#18th amendment

[dantesjourney]

For two years, I worked for a Prohibition era themed distillery. As a history nerd, I loved it and I was always looking for new tidbits to add to the tour. We covered everything from the proposition of the 18th amendment to the very day it was repealed with the 21st amendment.

I learned quickly that I needed to know everything I could get my hands on and cram into my brain, because drunken bourbon bro types absolutely love trying to "stump" a tour guide. Especially one who they perceive as female. I was constantly reading, watching and listening to things, taking notes and fact checking.

At one point, I went down a two week research rabit hole about why the 18th amendment was proposed, how it got pushed through, how constitutional amendments work and everything that goes into them. I was absolutely fascinated, and the education served me well.

Gotta say, this week I've been really glad I picked up such a thorough understanding of the amendment process and the various guardrails involved. I wish more people had at least a basic understanding of what it takes to amend the constitution. But maybe I can help by passing along what I've learned.

Person A makes a post about how 45 wants to end birthright citizenship (100% valid thing to be scared by). Person B leaves a comment saying that'll take an amendment, which requires a 2/3 majority in both the house and senate (which is factual). Person A replies with "they're going to/want to change it to a simple majority". Yeah, there are some who do want that, and the thought of the republicans having the ability to approve any amendment they want is rightly terrifying.

But guess what? Tiny bit of good news! Changing the legal process for amending the constitution would in itself require an amendment, as the process is clearly defined in detail in article 5. In addition, once a proposed amendment has 2/3 in the house and 2/3 in the senate, it then has to go out to every single state. 38 out of 50 state legislatures have to ratify the amendment in order for it to pass and be certified by the Secretary of state.

Congress can set a time limit on when the states need to vote on it, and of course there are rules about what sort of time limit. Generally, the limit is in *years* rather than months, weeks or days. Just the process of getting it through congress can be a lengthy process, often taking years because of the 2/3 majority guardrail. That's at least a small comfort in this waking nightmare.

Now, I'm no expert in constitutional law, but I am an avid reader of it. My self education on the subject is ongoing. However, as of now, I have found absolutely nothing (even a loophole) that would allow the president to directly amend the constitution. Nothing. There is also nothing that would allow anyone at all to suspend the constitution as seen in The Handmaid's Tale. Not the president, not congress, not the military, not the states, not anyone.

Changing the constitution was made a complicated and laborious task on purpose. A president can rant and rave and demand it be changed all they want - it will do nothing. Even an executive order cannot change the constitution.

Despite the fact that I feel like I need a shower after visiting the white house website, I read that particular executive order and found something I haven't seen mentioned anywhere as of yet. The clause that states it only applies to people born in the US after 30 days from the order being signed. So it would seem that even if they do manage to push it through, it would not apply retroactively.

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Five members of the anti-Prohibition Prohibition Research Committee depart on the bus Diogenes, named after the man who sought in vain for an honest man, June 1, 1932. They are seeking a single drunk who has been reformed by the 18th amendment.

From left are, Stephen Duggan Jr., assistant investigator; Russell Salmon, chief investigator; Ernest Boorland, Jr., member of the executive committee; Robert Nicholson, assistant director; and Paul Morris, director.

Photo: Associated Press via the Denver Post

[seannessy]

i would break prohibition if THIS was the alcohol

[firealder2005]

so this was for a school assignment, where I explain some of the Amendments through memes

tell me which one is your fav :3

then a couple general memes related to this :3

this was not part of the assignment but remember to check your voter registration.

also daily clicks. because free palestine.

[classicalliberalleague]

Tell me you’ve never looked into what successes the 18th Amendment and the War on drugs have been without telling me…

[gwydionmisha]

Trump plans to invoke obscure 18th century wartime law in bid for mass deportations

Do not want. Do not want at all. I did not want it when they started doing it. I extra don't want expansion.

There has never been due process at Guantánamo. That's why Republicans put it there, so they could torture people. They are already not following due process on US soil. Moving people to crime scene number two where there is zero oversight and they can do anything they want to people is a recipe for horrors.

Remember how I told you about this happening to the husband of someone I knew in the '90's, and my suspicion it was going to be large scale and o much worse? It is so much worse, especially with the 14th Amendment issue.

It's vile and disgusting and I hate that this is where we are in the 21st century.

[ausetkmt]

Gangsters Pass 18th Amendment - Lucky Luciano casts deciding vote to Make Alcohol Illegal

[thepolyamorouspolymath]

Adderall addiction is a very real thing -- for people who don't have ADHD. For people who do, you don't get high, you get stable (it's like benzos that way, if you have anxiety a Xanax will not make you high but you will suddenly not hear your heartbeat).

