#Demand for Concrete Restoration

[unyieldingmemory]

Reckless (Sylus x reader)

He sees you take a bullet, and remembers what it feels like to be scared.

Tags: sfw, hate/love relationship, very angry mc

It all happened fast. The screaming, the flying bullets, and the realization that you, your aethor core to be precise, was the root cause of it. You were invited to this party as mere bait.

You ducked under a table and scanned the room for the nearest exit. Then your eyes fell on a little girl trembling under another table. You were filled with more rage. This had to be the most selfish, psychotic thing he'd ever done. 

You helped the little girl towards the back exit but before you could follow her out, something clipped the back of your thigh and your body hit the tiled floor. You ignored the strange shadows and eerie whispers that then followed because it hurt like hell to move. You had never been shot with a bullet before.

The amazing thing about the human body is that even through terrible pain, it will generate the energy to cuss at someone who deserves it. The strange shadows from before were Sylus' evol, transporting you to the rooftop of one of the nearby buildings. He'd propped you up against a wall, demanding how many bullets you'd absorbed. Now as you took a good look at him, you were filled with energy. 

"Bastard," you glared. His eyes rose from your bleeding leg to your glowering eyes. "Use me as bait, fine!" It wasn't. You wanted to strangle him for it, "But there were women, and children, and families there," you had to catch your breath. The indifference he wore on his face drove you crazy. "You scumbag!" you shoved him. He caught your arm, and regarded you coldly. 

"Some kids are born unlucky. You need to grow up, sweetie" his answered condescendingly. 

With that, your hatred for him was restored. "You're the worst." He might not have taken your family, but he belonged with those ruthless criminals. He only cared about power and those stupid weapons. "And I mean it this time," you hissed.

The corners of his lips drooped at the conviction in your voice, and he trained his eyes on your injured leg instead, "save it for later. We have an urgent problem right now."

You swat his hand away. "Don't touch me. I don't need your help," you snapped. He ignored you.

"These aren't normal bullets---" he swiftly caught your flying fist. "I need take them out now," he tried to reason but you weren't listening.  

"I don't care," you yelled at him. You wanted to get away from him. He was the reason you got shot in the first place.  

He squeezed your fist. He was growing frustrated, but he couldn't simply walk it off. Not this time. "If you cherish your life at all, you will cooperate with me."

"Let go of me!" You kicked him with your other leg. He caught your knee and slammed it down.

"You're not going anywhere," he pushed you down on the concrete by a strong hold on your shoulder. Pain coursed through you and you closed your eyes and counted silently, waiting for the pain to subside. "You're not going anywhere," he repeated, more calmly, "until they are out." 

You focused on the cool, rough stone pressed against your cheek. You knew you were laying on your stomach, but it hurt too much to move.

The tight fabric of your pant leg came loose and provided you with some relief. "I will be as fast as possible," he said from above, "brace yourself."

The pain nearly took you out. You didn't care who saw or heard you scream. All you wished for was an anesthetic. After a while, it subsided to a manageable degree and your breathing evened.

You felt him release your shoulder and you rolled onto your back slowly, breathing heavily. He stood watch over you. Your eyes followed his towering figure, and lingered on his glistening fingers. They dripped with your blood. He'd taken the bullet out. 

"Better?" his voice was shaken, as if he wasn't the one who shed blood on a regular basis. You wanted to chastise him, but not a muscle in you moved. "Y/n." He said your name more impatiently, the panic rising in his tone. He hated how pale you looked, how quiet you'd grown. Where did all your energy go?

Your eyes followed him as he came to his knees and leaned over you. His eyes searched your face and his chest rose and fell unevenly. He didn't look so calm and smug now. He looked scared, the way he should have looked when he brought you to this party.

He never got scared. Ever. Not until now. All because of you. Your heart swelled against your better judgement. "Why can't you care like a normal person?" your throat tightened, "why do I have to get hurt for you to look at me like that?"

"I'm so sorry, kitten," his voice was full of regret. He forgot you were not the impenetrable woman who conquered him so long ago. He'd almost lost you. 

He remembered then what it felt like to be scared.

Thank you for reading!

[sramfact]

The global concrete restoration market size is estimated to be USD 15.0 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 20.4 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 6.2%. The high growth of concrete restoration can be attributed to the growing number of construction repair projects globally due to the rising population, rapid urbanization, and increased economic growth in some regions. Emerging markets like China, the UAE, and India are showing remarkable growth due to the aforementioned factors. This has been a decisive factor in theconcrete restoration market growth, especially in regions like North America and Europe, where concrete restoration products' usage is relatively high. By 2026, many new companies will emerge from China, having low-cost concrete restoration products and, thus, offer heavy competition to the existing market players.

Based on material type, the concrete restoration market is segmented into shotcrete, quick setting cement mortar, concrete fiber, and others. Quick setting cement mortar dominated the concrete restoration market in terms of value. This market is divided into water & wastewater treatment, dams & reservoirs, roads, highways & bridges, marine, buildings & balconies, and others based on target applications. Roads, highways & bridges dominated the concrete restoration market in terms of value.

Based on target application, the marine application is projected to register the highest CAGR, in terms of value, during the forecast period. The concrete used in the marine industry is exposed to numerous harsh conditions, including physical and chemical attacks. The projected growth shows that most target applications will grow at a high CAGR from 2021–2026, overcoming the adverse effects of global lockdowns and economic standstill caused by the COVID–19 pandemic.

The Asia Pacific is expected to witness the highest growth at a CAGR of 7.2% between 2021 and 2026. The increasing economic growth and rapid increase in population are expected to boost the concrete restoration market in this region significantly. In terms of value, Europe is the second-largest market for concrete restoration worldwide and is projected to witness a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period

Major players such as Sika (Switzerland), Mapei S.p.A (Italy), Master Builders Solutions (Germany), Fosroc (UAE), BASF SE (Germany), Pidilite Industries (India), RPM International (US), Fyfe (US), Saint-Gobain Weber S.A. (France), and The Euclid Chemical Company (UK), among others, have framed their strategies to penetrate and create bases in the emerging markets.

[blogaarti]

Concrete Restoration Market Growth, Trends, Size, Share, Demand And Top Growing Companies 2029

Globally, the demand for concrete has been growing at an increasing pace. One major contributing factor is the growing population. As per some estimates, the current population of 7.7 billion people is set to reach a staggering figure of 9.7 billion by 2050. This continually sustains the demand for stable infrastructure. Approximately $10 trillion is spent on construction-related goods and services each year. The growing geriatric population, mass urbanisation, and ageing urban infrastructure are some of the primary contributors to this trend. The global concrete restoration market is projected to exhibit tremendous growth in such a business environment. Rapid urbanisation is testing the limits of contemporary public infrastructure, creating a need for regular repairs. In addition, new products such as quick-setting cement mortar are finding notable applications in constructing underwater infrastructure such as river bridge piers.

For More Industry Insights Read: https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/report/concrete-restoration-market 

Increasing Population to Create Sustained Demand for Infrastructure

Compared to the past few decades, the number of people living in urban areas has skyrocketed. Such rampant urbanisation across the globe is straining the existing infrastructure that was built with a much lesser population density in mind. This, in turn, creates a sustained demand for urban infrastructure expansion and repairs. In developed economies, the influx of immigrants from war-torn regions is also increasing, creating an unexpected yet urgent requirement for liveable spaces. The senior population is also increasing which requires more accessible public infrastructure. These factors are collaboratively expected to drive the global concrete restoration market to fruition in the forecast period. 

