#406 Equality

[crossbackpoke-check]

V random but I’m in my Brockpetey feels could I listen to your 46 60 playlist!!

of course!! the first playlist i mentioned in the tags is actually not mine—it belongs to ash @notthequiettype and is a soundtrack to their wonderful fic Lake Rules (go read it if you haven’t already!!! highly recommend!!!)

annnd this one is my personal brockpetey vibes playlist

happy listening!!!

[pikahlua]

i have a question about this chapter

in the beginning, bakugou says “i’m done messing around izuku(?)” but i’m confused on what it means. does this mean that he isn’t gonna treat him horribly anymore or he’s done messing around and he’s coming into his own (quirk/name/person)?

Didn't wanna answer until I published the translation.

もうおめーの邪魔はしねえ もうおめーのじゃまはしねえ mou omee no jama wa shinee I won't get in your way anymore.* (*Note: This is a sentence that could have many potential translations: "I won't get in your way anymore," "I won't hold you back anymore," "I won't be a hindrance to you anymore," etc.)

This is one of those "Katsuki Bakugou contains multitudes" lines where he means a lot of things at the same time.

The surface-level, pseudo-obvious meaning is that Katsuki won't be a jerk to Izuku--but that doesn't actually make sense, because he isn't a jerk to Izuku anymore. That shit is long over.

I think the key to understanding this line lies in chapter 406:

The major struggle Katsuki has had throughout this final arc is about his sense of inferiority compared to Izuku. Remember, he was revived at the time when he could save All Might from AFO and make up for his perceived weakness that caused All Might's downfall.

So in one sense, Katsuki is saying he's strong now. His lack of power will no longer be a burden. Now he can run alongside Izuku and match his pace and support him without Izuku ever having to worry.

But there is also some deeper meaning behind that sentiment, one that's had roots in Katsuki's journey through the entire story, since chapter 1.

It's Katsuki's relationship with victimhood.

From the beginning, the one insecurity within Katsuki that was so great he would actually kind of voice it aloud was his fear that he couldn't match up to Izuku and that Izuku looked down on him for it.

And this all ties back into his insecurities about his role in All Might's downfall. All of this was a major point of what "Deku vs Kacchan, Part 2" was all about.

It's something I dissected a long time ago here:

So it's not that Katsuki wants to protect Izuku; Katsuki doesn't want to be the reason for Izuku's downfall.

And here:

Katsuki lightens Izuku’s load by looking out for everyone else, and this is why Katsuki works so well as Izuku’s weakness. He’s become the cornerstone of Izuku’s house of cards. As much as he hates being a weakness, Katsuki can’t just make it stop by telling Izuku not to care. Izuku will keep on caring regardless. So instead Katsuki has to convince Izuku that Katsuki is stronger so Izuku will keep chasing after him. Izuku needs to believe Katsuki is stronger in order to get stronger himself. Katsuki needs Izuku to believe Katsuki can handle himself, that Izuku can trust him, so they can work as a team and compensate for each other’s weaknesses.

Katsuki acknowledges in his apology in chapter 322 that Izuku is on the right path, that all his moves since receiving OFA have been correct. Katsuki has been a roadblock hindering Izuku and holding him back--yes, often by rejecting him and competing maliciously with him, but also by being too weak to stand at Izuku's side. He was caught by the sludge villain, kidnapped by the League of Villains, lethally stabbed and later nearly killed by TomurAFO. He wasn't the strong hero like All Might that fought to win and save the day. He wasn't an equal partner.

What I read when Katsuki says he won't get in Izuku's way anymore is that he's done it, he's strong enough to stand at Izuku's side, he's strong enough to let Izuku do what he does best, he's strong enough to support Izuku as Izuku strives to achieve what only he can achieve. AND I read Katsuki saying "I am no longer that weak person, I am no longer a burden, I am no longer NOT a hero, no longer NOT the hero I needed to be."

"I won't be a weakness others can exploit to get to you anymore."

(And I read that he's ready to let Izuku be the main character.)

[lamarseillasie]

Marat — a cigarette with a taste of liberty, equality and fraternity

That's the translation of this little satire that I found randomly in issue n. 406 of the Brazilian newspaper O Pasquim (1969-1991), a periodical that was part of Brazil's alternative press during the years of the country's military dictatorship. The picture here apparently refers to a kind of advertisement for a supposed cigarette from the 1970s, branding Marat. The moment I came across this publicity, I was fascinated with the idea of finding out more about this possible and peculiar product - what do you mean there was a Marat cigarette?

In order to dig a little deeper, however, I discovered that the picture is in fact a parody of an actual Marlboro advertisement. In other words, the Marat cigarette unfortunately never existed and was just a silly joke.

The parody was probably made especially for this particular issue of the newspaper, which was all about human rights. The joke related to Marat possibly came from an association of the theme with the ideals of the Revolution and the Déclaration des Droits de l'Homme et du Citoyen. And although the mystery has been solved, one question remains: who was the journalist responsible for this simply brilliant idea?

[lostgracestories]

Hi, it's me again! I just read through the daughter hc (and all others cuz I'm so normal for Morgott) and I had a random ahh scene in my mind!

Imagine if his daughter got her father's elegance and her mother's (let's just say... brashness.)

Just imagine the curses she'll utter like, "Thy mother is a bi—" (or smth like that.)

(i swear it's funnier in my head)

I LOVE YOU I COULD KISS YOU THIS IS SO SMART

I am gifting you this mini fic for this idea <3 (I gave the daughter a name, hope y'all don't mind <3) also, not proofread!

quick sidenote: Scullion is a servant of the lowliest tasks and is often used as an insult akin to degeneracy

wc: 406 tw: language warning

Bold Elegance

Ariah was a bold child, and Morgott was none the wiser to this. She ALWAYS wore an innocent facade around him. Today, however, that would change. And certainly not intentionally.

Their family was no stranger to cruel names and stares accompanied by unkind whispers. Ariah could only ever put up with so much of it. If it was directed toward her, that was fine. But the moment she heard a snicker followed with her mother being called a whore for having children with an omen... oh boy...

Ariah completely forgot that she was in the market with her father as she whipped around to face the aggressor, her nostrils flared and her pupils restricted. The words fell off her lips before she could even think. How dare they accuse her mother of such a thing?!

"Thy tongue is sullied by such words, one wouldst think thou wert a scullion! Prithee, speak of mine mother in such a manner again and I shall rip thy nasty lips from thy face, bastard-"

The shocked expression that flashed over her father's face was priceless. Where on EARTH had she learned to speak this way? He quickly grabbed her by the ear and pulled her away. While he was a doting father, he was equally as strict. He would not stand for his daughter using such foul language. As he pulled her out of sight, he let go of her ear and folded his arms over his chest, an unamused expression, bordering disappointment, written in his features.

"Where, pray tell, hast thou learned to speak in such a manner?!"

Morgott questioned her, his face screwed up with distaste at the thought.

"Thou art royalty, thy words are disgraceful for such a standing!"

Although Morgott hated scolding his daughter, he attempted to keep himself steeled with authority. It was so hard when he watched the way his daughter shrunk away from him and averted her gaze. He had to remind himself that he had centuries of time to grow accustomed to the colorful insults people spread about him, she was merely a teenager she did not have such experience under her belt. Morgott let out a quiet sigh.