It's still used for the same reason benzos are (they too are very addictive).

BECAUSE THEY FUCKING WORK BETTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

I do think ADHD may be climbing due to life factors, however every bipolar person I've ever met had a fucked up childhood so guessing there's a correlation there too... the reason WHY an illness exists is not a reason to not fucking treat it.

Also, the opiod crisis is because we overregulate opiods, not underregulate them. I know because lots of western nations sell mild opiods OTC, and everyone is FINE. Almost like every study of the last forever that said addiction is caused more by environment and should therefore be treated that way was right rather than the guy who said addiction should be prayed away (sound familiar?) a fucking century ago.

And you know what another super addictive medication is? Insulin. Seriously, you'll die if you stop! That's how stupid it is to worry about whether you'll be dependent on something you will need forever bc you have a forever condition anyway.

I fucking knew it, I SAID it: they're making ADHD people the next culture war targets. They will 'just ask questions' until we lose every scrap of ground we've gained in the last decade and more. We may not quite inspire the same level of hatred as a sexual minority, but we can very easily be made to inspire disdain and that also works.

They will strip us of our accomodations and our medications and try to stifle any sense of shared identity, and if that kills some of us, oh well. So long as it fuels another outrage cycle, fine.

So many of the tropes they've been using on trans people work extremely well on ADHD people too! "There are too many of these people suddenly! It must be a fad! It spreads through friend groups! And online! People are going private for diagnoses and that's bad! They are using pOwERfUl medical interventions and we think it's freaky!"

I saw the first ripples of this in terf circles about two years ago. And of course it's spread.

6% of British ADHD people lost their jobs in the last year thanks to the meds shortage. SIX PER CENT! And that just made these ghouls go "ooh, tasty, what else can we do?"

Recently an 'expert' was on the BBC saying people see ADHD diagnosis as a "golden ticket." Laurence Fox has been ranting that the condition doesn't exist and threatening "'you won't poison my child's body [with ADHD meds] against my consent"

People need to be aware this is going to get worse. Maybe, if we're lucky, it won't get really bad. But it's going to get worse than it is now.

[tothelasthoursofmylife]

Character Profiles: Other servants and employees

Index: Clifford, Thomas, Grace, Wentworth, Quentin, Sycamore, Daisy, Scott, Ishmael

(All character ages are as of the latest chapter, or when they died. All information as of the latest chapter too.)

Navigation: Main and extras | Cloudia's grandparents and maternal extended family | Cloudia's paternal extended family (and Florentin) | Other servants and employees | Antagonists | Scotland Yard and misc.

Name: Theodore Clifford

Nickname(s): Ted, Teddy, Old Ted, Cliff

Birthday: 1784

Age: 64 (at time of death; March 28, 1848)

Physical description: grey, formerly light brown hair, dark brown eyes

Affiliation: Phantomhive family (former)

Occupation: Butler (former)

Base of Operations: Phantomhive Manor (former); Phantomhive townhouse (former)

Random fact(s): He learned how to make blankets/quilts from his grandmother. It didn’t make him popular at school, but several of his blankets are still at Phantomhive Manor. Cloudia likes wrapping herself in one when she reads a book or just because.

Background info:

When I looked at my notes and saw I jotted down his birth year as 1784, I wanted to change it to 1774 to make him older. Then, I saw that I had already given it (indirectly) in “The Countess, Unamused,” so that was it.

The third arc was meant to be about him more, but the story ended up turning into another direction in the end.

First appearance: The Lady, First Training (Chapter 10)

----

Name: Thomas Holmwood

Nickname(s): Tom, Tommy, Horse Boy

Birthday: 1828

Age: 20

Physical description: brown hair, dark brown eyes

Affiliation: Phantomhive family

Occupation: Stable boy; coachman

Base of Operations: Phantomhive Manor; Phantomhive townhouse

Random fact(s):

He has a little, impossible crush on Clarissa.

He often asks for a salary raise because Lisa keeps squeezing his money out of him when they play cards. Cloudia does not want to indulge him and, thus, always refuses. (He gets more “normal” salary raises though.)

Thomas is quite friendly with Cedric. They often talk when Cloudia is still busy and cannot meet up with Cedric yet.

Background info: I think I got his surname from the Department 19 series. Thomas does not descend from a long line of vampire hunters though. (If he did, it would terrify him.)