Quick-Setting Cement Mortar to Open New Avenues of Growth

The recurring demand for robust and long-lasting urban infrastructure is pushing industry stakeholders to develop better types of construction materials. One such innovation is the quick-setting cement mortar. By significantly reducing the waiting on cement (WOC) time, construction projects are completed much faster. Consequently, it has fulfilled the growing requirement for stable infrastructure more effectively. It is particularly useful in situations where extreme environmental conditions give very little leeway for cement to settle. In underwater construction such as river bridges - piers, foundations, pier caps, pile caps, and piles are built using quick-setting cement. An explosive increase in the demand for this cement is set to contribute to the global concrete restoration market expansion. 

Asia Pacific to Claim Leadership in Concrete Restoration Market Amidst Paced Urbanisation

Asia Pacific is poised to emerge as the fastest-growing concrete restoration market amidst increasing urbanisation. The APAC region has the highest population with economies such as India and China, this translates into prolonged demand for stable public and residential infrastructure and repair against wear and tear. The spending capacity is also increasing in the region which leads to more construction projects. Restoration projects for old highways, bridges, marine structures, water treatment plants, parking structures, and salt and smelting plants are ongoing in various places in the region. These developments are boding well for the concrete restoration market in the region. 

Notable Market Players

Some of the key participants in the global concrete restoration market include Mapei S.p.A (Italy), Sika (Switzerland), Fosroc (UAE), Master Builders Solutions (Germany), Fyfe (US), RPM International (US), BASF SE (Germany), Saint-Gobain Weber S.A. (France), Pidilite Industries (India), and The Euclid Chemical Company (UK). 

For More Information Visit: https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/report/concrete-restoration-market

 About Us

Fairfield Market Research is a UK-based market research provider. Fairfield offers a wide spectrum of services, ranging from customized reports to consulting solutions. With a strong European footprint, Fairfield operates globally and helps businesses navigate through business cycles, with quick responses and multi-pronged approaches. The company values an eye for insightful take on global matters, ably backed by a team of exceptionally experienced researchers. With a strong repository of syndicated market research reports that are continuously published & updated to ensure the ever-changing needs of customers are met with absolute promptness.

[blogport]

EPOXYSHİNE - DRAGON+ (3)

Epoxy floor coating is not just a practical choice for enhancing the durability of your flooring; it's also a stylish solution that can transform any space. Whether you're a homeowner looking to revamp your garage or a business owner seeking reliable commercial flooring solutions, understanding the benefits of epoxy will help you make informed decisions. As you search for "floor polishing near me," consider how an expertly applied epoxy coating can elevate your interiors while providing a long-lasting finish. 

Epoxy Floor Coating

Epoxy floor coating is a highly durable and resilient flooring solution that has gained popularity in both residential and commercial spaces. This type of coating is made from a combination of resin and hardener, creating a strong bond when applied to existing concrete surfaces. The result is a seamless surface that can withstand heavy foot traffic, chemicals, and abrasions.

One of the major benefits of epoxy floor coating is its versatility. It can be customized in various colors and finishes, including high-gloss and matte textures. This means that property owners can choose a look that complements their interior design while still providing the durability they require. Additionally, the smooth finish of epoxy makes it easy to clean and maintain, which is particularly advantageous in commercial settings.

Furthermore, the installation process for epoxy floor coating is relatively quick, often completed within a few days. However, it’s essential to hire professionals who have the expertise and equipment to ensure a flawless application. The right team will properly prepare the surface, allowing for optimal adhesion and longevity of the coating.

Floor Polishing Near Me

When searching for floor polishing near me, it's essential to find a service that not only meets your expectations but also understands the unique needs of your flooring. Professional floor polishing can revitalize old surfaces, restoring their shine and luster while protecting them from future wear and tear.

Many local companies offer specialized services in floor polishing that cater to various materials, including hardwood, tile, and concrete. A quick search in your area will yield numerous options, allowing you to compare prices, services, and customer reviews to find the best fit for your needs.

Additionally, hiring professionals for floor polishing ensures that the job is done correctly and efficiently. They use advanced equipment and high-quality products that not only enhance the appearance of your floors but also extend their lifespan. So, don't hesitate to reac

Commercial Flooring Solutions

Commercial flooring solutions are essential for businesses seeking to enhance their aesthetic appeal while also ensuring durability and functionality. The choice of flooring can greatly influence the overall atmosphere of a commercial space, leading to improved employee morale and customer satisfaction.

Among the various options available, epoxy floor coatings stand out due to their seamless finish and resistance to heavy foot traffic. These coatings not only provide a sleek look but also protect the underlying surface from wear and tear, making them ideal for warehouses, retail spaces, and industrial environments.

Moreover, businesses often explore additional options such as vinyl flooring, carpet tiles, and laminate surfaces to meet specific needs. Each of these materials offers unique advantages, allowing business owners to choose the most suitable flooring solution that aligns with their operational demands and aesthetic preferences.

Metallic Epoxy Floor

A metallic epoxy floor offers a stunning visual appeal that enhances the aesthetic of any space. The reflective properties of the metallic pigments create a unique look, resulting in a three-dimensional effect that can mimic a variety of surfaces, such as water, marble, or even molten metal. This type of flooring is especially popular in modern homes, showrooms, and commercial spaces, providing an eye-catching yet durable surface.

One of the significant advantages of a metallic epoxy floor is its durability. This flooring solution is resistant to stains, chemicals, and impacts, making it ideal for high-traffic areas. Additionally, it is easy to clean and maintain, which means that business owners and homeowners can save time and resources. The seamless nature of epoxy flooring also contributes to a hygienic environment, especially in spaces like hospitals or laboratories.

Installing a metallic epoxy floor can be a customized process, allowing property owners to choose their preferred colors and patterns. Whether you’re looking for a sleek, industrial look or a vibrant, artistic finish, this flooring solution can be tailored to meet your unique vision. By consulting with professionals, you can ensure that your metallic epoxy floor is installed correctly and maximizes its longevity and beauty.

[visit-new-york]

Has the Brooklyn Bridge ever undergone significant renovations?

The Brooklyn Bridge, an iconic symbol of New York City, stands as a testament to engineering brilliance and architectural marvel. Since its completion in 1883, the bridge has played a crucial role in connecting the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn, witnessing the evolution of the cityscape over the decades. In its long and storied history, the Brooklyn Bridge has indeed undergone significant renovations to ensure its structural integrity and adapt to the changing needs of a bustling metropolis.

Initial Construction:

Designed by renowned engineer John A. Roebling and completed by his son Washington Roebling, the Brooklyn Bridge was a groundbreaking feat of engineering in its time. However, even with its sturdy construction, the bridge needed to adapt to the increasing demands of a rapidly growing city.

Early Renovations:

In the early 20th century, several renovations were undertaken to enhance the bridge's stability and accommodate the ever-increasing vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The original wooden walkway was replaced with a more durable concrete surface, and the bridge's cables and support structures were reinforced to meet modern safety standards.

Mid-20th Century Upgrades:

As the mid-20th century dawned, the Brooklyn Bridge faced another wave of renovations. The emergence of automobiles as a dominant mode of transportation prompted the need for wider lanes and reinforced roadways. The bridge's signature Gothic towers underwent meticulous restoration to preserve their historic charm while ensuring they could withstand the test of time.

1980s Rehabilitation:

In the 1980s, the Brooklyn Bridge underwent a comprehensive rehabilitation project to address the effects of wear and tear from decades of heavy use and exposure to the elements. The project included the replacement of deteriorating stones, repainting of the bridge's steel components, and the installation of modern lighting to enhance visibility and safety.

Post-9/11 Precautions:

In the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the Brooklyn Bridge, like many other landmarks, became a focus of heightened security measures. The city implemented additional safety features, including surveillance systems and increased police presence, to safeguard this critical piece of infrastructure.

Contemporary Maintenance:

Even in the 21st century, ongoing maintenance is crucial to preserving the Brooklyn Bridge for future generations. Regular inspections, repairs, and technological upgrades ensure that the bridge continues to serve as a vital transportation link while retaining its iconic status.

Conclusion:

The Brooklyn Bridge stands not only as a physical link between boroughs but also as a symbol of resilience and adaptability. Over the years, the bridge has undergone significant renovations to keep pace with the evolving needs of a dynamic city. From its initial construction in the 19th century to the comprehensive rehabilitation efforts of the 1980s and the ongoing maintenance in the present day, the Brooklyn Bridge remains a testament to the commitment of New Yorkers to preserve their heritage and ensure the safety of this architectural masterpiece.

[misfitwashere]

September 9, 2024 

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

SEP 10

Last night, Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign launched a new section of its website detailing her policy positions. Titling her plans “A New Way Forward,” Harris vows to build the American middle class through an “opportunity economy.” Her vision for the future, she says, “protects our fundamental freedoms, strengthens our democracy, and ensures every person has the opportunity to not just get by, but to get ahead.” 

Harris’s economic plan builds on that of the Biden-Harris administration. This makes sense, since their focus on investing in the middle class has created the strongest economy in the world. Harris is emphasizing the need to bring down household costs of food, medicine, housing, healthcare, and childcare, all issues important to Americans.  

The website provides concrete economic actions she plans to take with a willing Congress. They include expanding the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit, investing in more housing, and supporting the PRO Act, which protects the rights of workers to unionize, while continuing the crackdown on business consolidation that kills competition and rolling back the Trump tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations.

The biggest economic shift from the current administration is pegging a new capital gains tax for those earning more than a million dollars a year at 28%, significantly lower than the 39.6% President Joe Biden proposed in his 2025 budget. The plans also call for the first-ever national ban on corporate price gouging on food and groceries (37 states already have such laws). 

Aside from strictly economic plans, the policy pages say Harris backs passing the bipartisan immigration bill that Republicans killed on Trump’s orders, protecting reproductive healthcare and restoring Roe v. Wade, and protecting the right to vote and ending partisan gerrymandering through the John Lewis Voting Rights and the Freedom to Vote Acts.

Republicans have charged that Harris has not offered specifics for her policies, but much of what is now clearly laid out is already in the public record. By the standards of American history, it is a strikingly moderate agenda that reflects the belief that the best way for the government to protect opportunity and nurture the economy is to make sure that the system is fair and that ordinary people have access to opportunity.

The “New Way Forward” in Harris’s plan seems to be less a new set of policies than a rejection of the politics of the past several decades. She and her running mate Minnesota governor Tim Walz appear to be attempting to reshape the political landscape to bring Americans of all parties together to stand against Trump’s MAGA Republicans. The campaign has actively reached out to Republicans, several of whom spoke at the Democratic National Convention. On Saturday, Harris said she was “honored” to have the endorsement of former representative Liz Cheney (R-WY) and former vice president Dick Cheney, both staunch Republicans. “People are exhausted about the division and the attempt to divide us as Americans,” she said. “We love our country and we have more in common than what separates us.” 

Trump’s website offers slogans rather than policies, so Harris’s website compares her policies to the comparable sections of Project 2025, the playbook for a second Trump term laid out by a number of right-wing institutions led by the Heritage Foundation. Trump and his campaign have tried to distance themselves from Project 2025, but at his rallies, he has offered the policies in it—like firing nonpartisan civil servants and replacing them with loyalists, and abolishing the Department of Education—as his top priorities. 

While Harris focused on policy, as critics have demanded, MAGA Republicans today spread slurs about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, claiming they are eating other people’s pets and local wildlife. Right-wing media figure Benny Johnson, who was one of the six commenters whose paychecks at now-disbanded Tenet Media were paid by Russia, was one of those pushing the false stories. So was X owner Elon Musk. 

The story was debunked almost immediately by the Springfield police, but Republican politicians ran with it. The X account for Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee ran it; so did Texas senator Ted Cruz, who shared an image with two kittens saying: “PLEASE VOTE FOR TRUMP SO IMMIGRANTS DON’T EAT US.” And the Republican vice presidential nominee, Ohio senator J.D. Vance, posted: “Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country.” (The Haitians in Springfield are in the U.S. legally.)

Perhaps most significantly, Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno, who is challenging Democratic Ohio senator Sherrod Brown, pushed the story. That Senate seat is crucial to the Republican attempt to take control of the Senate, and Moreno has just launched a $25 million ad campaign against Brown, accusing him of giving undocumented immigrants taxpayer-funded benefits. Today’s disinformation was well timed for that ad campaign. 

The Justice Department today announced  charges against two leaders of the white supremacist Terrorgram Collective, an international terrorist group that operates on the platform Telegram. Dallas Humber of California and Matthew Allison of Idaho have been charged with “soliciting hate crimes, soliciting the murder of federal officials, and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.” They “solicited murders and hate crimes based on the race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, and gender identity of others,” U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert said. They had a hit list of federal, state, and local officials, as well as corporate leaders, and they encouraged attacks on government infrastructure, including energy facilities. Their plan was to create a race war. 

“Hate crimes fueled by bigotry and white supremacy, and amplified by the weaponization of digital messaging platforms, are on the rise and have no place in our society,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said.

Congress is back in session today and must fund the government before October 1 or face a government shutdown. Although Congress negotiated spending levels for 2024 and 2025 back in June 2023, the House has been unable to pass appropriations bills because MAGA extremists either refuse to accept those levels or insist on inserting culture war poison pills into the bills. 

Now, Trump has demanded that a continuing resolution to fund the government must include a measure requiring proof of citizenship to vote. Since it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in elections for president or members of Congress and there is no evidence it is anything but vanishingly rare, the measure actually seems designed to suppress voting. House speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) went along and put the measure in the bill. He also designed for the measure to last until next March, making the budget so late a new president could write it, but also blowing through a January 1 deadline set in the June 2023 bill to require automatic cuts to spending.

House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) wrote to his colleagues: “House Democrats have made it clear that we will find bipartisan common ground on any issue with our Republican colleagues wherever possible, while pushing back against MAGA extremism.” Jeffries called the Republican bill “unserious and unacceptable.”

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told House and Senate leaders that the cuts required by law if Congress pushes the budget into March would drastically affect the military. “The repercussions of Congress failing to pass regular appropriations legislation for the first half of [fiscal] 2025 would be devastating to our readiness and ability to execute the National Defense Strategy,” Austin wrote.

Meanwhile, Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) is back to his old trick of blocking a military promotion, this time of Lieutenant General Ronald Clark, one of Austin’s top aides. Tuberville says he placed the hold because he has concerns that Clark did not alert Biden when Austin had surgery. Biden has nominated Clark to become the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Pacific, a position currently held by General Charles A. Flynn, younger brother of Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, Trump’s first National Security Advisor who resigned after news broke that he had hidden conversations with Russian operatives. 

Today, ten retired senior military officials endorsed Harris, saying she “is the best—and only—presidential candidate in this race who is fit to serve as our commander-in-chief…. Frankly stated, Donald Trump is a danger to our national security and our democracy. His own former National Security Advisors, Defense Secretaries, and Chiefs of Staff have said so.”

—

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Mike Luckovich

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

September 9, 2024

Heather Cox Richardson

Sep 10, 2024

Last night, Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign launched a new section of its website detailing her policy positions. Titling her plans “A New Way Forward,” Harris vows to build the American middle class through an “opportunity economy.” Her vision for the future, she says, “protects our fundamental freedoms, strengthens our democracy, and ensures every person has the opportunity to not just get by, but to get ahead.” 

Harris’s economic plan builds on that of the Biden-Harris administration. This makes sense, since their focus on investing in the middle class has created the strongest economy in the world. Harris is emphasizing the need to bring down household costs of food, medicine, housing, healthcare, and childcare, all issues important to Americans.  

The website provides concrete economic actions she plans to take with a willing Congress. They include expanding the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit, investing in more housing, and supporting the PRO Act, which protects the rights of workers to unionize, while continuing the crackdown on business consolidation that kills competition and rolling back the Trump tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations.

The biggest economic shift from the current administration is pegging a new capital gains tax for those earning more than a million dollars a year at 28%, significantly lower than the 39.6% President Joe Biden proposed in his 2025 budget. The plans also call for the first-ever national ban on corporate price gouging on food and groceries (37 states already have such laws). 

Aside from strictly economic plans, the policy pages say Harris backs passing the bipartisan immigration bill that Republicans killed on Trump’s orders, protecting reproductive healthcare and restoring Roe v. Wade, and protecting the right to vote and ending partisan gerrymandering through the John Lewis Voting Rights and the Freedom to Vote Acts.

Republicans have charged that Harris has not offered specifics for her policies, but much of what is now clearly laid out is already in the public record. By the standards of American history, it is a strikingly moderate agenda that reflects the belief that the best way for the government to protect opportunity and nurture the economy is to make sure that the system is fair and that ordinary people have access to opportunity.

The “New Way Forward” in Harris’s plan seems to be less a new set of policies than a rejection of the politics of the past several decades. She and her running mate Minnesota governor Tim Walz appear to be attempting to reshape the political landscape to bring Americans of all parties together to stand against Trump’s MAGA Republicans. The campaign has actively reached out to Republicans, several of whom spoke at the Democratic National Convention. On Saturday, Harris said she was “honored” to have the endorsement of former representative Liz Cheney (R-WY) and former vice president Dick Cheney, both staunch Republicans. “People are exhausted about the division and the attempt to divide us as Americans,” she said. “We love our country and we have more in common than what separates us.” 

Trump’s website offers slogans rather than policies, so Harris’s website compares her policies to the comparable sections of Project 2025, the playbook for a second Trump term laid out by a number of right-wing institutions led by the Heritage Foundation. Trump and his campaign have tried to distance themselves from Project 2025, but at his rallies, he has offered the policies in it—like firing nonpartisan civil servants and replacing them with loyalists, and abolishing the Department of Education—as his top priorities. 

While Harris focused on policy, as critics have demanded, MAGA Republicans today spread slurs about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, claiming they are eating other people’s pets and local wildlife. Right-wing media figure Benny Johnson, who was one of the six commenters whose paychecks at now-disbanded Tenet Media were paid by Russia, was one of those pushing the false stories. So was X owner Elon Musk. 

The story was debunked almost immediately by the Springfield police, but Republican politicians ran with it. The X account for Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee ran it; so did Texas senator Ted Cruz, who shared an image with two kittens saying: “PLEASE VOTE FOR TRUMP SO IMMIGRANTS DON’T EAT US.” And the Republican vice presidential nominee, Ohio senator J.D. Vance, posted: “Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country.” (The Haitians in Springfield are in the U.S. legally.)

Perhaps most significantly, Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno, who is challenging Democratic Ohio senator Sherrod Brown, pushed the story. That Senate seat is crucial to the Republican attempt to take control of the Senate, and Moreno has just launched a $25 million ad campaign against Brown, accusing him of giving undocumented immigrants taxpayer-funded benefits. Today’s disinformation was well timed for that ad campaign. 

The Justice Department today announced  charges against two leaders of the white supremacist Terrorgram Collective, an international terrorist group that operates on the platform Telegram. Dallas Humber of California and Matthew Allison of Idaho have been charged with “soliciting hate crimes, soliciting the murder of federal officials, and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.” They “solicited murders and hate crimes based on the race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, and gender identity of others,” U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert said. They had a hit list of federal, state, and local officials, as well as corporate leaders, and they encouraged attacks on government infrastructure, including energy facilities. Their plan was to create a race war. 

“Hate crimes fueled by bigotry and white supremacy, and amplified by the weaponization of digital messaging platforms, are on the rise and have no place in our society,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said.

Congress is back in session today and must fund the government before October 1 or face a government shutdown. Although Congress negotiated spending levels for 2024 and 2025 back in June 2023, the House has been unable to pass appropriations bills because MAGA extremists either refuse to accept those levels or insist on inserting culture war poison pills into the bills. 

Now, Trump has demanded that a continuing resolution to fund the government must include a measure requiring proof of citizenship to vote. Since it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in elections for president or members of Congress and there is no evidence it is anything but vanishingly rare, the measure actually seems designed to suppress voting. House speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) went along and put the measure in the bill. He also designed for the measure to last until next March, making the budget so late a new president could write it, but also blowing through a January 1 deadline set in the June 2023 bill to require automatic cuts to spending.

House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) wrote to his colleagues: “House Democrats have made it clear that we will find bipartisan common ground on any issue with our Republican colleagues wherever possible, while pushing back against MAGA extremism.” Jeffries called the Republican bill “unserious and unacceptable.”

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told House and Senate leaders that the cuts required by law if Congress pushes the budget into March would drastically affect the military. “The repercussions of Congress failing to pass regular appropriations legislation for the first half of [fiscal] 2025 would be devastating to our readiness and ability to execute the National Defense Strategy,” Austin wrote.

Meanwhile, Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) is back to his old trick of blocking a military promotion, this time of Lieutenant General Ronald Clark, one of Austin’s top aides. Tuberville says he placed the hold because he has concerns that Clark did not alert Biden when Austin had surgery. Biden has nominated Clark to become the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Pacific, a position currently held by General Charles A. Flynn, younger brother of Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, Trump’s first National Security Advisor who resigned after news broke that he had hidden conversations with Russian operatives. 

Today, ten retired senior military officials endorsed Harris, saying she “is the best—and only—presidential candidate in this race who is fit to serve as our commander-in-chief…. Frankly stated, Donald Trump is a danger to our national security and our democracy. His own former National Security Advisors, Defense Secretaries, and Chiefs of Staff have said so.”

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from The Revelator:

We need to talk about sand.

Most people don’t realize that these humble grains — that ubiquitous stuff of vacations, ant farms and hourglasses — are the second-most used natural resource in the world after water. According to a 2019 report from the United Nations Environment Programme, we use more than 55 billion tons of it per year — nearly 40 pounds per person per day.

And a lot of that sand comes from illegal activity, involving criminal gangs who mine, smuggle, and kill for the precious material.

Sand — legal or otherwise — gets used to enhance beaches, extract petroleum through hydraulic fracking, fill land under buildings, and make computer chips.

But the biggest amount by far — an estimated 85% of the sand mined globally — goes into making concrete. Concrete combines two key ingredients: cement, a binding agent made from calcium or other substances, and aggregate, which is either sand or a combination of sand and gravel. Quality concrete requires jagged and angular aggregate grains — a quality found in only a tiny fraction of the worlds’ sand, most of it on beaches and in rivers. This sand also is easy and cheap to mine, and it’s located close to much of the construction taking place around the world.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, world consumption of aggregate for all uses exceeds 40 billion metric tons (44 billion U.S. tons) a year — an estimate that’s likely on the conservative side and represents about twice the amount of sediment carried annually by all the world’s rivers. (Sediment from land rocks is the source of most coastal sand, which also comes from shells and marine organisms pulverized by waves, the digestive tracts of coral-eating fish, and the remains of tiny creatures called foraminifera.)

Not surprisingly, UNEP calls management of sand one of the greatest sustainability challenges of the 21st century.

The organization also warns about sand mining’s serious consequences for humans and the natural environment.

Removing beach sand leaves coastal structures more vulnerable to erosion even as climate change raises sea levels and makes storms more intense. Transporting sand generates carbon dioxide emissions. Sand mining has political and cultural consequences, including effects on the tourism industry, and creates noise and air pollution.

Coastal sand mining also destroys complex ecosystems. The microorganisms, crabs, and clams that live in beach sand are important food sources for birds. Sea turtles and several bird species nest on sandy beaches. Seagrass, an important food source and habitat for marine residents, needs sandy ocean floor to grow. Stretches of underwater sand provide habitat for sea stars, sea cucumbers, conchs, and other critters, and are feeding grounds for flounder, rays, fish, and sharks.

Removing sand also affects water quality in the ocean and depletes groundwater.

[monstromax]

What Are Americans Allowed to Ask for this Election Season?

Well, the (US) American election season is well underway, and oh boy are things happening. Joe Biden is stepping out, Kamala Harris is the new Democratic nominee, Walz was picked over Shapiro for VP, Donald Trump was shot and people kind of forgot about it. Everything is changing - the possibilities are endless!

Except, are they? After the stumbling, fumbling mess that was Biden's 2024 campaign, the marketing for Harris was framed as a breath of fresh air where new, progressive politics were back. But ask the average voter what policies they like from the Harris/Walz campaign and the answer will probably be vague. The most concrete reason most people seem to have for supporting Harris and Walz is that they will prevent another Trump presidency and stop the Republicans' proposed Project 2025. The Harris campaign seems to reflect this attitude, with slogans like "Let's Win This" and "Not Going Back!" featured prominently.

But what about positive policy platforms? Well that has been a vague area. There is a little talk about infrastructure and defending reproductive rights, but not much talk about adding to the Supreme Court to counterbalance the judges that overturned Roe vs. Wade. And it doesn't seem like packing the court or making changes that might break through the systematic obstructions of the GOP is something the DNC is even willing to consider.

And there's one thing the Democrats are definitely not making promises about: ending the US-funded Palestinian genocide.

Oh, for months the White House, Biden and Harris have all talked routinely about being in talks for a "ceasefire," "negotiations," and "deals," etc. with the Israeli government, everything short of actually establishing red lines or stopping funds and arms for Israel's military. Despite their repeated statements of concern with Israel's bombardments and the swell of popular opposition to the latest acts of destruction against Gaza and Palestine in general, words and assurances are all the present Democrat White House is willing to offer.

No, they will not consider doing more. When protesters came to campaign events demanding that the incumbent Vice President take real action to stop funding the genocide of Palestinians, they were met with scorn from dedicated party supporters. In one campaign stop in Michigan, the Candidate herself told protesters that they were basically asking for Trump to win...

All of this raises some questions. Why shouldn't voters ask a political candidate to support a certain policy in exchange for their votes? Is that not one of the central concepts of representative democracy?

Moreover, why shouldn't voters ask that currently sitting elected officials use their offices to take action on an international humanitarian crisis that the same government is funding?

Is it really so extreme and rude to organize a protest when the government has taken no meaningful action to stop the mass killing of civilians by a nation that it supports?

The situation with Palestine and the USA's unwillingness to take meaningful action is an especially stark reminder that the Democratic Party is still firmly in the era of policy-free politics.

More specifically, by policy-free I mean that the Democrats' campaign is promising voters no policy platforms other than Not Being Republican and Not Being Trump. Trump and the MAGA movement represent a fascist, existential threat to American democracy, they say, and therefore the most important issue of this election is making sure they do not gain power and destroy democracy as we know it. Ending the war (and genocide) against Palestine, restoring nationwide reproductive rights, protecting labour rights, limiting the damage of climate change, all of that can surely wait until the existential threat to the nation is defeated at the ballot box, right?

This would be compelling - except for the fact that the Democrats have been in power for just about four years now and have not only been slow to address some of these issues (If Harris is committed to enshrining abortion rights into law, why not introduce such a bill in this term?), but have in fact conceded and embraced Republicans' policies on others.

Remember the families of migrants and asylum-seekers who were being cruelly separated by ICE at the southern US border? Remember the outrage over kids being locked in cages alone? The Democrats and the media that favour them don't. In fact, this year's DNC showed that the Democrats are embracing the MAGA policy of militarizing the border as much as possible. From "Abolish ICE" to "Build the Wall" in just four short years.

What about addressing climate change? Well, all those oil drilling permits that the Biden administration has handed out since 2021 probably haven't helped much with that.

End the Israel/Palestine war? We hear you, we see you, but the munitions trade must continue.

And when any of these issues and the DNC's inaction are brought up on the campaign trail, when someone asks the politicians to commit to something in exchange for a vote, the politicians reply, "Do you want Trump to win again?! Don't you know how important it is that we win this election?! How can you throw your support to the other side???"

The specter of Trump really has been a boon to the DNC and all of its staffers. Since 2016 - that's three elections now, they have been able to keep their donations and supporters coming in with just the threat of Trump gaining power - no positive campaign promises required, and no accountability needed.

Did the Democrats win an election? Great, now we can get back to normal and stop thinking about issues and stuff. Don't worry about the ICE stuff or renewable energy, we'll get to that eventually.

Did the Democrats lose an election? We need your donations now more than ever so we can fight Trump and make things better in ways we weren't doing while in office!

Did the Democrats fail to act on their promises before the campaign, or even move to the right on them? Look, it's difficult to get stuff through the Senate or whatever, and we can't do executive orders because that's what the other guys do. The important thing is to vote for us so Trump doesn't win and then we'll definitely do the thing next time.

The Democrats frame this Presidential election as a vote to prevent the ultra-right and fascism from taking over America, just as they did in 2020 and in the midterms of 2018 and 2022. This begs the question, however: If America has been one election away from descending into fascism for two election cycles now, how well is the country actually doing at fighting fascism? Is there any plan to use executive power to strengthen real democratic rights and lessen the ability of fascists to influence government? If the stakes are so high, why is the supposed "only party that can stop MAGA" letting their policies ratchet to the right and embracing some of the very things that MAGA has supported?

It should be clear by now that voting every four years for the Party that Promises to Stop Fascism and then hoping they don't slide further towards the fascists is not going to get anywhere. If we are told that addressing the most urgent issues cannot be asked of candidates, then it is time to demand they are addressed.

We are seeing now how electoralism is once again failing working class people in the USA and abroad. It's time now more than ever for people to organize beyond the established electoral system - in protest movements, in boycotts, in labour unions, in community orgs and affinity groups, even in a revolutionary party if that's your thing.

Vote if you must, but remember that voting is not enough to stop fascists at home or acts of genocide abroad. Rights and liberties are not handed down through begging. They are won through power.

[plethoraworldatlas]

Coastal ecosystems — including oyster reefs, sandy beaches, mangrove forests and seagrass beds — provide important habitat for marine life and food and recreation for people. They also protect shorelines from waves and storms. But these precious systems face serious threats. This series looks at what put them at risk, along with examples of efforts to restore and protect important coastal ecosystems around the world.

We need to talk about sand.

Most people don’t realize that these humble grains — that ubiquitous stuff of vacations, ant farms and hourglasses — are the second-most used natural resource in the world after water. According to a 2019 report from the United Nations Environment Programme, we use more than 55 billion tons of it per year — nearly 40 pounds per person per day.

And a lot of that sand comes from illegal activity, involving criminal gangs who mine, smuggle, and kill for the precious material.

The Building Blocks of Modern Society

Sand — legal or otherwise — gets used to enhance beaches, extract petroleum through hydraulic fracking, fill land under buildings, and make computer chips.

But the biggest amount by far — an estimated 85% of the sand mined globally — goes into making concrete. Concrete combines two key ingredients: cement, a binding agent made from calcium or other substances, and aggregate, which is either sand or a combination of sand and gravel. Quality concrete requires jagged and angular aggregate grains — a quality found in only a tiny fraction of the worlds’ sand, most of it on beaches and in rivers. This sand also is easy and cheap to mine, and it’s located close to much of the construction taking place around the world.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, world consumption of aggregate for all uses exceeds 40 billion metric tons (44 billion U.S. tons) a year — an estimate that’s likely on the conservative side and represents about twice the amount of sediment carried annually by all the world’s rivers. (Sediment from land rocks is the source of most coastal sand, which also comes from shells and marine organisms pulverized by waves, the digestive tracts of coral-eating fish, and the remains of tiny creatures called foraminifera.)

Not surprisingly, UNEP calls management of sand one of the greatest sustainability challenges of the 21st century.

[wanaery]

Socionics Type: LSI

Examples & Description ⚔️🛡️🏰

Logical Sensing Introvert, LSI, ISTj, Maxim Gorky, Beta Quadra

For LSI, life must correspond to a specific system both in the material world and that of human relations, and one should exert efforts to ensure its betterment, maintenance, and restoration if it has been disrupted. LSI attempts to find such logical system, to become incorporated into it, to follow it and to perfect it. He analyzes and thinks over everything that surrounds him. From this information, he creates classifications and designations, creates hierarchies, derives maxims. All of this must be clearly stated and presented in various directions and instructions that aid in understanding and organizing life.

It is clear to him that whoever does not waver and follows such prescriptions will attain more in life, if he ceaselessly works hard and achieves commendable results then such person will be able to attain a worthy place in society. He is proud of having such ability, and it is exactly in this that he realizes himself. His pride suffers if another person is capable of doing the same job better than him. In such situations, LSI is capable of assuming work with thrice the force in order to not fall behind, for he finds it absolutely unacceptable to fall to a lower position in the conceptualized hierarchy he is aware of in his mind.

Such a person can be very productive. LSI is usually very conscientious: he considers it paramount that he works qualitatively, sequentially and systematically with this he builds himself a foundation and asserts himself.

LSI is inclined towards realism hes interested primarily in concrete and actual problems, rather than hypothetical issues. LSI thinks deeply about any problem, tries to understand its essence and roots. When he doesn’t understand something, he refers to established databases of information to check that everything corresponds to what is already known. In such situations, his mind starts to resemble a computer with a built in program, which he will follow without skipping a line. Carefully plans events, thoroughly examines and works out all the specifics. Puts work matters above sentiments. Takes all regulations into account. Keeps his personal things in order. He can always be relied on. Stoically endures life’s hardships.

A representative of Stoic philosophy, goals and principles are known and adhered to despite unfavorable societal conditions. Reserved by nature, introversion is not always apparent. LSI is a person of strong will, diligent and enduring. He/she is insistent and demanding in execution and verification of tasks. Takes care of those who are confused and uncertain, explains to them how they can do their work. In his assessments - a sober realist, who does not tolerate infertile, unrealistic fantasies. Proves his point and supports his case citing numerous facts that he has collected.

In communication with friends and colleagues, he is polite and courteous.

Can make an impression of an intelligent and well-mannered man. However, in closer, more familiar relations, he can be rather insensitive. Despite the fact that he is quite communicative in a small groups, periodically he needs to spend time alone. Has a tendency to be didactic, to deliver lengthy explanations on his understanding of a subject. May lecture on ethical topics.

What he deems himself capable of doing, he will also require from others. May become too deeply immersed in the details and the calculations, at which point he risks losing sight of the broader view. Uncompromising in his convictions. The fall of the ideals that he has previously followed treats as a personal tragedy. Distrustful of strangers and people about whom he knows too little. When he discovers some negative traits in another person, loses trust in him for a long period of time.

Examples:

Peter Steele

James Hetfield

Ghost Rider

Bruce Wayne

Din Djarin

Joel Miller

Rick Grimes

Natasha Romanoff

Gamora

Simon Riley

More Examples:

Dexter Morgan (Dexter)

Darth Vader (Starwars)

Magneto (X-Men)

Robin (Teen Titans 2003)

Nikto (COD)

König (COD)

Crosshair (Starwars)

Captain Rex (Starwars)

Jessica Jones (MCU)

Michonne Hawthorne (TWD)

Stannis Baratheon (GOT)

[sramfact]

Based on material type, quick setting cement mortar accounted for the largest market share in 2020. It is a special cement formulation that develops a rapid compressive strength and significantly reduces the waiting on cement (WOC) time compared to traditional cement systems. It is used in underwater construction like river bridge construction. Part of bridge construction like a pier, foundation, pier cap, pile cap, and piles, all those constructions use quick setting cement mortar in concrete.

[yeonsu-bh]

HELLO EVERYBODY, THIS IS sun COMING TO U LIVE FROM A WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A QUEUED POST FOR BEONHWA'S OPENING !!!

i am SOOO excited to see beonhwa finally open and can't wait to write with everyone here and see muse development! i am here to introduce my toll and veryyy internally conflicted and overwhelmed muse YI YEONSU the recently returned heir apparent of house gladiolus. i've editted this part like three times now - barely have any pages set up but pulled this plot page together last minute for something at the least!

bec i have nothing else to offer but extreme volume (LOUD) please feel free to take a dive into my best attempt at yeonsu's tldr bec i literally wrote an entire essay for my app and still feel sorry for that hhhh,, (to save u time if u read his app this is basically that cut in half so u can skip to the bottom OR vice versa if you didnt want to read his app bec it was so fking long u can read his intro!)

full disclosure! i may be slow to get back but if you'd like a plot below feel free to reply with which one specifically, or if you'd like to brainstorm/plot pls give this a like an i will meander my way into ur dms as soon as i can!

trigger warnings: kidnap, assumed death

heir apparent of house gladiolus

twenty-seven old man (weeping for older fcs)

was born to the yi family of gladiolus

as a young child growing up, yeonsu was very naturally talented at everything he learned and picked up from academics to physical training! he also had great relations with his parents and grandparents

wasn't exactly doted on but was regarded with as much respect as the growing heir apparent could get so that he would understand his role from a young age versus being treated as a usual child would be

at 12, yeonsu was kidnapped during a large town celebration hosted by the villagers after the house of gladiolus supported them against an issue with the nobility. it was clear that families of the nobility were behind the kidnapping however there wasn't any concrete evidence to pinpoint which families were responsible for hiring kidnappers

a ransom was demanded for yeonsu's life along with certain demands to accommodate the nobility. however, the yi family came to odds against each other between deciding how to save yeonsu and what was the right thing to do for the people as a whole

during this time, yeonsu was able to escape from his kidnappers after finding a moment of opportunity. he was chased to a town far from beonhwa where he found refuge within a poor town - collapsing in front of a small farmer family that took him in.

yeonsu's escape was kept secret from the yi family as the kidnappers continued to hunt him down. he was only able to survive after being hidden in a home full of sick villagers where he then fell ill with pneumonia from being exposed to the sick along with all the distress his body and mind were under.

eventually, the kidnappers stopped looking for yeonsu and it was reported to the yi family that yeonsu was killed due to their inability to pay the ransom or accommodate the nobles.

for his safety, his adoptive mother encouraged yeonsu to assume a new identity as one of their children until someone from his family came to retrieve him - unaware of his true background. from a poor farming family in a town barely able to sustain itself, there was no one that would be able to truly protect yeonsu or provide him safe passage back to beonhwa.

thus, yeonsu became chae dohwan. as the years passed by with no one from the yi family ever coming to search for yeonsu, he slowly let go of the hope that he would ever be found and truly began assimilating into his life as dohwan.

after 15 years, yeonsu was finally pulled back to his past and true identity when his true birth mother suddenly showed up after hearing about yeonsu through many attempts of contact from his adoptive mother.

with his true identity confirmed and restored, yeonsu was immediately whisked back to beonhwa to return to his rightful place as the heir apparent of the gladiolus house.

personality

yeonsu is going through A LOT of internal conflict and strife!! it's only been about three months since he's returned. short enough of a time to still feel out of place, but long enough to have a routine established.

kind of feels like impostor syndrome but? he's the real deal hello! how do you deal with that?! aka he's feeling suffocated on top of all the other negative feelings!

he's in an odd place of reassimilating into the lifestyle of those in beonhwa

for one, he misses his family dearly and is struggling with trying to reconnect with his original family after finding out the truth all these years that they had believed he was dead this entire time

from the fifteen years he's lived as a poor farmer, there are a lot of things about politics, luxury, power, and the people of beonhwa that yeonsu is having a hard time accepting with ease

but wait! underneath all the commotion dotion yeonsu is actually a heckin great guy! smart, strong, talented! and super control of his emotions actually which is why he hasn't lashed out or anything. he just needs to catch a break!

connections

people who knew yeonsu before he was kidnapped (so childhood friends?)

people who think that yeonsu is a fraud

someone that sees yeonsu as a threat

yeonsu is going through MAJOR emotional changes! he's processing and not really processing at the same time because he's just been thrown into responsibilities for his role rather than really be eased into them.

plots (copy pasted from the page above)

yeonsu heard muse talking shit and now he’s avoiding them. but the thing is, he doesn’t have context! muse isn’t a bad person! OR maybe yeonsu did have context and he honest to god just doesn’t want to get involved with whatever is happening !

a huge feast is being held at the house of gladiolus officially celebrating yeonsu’s return. it’s too much though and yeonsu wishes he was anywhere but there. while muse sneaks around the estate to secretly find a quite place, yeonsu follows to join them.

muse doesn’t know that know or realize that yeonsu is the newly returned heir apparent of the gladiolus house. they catch him on the street interacting with non-nobles and start treating him like one of them ! (could be a positive or negative interaction!)

[ claimed ] in a field near the outskirts of beonhwa, yeonsu has found a moment to escape. muse comes across yeonsu by chance - hidden by the thick grassy field, and lays down to join him.

[sunwarmed-ash]

Silence Isn't Golden snippit

hi i got really excited this one even got voted on and it gave me enough muse to write a lil so I'm gonna share it with you as a treat (it's under the cut, the link is for the full fic)

love you and please read the tags 💚

TWs: torture/kidnapping, mentions of sexual assault, mental abuse, anorexia/eating disorders, suicidal ideation/attempt

Tags: Mute!Draco, post HBP and the battle for hogwarts, sequel to Certainly Professor, evil!Snape, auror Harry, draco is also a hedge witch, isolation, sad!Draco

Day 17 in confinement

Counting the seconds as the seemingly endless days pass in isolation and agony becomes comforting. It's the only reason I know how many days its been. There are no windows in my cell. No clock. No art on the walls in the room in front of me either. Just three concrete pillars with a glass front and my shattered psyche to keep me company in the darkness. 

It's also coincidentally the first day the door to the upstairs opens. It feels monumental, if not fucking terrifying. Harry’s hands on my skin are the only thing keeping me from succumbing to the full force of my anxiety. 

The man who comes down the stairs is not the man who purchased me. He’s younger, taller, and strikes a familiar chord in my brain though I can’t be sure of any facts any more. Maybe I’ve met him, maybe not. 

“Oh how the mighty fall,” the man chuckles cruelly. Whether or not I know him, he knows me, and I push myself further back in my cage. “Though it does give me peace to see two Malfoys behind bars. Metaphorically in your case.”

He takes as many steps forward. His hand touches the glass. It doesn't electrocute him. “Can’t say I don’t love this. Seeing your posh ass so fucking destitute. You’re so pathetic Draco not even your father would spit on you if he could see you now.” The man cackles then, hard, before spitting a harsh truth I hoped I wouldn't have to face yet. “If he was still alive that is. Can’t say you don't deserve the same punishment. You and your entire wretched bloodline. Everything you’ve done to mine, for generations.”

‘I didn't do anything,’ I insist, though no sound leaves my lips. I may have been pulled into and forced against my own will to commit atrocities in my 6th year but- I’ve never hurt anyone, not like that. Nothing permanent. Nothing that couldn't be reversed. 

At least I don’t think… 

The man's eyes continue to rake over my body. 

“No ones looking for you. Now that the Dark Lord is dead, the world is rightfully hostile towards any and all of his followers. Many are even willing to pay a substantial amount to get their hands on former death eaters. At least, the ones not already in line for execution in Azkaban. But you just happened to luck out of that charge didn’t you? But I’m sure that had everything to do with Severus, not you. You're not particularly clever.”

He’s right, I’m not. Dumbledore even said so before he died. My fathers been saying it for years. 

“I’m going to torture you Draco. To the brink of death. And then, I’ll heal you. And then, I’ll start again.”

‘WHY! FUCKING WHY! WHAT DID I EVER DO TO YOU!’ I demand, though none of my words will ever be heard. The man seems to understand anyway because he says,

“The Malfoy line will end with you. Don’t you get it? It’s the only way to restore balance to the world.” 

[positivedevelopment]

Monthly Roundup May 2024

The Impact of War on Children Worldwide

"According to Save the Children, in 2022, there were approximately 452 million children – or one in six of all children on the planet – that were living in conflict‐affected areas. As of 2024, we are witnessing unprecedented levels of attacks against children in armed conflict contexts."

“Untitled” by Bîstyek, a Winnipeg‐based Kurdish artist from Syria who fled that country at 16 years of age. Painting by Bîstyek

"The impacts of armed conflict on children are multi‐pronged and have long‐term consequences beyond the duration of the armed conflict. When children are exposed to armed conflict, denied humanitarian access, displaced from their homes and families and unable to attain education, the ramifications impact the individual child and, at the same time, impact the development of communities and economic growth while perpetuating cycles of insecurity and violence."

Gaza – children in the crossfire, lack of access to education and healthcare

Sudan – forced displacement, lack of education and food insecurity

Colombia – armed violence, recruitment of children and trafficking

"We need to reframe the way we think about and understand children’s participation and protection. Understanding and including children’s perspectives in peace and security can contribute to the empowerment of children as agents of change, bring diverse solutions to intractable problems, and help us to disrupt long‐term consequences of armed conflict that impact children’s identity, belonging and connection to family and communities. The challenge of supporting children’s engagement is not about their lack of capacity but a shortcoming in the imagination of adults to think beyond traditional approaches to peace and security. Building lasting peace and security requires a new approach that addresses the unique challenges that children face before, during and after conflict and one that recognizes that children’s perspectives and protection are at the core of our humanity."

Waiving Away the Problem: How US Presidents Have Let Countries Complicit in Child Soldiering Off the Hook

"For more than a decade, the United States has sent billions of dollars in military assistance and weapons to countries complicit in the recruitment or use of child soldiers, despite a law intended to block it. But there are concrete steps that presidents can take to enhance U.S. child soldier prevention efforts by leveraging the fierce global demand for U.S. arms and assistance."

HOW MINT LEAVES AND LEMON TREES ARE HELPING ELEPHANT CONSERVATION IN NEPAL

“There is a strong correlation between elephant habitat fragmentation and crop loss,” says Rinjan Shrestha, WWF-Canada’s leading expert on Asian species. Today, human-elephant conflict remains the number one threat to the already-small Asian elephant population in Nepal. “The answer,” says Shrestha, “is to connect and restore historical habitats for growing numbers of elephants.”

"Biological fencing, or “biofencing” — the practice of making barriers out of natural, living things — is one way to help guide Asian elephants through their natural habitat without tempting them to wander into cropland."

Bees & Elephants: Villagers in Yunnan turn to beekeeping to bolster conservation of wild Asian elephants

"In recent years, in some rural areas in Yunnan, the local governments and volunteers have been promoting industrial transformation, with beekeeping being a key project. This has not only helped achieve rural carbon reduction but also allowed villagers to work at home, reducing direct contact with elephants."

❤️ / It is officially #RideforHeart month!!! ❤️ /

For the 4th year I will be raising money in support of Heart and Stroke in memory of my Dad 🎗 This year I am thrilled to be part of the Heartbeat Heroes - VIP Community! As a VIP my fundraising goal is to reach $1000.

As of today I am at 45% of my goal. You may find my fundraising page HERE Thank you so much for supporting me and Heart and Stroke ❤️ I am making every beat count for my Dad ❤️ today and forever.

[wesleyhill]

On “Things Above”

A homily on Colossians 3:1-4 preached at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Birmingham, Alabama on the Friday after the second Sunday in Lent 2023

Yesterday I spoke to you from the third chapter of St. Paul’s letter to the Colossian Christians in which he tells them: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

I wonder how you think about that exhortation. What exactly is Paul asking believers to do? What does it mean to have your mind focused on heavenly realities, rather than this-worldly ones? A hymn that we used to sing in the church of my childhood spoke of “the things of earth [growing] strangely dim” in heaven’s overwhelming, eclipsing light.

But has that ever really been your experience? For myself, as soon as I start trying to tear my gaze away from my house, my family, my job, my concrete experiences in this life and attempt to focus on God and heaven and eternity, I can quickly experience one of two things. The first one is sheer confusion: a kind of blank, inscrutable screen.

Cicero, the famous Roman statesman who died a half century before the birth of Christ, tells a story in his treatise On the Nature of the Gods of the tyrant Hiero who demands that the lyric poet Simonides tell him about what it means for the gods to exist. Simonides begs for a couple of days to come up with an answer. When the two days pass and Hiero asks, “Well?” Simonides responds by asking for two more days. And this keeps going until finally Simonides confesses, “The longer I think about it, the murkier the answer seems.” And Cicero, the one telling the story, concludes that the nature of the gods — who or what and how they are, if they are — is a “very obscure question.”

The Protestant Reformer John Calvin, commenting on this story from Cicero, says that as soon as we begin to try to use our imaginations or instincts to picture God, we will “hold nothing certain or solid or clear, but [will] be so attached to confused principles as to worship an unknown God.”

But this experience of a blank, gray, faceless god can easily transition into a second experience, and that is the experience of fear. Onto the gray canvas there can start to seep, Rorshach-inkblot-like, disturbing images of a God who is cruel, vindictive, mercurial, capricious. Not just God as cosmic Santa Claus but God, as C. S. Lewis said he experienced him in the wake of losing his wife to cancer, as cosmic Sadist. God as not just obscure, but terrifying. Not just as One to be baffled by, but One to flee from.

Here, I think, it’s vital to read Paul’s exhortation in context: “Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”

Notice: Paul isn’t urging us to try to cultivate some vague, ethereal kind of heavenly mindedness. He’s directing us to think about a particular person — “Christ,” the Messiah, Jesus, the one who died and is now alive with the one he called “Father,” who will come back and heal and restore us and the whole world. It's as if Paul is saying, “When I tell you to think about heaven, I’m telling you to think about that Jewish man named Jesus, who is now alive again and always lives to intercede for you.”

Paul spells it out in more detail in the great poetic passage with which he kicks off the whole letter:

He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers — all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

To “set your mind on things above,” rather than on earthly things, is to think about Jesus. And not just to think about Jesus in some general way but to allow the life of Jesus to affect and shape and define the way you think about God.

This is — we need to recognize — a claim that should sound more shocking to us than it probably does. Rowan Williams reminds us:

Paul is roughly the same age as Jesus, perhaps a few years younger; and twenty or so years after Jesus’ execution, Paul is saying that this person, his contemporary, somebody who was well known to people Paul knew well, is the image of God — that in him, as he just as startlingly puts it 1 Corinthians 1.24, is the power and wisdom of God; or that — as he says in 2 Corinthians 4.4-6 — in his face shines the glory of God, what the Jews called the shekhinah, the blinding radiance of God’s presence. In Hebrew Scripture, this presence is described as radiating so powerfully that it throws people to the ground; it’s like a dense fog of light that you can’t breathe in and you can’t stand in… And that glory, that stifling intensity of presence in holy places, is what you see and sense if you look at Jesus, so Paul claims: a strong claim, to put it mildly. Imagine for a moment what a leap of imagination would be involved in thinking of someone of your own generation and background in terms like that.

There are, it seems, two directions we could go at this point. One would be to think through what it might mean to say about a first-century Jewish man, whom we Christians believe to be now alive forever, never to die again — what it might mean to say that in this one individual human person “all the fullness of deity was pleased to dwell.” That would be to ask the question of “Christology,” the Christian understanding of the person of Jesus of Nazareth as God’s Messiah.

But the other direction travels from the ground up, so to speak: What does it mean now to talk about God (to “set our minds on heavenly things”) if we say that this particular human life and death and resurrection, the existence of the man Jesus from his birth to his exaltation to the right hand of the Father in heaven, tells us the true meaning and essence of what it means to be God?

How would it change the way you think about God, the way you pray, the way you worship and seek to obey God, the way you try to put God’s commands into practice in your Christian life, if you really believed that God is knowable ultimately, finally, climactically in Jesus?

The late Reformed theologian T. F. Torrance worked as a chaplain during World War II. One day on a battlefield in Italy, a dying soldier, only twenty years old, grasped Torrance’s arm and said, “Padre, is God really like Jesus?”

Isn’t that a terribly poignant question? And isn’t it also, ultimately, the question of life? Is the God whom I’m about to meet face to face, the One who made me and will judge me and determine my ultimate fate — is that God really going to turn out to be the compassionate Father Jesus said he is and showed him to be in his healings and his pronouncements of forgiveness and his assurance of mercy? Or am I going to find some more sinister character lurking behind the curtain of Jesus’ life and ministry?

Torrance said it was the great privilege of his life to have spent the rest of his theological career spelling out the answer he gave to the dying soldier on the battlefield that day: Yes. Yes. God is like Jesus.

There is… no God behind the back of Jesus Christ, but only this God whose face we see in the face of the Lord Jesus. There is no deus absconditus, no dark inscrutable God, no arbitrary Deity of whom we can know nothing but before whom we can only tremble as our guilty conscience paints harsh streaks upon his face. No, there are no dark spots in God of which we need to be afraid… There is only the one God who has revealed himself in Jesus Christ in such a way that there is perfect consistency and fidelity between what he reveals of the Father and what the Father is in his unchangeable reality… God really is like Jesus, for there is no other God than he who became man in Jesus and he whom God affirms himself to be and always will be in Jesus.

Or as Archbishop Michael Ramsey once put it much more concisely: “God is Christlike; and in God there is no unChristlikeness at all.”

Jesus is, as Paul says in Colossians, the image of the God we cannot see. He is the perfect self-interpretation of God. He is the face of God turned toward us in love.

So, friends, set your minds on things above, not on earthly things — earthly idols, false images, distorted pictures of God. Seek the things that are above, where Jesus Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

To him be the glory, forever and ever.

Amen.