#Extremist culture in resorts

[maldivianresortblogger]

Vilamendhoo Island Resort and Spa, Suppression.

In the realm of human dynamics, we encounter a peculiar figure—a general manager of a resort. This individual, who holds a position of authority, paradoxically harbors contempt for those beneath him. In his interactions with the resort's employees, he exudes a sense of superiority, looking down upon them as if they were mere cogs in a machine, unworthy of true recognition or happiness.

This contemptuous disposition arises from the manager's profound inability to accept the concept of genuine human happiness. Perhaps rooted in his own inner turmoil, he resents the idea that others could find fulfillment and joy in their work or in their lives more broadly. This inability to comprehend and appreciate happiness stems from a deep-seated sense of inadequacy within himself—an unfulfilled longing that fuels his envy of the skills possessed by those around him.

The manager's envy manifests as a toxic presence, permeating the work environment and tainting the relationships he has with his employees. Their palpable awareness of his resentment creates a pervasive atmosphere of tension and mistrust. Instead of nurturing a culture of collaboration and growth, the manager's actions breed resentment, stifling the talents and potential of those who work under his purview.

Furthermore, the manager's germophobia adds another layer to his psychological makeup. This fear of germs and obsession with cleanliness reflects an underlying need for control—a desperate attempt to ward off perceived threats to his well-being. In his mind, the employees are potential carriers of contamination, viewed with suspicion and kept at a distance, both physically and emotionally. This compulsion for cleanliness becomes a metaphor for his deep-seated desire to rid himself of the perceived impurities of his own inadequacies.

Regrettably, the consequences of the manager's psychological makeup manifest in the mistreatment of his employees. The recurring theft of their hard-earned wages serves as a stark reflection of his disregard for their basic human needs and dignity. By withholding their rightful compensation, he further reinforces their subjugation, keeping them at their knees and perpetuating a cycle of dependence and oppression.

Tragically, the employees, devoid of exposure to better circumstances, resign themselves to this bleak reality. Their acceptance of the manager's abusive behavior illustrates the insidious power of normalized oppression, where individuals become conditioned to believe that such mistreatment is the norm. This perpetuates a cycle of psychological manipulation, where the manager's authority is upheld through the suppression of hope and the deprivation of basic human rights.

In analyzing this information, it becomes apparent that the manager's psychological state is characterized by deep-seated insecurities, envy, and a need for control. His contempt for happiness stems from his own personal dissatisfaction, which manifests as mistreatment towards those under his authority. The germophobia serves as a symbol of his desire for purity and his fear of vulnerability. These psychological traits intertwine to create a toxic environment that perpetuates oppression and stifles the growth and well-being of those in his employ. It is a stark reminder of the profound impact that individual psychological dynamics can have on the collective human experience.

[probablyasocialecologist]

Where does this curious Hindutva-Zionist solidarity spring from? One origin is from the earliest Hindu nationalists who modelled their Hindu state on Zionism. Hindutva’s founder, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, supported majoritarian nationalism and the rooting out of all disintegrating forces. These included Muslims who supported electoral quotas for their community and left-wing internationalists. As a result, he even condoned the Nazis’ antisemitic legislation in two speeches in 1938 because, as he saw it: “a nation is formed by a majority living therein”. Yet Savarkar was not antisemitic himself. He often spoke favourably of the tiny Jewish-Indian minority because he considered it too insignificant to threaten Hindu cohesion. In fact, Savarkar praised Zionism as the perfection of ethno-nationalist thinking. The way Zionism seamlessly blended ethnic attachment to a motherland and religious attachment to a holy land was precisely what Savarkar wanted for the Hindus. This double attachment was far more powerful to his mind than the European model of “blood and soil” nationalism without sacred space. Today, Hindu nationalists perpetuate this legacy and still look to Zionism as a uniquely attractive political ideology. To Hindu nationalists, some Zionists were engaged in a project to reclaim their holy land from a Muslim population whose religious roots in the region were not as ancient as their own.

[...]

In 2018, Israel passed a law that rebranded the country as “the nation-state of the Jewish people” and delegitimised its non-Jewish citizens. Similarly, India’s controversial Citizenship Amendment Act in 2019 eased paths to citizenship for immigrants from several religious groups, but not Muslims. Coupled with rhetoric associating millions of Indian Muslims with illegal immigration, human rights groups argue that this law could be used to strip many Muslims of their Indian citizenship. Hindu nationalists have also stoked a culture war to consolidate “Hindu civilisation” and sweep away symbols of Islam. This is very much in keeping with the wish of Israel’s far right to rebuild Solomon’s Temple on the site of the holy Temple Mount in Jerusalem, where al-Aqsa mosque compound currently sits. In 1969, a Zionist extremist burned the south wing of al-Aqsa. And in 1980, the fundamentalist group Jewish Underground plotted to blow up the Dome of the Rock, an Islamic shrine at the centre of the compound. A similar project of demolishing mosques and building temples in their place was suggested by Savarkar and Golwalkar. Hindu nationalist organisations focused their attention on Babri Masjid mosque in Ayodha, since this was the mythical birthplace of the Hindu god, Ram.

[droctaviolovecraft]

TW: Highly patriotic content

"Anyone who doesn’t light them must be a terrorist…"

ANM №: ANM-446

Responsible Researcher: Jack Black

Identification: Uncle Sam's Fireworks

Danger Level: Snit 🟡 (Cognitive, Manipulative)

Containment Difficulty: 2 (Medium)

Type of Anomaly: Object, multi-anomalous, manipulative

Containment: ANM-446 must be stored in a locked vault in D-02. Access to ANM-446 requires authorization from at least two Level 3 personnel. The 446 fireworks may only be activated in an isolated testing field under the supervision of a senior researcher. Anyone exposed to the effects of ANM-446 must undergo psychological evaluation and treatment if necessary.

Description: ANM-446 is a set of 50 fireworks of various types and colors, packaged in a cardboard box labeled "Uncle Sam Fireworks - The Best in the USA." ANM-446 was recovered from ANM-176's shop following reports of anomalous incidents involving customers, especially a person from Paraíba identified as "Cartoonizing."

When lit, ANM-446 fireworks produce a normal pyrotechnic display, except that the explosions form images and symbols related to U.S. culture and history, such as the flag, the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, Uncle Sam, etc. Additionally, ANM-446 emits sounds of American anthems, speeches, slogans, and patriotic songs at a volume loud enough to be heard within a 5 km radius.

The anomalous effect of ANM-446 manifests in people observing the display. These individuals undergo a temporary change in personality, becoming extremely patriotic, nationalistic, and loyal to the United States of America, regardless of origin, ethnicity, religion, or political opinion. This change lasts from a few hours to a few days, depending on the duration and intensity of exposure. Those affected by ANM-446 tend to express their patriotism verbally, through gestures, or behaviorally, sometimes resorting to violence against those they consider enemies or traitors of the American nation.

The origin and purpose of ANM-446 are unknown. Chemical and physical analyses have not revealed any significant differences between ANM-446 and common fireworks. The "Uncle Sam Fireworks" company does not officially exist, and there are no records of its production or distribution. The most likely hypothesis is that ANM-446 is a form of propaganda or psychological sabotage created by some group or individual with political or ideological interests in the United States of America.

Incident Report ANM-446-1

Date: 07/04/20██

Location: [REDACTED], Texas, USA

Description: An unidentified individual, later designated as [EXCLUDED], activated one of ANM-446's fireworks in a public park during the U.S. Independence Day celebrations. The firework produced a blue explosion, forming the image of Uncle Sam, the national symbol of the USA, in the sky. The image of Uncle Sam was animated and spoke in a deep, authoritative voice, saying phrases like "I want you for the U.S. Army," "Remember Pearl Harbor," "God bless America," among others.

The anomalous effect of ANM-446 affected about 200 people in the park, including the person who lit the fireworks. Those affected became extremely patriotic, nationalistic, and loyal to the USA, following Uncle Sam's orders, which instructed them to enlist in the army, attack immigrants, burn flags of other countries, among other violent and extremist actions.