"And yet I am reminded that thou art simply a child... I shall extend thee grace but once. Do not let this occur again, understood?"

Ariah nodded slowly, relieved that no punishment would befall her... Oh, he was so wrapped around her finger...

[mellarkably]

decided to lay out a few theories that have been solidified for me after watching the trailer!

1) nirmala is getting married. according to an article she has a love interest this season, someone who makes sandwiches, and considering all three vishwakumar girls are sitting on the side for the wedding, i think it’s basically confirmed. also, it’s supposed to be unexpected. can’t think of anything else more unpredictable than pati giving love another chance.

2) the ethan storyline will fizzle out by 405, 406 or 407 maximum. apparently, according to the writers, he has quite a temper, a classic bad boy of sorts. i assume he has something to do with the crude vandalism written on devi’s car after they break up.

3) paxton will give university a chance and decide it’s not for him in 403. i wouldn’t consider this as being regressive, as uni is not the path for everyone. he will work as a swim coach and advisor back at sherman oaks, therefore bringing him back into the love triangle (and also making things easier for the writers to keep him in the story).

also, #trexton4life.

4) ben and margot break up early on. due to the still of ben and margot below, i theorize devi may accidentally start a scene during this, and bring attention to their conversation. how? i’m not sure. 

i’ve never pegged margot to be the type of girl who tolerates any level of bullshit. so i don’t doubt she’ll take herself out of the relationship if there is ex mess involved. either way, don’t think they’re lasting in any way shape or form. mildly sucks because i loved her friendship with ben in s3 but whatever

5) ben and devi will not be on talking terms until 405. regarding why they’re still icing each other out, i’m assuming whatever incident happens in theory 4 above is why ben appears to be ignoring devi, and she is equally mad at him. the still below is from 403.

they patch things up during 405, specifically the scene at the bar when ben sees devi being harassed (?) and helps her out. maybe we’ll get a moment of devi icing ben’s bruise while they finally reconcile. they will NOT get together romantically this early, but will be back on bestie terms. refer to most of s3 benvi for dynamic.

6) eleanor pursues acting in new york and succeeds, which may drive a wedge into her relationship with trent. however, they will last. i also have a slight suspicion this is an eleanor pov episode.

she might also run into her mother due to that scene in the teaser where she is very visibly upset in the same outfit.

7) swimming will be the connection between devi and paxton, as maybe devi gives it another try. she’s said to be in her speedos in a leak during the middle of the season which i assume means she’ll join the swim team again.

this still below is in 407. they might have a moment of rekindling romance here. however, considering how different devi and paxton’s paths are and also the fact that he is now a staff member and she is a student, it doesn’t quite make sense for them to work out realistically or enter a relationship, more on that later. won’t make any guesses further than that, though.

8) devi, fab, and el will not make it to prom. the car crashes. they’re sitting on it while it’s night. that insinuates that they either make it very late or not at all.

9) ben climbs through devi’s window after prom to comfort her. he knows very well how much prom has meant to devi since they were kids and probably understands how much this must suck for devi. he’s also not in a suit which may mean he also could not go to prom. i won’t speculate the reason but it could be related to the altercation at the club if it was during a school field trip, maybe not. either way, they will finally have a proper conversation about their feelings. 

however a) i don’t think they will say their i love you’s here but either way, b) i have a slight feeling they might have sex, this time doing it because they feel it’ll work out and out of love, without any sort of miscommunication. the awkwardness from 401 will not be there post coital antics.

there is also the chance that this entire scene is a dream. i wouldn’t put that past the show because ben has never been the type to climb through devi’s window. however, it is sweet considering how willing ben is to step out of his comfort zone when it comes to her, so i choose to believe it’s real for narrative sense.

10) ben and devi have some sort of prom retry in 410, maybe in the last few minutes of the show, and their final love confessions happen here. the last scene maitreyi and jaren filmed was in a library, and she had a corsage on her wrist after wrapping. as mentioned before, attending prom meant a lot to devi and ben knows of this fact. as for the place, probably their college library, assuming they both go to the same place for post secondary education.

EDIT: it's also possible the library scene is a timeskip into the future. we shall see.

shows do film out of order, and the corsage could have been unrelated to onscreen plot. so as of right now, it’s just speculation

it is important to note that i do not want to assume who is endgame, as i try not to set any expectations. but personally, i don’t understand how devi and paxton would work from here if devi is going to university and paxton is staying at sherman oaks. her future seems to align with ben’s more. writing wise, and just logically, it would make more sense.

anyway, if i think of any more i’ll add them! thanks for entertaining my delusions ideas.

[evidence-based-activism]

This has been on my mind a lot lately, but I couldn't find anything about this. I saw a data that says young people regardless of gender feel more lonely especially after covid. But articles everywhere describe the phenomenon as male loneliness epidemic. Is it true that loneliness affect men more than women?

Yes, I've noticed this as well! (It's definitely frustrating!)

In short, no, women and men experience similar amounts of loneliness. (Therefore, it should simply be a "loneliness epidemic" not a "male loneliness epidemic".)

First:

A pre-covid meta-analysis [1] concluded that "across the lifespan mean levels of loneliness are similar for males and females". This is a robust finding because a meta-analysis synthesizes the results from many different studies; this one covered 39 years, 45 countries, and a wide range of other demographic factors from a total of 575 reports (751 effect sizes).

An interesting longitudinal study [2] used both indirect and direct measures of loneliness and (essentially) found no significant effect of sex. (But there were some interesting interaction effects between sex and age or sex and loneliness measure, if you want to look at the study!)

This literature review [3] states that "sex differences in loneliness are dependent on what type of loneliness is measured and how" and it's possible sex only "correlates with other factors that then impact loneliness directly". The first quote here is referring to similar sex-age/sex-measurement interactions found in [2].

During/after the COVID-19 pandemic however:

The earlier review [3] stated that "most studies found that women were lonelier or experienced higher increases in loneliness than men with both direct and indirect measures", but this may be a result of participant selection bias during the pandemic.

That being said, both a rapid review [4] and a systematic review and meta-analysis [5] found that women were either more or equally likely to report loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, the Pew Research Center has collected some relevant data:

Prior to the pandemic, 10% of both men and women in the USA reported feeling lonely all or most of the time [6].

And while this doesn't measure loneliness directly, 48% of women and 32% of men in the USA reported high levels of psychological distress at least once during the pandemic [7].

References below the cut:

Maes, M., Qualter, P., Vanhalst, J., Van Den Noortgate, W., & Goossens, L. (2019). Gender differences in loneliness across the lifespan: A meta–analysis. European Journal of Personality, 33(6), 642–654. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.2220

Von Soest, T., Luhmann, M., Hansen, T., & Gerstorf, D. (2020). Development of loneliness in midlife and old age: Its nature and correlates. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 118(2), 388–406. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000219

Barjaková, M., Garnero, A., & d’Hombres, B. (2023). Risk factors for loneliness: A literature review. Social Science & Medicine (1982), 334, 116163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116163

Pai, N., & Vella, S.-L. (2021). COVID-19 and loneliness: A rapid systematic review. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 55(12), 1144–1156. https://doi.org/10.1177/00048674211031489

Ernst, M., Niederer, D., Werner, A. M., Czaja, S. J., Mikton, C., Ong, A. D., Rosen, T., Brähler, E., & Beutel, M. E. (2022). Loneliness before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review with meta-analysis. American Psychologist, 77(5), 660–677. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001005

Bialik, K. (2018, December 3). Americans unhappy with family, social or financial life are more likely to say they feel lonely. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/12/03/americans-unhappy-with-family-social-or-financial-life-are-more-likely-to-say-they-feel-lonely/

Gramlich, J. (2023, March 2). Mental health and the pandemic: What U.S. surveys have found. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/03/02/mental-health-and-the-pandemic-what-u-s-surveys-have-found/

[winnipegwinterpeg]

Access For All. Period.

