#Black Swan Year 2020

[achillvs]

i think i need bts again.

[milliondollarbaby87]

Let's Go To The Movies - 15 Films for 15 Years!

[haedalkoo]

I always think about Jimin commenting how he wanted to neatly tie up jungkooks hair during that one live. I know at some point Jimin probably sat behind jungkook and combed his hair and tied it up for him. With the way Jimin always seems to naturally lean towards jungkooks head like he wants to kiss his hair and the way he pets his hair, I just feel like he definitely combed it and tied it up at some point for him.

Oh anon. You went straight for my heart. This is something I think about a lot, actually- Jimin leaning in for a kiss so often, almost unconsciously. I'm thinking of that clip from JK's docu, how he holds his head so delicately yet there's so much emotion behind it.

Do you ever think about how much Jungkook's hair matters to him? It's a way of self-expression, to showcase his identity, what he likes, who he wants to be. It allows him to play with his gender expression, too. JK's journey to grow out his hair has been so beautiful (I remember the first time it happened, around the time he got his tattoos. The struggle to style it compared to his second attempt and those long, beautifully layered soft curls. He's everything to me!) The decision to cut it little by little vs. the final quick decision to shave it all off before time forced him to do it... I think about it a lot. Jimin resisted until the last minute, but JK didn't wait for time to steal his autonomy. He did it his way.

Anyway, back to Jimin and JK's hair. Remember when they both had it long-ish, around 2020? black swan jikook era? All of the headcanons of them sharing hair ties stuck with me. I think about them rehearsing and Jimin tying up Jungkook's hair in a small bun. About Jimin always carrying a couple of hair ties because they're always together. He must've gotten used to that, taking care of JK in that way, so I can imagine that the year they spent mostly separated (2023) his hands were itching to tie his hair because that would mean they were together, that things were back to normal, their routine.

Why is this post getting so emo...😭 I miss them, I'm sorry!! Point is, JM is a very caring and physically affectionate person, and he loves taking care of JK with that sort of small domestic actions. Fixing his clothes, his hair, putting stuff in his bag for him, etc. He's the hyung. So yeah! I don't doubt that tying his hair is just another way in which he shows him his love.

Do you think he misses it still, now with their hair so short?

[kanmom51]

I’ve read theories that Jimin and JK split up at some point in 2018 as well as mid 2019, late 2019/2020, basing this off certain moments in Run BTS, JM travelling without JK in the summer 2019, the rumours, the behind the scenes of ON and Black Swan and the Grammys in 2020.

I know they have tense moments and to me that makes them real, all couples fight. But do you think there is any truth to just how bad it got that they broke up?

Thanks

Hey love.

I will start by saying this is my opinion I am voicing here. Based on full original content I have watched. Full episodes or clips.

I think that these assumptions or conclusions people came to based on a couple of few seconds moments we see in clips are problematic to say the least.

Let's start with that word - split up or break up. That is a very heavy term. I don't know what your relationship experience is (I just mention this because I don't know if you are single, have had a long term loving relationship, are in one or otherwise), but a long term healthy relationship usually does not include multiple break ups. A break up has a finality to it. Parting ways. Calling quits. Dissolving the relationship or ending it. And taking a step like that again and again and again, well that would take a toll on the relationship itself over time.

Also, breaking up, a love as strong as what we think these two have, it would show. Much more than what people think they see as evidence for such a breakup.

And when I say show, I mean more like what we saw back in September 2016 in what people love to call the Manila fight. The level of distance, clear anger and displeasure with the other, unhappiness that you can see in their expressions when they are not on stage or attempting to be professional, and this not being on one day, one clip, one event alone, but spread over a period of time.

And may I add that this happened pretty much in the relatively early days of their relationship, not 3 or 4 or 5 years in. The longer the relationship, the stronger the relationship, the deeper the relationship, the harder and more painful the break up.

And you see, this is the thing.

Healthy long term relationships aren't like a soap opera. Their real lives are not The bold and the beautiful, getting together 'love of their lives' style, then breaking up, marrying someone else, only to get back together and so forth time after time. Real life isn't like that. A relationship, a healthy one, cannot survive that constant turn on turn off. And it's even harder to turn on turn off in the speed that people are attributing to them. Love is not a switch you can turn on and off. And 2 people that supposedly love each other and basically can't keep their hands off each other moments before or moments after that supposed few second moment that makes people think they are not together anymore, is not realistic to say the very least.

And as far as I can see, their relationship is not a tumultuous one. Quite the opposite (especially once they got over that push and pull in 2015-16).

Now, with saying all that, couples, they argue, they fight, they wake up one morning in a bad mood, they allow external factors to influence their mood and at times their interactions with their loved one. Life happens. And these are a real life couple, even if they are 2 members of BTS, the biggest band in the world.

Not every argument or fight ends in the finality of a break up. Not every time you are mad at your partner or even pissed to the bone at them, do you split up.

As individuals we can have bad days. And that can affect our behaviour even towards those we love. Human interactions is what it is.

So, could we catch them unhappy with each other on camera from time to time?

Of course we can.

Can we see them being passive aggressive with each other? Mad at the other? Just unhappy or mad period (not necessarily at the other but in a bad mood that effects their interactions with anyone and everyone around them)?

Of course we can.

None of that is automatically proves a break up. None of it.

A couple of examples of instances we KNOW that one of them was pissed at the other.

Summer package 2018, the dream catcher necklace drama.

Basically JM pissed at JK not wanting to wear it as a necklace and guess who had that necklace on a second later...