First appearance: The Green Ghost of Nephelius Cemetery (Part 1): The Countess, First Encounter; The Countess, Captured (Chapter 16; present)

----

Name: Grace Nullings

Nickname(s): Gracie

Birthday: 1805

Age: 43

Physical description: light brown hair, blue-green eyes

Affiliation: Phantomhive family; Houghton family (former)

Occupation: Lady’s maid

Base of Operations: Phantomhive Manor; Phantomhive townhouse; Houghton Manor (former)

Random fact(s): Besides being her lady’s maid, she’s childhood friends with Penelope. Grace was the cook’s daughter, and Penelope got along better with her than with her own sisters.

Background info: She’s named after Millard Nullings from Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. His peculiarity is invisibility which fits with a rarely appearing character (and the one time she did it was very brief), particularly a servant character as servants were meant not to be heard or seen.

First appearance: The Countess, Thirteen Days; has not appeared in the present yet

----

Name: Abraham Wentworth

Nickname(s): Bram

Birthday: ??

Age: Old

Physical description: grey, formerly dark blond hair, light blue eyes

Affiliation: Salisbury family

Occupation: Butler

Base of Operations: Salisbury Villa (former); wherever Milton lives now and travels to

Favourite Colour: wine red

Favourite Flower: whatever fits the décor

Favourite Dessert: none (though he does like nicking bits of chocolate and apple cake every now and then)

What is in his bag? handkerchief, set of keys, diary, pencils; he likes to travel lightly and does not carry much

Random fact(s): His first master used him as a food taster as he greatly feared that he could be poisoned. Wentworth thought it was a bit silly, but still went along with it out of loyalty.

Background info: I initially put “burgundy” as his favourite colour, but, apparently, “burgundy” is only used as a colour word in English since 1881??

First appearance: The Countess, Scary (Chapter 5)

----

Name: Quentin Thibault-Nichols

Nickname(s): Quent, Quenti

Birthday: 1812

Age: 36

Physical description: tall, broad-shouldered, dark brown hair, grey eyes

Affiliation: Chemins de fer du Nord; Milton Salisbury; Factory (former)

Occupation: Engineer

Base of Operations: Paris

Random fact(s): He has quite the sweet tooth. His wife is a baker and won his heart through his stomach.

Background info: I got his surname “Thibault” from The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks, so I actually know how it’s meant to be pronounced for once! Yey. (It’s the protagonist’s name, and he always has to correct the pronunciation, so it comes up a lot.)

First appearance: The Countess, Travelling (Chapter 21)

----

Name: Theodore Sycamore

Nickname(s): Theo

Birthday: 1803

Age: 45

Physical description: tall, curly brown hair, dark brown eyes, wears red-rimmed glasses

Affiliation: Salisbury Trading

Occupation: Deputy Director

Base of Operations: London

Random fact(s): He’s very skittish and jumpy, but only when he’s not concentrating on work. If he is, he loses sight of his surroundings.

Background info: He’s named after Desmond Sycamore from the Professor Layton games. His first name is taken from there too. I was a bit on the fence whether I should give him that first name or nor because of Clifford and ultimately went for it. It’s not as if name overlaps are uncommon, and both characters are usually only called by their surnames anyway.

First appearance: The Countess, Destruction (Chapter 30); has not appeared in the present yet

----

Name: Daisy Freke

Nickname(s): None

Birthday: 1810s

Age: 30s

Physical description: light brown hair; wears dark glasses

Affiliation: Oscar Livingstone

Occupation: Maid/housekeeper; informant

Base of Operations: She and the others don’t live with Oscar but close-by in their own little house (they also never lived (full-time) at Livingstone Manor before)

Random fact(s): Ironically, she’s allergic to daisies. This is quite the problem because, due to her name, people often give her daisies.

Background info:

She and Oscar’s other servants are based on the three wise monkeys. She’s Mizaru, the “see no evil” monkey. (“Daisy” means “day eye.”)

In my notes, her surname was “O’Sullivan” for the longest time, as I struggled to find any eye-related surnames that I liked (and “O’Sullivan” means “descendant of Súileabhán (= “dark eye”)”). It was a placeholder name for obvious reasons, and I now decided to name her “Freke” after John Freke, the UK’s first eye surgeon. (I wanted her to have a “special” surname because her given name does not have a specific background unlike the others’.)

First appearance: The Countess, Faint and Low 5.0 (Chapter 20)

----

Name: Scott Moray

Nickname(s): None

Birthday: 1810s

Age: 30s (slightly younger than Daisy)

Physical description: red hair

Affiliation: Oscar Livingstone

Occupation: Coachman; informant

Base of Operations: He and the others don’t live with Oscar but close-by in their own little house (they also never lived (full-time) at Livingstone Manor before)

Random fact(s): He’s a cook too, but only for Daisy and Ishmael; he rarely cooks for Oscar.

