#How much penalty for wrongdoing?

[umlewis]

Lewis Hamilton: "Racial Element" To FIA Boss' "Rapper" Comments

Lewis Hamilton raised concerns over FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem comparing Formula 1 drivers swearing on team radio to "rappers," saying there was a "racial element" to Ben Sulayem's comments.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Ben Sulayem said the FIA plans to clamp down on use of profanities over team radio, including removing offensive language from F1 broadcasts.

"We have to differentiate between our sport, motorsport, and rap music," Ben Sulayem told Motorsport. "We're not rappers, you know. They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That's them and we are [us]."

When asked about the comments, Hamilton said he understood the move to cut down on swearing for the benefit of younger audiences, but took issue with the comparison.

"With what he's saying, I don't like how he's expressed it, saying that rappers is very stereotypical," Hamilton said. "You think about most rappers are Black. That really kind points it towards, when it says we're not like them.

So I think those are the wrong choice of words. There's a racial element there. But, as I said, I agree with the fact that I think [it needs] cleaning up a little bit."

ESPN has approached the FIA for comment.

In March this year, amid controversies surrounding the governing body, Hamilton said Ben Sulayem has never had his support.

The comments followed investigations by the FIA's compliance department into Ben Sulayem in which the FIA president cleared of wrongdoing, and news that F1 Academy boss Susie Wolff was taking legal action against the FIA over a short-lived investigation into an alleged conflict of interest between Wolff and her husband, Toto.

The FIA's plans to cut down swearing over team radio became a major talking point during driver media engagements ahead of this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix. Speaking about the clampdown, Hamilton said younger drivers are less likely to censor their own language but that he now makes an effort not to use profanities.

"When I was 22 I didn't think of it as much and it was more your emotions are just firing and you're saying whatever comes to mind, forgetting how many people are listening and the kids that are listening, all those kinds of things," Hamilton said.

"I agree in that sense that you listen to some of the younger drivers and they just have not got it yet, and at some stage they probably will. I'm sure if there's penalties for it, people will stop it. I don't know whether that's something that's needed. I definitely think there is a little bit too much of it.

It's good to have some emotions. We're not robots. And for me, the way I control it is because there's like over 2,000 people that are working towards me having this position and being where I am.

I've got a lot of followers of all ages. It's not about me, and even though I'm having this experience on-track, what I do and what I say affects all those people who are sacrificing time with their families, who are giving absolutely everything to have this privileged position and opportunity.

I think it's just understanding that, and putting the aggression somewhere else. That's what I try and do."

[bleeding0heart]

(MedicineSeller! Kusuriuri x Mortal! Reader)

(Can be OOC!! AnyPOV!!)

♡愛して、愛して。。。♡

Existing in a world full of bloodthirsty mononokes wasn't easy, especially when you're just a fragile being, a mere weed that can easily be stepped on.

And you're no exception.

But it's okay, because he'll protect you forever.

His little flower.

•"I'm sorry."

.・゜゜・

Kusuriuri had said that it would only be a couple of hours, hours without you. Oh, how badly he wished that he'd stayed with you instead. Not only did he fail as a protector, he also failed as a friend.

An hour after Kusuriuri's department, you started to feel a strange feeling deep inside your core. Something had placed its root into your heart, a parasite feasting upon your sanity, leaving nothing but a shrill and some crumbs.

Slowly, you were filled with hatred, witnessing the wrongdoings of your kin through the parasite's lenses. You felt yourself losing control, diving deeper into the matrix of madness, becoming a fish stuck in a hurricane, unable to save yourself.

And before you knew it, you were standing in front of a burning house, a warm cottage and a happy family destroyed by your hands. Blood stained your body, your soul sealed by sins.

.・。.・゜✭・

A death sentence hung over your head.

Everything was too much. Your chest felt heavy, and you felt like you couldn't breathe. You lost control of your body, and yourself.

Kusuriuri couldn't fucking believe it. Five hours, he'd only been gone for five.fucking.hours, and you're already at death's gate.

Standing amidst the mob, he watched you and the dancing flame with wide eyes. Fear? Anger? Disappointment? He didn't know, but he knew that he felt one thing: Shock.

"... Oh no..." You've been possessed, Kusu knew it. As quickly as he could, he worked to baptize you, or rather, the mononoke. Though he managed to banish it, you're still on the verge of exhaustion.

"[Name]! Snap out of it!" Yelled the medicine seller, as he ran toward you, his steps almost clumsy. He reached out, gripping your shoulder, the claws digging into the fabric of your clothes. Until then did he see your eyes.

"... C'mon... Let's go home, please..." Kusuriuri pleaded, hurriedly carrying you back to their estate.

.・゜゜・

Upon reading the news on the bulletin board, Kusuriuri felt his heart die little by little. Dropped to the pit of his stomach, to be precise.

____

░NOTICE FROM THE GOVERNMENT:

1. [Name] L/N's CRIME HAS BEEN CONFIRMED, AND THEY'VE BEEN SENTENCED TO DEATH.

2. KUSURIURI HAS BEEN DEEMED AN ACCOMPLICE IN THE INCIDENT AND IS THUS SENTENCED TO DEATH.

FURTHERMORE, ACCOMMODATING HIM WILL BE CONSIDERED A CRIMINAL ACT.

3. SHOGUN SHALL RECEIVES THE DEATH PENALTY FOR INCITING KUSURIURI AND [Name] L/N AND CAUSING THE INCIDENT.

4. THE SUSPENSION OF [Name] L/N's DEATH SENTENCE IS REVOKED AND THE EXECUTION IS TO BE CARRIED OUT IMMEDIATELY.

5. SPECIAL GRADE SORCERERS ARE APPOINTED [Name] L/N's EXECUTIONER.

____

It would only be a few more days, until Kusuriuri and you were brought to the execution place.

"Even Shogun isn't safe from this..." Kusuriuri sighed. One of his kin got dragged into this mess, all because of him, though Shogun remained safe for now. 'This can't be good'

The other kitsune was innocent, but the people chose to be ignorant. They didn't want to listen, they only wanted a reason to purge him.

[In case you're wondering, Shogun is my OC who's also a kitsune. And damn that mononoke.]

Then, they'd be "off with their heads."

[no-gram]

Character Profiles

Administrator/Ai

・Hello. Dear prisoners.I'm Ai, the administrator.Well...I still have a lot to learn about communication and about all of you.

・However, I am the administrator.I am responsible for managing you all. Please be my regards henceforth.

・I myself have not yet decided how I will pass judgment...You have been gathered here under the suspicion of being evil people for some wrongdoing.

・And you will be judged by me, justice or evil.I know nothing about you people yet. But I plan to close slowly.

・Let me clarify my position as an administrator, but I do not intend to be hostile.I hope we can live comfortably together. Good bye

001/Tsuguha

・Well...nice to meet you! My name is Tsuguha, I'm 12 years old. I don't really understand this situation yet...but I hope I can be friends with you all.

・I am aware of the...bad things I have done. No one would call me a murderer, though.

・Admin. I want the death penalty. You would judge me, wouldn't you?

・When did a place like this come into being...?

・I was born a bad person. You see what I mean?

002/Jun

・Name? Huh. ...... I'm Jun. I don't intend to get along with you.

・Evil people and other false accusations.This prison is more evil than the prisoners who are locked up here.

・You're in trouble, too. You don't know anything, do you? I hope you get out of here soon. For both of us.

・I'm not surprised now. No matter what kind of strange places there are in the world.

・I just want to get this over with.I don't want to go home.Other than that, there's nothing else.

003/Kizuna

・Nice to meet you! My name is Kizuna! Haha.

・Hmmm. At least we haven't done anything wrong yet, right? See, that's what everyone says!

・Hahaha. Hey, that's the administrator! How long have you been here? Long time ago?

・It's a strange place - this place! But there are scarier places, too!

・I like everyone here because they don't say bad things about me! Maybe I don't have to go out there!

004/Tsuduri

・Introducing myself, um... my name is Tuzuri. Hmmm, sorry. I can't think of anything in particular to tell you now.

・I honestly don't feel either way about justice or evil, but...Don't make stupid decisions.

・I'll give some advice to the administrator.Expecting weird things from others will make you tired, so it's better to go easy on them.

・Hmmm. The location itself doesn't surprise me. But I guess I'm wondering how they got to me.

・I don't know the date or time or anything. I wonder if there is an outside in this place.

005/Itoho

・Let's see, I'm Itoho! I've been called many names, so call me whatever you like. New nicknames are also welcome.

・Hmmm... I don't know about that, so I'll pass.

・Administrator...I'll help you as much as I can. Fighting is pointless, right.

・I think it's a good idea. People should be judged rightly, but there are some things that the law can't handle.

・I'm glad everyone seems to be having a good time. It was rough at first. Because of someone's fault.

006/Rinne

・Hi, nice to meet you, admin. I'm Rinne. I'm Rinne, and I'd like to make a deal with you.

・I am the righteous one, right? At least... more than anyone else.

・Let's manage everyone here together. Yes, I know my place. I'm under you, and they're under me. That's it.

・I'm so glad we have a place like this! I just wish we could have done it sooner.

・The people here are all failures. But it's okay. Because I'm with you.