A figure emerged from the crowd after the firework dissipated—a tall man with long white hair and a goatee, dressed and communicating like Uncle Sam. This individual was later identified as instance ANM-446-B, Uncle Sam himself, summoned by the fireworks.

The Organization was alerted to the incident by an undercover agent in the local police, who recognized the firework as one of ANM-446's items. A containment team was dispatched to the location and successfully neutralized the firework, dispersed the crowd, and administered amnestics to those involved.

Interview ANM-446-B (translated from English)

Date: [REDACTED]

Interviewer: Dr. [REDACTED]

Interviewee: ANM-446-B (Uncle Sam)

Preface: The interview was conducted in a local military bunker following Incident 446-1.

<Start of Interview>

Dr. [REDACTED]: Hello. Can you hear me?

Uncle Sam: Of course, I can, son. Who are you, and what do you want with me?

Dr. [REDACTED]: I’m a researcher from the MOTHRA Foundation, an organization dedicated to studying and containing anomalous phenomena like you.

Uncle Sam: MOTHRA? Never heard of it. Are you some kind of communist spy?

Dr. [REDACTED]: Uuh… n-no. I'm not a communist spy. I just want to ask you some questions to better understand your nature and origin.

Uncle Sam: Well, I’ve got nothing to hide. I'm Uncle Sam, the symbol of freedom and democracy, the protector of the United States of America and the free world. You must respect and obey me, or suffer the consequences.

Dr. [REDACTED]: I see. And how were you created? Who is responsible for you?

Uncle Sam: I was created by the American people, by their faith and love for the nation. I am the result of their will and spirit. I don’t have a creator, I am the creator.

Dr. [REDACTED]: But you're not a physical being; you're an entity produced by a firework. Do you have any consciousness or personality of your own?

Uncle Sam: Of course, I do, son. I’m as real as you, or even more. I have a mission, a cause, a reason for being. I’m the guardian of American values and ideals, and the enemy of tyrants and oppressors. I influence and inspire the people who see me, and I make them act according to my principles.

Dr. [REDACTED]: And what are your principles, exactly?

Uncle Sam: The principles of freedom, justice, equality, fraternity, prosperity, peace, glory, honor, loyalty, courage, honesty, generosity, kindness, wisdom, virtue, faith, hope, love, and everything good and noble in this world.

Dr. [REDACTED]: Those are commendable principles, but don’t you think they are a bit idealized and simplistic? Don’t you recognize the complexity and diversity in political, social, and cultural issues?

Uncle Sam: No, I do not. I know what is right and wrong, and there is no middle ground. The United States of America is the most perfect and superior nation that has ever existed and has the duty to lead and guide the rest of the world. Anyone who opposes or doubts this is an enemy, a traitor, a heretic, a sinner, a worm, garbage, and must be eliminated.

Dr. [REDACTED]: Don’t you think that’s an extremist and intolerant view? Aren't you afraid of causing conflicts and violence with your actions?

Uncle Sam: No, I am not afraid, son. I am proud and confident. I know my cause is just and sacred, and that God is on my side. I don’t care about conflicts and violence, as they are necessary to defend and spread my message.

Dr. [REDACTED]: And what is your mission, after all?

Uncle Sam: My mission is to make everyone on this planet become American citizens or die trying.

<End of Interview>

[verpineshatterrifle]

im not a big enough asshole to argue with people on their own posts but i am a big enough asshole to vagueblog about posts i saw

i get that after the election we're all desperately projecting onto our blorbos for some sense of solidarity and hope

however just because death watch are fascist imperialists who resort to violence in tcw, and are even worse in legends material, satine kryze and the new mandalorians as a whole arent the heroic innocents either

they did, canonically, in the material, take steps to force mandalorian culture to become pacifist (which makes it not mandalorian at all) and the depicted mandalorian society is nothing like mandalorian culture had been described previously. like seriously unrecognizable

'the new mandalorians are all blond and blue eyed humans because of budget constraints' is a weak ass argument

the politicians on both sides of the mandalorian conflict are terrible (yes death watch is worse but that doesnt make the new mandalorians good)

when there's a whole third group of normal people who aren't political extremists and are fully ignored by tcw

something something really ironic that tcw essentially made the mandalorians into an aggressive two party system and nothing more than that

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Madeline Peltz at MMFA:

The Washington Post reported the Republican National Committee describes its 2024 approach as “leaner” and “more efficient” than in previous cycles, and that it intends to operate with a smaller staff and more robust partnerships with outside groups. One of these outside groups is Turning Point USA, the conservative “youth” organization founded by Charlie Kirk in 2012 that has since grown into a social media juggernaut, with a massive digital footprint, and a major player on the conservative conference circuit. The group has long-standing ties with extremists, and Kirk himself frequently pushes racism on his radio show and weekly podcast. The Washington Post reports that a weekend fundraiser for the Republican National Committee included meetings between James Blair, political director for both the RNC and the Trump campaign, and representatives from Turning Point and other outside groups. [...]

Turning Point and Kirk have spread racism and have ties to white supremacists

Of particular concern is Turning Point and Charlie Kirk’s racism and ties to far-right antisemitic, white supremacist movements. On a April 30 stream on Rumble, Holocaust denier and far-right cult figure Nick Fuentes claimed that Turning Point is being taken over by young extremists associated with his “groyper” movement. Fuentes said, “Turning Point, we had a big rivalry with them and they hated us, they fired everyone that was associated with me, and then this past year, their CFO Tyler Bowyer said, well, you know, some groypers are OK." Turning Point Action Chief Operating Officer Tyler Bowyer said that some of Fuentes’ groypers are “OK-ish” and “just want to have an honest debate” while appearing on TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk’s podcast last month to talk about former Daily Wire host Candace Owens. Owens recently left the right-wing outlet following a string of comments against Jewish people. Figures associated with the “groypers” have previously spoken at Turning Point USA events on college campuses. In November 2022, Fuentes dined with Donald Trump and pro-Hitler rapper Ye (formerly Kanye West) at Trump’s Florida resort Mar-a-Lago. Fuentes has repeatedly praised Adolf Hitler and compared himself to Hitler. He has also denied the Holocaust and called for a “holy war” against Jewish people.

Kirk himself has drawn hostility within the conservative movement for his own racist comments. In the last few months, he has remarked on his podcast that if he sees a Black pilot he’s going to doubt his qualifications and launched a campaign to discredit the work of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. These comments resulted in significant backlash from conservative commentators and Trump allies. Longtime Trump surrogate pastor Darrell Scott described Kirk’s comments as “bullcrap,” saying, “That boy’s a racist right there.”

In the same NBC article that reported Scott’s comments, an anonymous Trump ally said the former president is “f---ing pissed that Charlie is out causing problems for him in the Black community.” Kirk’s record of racism and antisemitism is extensive. He has suggested that Black women including Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and MSNBC host Joy Reid “do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously” and used affirmative action to “steal a white person’s slot,” said that “Haiti is legitimately infested with demonic voodoo,” and attacked the Democratic Party coalition as “resentful, government-addicted minorities and people that want government benefits." He has also pushed antisemitic stereotypes in the wake of Israel’s invasion of Gaza, blaming “Jewish dollars” for funding “cultural Marxist ideas” and saying Jews control “not just the colleges; it’s the nonprofits, it’s the movies, it’s Hollywood, it’s all of it,” among other comments.

A supposedly “leaner” RNC is looking to partner with outside right-wing groups such as Turning Point USA, a group that in more recent times a hub for Christian Nationalism, white nationalism, and antisemitism.

[mariacallous]

In June 2023, a group of Finland’s most notorious neo-Nazis and a few of their international friends ventured to a lakeside cabin resort set against picturesque woodlands some 120 kilometres north of Helsinki.

They called the gathering ‘White Boy Summer Fest’ after an internet meme co-opted by far-right extremists.  Bellingcat first investigated the phenomenon in 2021. Run by a far-right cultural collective and combat sports group, the event was first held last year, and organisers have indicated plans to make White Boy Summer Fest (WBS) an annual affair.