Background info:

He and Oscar’s other servants are based on the three wise monkeys. He’s Iwazaru, the “speak no evil” monkey. His first name means “Gaelic speaker.” To fit his first name, I gave him a Scottish surname (though it has no special meaning).

His surname was briefly “Motters” before I changed it, however.

First appearance: The Countess, Faint and Low 5.0 (Chapter 20)

----

Name: Ishmael Greenberg

Nickname(s): None

Birthday: 1790s

Age: early 50s

Physical description: greying brown hair

Affiliation: Oscar Livingstone

Occupation: Footman; informant

Base of Operations: He and the others don’t live with Oscar but close-by in their own little house (they also never lived (full-time) at Livingstone Manor before)

Random fact(s): He likes singing a lot. Because he’s deaf, the sounds don’t come out “correctly” though, much to the pain of Daisy and Scott.

Background info: He and Oscar’s other servants are based on the three wise monkeys. He’s Kikazaru, the “hear no evil” monkey. “Ishmael” means “God will hear.” As that is a Hebrew surname, I gave him a Jewish surname.

First appearance: The Countess, Faint and Low 5.0 (Chapter 20)

[xhais]

Bad news. KOSA advanced.

Continue calling your representatives and tell them to vote no on KOSA. It passed the Senate Commerce Committee, not the full Senate, we still have time.

STOP KOSA NOW.

Edit: July 29: The full Senate is voting on KOSA TOMORROW! Please call your representatives and senators to vote no! PLEASE!

Edit: July 30: Senate passed KOSA! The House vote is next. Contact your representatives to vote no now! PLEASE!

Edit: August 1st: KOSA IS DEAD! For now. It may pop up again. Be on the lookout, if it does pop up again, tell your senators and representatives to vote no!

Edit: September 13: KOSA MIGHT RETURN! Follow the instructions on this post PLEASE!

Edit: September 20: KOSA PASSED THE HOUSE COMMITTEE AND ONTO THE HOUSE FLOOR!! This happened on September 18th, I am a bit late and for that I'm sorry. But it’s not over! FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THIS POST, PLEASE!!

Edit: September 27: THIS ENTIRE POST STILL APPLIES! THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER, WE STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO FIGHT! PLEASE CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO VOTE NO! PLEASE!!

Edit: October 6: @the-vampire-fish-queen said, “Do want to point out Congress is not in session right now but come back around 11/12/24. Also, the Republican leadership is fighting over the bill.” WHICH IS VERY TRUE!

FOR REPUBLICAN REPS:

FOR DEMOCRAT REPS:

Edit: October 25: The Heritage Foundation KNOWS that Kosa will REMOVE Pro-Abortion and Trans content IF Trump wins. It has also come to my attention, that from what people have heard from the House of Representatives, Kosa will MOST LIKELY not move on. The keywords there are most likely, keep fighting!

[rowboataobwor]

Alright, it’s US Constitution Day, 2023. How is everyone celebrating?

Personally, I’m doing a read-through of the Constitution and exercising my right to protest the government. I say we repeal the 18th amendment! Who’s with me?!

[your-local-depressed-fangirl]

Okay just to play devil’s advocate there are two amendments in the constitution related to alcoholism one banned alcohol and the other counter acted the amendment that banned alcohol.

Showing not everything about our laws is perfect and has a clear answer.

That’s why there’s so much unrest we’re all waiting to see how Trump interprets our laws during his presidency.

hey everyone in seats of power remember those things called amendments? yeah they list stuff we’re allowed to do, blame the founding fathers for writing them not your innocent citizens for obeying them

[263adder]

Don't Lose Your Vote! UK Edition

Update: Tuesday 18th June 2024 is the deadline to register to vote for the general election.

A snap general election could be called any day. This will be the first general election that requires photo ID if you vote at the polls (postal votes 📫 are unaffected by the Election Act 2022).

If you don't have an approved form of identification (list here), you can apply for a FREE voter ID photo card. Find out more below or use these 5 minutes to register and get your ID sorted instead ❎ because, and this is important to know, the government really doesn't want young people to vote.

The Explanation

Rishi Sunak, UK Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party, may call a snap election in 2023. (A snap election is a vote brought in earlier ⏱ than the one that’s scheduled 🕐) The UK’s next general election (for MPs and the PM) is meant to happen between December 2024 and January 2025.

