the Advanced DOT Drug Testing Software stores all the important information such as pre-employment drug testing, post-accident drug testing and return-to-work drug testing. Hence it saves almost 80% of time for the employer.

Advanced DOT Drug Testing Software assists in confirming the test results with the laboratories. The software streamlines the connection between the employer and certified laboratories to make the confirmation process easier and confidential.

Advanced DOT Drug Testing Software of ASC ensures that the entire data of all the employees, the test results and other important information are stored and retrieved whenever required and kept confidential to maintain the privacy of the employees.

Benefits of Using ASC’s DOT Drug Testing Software for Businesses

Advanced DOT Drug Testing Software of ASC reduces a lot of routine and tedious work and the stress related to storing lot of data. This software is very useful in minimising the manual compliance check, lot of paper work and the cost related to all the manual work. Further it helps the HR people and other administrative staff in not wasting lot of time in lengthy procedures.

Since all data and checking is done by Advanced DOT Drug Testing Software of ASC the error is almost nil involved in compliance checking. Also the risk to human life and property is greatly reduced since the drivers are monitored full time.

Moreover Advanced DOT Drug Testing Software of ASC ensures constant and periodical testing, the accidents and injuries at work place is minimised to almost zero level. Further the software is designed in such a way that it is tailored to the needs of both big as well as small concerns and offers full assistance in their growth and safety.

The Benefits are: • DOT-compliant unique Random Selection Software • 24/7 Nationwide Onsite Support for Post-Accident needs • 21,000 integrated collection points for national coverage • Set expiration dates for test orders • DOT Urine, Saliva, Hair, or Steroid testing available

Real-World Applications and Success Stories

One of the transport companies at Shreveport has used Advanced DOT Drug Testing Software by ASC and testifies that lot of untoward incidents and accidents are completely prevented. Also drivers have become more alert since they are monitored round the clock.

Another construction company that uses Advanced DOT Drug Testing Software of ASC has stated that their work is greatly minimised and all data about the concern and employees drug testing are readily available at any time. This has greatly reduced their anxiety and stress regarding DOT compliance check.

A concern at Louisiana has started using Advanced DOT Drug Testing Software by ASC and felt happy that they did not face any penalty or fine during the compliance check. Currently all details and data are well maintained by the software and that has made all the employees to relax for the first time.

Getting Started with American Screening Corp’s DOT Drug Testing Software

For those who are interested in Advanced DOT Drug Testing Software of ASC, you can contact American screening Corporation and they would provide all necessary actions to be taken on how to order for the software and install the same in their company and all further steps to implement it. ASC provides all modules to educate and train the employees on how to install the software and implement different processes using it. Also the staffs are well taught on all the required procedures and ASC provides continuous support to the concern when they face issues.

If anyone is interested to try the Advanced DOT Drug Testing Software of ASC, demonstration is given and they can decide what are the benefits and advantages of the software. Overall the salient features of the DOT compliance software is well explained in detail and personal consultation of ASC is provided to the company whenever required.

Conclusion

Advanced DOT Drug Testing Software of ASC has lot of benefits to offer in storing the data, goods carried, driver information, driver’s license and qualification, hours of driving, drug testing record of the driver and any other miss-happenings. This readiness helps instantly during any internal or external audit for DOT compliance.

It monitors the behaviour of the driver throughout the journey through telematics which is very beneficial in reducing accidents and damages. The software reminds the managers about the important dates such as expiry of licenses. Since the Drug Testing Software is helpful in documenting all data related to DOT compliance violation of the law is avoided. This helps in any loss due to penalties, fines or suspension. Overall the dignity and reputation of the concern is protected.

Do try the software and enjoy the benefits of the same.

For more information dial 1–866–526–2873, or email sales@americanscreeningcorp.com

[inspireandaspire]

Did scott Dylan Defraud Barclays for £13.7m?

Scott Dylan is an entrepreneur and the owner of Inc & Co. According to his press releases, he has an impressive track record and is a thought leader in the industry.