And what about the NJ live 2019? JK pissed that JM and Jin turned off the live just as he got to Jin's room, starting his own live to show us that JM came to ask for forgiveness after being scolded by JK.

Neither relationship ending differences (although that could also depend on the relationship I guess), but examples of 'arguments' or differences they had that we know of because they either happened on camera or they told us of them themselves.

Another time we see them clearly upset at each other is the Gayo song festival Dec 2016. Clearly something going on, but we don't know what.

And here too, only days after the event, all was well between them, JK making his babe laugh while imitating Rainism's dance moves.

Point being, once again - yes they argue, get mad at each other (and 2016 was peak push and pull between the two, laying the grounds for their relationship), but from there to calling quits... nope.

And there would be many other moments we are unaware of. Cause that's just how relationships are. Loving each other doesn't mean agreeing on every single thing. It would many times mean compatibility (for a long term relationship to last), but compatibility doesn't mean being a mould of each other.

Now specifically to the examples you mention:

2018 Jikook were stronger than ever. This is after their Tokyo trip, which they just would not shut up about. You can see them in interviews, in award shows, in other footage from that time (including BV 3 in Malta). I really do not understand where these rumours of a break up at that time are coming from.

Saying that, I am aware that there are those that think that part of the struggles the members were going through in 2018 that almost let to them disbanding also included JM and JK splitting up. I beg to differ. At least from the content we have from 2018 (I don't claim to have inside info going back to 2018 and the status of their relationship). I actually believe that having each other during that time made it easier for them to deal with the hardships (kind of like how JK being by JM's side helped him deal with everything he was going through in 2020, and JM being there, as much as he could under the circumstances, for JK who was struggling early 2023). Throughout the content (official and unofficial) from 2018, start to end, we see how close and utterly in love they are with each other.

See beginning to mid 2018 Jikook interactions in my 2018 timeline.

And things were no different in the second half of the year.

All this happened in 2018:

Could they have had ups and downs?

Of course they could have. All long term relationships have those, even the best of them. But again, split up or broken up? Nope, not in my opinion.

Then we have the 2019 break up claims.

I think that if JK and JM were not together in 2019 during the time the band were on a break that JM wouldn't have made the effort and flown all the way back to see him for his birthday, nor would JK tattoo that J over the M right after that.

I think that JM going on those trips was them allowing each other that time to spend with their friends doing the things they want to do on their time off. That's what you call a healthy relationship btw. Allowing each other to grow as an individual, spend time with your friends, travel cause that's what you love to do, something that we learnt back in 2018 Malta that isn't something that JK really loved to do back in the day - could have changed, as people grow and change, but at the time didn't really interest him (perhaps especially seeing it wouldn't be the two of them alone).

We know from Hobi and JK that it's not like the two (JK and JM) weren't seeing each other or getting together over the break. It's only that JM went travelling and JK didn't.

And btw, these three were basically the only ones that did see each other over the break. If indeed the two broke up, would they be spending that time that they can together and not apart? Choosing to get together when they aren't obliged to do so being part of the band and having to work with each other?

And again, looking at 2019, before and after the break, the two seem stronger than ever. 2019 muster before, for example.

Damn that pic limit, I could go on with these forever.

And right after we had BV4,

And their final Seoul concerts October 2019.

Next you also mentioned the behind scenes of the Black swan MV shoot as an example used to claim that JM and JM were not together at the time.

Another good example to show you how this conclusion making is so ridiculous. They are literally taking one little moment from that MV shoot and creating a whole breakup narrative, all while from the same MV shoot we have the two full on having a flirt fest in front of our salads. Including that whole JM calling I love you to JK and him turning around all giddy-bashful.

SAME MV SHOOT.

Then you mention Grammy's 2020. First I've heard of them being broken up during that period. But let's look at what we have either from same night or the days before and after.

James Corden carpool karaoke January 2020. JM's excitement with JK's vocals and JK's incapable of keeping his eyes off JM.

Grammy's night

That moment there.

And for those that claim it isn't JM JK is looking at, well who's wittle nose is that turned towards JK?

Nope. No broken up couple detected.

I Heart Radio

Someone holding on real tight to his man.

When exactly did they have time to break up, with all the shit that entails with a break up and then get back together like nothing happened, all lovey dovey and hot for each other?

I will tell you when I find these rumours of breakup happen.

They happen when there isn't much group content and the two of them don't volunteer much, such as telling us about them spending time together or interacting on social media with each other (surprise surprise when two people are together that they don't interact on sm, even more so their public accounts). And god forbid they are seen with others out and about instead with each other. That for sure means they are not together anymore. Eye roll. Eye roll. Eye roll.

Bottom line, you're probably saying "about bloody time"...

In my opinion all this talk about multiple break ups (and btw, same people claiming a break up in early 2022 and then 2023) is a whole load of bs. Arguments, no doubt. Bad day, 100%. We all have those. But breaking up or even, if you wish to soften it a little by calling it "taking a break" - nope. I personally do not believe this to be the case.

[wingzie]

Jikook: But I Still Want You

During Seoul Final in 2019, Jimin and Jungkook changed the lyrics at the end of The Truth Untold to “but I still want you.” Compared to every other change made for the final concert,  this was never explained. These different lyrics hold a significance that still applies today. 

In a year of uncertainty, the members strived to do their best for us in 2020. They filmed and released content throughout the year, putting us first in their minds. They kept us going during our darkest times and made us feel less alone when most of us were struggling, online and offline. They tried to make each performance unique but with the same powerful moves and meaning. With certain restrictions, they would try to keep themselves positive both backstage and onstage. They kept the flow of music and happiness going and expressed wanting to do this for many years. Not just during the hard times. It’s obvious that Jimin and Jungkook also spoke about this together previously, as seen in Festa:

A special performance is MMA 2020. Black Swan is already a heart wrenching song, even more so with the cancellation of the tour afterwards. To lose your true love and passion for something, to face those fears and then conquer them within art is such a powerful message. It must have been incredibly hard for them to go through their worst fears during lockdown and we could see how they supported each other during these times. With Jimin and Jungkook, we saw them nearly always together as we usually do. And this was reflected in their performances too.

In a cruel twist of fate, they wouldn’t be able to perform Black Swan live in front of an audience for a few years.  I wish that BTS could have performed their MMA 2020 set in front of a live audience, but of course that wouldn’t be possible. The performance is so tender, as we see Jungkook being dragged away from Jimin. Jimin then struggled to get through and then the powerful lift when they reunited. You could still feel the impact of the performance though through the screen and there are countless praises for Jikook’s part especially:

It would be a long time until BTS would be reunited with Army again. They continued with their releases, but we could see how much the distance between them and us was affecting them. We saw this when Jimin suddenly cried during MOTS:Online and how Jungkook comforted him, very much aware of what they were each feeling. Once we were together again,we gave them so much love and you could see the relief on their faces. That they had made it and Jimin and Jungkook seemed just as affected by this too. They have an extra connection on stage and that was in full force as they played around, got extra close and flirted together. It was like no time had passed at all. This hug is different from their normal ones, it silently says “We did it. We made it.” 

Chapter two began and, though they did their separate things, that connection remained strong. They supported each other as much as they could, occasionally missing each other and talking about the other at any opportunity they had. This would have been a different set of circumstances that they are used to, but they made it work. Whilst also enjoying time by themselves or working on other things. Another new situation is enlistment. Though it’s been a talking point for many years, it was soon time for each member to enlist. With Jimin and Jungkook deciding to take part in the buddy system. Showing that with each struggle or new experience, they are always there for each other. And will continue to be. No matter what happens, that look and message from 2019 still remains:

[thyme-in-a-bubble]

a list of some winter movies/series ❄️

hello! your friendly neighbourhood little organisation freak of a goblin is here again to give you a list of winter movies and series. this isn't a christmas focused list, just winter vibes, there's only a very very small handful of christmas centred stuff on here. as always, just close your eyes and point somewhere on this little list, or even put the numbers in a generator and go with whatever the result is ♡

spring | summer | autumn

🧣 ‧₊˚ ⋅ movies ⋅˚₊‧

star wars franchise (1977-)

the shining (1980)

edward scissorhands (1990)

beauty and the beast (1991)

the muppet christmas catol (1992) 

titanic (1997)

anastasia (1997)

bridget jones’s diary (2001)

save the last dance (2001)

monsters, inc (2001)

peter pan (2003)

family stone (2005)

the chronicles of narnia: the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe (2005) 

the holiday (2006)

the curious case of benjamin button (2008)

the time traveler’s wife (2009, 2022)

black swan (2010)

new year’s eve (2011)

the girl with the dragon tattoo (2011)

they grey (2011)

captain america: the first avenger (2011)

the vow (2012)

anna karenina (2012)

frozen (2013)

the wind rises (2013)

iron man 3 (2013)

snowpiercer (2013)

winter’s tale (2014)

the grand budapest hotel (2014)

carol (2015)

the age of adaline (2015)

the revenant (2015)

everest (2015)

split (2016)

wind river (2017)

murder on the orient express (2017)

atomic blond (2017)

the mountain between us (2017)

night hunter (2018)

alita: battle angel (2019)

anna (2019)

little women (2019)

five feet apart (2019)

happiest season (2020)

the world to come (2020)

silver skates (2020)

spider-man: no way home (2021)

the mauritanian (2021)

black widow (2021)

something from tiffany's (2022)

🛷 ‧₊˚ ⋅ series ⋅˚₊‧

downton abbey (2010-2015)

game of thrones (2011-2019)

orphan black (2013-2017)

critical role (2015-)

daredevil (2015-2018)

wynonna earp (2016-2021)

war and peace (2016)

godless (2017)

the punisher (2017-2019)

anne with an e (2017-2019)

the bodyguard (2018)

the mandalorian (2019-)

young royals (2021)

vikings valhalla (2022-)

the last of us (2023-)

[tokyokookmin]

MY FAVOURITE JIKOOK STAGES

Jikook - power duo/aces of the group / main dancers/axis of the group. Yes, I'm talking about Jikook. The power couple. The duo rocks the stage with their charismatic personality and appearance. Amazing visuals. Sexy body. Powerful moves. Amazing vocals.

I thought of doing this post since we don't really get to talk about their dynamics on stage often. So, here's a post featuring my favourite JIKOOK stages as a unit in live concerts, off-stage dances, MV's and events. Also, keep in mind that I'm not ranking the stages. Whichever moment crops up in my mind first secures the top spot ya :)

Let's get it

BEST OF ME

The most epic part of their choreography. Jikook as a unit with their power moves.

LOTTE FAMILY CONCERT

2. BTS 5TH MUSTER

3. BTS 4TH MUSTER

HONORABLE MENTION

4. 2021 NEW YEAR'S EVE LIVE

5. BEST OF ME BTS COMEBACK SHOW

6. BTS BEST OF ME DANCE PRACTICE #2022FESTA

RUN BTS

BTS YET TO COME BUSAN RUN BTS

FIRST OF ALL. THE SONG. IT'S LITERALLY SUCH A HYPE SONG. SECOND. This is my latest FAV JIKOOK MOMENT ON STAGE - CHOREOGRAPHY WISE. It's a shame we only got one moment. But hey, it's good enough!

DYNAMITE

Let's never forget our QUEEN, DYNAMITE. The best pop song in 2020. BTS's ENGLISH SONG DEBUT. 2020 BTS was delightful!

BTS DYNAMITE DANCE PRACTICE (CUTIE AND LOVELY VER)

2. BTS TIME MAGAZINE DYNAMITE PERFORMANCE 2020

3. BTS SBS GAYO DAEJUN 2020 DYNAMITE PERFORMANCE

HONORABLE MENTIONS

BTS DYNAMITE 2020 GRAMMY AWARDS

BTS DYNAMITE 2020 AGT

BTS DYNAMITE LATE LATE SHOW W JAMES CORDEN 2020

THE TONIGHT SHOW W JIMMY FALLON DYNAMITE BTS 2020

BOY WITH LOVE

Cutesy, Subtle moments.

1. MMA 2019 BWL BTS

2. BWL IHEART MUSIC

3. BTS 5TH MUSTER

COMING OF AGE CEREMONY

1. FESTA 2016 BTS

We only had one performance but it was amazing. Jikooks power moves are splendid. I absolutely adore their efforts to produce a fantastic dance cover for the FESTA 2016 event.

BLACK OR WHITE

BTS PROM PARTY

Again. We only had this performance once though it indeed captured our hearts. An iconic song.

BLACK SWAN

I saved the best for the last. Yes, Black Swan. That one performance went viral in 2020. It amazed everyone. They were the cover of the news and the talk of the town for multiple days. Their immaculate and gracious dance moved all of us, didn't it?

BLACK SWAN MMA 2020

It was beautiful. Mesmerizing. Gracious.

I wanted to put this here as well

It's a wrap. I hope to continue this post soon!

All usage of Twitter links, Article links and Youtube links are provided. You can find them on my Twitter page if needed. I retweet all the tweets I use for my posts as a reference.

I said I'll be more active. Sometimes I just need to put this blog aside to tend more to my personal life.

xx, tokyokookmin.

[xrtnlkqgrlc]

I just saw Boracity Magazine's "I miss BTS' old music" video in YouTube. Truth be told, those of you who keep claiming "I miss old bts" or "they fell off" are just making excuses. Because how can you listen to the same genre of music all the time without being bored? In a world like ours, change is inevitable and necessary. Bangtan celebrated and accepted it heartily. Their artistic expression does not fit into a box; it transcends, and their music evolves with the artist they are. If you noticed, their sound echoed their previous sound, but in a different speed, texture, and/or meaning (bst, 2016 & black swan, 2020), and it's still their sound. You can dislike any of their music, and that's fine, but saying their music isn't like the old ones is a disservice to their craft and passion. You cannot place an artist in a box simply because their music differs from the first time you listen to them. And that is what distinguishes BTS from the others. Their discorpahy has had a varied story to tell over the last decade, from school to experiencing the struggles of youth, to embracing adulthood, to accepting and loving oneself, to questioning oneself, and to reflecting, and empowering during the darkest part of life (pandemic). Through out the years, BTS has created several genres of music, which is what art is all about: telling and changing. Above all, BTS' music adapts, evolves, and transcends over time.

May this serve as a wake-up message to everyone that music evolves and that we should not limit an artist capability of adapting to change. Yes, change is scary, but it is necessary.

And to BTS, you're a flipping phenomenal— an art that will never be undone.

[solarwynd]

I've been living that solo life for almost 2 years now, but sometimes I will listen to my old 'Top 20 favorite BTS songs' playlist or check my 98 GB 'BTS Live Performances' folder (I'm truly not exaggerating the size, though 30GB of those are just from a folder titled 'Jimin' which includes not only live performances but also his MVs and all the Production Diary stuff. I also download everything in the highest quality I can find which increases the size) and watch one of their pre-2020 performances, specially their tours, and I'm like "Man, there was a reason I was a fan of these guys". I almost forgot after the past almost 5 years of no proper group albums or tours and instead only a few mediocre songs here and there and concerts that were 60% pre-2020 songs they already performed a thousand times and 40% their new meh music that either doesn't have a choreography or does but it's kinda basic (I have beef with PTD on Stage, the only good parts were ON and Black Swan. Why did they ignore 85% of MOTS7? They finally had the opportunity to perform those songs in a live concert and instead of doing that they decided to do Fire again for the billionth time).

If they're really going to insist on coming back with the group they could at least go back to the version of the group that was actually worth being a fan of. But if they're gonna go back to their Dynamite, Butter, PTD, YTC, Take Two bullshit then they're just wasting the members. Cause Jimin and the rapline have solo music they want to make but won't be able to if they're stuck in the group. It would be specially a waste of Jimin, cause unlike rapline people care about his music (rip to the rapline, my grandpa would've loved your music Namjoon) and there's also no guarantee that Jimin is going to be invited to the exclusive 'Members Who Make The Group's Music' club. Jimin is the only member making music and having performances fans actually like and they're gonna sit in him a chair and give him two lines in a mediocre songs he didn't write. That shit should be considered a crime, genuinely.

Like I said, there was a reason I used to be a fan, and while I don't think I will care about those six like I care about Jimin, well, I never really did in the first place but I still managed to like the group cause I liked them as a whole not individually, so I could care about the group again if they simply give me a reason to. I'm not like armys, I can't stay a fan based on the love I felt years ago. I need to feel that love again in the present otherwise I'll just have to find something better to be a fan of.

.🎯🎯🎯

[ridenwithbiden]

On Friday, Kenneth Chesebro pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to file false documents in the Fulton County 2020 election conspiracy case, becoming the second high-level Donald Trump co-defendant to become a state’s witness in two days. Chesebro received an especially lenient sentence of five years’ probation, a small financial penalty, and 100 hours of community service.

With the guilty plea and cooperation deal Georgia prosecutors struck on Thursday with Team Trump attorney Sidney Powell, Chesebro’s plea deal should be viewed as an earthquake in the case against Trump. Given Powell’s close proximity to the former president and his legal advisers at crucial times in his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, her testimony will be particularly devastating not only as to defendant Trump, but to co-defendants Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman.

Chesebro’s testimony, meanwhile, implicates one of the key portions of the conspiracy both in Georgia and in the federal Jan. 6 case against Trump, specifically the efforts to create a slate of “false electors” to use during the Jan. 6 electoral count to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Now that both Chesebro and Powell are cooperating witnesses, the pressure on Giuliani and Eastman to plead and cooperate is exponentially higher.

That the significant cooperation under discussion involves four of Trump’s attorneys underscores the reality that the former president’s regularly touted defense that he was relying on the good-faith guidance of his attorneys during the attempted coup was, and is, nothing more than self-serving fantasy. In the courtroom—as compared with on television or in social media—he has never had the ability to offer that defense.

In court, the advice of counsel “affirmative defense” requires a defendant to prove two things: First, that he relied in good faith on his lawyer’s advice that the conduct in question at trial was legal, and second, that he made a full disclosure of all relevant facts to the attorney before receiving that advice.

Based on my four decades in the courtroom as both federal prosecutor and defense attorney, I can report that the assertion of the attorney-client privilege by a criminal defendant at trial is a black swan event—effective only with the consistent, overlapping trial testimony of both the attorney and the defendant, and the admission into evidence of any documents reflecting the communications or advice they testified about.

Putting aside the substantial evidence that Trump was warned by numerous White House lawyers that his efforts to overturn the 2020 election were in violation of the law, how does Trump establish the advice of counsel defense at trial?

As I have observed in prior articles, he is certainly not able to testify on his own behalf. There are surely no memos to the file, emails, or letters to the client evidencing such advice in writing. Finally in this regard, what lawyer is willing to testify he or she advised Trump it was, for example, lawful for him to ask the Georgia secretary of state to “find” enough votes for him to win that state?

Long before the Powell and Chesebro deals were announced, the absurdity of expecting any Trump attorney’s testimony to be anything but harmful to his cause was made crystal clear by Michael Cohen. More recently, when Trump lawyer Evan Corcoran was forced to testify against the former president based on the “crime fraud” exception to the attorney-client privilege, the testimony he gave and the internal memos he was compelled to produce, proved not to be shields for the former president, but swords to be wielded against him—as it is with Powell and Chesebro, and so it will be with others.

After all, what can you expect when your standard for choosing at least some of your lawyers is their willingness to turn a blind eye to whatever your weak ego and malicious intentions require?

In sum, while Georgia and DOJ attorneys have each received great potential benefits from the Powell and Chesebro deals, it was in no way structured to protect against a defense they know Trump cannot employ.

Finally, speaking of structure, the great deals Powell and Chesebro struck, getting probation while facing up to 20 years in jail on a RICO conviction, are certainly a blessing for them—they even get to finally tell the truth.

But District Attorney Fani Willis’ seeming generosity is a sign of shrewd judgment, not weakness.

Prosecutors have both the carrot and the stick to get what they want, and the two deals Willis just made were large carrots, signaling to the other defendants that she is someone they can deal with, and that there are potentially acceptable pathways out of the mess they are in. At the same time, she has just made her case against other, more significant defendants meaningfully stronger and her stick that much larger.

Of course, Willis is a long way from where she needs to be, but those who had originally feared she had overindicted the 19-defendant RICO case might now be a little less concerned and a little more impressed.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Alanna Vagianos at HuffPost:

Some people may believe that the end of Roe v. Wade was simply a matter of luck: Following the then-black swan event of Donald Trump winning the 2016 election, Trump got to appoint two Supreme Court Justices in his first two years and a third after an octogenarian passed away weeks before the 2020 election.

The court then had a 6-3 conservative supermajority, and that was that. But the project to overturn the federal right to abortion was much more calculated, involving an alliance of Republican groups aiming to reshape Congress, the courts and American life. And while conservatives may have won a huge battle, it’s not the end of their unholy war. That’s the story New York Times reporters Elizabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer tell in their new book, “The Fall of Roe,” a deeply reported accounting of the machinations of anti-abortion activists and lawmakers to reverse the 1973 ruling that reshaped both society and women’s lives. The book recounts the conservative network’s past victories, yes, but is also a window into the future, highlighting just how crucial November’s elections are for our rights and freedoms. That’s because if Trump wins a second term, this conservative coalition will bring even more litigation to strip away people’s rights — and would likely face a Supreme Court that’s even more untouchable than it is now.

The group most connected to Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the case that overturned Roe, is Alliance Defending Freedom, a far-right Christian advocacy group. But ADF certainly didn’t do it alone, per Dias and Lerer — correspondents on religion and politics, respectively. In many ways, two other organizations laid the groundwork for this victory: The Federalist Society, a judicial group that drafted a list of Trump’s Supreme Court nominees, judges Trump said were all opposed to Roe; and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, an anti-abortion political group with an affiliated PAC.

And they’re all funded with massive amounts of dark money, including from billionaires like the Koch brothers. The 30,000-foot view is that these groups worked together to draft and pass unpopular state laws and have conservative lawyers defend them in front of friendly judges who had been confirmed to lifetime appointments by Republican senators. The network could use this playbook on any number of issues in the future. ADF wrote Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban at issue in the Dobbs litigation. Dias and Lerer report that a conservative Wisconsin lawyer suggested crafting a ban at exactly 15 weeks basically as a dare for abortion rights proponents to challenge it, believing the Supreme Court would find the ban reasonable and gut Roe without fully overturning it.

The lawyer, Misha Tseytlin, allegedly floated the idea at a Trump victory party hosted by Federalist Society Chair Leonard Leo, and then someone connected to ADF heard it, and the organization had Tseytlin present his theory at a July 2017 ADF summit. (This story shows that conservatives picked 15 weeks not because of emerging medical research, but because abortion rights advocates had chosen not to sue over previous 20-week bans designed to challenge Roe.) ADF drafted a model bill, identified states that might pass it and that had anti-abortion attorneys general who would defend it, and started talking to lobbyists. Then-Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant (R) signed the 15-week ban into law in 2018, and litigation began. By the time the Supreme Court was considering taking the case, it was early September 2020. Then Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, and Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett, giving a 5-4 court a 6-3 conservative supermajority, with three Justices appointed by Trump — a president who lost the popular vote. The court agreed to hear the case in May 2021, and the rest is history.

That playbook worked for striking down Roe, but the coalition is not done. Dias and Lerer write that ADF, in particular, will “work to restore an understanding of marriage, the family and sexuality that reflects God’s creative order.” First, abortion opponents think Dobbs is not enough; they want a nationwide ban starting at egg fertilization.

[...] ADF also has its sights set on reversing the 2015 ruling establishing marriage equality, but Waggoner also seems to resent when journalists ask her about Obergefell v. Hodges. (That ruling was 5-4, and two of the Justices in the majority are no longer on the court — you only need four votes out of nine to take a case.) “I’m worried you’re gonna just use a choice little quote, and anybody that reads the article is going to think I’m abandoning Obergefell, and I am not,” she told The New Yorker. “I think it is wrong and it should be reversed, but I don’t wake up in the morning thinking about how to do that.” The group wants to roll back transgender rights in employment (Bostock v. Clayton County, 2020) and expand parental rights (Troxel v. Granville, 2000) so that parents can override the medical needs of their children with gender dysphoria, The New Yorker reports. ADF is also behind the rash of state laws banning gender-affirming care for minors and trans kids’ participation in sports — the group wrote model legislation. We’re watching a redux of the anti-abortion battle plan in real time. “It’s not that the Court is going to say, ‘Gender ideology is bad,’” Waggoner told The New Yorker. “But I do think the Court could say, ‘Parental rights are fundamental rights.’”

The Fall of Roe book by Elizabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer, a pair of New York Times reporters, takes a vital look at how anti-abortion activists delivered a win for their cause by overturning Roe in Dobbs and that they want more.

[clowndogvibes]

Welp, it's been two years since I drew all of @elbdot 's pokemon inspired outfits.... I think it's time for a redraw, don't you?

So, to celebrate the 6th year anniversary of El's amazing adventures throughout Alola...

LETS DO A REDRAW!!

March 2020 vs. December 2022

First up is Sweets! Still doing the cheerleader look, but with a bit more pizazz!! I also gave her a hairbow with the little wing parts!

Up next is Jenna!! I moved from a fancy ballgown to a more Swan Lake/Black Swan sort of vibe, with some inspiration from the latest Pokemon game with the crystals!

Next is Kira! An absolute sweetheart of a pokemon, I went with a more playful sunny vibe for her! Also added sunflowers for a nice touch!!

And of course, we can't forget her sister Leia!! She's got a sweet softer picnic vibe this time around!! Perfect outfit for spring!

Up next is our favorite motherly fish, Lumion! She's got a lovely sleek dress that's perfect for a flashy party!! It even glows!!

(And since I have run out of space for pictures... part 2 is coming right after this!!

[peachjagiya]

https://www.tumblr.com/peachjagiya/752190163006947328/httpswwwtumblrcompeachjagiya7521838473235660?source=share

May I also add that "I thought you were beyond my imagination but then I think again and you ARE beyond my imagination." , "You know who my life partner is, right?" and Bear in a Snow Jar during Winter Package happened in 2019.

"Sleeping next to me." was in January 2020 as well as them flirting on Weverse. Black Swan Jungkook hanging off Tae.

April 2020, a month before ITS filming; you got Tae saying "The mole under your lips is very stimulating". Tae was in charge of decorating that board and he wrote JK's name on top of his and proceeded to list members' names below, showing clear bias and priority towards JK. Same day JK also wrote that Tae is his commonality and for Tae, JK is his aspiring comedian.

Days before filming ITS1, Tae was caressing Jungkook's inner thigh... that Run episode with dominoes at the end.

Point is, to those who have observed TaeKook, while it may be true that one had an off day or week, the year, the months, the weeks, the days before they filmed the ITS convo of them being distant contradicted to what we saw. They were physically AND emotionally showing signs of closeness. If they were truly distant, I don't know what "close" TaeKook may look like when most of these examples already had them not allowing space to exist. Maybe they fuse themselves together on regular days and when they're not as one, they feel distant?

Jokes aside, these are just some examples why I don't fully buy the ITS talk. I tend to avoid comparing members' relationships, they have their own unique and beautiful dynamics. However, I don't see Tae or JK this close even physically to perhaps half of the members. If TK are distant, then are they strangers to half of the members? If we consider the physical and emotional closeness TK had vs the lack of them with others.

I'd love to see TaeKook's definition of being close if caressing eo, hanging off eo, being magnets, lips stimulating, are "distant". Will it be aired as kids friendly? 😆

💜💜💜

Thank you, anon! I'm having the funniest mental images of them at the altar on their wedding day with the captions reading "two bros trying not to be awkward."

😂

[kanmom51]

Jikook Vlives Masterlist

2013-2015 Vlives

JK log 18 Jul 2013 - Bangtan

JK 2015 Vlive

JK birthday Vlive - the 50 Tshirt gift

RM 2015 birthday Vlive

2016 Vlives

Paris Vlive June 2016

Paris 2016 Vlive twisted by TKK’s

Osaka Vlive - was Jimin there?

Tokyo Vlive

Tokyo Vlive yet again

Yes, again with the Tokyo Vlive

Jikook hickies?

Jin/JM talking JK out of quitting?

2017 vlives

February 2017 Vlive - what JK would do for a girl/boy he liked...

May 2017 BBMA’s ot7 Vlive

BTS Vlive BBMA’s

20 November 2017 post AMA’s performance Vlive

so mangae - Jin eats Vlive

Global Vlive top 10 BTS

2018 Vlives

24 May 2018 comeback show pre-live

BTS live from 10 June 2018

Comeback live May 2018 - Jimin-ssi

JK’s nose boop mission 2018 and the repercussions (?)

The behind mission for the comeback show preview Vlive

2019 Vlives

Tae’s Paris Vlive January 2019

The New Jersey Vlive - “Tae get the f**k out of here already” vibe

New Jersey Vlive

Happy 3 year anniversary to the New Jersey Vlive

Jimin Busan Vlive 2019

Jimin’s Saudi Arabia Vlive

JM flying back for JK’s birthday 2019 - his Saudi Vlive

When JK tried to feed JM

2020 Vlives

Jimin’s Vlive conversation with Jin - did JK interrupt?

Hobi Vlive - JK’s comment he didn’t think he would fall in love with a man...

Was it a kiss?

BTS Seven special party

BTS Seven special party Vlive - dalgona coffee metion

Dynamite Vlive

Carnation Vlive

JM Vlive 20 April 2020

11 May 2020 live log

Oh, Kookie...

RM birthday Vlive 2020

Purple radio live comeback special

Bangtan Bomb Black swan VCR behind

2021 Vlives

BTS OT7 live 19 Feb 2021, so what did we have?

Butter Vlive - JK & JM fasting together?

Just putting it out there

When Jikook are not sat together in lives

Jimin 2021 birthday masterlist

Hobi spilling the beans

No translation needed, but if it is, JK’s not a kangaroo, lol

Another no translation needed, but just in case we shared it, lol

JM when telling us JK is on his way

JM’s phone call to JK

JK recommending JM’s mom’s cooking

I think JM is happy

K-army adding fuel to the Jikook fire (reblog)

Vlive decorations and the use of JM

6 years apart and yet

Jikook on camera in a nutshell (reblog)

Again Jimin is happy

They just have to hold hands, don’t they?

JM is genuine

Jimin is human

Was JM hinting to JK “don’t order food babe we have dinner plans”?

Was JK joining JM for dinner with his parents?

The birthday cake

JM’s birthday Vlive 2021 one more time

BTS Vlive 20 October 2021

BTS Vlive 20 October 2021

BTS Vlive 20 October 2021 - again with the handshaking

BTS Vlive 20 October 2021 - if only we knew what they were saying

BTS Vlive 20 October 2021 - so soft

BTS Vlive 20 October 2021 - Tae’s “Excuse me...”

BTS Vlive 20 October 2021 - JK not worrying about noise complaints

BTS Vlive 20 October 2021 - why Tae switched places with JM

Jimin being affectionate during ot7 lives - nothing new

Vminkook Vlive 28 Nov 2021 Masterlist

3 Vlives

Sit on my lap?

Minkook from now on?

JK was nervous

Who is JM checking out?

Today’s TMI

No words needed line of communication

From now on it’s Minkook or Minkookie

Minkook/Jikook/Kookmin TMI during the Vlive explained

1+1 in Minkookland/Jikookland

“We” was used multiple times

The couple in the room was evident

“we laugh to sleep every night

2022 Vlives

BTS Vlive 19 March 2022 - why does this look so familiar?

BTS Vlive 19 March 2022 - what kind of food are you eating now days JM?

Jungkook Vlive 16 June 2022

Jungkook Vlive 5 April 2022

JK be: I told you you’d be jealous...

JK is talking

JK prey tell us who has complained about your moving and snoring in your sleep

JK being loud - where is it coming from?

Problematic Vlive subtitles

Vlive post Grammy’s 2022

JK dropping honorifics with JM, yet again

They were in each other’s ears

Do we have to address this one more time?

And if we already on it...

JK just hanging there

JK practiced alone in his room during quarantine, and JM is the one to tell us

Jikook and the Itaewon class reference

VminHopekook Vlive after concert day 3

JK joining the live

JK joining the live - a better translation (wrong link)

Looking comfy

JM, what ya doing?

Of course JM knew about JK’s live

Vminhope telling how V, Hobi, JM & JK spend spare time together

Finally JK will have someone to box with

JK knowing JM’s maternal grandmother’s birthday

Spot the couple

JK moving Hobi to take his place by JM - yet again

Spot the difference

Waiting for the JM Traitor edit

We moved on too fast from this Vlive

JM - JK - Hobi - Tae Weverse live post concert

It was too short

JK’s mom made seaweed soup for JM’s birthday

The ramen bowl

JK farts are definitely a subject to be discussed in a live broadcast

JK marry me - JK’s bad decisions, lol

I cannot and will not let this go

I’m back real fast

Just JK thinking JM is so adorable

JK’s mom and the seaweed soup

JM’s lock screen

I get it

Please pretty please

JM’s necklace again

Too spicy Jjyaman?

JikookVhope live summery

Jimin Vlive 27 September 2022

27 September 2022 JM is live

JM Weverse live 18 September 2022

JM’s live and mentioning JK

And again the use of Jungkookie

Yes, he definitely said Jungkookie

2023 lives

The Feb-Mar 2023 Wlives masterlist

April Vlives

Jimin W-live 4 April 2023

JK live 8 April 2023 - initial thoughts

JK live 8 April 2023

JK live 25 April 2023

Karma isn’t a bitch, karma is JK

JK's White day live, JM's Angel pt. 1 and all that's in between...

JK the crowned 👑 spoiler king

May lives

Jakay what you doing - live 25 May 23

JK live 25.5.2023 12:03 am KST

So JVKE has named our boys angelboys?

So JK did this

June lives

JK is live and I’m awake 5 June 2023

Nah, this man he is something special

The connections are connecting

Do I need to say anymore?

JK live 5 June 2023 7:03 am KST

JK live 12 June 2023 7:02 am KST

JM live 15 June 2023 20:46 or 8:46pm KST

JK's live 30 June 2023 12:38 am KST

Does JK live at Brunnen full time?

July lives

JK live 5 July 2023 4:02 am KST

JK live 18 July 2023

Relationships 101: What we can learn from JK's live

JK live 21 July 2023 part 1

JK live 21 July 2023 part 2

JK live 27 July 2023 - JK singing Letter

JK has JM on the brain

JK live 27 July 2023 0:00 KST

JK live 28 July 2023 - reblog

JK live 28 July 2023 post

Just play it on repeat - JK Inkigayo live 30 July 2023

JK live 30 July 2023 - Part 1

JK live 30 July 2023 - Part 2 + live 31 July 2023

August lives

JK live 8/3/2023 10:26 pm or 22:26 KST

JK live 5 August 2023 - I slept through it all

JK live 5 August 2023 1:41 am KST - Part 1

JK live 5 August 2023 1:41 am KST - Part 2

JK live 5 August 2023

September lives

Ahm...happy birthday JK (post includes JK’s 1 Sep live)

JM live 1 September 2023  20:54 or 8:54 pm KST - Part 1

JM live 1 September 2023 20:54 or 8:54 pm KST - Part 2

JK live 23 September 2023 (NYC)

JK live 23 September 2023 (NYC) - full post

October lives

JK live 4 October 2023 summed up in 50 seconds

JK live 4 October 2023

JM Production diary live - Nah I couldn’t wait for my post for you guys to see this

Just me or same vibes?

We just lost him at that point

JM production diary documentary and live 23 October 2023

Muscle memory

Came here for a bitch rant

Spot the differences (again) - JM documentary live versus JM birthday live

[lokisasylum]

So based on the Tattoos we can determine a basic timeline when JM got 'em:

End of 2018-Beginning of 2019 - Love Yourself/LY: ANSWER ERA

Extra Note: Lets recall that 2018 was THE year BTS were supposed to disband (they had apparently talked about this all throughout 2017 due to hardships each member was facing at the time), but after talking it out they decided not go separate ways.

End of 2019-Start of 2020 - ON/Black Swan ERA

End of 2021 or beginning 2022 - Permission To Dance ERA

All the above^ were made by the SAME tattoo artist: dx2ta2 at Blind Studio.

Every other tattoo:

Rest of the moon phases

The 7 on the index finger

Were done by POLYC SJ sometime during 2022

[williamrikers]

saw an ask game to that effect and thought it was fun so i decided to compile a list of one favorite movie per year, starting from 1999:

1999: the matrix

2000: galaxy quest

2001: crouching tiger, hidden dragon

2002: ice age

2003: pirates of the caribbean

2004: troy

2005: mr. and mrs. smith

2006: lucky number slevin

2007: atonement

2008: 27 dresses

2009: franklyn

2010: inception 💖💖💖

2011: the three musketeers

2012: die unsichtbare

2013: the wolverine

2014: the amazing spider-man 2

2015: inside out

2016: ghostbusters

2017: jumanji

2018: ocean's 8

2019: detective pikachu

2020: the old guard

2021: spider-man no way home

2022: everything everywhere all at once

2023: man suang

this was fun! some choices were incredibly easy and some years were REALLY hard (black swan and the three musketeers in the same year??? damn. sorry black swan i love you but i have to live my truth)! idk what this list says about me, probably that i enjoy over-the-top action blockbusters and that i love hot women. 💞