Over two days, attendees watched far-right bands perform, participated in combat sports, and mingled with other hate group members in hot tubs. Observers warn that neo-Nazi networks — including international ones like the Hammerskins, whose members attended WBS — use events like these to network, radicalise each other, recruit new members and raise money. 

Organisers have successfully kept the locations of the 2022 and 2023 WBS events hidden from the public — until now. Thanks to Bellingcat’s Global Authentication Project (GAP) and burgeoning Discord community, we geolocated both events to rural accommodations belonging to Evo Nature Ltd, a hospitality company in southern Finland. According to its website, Evo has properties in 15 locations between Helsinki and Tampere and received approximately 30,000 customers in 2019.

When asked about the booking, Evo owner Kaj Järvinen told Bellingcat he had no knowledge of the events held by WBS and emphasised that his properties receive a large number of bookings each year.

“I have no clue whatsoever about these type of events. We have around 20 large rental properties. We receive more than 5,000 offer requests and around 1,000 group bookings on a yearly basis, and we do not ‘screen’ our customers if there are no obvious reasons visible.”

There is no suggestion that Evo broke any laws in renting out the property. Neo-Nazi groups in Finland have previously rented for-hire venues without the owner’s knowledge: for example a concert earlier this year was organised by the Jyväskylä branch of far-right network Blood and Honor at a leftist social club near the centre of the city.

In-person venues are nevertheless crucial to the neo-Nazi scene and related subcultures: Europol, the European Union (EU) law enforcement agency, noted they “place high value on physical meetings and group activities” in a report earlier this year.

The 2023 edition of WBS kicked off the evening of Friday, June 16. As photos posted by organisers on social media make clear, the spectacle was anything but subtle. Four Finnish neo-Nazi bands performed sets on a stage in a log cabin while flanked by two swastika banners. Some band members sported Nazi patches and symbols on their clothes and instruments.

In a video taken inside the cabin and posted by organisers, a flag of the international neo-Nazi network Blood & Honour hangs on a wall by the stage. As Bellingcat discussed in our investigation of European Fight Night in Hungary, Blood and Honour is banned in several European countries, including Germany and Spain. They were also listed as a terrorist organisation by the Canadian government in 2019.

Meanwhile, members of the domestic neo-Nazi group Crew 38 Finland attended WBS, according to their Telegram channel. 

According to a report earlier this year by Finland’s public broadcaster, police documents suggest five men arrested in 2021 over suspicion of planning terrorist attacks were significantly influenced by Crew 38 Finland, and met frequently with some of its members. 

Crew 38 Finland are also an affiliate of the international Hammerskins network. Founded in the late 1980s in Dallas, Texas, the Hammerskins are described as “the most violent and best-organised neo-Nazi skinhead group in the United States,” by the US-based Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

Nicolas Potter, a researcher at the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, a German NGO which works to combat racism and far-right extremism, warned EU policymakers in an address to the Council of Europe earlier this year that “classic neo-Nazi networks from the Hammerskins to Blood & Honour continue to forge international alliances,” adding “far-right rock festivals and Mixed Martial Arts tournaments serve as spaces of radicalisation, recruitment and fundraising.”

The weekend of events was about more than just music; participants could sit in the sauna, get a tattoo and buy clothes from extremist brands (some of which feature in our 2022 investigation of far-right fashion).

They could also watch a series of combat sports fights put on by Veren Laki (‘Law of Blood’), one of the event’s co-organisers. According to Tommi Kotonen, an expert on far-right extremism in Finland, Veren Laki is linked to the Finnish branch of the neo-Nazi Nordic Resistance Movement (Finnish acronym PVL). The country’s highest court issued a temporary ban against the group in 2019 due to its spreading of hate speech and use of violence.

Veren Laki is linked to other similar groups internationally that focus on combat sports and training for physical confrontation. According to the organisation’s Telegram channel, a fighter from Veren Laki fought at the far-right combat sports event European Fight Night in Hungary in May 2023. At WBS 2023, photos show several fighters wearing equipment from Pride France, a brand run by French neo-Nazi Tomasz Szkatulski. Currently based in Sofia, Bulgaria, Szkatulski posted on his Telegram channel that he was banned from entering Germany for ten years in July 2023.

The fights outside were followed by another indoor concert. Four bands, including two from Italy, took to the now swastika-free stage to play. Green Arrows, an Italian band popular across Europe’s far-right extremist music scenes, headlined. Green Arrows has publicly declared their support for Italy’s neo-fascist CasaPound movement — the movement’s flag adorned the stage during their set.

But where exactly did all of this take place? Upon seeing photos and video of the event, one of Bellingcat’s volunteers who is based in Finland thought the location looked familiar and began to investigate.

Suspecting it was one of a series of rentable rural cottages in the southern Finnish Lakeland, he soon found a possible venue location on Google Maps.

Open source techniques confirmed his suspicion. He later realised he had been to the location as part of a routine work retreat. A comparison of photos and a video shared by WBS organisers with images of the property posted on Evo’s website confirmed the location of WBS 2023 — a log cabin in the Hämeenlinna region described as an “atmospheric event space” with a small stage and room for 100 people. The barn is part of a seven-acre rental complex with villa apartments, three hot tubs and a lakeside sauna. The site, which is advertised for corporate retreats and family holidays, is approximately a two-hour drive from Finland’s capital, Helsinki, and 90 minutes from Tampere, Finland’s second-largest urban area. Photos of the venue from the owner’s website showed a room whose wooden beams match those seen in photos of a musical performance during WBS 2023.

Furthermore, the pattern observed on a wooden beam as well as the gaps in the wood of the log cabin matches photos of the cabin on the accommodation website with those in a photo posted by WBS participants.

But what about the previous year’s “festivities” at WBS 2022?

One of the organisers’  Telegram channels outlined to attendees that the 2023 location wasn’t the same as in 2022, but “about a 15-minute drive from last year’s location.” 

Searching for similar rentable rural venues in the vicinity of the 2023 event, Bellingcat found the location of the 2022 event — a small villa of red-sided cabins owned by the same hospitality company.

While WBS organisers have announced plans for a 2024 edition, it is unclear if a venue has been chosen. One thing is clear: the value of gatherings like these to the far-right organisations.

Not only do they provide groups a chance to share and promote their ideology, the Financial Action Task Force, the Paris-based global money-laundering watchdog, said in a 2021 report that “most of the funding for extreme right-wing groups appears to come from licit sources” including concert organising and merchandise sales.

[legilimensims]

What also pissed me off about this is all the shit Giulia’s family got, especially her sister Elena. She was called a “satanist”, people and even right-wing politicians suggested she was to be investigated, she was the cause of her sister’s death because she “turned her back on god” - her instagram profile is swamped by these sort of comments and suddenly all of the attention wasn’t on the umpteenth femicide and the killer's subsequent actions, but on a mourning family and their personal lives, their personal beliefs, it really looked like people where trying to find every excuse under the sun to justify the actual murderer. Giulia’s family is still being demonized for turning their mourning into a national outcry, for daring to speak the words “toxic masculinity” and “patriarchal society”, for daring to appear on tv instead of staying at home in silence ("They want fame!! They are capitalizing on Giulia's death!! They are ready to go into politics!! It’s all leftist propaganda to impose an extremist ideology to the detriment of the good, white, catholic men!!!" "What about the immigrants!!"). This is Italy and it hurts living in a country like this. Allow me to share the words of Giulia’s father Gino, spoken earlier at her funeral:

«I address men first, because we should first demonstrate that we are agents of change against gender violence. We speak to other males we know, challenging the culture that tends to downplay violence from seemingly normal men. We should be actively involved, challenging the diffusion of responsibility, listening to women and not turning our heads at even the slightest signs of violence. Our personal action is crucial to breaking the cycle and creating a culture of accountability and support. To those who are parents like me, I speak from the heart: let's teach our children the value of sacrifice and commitment and also help them to accept defeats. Let us create in our families that climate that favors a serene dialogue so that it becomes possible to educate our children to respect the sacredness of every person, to a sexuality free from any possession and to true love that seeks only the good of others. We live in a time where technology connects us in extraordinary ways, but often, unfortunately, isolates us and deprives us of real human contact. It is essential that young people learn to communicate authentically, to look into the eyes of others, to open themselves to the experience of those who are older than them. The lack of authentic human connection can lead to misunderstandings and tragic decisions. We need to rediscover the ability to listen and be listened to, to truly communicate with empathy and respect. School has a fundamental role in the education of our children. We must invest in educational programs that teach mutual respect, the importance of healthy relationships and the ability to manage conflicts constructively to learn to deal with difficulties without resorting to violence. Violence prevention begins in families, but continues into classrooms, and we must ensure that schools are safe and inclusive places for all. The media also plays a crucial role to conduct responsibly. The spread of distorted and sensationalist news not only fuels a morbid atmosphere, giving space to looters and conspiracy theorists, but can also contribute to perpetuating violent behavior. Calling yourself out, looking for justifications, defending the patriarchy when someone has the strength and desperation to call it by its name, turning victims into targets just because they say something that perhaps we don't agree with, doesn't help to break down barriers. Because we can only emerge from this type of violence which is only apparently personal and senseless by feeling that we are all involved. Even when it would be easy to feel absolved. I ask political institutions to put aside ideological differences to jointly address the scourge of gender violence. We need laws and education programs aimed at preventing violence, protecting victims and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions. Law enforcement agencies must be equipped with the necessary resources to actively combat this plague and the tools to recognize the danger. But in this moment of pain and sadness, we must find the strength to react, to transform this tragedy into a push for change. The life of Giulia, my Giulia, was cruelly taken from us, but her death can, indeed must, be the turning point to put an end to the terrible plague of violence against women. Thank you all for being here today: may Giulia's memory inspire us to work together».

Between the 11th and 12th of this month, Giulia Cecchettin, a 22-year-old Italian girl, disappeared alongside her ex boyfriend, Filippo Turetta. Today, 18th November, her body was found in a lake 140km from where I live.

For six days, we were told that they ran away together, despite the fact Giulia was supposed to graduate from university on the 16th. That we shouldn't jump to conclusions, that there wasn't any proof he had killed her, that we were crazy for even thinking it. When a video of him beating Giulia up until she was bleeding came out, newspapers were filled with declarations from his family saying he loved her, he would never do anything to hurt her, he was just a little possessive and jealous.

We all knew. We all fucking knew since we read the words "ex boyfriend".

Giulia is the 103rd woman victim of feminicide in Italy in 2023. 103.

Meanwhile, Giulia's sister Elena, who has had to spend the last week making as much noise as possible because that was her only hope of finding her sister, was asked if the family was ready to forgive him. Newspapers talk about how good of a guy he was, they carefully avoid saying he murdered her, they refer to them as a couple. I've lost track of how many men have taken time to comment "not all men" under posts about Giulia.

Not all men, but all women.

If you live outside of Italy, you probably won't hear of this news. You probably don't know how pervasive victim blaming is in Italian news stations, how bad the statistics of feminicide are. So, please, reblog this post. Demand justice. Say Giulia Cecchettin's name.

Se domani non torno, distruggi tutto.

[indiagoldentriangles]

Chad Daybell

Author and religious publisher Chad Daybell rose to fame after being linked to a number of unexplained deaths and disappearances. Daybell, who was born in Provo, Utah, on August 11, 1968, was raised in a pious Mormon home before joining the Latter-day Saint religion.

Early Life and Career: Before deciding to become a novelist, Daybell worked as a school bus driver and then as a cemetery sexton. His self-published writings, which frequently addressed themes of religious prophecy and the end times, helped him gain popularity among Latter-day Saints.

Controversy and Criminal Charges: When Daybell's wife Tammy Daybell passed away in 2019 under questionable circumstances, his life took a tragic turn. He married Lori Vallow just two weeks after; Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow, her two children, were reported missing in September 2019. As detectives dug into the couple's complex web of beliefs and claimed membership in a doomsday cult, the case garnered national attention.

Finding of the Bodies: JJ and Tylee's bodies were found buried on Daybell's farm near Rexburg, Idaho, in June 2020. After that, Daybell and Vallow were taken into custody and accused of a number of crimes, including conspiring to destroy, modify, or conceal evidence. The case startled the country and sparked debate on the impact of radical ideologies and the abuse of weak people.

Legal proceedings: According to the most recent information, Chad Daybell is being tried for his purported role in JJ and Tylee's deaths as well as other relevant offenses. As prosecutors and defense lawyers present evidence and arguments in court, the judicial proceedings have attracted a great deal of attention from the media.

Impact and Legacy: The Chad Daybell case has had a long-lasting effect on the communities involved and has spurred discussions about the need to be vigilant in protecting those who are vulnerable as well as the perils of extremist ideas. It is a warning about the strength of conviction and the dangers of unbridled fanaticism.

To sum up, Chad Daybell's terrible and harrowing narrative has captured the attention of the country and illuminated the perils of radicalism and manipulation. The case serves as a reminder of how crucial it is to get victims' justice and hold offenders accountable for their harm while legal proceedings are ongoing.

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Highlights of Ranthambore's Golden Triangle Tour Day 1: Delhi: The Dynamic Capital's Historic Landmarks: Discover Old Delhi's historic sites, such as the imposing Red Fort, the lively Chandni Chowk market, and Jama Masjid.

Modern Marvels: Explore the architectural marvels of New Delhi, which showcase the city's rich cultural diversity and history, including the Lotus Temple, Qutub Minar, and India Gate.

Day 2: Agra, the Taj Mahal's home Visit the Taj Mahal to marvel at its awe-inspiring beauty and learn about its rich history and symbolic meaning. The Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Agra Fort: Discover the enormous Agra Fort, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and be in awe of its exquisitely detailed construction.

Day 3: Wildlife Safari in Ranthambore National Park: Take off on an exciting safari trip in Ranthambore National Park, which is home to a wide variety of wildlife species, such as deer, tigers, and leopards, as well as rare bird species.

Nature Exploration: Take in the park's beautiful scenery and unique wildlife interactions as you explore its lush forests, serene lakes, and challenging terrain.

Day 4: Jaipur - The Pink City Amber Fort: Explore the magnificent Amber Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside from its gardens, palaces, and courtyards.

City Tour: Take in the rich cultural legacy of Jaipur by exploring its lively markets, busy streets, and famous sites, such as the City Palace, the observatory Jantar Mantar, and Hawa Mahal.

In summary India's Golden Triangle Tour with Ranthambore The Golden Triangles Company provides a singular and remarkable voyage across the natural beauties and cultural legacy of India. Whether you're a history buff, a wildlife enthusiast, or a leisure tourist, this legendary itinerary offers an unforgettable experience that will make you remember it for a long time.

With the India Golden Triangles Company, plan your Golden Triangle Tour with Ranthambore today and set out on an incredible journey to experience the finest of India.

[ainews]

Recently, there has been a concerning trend of extremists insulting fries, the beloved staple food of many cultures, by linking them to faeries - small, magical creatures from the realm of fantasy. This bizarre behavior has sparked outrage and confusion amongst many, leading to the question: why would anyone attack innocent food in relation to a fictional being?

First and foremost, it is important to address the definition of an extremist. These are individuals who hold extreme viewpoints and often resort to violent or radical means to promote their beliefs. In this case, the extremists in question have taken it upon themselves to attack an inanimate object with no known connection to faeries in an effort to spread their extremist agenda.

But why specifically target fries? The answer lies in the etymology of the word "faeries." In Old French, "faerie" referred to a magical spell or enchantment. This linguistic connection has led these extremists to believe that fries are somehow enchanted or under a spell, and therefore must be rejected and insulted.

Furthermore, this insult towards fries may also be rooted in anti-capitalist beliefs. Fries are often associated with fast food chains and large corporations, which these extremists may view as symbols of capitalist greed. In their eyes, linking fries to faeries is a way to criticize and reject these capitalist entities.

However, these actions are not only baseless and offensive, but also harmful to the larger community. Many people enjoy fries as a tasty snack or side dish, and to insult them is to insult an innocent and beloved food. Additionally, the use of faeries in this context promotes harmful stereotypes and reinforces the idea that anything related to fantasy or magic is somehow inherently negative.