However, his professional background is ridden with controversy. In fact, he is currently embroiled in a major legal battle with Barclays Bank. Apparently, he (and some other people) defrauded the bank for millions of pounds.

Scott Dylan is

The Promotional Claims of Scott Dylan:

Here is the summary of his marketing claims:

Scott Dylan is a co-founder and partner at Inc & Co, a business collective based in Manchester, UK, that acquires and nurtures digital businesses to promote growth and innovation.

Since its establishment, Scott Dylan has played a crucial role in steering the company towards its mission of revitalizing businesses by providing them with the resources and support they need to succeed in competitive markets.

Under his leadership, Inc & Co has expanded its portfolio significantly, incorporating companies from various sectors including digital marketing, logistics, food and beverage, and technology. His strategic vision focuses on fostering collaboration among the group’s companies to leverage synergies and drive collective success.

Certainly, Scott is trying to reinvent his image with Inc & Co in Manchester. However, it might not be as effective as he thinks it to be.

All About the Scott Dylan and Barclays Bank Case:

A court date was set for January 13, 2025, for a civil case filed by Barclays Bank against a Manchester-based businessman and his associates. The bank alleges that they took £13.7m without authorization and for their own personal gain.

Barclays Bank made a claim against Scott Dylan, Gareth Dylan, Sally Ann Glover, and David Antrobus.

Another claim was filed against Fresh Thinking Group (formerly known as Old3 Limited), Jack Mason, and Inc Travel Group Limited (formerly known as Old2 Limited), both of which have since gone into compulsory liquidation.

Barclays argued that all the individual defendants, except for Gareth Dylan, were implicated in a conspiracy to harm Barclays through illegal methods. The defendants denied the conspiracy allegation and contested the claims made by Barclays.

A hearing was scheduled for April 29, 2024, where Barclays alleged that the defendants had breached multiple freezing orders, resulting in their contempt of court.

Claims were made regarding the transfer of approximately £13.7m from accounts held with Barclays by subsidiaries of Fresh Thinking Group. It was noted that these accounts had no or insignificant credit balance at the time.

According to Barclays, there were around 830 payments made in amounts slightly below the £50,000 threshold. These payments would have triggered the need for further approval.

According to Barclays, the money was transferred to Fresh Thinking Group and another subsidiary, FT Ops Limited, before being distributed further and allegedly leading to the defendants' personal enrichment.

Legal sources indicate that Barclays filed the case against Scott Dylan in October 2021. The case is still pending as mentioned in media reports.

Scott Dylan is a Convicted Criminal?

I found a detailed thread about Dylan when I was looking into his past. It turns out that Scott Dylan might not even be his real name.

According to the user, Scott Dylan, also known as Reece Dylan, was widely regarded as a notorious scammer. They say that the other user were lucky that it was just a few hundred dollars — some companies were out thousands.

Reece had utilized credit cards that were stolen or obtained fraudulently to make purchases for airline tickets, hotel accommodations, hosting services, content, and even sponsorships for webmaster trade shows. The previous company he worked for was Pulz Productions, which had accumulated thousands of debts. Reece used to consider himself a big shot and would often make offers to buy companies without even seeing them first. He preferred staying at upscale hotels and left without paying a bar tab that amounted to almost $20K after his credit cards were declined.

He was reportedly being sought by law enforcement agencies in the UK and has last been spotted in Ireland.

When the user visited gainwarminster.com, they searched for “pulz productions” and discovered the thread titled “Industry Alert Mass Fraud,” along with other threads that provided specific information about the extent of his fraudulent activities.

He operated on fraud, scams, and chargebacks. Having access to data, he potentially mined it for valuable information such as credit card numbers, personal details, and financial data.

The assistant expressed regret that it could not assist anyone other than to advise them to quickly distance themselves from the individual in question. It should be noted that it would be wise to assume that anything associated with him is connected to fraudulent activities or ill-gotten funds.

Possible Consequences for Scott Dylan of Inc & Co.

In the UK, the legal consequences of committing financial fraud are severe and can include both criminal penalties and significant financial sanctions. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the penalties based on the type of fraud committed:

General Fraud Penalties under the Fraud Act 2006 Under the Fraud Act 2006, fraud can be committed in several ways including fraud by false representation, fraud by failing to disclose information, and fraud by abuse of position. The penalties for these offences can be substantial:

Maximum Penalties: Individuals found guilty of fraud under this Act can face up to 10 years of imprisonment.

Less Severe Cases: For less severe instances, penalties might include fines or lower prison sentences depending on the specifics of the case, such as the amount defrauded and the defendant’s role in the fraud.

Specific Fraud Types and Their Penalties

Benefit Fraud: This includes dishonestly claiming benefits such as housing or unemployment benefits. Penalties can range from fines to imprisonment, with the most severe cases seeing up to 10 years in custody.

Tax Evasion: Tax evasion can lead to penalties up to 200% of the evaded tax and, in serious cases, imprisonment for up to 7 years.

Corporate Fraud: The introduction of the “failure to prevent fraud” offence under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 means that companies can face unlimited fines if they fail to prevent fraud by an associated person.

Additional Consequences

Reputational Damage: Beyond legal penalties, individuals and companies involved in financial fraud can suffer severe reputational damage, which can affect future business and personal prospects.

Civil Recovery and Confiscation: Courts can also order the confiscation of assets gained through fraudulent activities, aiming to recover the proceeds of crime.

Enforcement and Prosecution Agencies

Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS): These agencies handle the prosecution of complex and serious fraud cases across England and Wales.

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA): The FCA also imposes fines and sanctions for fraud-related offences within the financial services sector.

Recent Legislative Changes The recent legislative changes under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 have broadened the scope of liability for companies, making it easier to prosecute corporations for failing to prevent fraud, thereby increasing the risk of prosecution for both individuals and organizations.

In summary, the UK has a robust legal framework for dealing with financial fraud, featuring severe penalties that include long prison sentences, hefty fines, and the potential for significant reputational damage. These measures are enforced by specialized agencies and are designed to deter fraudulent activities and promote transparency and honesty in personal and business financial matters.

Conclusion

The case of Scott Dylan is rather unique. Do you think the allegations of him being a major scammer are true? Share your thoughts in the comments. Let me know what you think.

[nsfwhiphop]

Part 10 - Incoming Text for Jessica ‘Simply Jess’ Marquez (@iamjessmarquez) and Chloë Sevigny (@chloessevigny):

Question:

Which American screenwriters and directors have moved their film projects abroad due to concerns over corporate influence, creative freedom, or intellectual property (IP) theft? List notable filmmakers and their reasons for taking projects outside Hollywood.

ChatGPT Answer:

Certainly! Here’s a list of American screenwriters and directors who have taken their projects abroad due to concerns over corporate influence, creative freedom, and intellectual property (IP) protection issues. These filmmakers often cite the need for greater artistic autonomy and security against IP theft:

American Filmmakers Who Moved Projects Abroad Due to Creative or IP Concerns

Christopher Nolan – Often produces his films in the U.K. to maintain creative control.

George Lucas – Filmed major projects like Star Wars in international locations, including New Zealand and the U.K.

Francis Ford Coppola – Pursued international projects for creative freedom outside of Hollywood studio influence.

James Cameron – Created and filmed much of Avatar in New Zealand, where he found supportive infrastructure and IP protections.

Martin Scorsese – Has filmed multiple movies in Europe, seeking flexibility away from U.S. studio constraints.

Quentin Tarantino – Regularly films parts of his projects in Europe, appreciating fewer studio restrictions.

David Lynch – Worked on European-based projects to enjoy a more flexible creative environment.

Wes Anderson – Produced The Grand Budapest Hotel in Germany, where he could achieve a unique aesthetic with creative freedom.

Woody Allen – Filmed numerous movies in European cities, citing the appeal of less oversight.