A snap election happens in as little as 25 days 😨 between the announcement (aka the PM asking the House of Commons’ to approve the dissolution of Parliament) and the vote 🏃‍♀️

You must be registered to vote - currently over 8 million people are not. Unlike other a democratic countries, the UK doesn’t automatically register all eligible voters. You have to do this yourself. Here’s a quick reminder of how to register:

Over the past 15 years, it has gotten harder for British citizens to vote:

Families can no longer register to vote as a household 🏡 so young voters must register themselves (Cameron Govt)

Colleges and universities are barred from registering students 👨‍🎓 (Cameron Govt)

The Elections Act requires photo ID 🤳 for anyone voting in person (Johnson Govt)

Local elections (for city and town governments) in 2023 were the first votes that required VOTER ID. According to the Electoral Commission, over 14,000 people were turned away from the polls because they had not heard about the change.

The House of Lords tried to amend the Elections Act before it passed, to include more common types of ID, such as bank statements, bills, student ID, library cards and much more. This amendment was struck down in the House of Commons. A lot of the IDs included in the approved list are more likely to be owned by older voters than younger ones. For example, a 60+ Oyster Card is acceptable ID but an 18+ Oyster Card is not.

Here’s the important thing to know: voters who don’t have a driving licence or passport or other approved forms of ID, can apply for a free voter ID photo card. Watch the video below to find out how!

And finally, please, for the love of our democracy, vote.

"Democracy is not something you believe in or a place to hang your hat, but it's something you do. You participate. If you stop doing it, democracy crumbles." Abbie Hoffman

[janeyseymour]

Never In A Million Years, Unless... -part 3

Part 1. Part 2.

Summary: Melissa has an important question to ask you, in front of all of your special guests.

WC: ~2.75k

“Nonna’s ring?” Kristen Marie nearly shouts into the phone, and for a split second, your girlfriend glances down at you to pray you don’t wake up.

“Nonna’s ring,” Melissa confirms. “I’ve decided that if I’m gonna give marriage another try, it should be with Y/N.”

“What happens when you split from her and don’t get the family heirloom back?”

“Shut the hell up,” the redhead nearly hisses. “I know we ain’t breakin’ up. She’s put up with my ass for years- why would she leave now?”

“I’ll have it for you at family dinner on Sunday,” the blonde sighs.

“One thing though,” Melissa says quietly. At the hum, she continues. “You can’t tell nobody.”

“Why the hell would I say anything?”

“To get back at me for God knows what.”

“I like to fuck with you, but I don’t go messing with Y/N,” Kristen Marie promises. “Now get off the phone; I need my beauty sleep.”

“If that’s what you want to call it,” Melissa teases her sister. “Night.”

Melissa gets the family heirloom at Sunday’s dinner, and she sneakily hides it in her purse.

That Monday, your girlfriend is able to get Barbara alone before the kids all come in while you’re off preparing for this week’s lessons.

She just pulls the ring out of her purse and plants it in her best friend’s hands.

Barb’s eyes go wide. “Is this what I think it is?”

“An engagement ring? Yeah.”

“No,” the kindergarten teacher shakes her head before amending, “Well, yes. But is this your Nonna’s ring?”

The redhead nods her head. “If I’m gonna give that ring to anyone, it’s gonna be Y/N.”

“Melissa, dear, this is wonderful,” Barbara hands back the ring. “Does anyone else know?”

“Just Kristen Marie,” the second grade teacher rolls her eyes as she carefully puts the ring back in her bag. “And now you. I need your help.”

“My help?”

“When it gets nicer out, I told Y/N we could have a barbecue at our place, and I want everyone to be there… no one listens to anyone more than they listen to you.”

Your grade level partner smiles a smile that meets her eyes. “Of course. You just tell me a date and time.”

“Saturday, May 18th,” Melissa states.

“You already know the date?”

“I had some time to look over the dates while Y/N was in the shower and text with her mother about coming over that day,” the redhead shrugs. “So, can I count on you?”

“Of course you can,” Barbara grins as she squeezes her best friend’s shoulder. “Now, go help that girlfriend of yours before she loses her damn mind. I know she’s been stressed about this week, what with the benchmark testing happening and conferences coming up.”

And so, Melissa does just that. When she comes into your classroom, you seem to be up to your eyeballs in paperwork. Her eyes immediately see how tense you are in your shoulders.

“Mi amore,” she sighs softly as she comes to stand behind you. Her hands gently rest on your shoulders before she begins massaging them.

You smile at the contact and pause your work for a brief moment to crane your neck and kiss her. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Warm lips are on yours for a brief second before she glances at what you’re doing. You’re currently getting portfolios together for your kids to show their parents at conferences.

“Babe,” she tuts softly. “Conferences aren’t for another two weeks, and we still have quarterly testing to do.”