Free pads and tampons are now available throughout Manitoba as part of the Access for All Period program, led by the Manitoba government. This program is focused on ending period poverty by providing equal access to menstrual products for all.

What is period poverty?

Period poverty is the inability to access or afford menstrual products, preventing youth and adults who menstruate from participating in their everyday lives.

Why is this important?

Removing barriers to access menstrual products is crucial to the physical and mental health of all who menstruate. A lack of proper access can result in dangerous situations, leading to both short and long term physical harm, as well as mental health issues including anxiety, depression and self-isolation. For students, it can negatively impact attendance and participation, affecting long-term achievement and resulting in missed educational and employment opportunities.

How does the program work?

The Manitoba government, in partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart, is providing readily available pads and tampons free to those in need. Products are available to all Manitobans in schools and community organizations as listed below. Free menstrual products are also available at participating shelters throughout the province through the Access for All Period program.

Where can I go?

You can access free menstrual products at the following locations (38 total, 26 in Winnipeg) under the cut:

* Andrews Street Family Centre, 220 Andrews Street, Winnipeg

* Blue Thunderbird Family Care, 998 Sargent Avenue, Winnipeg

* Acorn Family Place, 222 Furby Street #202, Winnipeg

* Canadian Muslim Women's Institute, 61 Juno Street #201, Winnipeg

* Community Ambition, 266A Linwood Street, Winnipeg

* Elmwood Community Resource Centre, 545 Watt Street, Winnipeg

* Family Dynamics, 393 Portage Avenue #401, Winnipeg

* First Nations Family Advocate, 286 Smith Street #200, Winnipeg

* The Food Vault and Community Resource Centre, 24 Hampton East, P.O. Box 881, MacGregor

* Fort Garry Women's Resource Centre, 1150A Waverly Street, Winnipeg

* Holy Names House of Peace, 211 Edmonton Street, Winnipeg

* Interlake Women's Resource Centre, 87 - 5th Avenue, Gimli

* Lakeshore Family Resource Centre, 9 Main Street, Ashern

* Madeline's Closet, 40 Main Street, Inwood

* Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, 445 King Street, Winnipeg

* Marlene Street Resource Centre, 27 Marlene Street #6, Winnipeg

* Men are Part of the Solution (MAPS), 117B Commercial Place, Thompson

* N'Dinawemak, 190 Disraeli Freeway, Winnipeg

* Ndinawe, 472 Selkirk Avenue, Winnipeg

* North End Women's Centre, 394 Selkirk Avenue, Winnipeg

* North Point Douglas Women's Centre, 221 Austin Street North, Winnipeg

* NorWest - A Woman's Place, 945 Notre Dame Avenue, Winnipeg

* NorWest - Community Health, 785 Keewatin Street, Winnipeg

* Pluri-elles, 114-l420 Des Meurons Street, Winnipeg

* Samaritan House, 1610 Pacific Avenue, Brandon

* South Winnipeg Family Information Centre, 800 Point Road, Winnipeg

* Steinbach Family Resource Centre, 101 North Front Drive, Steinbach

* Swan Valley Crisis Centre, 119 9th Avenue North, Swan River

* The Counselling Centre, 335 9th Street, Brandon

* The Pas Family Resource Centre, 103 Edwards Avenue, The Pas

* Thrive Community Support Circle, 3-406 Edmonton Street, Winnipeg

* Wahbung Abinoonjiiag, 225 Dufferin Street, Winnipeg

* Winnipeg Central Park Women's Resource Centre, 400 Edmonton Avenue, Winnipeg

* Women's Safe Haven, 228-35 Main Street, Flin Flon

* West Central Women's Resource Centre, 640 Ellice Avenue, Winnipeg

* Western MB Women's Regional Resource Centre, 729 Princess Avenue, Brandon

* YMCA Winnipeg (Downtown Branch) 301 Vaughan Street, Winnipeg, (West Portage Branch) 3550 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg

[dailyanarchistposts]

B.3.5 Is state owned property different from private property?

No, far from it.

State ownership should not be confused with the common or public ownership implied by the concept of “use rights.” The state is a hierarchical instrument of coercion and, as we discussed in section B.2, is marked by power being concentrated in a few hands. As the general populate is, by design, excluded from decision making within it this means that the state apparatus has control over the property in question. As the general public and those who use a piece of property are excluded from controlling it, state property is identical to private property. Instead of capitalists owning it, the state bureaucracy does.

This can easily be seen from the example of such so-called “socialist” states as the Soviet Union or China. To show why, we need only quote a market socialist who claims that China is not capitalist. According to David Schweickart a society is capitalist if, ”[i]n order to gain access to means of production (without which no one can work), most people must contract with people who own (or represent the owners of) such means. In exchange for a wage of a salary, they agree to supply the owners with a certain quantity and quality of labour. It is a crucial characteristic of the institution of wage labour that the goods or services produced do not belong to the workers who produce them but to those who supply the workers with the means of production.” Anarchists agree with Schweickart’s definition of capitalism. As such, he is right to argue that a “society of small farmers and artisans .. . is not a capitalist society, since wage labour is largely absent.” He is, however, wrong to assert that a “society in which most of [the] means of production are owned by the central government or by local communities — contemporary China, for example — is not a capitalist society, since private ownership of the means of production is not dominant.” [After Capitalism, p. 23]

The reason is apparent. As Emma Goldman said (pointing out the obvious), if property is nationalised “it belongs to the state; this is, the government has control of it and can dispose of it according to its wishes and views … Such a condition of affairs may be called state capitalism, but it would be fantastic to consider it in any sense Communistic” (as that needs the “socialisation of the land and of the machinery of production and distribution” which “belong[s] to the people, to be settled and used by individuals or groups according to their needs” based on “free access”). [Red Emma Speaks, pp. 406–7]

Thus, by Schweickart’s own definition, a system based on state ownership is capitalist as the workers clearly do not own the own means of production they use, the state does. Neither do they own the goods or services they produce, the state which supplies the workers with the means of production does. The difference is that rather than being a number of different capitalists there is only one, the state. It is, as Kropotkin warned, the “mere substitution … of the State as the universal capitalist for the present capitalists.” [Evolution and Environment, p. 106] This is why anarchists have tended to call such regimes “state capitalist” as the state basically replaces the capitalist as boss.

While this is most clear for regimes like China’s which are dictatorships, the logic also applies to democratic states. No matter if a state is democratic, state ownership is a form of exclusive property ownership which implies a social relationship which is totally different from genuine forms of socialism. Common ownership and use rights produce social relationships based on liberty and equality. State ownership, however, presupposes the existence of a government machine, a centralised bureaucracy, which stands above the members of society, both as individuals and as a group, and has the power to coerce and dominate them. In other words, when a state owns the means of life, the members of society remain proletarians, non-owners, excluded from control. Both legally and in reality, the means of life belong not to them, but to the state. As the state is not an abstraction floating above society but rather a social institution made up of a specific group of human beings, this means that this group controls and so effectively owns the property in question, not society as a whole nor those who actually use it. Just as the owning class excludes the majority, so does the state bureaucracy which means it owns the means of production, whether or not this is formally and legally recognised.