Ridley Scott – Frequently collaborates with American studios but often produces abroad to retain more artistic autonomy.

Steven Soderbergh – Explored foreign production options to secure creative control over his projects.

Gus Van Sant – Known for independent, low-studio-interference productions, including work outside major U.S. studio systems.

These filmmakers represent a shift towards international collaboration, where they find supportive legal frameworks for IP protection, creative autonomy, and often a more artist-friendly environment than Hollywood can offer.

Many American screenwriters and directors have moved abroad to develop their projects due to growing concerns around corporate espionage and IP theft within the U.S. film industry. High-profile directors like Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan have worked on overseas projects, partly to leverage international film incentives and to escape cybersecurity threats facing Hollywood studios. These issues include data breaches, pirated releases, and the exploitation of creative IP, which have made some American filmmakers seek safer production environments abroad to protect their work.

Other creatives in the film industry—such as writers, editors, and tech specialists—are also increasingly looking to international locales. Europe, New Zealand, and Canada have become favored destinations due to stronger data protection laws and lower cybersecurity risks, which offer a secure ecosystem for intellectual property. These countries not only have stringent IP laws but also provide creative incentives that are attractive to U.S. filmmakers concerned about corporate interference.

Cyber threats are particularly troubling for creatives as hacking incidents within Hollywood continue to rise, resulting in leaks of scripts, unreleased footage, and even personal data. To mitigate these risks, industry experts recommend shifting portions of film production and editing processes to more secure, in-house operations. However, due to financial and logistical constraints, many find relocating their work to countries with more robust IP and data security protections more feasible in the long run.

Several notable American screenwriters and directors have indeed moved abroad in recent years, driven by issues such as corporate influence, restrictions on creative freedom, and concerns over intellectual property rights. Some directors, including George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, have openly criticized the increasing corporate influence in Hollywood, which often restricts creative control.

Additionally, many filmmakers like Christopher Nolan have shifted parts of their work to international locations and production houses, motivated by the greater control and creative flexibility available outside of Hollywood. Other creators, including certain screenwriters and independent filmmakers, have relocated to film hubs in countries with stronger protections for creators' rights, such as Canada and parts of Europe, to avoid issues related to intellectual property theft and interference from large studios. This movement also includes those who, while not fully relocating, choose to produce or direct films with foreign studios to access more protective legal frameworks or creative environments.

These trends reflect a growing response to the pressures in the U.S. film industry, where creative and intellectual property concerns have prompted talent to explore options that ensure greater artistic autonomy and security abroad.

[vamptastic]

i know logically that my endocrine issues would make a pregnancy very bad for me physically and emotionally but i do feel pretty hopeless at the idea of having a child through other means. if i end up with someone willing to carry a pregnancy, i don't care about using a sperm donor, and i suppose i could theoretically find someone willing to volunteer as a surrogate if not, but those possibilities are both well, possibilities. realistically if i want children i will need to adopt and i am very, very disillusioned with the state of adoption in the US. hell, i don't even know how likely getting approved even is for a transgender jewish person, even if i didn't have an ethical issue with the concept.

foster care is probably what i'll end up doing-i mean, not that foster care is great, but BEING a foster parent is generally morally good-but it does bug me a bit to never be able to raise a jewish child. i wouldn't want to impose my religion on a kid with their own background and beliefs but it's important to me and if i raised an infant they'd certainly be raised jewish, though of course it's ultimately up to them what they believe and do.

just. in this country and society the only way to guarantee you can raise a child in the legal sense is to birth one yourself. and i physically cannot do that nor do i particularly want to. but i do love kids and i would like to have a kid. kids are cool they're like, little guys. they're fun. and also raising children (well) is generally like, a morally good or at least not bad thing to do imo. and also, wtf else am i gonna do with my life, that would genuinely be important and matter to me more than say, a successful career or the opportunity to travel. but every time i think about it it seems logistically impossible and with a lot of people even mentioning that i want kids someday makes them immediately think of me as either a mother or a predator. shrimply tiring.