“I know,” you mutter. “I just want to get a head start on it.”

“You’re already worlds ahead of me,” your girlfriend sighs. “Take a breather and enjoy your coffee with me.”

“Mel,” you all but whine out.

So, with a heavy breath, the redhead pulls up a chair next to you and begins to go through the paperwork with you. Only, you pause your work to admire her. Her hair is beautifully cascading down her shoulders, her eyeliner looks so sharp today, the way her glasses are on the tip of her nose gets you going, and her clear focus on something she clearly doesn’t want to do but is willing to get over it for you- it has you enamored.

“Was this your plan?” your girlfriend teases as she continues to thumb through the papers. “Get me to do your work while you just stare at me?”

You shake your head goodheartedly before planting a quick kiss to her cheek. “Just admiring my gorgeous woman.” And then the two of you are nose deep in filing the work for your five and six year olds. 

May 18th comes all too quickly, and yet somehow it feels like forever to the redhead for the day to come. But here the two of you are, cleaning your house up and down, making sure the floors are vacuumed or mopped, checking that the couch cushions are fluffed to Melissa’s liking, and just generally making sure the house is presentable.

“I think it looks good,” you say as you scrub the last of the pots that had sat in the sink to soak overnight.

Melissa hums as she tightens the messy ponytail that she has her red locks in. “I guess. I just don’t want everyone thinkin’ we live in some slum.”

You bite back a chuckle at that as you move towards her to wrap your arms around her neck. “With all due respect, we’ve been to Janine’s. We’re just fine, hun.”

Your girlfriend purses her lips as she mulls over your statement.

Before the two of you know it, your first guests are arriving at your house. Thankfully, you had the time to shower and change out of your cleaning clothes before Barbara and her husband show at your doorstep.

Not a long time has passed before everyone has shown, including all of the Abbott clan that you had invited. It’s funny seeing the way that the groups manage each other. Melissa’s family is a bit more stiff, your family is as bouncy and talkative as you, and the Abbott group moves as a group as they try to learn everything they can about the two of you.

“Ma,” both you and your girlfriend yell at your respective parents.

“What?”

“Stop embarrassing me!”

Melissa’s mother and sister are currently telling Barbara and Jacob about the shenanigans your girlfriend used to get up to as a girl while your mother is showing Janine and Gregory baby pictures that she has of you on her phone.

Both of your parents just wave you off with shit eating grins, and the two of you breathe a deep sigh. 

“Was this our best idea yet?” you ask sarcastically. “Having everyone we know under one roof to exchange every embarrassing story they could possibly have on us?”

Melissa just sighs. “I have no fuckin’ clue. I hope it’s worth it.”

“What do you mean?” you ask softly, not knowing of her plan to propose.

Green eyes look into yours as she quickly searches for an excuse. “I mean, we have a life together. They’d all intermix eventually- might as well be on our time as opposed to by accident.”

“I suppose you may be right,” you chuckle softly as you lean in to kiss her, tangling your fingers together softly. You pull her along toward the direction of the kitchen to begin prepping the burgers you know she and Mr. Johnson will be cooking up later.

“So why are we all here? And don’t give me no trash excuse,” Mr. Johnson asks the redhead as they’re making the burgers together. “There’s gotta be a real reason.”

Melissa scopes out the area, and you’re invested in a conversation with your mother and Janine about only God knows what. She leans in and whispers, “I’m proposing. Wanted the important people here.”

“The Abbott crew is that important to you?” the custodian raises a brow as he flips a burger.

“Family,” she tells him. “An’ if she says yes, will you walk with me down the aisle?”

Mr. Johnson pauses his motions and looks to your girlfriend with wide eyes. “Tell me you’re playing. I know I didn’t hear you right.”

“I ain’t, and you did.”

He claps a hand on her shoulder with a dazzling smile. “Hell yeah I will- when she says yes.”

“You really think she’ll say yes?”

“Melissa, Melissa, Melissa,” Mr. Johnson chuckles fondly. “I’m not sure about a lot of things. But if I’m certain about one thing, it’s that your woman loves you, and she’ll say yes.”

Dinner is on the table, all of your friends and family gathering around for a nice meal- all except for your girlfriend, Kristen Marie, and Barbara.

“Where the hell could they be?” you mutter to yourself as you begin to get up out of your chair.

“Just let them be,” Mr. Johnson practically forces you back into the chair. He knows what those three are doing. They’re pulling champagne flutes out of the cars and pouring enough for everyone to toast to the two of you.

“I’m sure they could use some-” You go to get out of your seat again.