This explains why libertarian socialists have consistently stressed workers’ self-management of production as the basis of any real form of socialism. To concentrate on ownership, as both Leninism and social democracy have done, misses the point. Needless to say, those regimes which have replaced capitalist ownership with state property have shown the validity the anarchist analysis in these matters (“all-powerful, centralised Government with State Capitalism as its economic expression,” to quote Emma Goldman’s summation of Lenin’s Russia [Op. Cit., p. 388]). State property is in no way fundamentally different from private property — all that changes is who exploits and oppresses the workers.

For more discussion see section H.3.13 — “Why is state socialism just state capitalism?”

[shadowanndeath]

My sister Heidi Steiger (406-490-0896), my cousins Robert Bruner (406-595-3931) and John Bruner (406-498-6681), Whitehall, my ex Josh Dax Lossy (719-210-2563), Idaho, Sam Gunningham (406-994-5358), Anna Schenfisch (https://www.facebook.com/share/bgJmq1dmLaTPy5GT/?mibextid=qi2Omg), Rex Wu (312-806-6825), Charley of Doom (603-995-6639), Blair Davey (406-994-3123), Addie (406-850-9302), CJ Smith (406-404-4856), Bozeman, Aaron Walley (406-927-9100), Rachel Trinder (406-230-0565), Emily Lasha (406-579-6844), Kate Künst (406-600-1075) my coworkers, Lexi Ray (406-899-8994), Texas, Emily Sam McCrossins partner (303-618-2314), are the children who are stalking me just because they don't want me to win my equality argument. They are apparently really jealous that I think they make bad life choices and didn't listen to them about what I "should be doing" because it sounded like just let them abuse me. Which is what they are currently doing much worse now. Apparently, that made them really unhappy. So they decided to put cameras in my house so they could beet me better, because they don't think I deserved to win this debate of pleasure just stop stalking me and leave me alone, because they think I only care about being pretty "for attention," they apparently consider me to be considerably more attractive than them, so they are forcing me to perform for their "attention." They just finished up their new masterpiece; they put brand new cameras in my brand new room, which is now finally ready for me after over a month since I moved in. I need this conspiracy of Spiders and Snakes to be devolved. I want none of them looking at me "that way" anymore. Sawyer Payne Son of Allen Payne is their ring leader (406-443-2211) (https://doneylaw.com/team/r-allan-payne/) I want them all to just go away.

My coworkers have been following along with harassing and taunting me constantly at work too just so they can all preserve the right to keep causing me pain and calling me stupid for running away from away from them, the monsters, because they didn't understand that I was doing it because they were making me freaky uncomfortable. Do not be listing to any of these people about me. They have never been my friends and they only know really superficial things about me

None of you are in love with me

You don't deserve to be here

Beth Pland it all (406) 994-3604

#OnlyinBozeman

[asfaltics]

putterings, 406-405

  the first step on the road to salvation is a job-lot of flagstone, Amazing New Kind of widely read and reflected, you might even say   disconnected facts juggling all words of equal value, a half-acre lot situated on an idea Oh look, a squirrel!  

puutterings     |     their index     |     these derivations     |     20240229  

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

Releasing the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee's findings on the prices of weight loss drugs in the United States, Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday ramped up pressure on a Danish pharmaceutical company to lower the "outrageously high" prices of Ozempic and Wegovy, warning that the current pricing could bankrupt the country's healthcare system.

As chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, Sanders (I-Vt.) is leading an investigation into Novo Nordisk's weight loss drug pricing, and the report published Wednesday is the result of modeling his staff completed to show how the medications' exorbitant prices could impact prescription drug pricing across the United States.

The committee found that if half of all U.S. adults with obesity took Wegovy and other diabetes drugs that have recently been approved for weight loss, it could cost $411 billion per year. In 2022, Americans spent $406 billion on all retail prescription drugs.

Medicare and Medicaid would spend an estimated $166 billion per year on the medications if half of the programs' patients used them, rivaling the $175 billion the programs spent on prescription drugs in 2022.

"Today's report makes it crystal clear: The outrageously high price of Wegovy and other weight loss drugs have the potential to bankrupt Medicare and our entire health care system," said Sanders.

The projected costs are a far cry from what patients in Denmark and other European countries would pay for the same drugs.

Americans currently pay $969 per month for Ozempic and $1,349 per month for Wegovy. While the two drugs have the same active ingredient, the former is typically used to treat Type 2 diabetes and the latter is for weight loss and management.

Ozempic costs just $155 in Canada, $71 in France and $59 in Germany. Danish patients pay just $186 per month for Wegovy, while the medication costs $137 in Germany and $92 in the U.K.

Sanders' report says that Novo Nordisk's prices are "especially egregious" considering the fact that the company could make a profit off manufacturing them for less than $5 per month.

"The unjustifiably high prices of these weight loss drugs could also cause a massive spike in prescription drug spending that could lead to an historic increase in premiums for Medicare and everyone who has health insurance," said the senator. "There is no rational reason, other than greed, for Novo Nordisk to charge Americans struggling with obesity $1,349 for Wegovy when this same exact product can be purchased for just $186 in Denmark."

The report cites the North Carolina state health plan's decision last month to end coverage for Wegovy and similar medications.

The plan administrators "estimated that continuing coverage for Wegovy at its current price would require them to double insurance premiums. Faced with impossible choices, the health plan eliminated coverage," reads the report.

The reason nearly 20,000 teachers and other state employees in North Carolina lost access to the drugs, the report emphasizes, "was not because there were not enough drugs to meet demand, but because Novo Nordisk refused to lower prices to make those drugs widely available."

Thirty-five state Medicaid programs do not cover the medications at all, the HELP Committee noted, due to the price.

"As important as these drugs are, they will not do any good for the millions of patients who cannot afford them," reads the report. "Further, if the prices for these products are not substantially reduced, they have the potential to bankrupt Medicare, Medicaid, and our entire healthcare system."

The committee found that if Novo Nordisk made the U.S. price of Wegovy equal to what Danish patients pay, the healthcare system could pay for new weight loss drugs for 100% of adults with obesity annually for less than what it costs to cover just 25% of those patients at the current drug prices.

The healthcare system would save up to $317 billion per year, according to the committee's modeling.

The report was released days after Sanders appealed to the Danish government in the pages of one of the country's largest newspapers, Politiken, calling on officials to force Novo Nordisk to lower U.S. prices.

"As many Danes may know, I have long admired the welfare system that has been built up in Denmark," wrote Sanders. "When I was a candidate for the presidency, I often pointed out that the United States could learn a lot from Denmark in terms of access to healthcare and education, as well as respect for the environment and workers' rights. There is a reason why Denmark is considered one of the happiest places on Earth in international surveys. The Danish people should be proud of what you have managed to achieve."

"So now I want to appeal to the people of Denmark and the charitable foundation that owns this hugely profitable company," he continued. "Help the American people do something about the epidemic of obesity and diabetes we are facing."

Pelle Dragsted, a member of Danish Parliament for the Red-Green Alliance and a democratic socialist, applauded Sanders' op-ed.

"Healthcare is a human right," said Dragsted on Monday. "Having an illness should never be the ruin of anyone. Our message to Novo Nordisk is clear: Choose basic decency and social responsibility over profit—lower your prices in the U.S."

[gumnut-logic]

Most would have thought it was Gordon’s idea.

But it wasn’t.

That didn’t stop Gordon from embracing it and having the time of his life.

They took Thunderbird Two, but for once Virgil wasn’t her pilot – Scott declared that there was no way in hell he was piloting while wearing that.

The reason for taking Thunderbird Two was because while everyone knew of Tracy Industries, EVERYONE knew about International Rescue and they wanted to make a point.

And have a little fun on the side.

According to Gordon.

Virgil just wanted to make sure they were seen.

They were.

Hard to miss a 406 tonne cargo plane landing in Oxford Street, Sydney.

It was February so the city had been roasting in summer most of the day, but according to Gordon who claimed to be very knowledgeable about the weather hereabouts, that only made the nights a great time to party.

Sam and Liam had hitched a ride.

Sam was about to lose his mascara simply through vibrating in excitement.

He had grabbed Gordon quite roughly and expressed his amazement at getting a ride on a ‘real Thunderbird’!

The fact Gordon had actually taken him down in Thunderbird Four earlier in the week with much less reaction had the aquanaut frowning fit to bust a blood vessel.

But! There was fun to be had.

He’d roast him later.

As Two touched the tarmac with the barest of thumps, Scott ran through shutdown procedure before turning to his family and friends.

“Okay, we’re doing this with style and with as much impact as possible. Keep it decent.” He frowned at Gordon and Alan who shrugged innocently. “But shout loud. We need the world to know our opinion on this and that both Tracy Industries and International Rescue support this all the way.”

“FAB!” It was said unanimously and with many grins.

Scott rolled his eyes, but stood up with the rest of them.

This was going to be GREAT! Gordon bounced in his seat.

It took quite a bit to get themselves all down to the module. Grandma’s feathers got hooked on the hatchway between, but they managed to straighten her out.

Outside the crowds were swelling. The media was already there. Scott had arranged publicity for this arrival and they’d timed it perfectly as the sun was just hitting the horizon.

The city was buzzing.

Scott lowered the module and Two rose onto her struts.

The ramp lowered, the thick curtains Virgil had hung behind it fluttered as the evening heat wafted in.

And yes, curtains in a cargo plane had prompted Gordon to declare that Virgil was finally a full-blown soccer mom with the van to match.

Virgil clapped him up the ear.

Gordon still helped him string them up in module two.

That was why they were more spangly than when Grandma first sewed them up. What’s a bit of glue, glitter and a few sequins between family?

Besides Scotty said to shout loud.

Gordon was good at that.

His eldest brother was the first to step through the curtains and into the spotlight shining down underneath Two’s nose. They had their own stage, Eos had it streaming to the networks and Brains had hooked up their collar comms to Two’s speakers.

The crowd muttered into silence; eyes wide.

Scott was dressed to the nines. Black tie, expensive everything, shoulders broad, expression as suave and energetic as ever.

He held his arms wide. “I am Scott Tracy, President of Tracy Industries and Commander of International Rescue. We are here to show our support of our LGBTQIA+ community.” He smiled. “And to have a little fun.”

He stepped back and to one side. “I’d like to present my family.”

Kayo took the first step. Dressed in heels and a slinky deep blue-grey dress, she slipped between the curtains and out into the spotlight. She said not a word, but her expression held threat and several in the crowd took a step back.

And were equally startled when she smiled and stepped over to stand beside Scott.

He whispered. “Keeping them guessing?”

Cherry red lips curved mischievously. “Always.”

Next was Grandma, not one for the spotlight and rarely seen by the public, she stepped through the curtains in heels as high as Kayo’s, but her dress was more purple feathers and sequins than anything else. She had the headdress of a Las Vegas showgirl and she wasn’t afraid to shake it around. Her hair had been curled beautifully on top of her head and its silver was echoed throughout the trailing dress.

A roar rose in the crowd and a grin as powerful as Kayo’s lit up beneath a pair of sparkling glasses.

A touch of a curtsey and she moved to stand beside Kayo.

Next came Dad. Where Grandma was the matriarch, Dad wasn’t afraid of his patriarchal duties. He stepped out in a dark pin-stiped suit and a full-on top hat. He could have owned the Las Vegas casino his mother was playing at, rainbow hat band included.

His grin was fit to burst as the crowd erupted into an even bigger roar – everyone knew Colonel Jeff Tracy, barely anyone had seen him since he had come back from the dead.

And he was just dapper.

He twirled his cane and stepped over to stand by Grandma.

Gordon couldn’t wait any longer and burst through the curtains.

Unfortunately, his plans involving sequins and glitter foiled his entrance a little as they caught on the sequins and glitter all over his body. There was a struggle for a few moments and the loss of several gold sparkly bits, but a large hand reached through from behind and finally King Neptune was free.

And mostly naked.

But then Gordon was used to being mostly naked and hey, he had extra sequins and shimmering body paint.

Glittery trident in hand, he danced into the spotlight and wiggled and jiggled, and hands raised yelled out “Good evening, Sydney!” at the top of his voice.

Sydney answered back with a roar.

It took a long time to die down. In the meantime, Gordon made a point of rushing to the edges of the crowd and shaking as many hands as he could, grinning like a loon. As soon as he stepped out of the spotlight, it became very obvious that he also had LEDs strung amongst the sequins and he glittered like the stars on the ocean.

Well, those were Virgil’s words, not his, but he was going to run with it anyway.

“Okay, so I guess you all know my brother Gordon.” Scott’s voice had a grin in it.

Sydney answered with a wave of laughter.

Sam and Liam used this moment to slip out between the curtains. Neither were dressed much out of the norm. Sam had his usual pink board shorts, but had put on some mascara and lippy for the occasion. Liam was sporting a smooth fedora and some of Sam’s lippy prominently on his neck.

It was fifty-fifty he was aware of it.

Gordon voted he was.

Liam was a quiet one. Like John.

Which is why you had to keep an eye on both of them.

Speaking of which, John followed them out. His space brother was being extremely tolerant for the cause.

He was simply wearing his uniform.

In truth he needed it having only come down from space a few hours earlier. It had been iffy any of them could make it and it had been close. Two was leaving a little bit of mud on the pavement tonight as Virgil hadn’t had a chance to clean her footings from the last rescue in Peru.

But he was determined they should all get there.

And they did.

But it meant John had to wear his uniform. In Gordon’s opinion it had been partly tactical. It wasn’t that John didn’t support the cause, it was more the glaring attention and ‘Gordon, if you think I’m wearing that, you’ve got another thing coming’.

John wasn’t really the costume wearing type.

Or it might be he wasn’t really the Gordon-type-costume wearing type, but Gordon hadn’t had a chance to experiment because Virgil had intervened and told him leave John alone or he’d pull his sequins off one by one without the glue dissolvent.

The glare from under those monstrous eyebrows got the point across clearly.

But despite everything and especially despite the uniform, John looked magnificent. He wasn’t wearing his familiar golden baldric. In its place was a voluptuous swath of billowing and glittering rainbow material. It was wrapped across his body, around his thigh, and pinched tight on his shoulder with a large silver pin sporting the IR logo. The material then swept over his back, billowing out behind him as he walked.

And to Gordon’s surprise, John had actually also put on some mascara, eyeliner, and swept his red hair back with some gel, smoothing it to his scalp.

If anything, he had an ancient Egyptian air about him, austere and regal.

Gordon approached him as he stepped away from the spotlight. “Nicely done, bro, nicely done.”

John’s lips twitched to side with a smile and Gordon’s eyes widened when he realised there was also lipstick and a little foundation happening up there on his big brother’s face.

“Worth the effort.” John smiled and turned to stand side by side with the rest of the family.

Gordon arched an eyebrow and smiled.

He didn’t miss the murmurings of the crowd either as the words ‘the voice who answers’ and ‘eye in the sky’ bounced around the darkening street.

Gordon smiled even more. The world knew all his brothers.

Which is why the crowd’s reaction was a surprise when Brains slipped through the curtains, possibly pushed gently from behind. He looked out, wide-eyed, through a pair of glasses Virgil had bought him specially for the occasion.

Dad had taken Brains shopping as well, and he was nicely dressed in a deep burgundy three-piece suit. He smiled hesitantly as Sydney rumbled and whispered about the creator of the Thunderbirds.

The internet had a way of leaking news into the world at large, and informally, many knew of Doctor Hiram Hackenbacker and his amazing achievements.

Rarely seen outside a lecture theatre, this was a rare opportunity for eyes to be laid upon the quiet man.

Surrounded by ferocious Tracys.

Of course, that was the moment Alan decided to jump through the curtains and turn ferocity into something more like a terrier chewing on ankles.

Dressed head to toe in a glaringly bright red suit, he had Brandon on his arm, dressed in an equally glaring white.

Gordon was getting Lewis Carroll vibes, complete with playing cards.

Alan wore no makeup and his hair was its usual pale blonde mess, but Brandon had obviously had a date with a comb and his red locks were tidied.

They were both wearing sunglasses at night.

Really, guys?

Brandon, likely with help from Alan, had upgraded his holocam and it was hovering at a distance no doubt broadcasting to several million followers.

Scott had allowed it. Scott wanted as much coverage as possible, so he wasn’t going to say no.

Brandon hadn’t shut up for over an hour after that.

Scott had left the room within five minutes.

Gords quite liked Brandon.

Alan and Brandon swept around the edges of the crowd swapping hoots and catcalls. Scott was seen to roll his eyes at least once.

But the crowd suddenly fell quiet as the light shining down from Two’s undercarriage dimmed all of a sudden.

In the module the curtains divided slowly to reveal shadows.

Multicoloured flame flickered in the darkness.

And Virgil stepped out into the night.

He was unrecognisable. Gone was the quiet brother Gordon knew and, in his place, stood a creature of fantasy.

All this was Virgil’s idea. He was the one who thought it was important they take a stand and support the cause. He was the one whose eyes lit with fire while watching the news.

Scott had had to intervene on several occasions which was not only weird because it was Virgil getting angry, but once the reason for that anger was communicated to Scott, the argument flipped and ninety-nine percent of the time Virgil then had to stop Scott from doing dastardly things.

Gordon suspected Virgil hadn’t intervened on all of Scott’s actions and there were a few Gordon actions that neither brother was ever going to find out about.

Certain things had to be done after all.

But tonight was about celebration and Virgil had gone all out.

Engineer plus artist plus heavy lifting?

Equals Virgil.

His brother was dressed in a flowing dress of iridescent green scales. Interspersed with billowing satin and tulle in varying shades of green, the skirt leapt out into an amazing train that rustled as he walked.

It all thinned at his hips and wrapped around him like a serpent, the scales following the flow of its body. It disappeared up and over Virgil’s left shoulder only rear above him.

Virgil’s right shoulder was bare except for a scattering of viridian sequins that Gordon was far too familiar with.

The green dragon’s long prehensile neck terminated in a beautifully detailed head with eyes of light and breath of rainbow fire. It ducked and hissed around Virgil, brushing across his fully mohawked hair.

Which glittered as much as the rest of him.

Virgil was also wearing makeup, lining his already dark eyes and bringing their edges to points. He stared out at the world with pools of sharp shadow and whispered with lips of green.

The crowd murmured as he shrugged his shoulders and two deep green, massive reptilian wings unfolded behind him. His arms glittered in the light from the flame above and as he stepped forward, the whole apparition moved with him.

He stood beneath his ‘bird, body ramrod straight, dragon hissing around him.

“The Tracy family supports Pride in all its forms. You should be proud to be who you are.”

Then he smirked and spoke into the silence suddenly possessing the Sydney Mardi Gras.

“Let’s party.”

-o-o-o-

[therpdirectory]

Site name and link: Charmingly Splendid, https://ecs.jcink.net Site genre: Based On TV Show Site info: Charmingly Splendid is a Charmed AU roleplay site based in modern era. Our plot started in between season 2 - 3, before we lost Prue Halliwell, most of the story from here onward is our creation so regardless if you've watched Charmed or not, you'll be able to make a character to fit into this new world we are creating. Your name: Paige Contact info: Discord Paige Yin#0119 Role(s) requested: All characters requested below would have plotting opportunities with my character(s), sometimes multiple of them and might be involving in some major site plot if you choose to use them that way. Some of these characters has a more complex plots that I'd like to work out, while others are more open. Either way, you may always contact me on Discord and we can hash out the ideas either of us have and make an even better, funner plot to write! Looking forward to chatting with you!

For Keenen Bauknecht

Kiefer Bauknecht ❥ Original ❥ Demon ❥ 406 years old ❥ Open profession

Meet Kiefer, older twin brother of Keenen who's also the Demon of Dreams. His power is similar to Keenen's although with a little twist. Kiefer's ability would be able to influence dreams, however, when it comes to creating nightmare/ twisting a good dream into a nightmare, he is slightly weaker compared to Keenen. Most of Keenen's history with his brother is listed on Keenen's app, long story short, the were born in currently Bamberg, Germany, from a long line of witches and warlocks. The family was nice and happy until they the witch hunt caught up to them and condemned them all to die. Burned to death, Keenen and Kiefer became a pair of demons. Their transformation and the abilities over someone's dreams are a manifestation of their mortal conjuring and hallucikinesis abilities. Keenen and Kiefer are not in good term right now, Keenen is jealous of his big brother's goodness while he prefers to walk the darker path in life. All the rest that's not mentioned here or in the application, you'll have free reign to create. Face claim, I'd suggest Janis Danner, but I am not 100% set on that! It's just because they are twins so I figured that they could share similar face! But if you'd like alternative choices (I can't provide any of German descend), I'd recommend Lucas Bravo (esp if you're keen on having someone more mainstream and have tons of gifs), Valentin D'Hoore and Giorgos Mavrogiannis.

For Haori Tsukioka This is a request for the Tsukioka siblings. Brief intro on the family, the Nomura is quite a renowned and respected family in Japan, especially in the Sorcery profession/ Sorcery world (魔道). Their father, Aoshi Tsukioka, is stern and a bit of a sexist/ genderist (this is quite common in the culture) so he wants to get a boy to pass his knowledge onto. To the girls, even though he doesn't have as high an expectation from them, he does expect a lot from them, like to excel academically and otherwise; their mother, Kiku Ohara, is a quiet lady, gentle but also obedient and careful. I can see her being very kind towards everyone equally, though she won't go against their father's words. Their parents have no love for each other, their marriage were arranged by their parents since before birth. The Tsukioka has 4 children, 3 girls and a boy. Of course, the boy would be getting all the attentions from their father as well as all the responsibilities. I am playing the oldest sister, haori tsukioka, who's like a typical first born: confident, outspoken, protective, and like, never really fear of anything. She is pretty close with most of her siblings, but I am also open for conflict, perhaps one of her siblings (maybe the boy) dislike and envy her (and the rest of the girls) for the freedom he could never have. If you have any questions about the plot, the family, the characters, Japanese's culture, feel free to poke me via DM or Discord.

Saori Tsukioka ❥ Original ❥ Witch/ Human ❥ 28/ 29 ❥ Middle Sister ❥ Open profession

I always feels Saori being a little more reserve and quiet as a middle sister. She probably wasn't too confident in her middle/ high school year and needed Haori to help her come out of her shell, but she can go the total opposite way as well! If she was the quiet/ shy one, I can see her having that big-sis worship syndrome and followed Haori to the States when her big sister had the chance. She could also be the down-to-earth one who constantly try to keep Haori from getting into troubles or spending too much. FC suggestion:  Tao Tsuchiya (image), Kasumi Arimura, Emi Takei, Tao Tsuchiya, Alice Hirose, Haruna Kawaguchi, Yuko Araki, Nana Komatsu.

Minori Tsukioka ❥ Original ❥ Witch/ Human ❥ 24/ 25 ❥ Youngest Sister ❥ Twin: Yuori Tsukioka ❥ Open profession

I can see Minori being the baby of the family, a little spoiled, a little whinny, but also pretty out-going and confident and kind of a wild child. I can see her being closest to Yuori and actually be able to understand her twin brother better than the other two sisters. If you want to take her and have drama, we can totally have her ran away with Yuori to the States and never wanted to go back home ever since. I picked Tao as FC because there are tons of GIFs and photos of her in kimono, which is what all the Nomura children will be wearing when they are back at their Japan home (their family is traditional like that). FC suggestion:  Ayaka Miyoshi(image), Minami Hamabe, Sakurai Hinako, Ayami Nakajo, Suzu Hirose, Mei Nagano, Nana Komatsu.

Yuori Tsukioka ❥ Original ❥ Witch/ Human ❥ 24/ 25 ❥ Youngest Brother ❥ Twin: Minori Tsukioka ❥ Open profession

The youngest brother, but also, the only boy in the family and he probably got tons of pressure to be perfect and learn 魔道 (ways of Magic) with his dad. He is supposed to be the next generation of socerer for the Tsukioka family. I can see him getting stressed out, and eventually rebel. You can either have him be obedient and follow the path arrange by their father, or rebel and decided to go his own way. Either way, Haori will be supportive of his path! Similar with Tao, I picked Ryusei as FC because there are tons of GIFs being in Kimono or suits, which are the main attire when the Nomura's are home in Japan. FC suggestion:  Ryusei Yokohama (image), Mackennyu, Takumi Kitamura, Taishi Nakagawa, Gordon Maeda, Keisuke Watanabe, Eiji Akaso, Sano Hayato, Seto Toshiki, Inukai Atsuhiro.

[ozzyscollectiblehub]

George Brett: The Legend of Kansas City Baseball

When you think of Kansas City Royals baseball, one name immediately comes to mind — George Brett. A Hall of Famer, 13-time All-Star, and one of the greatest hitters in the history of Major League Baseball, Brett’s legacy is forever intertwined with the Royals organization. His passion, intensity, and consistent excellence made him an icon not just in Kansas City, but in the entire baseball world.

From his legendary pursuit of a .400 batting average to his infamous “Pine Tar Incident,” George Brett’s career is filled with memorable moments that have solidified his place as one of baseball’s all-time greats. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at his incredible journey, his defining moments, and his lasting impact on the game.

Early Life and Rise to the Majors

George Howard Brett was born on May 15, 1953, in Glen Dale, West Virginia, but he grew up in Southern California. A natural athlete, Brett excelled in baseball from an early age, playing alongside his older brother, Ken Brett, who would also go on to play in the major leagues. It wasn’t long before George Brett’s talent caught the eye of scouts.

In 1971, at the age of 18, Brett was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the second round of the MLB Draft. After spending a few years in the minor leagues honing his skills, Brett made his MLB debut with the Royals in 1973. Initially a shortstop, Brett would eventually shift to third base, where he became one of the best in the league.

The Pursuit of .400: A Historic 1980 Season

Brett’s career truly hit its peak in 1980, a season that is still talked about as one of the greatest individual performances in MLB history. That year, Brett flirted with baseball immortality as he pursued the elusive .400 batting average — a mark that hadn’t been achieved since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941.

Throughout the summer of 1980, Brett’s bat was unstoppable. He consistently delivered at the plate, thrilling fans and leaving pitchers bewildered. By late August, Brett’s average sat at .407, and it looked like he might achieve the unthinkable. Although his average dipped slightly in September, Brett finished the season with an astonishing .390 batting average, the highest in the majors since Williams’ iconic season.

Brett’s remarkable performance earned him the American League MVP Award in 1980, as well as the adoration of baseball fans across the nation. His chase for .400 remains one of the most thrilling individual accomplishments in the history of the sport.

The Pine Tar Incident: Controversy and Infamy

While Brett’s .390 season remains a defining moment of his career, he’s perhaps equally well-known for a singular moment of controversy: The Pine Tar Incident. On July 24, 1983, during a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Brett hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning off Goose Gossage, giving the Royals a 5–4 lead.

However, Yankees manager Billy Martin contested the home run, claiming that Brett had too much pine tar on his bat. According to MLB rules, pine tar couldn’t extend more than 18 inches up the handle of the bat. The umpires examined the bat and, to Brett’s dismay, ruled him out, nullifying the home run.

What followed was one of the most famous reactions in sports history. Brett stormed out of the dugout in a rage, charging at the umpires in disbelief. His anger, and the chaos that ensued, became an unforgettable moment in baseball lore. The ruling was eventually overturned by the MLB, and the game was resumed weeks later with Brett’s home run reinstated.

The Pine Tar Incident, while controversial, showcased Brett’s fiery passion for the game. It also added to his legend, proving that he wasn’t just a great player but a man who played the game with heart, intensity, and a relentless competitive spirit.

World Series Glory in 1985

One of Brett’s crowning achievements came in 1985 when he led the Kansas City Royals to their first-ever World Series title. As the team’s undisputed leader, Brett was instrumental in their success throughout the season and especially during the playoffs.

In the 1985 American League Championship Series (ALCS) against the Toronto Blue Jays, Brett delivered a performance for the ages. In Game 3, with the Royals down 2–0 in the series, Brett hit two home runs, helping the Royals to a 6–5 victory. He finished the ALCS with a .348 batting average, earning ALCS MVP honors and helping the Royals reach the World Series.

In the 1985 World Series, the Royals faced off against their cross-state rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals. Down three games to one, the Royals staged a miraculous comeback, winning the final three games and securing the championship in Game 7. Brett’s leadership and clutch performances were vital to the Royals’ triumph, cementing his status as a Kansas City sports legend.

A Hall of Fame Career

Over his 21-year career, George Brett accumulated some of the most impressive stats in baseball history. He finished with a career .305 batting average, 3,154 hits, 317 home runs, and 1,596 RBIs. Brett was a true five-tool player — he could hit for power and average, field his position with precision, and was a consistent leader on and off the field.

Brett is the only player in MLB history to win batting titles in three different decades (1976, 1980, and 1990), showcasing his longevity and consistency. His ability to adapt and remain competitive for over two decades is a testament to his work ethic and natural talent.

In 1999, Brett was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving 98.2% of the vote on his first ballot, an overwhelming endorsement of his greatness.

George Brett’s Legacy

Beyond the numbers and accolades, George Brett’s legacy is defined by his deep connection to Kansas City and the Royals franchise. In an era when players often moved teams, Brett spent his entire career with the Royals, becoming the face of the organization. His loyalty to the team and his contributions to the city of Kansas City made him more than just a baseball star — he became a hometown hero.

Brett remains heavily involved with the Royals organization to this day, serving in various capacities, including as a vice president of baseball operations. His influence continues to inspire younger generations of players and fans alike.

The Ultimate Royal

George Brett wasn’t just a great baseball player — he was the heart and soul of the Kansas City Royals for over two decades. From his pursuit of .400 to his fiery outburst during the Pine Tar Incident, Brett embodied the competitive spirit, talent, and love for the game that defines the best of baseball. His place in the Hall of Fame is well-deserved, and his name will forever be associated with the greatest moments in Royals history.

For fans in Kansas City and beyond, George Brett is more than just a legend — he’s a reminder of what it means to play the game with passion, loyalty, and excellence.

[grandmashousediy]

To Grandma's House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #406)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #406. My gosh, you guys, how is it already coming to the end of June? We’re still feeling incredibly fortunate for a long spring with plenty of rain and sunshine in equal amounts. Lots of days in the 70s, not too hot, not too cold. We’ve barely used our air conditioner at all and our forecast looks like much of the same. I admit this nice weather…

[openaccess4all]

I’m a full time wheelchair user too, and am struggling with this in my city. The only way to bring full and equal access to those with disabilities as it pertains to physical barriers is to make leaders and health facilities be accountable for their “unintentional” discrimination. Know that it is discrimination when you cannot gain full and equal access, even though they say, “I would never discriminate against any one.”

So the only way to enforce enforce our civil rights is through lawsuits……There is no one going around to check to see if policies, procedures and facilities are compliant with the ADA and/or the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The ADA was originally written that the Federal Government would create an department/board that would inspect and correct violations….however the ADA is now written that we, the disabled with all are limited spoons, are to enforce our Civil Rights.

You can do all three things all at once:

File a complaint with the DOJ by going to ADA.gov. https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/?utm_campaign=499a0d26-884a-47aa-9afc-70094d92e6f5 🎶Note you are NOT “calling the ADA”. The ADA is an act of legislation, not an organization or department a) make sure you have screen shots of your letters b) explain you have not received a response c) state that there is no ADA coordinator listed on the city’s website where you can file a complaint (check first, though!) d) explain exactly what intersections, curb ramps (or lack of), and sidewalks with which you have difficulty navigating. The Attorney General (probably the Assistant Attorney General) for your Federal District Court will review your complaint and determine if it is viable to investigate to see if your city is in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation act of 1973 ( this has more “oomph” than the ADA and applies to Title II entities, like cities, school and hospitals that receive government funding)

2) Contact [insert state name here] Human Relations Commission, as every state has one to help battle and resolve discrimination. Do the same as above. Pictures and videos help. Even writing a physical letter through CERTIFIED MAIL (requires signature) makes you look serious.

3) Find an attorney (they should not charge you one penny for ANYTHING) that will take your case. You can search for attorneys by typing in google search “ada design standards sidewalks, curb ramp [insert state] casetext.com” or “hospital ada wheelchair exam table wheelchair scale Up will pop up lawsuits and usually who is representing the plaintiff (the disabled person). Contact every attorney you can find using this method. Most attorneys represent those who have been discriminated against Section 501 (employment) they do not get into ADA design standard violations, so it’s hard to find them if you don’t google “casetext.com”. Do not go directly to casetext.com The way the attorney gets paid is that the defendant pays all attorney fees…you might even get a small advocate payment for your work. Most firms will not take on Government Entities like cities and schools because they don’t get paid enough….but taking on a Hospital and health facilities that accept Medicaid, yes they would take on those facilities…..usually.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Again be absolutely clear about barriers of the ADA design standards that you encountered for example

• No curb ramps: §406

• Incline has a slope that is greater than 2.87 degrees/1:20 and there is no ramp: §403.3

• There is a pothole or a gap in between sidewalk panels that has a vertical height change greater than 1/4”: §303.2

• Doors close faster than 5 seconds when the door closing from 90 degrees to 12 degrees: §404.2.8

• Doors that take more than 5 pound of pressure to open (most building codes say 15 pounds of pressure…but even though the facility might be cleared by a code enforcer, code enforcers do not directly enforce the ADA design standards. So, basically if an old, short granny using a walker with a recent hip surgery couldn’t open the bathroom door, then the door is too heavy. You can also use a fish scale to measure this for absolute accuracy if you wish. §404.2.9

• Bathrooms: no accessible toilet stall where a wheelchair can make a parallel approach to the toilet and door stays closed: §604

• Difficulty getting underneath sink §606.2 that points to §305 and §306.

• The lip of the sink is greater than 34” from the floor §606.3

• Mirror is higher than 40” from the floor §603.3

• No exam tables or scale to weigh you with your wheelchair: https://www.ada.gov/resources/medical-care-mobility/

• Accessible parking and their adjoining access aisle that has a slope no greater than 1:48 or 2% and has proper signage. §502.2

Also if you grab the book: ADA Illustrated: a Visualization of the 2010 Americans with Disabilities ACA Standards for Accessible Design by Wyatt Tuell (great guy!), a digital level and a 6 foot measuring tape you can communicate with clear and accurate requests for improvements. For right now, we are the one who enforces the ADA. Hoping policy changes and we don’t have to use our spoons to just get full and equal access to facilities.

Today I had the spoons to hunt down my neighborhood council's email and send them an email that basically said "I would like to be able to leave my house but my neighborhood is not wheelchair accessible. Who do I talk to in order to get this fixed?" And I am planning on hunting down whoever is in charge of sidewalks in my neighborhood and getting real annoying about it.

My plan is to email them every time I want to go somewhere but can't.

Email 1: hello, please fix sidewalks so I can ride the bus places I am very passionate about public transportation and also being able to leave my house.

Email 200: This morning I woke up and wanted some delicious coffee to start my day, but upon getting out of bed I discovered we were out of coffee. I would've liked to take advantage of the city's public transportation system in order to support a local business like [examples of local coffee shops] but alas I cannot because I am a wheelchair user and my neighborhood is not wheelchair accessible. [Insert rest of arguement RE accessibility]. In conclusion I don't work I can keep these emails coming until I die please just fix my sidewalks.

This is going to be my new spite hobby. I was already mad about the abuse and general shit hand the disabled get dealt in our culture but then I started using a wheelchair and places like doctor's offices have been inaccessible to me so now I am filled with rage. So I am going to take that rage and do something with it. Like emailing my city counsel representatives at 2 am like "I crave a moonlight walk fix my sidewalks please."