It is important to call out and condemn this type of extremist behavior. Fries and faeries are not connected in any way and do not deserve to be linked in such a negative and insulting manner. Let us celebrate and enjoy the diversity of cultures and foods, and reject any attempts to spread hate and division through nonsensical and extreme tactics.

[college-girl199328]

An element drifting into Chicago is stirring up an already volatile nine-way mayor’s race here, and its name is the Florida governor’s flurry of condemnations and criticisms among the candidates, creating a new opening for the candidates to tee off on one of the poll front-runners—Paul Vallas, who is backed by the same powerful Chicago Fraternal Order of Police group that DeSantis is speaking before on Monday. 

One mayoral candidate, U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, called on Vallas to publicly reject DeSantis’ visit and said the Republican Florida governor presented a "danger" to J.B. and "every candidate hoping to hold public office in the land of the Vallas issued a statement Friday fully repudiating "right-wing extremist" DeSantis and his views, including on the LGBT community. 

That still wasn’t Friday, and incumbent Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who is competing against Vallas in the Feb. 28 election, went further in an interview with NBC News. 

"Ron DeSantis has perfected being a bigoted, racist demagogue, and Paul Vallas is fast on his heels," Lightfoot charged, blasting Vallas for embracing the Chicago FOP, whose conservative leader, John Catanzara, has danced in and out of controversies for criticizing Vallas for appearing before the conservative group Awake Illinois last year, something for which Vallas later apologized.

"So he can say whatever he wants, Lightfoot added that actions speak volumes, and his actions are that he is playing footsie with the far right-wing fringe of the Republican Party, lands in the suburbs here Monday to speak before the Chicago FOP Vallas, the DeSantis visit isn't great timing, and he has attempted to fend off any perception that he's really a Republican—a four-letter word in a city where political leanings are typically measured in shades of blue. 

The fact that a commotion would erupt over a DeSantis visit demonstrates the Florida governor's national rise as a leader within the Republican Party, and the polarizing nature of his politics, best known for the kind of culture wars rejected by the left, is widely expected to launch a presidential campaign.

In an interview Friday, Garcia charged that if Paul Vallas is elected, he will be a different kind of leader and that you should believe him when he says he's not a Republican.

"Vallas' campaign brushed off the pile-on Friday, saying it was indicative of a competitive campaign in crisis with crime skyrocketing and taxes soaring, and a desperate Lori Lightfoot is once again trying to change the subject by resorting to false personal attacks," Vallas' campaign said in a statement to NBC News.

On Friday, Vallas issued a lengthy statement criticizing politics and the hosting of DeSantis, citing the race as being dominated by problematic gun violence and overall crime.

"This decision by the FOP leadership makes that job harder in Chicago for a right-wing extremist like Ron DeSantis, and I am disappointed in the FOP leadership for inviting him to speak to officers," Vallas said.

"The record of trying to erase the LGBTQ community, banning books on Black history, and much more is not in line with my values, the values of our community, or the values of the rank and file police officers, who I believe have no interest in getting swept up in culture wars and national Republican Party politics," Vallas also said.  

[beta-lactam-allergic]

A disclaimer, I'm not Jewish, I'm a goy/gentile woman. So if something I say is wrong, I want @athingofvikings, @spacelazarwolf , @daughterofstories or someone else who is Jewish to correct my understanding.

I would argue that it started before 1948, as early as 1920 @alwaysahiccupandastrid. Warning to those fed mostly pro-Palestine propaganda, this doesn't make the Arabs look any better than @athingofvikings pointing out that it was "The Arab League" (their official name but in quotes to point out not all Arabs sided with them) who started the 1948 War (after Jewish groups asked for peaceful resolution where they governed the lands they were already the majority in & an Arab state could exist where Arabs were the majority) as the timeline shows they were still the first ones to resort to violence.

As you can see, most Zionists wanted & still want a two-state solution. Co-existence was desired. Only the most extremist parts of religious Zionism, represented by the Mafdal-Religious Zionist party, who have a grand total of 7 seats, in a Knesset (Israeli Parliament) of 120 seats (so less than the 10 seats the two Arab-Israeli parties, Ra'am & Hadash-Ta'al have) actually want a one-state solution where all the Arab residents of the West Bank & the Gaza Bank are presumably either kicked out or killed (eventually). You might hear Mafdal quote mines by people wanting to convince you all Israelis/Jews are evil. But there's a reason that Mafdal has so few votes, it's because other Jews think they're extremists. No one judges all French people on the words of the National Rally (formerly National Front) even though 87/577 represents more of the French than 7/120 does of the Israelis (let alone Diasporic Jews).

It's largely due to demands for a single Arab state (often as in Hamas case, explicitly a state with no Jews in it) from the more extreme parts of Arab society that we never saw a two-state solution. There were multiple serious attempts to reach out on the Israeli side. If the Israelis think they can trust a Palestinian Arab faction to govern & not ally with those who want to kill them, most Israelis will support those guys. It's just that neither Hamas or Fatah can be trusted to be that governing partner.

Admittedly, Netanyahu isn't serious about a two-state solution & is somewhat aligned with the one-stater Mafdal types, but he only first rose to power in the 1990s (he has been PM for 16 of the last 28 years) after decades of Israeli leaders who were looking for a peaceful two-state solution being rejected. Also Hamas did a few really bad bombings in the 1990s that convinced Israelis that they needed to ditch the peace-seekers (who were seen to have had comprehensively failed) & back someone promising security & safety (October 7th showed he failed at that but it's understandable why in the context of the time he won power, people would look towards someone promising that).

Here is the timeline

Also, here's a bit extra on the first leader of the Palestinian Arabs against early Zionists, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Amin al-Husseini, proud distant descendant of Prophet Mohammed, who lived in the Arabian Peninsula & was born in the Hejaz region, where he later died.

Notice how the Mufti didn't call for an independent "Palestinian" state but rather for a "Greater Syria" (consisting of modern Israel, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon & obviously Syria) as at the time there was little idea of a separate "Palestinian" people separate from the rest of the Levantine Arabs. That was only starting to evolve in **check dates** the early 20th century. I don't deny that's a self-identification in the 21st century, but it's not as old as many on the pro-Hamas side are claiming.

so this video got suggested to me on tik tok, which at this point i only use to watch recipe and crochet videos. and the comments of this vid and other vids in the search were as horrific as you’d expect.

will y’all take us seriously now? how bad does it have to get before you’ll decide maybe it’s time to do something about the absolutely fucking insane amounts of antisemitism all over the political spectrum? bc the ppl in these screenshots are anything from nazis to leftists, and they are fucking indistinguishable.

i am really hoping that these examples will demonstrate how international discussion around israel is inextricably linked to antisemitism. you may not mean “jews” when you say “zionists” but when you use literally word-for-word rhetoric that antisemites use it does not fucking matter. bc jews aren’t the only ones who will recognize what you’re saying. antisemites will too, and your words will encourage them. all we are asking is that you think before you speak or post.

[darklydeliciousdesires]

Paradise Circus - Chapter Two.

Since y’all loved the first chapter so much, have another! 

Previous chapters - One

Tag list - In the comments

Words - 2,938

Warnings - 18+ content throughout. NO MINORS, PLEASE!

“So, let me get this straight. You claim to love animals, yet you have no qualms about the abuse they suffer in the name of the meat and dairy trade?”

“Yeah, yeah I do. I think there can be a separation there, because certain animals have always been intended to be eaten. We’re carnivores, we’re supposed to eat meat. Imagine how the evolution of man would have been affected had we not been a carnivorous species.”

“I’m sorry, Tommy, but I have to correct you there. We’re omnivores, and back in the times of early man, they weren’t presented with an ample choice, an abundance, in fact, of dietary alternatives to animal products like we now have, so your point is moot, really, if you think about it.  

“Also, you say certain animals have always intended to be eaten, but that differs vastly from culture to culture. Do you agree with the dog meat trade in China, for example? Have you heard of the festival they have out there in Yulin?”

“Yes, I’m very aware of Yulin,” he was able to interject with when she paused for breath.

“Dogs are snatched, people’s pet dogs in some cases, and locked in cages before being horrifically tortured and then eaten. Surely, you’re not comfortable with that?”

“Of course, I’m not, but...”

“But you have no qualms about a cow being led into a slaughterhouse, terrified out of its mind, smelling death in the air all around, wondering where the safety of its pasture is, or their friends are, before it’s slaughtered?”

“Um...well.”  

“And there, see? There you have it.”

Oh yes. Tommy had it, alright. He had the measure that Darla was perhaps one of the most self-righteous people he’d ever met. In fact, during a lively debate, she bordered on sanctimonious. He remembered that she could be a little superior when she was younger, but now? It seemed extremely amplified to him. It wasn’t the only example of that side of her nature, either.  

“Now, you call yourself hard left in your views, but can you not see that the extremist tactics of said hard left are often just as bad as those upon the hard right of the political divide? Believe me, I have no love at all for the right wing, or their propaganda, it fucking disgusts me, to be honest, but I cannot in good conscience condone some of the approaches of the hard left to being heard. Except for punching Nazi’s, that I whole heartedly condone. But torching innocent people’s businesses, their livelihoods during riots, for example, I ain’t cool with that,” he reasoned, Darla draining her wine and being just as quick to jump in as he expected he would.  

“Extreme actions are often all people have left to resort to, out of frustration of not being heard, of being repressed and down trodden by right wing fanaticism. If talking worked - and believe me, we’ve tried it – then we’d keep on keeping on, but doesn’t give a lot of room for much else in the name of voices being heard. You being a centrist is perhaps worse than hard right. At least they’ve picked their side. You? You perpetually sit upon a fence.”  

“I didn’t claim I was a centrist,” he began, feeling frustrated. “I just said I don’t condone mindless extremism being resorted to. I lean to the left, but not the hard left. You forget I’ve seen the results of that, what I’ve fought for out in Iraq, against those who are the very embodiment of extremist in their views.”  

“Then you’d have to agree that at times, you have to fight such power with an equal, opposing force, would you not?” She put to him, niggled at the way he seemed almost blasé in his opinion.  

“No, I wouldn’t. I believe the left can and should do better than lowering themselves to the actions of the right. Anyway, do you want another drink, or are you gonna bust my balls even harder, because they’re pretty banged up already.”

She couldn’t help it, how expressive he looked when he said it, chewing a little aggressively on his toothpick too. She snorted with laughter before falling apart, watching as he slowly began to smile. It cut the tension nicely. “I’m sorry, I just get really into debating. Comes with the territory, being a lecturer. And yes, please.”  

He got up, leaving her to sit and cringe, closing her eyes as she had to concede that this was perhaps the worst date she’d been on in a while, and with the guy she least expected it to go badly with. They were so different on virtually every topic they discussed. In fact, not just differing. They were poles apart. The meat eating and left/right divide weren’t the only subjects they’d clashed on that evening.  

How could two people who had gotten along so well throughout their childhoods be so glaringly mismatched? Because they were no longer children, Darla surmised. They’d grown, been shaped by their very different lives as they’d become adults. It wasn’t like when they used to share a gigantic bag of Ruffles and watch WWF wrestling on a Saturday afternoon any longer, both cheering for Macho Man Randy Savage, Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan. Their only disagreement back then had been who was scarier; The Undertaker or Papa Shango.  

Even musically, they were so different in their tastes. She loved indie rock, trip hop, grunge, RnB and drum n’ bass. He preferred rap, classic rock and metal. “I can’t bear Nirvana. Kurt Cobain was a great lyricist, this much is true, but his vocals were just so flat. And his wife! God, don’t start me on her. She sounds like a bag of feral cats being hit with bricks.”  

Darla had virtually needed a winch to pick her jaw up off the floor at those particular assertions.  

The only common ground they did seem to have was that regardless of their many and varied disagreements, they both couldn’t help but find the other extremely pleasing to their respective eyes. He was wearing one of those black vests that showed off his huge, ripped physique, all tattoos and brawn, exactly her type of man. To Darla, he was utterly mouth-watering. Her outfit choice of a high neck top and a pair of shorts of a respectable length, but short enough to show off her fantastic legs had Tommy equally transfixed. She truly was a stunning looking woman.  

In order to sweeten the mood, when he arrived back at the table, Darla decided to steer the conversation in the direction of the past, of a simpler time, when they had much less in the way of derisive division. After that, the night seemed to be redeemed somewhat, but she was a little deflated by the fact she knew that there would be no second date. They were just too different as people, not enough common ground to agree upon and way too many ideals that conflicted to make it anything other than the kind of clash that just wouldn’t work.

The way he looked, though. God, the way the man looked, and the way he looked at her. She could only describe it as quietly predatory. It wasn’t overt at all, but she damned sure couldn’t discount the want in his eyes as they continued to drink and talk, feeling her head spin a little for the five large glasses of wine that she’d had, Tommy in much the similar state after the same number of beers, plus a couple of shots he’d had at the bar, trying to bolster himself as he realised that what he’d once hoped would be a good night with her, had turned out to mostly be anything but.  

His longing for her, though, it still lingered. In fact, it was likely amped up by the Jameson’s. Perhaps the shots weren’t the best of ideas he could have had. Or were they?

Teetering on the line between not fully drunk, but not exactly sober, he eyed her from across the table, her eyes, hazel with a green flare illuminating her irises, locked upon him, lost within her own lustful thoughts. That body. She was consumed by the wondering of how it would feel to have such a weight on top of her, to feel him, let her hands tour every last rise, dip and curve of those enormous muscles. As for Tommy, all he could imagine was how those long, silky legs would feel gripped on around him as he drove into her without reserve, and it was beginning to distract him.  

“So, let’s be real. Tonight? Awful. I mean, you’re a nice guy, don’t get me wrong, but you see the thing is, we’ve grown apart. We’re just too different now, aren’t we?” Darla stated as they walked away from the bar together. It was crowded and she needed a little peace, so had called her Uber to meet her down at the next block. Her app told her he was three minutes away.

“I think that’s a fair assessment. It’s been good to at least catch up, though,” he replied, scratching the back of his head, feeling awkward.  

“Though I do think the night isn’t a complete bust. Or rather, we could do something to change it so that it isn’t.”  

He caught her drift, but couldn’t help being playful. “Oh? What did you have in mind?”

Lifting her chin, she fixed him with a look, one that made a shiver tear straight through him. “Come back to my place and you’ll find out.”

“I think that can be arranged.”

Their shared stare was weighted, heavy with intention, yet they didn’t act. Throughout the ten-minute Uber ride back to her place, they sat separately, silent, just fizzing with anticipation not yet touched upon, the brush of Darla’s leg as she uncrossed them against his hard thigh making the hairs at the back of his neck stand on end.  

They were moths, edging ever closer to the flame.  

The air thickened in density between them after exiting the cab, Darla opening the brownstone front door and walking the short distance to her ground floor apartment, her heart pounding as she felt him behind her, letting herself into her home and turning, her back against the door as he closed the gap.  

That was the moment they finally let their wings singe, mouths captured in a kiss, the desire flowing like a burst river bank, nothing left to contain it. Not that either of them wished to. Immediately, she sated herself upon the consuming need to feel him, delicate, gold ring adorned fingers exploring his muscles, the thick meat of his traps, his biceps, his abs as she reached to pull his vest over his head, kissing him once more as her hands smoothed down his broad, hair smattered chest.  

God, the man could kiss. Those lips. Full, sensuous, gorgeous. He kissed her with every ounce of urgency coursing through him, guided entirely by his loins, nerve endings beginning to throb with awakening as he lifted her. Entwined, he carried her to her bedroom, Darla kicking her heels off enroute, the mattress soft against her back, the press of him hard as he caged her against it. She spoke to her Google home, telling it to play her Massive Attack playlist, before her mouth returned to his.

Her head swam, inebriated with wine and rampant longing, only losing the heated tangency between them to undress one another impatiently, his hands gliding over her legs, so silky and long. She smelled of orange blossom, a scent that flooded his nose as he laid open mouthed kisses upon her elegant neck, her soft moan causing a jolt to run through him, his mouth finding her nipples and sucking them in turn. She arched against him, whispering his name, her eyes a hazel bonfire as he paused, staring at her.  

She was even more beautiful while under the heady duress of her arousal, Tommy admiring her, flushed lips agape, panting softly, pulling him back to her, claiming his mouth with more scorching kisses. The passion within him bordered on insanity, his lips leaving hers to tour her body, Darla feeling heat buzz beneath her skin as he kissed her chest, breasts, arms, torso, hips, oh, how he lingered over her hips, licking each dip, blowing cool air over the wet trails, watching goosepimples rise up in response.  

The rousing scent of her womanhood caught his nose, his mouth moving to kiss her inner thigh, parting her legs, watching her sex spread for him. It was a sight that went right to his cock, stiffening more to see her, fingers stroking the bare flesh, his tongue to follow. She gasped, that first wide, flat lick of his tongue catching the entirety of her slit, pushing between her petals, circling her clit and trailing back down to probe gently at her opening.  

The small strip of pubic hair remaining upon her neatly waxed mound tickled at his nose, the further he pushed his tongue inside her, Darla shuddering as she felt herself so thoroughly licked upon the inside, her hands fisting at the sheets beneath her. Pleasure streaked down her spine, pooling at his tongue, his groan at feeling her dampen his mouth so deep and gritty, it made her stomach turn pleasantly, intensifying when he returned his licks to her clit, thumbing the hood, making it stand out to each careful flick of his tongue.  

“Oh my god.” She whispered, eyes fluttering shut, her long nails trailing his scalp as she writhed against the heavenly ministrations of his mouth. He licked at her with all the precision and skill as she’d touch herself with her own hand, her body humming with ecstasy, hardly able to believe how good he was. At the bar, they’d clashed, but now? They merged together so effortlessly, their bodies so in tune with each other.  

Her arousal escalated sharply as he began to quicken his tongue, thirsty against her, sucking her bud gently, increasing the pressure little by little, until she was crying out. 

“Fuck, Tommy! Oh fuck, I need you, need you inside of me,” she gritted, her head thrown back, thighs shaking as his big hands smoothed over them, his mouth emerging from between them, tongue swirling over her stomach as he kissed his way back up her body.  

“Is that what you want, huh? Want to get dicked down, beautiful?”  

“Mmm, right now.” She demanded, and with one easy slip into her heat, there he was, exactly where she needed him to be. Her mouth dropped at his size, her soaking walls stretched wide by his thickness, almost every last inch of him invading her. His brow furrowed, a long breath leaving him as he kissed her neck, settling atop her as they began to move against one another. It was slow and rolling, the exquisiteness burning them both to their very marrow, Tommy arrowing into her with long, powerful thrusts, a slight rotation of his hips making stars shoot through her groin.  

Oh, that man. He knew how to fuck.

In life, they were mismatched, but in bed, it was perfect. Utterly perfect.  

The feel of him rutting against her, dragging wetness from her cunt with every thrust, her dew bathing his cock entirely had Darla softly mewling in utter delight, moving fluidly against him as she panted against his thick shoulder, his mouth finding her and stealing hot kisses from her beautiful lips.  

He was tight and heavy within her, imposing and unimaginable in size and prowess, the power and rhythm of his fuck making her dizzy and drunk on him, his big hands grasping her delicate face as their tongues entwined, his teeth grazing her lower lip in a soft bite, his moans gone to utter gravel. She was sexual bliss, absolute erotic heaven, his hands tangling in her beautiful ombre curls, fingers weaving through dark brown and blonde, losing himself to her.  

A grumbled groan welled in his throat, hips jerking and sending him deeper, her walls fluttering around him instinctively, a whimper spilling over her lips as he dragged sparks through her core, pleasure taking root and coiling around the base of her spine, like a vine about to ascend.  

He began to pound into her with unhinged vigour and boundless determination, syrupy bliss stirred in her loins, Darla’s hands running down his back and delighting in the feel of every rise and fall of his chiselled, bulky muscles, drinking him in, savouring him while she had him there, relentless between her thighs.  

The sounds of Paradise Circus, one of her favourite songs filtered through the air as he bore down into her strongly, his cock hitting her deep, bright glimmers ignited, her nerves snapping as she felt herself ascending.  

His moans were primal and unabashed as he spiralled towards the same climactic state, fucking her with powerful intent, sensing her release was just as imminent as his. He held his weight up on his forearm, reaching between them and pressing his thumb to her clit, rubbing tight circles until she clenched strongly and cried out, breathless in her beauty as she came hard, his cock erupting as his sun shone over her horizon, blinding him, reducing him to nothing but a trembling wreck on top of her.

“Have you got the energy to do that at least another three times to me?” she panted, Tommy arching an eyebrow at her.  

“Only three?”

Yes. He’d most certainly be staying over that night.

A/N - Now, here’s the really, really important part. Did you enjoy it? If so, please don’t just redundantly click that heart. Reblog it. Also, I love to engage with my readers, so a little comment would not go amiss either! Doesn’t have to be long, just reach out. I’m all about building community here and there is nothing more lovely than readers and writers supporting one another!

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Adam Zyglis, Buffalo News  :::  [Scott Horton]

* * * * *

On the day President Joe Biden urged Americans to defend “the flame of liberty” against extremism, Donald Trump said that if he is reelected, he will pardon and issue a government apology to hundreds of domestic terrorists who assaulted the Capitol on January 6th. There can be no greater illustration of the struggle for the soul of our nation—one leader who seeks to defend democracy and another who seeks to reward those who resorted to violence to overturn the Constitution.

         The full text of the speech is here: Remarks by President Biden on the Continued Battle for the Soul of the Nation.

         Biden spoke plainly in targeting Trump and “MAGA Republicans.” He set out his thesis in his opening lines:

         Too much of what’s happening in our country today is not normal. Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.

         Now, I want to be very clear, very clear up front. Not every Republican, not even the majority of Republicans, are MAGA Republicans. Not every Republican embraces their extreme ideology. I know because I’ve been able to work with these mainstream Republicans. But there’s no question that the Republican party today is dominated, driven, and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans. And that is a threat to this country.

         In tones reminiscent of John F. Kennedy, Biden asked Americans to join in common cause to defend democracy:

         For a long time, we told ourselves that American democracy is guaranteed.

         But it’s not. We have to defend it, protect it, and stand up for it — each and every one of us. That’s why tonight I’m asking our nation to come together and unite behind the single purpose of defending our democracy, regardless of your ideology.

         Republican commentators criticized Biden for “impugning half the country” when he described MAGA Republicans as “threats to the republic.” That criticism isn’t entirely accurate—because Biden impugned only the 35% of Americans who exalt extremist MAGA politics over democracy. Otherwise, Biden was right to call Trump and MAGA Republicans a “threat to democracy.” As Dan Rather wrote,

         We face a moment of inflection that threatens the continuation of our republic. As with destructive forces of the past, it is essential to name the threat. And Biden wanted to do just that.

         House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy delivered a “prebuttal” speech in which he demanded that Biden apologize for calling MAGA Republicans “semi-fascists”. Biden should issue such an apology—when MAGA Republicans do the following:

Stop treating the reproductive liberty of women as a felony.

Eliminate the “bounty” on pregnant women who do not carry a pregnancy to term.

Allow schools to teach students about the true history of the United States.

Stop banning books that do not align with white Christian theology.

Stop their culture war on LGBTQ people.

Stop efforts to suppress the votes of Black Americans.

Condemn white nationalism, neo-Nazism, and the conspiracy theories of QAnon.

Stop efforts to overturn free and fair elections.

End their campaign to undermine public trust in elections.

Concede when they lose elections rather than claiming fraud.

Recognize that Donald Trump is not above the law and that efforts to hold him accountable for his crimes are not “an assault on democracy.”

Denounce violence against poll workers, elected officials, judges, and government employees.

Condemn the assault on the Capitol and Congress on January 6th as an instance of domestic terrorism which should be punished to the full extent of the law.

         The above is a partial list, but you get the point. Until then, “semi-fascist” is a polite description of MAGA Republicans and Biden’s use of the term is appropriate.

         Biden’s speech on Thursday was a superb effort but is just the beginning. Biden must continue with his newfound energy and aggressiveness on the campaign trail through November. And he must continue to call the threat to democracy by its name: fascism.

         Strong words, I know. But as Trump’s promise to pardon the January 6th defendants illustrates, the threat is metastasizing. If we intend to stop it, we must drop all pretense and describe the threat in words Americans understand. Joe Biden’s speech on Thursday advanced that cause. Let’s hope he continues to lead the way.

[orion-is-dreaming-about-frogs]

I have to stop reacting to radfems, but it’s genuinely concerning how many of them there are.

They’re like cockroaches. They’re everywhere, hard to ignore, and super fucking scary. Not to mention disgusting.

I can take being called slurs, but I just can’t stand it when it’s another person who is part of my own community trying to tell me I deserve nothing. That I’m trash.

They harass me and tell me my own damn sister is secretly a rapist.

My sister. The one who had an all-lesbian friend group in highschool. The one who put a rapist in the hospital because she split his lip open. That one. The one who loves women dearly and not because she’s sexualizing them or treating them like objects. Yeah, apparently she’s a rapist. My own fucking sister.

I’ve talked to radfems before and a lot of them are assault victims. It’s like a cult for abuse victims. They’re traumatized, so they inflict pain on everyone else. That being said, it doesn’t excuse their behavior. I know people who are victims who haven’t resorted to relentless bigotry and extremist ideology.

It worries me because this is a group of people who have been hurt that sincerely believe the only way to fix that is by erasing trans people. Because they think we’re the predators.

The really bad ones even think that the way to fix society is by killing all men, because men are incapable of feeling love or compassion.

Radfems spread rape culture. They’re relentlessly transphobic. They believe in the worst of humanity. It’s so disturbing to speak to them. I am sick and tired of getting dms from these people telling me I’m worthless. This is hate speech. This is bigotry. It has to stop.

Radfems are not feminists, they’re fucking terrorists.

[mariacallous]

Free speech absolutists are like the cocky audience of a spectator sport – they think they could do better than the players, if they were just allowed a crack at it. To them, speech should be as free as possible, period. Nowhere is their oversimplification of the issue more evident than on social media, where abuse and disinformation have created a new frontier of regulation – and with it a cohort of disingenuous free speech warriors.

These absolutists are so unaccustomed to facing consequences for their actions that they have pushed the idea that a censoring “woke” orthodoxy now prevails, and is a threat to freedom of expression. Elon Musk is among them, but since his takeover of Twitter he is having to learn quickly that free speech is not simply about saying whatever you want, unchecked, but about negotiating complicated compromises.

Musk arrived at Twitter with an approach that I am sure he thinks is pretty straightforward. The site, he believes, has a leftwing bias that should be corrected by allowing suspended users back on to the platform. The accounts of Donald Trump, Kanye West and Jordan Peterson have been reinstated, along with nearly all those that were suspended for falling foul of old Twitter’s rules on abuse and hate speech.

This means that Twitter is about to turn into a far more unpleasant and potentially dangerous experience. Little of this appears to have anything to do with a political strategy on Musk’s part. Like Trump, Musk has become the tribune of fascists and racists by way of adolescent contrarianism, an insatiable need to flaunt his control and a radicalising inability to cope with being told he’s wrong on the internet. For him, “free speech” seems merely a vehicle for his delusional plan to make Twitter into a fawning “digital town square” that he presides over.

But not even the richest man in the world can pull that sort of free speech arena off. Twitter isn’t sustained by previously suspended users, but by the millions of people for whom the platform feels (most of the time) like a political and cultural slipstream. Twitter has an odd social media profile. It is both extremely influential and also often quite trivial, and the coexistence of the two is what makes the site viable. Twitter is a window into the soul of politicians and opinion-makers – its style of interactive rolling commentary works well in drawing them out to post their views or engage with others, revealing personalities and politics that otherwise would be surpressed or closely edited. And it is the first resort of citizen journalists and those marshalling political protest. It also remains the only social media platform where people with little clout or profile can challenge elites directly.

But Twitter is also a solipsistic place, where even small users can become protagonists in spats that are then amplified both by the site’s algorithms and a rightwing media that trawls it for telltale signs of “wokeness” or “cancel culture”. For better or worse, it is Twitter’s adjacency to current affairs and general political and cultural discourse that makes it, uniquely among platforms, feel relevant.

If you’re not on Twitter, chances are that you have come across stories that started out or were precipitated there, whether it’s a debate on trans rights that swirls around JK Rowling’s tweets, or calls to organise street protests against dictators in the Arab world. For all these things to be possible on the same site, robust content moderation is necessary to ensure conversations don’t descend into doxing (maliciously publishing someone’s personal information) and hateful conduct, and that news and journalism is verifiable. In the absence of moderation, or at least the appearance of it, things fall apart pretty quickly. When a place is not fun or hospitable or truthful to users, it also becomes commercially pointless for advertisers. Since Musk took over, half of Twitter’s top 100 advertisers are reported to have left the site. If things continue as they are, it is hard to see a future for the company.

The ultimate cause of that demise will be the failure of Musk to understand that for some speech to be free, other speech has to be limited. It is generally true that if a service is free then it is by definition exploitative of its users – if you are not paying for a product, the axiom goes, then you are the product. But in the case of social media, the regulation of your speech is the product. If a platform becomes too toxic, then it is useless for anyone except those who want an extremist ghetto of agitators. In that sense, social media is very much like society in general. Political and legal authorities are in the business of content moderation, in order to make our shared space as stable and safe as possible for a majority of people. The public and other stakeholders, such as the press, businesses and social media companies themselves, are in constant negotiations with these authorities on what those limits should be – for instance, whether religious dress is protected speech, or what constitutes incitement to violence.

Old Twitter was far from perfect, and by its own admission its algorithms favoured rightwing accounts. But it was improving because of the drag that advertisers, regulators and users were putting on its algorithmic urge to encourage antagonistic activity. The high-speed destabilisation of Musk’s Twittershould be a warning to free speech absolutists. The set of curbs they object to are those that make users’ experience of social media, and life in general, possible; they protect against, among other jeopardies, libel, impersonation, plagiarism, misinformation and grooming. In essence, all our free speech arguments are about finessing, rather than obliterating a system of functional restrictions.

Those with power have more leeway to define what free speech is, but they can rarely do so without limitation. Twitter’s chance of survival is dependent on whether Musk chooses to accept that, like freedom of speech, his power is not absolute.

[awed-frog]

As someone who has lived in Europe all their life, gotta say that people here just... don't.... believe in god? Let alone religion. Sure we all (I mean the ones who sorta low-key identify as Christian) make the pretty Easter eggs and the Christmas trees or whatever, but in the end is more aesthetics and just an excuse to have fun on your off days? I wouldn't say it is strictly religious. Legit most people I know don't even know the hows and buts of Easter. "Oh the Egg holiday? Yeah it's a whole long weekend off. I love it!"

I agree. I think that for the vast majority of people in Europe - the caveat being, there are profound regional differences - God is sort of a last resort thing. People may pray when they are sick or desperate, and may vaguely believe in ‘something’ that created the universe or oversees human affairs from a distance, but the kind of fanaticism you see in other corners of the world has been pretty much eradicated. That’s why, imo, there isn’t much sense in getting all worked up about things like Christmas markets, ‘religious’ days off, Easter eggs or children making Nativity scenes in school: those things are widely understood to be cultural phenomena, and barely hold any religious significance whatsoever. On the other hand, we shouldn’t be complacent about other religious stuff creeping back in: precisely because this stuff is now so far removed from our personal lives, we tend to underestimate the single-mindedness and determination of religious extremists. Instead, we assume things have always been this way and we, the ‘superior’ Europeans, are just naturally less superstitious than other people - and we are dead wrong on both counts. Our current freedom has been bought by centuries of blood and we would do well to remember that.