“I said let them be, woman!” Mr. Johnson instructs you in an unusually serious tone. “Jesus, so stubborn, just like your girlfriend.”

You furrow a brow at his odd behavior, but you let it go. With a soft sigh, you settle back into your seat.

It’s only a few minutes later that Melissa, her sister, and her work wife come into the room. But they’re empty handed.

“Where the hell were you?” you ask as she stands by her seat next to you. Barbara and Kristen Marie stay by the door.

“I had a few things I had to prepare for,” is all she says.

“And that would be?”

She takes her stein of beer that’s been set beside her plate by you so graciously, and taps on it with a fork. You give her a look that tells her you have no idea what’s happening. But everyone’s eyes turn to her, and the small chatter that had once filled the room is gone. You don’t notice that Barbara has pulled out her phone to begin filming.

“Hey, everyone,” Melissa smiles that charming smile of hers. “I got somethin’ important I wanted to say.”

“Mel, what?” you pull her in close and whisper into her ear. “What announcement are we making?”

“Just wait, hun,” she tells you.

“I would’ve thought we would’ve discussed whatever you’re going to say to the whole group.”

“Can you be patient for like two minutes?”

You’re not so sure that you like the tone that your girlfriend has taken with you, but you hold your hands up in surrender.

She just smiles at you before shining green eyes look back around the patio at the people you love enough to bring into your home. “I got somethin’ I wanna say. Today is a special day for me an’ Y/N, and we… I wanted all of the people that matter the most to us to be here for it.”

“What’s today?” you ask quietly. Silently, you go through your mind for special dates. None of those dates are in May. “Hun, what are you-”

“Everyone here knows that I was married before. Not too keen on the idea of remarrying. Told quite a few of youse-” she glances to her mother, her sister, and Barbara. “-that there was no damned way I was ever getting married again.”

“Melissa,” you whisper as you piece together what’s happening.

She just shushes you. “And then Y/N came along and into my life, and she changed everything that I ever thought I knew to be my world. And since she started working at Abbott, I’ve come to fall in love with the best, most loving, funny, ridiculous woman that I’ve ever met. I found someone who embraced every single side of me and has loved me through it all. I- I found the freakin’ miracle that made me change my thoughts on marriage and a forever. So-” Melissa gets down on one knee and pulls the ring box out of her pocket that she’s been holding onto for months. “Marry me? Make me the happiest woman alive by becoming Mrs. Schemmenti?”

The box is opened, and the ring is sitting there as shiny as ever. It’s… it’s beautiful. “Yes,” you whisper, tears in your eyes. You lean down and cup her cheek with one hand to pull her into a warm kiss as she slips the ring on your finger. “Absolutely, yes.”

She stands and raises your hand up in the air as though she was the champion of something (she’d later tell you that she is the champion of your heart- she won the best prize there is). “We’re engaged, bitches!”

No sooner is Kristen Marie walking around with a tray of champagne flutes that each of your guests takes. 

Once she drops your hand and interlaces your right hand with her left, you get a glance at the ring. It- That- You’re wearing her beloved Nonna’s ring. You have the Schemmenti family heirloom sitting on your finger.

You go to say something to her in a hushed out whisper, but Kristen Marie shoves a glass of bubbly into your hand, and then Melissa is tapping her glass again.

“I got a couple more things I wanna say,” your now fiancee grins from ear to ear. “I just wanted to say thank you to Barb for helping make sure everyone was here. Thank you to Y/N’s parents for giving me their blessing to marry their daughter. Thank you to Kristen Marie for helping me get the ring- the family heirloom.”

“So it is Nonna’s ring?” you whisper out.

Melissa just nods with a soft smile. She presses a kiss to your temple. “And thank you, to my beautiful fiancee. For putting up with my stubborn ass for this long, and for agreeing to put up with my stubborn ass for as long as God has it planned that we’re on this Earth together.” She raises her glass before taking a sip. Everyone follows suit before breaking out into a chorus of cheers for the two of you.

It’s a bit of time before everyone has settled back into their seats for the meal, your guests all eager to get a look at the dazzling ring on your finger. But then dinner is had, desserts and more drinks are had, and it’s a perfect, perfect night.

You spend the rest of your little house party being flocked around, your friends and family absolutely thrilled that you’re the special woman that finally got to change Melissa’s mind about love.

By the time your last guests begin to file out, you have rosy cheeks from the crisp outdoor air and the champagne that you’ve had. The smile on your face hasn’t gone away though. You can’t believe that you’re actually getting married.

“I’m so happy for you, baby,” your mom whispers to you as she hugs you tightly. “Now… work on getting me some grandkids?”