[ruptinea]

tsumigram characters in among us

i find this relevant because I've been voting these people like they're in among us so here's a list of headcanons

hotaru: first round no one knows who is impostor yet but we have to send someone to the space. we have hotaru plain, quiet. suspicious. death penalty. perpetrator

remi: second round we are starting to suspect some people. we have remi and she's the mischievous girl that gets voted second because she's there for having fun only. and we all know that among us is not a fun game it's serious business. why is she so happy. death penalty. perpetrator

kouta: doesn't have the balls to kill anyone and doesn't knows how to play the game. because of this, probably died in the first rounds as well but not because of majority vote. he died after being killed by the impostor. victim

kai: it's a mix of remi and hotaru. like we all were focusing on hotaru because they were so suspicious and neutral about everything, and then we focused on remi because she was being happy. now we have kai that is being neutral but like. while she's being neutral she's letting out these tiny chuckles. is it out of nervousness? is it because she's the impostor? it doesn't matter. death penalty. perpetrator

ayame: killed by impostor. for someone who wants that much to be an idol she doesn't have even a strong enough presence in a among us. literally she got killed at some point and nobody remembers her and she's sad about it

chise: now. this one. she knows how to play as impostor but she didn't get impostor this time and got killed by the impostor. she's really angry about it and wants to talk so everyone can kill whoever killed her. she's a horrible person a very professional impostor bonafide perpetrator but she can't be that now so she has no choice but to try and help the survivors in some way. either savior or perpetrator

toa: the real impostor. he probably wins the game. no one suspected he was the impostor because he's such a victim and he's so fuckign nervous about it. also the reason why chise is so fuckign angry she died. he never played this game before he's just clicking random buttons. perpetrator

miku: he was so close. literally so close it's stupid. he was going to call toa the impostor in the next round. and then toa accidentally misclicked and killed him. victim

hiiro: this is it. she was going to expose toa wrongdoings to everyone. she was going to win this game. finally she was going to accomplish something in her life. but she forgot one very important thing. everyone forgot it actually

ego: the game was actually in two impostors mode. ego killed hiiro. ego and toa win the game

jacka: couldn't play with her rabbit paws so she commented the whole thing like a football narrator

[strictpunishedhubby]

Education methods for naughty husbands

In every society there are rules. This rules must be followed, they are indispensable and they are fundamental importance, otherwise an orderly coexistence is not possible in this society. Without rules the result is chaos and that woud be the end of those society. This is how laws are created, and if these are violated, the perpetrator can expect appropriate punishment. This should be appropriate to so that the Deliquent changes his behavior positively and repents. The severity of the punishment should be such that he does not repeat his offense, even if it is only because of the fear of punishment.

The punishment of braking rules and laws for the wrongdoer is indispensabel to the smallest cell unit of society, so down to the relationship between two people! This is the only way it can function well and be maintained. In our society, the education of children has always been in the responsibility of women. They are responsible for ensuring that their children are well equipped for later life and adapt to society.

The son has been brought up by his mother, a woman, since the beginning of his life. the beginning of their lives. Some sons need a strict upbringing, others can ever let it go a bit, others can pass something. The older children become, the more sustainable and stricter they need to be punished, in order to avoid their rebelliousness and discontent, since they already know the rules. The oldest child of the wife happens to be her husband. That means it's harder for her to change and shape him positively than it was during his childhoold. That is why she has to exercise his education more strictly and consistently than with her children. The best way is she punished him like a silly, little boy, only much more stricter, particularly his corporal punishment! To embarrass him further is necessarily, so that her husband knows where his way will go in his marriage and she call the shots! The woman is mentally much stronger than a man, and she can form her husband by a strict punishment to a kind and attentive boy, as she wishes him and considers it right. Due to our society, it should, however  generally be discreet in the intimate home atmosphere, especially regarding his corporal punishments! The punishment methods and measures must be determined exclusively by his wife. It is important over the course of time to practice the chastisements much more consistently, so he will get punishes by her step by step stricter. His wife know the way how to punish him, he has to accept! That the only way to have a long and good marriage.                           

Even today, some women have the mistaken belief her husband should call the shot within the family. However, the tasks overwhelm her hubby, because he is from his childhood accustomed to obey his mother. The methods of punishment and appropriate measures must therefore be determined exclusively by his wife, without which he has the slightest say in this, so that no doubt arise in their authority with him. Over time, her actions towards him must be steadily sharpened, mainly as regards his corporal punishment and shame. First, she makes him aware that he always has to pay the necessary respect to her. It accomplishes this by being constantly in fear of the punishments that are intended for him, which must be consistently and decisively applied to him so that they can work successfully with him! That is, he must constantly be reminded by her that every wrongdoing of him is relentlessly punished by her. An essential part of his punishment is beside his regular chastisement is his humiliation. Penalties serve to bring about an improvement in his behavior. In this way, she determines the time of his punishment (spontaneously or later), with which punishment instrument she carries it out, how long and how severe it is. Also whether and what additional punishments she has planned for him. He also has to execute every instruction of his wife without delay, without comment and with the utmost precision!

The rules he should expect should be communicated to the man from the very beginning of the relationship and should be exercised accordingly at the first opportunity. He needs to know what punishments await him for misbehavior and naughtiness, so he accepted unconditionally and above there be no more discussion in marriage! To teach the man strict obedience, and to fully subdue, it is necessary to vary its terms and to worsen over time. Education to a good husband consist of the carrying three pillars: 

                                                                                                                        -  humiliation                                                                                             -   chastisements                                                                                       - other penalties

To his embarrassment, it is imperative that the man, even in the absence of his wife, he is always aware of his role as the to-be-punished by his wife. To achieve this goal, he has to wear female (with very few exceptions) underwear. Which underwear is most suitable?                                                                                               

First, here are old-fashioned knickers such as the of previously known classic fodder panties with elastics at the leg warmers recommended. The constant feeling the elastics on his legs, he is reminded of the so shameful lingerie he wears under his pants. The panties should be pink, so be recognizable as old-fashioned knickers immediately! Just by the knowledge to wear lady's panties constantly, he will make an effort to behave kindly. He then lives in constant fear that friends or acquaintances are behind the secret of his underwear and thus he is exposed to ridicule and laughter, which makes the implementation of his education for his wife much easier. As usual in the past.he also has to wear a second knickers. For example, a floret printed long-legged kickers is very good. This will support his effort to be good and obedient, much better. Therefore, the constant wearing lingerie for his necessary education is essential! This naturally includes a matching pink or colorful printed camisole.

It makes sense to him in winter and punishment tightening sometimes even in the summer to wear self-knitted wool underwear. In winter, so that he does not catch a cold so easily, especially in the summer after a severe chastisement, so that the memory of his punishment lasts longer with his butt stays hot! In addition, such a wool panties scratch on bare skin, especially on a scratched butt, he is thus excellent as an additional punishment intensifying measure!                                                                         

Tearful men, and are well-almost all, should wear girls underwear frequently according to their childish behavior. This contributes even more to his shame and so much to its successful education. Believe me, any man who is dressed, ashamed very much. When he wear girlsunderwear it is important to note that his underwear looks toddler. Although this is difficult to procure adult-size, with a little skill it can changed in childish laundry. So the man can (possibly selected by the woman before) are applied to buy girls camisole and panties in size.The laundry can be dyed with textile dyes. Try to get a pink and yellow. Are childlike motifs on linen imprinted, they remain even after the obtained dyeing. One can also additionally drag a rubber band through the leg warmers in many panties, as was often the case previously. He can still colorful paint or simply provided with colorful polka dots by permanent marker, it looks very childish!  Thanks to waterproof textile pencils, he can still paint them colorful or simply provided with colorful polka dots, his laundry looks so more childish! 

                                                                                                         At night, the man in need of education has to wear a Girls night shirt or a girls pajamas. Of course his underwear is tightened under! In the house, the woman also lets him wear cute girls-dress, including an additional colorful petticoat. Also short pants with his panty legs sticking out is very shameful for him and makes him more polite. In this elevator, he has the opportunity to use his time sensibly in the interests of his wife by doing his daily household chores such as cooking, washing, ironing or cleaning, or by serving his wife.

Meaningful underwear for the husband:

During the day a pink wool knickers, about a pink lining panties or a printed knickers                                               

a pink or colorful printed camisole                                             

woolen stockings, which are attached to garters.     

As Sleepwear a pink woolen knickers over a second pink or multicolored long-legged kickers,alternatively girl panties over yellow, pink or colorful rubber pants, plus over panties, a girl nightgown or a girl terry pajamas pink or colored.

But how is the focus of his education, his necessary chastisements carried out?                                                               

At first it’s to say that chastisements should only be made on his bottom. Slaps in his face should not be used because of the risk of injury. The strokes at his bottom should be for him but always very painful! As breeding instrument come the bare hand, the wooden spoon, the carpet beater and of course the cane into consideration.

With bare hands it is only for minor offenses, mostly sporadically spanked or if it has received a very strict caning until a few hours before and a second must be postponed to the next day account of his red and blue fanny. He has to free his butt and to lay down well-behaved over the knee of his wife. Here clearly is his shame in the first place. The blows are initially easier and gradually increase until his back wobbles back and forth and takes on a red color and he starts to cry!                                                             

The wooden spoon is used for mild naughtiness of him, at first on his  panties, then on his bare bottom. This picks have to be more painful for him than the spanking by hand. There should be an increase, yes!                                                                                                         

The carpet beater it receives on each of his two panties and on at last on his bare buttocks. This punishment he receives for example with not immediate obedience to his wife's orders, or a lesser general sloppiness from him.                                                                      For all other of his misconducts such as improper ironing of the laundry, poorly executed cleaning work, disobedience or rebelliousness, ignore his wife's ban on speaking, interrupt or even dare to contradict her if he whines or doesn't have inside if she tells him early arranging bed times and not getting ready for bed immediately, even if it is only 7 p.m. disobedience or rebelliousness, the cane should in principle be used!

If the cane goes into action, the man has to fetch it himself and ask for his well-deserved chastisement.His governess announces the number of intended hits. After that he must then immediately bring a stool and a large pillow, then lift his skirt or pull down his trousers and lie down on top of the stool on the pillow. The cushion fulfills the purpose that his backside is nice high for the cane beating, and blows he receives from it can be placed much more effectively. Of course, he also gets his deserved and necessary caning over the kitchen table, armchair, couch and lying over his bed!He remains lying there until, after an uncertain period of time, his wife takes the time to carry out the sentence He then has to pull his two panties tight himself, his wife steps up next to him, stretches the cane out far and slowly hits him, blow after blow. Her husband has to count every stroke and thank her for it. After the final blow, dressed or half undressed, with his trousers pulled down, he has to stand in the corner facing the wall to reflect on his transgressions.

While he is standing in the corner, he will rub naturally violently his backside and an he will cried loud. His wife should not be impressed by that! On the contrary, she should talk to him like a little, naughty boy, who he is essentially and always will be. She explained mockingly to him,  how urgently necessary the chastisement is for him and he himself attributed this!

Phrases like, "Your butt needs a proper rubdown, you just get it from me and I like to make the effort to educate you to a decent husband!" or"Now you get from me so severely spanked your butt that you can not sit for the next three days!", make him not only anxious and tame, but increase the effect of the cane and thus the desired educational effect!

After a few minutes, he has to go back to his command on the stool so that she can continue with the just punishment.He pulls down his top knickers himself and receives the same number of hits as in the first round. After that he has to stand in the corner again and listen to other shameful sentences of his wife like "the same you get spanked your naked ass, that you go almost deaf and blind!".

Then she will beat up as a highlight in the last round his bare bottom, as she announced him previously. Then also need to speak her deeds so that his butt is very red and blue properly on her words! While most of us man at spankings its rear part to childlike at, in which he cries too loud and violent, or he tries to protect his bottom with his hands during the punishment, or he even dares during the punishment jumpe up, so of course, his wife has to fully disciplining him extra pick, that’s not to spare. Possibly the additional blows are made the next morning, when she had to be given him a very draconian beating. This has the advantage when he is anxious in the evening in his bed, he can to imagine exactly what it the next morning will happens to him, after having prepared breakfast for his wife! Then, when his wife comes to breakfast, he has punitive ready to lie over the stool. He pulls down his upper panties with his own hands and receives the same number of strokes as the first round. While most of us man at spank its rear part to childlike at, in which he cries too loud and violent, or he tries to protect his bottom with his hands during the punishment, or he even dares during the punishment jump, so  of course, his wife has to fully disciplining him extra pick, that’s not to spare. The cane is to hand on the table for her, and she can while she has relish breakfast in between make the continuation of his necessary spanking procedure!         

 

                                           

Grave repudiations of  him, as opposed commands, illicit alcohol consumption, looking television unauthorized, etc. a weekend education is urgently needed. Depending on the severity of the misconduct of the man, he gets on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays up to four times a day its necessary drastic caning penalties. It probably does not need to be said, that he is clothed during this weekend only in his shameful  clothes!                                                     

Other penalties receive educational measures that are also applied to naughty children, such as room arrest, television prohibition, in the evening early without dinner send to bed, for a time no pocket money for him etc. Among them are also the often hated by men educational measures, minutes or even up to an hour, cornertime and facing the wall, often with his trousers and panties pulled down, and thus with his bare bottom to have to stand in the corner. Cornertime can even be done several times in succession between chastisements. There are women who think it is a waste of time. But believe me, for his sustained upbringing, it is important to give him time to reflect on his offense and thus be insightful and to repent, if only for fear of pursuing his discipline and further punishment. At the same time, during the time in the corner, he will think about how he behaved again like a little, naughty boy and realize the punishment of his wife is meaningful, right and necessary! Yes, he may even be sincerely thankful to you inwardly, and he knows it is only for the continuation of marriage, and it is out of concern and love, of you! So his love for you will be strengthened and grow. Yes, it does serve and supports his effort and desire to become a well-behaved and attentive husband. That alone is worth sending him into the corner often and for a long time!    It makes perfect sense to relate the nature of the punishment to his misdeeds. So the hubby has when he comes home too late, make him ready for exactly one hour with his trousers and panties down to stand in the corner, and he has to requests on the minute to his wife ask for his caning. He has to estimate the hour in the corner accurately. For every minute that he reports to her, too early or too late, he receives 5 extra beats on his two panties, and on his bare buttocks. So he gets a better feeling sense of time!     

 

                             

As a rule, intended as initially mentioned, husband's  strict upbringing is only to be left to his wife. Only if she has a good, discreet girlfriend, she can tell to her the educational methods. First times, however, she should divulge cautiously and say no details. But maybe her friend already suspects in his humble behavior, in which way he is constantly educated by his wife.How she applies this to her little man and how childlike he behaves! If the friend shows interest and understanding, or she acts in a similar way to her husband, she may, of course, even be active in the additional embarrassment of the man in the case of educational measures.                                                                         

Important in a well functioning marriage that the husband is to exercise in self-control. An effective help is his right underwear for him. As described above reaches, the wife that best characterized by letting wearing underwear embarrassing her husband. This is achieved for example by wearing self-knitted underwear from sheep’s wool.  Knitted Sheep woolens, especially when they are freshly washed, scrape the skin, especially if it has not been treated with a fabric softener. The scratching or warmth of panties, undershirts, and nightwear pose a challenge to his husband's self-control. This wash is therefore an ideal helper to consolidate and improve his self-control. He may protest against the underwear but you have to be remain firm in their attitude toward him, for solemn exhortations, sometimes even a extra spanking on his butt with the yellow stick, turn a naughty man into an obedient little boy who quickly submits to his prescribed dress code.

Best of all, the wife gets all the clothes for him, or she tells him where he has to buy the laundry, she has selected for him! He must knit his laundry under her guidance (the cane is an indispensable helper), he does not have any say in it. If the man does something naughty, he has to wear for punishment what he absolutely dislikes, how long woolen stockings, also woolen knickers that protrude under the shorts, wearing long stockings to a girdle also in the summer, of course also woolen camisoles. So brought every man become a belbehave husband.

On holiday strict punishment for him are of course particularly important so that he does not letting himself and doing everything that serves his wife's recovery. He will do his best to be especially good, not just to be less often chastised by her, but it is for him, the increased risk that other holidaymakers noticed how strong he is under the cane of his wife! Take the opportunity to apply the cane even more stringently than at home on the slightest occasion. Do they have time and leisure to optimize his education, because he is under constant control of you. With his inevitable chastisements he will control himself strongly, so that neighbors do not hear his howling and crying. That is why they must be strictly enforced!   If the cane blows and his crying or whining are heard by other guests and they are asked about it, that is not tragic, on the contrary, it can only be beneficial for his education! Please tell the guests that your husband often times is very naughty and inattentive to you, and the cane is perfectly suited and necessary means of education, so he better parries. You will find approval in many cases with other wives, and many men will at least nod internally and even envy your husband!

In marriages conducted according to these rules, both the wife and the husband are in a win-win situation. The wife gets a well-bred, attentive and faithful husband for life. He receives through a strict woman the necessary guidance and structure in his life, that every man needs who has remained in his heart a little boy, and is best for him. So both are satisfied and happy!                                                           A woman who consistently applies these rules can be proud of herself, because then she has managed to educate her husband to be diligent, kind, well behaved, and obedient, and she gives her husband structure and support! Her husband will be grateful, loving and adoring her, always looking up to his wife, who leads and guides him!This essay is designed to encourage and encourage those women who believe it is right and necessary to give their friend, partner or husband the proper punishment. Always take such educational measures that make it easier for him to be docile, diligent and obedient, he knows why you act that way, and that he is not insensible to you, but his chastisement is also love for him!

In general it can be said that the behavior of the husband depends on how his wife brings him up. Cooking spoons, canes and carpet beaters, etc. are useful components for his education, in addition to the clothing chosen by the woman for the man, especially as far as his underwear is concerned, which she should definitely use and constantly apply. Her husband will then behave as she dreams. A happy wife is in the interest of both parties and strengthens the marriage! Her husband is also happy because he is used to being led and educated by his mother at home and punished accordingly by her if he was naughty.Inside, he wants his wife to treat him the same way and lead him. Leadership means inner strength and willpower and self-discipline that most men don't have enough to take responsibility. Every man loves and desires a woman who is caring for him and willingly submits to her. Also or precisely because she treats him like a cheeky little snotty boy. He knows that if he don't wantsto hear, he has to feel, and painfully so!

Of course, there are still many ways to educate the spouse to be a model boy. These thoughts are meant to be some suggestions for women who also feel it is necessary to give their boyfriend or husband the education that is right for him, so that his behavior will be what she wants and aspires to be in him.   

 

        ��                            

Incidentally, punitive measures should always be adapted individually.

[astroa3h]

Scott Peterson: 🥀 Venus Love Style Reading

Scott Peterson, whose name became infamously linked to a tragic crime, was convicted in 2004 for the murder of his wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn son, Conner. The case gripped the nation, unfolding a story that, on the surface, seemed to be that of an all-American family. Yet, as details emerged, the facade of a loving husband and father-to-be crumbled, revealing a much more sinister reality. Laci Peterson disappeared on Christmas Eve of 2002, sparking a massive search operation. Scott's initial portrayal as a grieving husband began to falter under scrutiny, especially when it was revealed he had been having an affair with another woman, Amber Frey, who was unaware of his marital status. This revelation casts a shadow of deceit and infidelity over Peterson's character, undermining his initial claims of innocence.

The investigation uncovered a web of lies and suspicious behavior, from Scott's purchase of a boat shortly before Laci's disappearance to his actions and movements on the day she went missing. The discovery of Laci and Conner's bodies near the area where Scott had been fishing on the day of Laci's disappearance further implicated him, despite his vehement denials of any wrongdoing. Scott Peterson's trial was a media sensation, drawing attention not only to the details of the case but also to broader issues of marital betrayal, the portrayal of victims and perpetrators in the media, and the death penalty in the United States. Convicted of first-degree murder for Laci's death and second-degree murder for the death of their unborn son, Peterson was sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole after California declared a moratorium on the death penalty.

Scott has Venus in Virgo, meaning Venus is in FALL. The concept of a planet being "in fall" is not about doom and gloom but rather about the complexity and depth it brings to the planet's expression. For Venus in Virgo, this positioning emphasizes a more analytical and critical approach to love and relationships. The warmth and spontaneity of Venus are replaced with a desire for perfection, often leading to a critical or overly analytical attitude towards partners and a tendency to focus on flaws or what can be improved rather than unconditional acceptance and affection. Already a placement fraught with critical and perfection-seeking tendencies, it gains a more sinister hue when we consider the destructive degree at 22. This isn't just about striving for an unattainable ideal in love or being overly critical of a partner; it's a harbinger of a love twisted, where the pursuit of perfection becomes a destructive force, not just emotionally, but in the most tragic and final sense.

Scott also has Venus in the 10th House, which when negatively aspected indicates an individual who uses relationships as a means to an end—where partners are chosen or valued based on how they contribute to one's image or goals. The desire for an ideal image to the public might overshadow the genuine emotional connection in the relationship. This could manifest as presenting a facade of a perfect relationship or family life to the world, even if the reality is far from perfect.

The sextile between Venus and Mercury in the secretive 12th House, rather than merely suggesting a preference for intellectual connection and private conversations, now casts a shadow of duplicity. It's as if Scott's capacity for intimate communication was a double-edged sword, capable of deception as easily as a connection. This aspect, under this grim light, speaks to a mind that could rationalize the irrational, and justify the unjustifiable, where the whispered words behind closed doors were not of love, but of lies. The square between Venus and Saturn in the 7th House, the domain of committed partnerships, becomes even more ominous. Instead of simply implying a strained or duty-bound approach to relationships, this aspect now screams of a suffocating control, a need to dominate and dictate the terms of love until it chokes the life out of it—literally. Saturn's cold, restrictive influence here speaks not to the normal challenges of marriage but to a relationship under siege, where one partner becomes a warden, and the other a prisoner.

The trine to the North Node in the 2nd House, which might in other contexts suggest a journey towards valuing oneself and one's possessions now has a macabre twist. This aspect, in the story of a man who killed his wife, hints at the ultimate material possession: taking a life into one's own hands, and claiming ownership over another's existence. It's a stark and harrowing reminder that in some twisted minds, love and possession can become fatally conflated. The stark parallels between Scott Peterson's astrological chart and the heinous crime he committed serve as a chilling reminder of how the darker facets of our personalities can be reflected in the stars. While astrology often offers insights into our strengths, desires, and potentials, in Scott's case, it also mirrors the depths of deceit, manipulation, and control that led to an unfathomable tragedy. 

xox astro ash ✨ Get your own "Venus Love Style Reading" @ astroash.net ✨🥀

[mania-sama]

rule #15 - four aces

Rule #15 - Four Aces - Fish in a Birdcage

➼ information ❧ Bungou Stray Dogs ❧ Pairing: Dazai Osamu & Nakahara Chuuya ❧ Tags: major character death, ambiguous relationship, prison, capital punishment, death row, solitary confinement, post-decay of angels arc, character study, hurt no comfort, angst, self-hatred, depression ❧ Summary: The crimes unveiled by the Hunting Dogs do not simply disappear. They stay, and Dazai Osamu is convicted in court of one hundred and thirty-eight murders, three hundred and twelve counts of extortion, and six hundred and twenty-five cases of fraud. ❧ Word Count - 2,256 ❧ Cross-posted from Archive of Our Own ❧ Original post date: 23 October 2023

➼ whumptober 2023 ❧ Day 23: Prison ❧ Previous Day ❧ Next Day ❧ Masterlist

Dazai Osamu’s murder trial was among the shortest in Japanese history, as far as criminals worthy of the death penalty go. No witnesses of his crime dared enter the stand; the only evidence available was records of documents and faint trails of his wrongdoings that he didn’t bother to properly clean up. After all, he had been Port Mafia. The local courts and police were mostly under their controlling thumb. He didn’t have much to worry about.

Recent affairs brought to light his laundry list of crimes, and even then they didn’t quite get to all of it. Dazai didn’t bother finishing off their incomplete list. He wanted the trial over and done with as quickly as possible.

“How do you plead?” The judge asked, tone even and face neutral.

“Guilty,” Dazai replied. There would be no talking or bartering his way out of the court — his crimes could not be erased now that the entire government knew. Ango had done what he could all those years ago, but the Hunting Dogs, though exposed for their treasonous plot, did irreparable damage to his name. Saving the world does not negate the hundred lives he took and the two hundred he conspired to kill.

Being an invaluable member of the Armed Detective Agency and killer of Fyodor Dostoevsky does not save him from the death penalty.

He could have pled not guilty. He could have talked in circles and used every bit of charm he possessed all he wanted, but his sentence would not have changed. Honestly, the trial itself was a worthless and time-wasting endeavor. The only one who got anything out of it was his public lawyer whom he picked out of a hat. He got paid for his representing Dazai, and Dazai got the death sentence. The members of both the Armed Detective Agency and Port Mafia that watched from the stands did not benefit, either. They were only surprised by the lack of fight against the sentence, but not the sentencing itself.

Prison itself is miserable, more so for him since he’s a prisoner on the condemned row. They are treated as the scum of the Earth that they are, for they are all people who have committed crimes worthy of capital punishment. Their cells are small, cramped things with nothing but a toilet, sink, bed, and a tiny window to let in streams of barred light. Since Dazai is not only an ability user but a criminal with a history of escaping prisons, he’s checked every morning and every night for any hidden weapons or communication devices. It's an arduous, boring process that makes him pray for his execution day to come faster.

That’s part of the point of solitary confinement, however. It’s supposed to make your life miserable. It teaches an important and invaluable lesson to the people stuck inside: they should not have committed their crimes. When Dazai catches sight of the other criminals, he sees their worn and haggard appearances, as well as their distant gazes. He wonders if he looks the same.

Dazai does receive mail from the Armed Detective Agency members. He’s not allowed to keep them, obviously, but he does cherish every carefully handwritten word for as long as he can. They didn’t support him during his trial, and they hardly ever made the effort to visit him in Tokyo. He warned them with as much seriousness as he could that they should stay away from him. He is a criminal. It doesn’t matter what he has done to help Yokohama — he has killed more than he has saved. They may know him as the intelligent and self-sacrificing Dazai Osamu, but the rest of the world knows him as a serial murderer.

The Armed Detective Agency would suffer severe backlash and irreparable damage if they did not condemn him publicly.

It doesn’t mean that there isn’t a hole in his chest every time he hands his letter back to the guards or is escorted away from their hour-long visitations. He’s used to the overbearing emptiness that has eroded him for his entire life, but back then, he had free reign to be and do whatever he wanted. Now, he sits in a cell, eats tasteless food, and waits for his death. It’s entirely different, a unique form of torture that he never wanted any participation in.

Escaping the detention center would be an embarrassingly easy feat. He resides in a normal prison in Tokyo. Minimal efforts are put into place in terms of guarding him specifically. He has four guards instead of the typical one, they check underneath his bandages twice a day, and he has a sniper waiting to shoot his window at the first given opportunity. All easy obstacles to overcome.

Dazai Osamu, convicted murderer of at least one hundred thirty-eight people, sits in front of Nakahara Chuuya. A plastic screen and metal bars separate the two men from being completely together. Four guards with loaded rifles stand behind Dazai, and another armed guard stands behind Chuuya.

Dazai smiles politely with his hands in his lap.

“You look like shit,” Chuuya starts. His hat hangs from his chair, a rare show of vulnerability that Dazai is well aware of the implications of. The offer of jailbreak hangs between them as it has with every visitation thus far.

“I know,” Dazai replies. He doesn’t know, he supposes. He doesn’t have a mirror. He can only feel the weakness in his limbs after so long standing and lying still in solitary confinement. Even walking to the visitation room was a struggle for his eroded muscles. “Nothing I can do about it now.”

His partner stares at him, eyes narrowed and taking apart every inch of Dazai as though he’s a painting with a deep meaning. It strikes Dazai with a sudden pang of pain that he’s going to miss those heterochromatic eyes.

“When was the last time someone visited you?” Chuuya asks. It’s a complete change of topic, but it shows his resignation from Dazai’s will. They have the same non-verbal fight every visit, and it always ends with Chuuya unable to discern why Dazai chooses to comply with the misery of the law.

Dazai takes a second to think about his past visitors. Atsushi has not written once, nor has he visited. Ranpo explained the situation to him, though it didn’t take a genius to figure it out. 

"Atsushi cannot forgive you for your crimes or your treatment of Akutagawa."

Dazai and Atsushi are similar in that aspect.

Kunikida has only stopped by once, and even then it had been in direct opposition to his ideals. The President and Ranpo visited more often. Since they had both known of Dazai’s crimes for far longer than anyone else in the Agency, they were quicker to set their uncomfortable feelings aside. Yosano visited sparingly, never with much to say other than the various insults she wanted to put together with Dazai to hurl at Mori. It’s fun.

Kenji and Kyouka are not permitted due to their ages. The Tanizaki siblings have only visited twice, and Hirotsu three times.

The Port Mafia boss has attempted to visit, but Dazai refused to entertain him on every occasion. Akutagawa’s visit had been long and painful. Maybe it was the fact that he’d already spent months in solitary confinement, but Dazai’s stomach revolted as soon as he was done with the young, tortured man. Ango’s three visits have done much the same to his poor constitution.

It’s amazing how the death penalty can change a person.

“I can’t tell time,” Dazai says. It’s the truth. He knows it’s been five years, but days elude him as easily as the minutes that pass by. “You were the last one, though.”

“Five months, then.” His voice is uncharacteristically somber. Dazai hates that. His twin flame is meant to be bright, brash, and vocal, a perfect contrast to Dazai’s dark and composed nature. Chuuya gazes at Dazai with an inscrutable expression. “Nothing has changed since then. Yokohama is untouchable thanks to you.”

Dazai shakes his head with effort. Everything he does nowadays requires an amount of painful strain. “I won’t take credit where credit isn’t due. I deserve the death that is awaiting me.” Chuuya’s lips form a thin line. Disappointed, if not regretful. However, he cannot deny the truth of the statement. Death has been waiting for Dazai for a very, very long time.

“I hardly recognize you,” Chuuya says.

“You’ve changed, too,” Dazai responds neutrally. Five years is enough to change anyone. His partner’s hair has grown in length, reaching the middle of his back. The edges of his face have hardened, but not with age or anger. It’s a deep-rooted sorrow that keeps his jaw locked and eyes narrow. The manner in which he speaks to Dazai is the most different; he doesn’t hurl biting insults or call him names. Instead, he’s sincere and honest-to-God kind.

Maybe he knows that Dazai has not experienced a shred of anything but distant contempt for the past five years of his life.

“It’s going to be gone soon. Tomorrow, maybe. Next week at the latest,” Dazai continues at the lack of response from the other side of the plastic. Chuuya’s eyes widen in a hint of panic, before quickly settling down into something less intense.

“It doesn’t have to be this way,” he says. And he means it. There’s no anger in his words, no contempt — only regret and melancholic desolation.

Dazai raises his hand to touch the plastic sheet, and he flinches when the guards shift. Their guns click and make harsh sounds in their hands. His bandaged arm trembles with the effort of staying in the air without any support.

“It’s that.” His partner declares, this time with the edge of something more raw. “You would have smiled at their fear before.”

“And I would’ve complained about you being here at all,” he shoots back tautly. “It’s been five years. Of course I’ve changed.” Chuuya sits back in his chair and crosses his arms in front of his chest. The rejection leaves an aching pain in Dazai’s chest, and he lets his arm drop back down into his lap. “It’s not change,” he says harshly. “You died somewhere along the way, and all that’s left is a flesh body.”

“Maybe,” is all Dazai can respond with. He’s tired, but he wants to keep talking to Chuuya. Hearing his voice, seeing him, even through the plastic screen, is the only highlight of his miserable days. Everything is always the same at the detention center. His partner’s bright hair and blue and brown eyes are the only things that bring color to his painfully monotonous life.

They only use twenty minutes of their allotted hour session. Chuuya doesn’t have much to remark upon aside from his continual attempts at offering Dazai freedom. Dazai doesn’t have much to respond with aside from the continual rejections of those offers. His bright twin flame leaves after a final goodbye.

Handcuffs are snapped onto his bandaged wrists, and he is brought back to solitary confinement silently. Dazai is alone once more. 

—

When he wakes up the next day, he finds a guard standing in his cell with a judge by her side. He asks the prisoner one question:

“What would you like as your last meal?” Dazai smiles and replies: “Boiled crab.”

—

Nothing is said to him as the noose is fitted around his neck. He feels the way the guard’s hands move as he knots and pulls the rope into a tight and secure loop. It’s different from how Dazai tied it fifteen years ago, and again fourteen years ago, and again thirteen years ago until he realized it hurt too much and he would always pull through.

There are more knots in this loop. It pulls under his ear and pushes into his throat, leaving a mark that would burn later if they were to call off the execution and revoke his sentence.

The nooses Dazai created in his desperate attempts were meant to kill, but slowly. They would strangle him, preventing air from air from reaching his lungs and bending the esophagus. The noose he wears now would snap his neck. He would be dead before he could blink his eyes.

He would have thought it too nice for someone like him. He deserves to suffer, doesn’t he? Then, he reflects on the past five years on death row. That’s what solitary confinement was for. Execution is only meant to bring an end.

Once the noose is tight on his neck, the guard steps off of the platform. The trap door underneath his feet is metal. Fancy. Japan has certainly made an upgrade since the nineteenth century.

Dazai turns only slightly to stare at the guard. He’s the only person other than Dazai himself in the execution room. A camera allows the trapdoor operator to observe from a distance, effectively putting a barrier between them and the death they will inevitably cause. It’s for the sake of their mental health, he knows. But, as a proficient killer, Dazai knows that they are bringing death all the same.

Being in the room and doing it through a camera changes nothing.

The guard does not look back at him. He keeps his gaze trained on the camera, to which he brings a thumbs-up to a moment later. Before he can blink, the trapdoor opens beneath him.

Dazai Osamu, convicted murderer of one hundred and thirty-eight people, hangs.

[elevatorladylady]

I’ve been thinking about a Tamlin redemption arc, and I know most fans say they don’t want one or don’t think he can be redeemed, which leads me to think about what a redemption arc actually means.

Some possibly controversial takes incoming.

This in itself seems to vary widely, but for me, in the real world, I am very much for restorative justice, and that means for anything. I want the people who do really bad things to be stopped from doing those bad things, but it’s also better for our society if they are helped to be better instead of punished. And I mean like I’m literally not sure that it helps anyone to actually punish in a way that goes beyond isolating and fixing the problem. Who should be making that effort to help those people and to what extent should we burden ourselves with that is not as clear if we are looking at smaller communities and not just the state penal system, but generally if the effort and resources can be spared then they should be.

So what does that mean for a fictional world where murder happens a lot and there are a lot of leaders out there violating what we’d generally consider human rights? I honestly don’t know.

But I will say that I would want for the characters in this world that the people doing shitty things stop doing shitty things. Beron is a very good example. He really sucks. He is a terrible person. I don’t actually want to see that character happy, but if he were to grow in some way to be better and stop abusing his wife and he has some moments of happiness as part of that, I do actually want that. I would not like to see him be antagonized for no reason, and undoubtedly make him feel more compelled to abuse his family or the people of his court. Should others trust him? No. Should they do nice things for him? No. But if it were just as easy to be civil as it would be to fully antagonize him, just maybe someone should do that and not make things more difficult for the people that are forced to interact with him. And this goes for so many other things. Poor people don’t stop existing because they run out of money and bad people don’t stop existing when they have been deemed a criminal (unless death penalty).

And I should say I don’t mean that people should just put up with abuse, but that protecting yourself and others (typically yourself first) is the goal, and putting emphasis on the punishment of it all typically doesn’t help with the main goal of stopping the behavior.

So with Tamlin, if he were a real person who interacted with real people, I would very much want him to get better. I would want him to realize his wrongdoings and be better. I would want him to be happy because that would be better for everyone, including the people he is magically bound to rule over. Maybe Lucien would actually want him as a friend again, and Tamlin needs to be in a healthier spot for that. It benefits everyone for him to be a better person that can function in the courts again. And personally, I don’t even think it’s cathartic for him to be miserable. And no matter how shitty SJM needed to make Tamlin, I still feel for the rejection he was heading toward as F/eyre got closer to R/hys. His life sucks and I don’t see any need for other characters to revel in it. It’s not healthy for them and it’s not fun for me as a reader.

I don’t want to see a person who is down, get continually knocked down in future books by people that are supposedly very happy and loved. And I feel a general sense of wariness with the idea that he is an abuser™ and should never be allowed to be happy. And more broadly, I think we let a lot of abusive behavior slide when we are only willing to apply it to an abuser™.

[bintadnan]

مَنْ دَلَّ عَلَى خَيْرٍ فَلَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ فَاعِلِهِ

Abu Mas’ud reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever guides someone to goodness will have a reward like one who did it.”

Source: S‌ah‌i‌h‌ Muslim 1893

وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ

“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.”

Al-Ma'idah 5:2

In an age where we are easily influenced by everything unfolding rampantly around us and are simultaneously caught in this whirlwind of being an influencers ourselves, it becomes incumbent upon us to revise our intentions and sincerity time and again. When it comes to calling people to Islam (da'wah), it is not just restricted to our words but our actions are equally if not more accountable for serving a role in this. It is also not circumscribed to the rounds of our social network but whether our khulq (character) truly resembles the way we normally function on a daily basis. In this overstimulating age, we have become negligent and nonchalant with our actions. We are unaware whether these seemingly insignificant actions revolving our sharing, commenting and liking a post are counseling people to good or otherwise. We are even more reckless when it comes to our character outside of this social realm. How are the manners while cooperating with our family members? Are we genuinely and repeatedly advising them towards the good and if not then, do our actions match up to our words? Or are we simply paying a lip service? Are we sincerely preaching what we throw at them or these are just empty words that hold no meaning in their sight? Wallahi, we have such a massive potential and opportunity to constantly keep nurturing our characters in a manner that nobody departs from our company without taking a gem of this deen with them. We continue to belittle our actions mostly around people close to us and then whine about their wrongdoings. Some of us may not have a way with words like others do and that is how Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala chose to bless them, but does this absolve others from being held accountable for their negligence? We don't even realise the multiple ways through which our actions can soften someone's heart. This is something we need to be mindful about at all times because in our carelessness we might direct someone towards evil and displeasing to Allah and partake in a share of their sin until yawm al-qiyamah. Just like our words are constantly monitored, so do our actions. We can be in a gathering and be the carriers of reminders through our actions. it may well be that we are the sole representative of this deen in someone's life but due to our actions misaligning with our words we repel them or much worse mislead them in their understanding of this religion. we have to be wary of how we conduct ourselves especially in front of the kids who may take us as their role models, learning about their faith through us. When one comes to brood over this, it really isn't very demanding. We need to learn to hold fast to our principles wherever the qadr of Allah takes us, so that we can truly strengthen the community of believers rather than choosing complacency. Let's not act impulsively; we need to give thought to the consequences of our actions which can either turn in our favor or against us.

[stoicbreviary]

Xenophon, Memorabilia of Socrates 26 

At another time, he had noticed the angry temper shown by Lamprocles, the elder of his sons, towards their mother, and thus addressed himself to the lad. 

Socrates: "Pray, my son, did you ever hear of certain people being called ungrateful?" 

"That I have," replied the young man. 

Socrates: "And have you understood what it is they do to get that bad name?" 

Lamprocles: "Yes, I have: when any one has been kindly treated, and has it in his power to requite the kindness but neglects to do so, men call him ungrateful." 

Socrates: "And you admit that people reckon the ungrateful among wrongdoers?" 

Lamprocles: "I do." 

Socrates: "And has it ever struck you to inquire whether, as regards the right or wrong of it, ingratitude may not perhaps resemble some such conduct as the enslavement, say, of prisoners, which is accounted wrong towards friends but justifiable towards enemies?"

Lamprocles: "Yes, I have put that question to myself. In my opinion, no matter who confers the kindness, friend or foe, the recipient should endeavor to requite it, failing which he is a wrongdoer." 

Socrates: "Then if that is how the matter stands, ingratitude would be an instance of pure unadulterate wrongdoing?" 

Lamprocles assented to the proposition. 

Socrates: "It follows, then, that in proportion to the greatness of the benefit conferred, the greater his misdoing who fails to requite the kindness?" 

Lamprocles again assented. 

Socrates continued: "And where can we hope to find greater benefits than those which children derive from their parents—their father and mother who brought them out of nothingness into being, who granted them to look upon all these fair sights, and to partake of all those blessings which the gods bestow on man, things so priceless in our eyes that one and all we shudder at the thought of leaving them, and states have made death the penalty for the greatest crimes, because there is no greater evil through fear of which to stay iniquity. 

"You do not suppose that human beings produce children for the sake of carnal pleasure merely; were this the motive, street and bordello are full of means to quit them of that thrall; whereas nothing is plainer than the pains we take to seek out wives who shall bear us the finest children. With these we wed, and carry on the race.

"The man has a twofold duty to perform: partly in cherishing her who is to raise up children along with him, and partly towards the children yet unborn in providing them with things that he thinks will contribute to their well-being—and of these as large a store as possible. 

"The woman, conceiving, bears her precious burthen with travail and pain, and at the risk of life itself—sharing with that within her womb the food on which she herself is fed. And when with much labor she has borne to the end and brought forth her offspring, she feeds it and watches over it with tender care—not in return for any good thing previously received, for indeed the babe itself is little conscious of its benefactor and cannot even signify its wants; only she, the mother, making conjecture of what is good for it, and what will please it, essays to satisfy it; and for many months she feeds it night and day, enduring the toil nor recking what return she shall receive for all her trouble. 

"Nor does the care and kindness of parents end with nurture; but when the children seem of an age to learn, they teach them themselves whatever cunning they possess, as a guide to life, or where they feel that another is more competent, to him they send them to be taught at their expense. Thus they watch over their children, doing all in their power to enable them to grow up to be as good as possible." 

"So be it." the youth answered; "but even if she have done all that, and twenty times as much, no soul on earth could endure my mother's cross-grained temper." 

Then Socrates: "Which, think you, would be harder to bear—a wild beast's savagery or a mother's?" 

Lamprocles: "To my mind, a mother's—at least if she be such as mine." 

Socrates: "Dear me! And has this mother ever done you any injury—such as people frequently receive from beasts, by bite or kick?"

Lamprocles: "If she has not done quite that, she uses words which any one would sooner sell his life than listen to." 

Socrates: "And how many annoyances have you caused your mother, do you suppose, by fretfulness and peevishness in word and deed, night and day, since you were a little boy? How much sorrow and pain, when you were ill?" 

Lamprocles: "Well, I never said or did anything to bring a blush to her cheeks." 

Socrates: "No, come now! Do you suppose it is harder for you to listen to your mother's speeches than for actor to listen to actor on the tragic stage, when the floodgates of abuse are opened?"

Lamprocles: "Yes; for the simple reason that they know it is all talk on their parts. The inquisitor may cross-question, but he will not inflict a fine; the threatener may hurl his menaces, but he will do no mischief—that is why they take it all so easily." 

Socrates: "Then ought you to fly into a passion, who know well enough that, whatever your mother says, she is so far from meaning you mischief that she is actually wishing blessings to descend upon you beyond all others? Or do you believe that your mother is really ill disposed towards you?" 

Lamprocles: "No, I do not think that." 

Socrates: "Then this mother, who is kindly disposed to you, and takes such tender care of you when you are ill to make you well again, and to see that you want for nothing which may help you; and, more than all, who is perpetually pleading for blessings in your behalf and offering her vows to Heaven—can you say of her that she is cross-grained and harsh? For my part, I think, if you cannot away with such a mother, you cannot away with such blessings either. 

"But tell me," he proceeded, "do you owe service to any living being, think you? Or are you prepared to stand alone? Prepared not to please or try to please a single soul? To follow none? To obey neither general nor ruler of any sort? Is that your attitude, or do you admit that you owe allegiance to somebody?" 

Lamprocles: "Yes; certainly I owe allegiance." 

Socrates: "May I take it that you are willing to please at any rate your neighbor, so that he may kindle a fire for you in your need, may prove himself a ready helpmate in good fortune, or if you chance on evil and are stumbling, may friendlily stand by your side to aid?"

Lamprocles: "I am willing." 

Socrates: "Well, and what of that other chance companion—your fellow-traveller by land or sea? What of any others, you may light upon? Is it indifferent to you whether these be friends or not, or do you admit that the goodwill of these is worth securing by some pains on your part?" 

Lamprocles: "I do." 

Socrates: "It stands thus then: you are prepared to pay attention to this, that, and the other stranger, but to your mother who loves you more than all else, you are bound to render no service, no allegiance?

"Do you not know that whilst the state does not concern itself with ordinary ingratitude or pass judicial sentence on it; whilst it overlooks the thanklessness of those who fail to make return for kindly treatment, it reserves its pains and penalties for the special case?

"If a man render not the service and allegiance due to his parents, on him the finger of the law is laid; his name is struck off the roll; he is forbidden to hold the archonship—which is as much as to say, 'Sacrifices in behalf of the state offered by such a man would be no offerings, being tainted with impiety; nor could anything else be well and justly performed of which he is the doer.'

"Heaven help us! If a man fail to adorn the sepulcher of his dead parents the state takes cognizance of the matter, and inquisition is made in the scrutiny of the magistrates. 

"And as for you, my son, if you are in your sober senses, you will earnestly entreat your mother, lest the very gods take you to be an ungrateful being, and on their side also refuse to do you good; and you will beware of men also, lest they should perceive your neglect of your parents, and with one consent hold you in dishonor; and so you find yourself in a desert devoid of friends. 

"For if once the notion be entertained that here is a man ungrateful to his parents, no one will believe that any kindness shown you would be other than thrown away." 

—from Xenophon, Memorabilia 2.2 

IMAGE: Mary Cassatt, The Child's Bath (1893) 

[jdgo51]

Where Love and Justice Meet

Today's inspiration comes from:

Experiencing the Heart of Jesus

by Max Lucado

"'Paul wrote,

The wrath of God is being revealed from Heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness. — Romans 1:18

He also wrote,

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. — Ephesians 2:8

So, how can God punish the sin but give grace to the sinner?

Does God lower His standard so we can be forgiven?

No. God “does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17), and He “judges all people in the same way” (Romans 2:11 NCV). Besides, to ignore our sin would be to endorse our sin. If our sin had no price, then we should just “do evil that good may result” (Romans 3:8). But this is not the aim of God. He does not compromise His holiness to enable our evil.

Yet the dilemma remains.

Holiness demands that sin be punished. Mercy compels that the sinner be loved. How can God do both?

An illustration might shed some light. Imagine being arrested and brought before a judge for a speeding violation — your third in two years. You admit your wrongdoing. You were speeding. Your palms are sweaty as you are called to enter the judge’s chamber. Once there, you wait for him render his decision. “I have found a way to deal with your mistakes,” he says. “I can’t overlook them; to do so would be unjust. I can’t pretend you didn’t commit them; to do so would be a lie. But here is what I can do. In our records, we have found a person with a spotless past. He has never broken a law. He has volunteered to trade records with you. We will take your name and put it on his record. We will take his name and put it on yours. We will punish him for what you did. You, who did wrong, will be made right. He, who did right, will be made wrong.”

Who is this person? What fool would do such a thing? For the sake of illustration, imagine if it were the judge himself. He is the one willing to substitute his spotless record for your flawed one. In the same way, Jesus loves you so much that He was willing to give you His own “perfect driving record” (a sinless life) so that He could take on the punishment for your imperfect one. Like the judge in this illustration, He had no reason to do you a favor. He certainly wasn’t indebted to you. You were guilty, remember?

But He chose to take the penalty for your sin because of His love for you.

This is a love born from within Him, not from what He found in you. His love is uncaused and spontaneous. He did not love you because of your goodness, or kindness, or great faith. No, He loves you because of His goodness, kindness, and great faith.

John says it like this:

This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us. — 1 John 4:10

Doesn’t this thought comfort you? God’s love does not hinge on yours. The abundance of your love does not increase His. The lack of your love does not diminish His. Your goodness does not enhance His love, nor does your weakness dilute it. What Moses said to Israel is what God says to us:

The Lord did not set His heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you. — Deuteronomy 7:7–8 NLT

God loves you simply because He has chosen to do so. He loves you when you don’t feel lovely. He loves you when no one else loves you. Others may abandon you, ignore you, and forget you, but God will love you.

Always. No matter what.

This is His sentiment:

I’ll call nobodies and make them somebodies; I’ll call the unloved and make them beloved. — Romans 9:25 MSG

This is His promise:

I have loved you, My people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself. — Jeremiah 31:3 NLT

God’s love goes the distance — and Jesus traveled from limitless eternity to be confined by time in order to become one of us.

Others may abandon you, ignore you, and forget you, but God will love you.

He didn’t have to. He could have given up. At any step along the way, He could have called it quits.

When He saw the size of the womb, He could have stopped. When He saw how tiny His hands would be, how soft His voice would be, how hungry His tummy would be, He could have stopped. At the first whiff of the stinky stable, at the first gust of cold air. The first time He scraped His knee or blew His nose or tasted burnt bagels, He could have turned and walked out.

When He saw the dirt floor of His Nazareth house. When Joseph gave Him a chore to do. When His fellow students were dozing off during the reading of the Torah, His Torah. When the neighbor took His name in vain. When the lazy farmer blamed his poor crop on God. At any point Jesus could have said, “That’s it! That’s enough! I’m going home.” But He didn’t.

He didn’t, because He is love. And His love “always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:7). He endured the distance.

For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. — Hebrews 12:2

We have done nothing to earn God’s love. Remember, as Paul said, “it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

Given this, it only stands to reason that we do not need to live in fear of losing God’s love. After all, if we did nothing to gain it, how could our performance (or lack thereof) lead to us losing it? Many people live in fear of God’s justice because they have never reckoned His justice with His love. Grace is where the two meet together, forming an insoluble bond.

Are you aware that the most repeated command from the lips of Jesus was “Fear not”? Are you aware that the command from Heaven not to be afraid appears in every book of the Bible? The apostle Paul points to the cross as our guarantee of God’s love:

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. — Romans 5:8

God proved His love for us by sacrificing His only Son. Formerly, God had sent prophets to preach. Now He has sent His Son to die. Earlier God commissioned angels to aid. Now He has offered His Son to redeem.

When we tremble, He points us to the splattered blood on the splintered beams and says, “Don’t be afraid.”

The Heart of the Matter

God cannot simply compromise His holiness to enable your sin. God instead took the penalty for your sin because of His love for you. God loves you simply because that is what He has chosen to do. Nothing will ever be able to separate you from the love of God.

Memory Verse

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. — Ephesians 3:19

The Heart of Jesus

He had places to go, things to do, people to see. He was on a road trip, speaking in local synagogues, seaside venues, and country hillsides throughout the region. He had a message to communicate, questions to answer, parables to compose. And when He wasn’t talking, He was listening. His chosen disciples, His closest friends, and even the religious rulers were vying for His time and attention.

Jesus was a busy man. How could He possibly take on one more responsibility? Where would He find the time to commit to one more ministry opportunity? Didn’t He deserve some downtime, some time off, some me-time? In the same situation, the last thing we would want to face is a crowd of needy people. Yet there He was, listening to stories of stiff joints and dimming sight. Holding the hand of the depressed and weary. Touching the faces of the desperate and dying. And did Jesus grit His teeth and smile through these interruptions to His schedule? Was he bored by hearing the same sorts of stories again and again? Did it bother Him that nobody seemed to care about His feelings, His problems, His needs? No, He understood that His mission was to proclaim good news to the poor... and recovery of sight for the blind. — Luke 4:18

Though confronted with a sea of faces, Jesus saw every individual heart, every precious life, every eternal soul through the eyes of love."'

Excerpted with permission from Experiencing the Heart of Jesus by Max Lucado, copyright Max Lucado.

[drmaqazi]

HOW TO PERFORM SALATAL TAWBAH (REPENTANCE)

Salat al-Tawbah, also known as Namaz-e-Tawbah, is a Muslim prayer consisting of two Rak'ats, according to Sunni tradition, or four Rak'ats,, according to Shi'a tradition1. The prayer is performed when a Muslim falls into sin, whether the sin is major or minor. 

It is an obligatory prayer performed when a person commits a sin or feels that he has sinned and wants to repent to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). There is a special Salatal Tawbah during the month of Dhul Qa'dah which contains two then another two Rak’ats,

How To Repent In Islam: 

Importance And Salaat Al-Tawbah Method

A person repents for his misdeeds when he wants to ameliorate his wrongdoings with strong determination. Tawbah is an Islamic concept of repentance to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) for performing any kind of sins or wrongdoings. 

A Muslim has to repent when he/she performs or does anything that is forbidden in Islam, for example catastrophic sins like adultery, consuming Riba’/interest or murder. One can speak to Imams to find out how to repent in Islam and then return to what is instructed by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala).

In the Holy Quran and Hadiths, the word tawbah (to return) is focused and it means to turn from evil and unholy activities and firmly avoid them in the future. It plays a main role in the flourishing of a human soul and its journey towards Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). 

Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam) narrated that God says “As soon as My servant makes a step toward Me, I make two steps toward him; as soon as he comes to Me walking, I come to him running”. It is believed that a believer can make Tawbah not only when he/she commits a sin but also while executing a good deed. The Tawbah signifies true-hearted and devoted repentance that is free from sanctimony and insincerity.

Tawbah Meaning

The literal meaning of Tawbah is ‘to return’. The word is mentioned many times in the Holy Quran and several hadiths. In the Holy Quran, Tawbah is related to the word ‘Nasuh’, which means to ‘make pure’ or ‘sincere’. 

It can be understood that Tawbah helps in returning from sinful and wrong deeds. The person performing Tawbah surrenders in front of the Almighty Allah and asks forgiveness from Him for their act of swaying away from the path of righteousness.

Importance Of Repentance In Islam: 

Holy Quran Verses

According to the Islamic scripture Holy Quran, those who believe that they have conducted any wrongdoing or misdeed that is against the commandments of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), can sincerely repent for their mistake and seek Allah’s forgiveness. The Quranic verses say,

“And O ye Believers! turn ye all together towards God, that ye may attain Bliss.” — Holy Qur’an, Surah 24 (Al-Noor), Ayah 31

“O ye who believe! Turn to God with sincere repentance, in the hope that your Lord will remove from you your ills and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow.” — Holy Quran, Surah 66 (Al-Tahrim), Ayah 08

\

“Surely God loves those who turn much (to Him), and He loves those who purify themselves.” — Holy Quran, Surah 02 (Al-Baqarah), Ayah 222

“God accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards; to them will God turn in mercy: For God is full of knowledge and wisdom. Of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil, until death faces one of them, and he says, “Now have I repented indeed;” nor of those who die rejecting Faith: for them have We prepared a punishment most grievous.” — Holy Quran, Surah 04 (An-Nisa), Ayaat 17–18

The Holy Quran verses also address the doubter and request them to turn towards Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and seek His Mercy and Forgiveness.

“The Penalty on the Day of Judgment will be doubled to him (disbeliever), and he will dwell therein in ignominy,- unless he repents, believes, and works righteous deeds, for God will change the evil of such persons into good, and God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And whoever repents and does good has truly turned to God with an (acceptable) conversion.” —Holy  Quran, Surah 25 (Al-Furqan), Ayaat 69–71

How To Repent In Islam: 

Conditions

To retain himself/herself in Allah’s acquiescence.

“A believer sees his sins as if he were sitting under a mountain which, he is afraid, may fall on him; whereas the wicked person considers his sins as flies passing over his nose and he just drives them away like this (and he moved his hand over his nose).” — Sahih al-Bukhari, 8:75:320

How To Perform Salaat Al-Tawbah

Salaat al-Tawbah is the special Tawbah prayer for those who want to repent. It consists of four Raka’ts (according to Shi’a tradition) and must be performed in a prescribed method. Irrespective of the gravity of the sin committed, the repentance prayer remains the same. The prescribed way of offering Namaz-e-Tawbah is as follows:

Niyyat For Salatal Tawbah

Before offering Salatal Tawbah, one must make Niyyah. Niyyat or Niyyah is the intention to declare that one is aware of their sins and sincerely wants to amend their wrongs by asking forgiveness from the Almighty Allah.

Niyyah for Tawbah Dua: Usolli Sunnata Taubati Rak’ataini Lillahi Ta’ala.

Meaning: I pray the Sunnah of Tawbah for two Rak’ats because of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala.

Salat al Tawbah Steps

Perform Ghusl, here it is important to submerge the whole body in water (called Irtimasi). If you are not in a place where you can get into the water completely, you may do it in parts.

Alternatively, you can also perform Tartibi, which is wiping the body with water. This is suggested in place water available for the ritual is scarce.

The next step is to perform Wudu’, an Islamic cleansing ritual

Then perform a four Rak’at prayer and in every Rak’ah, one must recite the Surah al-Fatihah once, Surah al-Ikhlas thrice, Surah al-Falaq once, and Surah an-Naas once.

Next, one must recite Astaghfirullah (Rabbi wa atubu ‘ilaih)

After the prayer, say Astaghfirullah rabbi wa atubu ‘ilaih

Follow it up with the following prayers:

i) Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billaahil ‘Aliyyil ‘Azeem; and then

ii) Yaa A’zeezo yaa ghaffooro ighfirli zunoobi wa zunooba jamee’il mo-mineena wal mo-minaate. Fa innahu laa yaghfiro illa ant.

Salat Al Tawbah Du’a

While offering the Tawbah prayer for repentance, the only condition is one has to pray from their heart; understanding the severity of their sin. However, if one is stuck on the supplication to recite, here is a special Tawbah Du’a for seeking forgiveness from the all-merciful Allah.

Dua: Allahumma inni Zalamtu Nafsi Zul-man Kasiran Walaa Yagh-firu Zunooba illaa Anta, Fagh-firli Min ‘indika Maghfirotan innaka Antal Raoo-fur Rahim.

Meaning: O Allah, indeed, I have wronged myself with great injustice. And no one can forgive my sins except You. So forgive me with great forgiveness from Your side. You are indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Mentioned in Hadith Bukhari, Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam) acknowledged Sayyidul Istighfar as the most superior supplications for repentance.

Dua: Allaahumma Anta Rabbii Laa ilaaha illaa Annta Kholaq-tanii Wa Anaa ‘Abduka Wa Anaa ‘Ala ‘Ahdika Wawa’ dika Maas-tatha-tu A’oodhu-bika Min Syarrimaa Shana-tu AbuuU-laka Bini’matika ‘Alayya Wa Abuu Bidhanmbi Fagh-fir-lii Fa-innahu Laa Yagh-firudh-dhunooba Illaa Annta.

Meaning: O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no God but You, You have created me, and I am Your servant. I will indeed obey Your provisions, Your promises according to my ability. I ask for Your protection from the evils of all my deeds, and I acknowledge all the favors You have given and acknowledge the existence of the sins I have committed. No one forgives sins except you.

Benefits of performing Tawbah

As performing Tawbah is a sign of immense trust and faith in Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and His mercy, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) blesses the people who seek forgiveness with pure intent. The whole act of Tawbah makes one humble and helps remove anxiety, worries and distress. Tawbah imparts peace as sinners accept their sins with pure objective and promise to never commit the same mistakes again. 

The faith further guides the person on the path shown by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) that is of righteousness. Tawbah also generates a sense of kindness and humility when others sins against an individual or a community.

Repentance is the way to seek forgiveness for your sins from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). Turning off or delaying Tawbah is absolutely unjustifiable in Islam. If a person delays or reschedules repentance till the last breath, repentance will not be welcomed by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and will be considered as a great misdeed. 

It is therefore recommended that whenever a person realizes his folly, they must repent and seek forgiveness from the all merciful Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). To get the sins forgiven, one must follow accurate steps on how to repent in Islam but what matters the most is intent.

[realityhop]

"In John 8:1-11, we read of how Jesus was confronted with the case of a woman caught in adultery. Jewish law demands that the penalty of wrongdoing be carried out. But Jesus chose to dispense grace and let the woman off the hook of the requirement of justice. Yet still, he made sure that the woman realized the error of her ways ("go, and from now on sin no more.")"

— xgenesisrei, Truth & Grace in the Digital Space | Tumblr (2021)

“I’ve always said that I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell, and that people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think that 'well it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward'—and atheists who think that people shouldn’t proselytize ('just leave me alone, keep your religion to yourself')—how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe it—that truck was bearing down on you—there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that."

—Penn Jillette, A Gift of a Bible | YouTube (2010)

“What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell."

— Jesus Christ, Matthew 18:7-9

[arpov-blog-blog]

..."A New York judge ordered Trump and his companies Friday to pay $355 million in fines, plus interest, after ruling that he had manipulated his net worth in financial statements.

The stiff penalty comes just weeks after Trump was ordered to pay $83.3 million to the writer E. Jean Carroll for damaging her reputation after she accused him of sexual assault. A separate jury last year awarded Carroll $5 million from Trump for sexual abuse and defamation.

Add interest payments on top of that and the judgments could deal a staggering blow to the personal fortune that remains core to Trump’s political appeal. He has adamantly denied wrongdoing and pledged to appeal, a process that could take months or even years.

In the meantime, here’s what we know about what Trump owes, whether he’ll have to pay up, and what comes next:

How much money does Trump owe now?

The verdict in the civil fraud trial requires Trump to pay interest on some of the deal profits he has been ordered to give up. New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the case, said the interest payments totaled $99 million and would “continue to increase every single day until it is paid.”

Between Friday’s ruling and the two judgments in Carroll’s case, Trump would be on the hook for about $542 million in legal judgments.

Trump owes another $110,000 for refusing to comply with a subpoena in the civil fraud case and $15,000 for repeatedly disparaging the judge’s law clerk in violation of a gag order. As part of Friday’s ruling, the judge also ordered both of Trump’s sons to pay $4 million apiece.

Trump’s court-ordered debts don’t end there. Last month, he was ordered to pay nearly $400,000 in legal fees to The New York Times after suing the newspaper unsuccessfully. He is currently appealing a judgment of $938,000 against him and his attorney for filing what a judge described as a “frivolous” lawsuit against Hillary Clinton.

Can he get any of these judgments reduced?

It’s not uncommon for the size of judgments, particularly high-dollar amounts, to be reduced on appeals.

The appeal in Trump’s civil fraud case will go before an intermediate-level court first. If it returns an unfavorable ruling, Trump could try to get the case taken up by New York’s top appellate court, though legal experts say that is unlikely.

How quickly does Trump have to pay?

Trump has already deposited $5 million owed to Carroll for the first defamation case into a court-controlled account, along with an additional $500,000 in interest required by New York law. Carroll will not have access to the funds until the appeals process plays out.

He may soon be forced to do the same for the $83.3 million judgment in the second Carroll verdict. Alternatively, he could secure a bond and pay only a portion up front — though that option would come with interest and fees and likely require some form of collateral. Trump would have to find a financial institution willing to front him the money.

In the civil fraud case, it will be up to the courts to decide how much Trump must put up as he mounts his appeal. And he may be required to pay the full sum immediately after the appellate court rules, which could come as soon as this summer, according to University of Michigan law professor Will Thomas.

“New York’s judicial system has shown a willingness to move quickly on some of these Trump issues,” Thomas said. “When we hear from the first appellate court, that’s a point where money is almost certainly going to change hands.”

[2002134340]

I'll never be my mother.

today was my aunt's birthday party and it took place in our house. when I'm in my family's presence I keep getting mixed feelings and thoughts like 'do i love or do I hate these people?'. they've given me love as much as they've hurt me since my birth. I barely see them and when I do, I feel resentful about a lot of things I had to endure over the years for being a part of this family.

I feel troubled and it feels like my throat keeps constricting with words not spoken and screams of pure anger I've never let out. but at the same time, I'm able to look at them and feel fondness and empathize. It's really hard trying to be the first emotionally responsible person in your household.

as the night followed through I got a little fed up of hearing hurtful words my aunt directed at my grandmother in a passive-agressive tone and watching my brother being annoyingly touchy with my sister-in-law in public, so I just got up and left. no one came after me, because I've been doing this for years. and I can assure that it's not just about running off of 'social battery' or anything like it, it's just that I truly don't know if I like those people. I've been alive for over two decades and I've been forced to coexist with them for several years and I still don't know if I'd even like them in the slightest if they weren't family - maybe I would, actually, because they treat strangers better than they've treated me in a lot of situations. I still can't be in the same room as them for more than two consecutive hours without wanting to just run away for I keep getting a whiplash of memories of the days when they all contributed to the emotional and financial hardships I've been through all my life.

and my mother told me it'd get better with time. she told me I would naturally stop being so 'antisocial' and that I would grow up and I'd be able to hold boring conversations up like she does. I would be able to spend time with my family like the normal person she figured I'd become and that I would be able to deal with all the hurt they've put me through.

and lot of things have changed in other aspects of my life. I grew up a lot, I've dated a few guys, I've found a job and I'm more outgoing than I was before. I know how to make friends and I'm better at preserving friendships. I call my grandfather (from my mother's side of the family) almost every two weeks and I've cut my hair short and now I look more like an adult and less like a big baby. but i still hate most of my family most of the time and i still hate gathering up with them and I'm still nothing like my mother told me I'd be.

does it ever go away? does this awful resentment towards family members actually gets worse with time? how can I forgive someone for their wrongdoings if they've never apologized in the first place; if they've never stopped doing you wrong, actually? is there forgiveness for an ongoing behavior?

I've been awfully tricked into thinking that the most important things and traits in life come with age. they don't. age comes and age goes and if I don't pour my heart and soul in every single thing I do I never see a significant result.

I'll never be my mother. I'll never take things lightly. I've been rock solid and unforgiving ever since day one. there's a soft side to me as there is to everyone but in my essence I'm a survivor. right now I'm trying, still trying to survive a simple family gathering and the fact that I'm not a natural at anything in life.

i hope someday I won't have to see them every year and my penalty gets reduced to an every two years gathering because I'll be booked and busy and burned out from abusive work hours in a big city. i hope I'll always have money to pay for therapy and try to heal some of the damage the adults in my life caused me as a child. and I hope I won't give up on writing just for the sake of it.

[soiasan]

Literal backstabbing? Sounded like family to Solas. But they could talk about that later. Later? Of course, he had to stay here with Saffron. He could break the news that they’d be moving in after they decided what to do with Gray.

When Salome asks how old the boy is, Solas gives her a careful, meaningful stare. He wants her to pause, to think. And most importantly, to be serious. Why would a former slave know how old he is? He answers her after Gray has entered the home and they have learned the chicken’s name. “However old is old enough to be culpable for a wrongdoing.”

Solas nods to Salome’s verdict. Against the death penalty, are we? But just because he nods doesn’t mean he agrees or that he’ll listen. Here, he simply acknowledges the fact she has spoken at all. “If you’re concerned about any additional damage to your floor, I can make it mess-free.” He pressed.

Gray sensed something was wrong about the air in the room. It wasn’t the scent of iron from Saffron’s blood or the smell of the fire either. “What are you two talking about?” He asks, like a little boy getting caught on to speed on his parent’s divorce.

“We are discussing whether or not I should kill you.” Solas’ answer elicited an immediate groan from the boy.

“I don’t really want to die.” Gray wasn’t so much as pleading as he was stating a fact. “I’m pretty scared of that, actually. Dying and all.”

“That is no longer up to you.” Solas said. “Whatever happens to you is up to the will of our gracious host. Is that your final verdict, Salome? What punishment do you suggest?”

The dismissive loft in the Dread Wolf’s tone does not go unnoticed, but her skin is not thin. Words can and have needled their way through at times, but they will fall short. She’s heard far worse from — if one were to listen to the Dalish, anyway — better people. Gods? That’s a question worth asking.

Instead, for the first time in what feels like hours — the hyper-distillation of time during crisis once again be damned — Salome allows the metaphorical daggers to be pulled from her stomach. Shoulders finally dropping in respite before deft fingers work to undo her apron; dropping the still blood-sodden garment before the fireplace.

She will burn it, most likely, but that will come later. Right now she allows herself to breathe once, then twice. Fingers thrumming against her palm as the right phrasing escapes her, at least to start with. “Familial drama is the anonymous slip of poison into a goblet. The dirk my mother drove halfway through my spine? Felt a bit more vicious than that.”

She worries her lip then, nervous about the next set of questions that have come to mind. Amber eyes following the target of his attention till they settle upon the young Dalish. Each passing moment progressing her knowledge — and her empathy — for him.

“How old is he — Grey?” Salome brings herself to ask after a silence that feels like an eon. There are so many things she desires to ask now; new sets of questions branching off in all directions within her mind, and the great majority of her hates it. Loathes that she intrinsically knows what are the correct things to ask when it comes to slavery in the Imperium, and how leaded and horrid they feel just sitting on her tongue without even being spoken at all. Then, just as quickly, Fen’Harel proves exactly why he has earned that name. One she finds herself stumbling over, having never been asked such a question. “Do I —?”

The chance to finish that thought doesn’t come — not yet, anyway — but it lingers in her throat, ruminating. Attempting to take mental note of where in this encounter her opinion suddenly was one even worth considering. She hears herself sigh, as if refusing to actively participate in her role when it comes to this dance, and lies to herself about being none the wiser. “Her name is Paprika.”

In the end, that makes having to acknowledge the Dread Wolf’s gaze somehow worse. Pinioned to where she stands — and unsure if this is some sort of wretched test — Salome silently conveys her disapproval. Hands coming to cross her chest.

"No. There's other ways to solve this."