#Illegal Toll Collection

[edu-information]

Ally Anupriya Flags 'Illegal' Toll Collections in UP: A Closer Look

Union Minister and BJP ally Anupriya Patel, who also leads Apna Dal (Soneylal), recently made headlines again with another letter to the UP government. This time, she raised concerns about alleged irregularities and illegal toll collections at a toll plaza on Mirzapur Road. Patel, who is the Member of Parliament from Mirzapur, addressed her concerns directly to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other officials.

The Allegations

In her letter, Patel alleged that there were serious issues with the collection of toll fees on Mirzapur Road. She claimed that money was being collected illegally, causing inconvenience and unfair charges for the commuters. Patel’s persistent advocacy for transparency and fairness in public systems brought this issue to the forefront.

The Government’s Response

UP Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’ quickly responded, dismissing Patel’s allegations as baseless. Nandi clarified that there was no unauthorized toll collection happening at the mentioned location. He explained that toll plazas were established at three locations along the Varanasi-Shaktinagar Marg — Fattepur, Lodhi, and Maloghat — all in accordance with prescribed standards.

Addressing Revenue Leakage

Nandi detailed the measures taken to address revenue leakage due to vehicles bypassing the toll plazas. Conditional approval was given for an additional toll booth at Ahraura to ensure toll fees were collected efficiently. He emphasized that toll fees are collected at either Fattepur or Ahraura, not both, aligning with established standards.

Fast Tag System Implementation

Nandi also mentioned that the private developer, M/s ACP Tollways Pvt Ltd (M/s APCO), was instructed to implement a fast tag system at the toll booths. Due to their initial failure to comply, they were directed to ensure the system was installed within a month. Nandi reiterated that the objections raised by Patel were unfounded and baseless.

Previous Concerns Raised by Patel

This isn’t the first time Anupriya Patel has voiced her concerns to the UP government. Earlier on June 27, she wrote to CM Adityanath about the issue of reserved seats for SCs, STs, and OBCs becoming “unreserved” during the recruitment process. The UP government responded, stating that quota posts remaining vacant were not converted to unreserved posts but carried forward to the next recruitment process.

Patel’s Stand on Addressing Grievances

At an Idea Exchange event last week, Patel emphasized the importance of addressing public grievances. She stated, “If people are complaining, it is your responsibility to address the grievances. Flagging concerns happens everywhere, even in autonomous institutions and universities. Today, we are in government. So if something is brought to my notice, I will apprise the chief minister, expecting him to correct anomalies. That’s his responsibility.”

Conclusion

Anupriya Patel’s continued efforts to highlight and address issues reflect her commitment to transparency and fairness. As a public representative, her active engagement in resolving these matters ensures accountability within the system. While the government has refuted her recent allegations regarding toll collections, Patel’s advocacy brings necessary attention to public concerns and governance.

[brushie-art]

Running an illegal hypnotized theater troupe that goes against DHMC regulations while hiding from your insane family takes a toll on a girl.

Marion wants nothing to do with her dad's stupid plans, she has her own stupid plans to keep her busy.

Like growing her theater group with more interesting characters she likes to collect. She really only cares about the performing arts.

Her theater is actually doing quite well, things run surprisingly smoothly when everyone who works for you is under your complete control…

…well, almost everyone.

[valtsv]

fuck it. silt verses oc masterpost. eat up.

- anastasis crane - god-hunter, atheist, and wandering vagabond. both predator and prey in a single being. does dirty work so others don't have to. it's ya boy annie.

- house crane - old money cult family who rebranded after their god was outlawed following the imago war. now they construct and review binding contracts for both peninsulan and linger straits bodies of commerce and government - with an emphasis on the "binding" aspect. rumour has it they've been granted special dispensation to keep practicing their illegal and rather nasty banned rituals, so long as they're discrete and keep providing their services to the people who matter. they don't mix much with anyone outside of the family except on business, and are rarely seen in public. it's generally agreed that the reports of many of them being not altogether human are just scary stories for children, but a few people have claimed (under the influence of a few rounds at the local bar) to have known someone who worked for someone high up in business or politics who can confirm the truth of such claims with their own eyes. of course, these people have generally since disappeared, which makes corroboration difficult. their characteristic spindly, spidery features are probably just a product of ancestral aristocratic inbreeding. probably.

- fen kahron - ferryman presiding over a treacherous stretch of marshland. you will not be able to cross without her help, but that hasn't stopped people from trying, either out of principle or to avoid the toll, which takes the form of something of personal value to the individual. fortunately, her god's mouth is always open. she's not terribly fond of the parish of tide and flesh - her relationship to her god is personal, and they keep trying to convert her. which is silly, really, because she's been dead for a very long time.

- the carrion-herald / the bleach-bone king - an angel/saint(?) of death and decay that feeds on the dead and dying in extreme, remote environments where rescue or retrieval is unlikely. his coming is heralded by his halo of carrion birds seen circling overhead. those who worship him see this as a sign of luck - either you've been chosen to meet him, or to bear witness to his procession.

- harmony joy - a love-saint who leads a dancing plague. once human, she called a god into her in her aching loneliness after being ostracised utterly from her community and forced to bear witness to their collective happiness together, which blessed her to dance forever so beautifully that she would never want for a partner again. she might seem sentient at first, but spend long enough in her company (not recommended) and you'll soon realise that her apparent personality is simply a fragmented collection of lovingly preserved scraps of her past lovers, who, once in her thrall, will dance until their bodies give out, even if their minds should break and skin and sinew should snap and be torn away in strips. sightings of her procession have dwindled in recent years, likely due to modern technological advancements allowing for more effective deterrence and warning systems, as well as the improvements in long-range weaponry, but she still features prominently in urban legends and cautionary tales about staying out late alone.

[robsheridan]

Sisters of the Solstice, part 2 (start with part 1 here). In June of 1975, photographer Sera Clairmont captured the only known documentation of Sweden's mythical “coven of eternal witches,” (as some local folklore refers to them), and published them in Spectagoria magazine issue 11. These are the last of the pages that have been recovered from that issue.

From Clairmont’s text: “The Sisters are women of ritual. Complex layers of rituals for every occasion have collected upon the Sisters’ insular culture over re-generations like stamps on a well-traveled passport. At no time are the rituals more significant than in the weeks surrounding Midsommar, for that is the time of renewal.

“Each Midsommar season, the Sisters chosen for renewal give their physical shells back to the earth. Some depart in rituals of soil, and their remains are used to decorate the land, often raised to decompose as markers of the Sisters’ territory to scare away any men who dare come near. But some of the women - old souls who require stronger magick to transfer - must give themselves to rituals of flame, and [text illegible due to paper damage] reborn in flame. It is in the flame rituals where one understands the depth of the sacrifices the Sisters have endured to survive for so long without men. At dusk, the [illegible] dangerous ancient dark magick, taking a heavy toll on [illegible]… If any mistakes are made, or [illegible] too weak, [illegible] the soul will never return, [illegible] the wrong soul [illegible] …something else comes back.” [the rest is illegible]

---------

NOTE: Spectagoria is an ongoing work of fiction created by me. This alternate reality horror story is part of my NightmAIres narrative art series (visit that link for a lot more). NightmAIres are windows into other worlds and interconnected alternate histories, conceived/written by me and visualized with synthography and Photoshop.

If you enjoy my work, consider supporting me on Patreon for frequent exclusive hi-res wallpaper packs, behind-the-scenes features, downloads, events, contests, and an awesome fan community. Direct fan support is what keeps me going as an independent creator, and it means the world to me.

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️

Your murder mystery has me in a choke hold rn I need to know more

YAY! So happy to hear that!

102 for ☠️:

---

“Of course it does,” Bobby replies. “Of course what you feel always matters.”

“That’s now how the law works, Bobby.”

“I know,” Bobby concedes. “But if how the law worked was enough for you right now you wouldn’t be asking for my opinion. You’d just do your job.”

Well. 

He’s not wrong, there.

“I’ve never had to choose between them, Bobby.”

“I know it’s easy to think of the world in black and white terms,” Bobby says. “It’s comforting that way. But we both know that isn’t always true.”

But shouldn’t things like murder and framing an innocent man for murder be black and white? Where is the moral ambiguity there? 

The more Athena thinks of it, though, the more she can see it. When she thought Amir had burnt their house down, when she thought he’d more or less killed Bobby, she had been hell bent on revenge. Bobby had mattered more to her than the law. She would have killed him. She did things that were illegal to apprehend the people who did hurt her husband. She had just… Well, she felt justified. She felt like the law, herself. Maybe Hen and Buck and everyone who may or may not have worked with them aren’t the law. They don’t have that shield. But if their reasoning was as motivating as hers…

I think maybe some things are more complicated than we understand. Really complicated. And those complications can make good people do bad things.

“How can you say that so easily?” She asks Bobby. Genuinely desperate to know. “I haven’t told you what the crime is.”  

“It doesn’t matter,” Bobby says. “I know you. If it has you rattled, I trust that it isn’t that simple.”

That hits her somewhere deep. 

Maybe because it’s exactly the question she needs to answer for herself. Does she trust Hen? Does she trust Karen, Buck, Eddie, and maybe Chimney and Maddie? Does she trust herself enough to make that call? And what decision will let her sleep best at night? 

“Thank you,” Athena says to her husband. 

“I hope it was helpful.” He shrugs. 

“More than you know.”

vii.

It happens two days later. 

Athena is off, the 118 is working. So it can only be Karen or Maddie, though Athena supposes she’lll never really know. 

She hasn’t been doing well with the choice she knows is staring her down. She feels frozen. She hasn’t done anything yet. That feels like a choice in itself. But she also hasn’t ruled out doing anything in the future. Decision paralysis. She doesn’t want to accept either outcome without full details. But she’s trying to hold onto what Bobby said. 

Still, deliberating is taking its toll on her. She’s frazzled in a way she’s not used to. She’s gone through half a case of Tum’s. She might become dependent on chamomile tea. Nothing seems to calm the upset in her stomach. 

So, when the doorbell rings in the late morning, Athena isn’t really sure she’s prepared for company. She has no desire to be social. No desire to host. She half expects it to be the LAPD on her doorstep, ready to collect her badge and gun for suspecting and not acting on those suspicions. Of course, it’s not. That’s ridiculous. They’d call her in. 

When she opens the front door, Athena finds that no one is there. She thinks, rather grumpily, that some kid has pulled a lame-ass prank on her. That’s before she sees it. On the new welcome mat Bobby bought from Home Depot, there sits a large, stuffed manila envelope. There’s no name, address, or writing of any sort on it. 

“Oh,” Athena mumbles. 

She has a bad feeling about this. 

Of course, before she touches the envelope, she looks. There’s no vehicle pulling away nearby. No evidence of a getaway. Whoever left this here got in and out quickly. Athena can’t help but remember the package bomb left at their old home. The one Harry found. Left for her, but it could have killed her son. She doesn’t think this could contain a bomb. She can see the shape of a thick stack of papers inside. Nevertheless, she’s nervous as she reaches for it. 

The other thing she’s aware of, is the fact that if this is from her friends - and not a serial bomber - this potentially implicates her in quite a crime. A string of crimes. Essentially, this is it. If there is evidence or motive or whatever in this envelope, Athena has to make her choice. It will no longer be a well-educated suspicion. It will be undeniable. 

“Why did you do this to me, Henrietta?” She asks quietly.  Athena takes the envelope into her kitchen. She knows she’s going to look at it. Of course she is. She needs confirmation. She needs to know. Hell, maybe Hen is proving her wrong. Maybe she read all the signs incorrectly. Isn’t that a possibility, too? Athena can be wrong.

[workersolidarity]

[ 📹 Smoke billows out from the Al-Shujaiya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, during the Israeli occupation forces' bombardment of the residential neighborhood, coinciding with Israeli tanks and armored vehicles penetrating the neighborhood, destroying as much of it as possible while killing as many Palestinians as possible. 📈 The current death toll in Gaza now exceeds 37'877 Palestinians killed and over 86'969 wounded since the start of the genocide on October 7th. ]

🇮🇱⚔️🇵🇸 🚀🏘️💥🚑 🚨

268 DAYS OF ISRAELI GENOCIDE: US REWORDING TRUCE PROPOSAL, LOOKING FOR AGREEMENT, ZIONIST SOLDIER SERIOUSLY WOUNDED IN BATTLES, SMOTRICH DEFENDS COLONIAL OUTPOST, CALLS PALESTINIAN STATE A THREAT TO OCCUPATION, GENOCIDE CONTINUES WITH OFFENSIVE IN GAZA CITY

On 268th day of the Israeli occupation's ongoing special genocide operation in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) committed a total of 3 new massacres of Palestinian families, resulting in the deaths of no less than 43 Palestinian civilians, mostly women and children, while another 111 others were wounded over the previous 24-hours.

It should be noted that as a result of the constant Israeli bombardment of Gaza's healthcare system, infrastructure, residential and commercial buildings, local paramedic and civil defense crews are unable to recover countless hundreds, even thousands, of victims who remain trapped under the rubble, or who's bodies remain strewn across the streets of Gaza.

This leaves the official death toll vastly undercounted as Gaza's healthcare officials are unable to accurately tally those killed and maimed in this genocide, which must be kept in mind when considering the scale of the mass murder.

Zionist Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, spoke out on Sunday to defend the Israeli occupation's decision to formally recognize and legalize several illegal colonial settlements in the occupied West Bank of Palestine, and going further, called the establishment of a Palestinian state “an immediate, existential danger to the State of Israel.”

Speaking from a conference co-sponsored by the Hebrew newspaper Makor Rishon, the hardline extremist Minister claimed that Iran seeks to use a nuclear umbrella as cover for conventional military attacks on the Zionist entity, using proxies to fire tens of thousands of missiles.

"The Iranian regime has an orderly plan for the conventional destruction of the State of Israel,” he says, asserting that a Palestinian state in the West Bank would “multiply Gaza twenty times and place it in an area that topographically and geographically dominates the entire State of Israel.”

The racist comments suggest the cause of the Israeli entity's genocidal war is not to defend the territorial integrity or safety of Israeli citizens, but is instead designed to cause demographic devestation to Gaza's Palestinian population, so that Arab populations cannot overtake the Jewish population of Israeli-occupied Palestine.

Going on to complain of leftist and media criticism of the Zionist cabinet's decision to take steps against the Islamic city of Ramallah, Smotrich continued by saying "and unfortunately and absurdly, even today, after October 7 and after the Iranian plan is known, there are those who strive for this collective suicide with all their might."

"The Arabs of the West Bank can, God forbid, turn Kfar Saba into Kfar Aza, Ra’anana into Be’eri, Netanya into Nahal Oz and Tel Aviv into Sderot within hours,” Smotrich continued, slamming more moderate politicians like Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot who previously resigned from the hastily-formed unity War Cabinet at the start of the Israeli occupation's genocide in Gaza.

Smotrich went on to congratulate American candidate for President, Donald Trump, on his declaration opposing the formation of a Palestinian state during the Presidential debate on Friday.

Smotrich also said Israeli citizens must “free ourselves from the messianic thinking that characterized the left and the Israeli security establishment over the last decades since Oslo,” calling for the “toppling [of] the regime in Iran," which Smotrich called a “primary goal” and accusing Tehran of seeking to use Arab Israelis to threaten the country from within.

In the meantime, in other news on Sunday, June 30th, the United States is looking to re-word the language of President Biden's hostage exchange and peace proposal, seeking to find agreement between the warring parties in the Gaza Strip, and hoping to prevent a war on the Zionist entity's north with Hezbollah.

Citing three sources, US media outlet Axios reported that the Biden administration is working with its partners in Qatar and Egypt to alter the language of Article 8 of Biden's peace proposal; a part of the proposal that regulates the format for negotiations between the Palestinian Resistance factions and the Israeli entity in the first stages of the agreement, in order to set conditions for the second stage of the deal, which seeks to reach a "sustainable calm" in the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian resistance wants negotiations instead to focus only on the number and identity of detained Palestinians to be released from Israeli prisoner torture dungeons, in return for all the remaining, living Israeli soldiers or male hostages being held in the Strip.

The Zionist entity, however, wants the ability to raise the issue of the demilitarization of the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza, along with other issues, during the first stages of negotiations.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Axios' sources told the news outlet that US officials drafted new language for Article 8 in order to bridge the gap between the Israeli Occupation and Hamas, and are pushing Qatar and Egypt to pressure Hamas into accepting the new proposal.

"The U.S. is working very hard to find a formula that will allow reaching a deal," a source with direct knowledge of the talks told Axios, while another source said that if Hamas agrees to the new language presented by the United States, "it will allow [it] to close the deal."

In more news from the Israeli entity, the Ministerial Committee for Legislation has proposed a new bill which would "severely curb" the Israeli Shin Bet security service's ability to hold Jewish Israeli citizens in administrative detention (without bringing charges), while reserving its right to hold Palestinian Arabs in detention.

Administrative detention allows the Zionist entity to hold Israeli and Palestinian citizens in prison, including, commonly, Palestinian children, without charges or evidence of a crime, and to hold them indefinitely without trial.

The tool is typically used when Israeli intelligence agencies suggest a citizen is engaged in terroristic activities, but do not have evidence that would stand up in a court of law.

The proposed legislation would forbid the use of the practice of administrative detention or restraining orders against Israeli citizens, unless they are known members of a defined terrorist group, which would have to be reviewed and approved by the Committee.

The bill is aimed at preventing the administrative detention of right-wing Israeli extremists accused of plotting, or suspected of committing, attacks against Palestinians.

Speaking about the proposed legislation, and spinning it as a human rights issue, spokesperson for the far-right Religious Zionism Party, MK Simcha Rothman, said "The current bill seeks to strengthen the protection of human rights in Israel by establishing a stricter procedure for issuing administrative arrest warrants against the country’s citizens."

Rothman asserted that the bill is a "basic and democratic demand," and complained of the fact that there are those who "are trying to portray it as if it is a proposal dealing with Jews or Arabs, when in fact the proposal does not differentiate between Jewish and Arab citizens of the State of Israel and states that the use of this tool will be limited when it comes to citizens of the State of Israel regardless of religion, race or gender.”

"The first obligation of a state is to the lives and freedom of its citizens, therefore, the use of the tool of administrative detention against the citizens of the state must be done in the most limited way possible,” he insisted.

The bill will be debated in the Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee, chaired by the far-right Rothman, and has also been welcomed by the similarly fascist National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Meanwhile, the genocide continues in the Gaza Strip, while resistance forces in Gaza continue confrontations with the invading occupation forces as they push deeper into the Al-Shujaiya neighborhood of Gaza City.

Israeli media reported today that a Zionist soldier with the 890th Paratrooper Brigades was seriously wounded during fighting in the Al-Shujaiya neighborhood on Saturday following the army's invasion of the area, which they claim is due to the supposed regrouping of the Hamas resistance movement, along with claimed intelligence on the Resistance group's infrastructure in the area.

At the same time, the Israeli occupation forces continued bombing and shelling civilian homes and public infrastructure across the Gaza Strip, killing and wounding dozens of Palestinians.

In just one example of the crimes of the Zionist entity, the Israeli occupation army bombed a residential home belonging to the Za'rab family, west of the city of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, slaughtering 6 civilians, including children, and wounding several others.

At the same time, Occupation artillery forces bombed civilian neighborhoods south of Rafah, wounding a number of Palestinians, while also shelling central Rafah, with explosions heard coming from the Tal al-Sultan and Saudi neighborhoods, west of the city.

Zionist fighter jets also bombarded the towns of Abasan and Al-Khuza'a, east of the city of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip.

Israeli warplanes went on to bomb a residential apartment in the Al-Daraj neighborhood, east of Gaza City, amid continued raids of various areas of the city.

Israeli occupation artillery detatchments also shelled residential homes in the vicinity of Barcelona Park in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, southwest of Gaza City, with smoke visibly rising from the area.

Simultaneously, Zionist warplanes conducted intense raids on the Al-Tuffah and Al-Shujaiya neighborhoods, east of Gaza City, along with targeting of the Al-Sabra neighborhood of the city, coinciding with violent artillery shelling of residential homes, which resulted in a number of casualties who were unable to be transported to hospital due to the continued bombardment by the occupation army.

According to Palestinian correspondants on the ground in Gaza City, armored vehicles of the Zionist army penetrated the Al-Shujaiya neighborhood, east of the city, and are currently besieging civilian families in their homes around the Martyr's Mosque area, while Occupation drones fire bullets and missiles at anything that moves.

Elsewhere in Gaza, occupation artillery shelling targeted the Al-Waha area of Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip, killing two civilians on Sunday, while two others were killed as a result of an occupation airstrike on the Al-Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City.

Zionist armored bulldozers were also seen tearing up and burning agricultural lands in northern Gaza, ensuring continued starvation and dependence on international aid, while south of Gaza, occupation tanks penetrate the project area, east of Rafah, coinciding with artillery shelling after occupation forces bulldozed homes in the Al-Shakoush area of the city.

As a result of the Israeli occupation's ongoing war of extermination in the Gaza Strip, the endlessly rising death toll now exceeds 37'877 Palestinians killed, including at least 10'000 women and over 15'000 children, while another 86'969 others have been wounded since the start of the current round of Zionist aggression, beginning with the events of October 7th, 2023.

June 30th, 2024

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@WorkerSolidarityNews

[drabblesandimagines]

Bumblebee

For an anon reader request - please read for a little more detail. Pairings: Rei x you

--

“I swear to you that I will do everything in my power to stop my precious baby sister from continuing down this path of criminal activity!” Kazuki has tears in his eyes. It’s taking everything in you not to roll your eyes in exasperation, trying to work out exactly how you ended up in this predicament.

Tiredness had made you sloppy and you were furious at yourself. About a week ago, the police had been tipped off to your syndicate’s base. It was petty crime compared to some of the other things you knew happened in the city – pickpockets, shoplifters, occasionally you pulled off a bigger heist but nothing too bad. A disused office building had been home for a good few years, heck, you’d even made one of the old units into what some might’ve considered a bedroom. You’d been out around the regular tourist spots when a text came through from an unknown number. “Base breached. Do not return.” You knew the higher ups would be working on some new accommodation - that is at least if they hadn’t been arrested – and chasing out the rat, but in the meanwhile you had to keep your head down low and put up with sleeping out. Originally, the thought hadn’t phased you – you’d done it a fair few times in your teens on first leaving the orphanage - but the first night you realized how much you’d come to appreciate your office bedroom, knowing you weren’t exposed. The result was patchy half-sleep on cold concrete, arms clamped around the rucksack which held everything you still owned.

You’d been in this particular mall a few times now, taking from different shops to then try and trade things down the market for some petty cash for food. The lack of decent sleep finally took its toll though as you didn’t quite clock the camera right above you as you slipped the perfume into your pocket. It wasn’t long after that than there was the steel grip of the security guard on your shoulder, escorting you to the back office.

“Now, young lady, tell me what this is all about, hmm?” He’s laid out the items you’d secreted into your jacket and bag in front of you. It’s all stuff you can easily resell. “Surely you have a bright future ahead of you that doesn’t involve any of this.”

You realise he thinks you’re much younger than you are and you can work this to your advantage – you’re pushing 24 now, but he’s taken your youthful appearance as a teenager at best.

Cue the waterworks. “I’m so sorry, sir. Please forgive me, I don’t know what I was thinking. It was a silly dare and I don’t know what came over me!”

“A dare?” He raises an eyebrow.

“From some kids at school. I can’t believe I let them press me into something so foolish and illegal. Oh, sir, I beg of you, college applications are so soon, I can’t believe I’ve ruined my life before it’s even begun!” You blub.

 “Now, now”, he tries to soothe. “I think we can write off this as a youthful indiscretion, but I need you to call your guardian to come and collect you.” He slides over your mobile phone that he’s retrieved from your rucksack that he confiscated whilst looking for stolen goods. “You dial, I’ll speak to them.” Shit. Your mind whirs over who to call. You can’t call your boss – you’d never hear the end of it. You can’t call your parents because, well, they don’t exist… There’s one person you could call.

You load up the contact and slide it back over. “Kazuki Kurusu?” He reads.

“Mm. He’s my big brother.”

--

It’s been a few months since you last saw him. Life’s been a little busy. He’s not really your older brother, of course, you met in the orphanage when you were four and he was eight and you’d started following him around like a lost puppy. After you’d apparently pestered him enough, he began to dote on you and the pair of you become inseparable, calling each other brother and sister. The caregivers tried to nip it in the bud. Didn’t you want to be adopted? The interested parties didn’t want two children, they just wanted a sweet little girl, but you weren’t going to be swayed. Any and all attempts at fostering you were swiftly quelled due to your incessant crying about ‘big brother Zuki’.

The two of you had stuck together up until he turned 18 and the state no longer had to care for him. Kazuki was dumped out onto the street where he was recruited - as most kids who didn’t end up being adopted from that particular orphanage - by a local gang who offered shelter and food for participating in their grifts and cons. Contact between the two of you became infrequent for a while. Kazuki wasn’t allowed to visit but he’d try and catch you on the way home from school when he wasn’t on the job. He’d spoken about you coming to live with him when you turned 18, that you’d not end up like him and had a solid start to adult life…

But, when the time came, Kazuki had entered into a whirlwind romance. He was married and there was a baby on the way and you didn’t fit in the picture anymore – and that was fine. It was always a bit of a pipe dream. When you turned 18, your then-boyfriend recruited you in with his local gang – they said you had the perfect, sweet face not to be suspected of any wrongdoing and taught you everything you needed to know about surviving on the streets. You kept in contact, sporadically – meeting up every once in a while. There was some radio silence after his wife and unborn child died and you didn’t press him. Eventually, he popped up again trying to mother you but you were fine, you didn’t need it. You knew he’d moved in with someone and had redirected his nurturing elsewhere.

“Hey, bumblebee!” Kazuki’s cheerful voice came down the line and you cringed. Of course he was still calling you that.

“Mr Kurusu?” The security guard enquires down the phone. “I’m afraid I have your sister in the security office here…”

About 20 minutes later, he appears in the office, looking flustered and wearing an apron but still the same old Kazuki. He’s left the house in a hurry and you feel a slight twang of guilt that despite your sporadic contact, he’ll still drop everything to come to your rescue. You offer a hesitant smile, not quite sure how to play this off. He stares at you, distraught.

“I am so sorry, sir.” Kazuki bows his head to the security guard. “Please forgive my little sister. She’s not normally like this at all, I assure you.”

“Yes, well, she seems a bright young girl.” You have no idea where the security guard is basing this assumption on, but you know Kazuki will run with it.

“Oh, she is! Papa and Mama had such high hopes for her career aspirations but ever since they died, her upbringing has rested on my shoulders and I have failed her as her guardian.” Kazuki begins to sob, holding up his apron to his eyes.

“Sir, please,” the security guard places a hesitant hand on his shoulder. “The store won’t be going any further with this – ah, what should we call it? - indiscretion. I trust you and Miss Kurusu here to make the right decisions from now on.”

Kazuki gains control of his sobs and smiles weakly as he dabs his face clear of tears. You need to congratulate him after, this is some A+ acting he’s developed.

“I swear to you that I will do everything in my power to stop my precious baby sister from continuing down this path of criminal activity! Sister, thank this kind man for his understanding.”

You get to your feet and nod politely. “Thank you. I will never forget your forgiveness and compassion, sir. I’ve truly learned my lesson – seeing the upset on my dear brother’s face is punishment enough.”

“Good.” The security guard smiles and escorts the two of you to the front door, watching as Kazuki leads you to a yellow car – typical Kazuki – and opens the passenger seat door. You get in and he goes over to the driver’s side, waving at the security guard before starting the engine and heading out of the mall’s parking lot. You wait until the building’s disappeared in the rearview mirror before you speak up.

“Thanks for that. Just drop me off anywhere, I can find my way.”

He scoffs. “And find your way to where, exactly?”

“Wherever.” You shrug.

A pause. “Are you sleeping rough, bumblebee?”

You roll your eyes, “I’m a little old for that nickname now, aren’t I?”

“Don’t think you can skirt around the question.”

“Just between accommodations this week – I’ll be fine.” You can’t lie to him, he knows all your tells.

“Mm, you look in need of a good meal and a good night’s sleep – both of which you can get at my apartment. Plus, you can meet your niece.”

“My what now?”

--

“I’m back!” Kazuki calls as he opens the front door to the apartment. You’re not even a step in and you can tell it’s fancy – way fancier than anything you’ve ever stayed. You’ve never been back here before – it’s usually been a café that Kazuki likes to frequent when you did meet in person.

There’s a man sat on the couch, messy black-hair, dressed in shorts and a white t-shirt with a cat on it and he looks pretty cute. He’s absorbed in the video game he’s playing on a wide-screen TV.

Kazuki has his arm around your shoulders again as he enthusiastically introduces you to his room-mate Rei, who pauses his game to stare at you.

He’s easy on the eyes, that’s for sure. “Hi.” You wave.

“You’ve never mentioned a sister before.” He frowns.

“Sure I have! You just don’t listen - bumblebee, remember?”

He stares at you again for a moment then there’s a look of realization. “Bumblebee’s a girl?”

“Yes… Wait, what did you think?”

“I thought it was a bee.”

“You… You thought all those stories I told you about my childhood was me and an actual bee?” Rei nods. “I don’t understand what goes on in your head sometimes.”

“I mean, I’m not really your sister either, Zuki.” You try and shrug out from underneath his arm but his grip remains tight.

“How can you say that? The bond we forged is stronger than any blood ties!”

“Still as dramatic as ever.” You look over at Rei. “How do you put up with this?”

He shrugs, eyes back on the screen. You take a look at what he’s playing and recognize it immediately – Morio Kart. They’d had a games console set up in the communal area in the base – pilfered from a lorry you hijacked and you often spent the night playing. “Ohhh, nice hit.” You compliment as he takes out another racer, sitting down besides him, earning you a smug grin.

--

Rei goes to pick up Miri from daycare whilst Kazuki fills you in on the last few months, though a little bit scarce on some details. That’s Kazuki though, if he thought you really needed to know, he’d tell you. Miri is a whirlwind from the second she gets home from daycare, but it’s clear Kazuki is in his absolute element with her.

The little girl stares up at you in wonder as Kazuki introduces the two of you. “She’s sorta like Papa Kazuki’s little sister, which makes her your auntie. I called her bumblebee when we were growing up.”

“Auntie Bee!” She squeals.

“Er, no,” you try and correct her with your real name, but now she’s running around the apartment, pretending to be a bee, wanting you to chase her. You know you’ve lost the battle before it even begun and Kazuki finds it hilarious. “Auntie Bee it is, I guess.” But, deep down, you don’t hate it.

You eat dinner together, Miri insists you join her Papa Kazuki for a story before bed and you can’t wipe the smile off the face as the two of you come back downstairs.

“You’ve got a real sweet thing going on here.”

“I’ve fallen on my feet, right enough.” He says wistfully, before his face turns serious. “Are you okay, though?” You know he wants to ask what you’re doing for work, how you’re surviving, but he probably doesn’t want to hear the real answer. He can’t contradict when you both live the wrong side of the tracks.

“I’m fine - promise. You do you, I do me.” You wrap your arms around his waist in a hug. “I have missed you though, Zuki.”

“Mm,” he hugs you back. “Let’s not leave it so long.”

He sets you up with spare blankets and a pillow for the sofa, lecturing Rei not to stay up too late and game when you’re trying to sleep, but you’re already a fair few matches deep with him to care and, to be honest, you wouldn’t mind spending some alone time with the man – he’s definitely very easy on the eyes.

“Oh, and Rei sleeps in the bathroom.” Kazuki calls as he heads up the stairs. “Don’t ask.”

“You do?” You raise an eyebrow at the man but he shrugs, taking advantage of Kazuki’s distraction to shoot by you on the second lap. “Hey!”

The matches are competitive, but between them you still find any excuse to put your hand on him – his shoulder, his arm, his thigh… It gets him a little flustered and you find it cute. It’s often up to the final lap as the two of you switch between first and second place. This time, Rei takes it and he playfully sticks his tongue out at you as he takes the win.

“Hm, you just got lucky.” You cross your arms in defiance.

“Sure I did. Another?”

“I think I need some inspiration – what does the winner get?”

“Bragging rights.”

“Nah, I need more than that.”

“Like what?” He sounds puzzled.

“Like…” you bite your lip, you’ve always been a shameless flirt. “If I win, you take me out for pizza.”

“Oh?” His cheeks flush a little, but he keeps his eyes on the game menu. “I guess I could do that.”

“What do you want if you win?”

“If I win, you take me to the arcades.”

“Deal.”

The next championship is neck and neck. You take the first race, full of determination, but Rei brings it back in the second. The final race is a constant switching of first and second, throwing items at each other. The finish line is in sight when your character slips on a banana peel timed perfectly by Rei, sending you crashing off into the side and three CPUs fly ahead of you. You know you’ve lost then – there’s no item blocks left and there’s no way you can get ahead of them all in time. Rei, however, is about to cross the finish line, so just before he can you yank the controller out of his hands and send his character spinning off into the wall. A CPU goes over the line but that’s the last you see as Rei tackles you off the couch.

You’re trapped between his thighs as he snatches the controller out of your hands and drives over the line in a measly fifth. He glares down at you as you grin.

“Sorry, I probably should’ve mentioned I’m a sore loser.”

He says nothing. You try and sit up but you’re firmly wedged between his legs and there’s no give. “Er, can I get up now?”

He grins, slyly. “I think I’ve changed my mind of what I get if I win.”

“Oh?”

“I think the victor deserves a kiss.”

You feel blood rush to your cheeks at that but you’re keen. “Oh, yeah?”

“Mm.”

“See, I’m not sure if you can just change the rules like that right at the end.”

“You tried to cheat, call it a forfeit.” He sits back, finally allowing you to sit up right.

“Hmm. Well, I guess I did, and we never did discuss what should happen if one of us cheated.” You’re leaning in as you speak, getting closer and closer.

“Are you two still up?!” Kazuki hisses in a theatrical whisper from his bedroom door and you bump heads together in fright.

“Ugh… No, no, just going to bed.” You whisper back to the blonde as Rei gets to his feet, sheepishly rubbing his forehead where the two of you collided.

Kazuki’s door closes back over and you smile at Rei. “Busted.”

“Lucky escape for you.”

“My big brother does always have my back…” You step up on your tiptoes and give him a kiss on the cheek. “Goodnight, Rei.”

“Goodnight,” he smiles shyly, heading to the bathroom. You collapse on the couch and sigh contentedly into a pillow.

--

You wake up early to your phone buzzing with a text. It’s a location – it looks like either a rendezvous point to be taken to the new base, or the base itself but you know you need to get there pretty quick either way. You grab a piece of paper from Miri’s colouring pile and write down a message for Kazuki, thanking him for putting you up for the night. There’s a moment’s hesitation before you write your phone number down on another piece of paper, before sliding it under the bathroom door.

“Sneaking out?” Kazuki’s voice chimes from the staircase. How in the hell did he do that without you noticing?

“No, afraid work beckons. I was leaving a note though, see?” You hold up the piece of paper in evidence.

“Good.” He walks over and pulls you into a hug. “Promise it won’t take another trip to a security guard’s office until we see each other again?”

“Mm-hm,” you nod, staring at the bathroom door behind him. “You’ll get sick of the sight of me.”

--

A few days later, as evening rolls in and Miri’s getting ready for bed, there’s a knock at the door and Rei is apparently keen to answer it. Kazuki doesn’t think much of it at first – maybe it’s a game he pre-ordered or something – but he hears more conversation at the door from Rei than he’s used to over the years of living with him.

You’re standing at the door, smiling as Rei puts his shoes on.

“Back so soon?” Kazuki chuckles.

“Actually, Rei and I are going to play some games at the arcade.” You shrug, trying to spin a casual air on things.

“The arcade?!” Miri manages through a yawn, “Can I come?”

“Not this time, kiddo. It’s your bedtime.” Rei ruffles her hair and she pouts.

“We’ll go when you’re more awake, how about that?” You soothe, crouching down to her level and she nods. Kazuki clocks how Rei’s smiling at you and he puts two and two together in alarm.

“Hey, buddy…” he warns, “you are not going on a date with my sister!”

“Mm, not really your sister…” You tease, turning around to head to the elevator. Rei goes to follow you before he pauses.

“It is a date though.” He smirks and the door slams shut before Kazuki can react.

He feels Miri tug at his leg.

“Papa Kazuki, when do I get a sister?”

--

Please see my Masterlist and Requests Welcome posts if you have an idea in mind too!

[sapporo-division]

Relationship: Family - Yoichi Shujo

.｡.:*･FAMILY TREE･*:.｡.

==========================================================================

Nobuo Shujo † — Yoichi’s father. He was once a star baseball player before retiring to become a coach where he introduced Yoichi to the sport, sparking his interest. Yoichi fondly remembers his father as a free-spirited and confident man and the bond they shared grew strong as they spent time playing baseball together. His father often looked after him, knowing Yoichi was timid and anxious, and offered emotional support to help him overcome his fears. At that time, Yoichi admired his dad deeply, aspiring to be as cool and brave as him. Tragically, Nobuo died a hero when he was stabbed by a thief while defending an innocent bystander. An event that occurred when Yoichi was around 11 years old. Though he lost his father, Yoichi holds onto the memories they shared, cherishing them deeply.

Kiyoko Shujo (41 years old) — Yoichi’s mother. She is a kind and level-headed widow who works as a nurse and tirelessly dedicates herself to a full-time job to support her family financially. Although she often makes light of her hard work with bad jokes, it sometimes takes a toll on her health which worries Yoichi and motivates him to find a job to help support her. She adores her children and is always there for them but at times, she becomes overly anxious and protective of Yoichi, fearing for their safety. Especially after the tragic loss of her late husband. This sense of responsibility as a mother has led to some unhealthy habits. Despite her worries, she remains mostly calm and collected within the family although she can't shake her fear of Scourger's recent return.

Jun Shujo (29 years old) — Yoichi’s older sister. She works as a senior photojournalist at Snowflake Sentinel News and is the one who helped Yoichi secure a job at her workplace. Jun is a strong and assertive woman more than capable of handling herself with a quiet passion for capturing interesting events to find the best stories for the news. However, whenever she's at home, Jun transforms into a caring older sister who loves her family and often worries about Yoichi's fragile mindset. Yoichi is grateful for her support and strives to do his best to avoid being a burden to her or their mother. Outside of her work, she has been deeply engrossed in investigating The Scourge cases, conducting her own quiet inquiries for the past five years in hopes of uncovering their identities. Unbeknownst to her, Yoichi has an alter ego and is involved with Scourger.

Ayane Shujo (22 years old) — Yoichi’s second older sister. She works as a waitress at a nightclub and is also a social media influencer in her spare time. Ayane is a sociable and undeniably attractive woman. Many of her customers are drawn in by her looks and flirtatious banter, making it easy for her to connect and gossip with them. She loves partying all night and spending quality time with friends, earning her the nickname the sexy waitress. However, her charm is primarily a means to earn easy cash to support her family's finances, and remains grounded despite her work reputation. At home, she is simply a loving big sister who prioritizes her family and is genuinely sweet. Although Yoichi feels overwhelmed by Ayane's affectionate teasing, especially around their siblings, her playful remarks reveal just how much she cares for them. Regarding the Scourger, she has heard the urban legend and feels conflicted about the vigilante. A few years ago, her ex-boyfriend was attacked by Scourger but she later discovered that he was actually an illegal smuggler. She is thankful for the revelation of his crimes despite the confusion surrounding her feelings about the vigilante.

Miyata Shujo (13 years old) — Yoichi’s younger sister and a middle schooler. Many people at her school refer to Miyata as the voiceless doll because of her cute face and blank expression which reflects her silence and reluctance to engage in conversation. She prefers wearing headphones and listening to music, seemingly indifferent to the world around her. All she wants is to mind her own business and spend time on her computer without getting involved in others' affairs. Although she may appear distant, she does care for her family and makes an effort to bond with them whenever she wants to. While Yoichi and Miyata don’t often talk—mostly because she prefers it that way—he loves his sister and wants to look out for her. Fortunately, they share a common interest in video games which provides a way for them to connect as siblings. Miyata has never encountered or heard of Scourger and as a result, she remains indifferent to the vigilante's existence.

[ahmedmootaz]

How does X and Angela, separately and together, will handle the City?

Ignoring major complications of X is just Ayin for not in the know or care about it and Angela’s existence is not illegal for a moment.

Cause, you said X gets used to the City’s violence eventually without the cognitive filter but only because he did start in a safer area. Same goes for Angela kinda in her Library.

Dear astrocourier,

Now that's an interesting question. Given the complications we're ignoring, I feel that the City would influence them beyond repair...a sort of endless haunting, especially when alone.

Alone, Angela will either be picked off by one of the City's inhabitants or become so cynical that she becomes akin to her Librarian of Death self we see in her bad ending. Despite her ability to be violent, she could only ever act within a controlled environment, that being the Script, and even then, she couldn't act to her heart's content; she could only do very specific actions. If she's immediately plunged into the City without the Library, then her vast knowledge can help her, but given that she's vulnerable to being attacked by forces beyond her control, it's likely that if she does survive, she will grow quite vengeful and hateful of the City.

As for X's presence within the City, there's no two ways about it: He either dies immediately or he can make it, somehow. I always thought Ayin could make a good Fixer with his knowledge of the City and his unemotional self, but with X's case, it's more tenuous. Just surviving in the City would take a toll on him, so I wonder if he can make any plans or act on them while needing to survive the day-to-day happenings of the City.

But together? I actually thing Angela and X make quite the dream team, and it's not just because of my tendency to ship them; it's because of the fact that they're quite similar to the Carmen/Ayin duo in the City, only it's a bit reversed, with Angela being the cynical one and X being the more outgoing one, a sort of parallel to their predecessors. With X acting as a punching bag or a speedbump for any enemy who'd try to work with Angela, I think she can make it in the City with her slowed down time perception, especially if X acts as her protector and her personal Fixer while she's the brains of the operation, collecting information, storing it and patching up X when he's too hurt. I think they'd do odd jobs within the City, surviving day-to-day while making a plan to either escape the City or take revenge of it (Angela's preferred options) or to 'do the right thing' and restore the Seed of Light...or maybe find the Sephirahs again while they reflect on their lives within the Corporation.

Someone should write this, because I know if I do, it might be another million-word adventure, ahaha...

Thank you for the fun ask as always, astrocourier! Until next time, be well, take care, and see ya'!

[alertfacts]

Corinna Kopf Nudes Leak: The Scandal Shaking Social Media!

In the digital age, privacy has become an elusive concept, especially for public figures who thrive on social media. One such figure is Corinna Kopf, a well-known YouTuber and influencer whose leaked nudes from her OnlyFans account in June 2021 created a media frenzy. The Corinna Kopf Nudes Leaked Incident not only exposed her private moments but also ignited a broader discussion on the fragility of online privacy and the challenges faced by content creators in safeguarding their personal content. Let’s dive into the scandal that shook social media and what it means for the future of online privacy.

The Incident Unfolds

The Leak

In June 2021, Corinna Kopf’s private photos from her OnlyFans account were leaked online. The leaked content spread like wildfire across various social media platforms, with many users scrambling to get a glimpse of the controversial images. The Corinna Kopf Nudes Leaked Incident became one of the most talked-about topics on the internet, drawing attention from fans, critics, and privacy advocates alike.

Immediate Reactions

The immediate aftermath of the leak saw a flurry of reactions. Corinna Kopf took to her social media accounts to address the situation, expressing her frustration and disappointment over the invasion of her privacy. She emphasized the impact such leaks have on individuals, highlighting the emotional and psychological toll they take.

Public Outcry

Fans and fellow influencers rallied around Corinna, condemning the leak and voicing their support. Hashtags like #StandWithCorinna trended on Twitter, showing a collective stand against such violations of privacy. However, there were also those who exploited the situation, further spreading the leaked content and contributing to the problem.

The Broader Implications

Privacy in the Digital Age

The Corinna Kopf Nudes Leaked Incident brought to light the precarious nature of privacy in the digital age. With the rise of subscription-based platforms like OnlyFans, content creators share intimate and exclusive content with their audience. However, this also opens up new avenues for privacy breaches, as demonstrated by Corinna’s experience.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

The incident sparked a debate on the legal and ethical aspects of sharing and consuming leaked content. Many argued that sharing such content is not only unethical but also illegal, as it constitutes a breach of privacy and intellectual property rights. The Corinna Kopf Nudes Leaked Incident served as a stark reminder of the need for stronger legal frameworks to protect content creators and their work.

The Response and Fallout

Corinna’s Response

In the wake of the leak, Corinna Kopf took proactive steps to address the situation. She worked closely with legal professionals to take down the leaked content and pursue action against those responsible for the breach. Additionally, she used her platform to raise awareness about the importance of online privacy and the challenges faced by content creators.

Industry Reactions

The Corinna Kopf Nudes Leaked Incident also prompted reactions from the broader social media and content creation industry. Platforms like OnlyFans tightened their security measures and implemented stricter guidelines to protect their creators. Other influencers also took note, becoming more cautious about the content they shared and the platforms they used.

Long-Term Effects

While the immediate reactions to the incident were significant, the long-term effects are still unfolding. The Corinna Kopf Nudes Leaked Incident has undoubtedly made content creators more aware of the risks associated with sharing intimate content online. It has also pushed for better protection mechanisms and legal measures to safeguard creators’ rights and privacy.

Lessons Learned

Strengthening Security Measures

One of the key takeaways from the Corinna Kopf Nudes Leaked Incident is the importance of robust security measures. Content platforms must continuously update and enhance their security protocols to prevent such breaches. This includes implementing advanced encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular security audits.

Educating Content Creators

Another crucial lesson is the need for educating content creators about online privacy and security. Influencers and creators should be well-informed about the potential risks and equipped with the knowledge to protect their content. This could involve training sessions, workshops, and comprehensive guides on best practices for online security.

Legal Protections

The incident highlighted gaps in the legal protections available to content creators. Governments and regulatory bodies need to develop and enforce laws that safeguard creators’ rights and provide recourse in case of privacy breaches. This includes stringent penalties for those who share or distribute leaked content without consent.

Conclusion

The Corinna Kopf Nudes Leaked Incident was a wake-up call for the digital age, underscoring the delicate balance between sharing content and protecting privacy. While the incident exposed the vulnerabilities faced by content creators, it also spurred a movement towards stronger security measures and better legal protections. As we navigate the evolving landscape of digital content, it’s crucial to remember the lessons learned from Corinna Kopf’s experience and strive towards a safer, more secure online environment for all.

[kuronekonerochan]

I am a mix of incredulous, fucking enraged and also totally unsurprised with how in the last 3 days I finally see ppl on TV calling out genocide, ethnic cleansing and war crimesgaza as an open air prision and about the illegal colonates and invasions of palestinian territory over the years.

Europe finally came out of their cone of silence to ask for IMMEDIATE pause and humanitary aid. Reporters asked what changed. They said they made multiple appeals for pauses and aid before. NOW they call for an IMMEDIATE pause. Reminder that during the cone of silence phase european leaders and foreign affairs ministers, including Ursula Von der Leyen all got together to talk about AI, the most pressing issue to discuss together during an ongoing genocide (unless it's a Terminator franchise situation).

They ask for it, but not even an economic sanction against Israel. Russia is laughing at Europe making fools of themselves and revealed for the hypoccrites they are by having such double standards.

But the crazy thing is, the politics are finally and slowly turning the tie and yet objectively NOTHING changed. War crimes such as attacking hospitals, genocide, collective punishment, ethnic cleansing, all of it was already there 3 weeks ago. They didn't cross any new lines, they had already bulldozed every international law line long ago.

In a post I made still in October (that I mysteriously cannot find anymore, could be tumblr algorythm acting out or me being dumb or the staff took it down idk) I asked if we had to wait for the civillian ldeaths to reach the million mark for politicians to finally count it as genocide.

And lo and behold, the only thing that changed was the number of innocent children and citizens that kept being murdered adding to the death toll for Europe to ever so slightly change their stance by an inch.

Colour me not surprised that they sat on their asses and watched in complicit silence ad waited around for the deaths of thousands more. There is blood on their hands for every second of the past 3 weeks palestinians died. Literally just watching the death toll rise.

If we were talking about individuals instead of governments, this is akin to watching a murder take place in front of them, having the means to stop the assailant with no greater risk to themselves other than some light scratches (trading and commerce bullshit), not call for EMERGENCY services and then wait watching while the victim bleeds out, until the victim is on the brink of death to finally tap the assailant on the shoulder and timidly ask "Hmm, excuse me, if it's not much trouble, could you perhaps....I mean, only if you want to really...just stop stabbing that person for a second for me to check if they still have vitals? Don't worry, I'm not calling the cops on you, and that doesn't mean you have to stop what you were doing, you can go back to it in a minute...I don't really care, really I just wanna check to see if this is over already so I can move on and go to my date tonight. I went on this app that uses AI to match people. Isn't AI amazing?".

This is the horrific level of indifference our politicians have reached. I apologize for the analogy but this level of apathy if it were 1 person instead of goverments and organizations would be manslaughter. Their actions or in this case innactions lead directly to death. First degree murder for the assailant, manslaughter for the bystander.

And the worst is that even this slight change to a more firm tone in asking for a pause took this long so anything that might actually impact the situation is gonna be delayed as innocents die.

[audhdnight]

The murderous terror assault by Hamas on Israel was the worst terrorist attack on a democratic country since 9/11. In fact, proportionate to population, the death toll from these attacks is about six times worse than 9/11. Those of us over 30 remember the Bali bombings of 2002, when Islamist terrorists killed 88 Australians. Imagine a terror attack on Australia which caused 4,000 deaths. That would be equivalent to what Israel has undergone at the hands of Hamas.

One of the standard responses to this assault has been to assert that Israel has the right to defend itself. The United Nations Charter gives all sovereign states that right. Ukraine is exercising that right, right now, in the face of Russia's illegal invasion. But Ukraine's situation is very different to Israel's. Russia has launched a conventional military invasion, which Ukraine is resisting by conventional military means. Apart from Russia and its apologists, no-one seriously disputes Ukraine's right to resist Russia's invasion.

Israel, by contrast, has faced an attack by a non-state actor, Hamas, which has seized control of a territory, Gaza, contiguous to Israel, and used it to launch repeated missile offensives against Israeli cities, and now a full-scale terror assault on Israeli communities. In these circumstances, what does it mean to say that "Israel has the right to defend itself"? Does it mean that Israel can fight off (or kill) the terrorists that attacked it, but cannot touch them or their commanders in the territory they control? That is a recipe for endless repeats of what we have seen over the past week.

The right to self-defence is not a purely passive right, a right to react when attacked. The stated purpose of Hamas is the destruction of Israel and the death of every Jew in Israel – indeed every Jew in the world. The experience of the past decade, culminating in the events of last week, shows that Israel cannot defend itself against an existential threat of that kind unless Hamas is destroyed. That is the mission Israel has now undertaken.

Contrary to the repeated assertions of Israel's legion of critics, the Israel Defence Force does not deliberately target civilians.* It targets terrorist infrastructure. But because Hamas chooses as a deliberate strategy to embed its terrorist infrastructure among the civilian population of Gaza, Hamas cannot be destroyed without causing civilian casualties. Hamas fires its rockets from schools and hospitals and mosques, so that Israel will be forced to bomb these sites to stop the missile attacks. Hamas in fact wants civilian deaths in Gaza, so that it can display its "martyrs" in front of the world's media and anti-Israel NGOs like Amnesty.

Everyone who has repeated the statement "Israel has the right to defend itself" will now have to remain resolute in support of Israel’s decision to exercise that right in practice over the coming days and weeks. Whether Israel decides on a land invasion, or confines itself to air attacks, there will be a lot of deaths in Gaza. Israel's friends will need to stress, in the face a concerted anti-Israel propaganda campaign, that responsibility for every death that occurs in Gaza lies with Hamas, and also with the Iranian regime which sponsors and bankrolls Hamas.

* If you believe Israel does target civilians, or is engaged in "collective punishment" in bombing Gaza, consider this. Gaza is a densely populated urban area, with no air defences and no air-raid shelters (because Hamas does not allow them). Israel has among the most powerful and sophisticated armed forces in the world. It has complete control of the air over Gaza. If Israel chose, it could reduce the whole of Gaza to rubble in a few days and kill most of its population. Clearly that is not what Israel has chosen to do.

Although currently available statistics are not very reliable, they bear this out. According to al-Jazeera, Israel has dropped 6,000 bombs on Gaza this week, and has killed 2,700 people in doing so. That is, Israel has had to drop 2.2 bombs to kill one person. Does anyone seriously suppose that the Israeli Air Force is as incompetent as that kill-rate suggests? These figures can only mean that Israel is actively trying to avoid killing civilians.

Way to be anonymous you fucking coward. The number of dead is well over five thousand and rising, not counting the hundreds lost in the rubble that can’t technically be counted as dead yet because no one has found them.

Israel is a terrorist “government” and if you seriously refuse to see that, I dare you to go live in Gaza and see how long you last. How long could you survive while the schools and UNRWA relief warehouses and churches and HOSPITALS you tried to refuge in got bombed? How long would you stave off starvation when Israel bombs the only bakery left? How long before the rampant diseases took you over because you’re drinking dirty water and unable to clean injuries and breathing in dust and smoke and the smell of feces and death everywhere?

And then I want you to watch as everyone around the world decides you deserve this and you don’t need help or to be saved, simply by virtue of the fact that you are inside Gaza.

NO ONE deserves that, not even your fucking disgusting cowardly ass. Israel’s occupation of Palestine is wrong, and inhumane, and the fact that the entire world is not only letting them get away with it, but HELPING THEM DO IT? I am so beyond ashamed to live in a world with people like you and Joe Biden and every Zionist/Nazi out there.

Get the fuck off my page.

[zoramones]

MORE INFO ON CONTACTING CANADIAN REPS ABOUT A CEASEFIRE IN PALESTINE:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C07AO2kAKQg/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

on the fourth slide of this post, there is a list of canadian representatives and their contact information. feel free to refer to the phone/email script a few posts down my blog and keep reaching out to demand an immediate ceasefire.

UPDATED PHONE SCRIPT TO CONTACT CANADIAN REPS FOR CEASEFIRE IN PALESTINE:

“Hello [Contact Name],

My name is [xxxx] and I am a deeply concerned resident of [city or riding]. I am calling on you to demand that you call for a permanent ceasefire, an end to the siege on Gaza to allow to immediate medical aid, and an end to all material and diplomatic support of Israel's war crimes, genocide and colonization of Palestinian land.

The civilian death toll is now over 17,000 (*to my knowledge*) due to indiscriminate bombing, the mass arrest and detention of Palestinians, and countless other violations of international law like collective punishment, withholding access to food and electricity and the use of toxic white phosphorus. This has been ongoing nonstop for over 60 days now. This is not a war, it is genocide which is currently being funded by our tax dollars.

During the 5 day ceasefire, we saw a majority of the released hostages from Palestine were children who had been imprisoned for years for minor offenses like throwing rocks. We also saw Israel shooting civilians still, and kidnapping people in the West Bank.

Now the bombing has resumed, and again, [country] stays silent and complicit.

It is high past time for [country] to stand against genocide. You, and all of Parliament, must call for an end to the root causes of all this violence: the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and the Israeli government's apartheid regime.

I will not be voting for you or [your party] in the next election based on your lack of response on this emergency unless you are willing to stand against apartheid and call for a ceasefire.

Thank you for your time and we will all be watching to see if [country] will stand against apartheid and genocide.

Sincerely, (Your Name)”

[luvingmyships]

Kitana Kai has always been the kind of girl too really not care what people thought of her. She’s always been the best at what she did.Academic's, sports, and serving looks, and having a great alluring personality that brought people in, especially all the the boys to the yard but in many of causes it didn’t work out with them.Commitment was the farthest thing from her mind. She liked going out partying/clubbing (possibly illegally)and meeting new guys and always been upfront with her intentions ,and it didn’t change when her dad kinda uprooted her life, and moved her too her homeland of japan where she’ll be collecting another trail of tears.

Hello to all who open up my work. This is one of the first stories I’m attempt to write my best, and I’m very open to critics lets just not be mean about it. In this story the main character is multi-racial, Japanese and Afro-Latina, is identity is what makes her HER. she’s fun, flirty, and also young women that makes a lot mistakes and helps her growth. I haven’t really seen many Haikyuu stories with a black women, and I took my chance to make one, Thank you <3

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Kitana Kai

The thing about me is that I didn’t choose hoe life; it chose me. I wasn’t one to settle down in relationships. I’m young and hot, and I didn't want to limit my options, so in the meantime, I like messing with guys and their emotions. Sure, it might be a little immature, but I’m just giving them a taste of their medicine. Sometimes if they interest me enough, I might give them an inch. I like clubbing and going out and having a good time, and until now.

Some might say me being this way has something to do with both of my parents not being around. It’s not that they're dead; they are absent from my life more than I would like, and this is how I want to feel the void of it. My mom has been excluded from my life for the past fifteen years, and she cheated on my dad with a younger guy. The guy eventually left her, which led her into deep desperation is where my grandparents had to raise me. We had to come back to America from Japan because they thought I should see the other half of my family. My dad always tried to be there for me, but things were always getting in the way, working full-time and being a graduate student in engineering took a toll on him and his ability to care for me. It got better when he got his degree and had an excellent job waiting for him. While I was living with my grandparents for most of my adolescent life, my dad flew me out to see me about thousand times to spend the summer months with him and his new wife; and they also came to see me when they were able to, which made me feel seen as a child. My dad didn't have full guardianship because my grandparents wanted to. I reminded them of my mom, and my dad thought it was the most feasible thing for him to do.

My family is a little different than most because my mom is Afro-Dominican, and my dad is Japanese, not a combination you would see every day. However, they initially tried to raise me in the best of both worlds. Unlike most black biracial people, I had darker skin than most, which I had gotten from my mother. Born in Japan, having darker skin than the majority was the easiest; the only thing my father passed down to me was his eyes, where people could tell I was of Asian descent. I spent the first six years of my life in Japan, consumed by its culture; it became my first language. However, I'm still pretty proficient in Spanish and English, which made my dad think I was a prodigy to transition through them, which boosted my ego into the bad bitch I am today.

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The plane was closer to landing. Although Kitana was already ready to fly out of her seat to get them off, she had enough of the guy sitting next to her “accidentally” bumping and rubbing against her leg with his own. He thought he was so slick, looking at her sheepishly. She was ready to slap the shit out of him but risking the no-fly list was not something she wanted to do. God give her patience. She was on this plane now, landing in Japan because her grandparents thought it was time she got the chance to live with her father before she began college.

When the plane landed, Kitana stood up to get her to carry on, and the guy stood way too close, waiting to get his eyeing her up and down like he was sizing her up to see if she was a challenge.

“Do you need any help getting your luggage down, ma’am?” he asked her, already trying to reach for it, but Kitana had already snatched it down fast before he could intervene.

“No, I’m good,” she said, glaring at him rolling her eyes hard and making it down the pathway of the plane to get off. As if he had a sliver of a chance with her looking like he was fighting his receding hairline, a mortgage, and struggling to provide for his family of five.

When she made it to the airport, Kitana was already getting weird stares from the people in the airport, which she understood. She’s a black person in japan. In this country, most people wouldn't have seen black people in real life if it wasn't for television and the internet. Also, she looked confusing to most people in Japan. She had a prominent Asian feature with her eyes, but her brown skin, textured hair in a vast pineapple puff on top of her head, full lips, and slim, thick fat ass made people do a double-take, which the majority in japan does not have. Japanese beauty standards tend toward light, flawless skin, a slim, petite figure, slender legs, and a quiet personality, which Kitana did not possess when she had to speak her mind.

She tried to scavenge her dad in the sea of people that filled the airport; it didn't help that she was only five-four, so that didn't help the cause of trying to see over people's heads, so she just called her dad instead while grabbing her suitcase from baggage claim.

“Dad, where are you? I landed, and I don't see you?” Kitana said, pulling her heavy-ass luggage towards the escalator to a lower level, her piercing over the sea of people.

“ Baby, I’m on the lower level. I think I see you and your pineapple hair,” Kitana's father, Haru, said, laughing in her ear like he said the funniest thing ever. “Daddy, what did I tell you? It's called a puff; you've been with a black woman and got a black daughter and still don't know what a whole puff is with that big brain,” she said, finally getting off the escalator.

“Sweetie, you know I’m only playing with you,” Haru said, still chuckling while surprising her from behind and shocking her with a hug.

“Dad, I missed you so much; it's been too long, you know, not to sneak up on black people like that,” she said, laughing into the hug and squeezing him tight, not wanting to go because he was always there to confront the person. They started walking out of the entrance of the airport.

“I missed you too, Koibito. I’m glad we can finally be together as a whole family now; Aika and the kids are very excited to see you again, he said, to which Kitana wasn’t very surprised. Her step-mom Aika loved as if she was her daughter and would send goodies over the sea to America, and they talked on the phone almost twice a week more than she did with her father. Her little brothers also made sure their presence was known every week with FaceTime calls which she loved though it was a bit excessive. They were middle schoolers, so it's not like they had many people to call though it was appreciated.

“I’m excited to see them too, and I can’t wait to eat okaasan food. I know how she likes to make a feast every time I come around.”

“Yeah, I know she already started preparing in the morning, I just wanted to taste a little bit of it, and she hit me; also, we're not going straight home just yet. I know you're tired, but I have to pick up some important documents and items from my school, and you're going along,” Harui said while putting her luggage into his car.

“And here I thought I could just rest after my 13-hour flight,’’ Kitana groaned as she got in the car. “Don't worry, you’ll be able to rest later; it's not too far, and well, definitely make it in time for dinner.”

Kitana and her father made it out of the airport and on the ride to their first destination. They talked about her life back in America. She was at the top of her class in academics. She was a fantastic athlete in volleyball; she took her team to championships twice. She was a very accomplished person for where she was; her uprooting to live in Japan just changed the flow of everything. It's something she has to get used to. Her dad reassured her that she would do excellent even in the new environment; she would thrive.

They pulled up to Shiratorizawa Academy, a private high school in Sendai, the capital of Miyagi Prefecture. Her father teaches a couple of classes throughout the day, besides being an engineering professor at one of the nearby schools' colleges. Since the entrance exam is challenging, most students get accepted by studying hard or through sports scholarships. However, Kitana cannot attend since her father teaches, and since she has yet to take their entrance exam before her first year, it was never going to happen. So instead, she would attend Karasuno High, located in Miyagi Prefecture; it’s a bit farther. But her dad promised her a car when she came here, so it will not be a problem.

Looking out the window, Kitana saw a massive group of boys running in the same uniform, purple practice shirts, white shorts, and a zip-up jacket about half a mile away from the school, piquing her interest. They were all tall, so she guessed either basketball or volleyball for their sport of choice. They all turned to face her as the car was driving by, and she examined them, and they all looked cute to her, but the one that caught Kitana's eyes was in the front leading the run. The number on his back was number one. He was fine and had permission to get in her drawers whenever he wanted. He would tower her by a lot, she was only 5’4, and he looked above 6 feet. He had a nice lean-bulky body that Kitana wouldn't mind climbing. Unlike the rest of his team, He turned to look at her with an automatically resting bitch face that and stoic statured. Kitana stared right back at him and winked directly as they passed him. She had a thing for men like that. It was kind of her toxic trait.

When the school came into her line of sight, she was impressed with how big it was and how the building was structured. It did look like they prioritized sports in their school. There was horseback riding, tennis, and a soccer field outside. They had two separate outside gyms for the girls and boys where basketball and volleyball were practiced and played. She wouldn't have minded attending this school and joining the volleyball team; she saw reports on how both genders of the school dominate the sport of volleyball. It ranked 8th in the whole country. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that? But it's okay because no matter where she goes, she will dominate the team.

Kitana's father parked the car near the school and followed suit out of the car with him, and she was too nosey to explore the school. The sun and warmth felt great on her being outside the cold ass plane.

As Kitana and her father were making it towards the school entrance, the boys finally caught up and gathered at the front of the outside gym building, all trying to catch their breath. Their arrival brought out an older man in a tracksuit replica of their uniform, walking up to the somewhat middle-aged man supporting a buzz cut and glasses. Kitana was trying not to look, mind her business, or get in the building until her dad switched the route they were walking in and thought it was okay to get the older man's attention.

“Hello, coach Washijo is still working my students to the core, I see,” Haru says as he approaches closer to the coach and his team; they all seem too fixated on the person behind him.

“Well, how else do you think the team will get to the championships if they're not pushed to their limits? I'm not here to babysit. I'm here to train winners,” Coach Washijo said, already getting sidetracked on his plans for the team. While that conversation took place, it gave the team a chance to look at Kitana, and they were perplexed by how attractive she was. Her hair was pulled back in very neat flat braids that exposed her beautiful face with moles and freckles scattered, lips perfectly full with gloss coating them. Dressed in a light grey zip-up hoodie and grey-fit seamless athletic shorts that exposed her smooth brown legs glistening in the sun gathered the majority of the attention from the boys and the people passing by. The only gaze Kitana did not mind was the captain, who was much cuter closer up. He had dark olive-brown hair, matching hazel-green eyes, and a stoic expression, which was pretty intimidating. He has a large, muscular yet lean build and is relatively tall. His eyes moved up and down Kitana's body thinking he was slick with his glances until he met Kitana’s, who was already looking at him. She caught his eyes before making sure he knew she was slowly checking him out and gave out a dimpled smile when a blush formed on his face, which caused him to look away.

“Sensi Kai, are you gonna introduce us to the foreigner hottie that's behind you,” a voice said that pulled Kitana out of her trance, and her eye zeroed on the tall red-headed boy thats she could automatically tell had a goofy vibe about him, that just automatically made her laugh; her dad’s face turning completely red didn't help anything.

“ Satori, I would appreciate it if you reframed from using any of those unrefined comments on my daughter,'' Haru said, responding Grimley to Tendo, who also received a solicited glare from his couch.

“Well, daddy is not like he lied about me being hot cause I am most definitely not a foreigner but thank you, though,” Kitana responded in Japanese, which put the team in a state of shock that brought a deep belly laugh from the coach which was a lot more shocking than anything. This was the first time they heard it, and the man barely smiled.

“Kitana,” her dad said, not liking the sound of his daughter expressing how she looked hot, especially to these little foul-mind boys. Kitana looked away for a second to escape the glare her dad was making sure to give her, and the boy that misspoke received the same glare from his coach, to which he automatically apologized.

“And Tendo, one more word out of you, the whole team will be running another extra lap,” the coach said, which had the rest of the team looking at the redhead, daring him to say another word out of pocket.

“No need, it's fine, I'm not offended at all,” Kitana says, trying to get the heat off of him and the attention back to her, on which she succeeded because there the boys go again, checking her out. She didn't, especially from the green-eyed boy that was just carefully observing her with a slightly intimidating reactionless manner about her. Like he was disinterested in this whole ordeal and was wasting time.

“Anyways, this is my daughter Kitana. She just came from America today and will stay with me until she graduates. The funny thing is, my baby is also an amazing volleyball player, with a lot of champions under her belt,’’ Haru said, beaming with an endless amount of pride, causing Kitana to shield herself from the embarrassment of her dad always bringing this topic up in front of people.

“Really, in what position” the old man's coach said, not convinced that a person of Kitana's small-statured was a remotely great player. She didn’t like being doubted by anyone and was already catching an attitude.

“Yes, really, I was captain of my team before the move as a setter, but I was occasionally a spiker, and I can assure you that my dad isn’t wrong; I’m a winner and am the best at what I do,” Kitana said looking at the grumpy old ass old man with her arms crossed in a challenging way.

“Well, in that case, why don't you join us for practice today.”The other younger coach said, intervening before anything else could be said between them. Kitana wanted to decline because she didn’t prove herself to these men, but her dad beat her to a response.

“She’d love to. I have a few things to grab inside from my class anyways so you can join them, hon” Giving her a little forehead kiss and pushing her towards the group before leaving her with a wave.

“Well, I’m joining you guys for a minute. Let's see how great you are,'' Kitana says, turning her attention back to the team and giving them a dimpled smile that made most of them weak in the knees. They all filled into the colossal gym and started getting paired off for warm-ups and passing drills, and Kitana got paired off to number eight on the team. A first-year boy that was kind of adorable. He looked about 5’11 with a medium build, and his most notable attribute was the back bowl cut that he was wearing. He introduced himself with a fit of stutters as she took her jacket off, revealing the grey backless sports bra she was wearing underneath,also revealing the tattoo placed on her spine near her neck were two koi fish in Ying -Yang and going down the spine in Japanese Kanji had the saying “ a montage of love”. Kitana was big on tattoos, other than the one on her back she had a vine of flowers under her left under boob. Two butterfly tattoos on her head that she shared with a friend and the back of her right ear two small tattoos of the sun and the moon with tiny stars.

“I-um,’’ He squeaks when he tries to speak, so he clears his throat before restarting, “Goshiki!” he says so loud, sticking his hand out that all the other boys were snickering because of it, Specially that red-headed one from earlier.

Kitana rolled her eyes at them and shook his hand. “Well, hello, Goshiki, I don’t know if you heard earlier, but I’m Kitana. It’s nice to meet you. Looks like I’m your practice partner for today’’ She says, smiling up at him, causing him to blush. Seeing a pretty girl this up close that smelled amazing and had the potential to be a great volleyball player was the highlight of his week.

He stood there for a second just taking her in without blinking. “ Are you good in there my guy” she says, laughing a little, taking him out of his trance, getting a little closer with the ball in hand.

“Umm- yeah, yes I’m good, I just thought your tattoo is pretty cool. Did it hurt? Wait, did your dad allow you to get that? Are those the only ones you have? I’m sorry I’m asking too many questions.” Goshiki replied nervously, fingers running through his bangs,panicking inside a little, believing that the questions were a little intrusive to her. But he was just curious, no one he knew had a tattoo. Usually the people are very discreet, with keeping there’s hidden. but here’s this girl, not caring, having her back out in display with it, decorating her spine, which all just made her a whole lot more appealing than she already does.

It seems to be that the other players were in agreement with his internal thoughts, with her facing him. He’s able to catch them, with they’re envious sneaking peeks.Tendo, wasn’t even trying to hide it . All a bit shocked by her back exterior. Even the coaches.

“ No, you’re good, I don't mind the questions. Yes, my dad knows, about it he’s the one that paid for it as a birthday present and my overall accomplishments. But since I was 17 getting it, I needed my grandparents permission. I can’t lie,Yes, it hurts a bit. And also yes, I have three other more” she says, giving the ball a little dribble.

“Really?? where are they” He says catching the ball passed to his eyes spreading all over her body to see the different inks.

“Well they’re in secret places, can’t really show unless you want to get really close and personal” she says teasingly this boy was easy. His cheeks started to get red and flustered.

“ It's a joke, what position do you play?”

“I’m a winged spiker, but I will take Ushijima's spot and be the ace of this team,” Goshiki says excitedly, starting the passing drill with the ball where they pass to themselves at first and then backward pass to their partner.

“Winged spiker, okay, we love to see it. I was one alsoe; I still am, actually, but I’m a setter for most of my games. Since you're not the ace, who’s this Ushijma that is' ' Kitana says while hitting her pass backward.

“Shirt # 1, he's the captain of our team. He plays as a wing spiker and is the team's ace. He was the number one ace in Miyagi Prefecture and ranked among the country's top three aces.,” Goshiki says, catching the ball, head nodding towards the direction of the net where there was a three-person practice happening with striking, which involved the talkative red-head who was #5, #10 who seemed to be lecturing him about something, and then # 1 who turned out to be the fine ass stoic guy who she was checking out, now she was continuing to do.

“ We’ll dame he’s pretty hardcore, skill level is amazing too, and kinda cute is he in a relationship” Kitana said not one to beat around the bush when she wants something, and for right now, her eyes were set on the captain.

“Cute??” Goshiki says almost missing the ball, in which he had hit the receive harder than he should have,perplexed by the words that just came out of her mouth, and her boldness.Ironically the ball ending up near the foot of ushijima.

[existentialqueer]

Tranny Bladder

In light of the renewed wave of transgender bathroom bills being pushed and passed, I thought I would share a relevant chapter from S. Bear Bergman’s Butch Is a Noun.  "I have a tranny bladder. You know what I mean, right? The amazing ability to go approximately forever without needing to pee? I am the person who leaves the house, has two meals with a soda and a glass of water at each, returns home eight hours later and finally pees, after having stood around several times, at least after each meal, trying not to look like a sexual deviant (you know, in the bad way) while hanging around the restrooms waiting for my date to finish up. I wait to pee until I can get to a "safe" bathroom, safe bathrooms being the kind in which I am not screamed at to get out immediately, where I am not followed in by the lurking-outside-waiting-for-his-daughter father looking to kill me slowly, and that I can use without an NYPD officer and an Army private on Homeland Security detail (just, you know, for example) being called in to look at my ID.    This mostly means waiting until I am no longer in a public place, and so I just wait. The years and years of waiting, and holding it, have taken their eventual toll, it seems. And so, like so many butches I have known, like so many of my trans-siblings, I have developed this miraculous ability to just... wait. I mean, we are also probably dehydrated. You do not see deviantly gendered people walking around with Nalgene bottles, getting our sixty-four recommended ounces as we go through our days. I am sure that somewhere there is an argument to be made that the trans community as a whole is a little cranky because we could all use a nice big glass of water.    It makes both my grandmothers crazy to the point of neurosis, by the way. They think there is something the matter with me (you know, in the bad way). They look at me with eyes full of the measuring, medical expertise that apparently comes with being a Jewish grandmother, and they shake their heads and quiz me like a six-year-old with an unfortunate habit of wetting myself.    Did you go? Do you need to? Are you sure? Did you try?    What do I say? No, Nana, I don't need to use the bathroom, and I will not for the entire forseeable future because I'm sure as hell not using a women's bathroom here in South Florida, which is populated entirely by slender blonde girls and elderly women with failing eyesight?    This is leaving aside entirely, for the moment, how angry it makes me to write about these things - drinking water, and pissing it out - as though they were not the most basic kinds of freedom, as though even political prisoners both here and abroad didn't have more and better freedom to drink water and piss it out than most of the transfolk I know do, or did at some stage. This is not engaging what it feels like to be quietly peeing in a women's bathroom and hear, after a knock at the stall, "Sir?" or pounding and then, "What the fuck?"    No matter how I pitch my voice when I answer, even when I use the most head-resonant and high-pitched voice I have available to me that doesn't make me sound like Flip Wilson on helium, I still have to open the door and show someone my ID and smile my beta-wolf smile at them, while the alpha inside me is tearing a hole in my chest trying to get out and teach them a lesson about manners and respect.    When I get harassed in the Ladies' room, or the cops are called, I can produce ID with the telltale F and add the story to my collection. Transgressing in the Gents can have its consequences, legal or chillingly illegal. Men's rooms can be more forgiving because the culture of a men's bathroom insists that men not look at the others in the restroom lest they be labeled fags. Most curious looks can be deflected with a quizzical but hostile glance that seems to convey the idea that a man looking at you as you enter might have some sort of queer gaze.    Transfolk wait for the day that they can use the restroom with members of their chosen genders without problem or comment, and swap pissing stories and methods like trading cards in the meantime. I have heard arguments made that bathroom experiences are the defining measure of trans-ness: have you ever had anxiety, apprehension, or problems using the restroom which corresponds to you assigned-sex-at-birth? Then you're transgendered in some fashion. It's not the worst idea I've heard.    The bathroom is where gender performance meets public perception with a resounding thwack, one that sometimes hurts and sometimes reverberates down my butch life in unexpected ways. It's where I have to make a public declaration and I can never be sure which one might match what people are expecting from me, and the consequences for being wrong are always so unpleasant, because the wrongness is so basic. I am wrong in the world, they're saying, wrong to have fooled them, to be a coyote among dogs and cats, to stand in gender's doorways and whistle, and they'll make me pay while my pants are down, if they can. When I use a bathroom in public, I piss with one hand on my belt buckle so I can make it into a weapon if I have to.    Tranny bladder is my saving grace."

[bobemajses]

My great grandparents were married young in Boston, my great grandfather being an immigrant front Zvhill (boarded ship 1909) a d my great grandmother was Litvish and that is all I know about her. They lived in Brookline, had 4 kids, and allegedly got kicked out of shul for being unable to pay dues. Because of this, I am the last practicing jew in my family! Zvhil is also known as Novogorod-Volnsk and is home to a decent hasidic dynasty. My great grandfather was involved w the jewish workers circle though, unsure how that lined up.

Thank you! Zhvil or Novogtad Volynsky was actually a very important Hasidic center, giving birth to a dynasty that transverses generations and geography. Mosheh, one of several sons of Yehi'el Mikhl of Zlotshev (a disciple of the Besht and the Magid), established himself in Zhvil and became a Tsadik (a title indicating a righteous person who never sins in thought, speech, or action). Moshe's dynasty is the only one, among those of his brothers, that has survived and it now exists in Jerusalem.

The first Jews of Zhvil are mentioned in the document from 1488, when the town was under the rule of Casimir Jagiellon, the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Most Jews were engaged in innkeeping, crafts and the trades, the leather trade preeminent among them (the skill of working with leather migrated to the mill towns of Massachusetts, along with the migrating Jews who left Zhvil). On the northern outskirts of the city (near the brewery) there was a special district of Jewish tanners, who even had their own synagogue. In 1816 Jews occupied the posts of one of the two mayors and two of the five council members of the town magistrate.

The community suffered greatly during the Russian civil war, with thousands murdered by depraved mobs unhinged by the chaos, deprivation, and anarchy of war. They set fire to houses, plundered them, killed men, violated women. Many other Jews were dispersed, and Zhvil was completely burned to the ground.

In 1919, a great number of Jews were dragged to the bank of the river Slutsc, where they were told to dig. Then the murderers undressed them naked, chopped off their arms and threw them alive into the grave. In one instance a father was compelled to chop off the arms of his son; in another, a son was made to do the same thing to his father. About 500 Jews perished in this way. In Juli, Pogorelov, the initiator of the atrocities, stopped the pogrom, but demanded of the Jews 50 horses and a great quantity of salt and sugar. The Jews delivered to him whatever they succeeded in collecting.

By 1929 a massive attack on the religious community by the Commmunist authorities began and ended in the mid-30s with closing of all synagogues and prayer houses. The last Rabbi of Zhvil, Gedale-Moyshe Goldman, was sentenced to 7 years in Siberian labor camps.

Novograd Volynsky was occupied by German troops on July 8, 1941. The murder of the town's Jews started in late July 1941 and lasted until September of the same year. The Jews who survived these murder operations (most of them skilled workers in occupations needed by the Germans) as well as Jews from surrounding villages were rounded up and interned in a ghetto, where terrible living conditions, starvation, and exhaustion took their toll. In the winter of 1943, a number of ghetto inmates fled to the forests north of Zhitomir, where theu joined partisans units. The remaining ghetto population, as well as some captured Jews, were shot.

After 1945, there was a small religious Jewish community in the town. It owned house 24 on Troitskaya Street. On July 30, 1960, the town authorities decided to give this building to the local department of education. The local press started a powerful propaganda campaign against Judaism and heads of the community. After that, the Jewish community existed illegal. In December 2001, only 188 Jews were registered in the city.