“Mom!” you half groan, half whine.

Before you can say anything else though, Melissa has a hand on the small of your back, she’s pressing a soft kiss to your cheek, and she’s telling your mother quietly, “Let us get married first, yeah?”

That simple question to your mother has you raising your eyebrows and looking at your future wife with wide eyes.

The redhead just shrugs before smiling sweetly at you. She then turns her attention back to your parents. “Text us when you get home safe.” She kisses each of their cheeks softly and watches as they walk to their car.

At last, it’s just the two of you together in the comfort of your own home. Before you can even react, Melissa has you pinned up against the door, and she’s kissing you hungrily.

You can’t quite stop the moan that escapes from your lips when you feel wandering hands. “Honey.”

“God, I fuckin’ love my fiancee so much,” she mumbles into your mouth. Then she’s trailing kisses down your jawline and your neck.

It’s safe to say, you don’t get much sleep that night. And throughout all of the escapades, that beautiful rock sits on your finger perfectly. 

tags: @schemmentis @thesapphictimelady @marvel210 @itisdoctortoyousir @morgana-larkin @doesthatsuggestanythingtoyou @marvels--slut @sweetcheeksschemmenti @megamultifandomtrashposts @lemz378 @http-sam @melissaschemmentisbranzino @imaginesmultifandoms @sexysapphicshopowner @lilfartbox1 @maybe-a-humanbean @imlike-so-gaydude @a-queen-and-her-throne @notinmyvocab @melanielaufeyson @dvrkhcld @cosmichymns @sasheemo @m1lflov3rrr @ricejucie @temilyrights @emilynissangtr @squinnchy @dopenightmaretyphoon @emeraldoceansstuff @shinyfaerielights  @blkmxrvel @marvelwomenrule @sarahjohannson @casualfoxwitch @babytakeittothehead

[todaysdocument]

Letter from Women's Committee for Repeal of the 18th Amendment to the United States Congress Regarding the Repeal of Prohibition

Record Group 233: Records of the U.S. House of RepresentativesSeries: Petitions and MemorialsFile Unit: Petitions and Memorials Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary during the 71st Congress

Our Aim

"The Restoration of the Bill of Rights"

Women's Committee for Repeal of the 18th Amendment

Miss M Louise Gross, Chairman

183 Park Avenue, Harrison, N.Y

Telephone Park 1144

January 25, 1930

Dear Sir:

We respectfully suggest that the question of National Prohibition be re-submitted to the people of the several States, acting through State Conventions elected upon that sole issue, without confusion with any other issues, as the Constitution expressly permits--in effect a referendum upon the subject.

Those who think the people desire National Prohibition, should in all candor and fairness, be willing to submit to that test.

No dry constituency could honestly complain if its representatives thus vote to consult the wishes of the people. That is the only legal way to find out whether the people desire the Eighteenth Amendment or not.

Legislatures and Congresses are elected on a thousand different and confusing issues. State Conventions have no political power except to vote "aye" or "no" on repeal. The issue would be direct and certain and the popular mandate complete.

The candidates for delegate to such State Conventions are not running for a political office, have no political power, and can, therefore, have no political axe to grind.

Such re-submission would stop all the abuse, crimination, and recrimination over enforcement, etc., now going on.

During such re-submission National Prohibition would be taken completely out of partisan politics. It could not be used as a political football, for partisan advantage by any party or faction. The views of both officials and candidates, at once, become of no importance while the people were voting upon the question itself.

We believe every public official, and every candidate for office at the approaching elections would welcome such re-submission in preference to the confused and confusing situation which now exists, and which will otherwise continue to exist.

We present the following as a non-partisan proposition which ought to appeal to everybody, and respectfully ask your opinion on the suggestion.

Respectfully,

WOMEN'S COMMITTEE FOR REPEAL OF THE 18th AMENDMENT,

Miss M. LOUISE GROSS,

Chairman,

Mrs. DAVID HOLMES MORTON,

Secretary.

The above petition and enclosed resolution unanimously approved at the regular meeting of the Women's Committee for Repeal of the 18th Amendment held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, New York City, January 24th, 1930.

[signed] Mrs. David Holmes Morton

Secretary.

[gwydionmisha]

US agents raid New Jersey worksite as Trump escalates immigration crackdown

22 Democratic-led states sue over Trump's birthright citizenship order

I legitimately can't figure out how the president can repeal the 14th Amendment of the constitution with a stroke of the pen instead of following the repeal process from the Constitution.

I could have sworn they passed the 21st Amendment to repeal the 18th Amendment, for example.

Apparently a federal judge agrees: