#Jared Canter

[jiliansky-blog]

Wake me up. Chapter 1. Two gods

Pairing: Morpheus x FemaleReader

Rating: PG

Words: 1340

From the labyrinth, You came to the beautiful golden palace. There were no guards, no anybody else. No, this man in black. Lord Morpheus. Who was he? A god of dreams? What did he want from me? But he couldn’t find you here. As you hope.

The time in the labyrinth was fun. you remember how you woke up in the dark valley and found your way through the labyrinth until you found Jared. And he invited you to his castle. He was surprised to see you there. He was even wanted to make you his queen. You didn’t think though that you was ready for this.

And then that Morpheus appeared. He was handsome. Tall, thin, with black messy hair, white skin and dark eyes. The eyes that were shining like stars. You shouldn’t think about him. Perhaps, you didn’t see him again. So you continue your path.

“There you are," and suddenly another man approached you. “I was looking for you. Where have you been?

“Visiting a friend," you said. “What? Did you miss me already?”

“I don’t want you to get attacked by frost giants or someone else," he replied. “You know, since you returned to this place”.

Oh, you know, you always want to visit Asgard. And you were upset when it was destroyed by Ragnarok. And you wanted to meet Loki.

“Let’s go”, you said. “Or are we going to talk in the corridor?”

“You looked worried, Y\N”, he said, lifting my head up with a hand. “What did you do, while I was busy? What are you afraid of?”

"Nothing," you smiled. “I just don’t want when someone looks at us. Shall we go, or should I go alone?”

And you drugged him into the room. You hope Morpheus won’t follow you there. You wanted to stay in your room, but Loki has other plans.

“Will you go with me to the banquet?” he asked. "Otherwise, I don’t think I can handle Thor’s arrogance and stupidity”.

“Are you sure, you want me there?” you asked.

“You are the only thing that can make everything better”, he said sweetly.

“Oh, when did you become so sweet?” you giggled. “Alright”.

You said that you needed to change the dress. You hoped that if Morpheus came here, he wouldn’t recognize you in a crowd. Maybe you should dress in something less rich. Or maybe you should dress as a servant? But Loki won’t understand that.

But when you chose a modest dress, Loki returned to your room and looked at you confused.

“Sweetheart, you have better dresses than that”, he said with a charming smiled. “You are going to stand next to me, and you should look like a princess”.

“I don’t want to be in canter of attention”, you smiled.

“That won’t do”, he opened your closet and picked a golden, beautiful dress. “Can you dress this for me?”

“I don’t want to outshine your mother”, you said.

“She won’t be agreeable,", he reassured you.

So you sighed and dressed it. And then some girls came to make your hair. In the last month, you have made quite a home in this world. You don’t want some other god to take it.

“Are you ready?” he asked, taking your hand.

"Yes," you let him take to the feast.

You tried to hide your anxiety when you were at the celebration. You thought that Morpheus wouldn't just leave you. He came to the Labyrinth for you. And then you saw something black among the Asgardians. Was it him, or did you become paranoid?

“What is wrong with you?” Loki hissed. “You look like you saw the frost giant”.

“I don’t feel well”, you said. “I want to go back to my room. Please? And can you stay with me tonight? You don’t really want to be here, I know”.

He sighed as he was doing you a favor and took you to the door. But at least he listened to you. He is not as bad as everyone thinks.  

“Y\N”, you heard a familiar voice as soon as you left the room. “We need to talk”.

“Who is this?” Loki frowned. “The intruder”.

“Leave us alone, Loki, the god of mischief”, said Morpheus calmly. “This is none of your business”.

“Oh no, you won’t tell me what to do in my palace”, Loki smiled. He was annoyed. “And what business do you have for my lady?”

“Your lady," at the moment you were swearing, Morpheus’s eyes shone like stars. “She is not even from your world”.

“I know, she is from Midgard," he said. “And who are you, intruder?”

“I am Lord Morpheus, Dream of the Endless," he said. “And she is going with me. She shouldn’t be here”.

“Oh, so you are the god of dreams," Loki said. "Anyway, it doesn’t give you the right to come to my castle without invitation”.

“Your castle isn’t even real," he said as he looked at me again. “You need to get over this. Your dreams can damage my entire world”.

“I don't know what you are talking about," you said.

“You know”, Morpheus replied. “You made this place. And Labyrinth. You need to wake up. Humans aren’t supposed to stay here”.

“That’s quite enough”, Loki laughed. And his laugh was tensed. “You need to get through me if you want to get her”.

But Morpheus just raises his hand, and Loki starts to dissolve. You don’t know what to do. And at that moment you heard the noise. You heard screams, and doors opened. Asgardians started to flood out of the corridors. You took your chance to run. You heard steps behind you and hoped that it was Loki, not Morpheus.

“What is going on, Y\N?” he asked, and you recognized Loki’s voice. “How do you know that strange man?”

“He founds me when I was walking before the feast”, you said. “I don't know what it means, but he wants to return me to Midgard”.

“Why?” he asked. “And what he wanted to do with me”.

“I don’t know, okay?” you replied. “My guess as good as yours. He thinks that I can destroy something”.

“He said something about his world”, he said.

“Believe me, I don’t know what he was talking about”, you said again. “And what the mess started there?”

“A little joke”, he smirked.

“I need to go”, you sighed. “Before he came for you again. See you later”.

“Wait!” Loki called you, but you didn’t listen.

You opened another door and went to other world.

Morpheus

I sighed annoyed. This human girl doesn’t know what she is toying with. And how she even does it? How she creates worlds in the Dreaming and walking through them? Even if her dreams are lucid, it shouldn’t be this way? Is she another vortex? She thinks that her dreams are real. So maybe she doesn’t aware that she is dreaming.

Now I need to follow her through the dream of Asgard. She can’t escape forever. I will find her eventually. At that moment Matthew joined me.

“How is it going, boss?” he asked.

“She is trying to avoid me”, I replied. “I can’t understand how she so quickly creates words in the Dreaming”.

“Perhaps, she did before your return”, he said. “I mean, we don’t know for how long she was here. She could make all kind of loopholes”.

“That’s…a good point of view”, I said thoughtfully. “I need to think about it. And perhaps to look into her other places to hide”.

“Don’t be harsh with her, boss”, the raven replied. “I’m sure, she is hiding here not from the good life”.  

“So you think she is hiding”, I said.

“I’m not an expert”, Matthew admitted. “But if she was here for a long time, maybe something happened to her. And she doesn’t want to remember about it”.

“That a good thought too”, I said. “It wasn’t a nightmare. Her hiding is deeper than I thought. I need to find her book. Thank you, Matthew”.

“You’re welcome, boss”, he said gladly. And I decided that I need to learn more about this girl and her fears before face her again

@shadowqueen1318 @mypsychoticlove @justathirstyhoe​ @ladymoztaza @sapphireonline @deniixlovezelda

[goodjohnjr]

Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us

What Is It? The YouTube video Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us by the YouTube channel Kendrick Lamar: Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us Description: Kendrick Lamar “Not Like Us”Directed by Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar Production Company: pgLang / project3Executive Producers: Kendrick Lamar, Dave FreeProducers: Sam Canter, Jack Begert, Jamie Rabineau,Cornell Brown, Anthony Saleh, Jared HeinkeAssociate…

[dailyrugbytoday]

Super Rugby Pacific: Chiefs beat Moana Pasifika 68-12 in Hamilton

New Post has been published on https://thedailyrugby.com/super-rugby-pacific-chiefs-beat-moana-pasifika/

The Daily Rugby

https://thedailyrugby.com/super-rugby-pacific-chiefs-beat-moana-pasifika/

Super Rugby Pacific: Chiefs beat Moana Pasifika 68-12 in Hamilton

The Super Rugby Pacific Chiefs’ 68–12 victory over Moana Pasifika in Hamilton on Saturday night delivered a strong message to Super Rugby Pacific teams. Chiefs score a try in the Moana Pasifika Super Rugby Pacific round 7 match.

Damian McKenzie’s record-tying nine conversions and a hat-trick from Emoni Narawa allowed the Chiefs to fully recover from their defeat to the Crusaders the previous Saturday. After the Blues and the undefeated Hurricanes, the Chiefs are now in third place on the standings after their victory.

Sione Ahio, the replacement prop, made history with his first Super Rugby touch, scoring a point with a clean pair of heels. Rameka Poihipi, the captain of the Chiefs, expressed his immense pride in his team.

Super Rugby Chiefs v Moana Pasifika 68-12

The Chiefs thrashed Moana Pasifika 68–12 on Saturday, cantering over for ten tries. In Hamilton, fly-half Damian McKenzie converted nine of ten times, while flanker Emoni Narawa scored a hat-trick of tries.

The Wellington Hurricanes destroyed Moana 59-0 in the fifth round of the competition last year, setting a record winning margin. After losing to the Crusaders the week before, the home team put on a menacing show of offensive rugby to win their fifth straight game.

Moana suffered its third straight crushing loss; under head coach Tana Umaga’s leadership, the club had given up 175 points in four games.

The All Blacks playmaker McKenzie’s inventiveness and regular winger Etene Nanai-Seturo’s agility, which included a brilliant performance at fullback in his 50th Super Rugby game, proved too much for the visiting side to handle.

Nanai-Seturo, one of the try-scorers, remarked, “The coaches gave us the hard word after our performance last week.” The Chiefs ran away with the victory, leading 28-0 at halftime thanks to eight tries scored by backs.

Read More :: Best Streaming options to Watch Super Rugby Pacific 2024: When does it start, how to watch

Chiefs 68 (TRIES: Narawa 3, Parker, Nanai-Seturo, Tahuriorangi, Rona, Ahio, Malimali, Ratima; CONS: McKenzie 9) def Moana Pasifika 12 (TRIES: Maravao, Fai’ilagi; CONS: Mausia)

CHIEFS (1-15): Ollie Norris, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Reuben O’Neill, Jimmy Tupou, Tupou Vaa’i, Samipeni Finau, Simon Parker, Wallace Sititi, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Damian McKenzie, Peniasi Malimali, Rameka Poihipi (c), Daniel Rona, Emoni Narawa, Etene Nanai Seturo

RESERVES: Bradley Slater, Jared Proffit, Sione Ahio, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Kaylum Boshier, Cortez Ratima, Josh Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown

PASIFIKA (1-15): Donald Brighouse, Sama Malolo, Sekope Kepu (c), Tom Savage, Ola Tauelangi, Irie Papuni, Niko Jones, Semisi Paea, Melani Matavao, William Havili, Viliami Fine, Julian Savea, Fine Inisi, Nigel Ah Wong, Kyren Taumoefolau

RESERVES: Samiuela Moli, Abraham Pole, Suetena Asomua, Michael Curry, Miracle Faiilagi, Aisea Halo, Otumaka Mausia, D’Angelo Leuila

[backpain369-blog]

The Best Way To Get Rid Of Lower Back Pain

Low back pain treatment is really the therapy to heal the lower back pain. It taken place when many of us are carrying anything large as well as our position is not really correct. It is going to cause "the disk downward" (portion of our body's your bones) increase up, the key spine and your bones cards together. Below are 4 remedies to remedy back pain difficulty: Epidural steroid ointment injections certainly are a popular brief-phrase selection for dealing with low back pain and sciatica linked to irritation. Pain relief related to the injections, nevertheless, has a tendency to be short-term as well as the shots are certainly not encouraged for long-term aid. An NIH-backed randomized controlled trial run evaluating the key gain of epidural steroid shots to your treatment of chronic low back pain connected to spine stenosis demonstrated that long-term outcomes were worse among these individuals who received the injections in comparison with people who did not.

 Back pain can be quite not comfortable, even so it always fades away but if it is not then you need to learn How To Get Rid Of Back Pain. Nevertheless, when you as well as your family have back pain, it's most likely to reoccur. Back pain may be a direct result hefty raising or sudden uncoordinated motions, which normally can stress muscle along with result in discs to break. Joint inflammation, weakening of bones, along with curvature of the spinal column can all guide to back pain too. one Take care of minimum back pain with stretching out, light-weight motion, warmth, also as over the counter medications. For additional serious and also long-standing back pain, watch your health care specialist as well as build a program jointly. When numerous of us chat related to lasting upgrades in lumbar back pain, you and your family require to appear for any counselor, getting a holistic evaluation or guide of your complete entire body also as way of life, and which is great at physical treatment. She/he ought to execute the required and also pertinent checks, and also guide you and in addition your household people submit an action program, that tackles each of the primary causes of your circumstances. This can probable ensure the long-lasting riddance of your back problems. I articulate, partially, from my truly individual own operating expertise. I endured an extreme as well as unbearable lumbar back pain for earlier mentioned twenty quite a few yrs. It definitely was just once I got this tactic that I got rid of it for good - and partially, from my operating experience with healing and rehabilitating 100s of clients going through lumbar back pain also as pain.

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 Sciatica is surely an additional lead to of lower back pain. Even though, sciatica is found in just one particular case out of each 20. It is in reality referred such as a trapped neural as sciatica arrives about when a nerve popping out of the spinal cord will become agitated or pushed. Underneath the assistance of a health care physician, home remedies provides massive relief and kitchen counter assault the distressing places with the back.

 When thinking about to getting the most beneficial bed for lower back pain, you could have to think about out a numerous properly prior to you really discover the right one. Think of getting on the internet to avoid a number of outings to their grocer. Making a bedding on the internet means you actually also avoid hauling a mattress out of your car up the stairs to your bed room. It's also a good way to ensure you undoubtedly don't result in or exacerbate back pain. Quite a few on the internet mattress shops supply no commitment” trial offers as well as tend not to charge for profits. As well as, if you're unsatisfied along with your mattress and in addition want to return it, they will send someone to pick it up cost- and stress-free.

 "Typically, lower back pain may end result from both instability (like a weakened central or super-mobile phone joints) or a lot of tightness ," Jared Kaplan , founder of Studio room 26 in New york city, informs SELF. "Most realize that an over-all program of stylish freedom as well as stretches, as well as vibrant primary stability, supplies relief for consistent lower back pain." Your hips and also lower back are connected , and also considering that your lower back can be a part of your key , conditioning all of the bicep muscle tissue for the reason that area (for instance the abs on top) will aid support your back as well as prevent muscles stress as well as pain.

 A single of the most typical issues in physiotherapy centers, sporting activities therapies treatment centers, fitness gyms, also as sports activities night clubs around the complete the span and also breadth of the country is lower back pain. Pain positioned adjacent to the basic of the spinal column, in to the glutes, as well as at times in to the lower body (sciatica, referenced pain, trapped neurological, no matter what label is offered to it) is just one of the largest leads to of unwell leave over a number of industries, a single of one of the most debilitating issues about the whole communities, as well as at its worst, indicators critical pathology within the back also as neural pathways to the limbs. Even though all of this is essential, most of individuals simply want to know: what is triggering my most effective pain? Far more essentially, how do you without doubt get rid of it?

 -> Stick to on the internet pain relief program: You actually could also get relief from on the internet workout applications, DVD's, E: book, electronic mail training, free 12 months membership to the month to month e-newsletter, free wellness related posts, tasty recipes furthermore to pain relief tips. Consider assistance from expert furthermore to save a program of exercise This can get rid of your pain also as make sure that it continues to be clear of returning during the entire long term.

[itsevidentvery]

This mediaeval AU.....I don’t even know, people. It is striding, cantering, galloping away from me.

I swear to God, a chapter begins with a discussion of optimal taxation and now this is where I’m at... (behind the cut, for the love of God do not subject yourselves to this needlessly)

‘Stop it’, hisses Richard. ‘I’ve – I saw you, Jared. Starting, recoiling, behaving like – like a virgin left alone with a bawd – you make me feel like a rapist.’

‘Never, my prince’, says Jared, putting out a hand. He tries to snatch it back but Richard grabs it.

‘Did I?’, says Richard, looking intently at Jared, ‘did I – did I force you? Force – myself – on you?’

‘No, my prince’, says Jared, gripping his prince’s hand, ‘no, never, how can you even – it was me, my prince, all me, my weakness, you didn’t, you couldn’t - ’

Richard’s face is changing. His hand turns in Jared’s, holding tightly – not the hold of a frightened child, as before, but the very definite grip of a captor. His fingers bite into Jared’s.

‘I was right’, he said, ‘you were – remembering my sins. In your orisons.’

‘Not – your sins, my prince’, says Jared, breathing through his nose as calmly as he can, ‘They were my – weakness, I cannot – load my burdens onto your shoulders. My prince, you’re hurting me.’

‘Yes’, says Richard, ‘I could – do you like it? When – I hurt you?’

Jared’s breath stops. His eyes fly to his prince’s. Richard is examining him with his head to one side. Jared’s seen him look that way at a map, a coded message, a problem to solve. Intent, curious, with an eye alive to points of attack, weaknesses, cracks, fissures. He’s never thought his prince would ever look that way at him.

He shivers, and expels his breath on a gasp as Richard’s fingers tighten.

‘I wondered’, says Richard, ‘because – I heard that you – submitted yourself – to be flogged.’

‘That’, says Jared, ‘is a common form of penance. We mortify the flesh, my prince, to - ’

‘Oh, I know’, says Richard, ‘that’s not – that didn’t make me curious.’ He leans in a little closer, his fingers tighten a little more, ‘no…. what made me wonder, Jared – is that you stopped going.’

Jared takes in a shaking breath. Richard’s fingers are cutting off the blood to his fingers. When he lets go, Jared will feel a screaming in his veins as, little by little, the feeling returns. The next morning, his wrists will be mottled purple.

And all that Jared will be able to offer – all that is left to him, in his shame and his endless, terrible hunger – is the desire to abuse himself, to slake his vicious, singing appetite – and his refusal to do so. His denial of himself.

This much he can do.

‘I’m right, aren’t I’, says Richard. ‘You stopped – you stopped just as soon as you knew that it wasn’t – punishment.’

‘My prince, please - ’

‘That you liked it.’

‘I - ’

‘Is that – what your God gives you, Jared?’, says Richard. ‘Is it – to be – punished? The – guarantee – of being punished? Always? Of – of continual guilt? Reasons – to be – chastised?’

Jared’s eyes fly to Richard’s.

‘Because’, says Richard, ‘I – I could – give you. That. I could. Hurt you.’ He swallows. ‘If. If you want that.’

[comic-movieheroesranked]

Cinematic Comic Characters Ranked! (Year 2009) Part One

It’s rough coming right after a fantastic year of movies (2008) but 2009 did pretty well for itself. Terminator Salvation is our only sequel and we also get an X-Men spinoff with X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Kids favorite shows come out with Astro Boy, Dragonball: Evolution, and G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra, and we got a couple of thrillers with Whiteout and Surrogates. We also get the debut of the controversial Watchmen! Let’s get started with numbers #84-61!

*SPOILERS AHEAD FOR ALL HIGHLIGHTED MOVIES ABOVE*

Cameo Appreciation: The Minutemen (Watchmen)

The Minutemen consisted of Dollar Bill, Mothman, The Silhouette, Hooded Justice, and Captain Metropolis. They mainly appear in flashbacks as they all somehow die one by one. Dollar Bill dies after his cape gets caught on a revolving door, allowing the robbers to take aim and shoot. Captain Metropolis dies in a car accident, which was thought to be suicide. The Silhouette, who looked so damn fierce, was murdered in a homophobic hate crime with her lover. Hooded Justice's death isn't explained but we do see him stop The Comedian from raping Sally Jupiter. Mothman doesn't die but he ends up going crazy and is thrown into a psychiatric ward.

Cameo Appreciation: Professor X, Toad, Wind Dancer, Quicksilver, and Banshee (X-Men Origins: Wolverine)

There were a lot of familiar faces among the mutants kidnapped by William Stryker. Those mutants were Toad, Wind Dancer, Quicksilver, and Banshee. When they escape with the help of Wolverine, Kayla, Emma, and Scott, they end up running into Professor X! With his jet ready, the professor rescues the group and takes them away to his school.

Cameo Appreciation: Sarah Connor (Terminator Salvation)

Even though she's not technically seen, Sarah Connor's voice is in the tapes she recorded for her son, John, to help him in the future. With her guidance, he's able to learn about his father, Kyle, who will eventually go to the past to help keep her safe.

84. Hollis Mason/Nite Owl (Watchmen)

"You were a better Nite Owl than I ever was, Danny boy."

One of the few Minutemen that's still alive, Hollis Mason was the original Nite Owl and is also one of the two heroes to reveal their identity to the public. He came out with a book about his life as a vigilante but after the hype of it died down he ends up opening an auto shop where he enjoys drinking occasionally with Dan.

83. The Hard Master (G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra)

"We need to invite him in and show him the path."

The Hard Master was the man who taught Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes everything they know. I kind of got a little favoritism coming from him when it came to Snake Eyes and it appeared that so did Storm Shadow, who kills him. Or so we think! At the end of the film Storm Shadow admits he didn't kill their master. So if he didn't, who did?!

82. Jared Canter (Surrogates)

"I'm not in the mood for opera."

Jared's murder started the entire film but it wasn't even him that was supposed to die in the first place. He had borrowed his father's surrogate, who was the actual target. His death is the first human murder in several years and starts Lionel Canter's quest for revenge.

81. Daniel DeCobray/The Baron (G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra)

"What a mysterious wife you are!"

The Baron got straight up PLAYED! The Baroness only marries him so Cobra can keep an eye on him and his work in the science field and is constantly leaving him, which makes him wonder where she goes all the time. When she reveals her true intentions, she forces him to weaponize the nanobite warheads before she tricks Storm Shadow into killing him.

80. Mr. Squeegee and Mr. Squirt (Astro Boy)

"I love happy endings!"

These two robots are designed to clean windows (One squirts the water, while the other wipes) in Metro City and are present when Astro discovers he's actually a robot. The two scenes they're in are for comedic relief and they show up at the end to celebrate Astro's victory over President Stone.

79. Travis and Heather Hudson (X-Men Origins: Wolverine)

"We all got a choice, Son."

Travis and Heather start the ridiculous trend of everyone who is nice to Logan, will end up getting killed. After he shows up to their barn naked, the Hudson's cloth him, feed him, and give him advice on forgiveness and revenge. Their thanks? They get gunned down.

78. Courtney A. Krieger/Cover Girl (G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra)

"Their capabilities are beyond anything we've ever encountered."

Cover Girl was a supermodel before she found her true calling in the G.I. Joe department. She's mostly seen as Hawk's assitant, bringing him papers to sign as well as inform him of missions when he needs it. She's technically the only Joe with a revealed identity who dies, getting murdered by Zartan when Cobra invades the Joe facility.

77. Rubin, Mooney, and Weiss (Whiteout)

"Mooney said not to trust that guy."

Rubin, Mooney, and Weiss are the biologists that discover the lost Russian plane and are at the root of this whole murder investigation. It all starts when Weiss's body is found and later Carrie figures out that he was hit with an ax then thrown off a plane after injuring himself. When the investigation starts, Mooney calls Carrie and explains he'll tell her everything at the Russian base he's at. Of course when Carrie shows up he's lying in his own blood. Finally we have Rubin who actually manages to tell Carrie everything about his team finding the plane except for who was the guy killing them! He takes off because he gets spooked by Doc (who ends up working with Haden, the killer) and ends up getting his neck snapped by Haden when he tries to escape.

76. Moloch (Watchmen)

"I have cancer."

A villain in his time, Moloch is an old man who's given up on the crime life now that he's dying of cancer. He gets paid a visit by his drunk archnemesis, The Comedian, and ends up getting murdered by Adrian so the other could frame Rorschach.

75. Orrin (Astro Boy)

"I feel so nervous!"

Orrin is the nanny robot who works in Dr. Tenma's home and takes care of Toby before he's killed. Even though it's very clear that him and other robots have their own personalities, he's constantly belittled by Tenma for trying to enjoy things like playing with paper planes with Astro. It isn't until the end of the movie that Tenma finally treats Orrin a little nicer, even if Orrin still gets freaked out by the change of attitude.

74. Dr. Serena Kogan (Terminator Salvation)

"You're about to do an incredible thing."

Dying of cancer, Dr. Kogan is the one smart enough to come up with a plan to create a human/machine hybrid. She ends up getting Marcus to volunteer after he's sentenced to death. When he arrives at Skynet Headquarters in the future, the machine uses Serena's identity to talk to him.

73. Richard Nixon (Watchmen)

"We can't let these fuckers think we're weak!"

In this altered timeline, Richard Nixon is able to be re-elected for three more additional terms as well as take on Vietnam as a state. After he disbands the Watchmen, he focuses his attention on Russia and the threat of the nuclear war. After the most populated cities are destroyed, Nixon agrees to work with the other world leaders and untie in peace.

72. Miles Strickland (Surrogates)

"I couldn't tell you his name even if my life depended on it."

The dispensable hitman. Miles is a dread, a human who doesn't use surrogates, and is hired to use the new technology that kills a host through their surrogate on Lionel Canter. He's able to avoid police but ends up killed by his own people in The Prophet's community. It later makes sense as to why he died, seeing as The Prophet was actually a surrogate belonging to the man he tried to kill in the first place.

71. Bradley (X-Men Origins: Wolverine)

"I always thought it would be Wade to come knocking on my door."

A mutant on Stryker's Special Ops team with the ability to control technology. Since he never participated in the killings of innocent citizens, I think Bradley also didn't agree with it but didn't have the courage to quit like Logan did. When he retires, he joins a circus but it isn't long before Victor shows up and takes him out.

70. Toby Tenma (Astro Boy)

"Up and onward."

Toby's death was so sad. He was such a bright kid and even if he had a crushing curiosity that eventually caused his downfall, a lot of his death could be blamed on his father's company as well as President Stone's arrogance. How did no one, human or robot, not notice the kid was in the room? With their technology so advanced they don't have scanners that alert every time someone enters? His death leaves his father in a huge depression which eventually leads to him creating Astro.

69. Zartan (G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra)

"This is going to be the achievement of a lifetime."

Zartan works for Cobra with a neat skill of blending in with his disguise. He's pretty decent, managing to sneak up on Hawk and Cover Girl and escaping the facility unharmed before he even gets his upgrade from The Doctor. After going through the procedure, Zartan can now physically alter his body to change into whoever he pleases. Who's his first target? None other that the President of the United States. Zartan kills him in secret before returning to the oval office, the U.S. government completely unaware about his true identity.

68. Janey Slater (Watchmen)

"I stuck by you and this is how you repay me!?"

The guys in this movie were pretty douche-y in this film and Dr. Manhattan was no exception when it came to his ex-girlfriend Janey. She was with him before his terrible accident and she stayed with him after. At first I thought he left her because she refused to be with him in his 'dying' moments, but he admits to leaving her because she's not as attractive as Laurie, which is just SO fucked up. It's also believed Jon gave her cancer, which she's dying from, but it was actually Adrian in his twisted plan to heal the world.

67. Barnes (Terminator Salvation)

"I didn't catch that last part."

Barnes is John Connor's right hand man in the resistance and is loyal to him with every decision he makes. With his brother dying early on in the film, his hatred for the machines makes things difficult when Blair tries to rescue Marcus. However once John deems Marcus ok, so does Barnes and he continues his job in the war against the machines.

66. ZOG (Astro Boy)

"I'm old school."

ZOG was one of the first robots ever created and was abandoned on the Surface World when he stopped working. More than fifty years later he gets revived by Astro using his blue core energy and ends up getting an entire makeover by the surface kids. When Hamegg proves to be a jerk, ZOG saves Astro and nearly kills Hamegg but Astro stops him. ZOG saves the day one last time when he uses the same blue core energy to revive Astro back to life.

65. Laird James McCullen XXIV/Destro (G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra)

"I've finally taken my place in the long line of McCullens."

Destro comes from a long line of weapon dealers who happens to be very power hungry. To have the world's leaders on their knees, he tricks the U.S. military to fund his work on the nanobite warheads then steals them back once they're finished. This starts an all out war with the G.I. Joe's. He successfully manages to bring down the Eiffel Tower in Paris but ends up burning most of his face off when he goes against Duke in his jealous rage over Ana. The Doctor saves him and uses the nanobite technology to harden his face, turning him to Destro soon after. And even after that, he gets arrested by the Joe's and is taken to a high guarded prison.

64. General Ashdown (Terminator Salvation)

"This is war, Connor. Leadership has its costs."

Many people in the resistance believe John Connor is the key to ending the war, General Ashdown isn't one of them. In fact, he flat out tells John that he believes he's actually a fake prophet. Since he's a leader of the resistance, you can see how this has them butt heads, especially when it comes to destroying Skynet Headquarters. At first they're on the same page but when John discovers there are human prisoners, including his future father, he tries to stop Ashdown, who believes casualties are necessary. In the end it's Ashdown and his leader that end up being casualties when they accidentally gives themselves up, allowing Skynet to blow them up.

63. Scott Summers/Cyclops and Emma Silverfox (X-Men Origins: Wolverine)

"I can do this!"

It's our first time seeing a young Scott Summers and an Emma who isn't Emma Frost that can harden her skin to diamond. They're both kidnapped by Victor to be experimented by Stryker for Deadpool, Scott's optic blasts eventually making the cut. When Wolverine frees them, they take off with the other young mutants, Emma using her diamond skin to block students and Scott blasting away the shooters. Eventually they run into Professor X who takes them with him to his school of mutants.

62. Lord Piccolo (Dragonball: Evolution)

"With this Dragon Ball, I take my vengeance upon the Earth."

Once again we have a villain that was absolutely BORING!!! Nearly every time Piccolo was on the screen I got bored and there was a least one scene that my eyes got heavy and threatened to glaze over. For someone who was trapped for a thousand years, he was very calm once he was free. He spends the whole movie collecting the Dragon Balls only to be stopped pretty easily in the end.

61. Big Figure (Watchmen)

"While everyone's distracted, we thought we'd bring you a little housewarming gift."

Many criminals were put in jail because of Rorschach and Big Figure was one of them. When Rorschach is thrown in the same jail, Big Figure wastes no time in trying to kill him with his goons. His plan fails horribly, and he ends up getting killed by Rorschach by the end of it. They don't show what happens, only that there's a lot of blood and toilet water so the rest is really up to the imagination.

[the-record-obituaries]

Jan. 9, 2019: Obituaries

Linda  Wood, 76

Mrs. Linda Sue Minton Wood age 76 of Purlear, passed away Friday, January 4, 2019 at Forsyth Medical Center.

Funeral services were January 7,  at Reins Sturdivant Chapel with Rev. Donnie Shumate officiating. Burial was in Mountlawn Memorial Park.  

Mrs. Wood was born September 25, 1942 in Wilkes County to James Harley and Margie Haley Bauguss Minton. She retired from Winn Dixie after 30 years of service as the Deli Manager.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands; Jerry Franklin  Byrd and James Bruce Wood, a step daughter; Teresa Byrd and two brothers; Donald Minton and Daniel "Dan" Minton.

She is survived by two daughters; Annette Welborn and husband Junior of Purlear and April Faw and husband Steve of Wilkesboro, a stepson; Frank Byrd of North Wilkesboro, three grandchildren; Hunter Welborn, Grayson Faw and Duncan Faw, a sister; Louise Johnston (Butch) of Piney Creek and three brothers; Jimmy Minton (Linda) of North Wilkesboro, Robert Minton (Lois) of Millers Creek and Steve Minton (Nancy) of Millers Creek.

Pallbearers were Mike Minton, Jackie Minton, Greg Johnston, Brian Minton, Brad Minton and Josh Minton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Samaritans Purse PO Box 3000 Boone, NC 28607.

Tony Spicer, 59

Tony Wayne Spicer, age 59, of Hays, passed away Friday, January 4, 2019 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

He was born January 26, 1959 in Surry County to Barney Lee and Ruth Lowe Spicer. He attended of Crossfire Baptist Church. Mr. Spicer was preceded in death by his parents.

Surviving are his daughters, Toni Makisha Stamper and husband Rodney of Rock Creek, Cassandra Hammond and husband Daniel of Hays; sisters, Kathy Lane of Roaring River, Barbara Jordan and husband Larry, Rebecca Dowell and husband Kermit all of North Wilkesboro, Betty Smithey and husband Gary of Moravian Falls, Carolyn Souther and husband Michael of Union Grove, brother, Tommy Spicer of North Wilkesboro; grandchildren, Jared Ball, Ariana Stamper both of Rock Creek, Zac sheets of North Wilkesboro, Alley King and husband Steven of Taylorsville, Danielle Hammond and Cheyenne Hammond both of Hays.

Memorial service was January 7, at Crossfire United Methodist Church with Rev. Ronnie Gregory and Pastor Jerry Rogers officiating.

Flowers will accepted or memorials may be made to Catherine H. Barber Homeless Shelter, 86 Sparta, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.                      Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

 Sylvia  Smithey, 88

Mrs. Sylvia Estelle Fletcher Smithey "Sib", age 88 of Moravian Falls, passed away Thursday, January 3, 2019 at Wilkes Senior Village.

Funeral services were January 6,   at Cub Creek Baptist Church with Rev. Brian Sampson and Rev. Ronnie Millsaps officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.  

Mrs. Smithey was born January 23, 1930 in Wilkes County to Rufus Talmadge and Bertha Elvira Rhodes Fletcher. She retired from Schneider Mills and was a member of Cub Creek Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Ralph Smithey, a grandchild; Anthony Wayne Smithey, two sisters; Hazel Burgess and Lula Mae Klutz and three brothers; Guy Fletcher, Bruce Fletcher and John Henry Fletcher.

She is survived by five sons; Larry Smithey (Gail) of North Myrtle Beach, SC, Gary Smithey (Betty) of Moravian Falls , Barry Smithey (Suzanne) of Jackson Springs NC, Cary Smithey (Rusty) of Kernersville, NC and Kenneth Smithey (Vicky) of Moravian Falls, eleven grandchildren; Lisa Payne, Crystal Smithey, Kimberly Smithey, Amanda Yavorsky, Keith Smithey, Erin Salkowitz, Alisha Smithey, Heather Smithey, Adam Smithey, Katie Smithey and Megan Smithey, eight great grandchildren; Tommy Lee Sellar, Bailey Payne, Abigail Payne, Savannah Smithey, Noah Rensing, Kayden Smithey, Caitlyn Salkowitz and Shelby Lynn Smithey, a sister; Fern Duncan and husband Bob of Moravian Falls and two brothers; Gene Fletcher of Wilkesboro and Ralph Fletcher  and wife June of Moravian Falls.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Cub Creek Baptist Church PO Box 86, Wilkesboro, NC 28697.

Mamie  Tedder, 88

Mrs. Mamie Ladd Tedder, age 88 of Moravian Falls, passed away Thursday, January 3, 2019 at Caldwell Hospice in Lenoir.

Funeral services were January 6,  at Liberty Baptist Church located at 145 Trails End Road, Moravian Falls with Rev. Billy Felts, Rev. Jonah Parker and Rev. Randy Campbell officiating. Burial was in Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery.    

Mrs. Tedder was born April 15, 1930 in Yadkin County to Jonah and Lillian Campbell Ladd. She was "Granny" to everyone and an active member of Liberty Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Arlin C. Tedder; a daughter, Linda Tedder Parker; a sister, Nellie Hudspeth and five brothers: Claude, Paul, Robie, Roger, and William Ladd.

She is survived by two grandchildren: Christy Parker of Sugar Grove and Darron Parker and wife, Jessica of Moravian Falls, and two great grandchildren: Ty Parker and Zoey Parker. She is also survived by a brother, James Ladd and wife Lena of Union Grove.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care 902 Kirkwood Street NW Lenoir, NC 28645.

 Betty Adams,  76

Betty Elaine Minton Adams, age 76, of Statesville, passed away Thursday, January 3, 2019 at her home. She was born May 28, 1942 in Wilkes County to Richard and Vena Osborne Minton. Mrs. Adams was a dedicated member of Hillside Baptist Church for 43 years. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wallace Harvey Adams, Surviving are her son, Billy Dale Adams and wife Connie of Statesville; daughter, Sabrina A. Jones of Statesville; brother, Richard "Ricky" Minton, Jr. of Wilkesboro; sisters, June Bumgarner, Jane Canter, Kaye Rogers, Rachel Elledge all of Wilkesboro; son-in-law, Larry Jones of Statesville; grandchildren, Brandi Dean and husband Bryan, Brittney Kerley and husband Justin, Christy Skeens, Jasmine Mash and husband Aaron, Tyler Proffitt, Alexis Proffitt all of Statesville; great grandchildren, Micah Jones, Noah Poole, Aliyah, Ashlynn, Jaida, Brylee, Pyper, and Van Dean.

Funeral service was January 7,   at Hillside Baptist Church in Statesville with Pastor Fred Shoemaker and Pastor Barbara Bunton officiating. Burial  followed in Gordon Baptist Church Cemetery in North Wilkesboro.  

           Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

 Betty Hardison, 83

Mrs. Betty Salre McBride Hardison, age 83 died Wednesday, January 2, 2019 in the Curis Nursing Home in Wilkesboro, NC.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 12, 2019 at Reins Sturdivant Chapel with Rev. Casey Walker officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30 until 1:30 PM prior to the service at Reins Sturdivant Funeral Home.

She was born in Ronda, NC on December 16, 1935 to the late Artis Gentry and Ella Elizabeth McBride. She attended Lincoln Heights High School and retired from the furniture industry.  Before her illness, Betty loved to travel. She was filled with compassion and interest in others. Betty made friends easily and maintained contact with many. She was a member of Mountain Valley Missionary Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband; Jackie Hardison, a sister; Laura M. McBride and a brother; Raymond Hague.

Mrs. Hardison is survived by her son; Lester Butch and wife Pamela McBride of Ronda, three grandchildren; Trevor Carson, Lolita Carmichael and Lester Bridgette Jones, a great grandchild; Dallas Wylene Carson, a sister; Barbara Sexton of Waldorf, MD and like a sister; Penelope (Pat) Sales of Walkertown, and three brothers; Artis Clemons McBride of Columbus, OH, Robert Hague and wife Louise of Ronda and Spencer Sales and wife Florence of Evanston, IL and a host of nieces and nephews.

A Special Thanks to Ellis and Karen McBride.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200 Mt.  Airy, NC 27030.

Genevieve   Turner, 90

Genevieve G. Turner, age 90, of North Wilkesboro, passed away Tuesday, January 1, 2019 at Wilkes Senior Village. She was born May 30, 1928 in Wilkes County to Hamilton and Jennie Kilby Turner.

Mrs. Turner was a member of Mountain Valley Baptist Church and was previously employed for 15 years with Wilkes Senior Center as a receptionist.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband's, Paris Kilby and Cyrus Shumate; sisters, Pauline Kilby and Ruby Lynn; two half-sisters; and two half-brothers.

Surviving are her niece, Carolyn Stoker and husband Dale of Hickory; special nieces, Laura Andrews and husband Brian, Jane Nichols and husband Allen all of Boomer; special nephew, Andy Stoker and wife Cacey of Hickory; other nieces and nephews.

Graveside service was January 5,   at Mountain Valley Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Scott Church officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mountain Valley Baptist Church, 1264 Mtn. Valley Church Road, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

 Vickie  Torrence, 61

Vickie Roxanne McCarter Torrence, age 61, of North Wilkesboro, passed away surrounded by her family Tuesday, January 1, 2019 at Wake Forest Baptist Health-Wilkes Regional Center. She was born March 11, 1957 in Wilkes County to Jimmie Pressley and Hazel Lena Flinchum McCarter.

Vickie enjoyed attending church, the beach, plants and flowers, singing, observing nature and loved talking to people. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Jacqueline McCarter and a brother, David McCarter.

Surviving are her husband, Dennis Torrence, and a son, Nathan Torrence of North Wilkesboro. Also surviving are her siblings, Ella Mae Sparks and husband Linvel of Traphill, Jim W. McCarter, Sr., Steve McCarter, Jeannie Woodie and husband Charles, Debbie M. Johnson all of North Wilkesboro, Richard McCarter of Taylorsville, and Rita Shepherd and husband Michael of North Wilkesboro.

Funeral service was January 4,   at Calvary Baptist Church on Pads Road with Rev. Christopher Shumate, Rev. Kenny Anderson and Rev. Mark Hall officiating. Burial   followed in the church cemetery.  

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 1624  Pads Road, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.

Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

 Kimberly  Byrd, 57

Kimberly Gilreath Byrd, age 57, of North Wilkesboro, passed away Monday, December 31, 2018 at Wake Forest Baptist Health-Wilkes Regional Center. She was born June 22, 1961 in Wilkes County to Hoyle and Alma Dancy Gilreath. Kimberly was a member of Victory Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Charles Gilreath; and sister, Jane owens.

Surviving are her husband, Charles Keith Byrd; son, Brandon Keith Byrd and wife April of Millers Creek; daughter, Megan Marie Byrd of North Wilkesboro; granddaughter, Kyra Rose Byrd; step grandchildren, Derek and Kobe Pennington; brothers, Rev. Jimmy Gilreath and wife Margie of Hays, Jerry Gilreath and wife Virginia, William Gilreath and wife Kay all of North Wilkesboro; sisters, Debbie Bowers and husband Mike, Pattie Gilreath Royal all of North Wilkesboro.

Funeral service was January 6, 2019 at Victory Baptist Church with Rev. Tim Pruitt officiating. Burial   followed in the church cemetery.                           Memorials may be made to Miller Funeral Service to help assist with funeral expenses.

Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

Pallbearers were David Byrd, Matthew Byrd, Andrew Byrd, Phillip Royal, Brandon Byrd and Derrick Bell.

 Annie  Handy,   77

Annie Marie Absher Handy, age 77, of North Wilkesboro, passed away Monday, December 31, 2018 at her home. She was born July 2, 1941 in Wilkes County to Hansel and Maude Vannoy Absher. Ms. Handy was a member of Round Mtn. Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; three children, Ricky Vance Handy, Deborah Diane Bentley, Lisa Anne Handy; brother, Kenneth Absher; and sister, Edith Carol Norris.

Surviving are her daughters, Kathy Huffman and husband Michael of Wilkesboro, Mary Handy of Hickory; brother, Bob Absher and wife Beverly of Moravian Falls; nine grandchildren; several great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral service was January 5,   at Miller Funeral Chapel with Rev. Sherrill Wellborn officiating. Burial  followed in Mountlawn Memorial Park.  Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 2361, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.

Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

  Mrs. Hazel Johnson Hendren

Mrs. Hazel Johnson Hendren, age 92 of Moravian Falls passed away Monday, December 31, 2018 at Wilkes Senior Village.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, January 5, 2019 at Liberty Baptist Church with Rev. Billy Felts, Rev. Clyde Holleman, Rev. Eddie tharpe, Rev. Randy Campbell officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 PM prior to the service at the church.

Mrs. Hendren was born December 11, 1926. She was a homemaker and a member of Liberty Baptist Church.  

She was preceded in death by her husband; Roy Ernest Hendren, two sons; Eddie Wayne Hendren and Larry Eugene Hendren.

She is survived by three daughters; Shirley Walsh and husband Larry of Boomer, Barbara Jean Brown and husband Kenneth of Wilkesboro, Kathy Harris and husband Robert of Ferguson, a daughter-in-law; Sandra "Sis" Hendren, three sons; E.J. Hendren of Wilkesboro, Gary Hendren of Moravian Falls and Terry Hendren and wife Donna of Moravian Falls, seventeen grandchildren; Rodney Walsh and wife Jodi, Jody Walsh and wife Megan, Sandra Hendren, John Hendren and wife Nena, Melissa Hendren, Beth Huffman and husband Zach, L.J. Hendren, Jr., Amy Riddle, Kendra Dietrich and husband Steve, Scottie Brown and wife Christy, Josh Brown and wife Jessica, Devin Harris and wife Sarah, Melissa Brady and husband Patrick, Tabitha Taylor and husband Curtis, Michael Wayne Hendren, Jenna Cox and husband Luke, Cameron Hendren, thirty-four great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren, a niece; Tersa Owens and husband Keith and a nephew; Phillip Carter.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Mrs. Gwendolyn White, 11409 Brushy Mtn. Road, Moravian  Falls, NC 28654

Online condolences may be made to www.reinssturdivant.com.

    Joey Lee Call, age 59

Joey Lee Call, age 59, of North Wilkesboro, passed away Monday, December 31, 2018 at his home. He was born September 10, 1959 in Wilkes County to Clarence James and Della Elizabeth Transeau Call. Mr. Call loved to fish, work with electronics; and play music on the guitar and piano. Joey was preceded in death by his father; brother, Danny Call; and sister, Sandra Call.

Surviving are his wife, Lesa Joines Call; son, Joshua Lee Call of the home; his mother, Della Transeau Call of North Wilkesboro; sister, Patricia Billings and husband Dennis of Wilkesboro; brothers, Johnny Call and wife Mary of Wilkesboro, Jeff Call and wife Norma of North Wilkesboro; several nieces and nephews.

Memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 3, 2019 at Miller Funeral Chapel. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105-9956. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.millerfuneralservice.com

  Garvey Shepherd, age 82

Garvey Shepherd, age 82, of Hays, passed away Sunday, December 30, 2018 at his home. He was born July 18, 1936 in Wilkes County to Amos and Vertie Brooks Shepherd. He was number 10 of 12 siblings. Garvey was a Faithful member of Little Mountain Baptist Church and a Deacon for 43 years. Garvey was an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting, fishing; and gardening, while being at peace in his Lord's creation. Mr. Shepherd was retired from Greene Brothers Furniture. Mr. Shepherd was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Cora Benge, Bertha McCann, Leona Billings, Mary Templeton Parks, Lura Pardue and Ruby Spicer; brothers, Homer Shepherd, Charlie Shepherd, Wallace Shepherd and Ivan Shepherd.

Surviving are his wife, Betty Jones Shepherd; his children, Darrell Shepherd and wife Gail, Donna McManus and husband Rodney all of Hays, Mark Shepherd and wife Tammie of North Wilkesboro; grandchildren, Eric Shepherd and wife Kim, Jason Shepherd and Amber Walls, Rev. Ronnie McManus and wife Tracee, Clint McManus and wife Rachel, Tiffany Shepherd, Daniel Shepherd; ten great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; and sister, Mable Brann of Reidsville.

Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 3, 2019 at Little Mountain Baptist Church with Rev. Ronnie McManus, Rev. Brian Mathis, Rev. Cheslie Johnson and Rev. Joey McClure officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Rev. Richard Reavis and Rev. Steven Shumate officiating. The family will receive friends at Miller Funeral Service from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday night. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Little Mountain Fellowship Building c/o Eric Shepherd, 913 Mann Harrold Road, Hays, NC 28635 or to Mountain Valley Hospice, 688 North Bridge Street, Elkin, NC 28621. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be made to

www.millerfuneralservice.com

Pallbearers will be grandchildren and great grandchildren, Jason Shepherd, Eric Shepherd, Daniel Shepherd, Lance McManus, Rodney McManus, Clint McManus. Honorary pallbearers will be Ethan McManus, Eli Shepherd and Caleb McManus.

  Ivory (Junior) Miles

Ivory (Junior) Miles, better known as June, age 85, of Hays, passed away Sunday, December 30, 2018 at Wilkes Senior Village. He was born October 3, 1933 in Wilkes County to Charles and Nona Harrold Miles. Mr. Miles was a member of Zion Baptist Church in Hays. He was the young peoples' Sunday School teacher for several years. He was retired from American Drew Furniture and Key City Furniture. Junior was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Catherine Miller Miles; sister, Rosalee Myers; brother-in-law, John Myers; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Otto and Mamie Miller.

Surviving are his nephew, Gary Myers and wife Judy of Hays; great niece, Julie Call of Hays; cousins, Irene Sebastian and Vetra Sebastian both of Hays; sister and brother-in-law, David and Bernice Osborne of Greenville, South Carolina; nephew, Steve Osborne of South  Carolina; and several other cousins.

Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at Zion Baptist Church with Rev. Julius Blevins and Rev. Junior Harrold officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at Zion Baptist Church from 1:00 until 2:00 on Wednesday, prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Zion Baptist Church Building Fund or Cemetery Fund, Zion Church Road, Hays, NC 28635. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.millerfuneralservice.com

  Mr. Larry Rex "Butch" Walker

Mr. Larry Rex "Butch" Walker, age 73 of North Wilkesboro, died Saturday, December 29, 2018 at his home.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at Hilltop Baptist Church with  Rev. Rodney Blake, Rev. Glen Dancy, III, and Rev. Ronnie Gregory officiating. Burial will be in Mountlawn Memorial Park.  The family will receive friends from 12:30 PM until 1:30 PM at the church prior to the service.

Mr. Walker was born July 4, 1945 in New Hanover County to Grover Wheeler and Hessie Handy Walker.  He was a member of Hilltop Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Ted Walker.

He is survived by his two daughters, Dawn Walker Dowell and husband, Randy, and Emily Walker Sebastian and husband, Adam, all of North Wilkesboro; four grandchildren, Scott Shumate, Jacob Smithey, Zoe Combs and Skye Sebastian; two great-grandchildren, Tyler Shumate and Dylan Shumate; one sister, Sue Luther of North Wilkesboro; and one sister-in-law, Gladys Walker, of Moravian Falls.  

Flowers will be accepted or memorials made to Alzheimer's Foundation, 4600 Park Road, Suite  250, Charlotte NC 28209.

Online condolences may be made to www.reinssturdivant.com.

  Gene Richard Kovacs

Mr. Gene Richard Kovacs, age 62 of Roaring River, passed away Thursday, December 27, 2018 at his home.

Funeral services will be held 4:00 PM Monday, December 31, 2018 at Reins-Sturdivant Chapel with the Rev. Karen Roberts officiating.  The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 4:00 PM Monday prior to the service at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home.

Mr. Kovacs was born November 29, 1956 in Perth Amboy, NJ to Frank and Jean Anderson Kovacs. He was retired from Tyson Foods.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Brian Kovacs.

 He is survived by his wife, Frances McNamara Kovacs of the home; two daughters, Kera Kovacs and Megan Kovacs of the home; a sister, Melody Ann Magera and husband, Michael, of New Jersey; a brother, Frank Kovacs and wife, Darlene, of New Jersey; and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Online condolences may be made at www.reinssturdivant.com.

[plusorminuscongress]

New story in Politics from Time: Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner Could Profit From Tax Break They Helped Push, Report Says

(WASHINGTON) — At an Oval Office gathering earlier this year, President Donald Trump began touting his administration’s new real estate investment program, which offers massive tax breaks to developers who invest in downtrodden American communities. He then turned to one of the plan’s strongest supporters.

“Ivanka, would you like to say something?” Trump asked his daughter. “You’ve been pushing this very hard.”

The Opportunity Zone program promoted by Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner — both senior White House advisers — could also benefit them financially, an Associated Press investigation found.

Government watchdogs say the case underscores the ethical minefield they created two years ago when they became two of the closest advisers to the president without divesting from their extensive real estate investments.

Trump and Kushner jointly own a big stake in a real estate investment firm, Cadre, that recently announced it is launching a series of Opportunity Zone funds that seek to build major projects under the program from Miami to Los Angeles. Separately, the couple owns interests in at least 13 properties held by Kushner’s family firm that could qualify for the tax breaks because they are in Opportunity Zones in New Jersey, New York and Maryland — all of which, a study found, were already coming back.

Six of the Kushner Cos. buildings are in New York City’s Brooklyn Heights area, with views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline, where a five-bedroom apartment recently listed for $8 million. Two more are in the beach town of Long Branch, N.J., where some oceanfront condos within steps of a white-tablecloth Italian restaurant and a Lululemon yoga shop list for as much as $2.7 million.

There’s no evidence the couple had a hand in selecting any of the nation’s 8,700 Opportunity Zones, and the company has not indicated it plans to seek tax breaks under the new program. But the Kushners could profit even if they don’t do anything — by potentially benefiting from a recent surge in Opportunity Zone property values amid a gold rush of interest from developers and investors.

Ivanka Trump’s advocacy for the Opportunity Zone program “creates a direct conflict of interest with her spouse’s investment in Cadre,” said Virginia Canter, chief ethics counsel for the nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. “Jared Kushner’s interests are Ivanka Trump’s interests and vice versa.”

The couple’s financial disclosures show their jointly held financial empire is worth between $200 million and $800 million, with much of it in real estate, including a stake of between $25 million and $50 million in Cadre. Those documents state they must recuse themselves from dealing with policy matters that touch on real estate and “would have a direct and predictable effect on Cadre.” Ivanka Trump also has interests in Trump Organization properties which are not located inside Opportunity Zones.

“Ms. Trump has divested assets, set up trusts, removed herself from businesses and decisions about her investments,” Abbe Lowell, ethics counsel for the couple, said in a statement. “In addition, she adheres to the ethics advice she has received from counsel about what issues she can work on and those to which she is recused.”

The Kushner Cos. did not respond to requests for comment.

President Trump was scheduled to attend an Opportunity Zone event in Washington on Wednesday that would depict the program as a boon to distressed communities. White House spokesman Hogan Gidley told the AP that individual state governors of both parties nominate communities for Opportunity Zone designation “based on what underserved areas would benefit most. … The White House has nothing to do with those decisions.”

The Investing in Opportunity Act, which became law last December as part of the Republican-sponsored tax overhaul, never gained traction when it was first proposed during the Obama administration, but it quickly found favor in a White House headed and dominated by real estate developers and investors.

A significant moment came when the law’s key GOP sponsor, South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, met President Trump after the violence-plagued white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August of 2017.

Trump promised Scott his support for Opportunity Zones as a way to show his administration’s outreach to minority communities. But Scott had already found a supporter weeks earlier in Trump’s daughter, in conversations that grew out of previous meetings about passing a child care tax credit.

Political sponsors and lobbyists told the AP that Ivanka Trump played an important role in promoting the legislation, while Kushner was also quietly supportive behind the scenes.

“Ivanka was on board with it,” said Sean Smith, Scott’s communications director. After their first conversation, Smith said Scott and Ivanka Trump talked by phone and in person nearly a dozen times. He added that Scott also spoke to Kushner about the program, but noted, “It was much more Ivanka than Jared.”

A team from Economic Innovation Group, or EIG, a Washington think tank that pioneered the Opportunity Zones concept, met with top Kushner aides Reed Cordish and Chris Liddell two weeks before the tax reform bill was passed.

Funded by Napster founder and early Facebook investor Sean Parker, EIG spent more than $1.4 million on lobbying over the past two years, both before and after the Investing in Opportunity Act passed. The group met with White House officials every quarter since the start of the Trump administration, and also met with frequently with officials from Treasury and other White House agencies, records show.

“Creating the incentive to bring capital into communities that are currently being overlooked is just a tremendous opportunity,” Ivanka Trump said as her father and a crowd of supporters nodded during the White House session February 14.

Last month, at a dinner in Washington put on by the conservative Kemp Foundation, Scott singled out Ivanka Trump as his point person on the initiative. “When we were looking for help to get the tax bill across the finish line,” he said, “I kept looking to the same person for help in the White House.”

There is no indication the couple directly intervened in the shaping of the Opportunity Zone program specifically to advance their financial interests. And public officials say there is no evidence that any actions were taken to influence the selection of Opportunity Zone boundaries.

But backers of the program acknowledge that Ivanka Trump’s out-front role drummed up interest from public officials and financial stakeholders.

Along with the Kushner-tied Cadre Opportunity Zone funds, more than 50 real estate and private equity interests have made plans in recent weeks to create investment funds under the program, including several with ties to the couple and the Trump administration.

Last month, former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci launched an opportunity zone fund tied to his Skybridge Capital investment firm, aiming to build projects worth more than $3 billion. Opportunity Zone funds have also been set up recently by New York-based Normandy Real Estate Partners and Heritage Equity Partners, two firms that have worked with Kushner Cos. on real estate ventures.

They are flocking to what financial analysts say are some of the most generous tax benefits they have ever seen. Investors who plow capital gains from previous investments into Opportunity Zone projects can defer taxes on those gains up to 2026. If they decide not to cash out their investment for seven years, they get to exclude up to 15 percent of those gains from taxes. And they can permanently avoid paying taxes on any new gains from investment in the zones if they hold onto the investment for a decade. With capital gains taxes as high as 23.8 percent, the savings can easily add up.

Government officials have estimated the program would cost $1.5 billion in lost tax revenue over 10 years, but Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has estimated the zones would attract up to $100 billion in renewal efforts.

While the Opportunity Zone program mostly targets census tracts of high poverty and unemployment, it also allows “contiguous” tracts that might not be low-income, but are close enough to deprived communities to be eligible.

Critics say that could allow developers to cash in by targeting zones already teeming with investment and gentrified neighborhoods. Amazon’s recent decision to locate a new headquarters in the bustling New York City neighborhood of Long Island City, for example, drew rebukes following reports it was in an Opportunity Zone.

A study by the Urban Institute in Washington found that nearly a third of the more than 8,700 Opportunity Zones nationwide — and all 13 of the ones containing Kushner properties — were showing signs of heavy investment and gentrification, based on such factors as rent increases and the percentage of college-educated residents.

The Kushners’ most immediate advantage could come from their investment in Cadre. CEO Ryan Williams announced late last month that Cadre was starting up an Opportunity Zone fund that would aim to build major development projects in designated areas of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Miami.

The company said the program “fits with Cadre’s commitment to identifying opportunities in less-advantaged areas that are primed for growth.”

By Stephen Braun, Jeff Horwitz and Bernard Condon / AP on December 12, 2018 at 08:04AM

[ceaselessims]

For: anonymous Pairing: cockles Rating: NC-17 tags: misha pov, shipper!jared, implied polyamory, might be seen as dub-con because of drunkeness

Misha blames the alcohol. No, scratch that, he blames Jared. He loves the guy but suggesting they play dirty truth or dare when they’re this hammered was definitely no how Misha thought this night was going to end. Shit, he wishes he was sober enough to actually fully appreciate what was going on because there is no way in hell that he wouldn’t want to remember every detail of a very naked Jensen Ackles in his shower.

He can vaguely recall Jared’s teasing sneer as Jensen tipsily muttered “Dare” before the phrase “I dare you to stand under the shower with Misha for ten minutes. Naked” escaped Jared’s mouth. Motherfucker probably thought he was being fucking hilarious. Danneel and Vicki had seemed very enthused, encouraging and pushing them into the bathroom together.

He remembers Jensen fumbling with his belt and yanking his pants off in one quick swoop, no caring that this was going to be the first time they saw each other naked since they had their talk about liking each other. Shit. This is no how Misha had wanted to do things. But as his drunken mind takes in the sight of Jensen standing in the shower, bow legs splayed with his gorgeous cock resting between them as he relaxes in the steam of the shower, Misha can’t find himself to care.

So that’s how Misha’s ended up drunk off his ass with an equally intoxicated Jensen Ackles in the shower of his hotel room, pressed chest to chest, breaking in each other’s breath. He’s actually surprised when he feels his cock twitch at the sight of Jensen beneath him in this state. Fuck, what he wouldn’t give to have Jensen fucking him up against this shower wall. That earns him another twitch of his cock.

“I dunno what to do Mish” Jensen’s eyes are wide as if he’s beginning to fully understand what exactly is happening. Even in Misha’s drunken state he can see Jensen’s about to start freaking out.

“Shh, shh,” Misha mumbles, presses kisses to Jensen’s cheek and down his neck.

“I’ve never done anything…” Jensen is starting to freak out but then Misha’s dick slides against his as he tries to shift his weight. That earns Misha a moan from the man beneath his and his breath catches in his throat. There are two things he can do. He can either get up off Jensen and get dress, because ten minutes has probably already passed, or he can canter his hips forward again and let his cock take the lead.

In the end, it’s Jensen who makes the decision. They’re both drunk, but no so drunk that Misha doesn’t miss the invitation to continue when Jensen thrusts up again, dragging their cocks together and gripping the back of Misha’s neck. Its futile to try to resist in his state but before he succumbs to the overwhelming desire to have Jensen right there, he manages to choke out, “Do you want this?”

And when Jensen groans out “Yes.” From beneath him, Misha surges forward. The alcohol in his system doesn’t let Misha kiss Jensen the way he really wants to but the way Jensen cants his hips up in time with his thrusts distracts Misha from his thoughts. Misha clamps a hand over Jensen’s mouth, no trust him to be quiet, as he takes their cocks in his hand and begins  to stroke.

Tremors shudder through them both as the slick slide of Misha’s hand passes over them over and over again. Under his palm, Misha can feel Jensen’s whimpers and moans that get caught there. Misha has to bite his own lips to keep from shouting at on particularly good twist of his wrist.

Given their state, Misha shouldn’t be surprised when the coil in his bell starts to unfurl earlier than usual. Judging my the way Jensen’s thighs tremble, Misha has it on good authority that he’s close too. On a quick whim, Misha drops to his knees and grips Jensen’s thighs. Before he can think about what he’s doing, he takes the head of Jensen’s cock in his mouth and swallows him down as far as he can go.

Jensen lets out an obscene noise before Misha has the chance to cover his mouth again. Misha lets his throat go lax and encourages Jensen to fuck his mouth as he brings down a hand to his cock, working it over thoroughly. It’s only a few thrusts in his mouth before Jensen is coming, the salty taste of his come dull in through Misha’s drunk, overridden senses. Misha comes as he struggles to swallow all Jensen had emptied into his mouth.

On shaky legs, he forces himself to get up and kiss Jensen once again.

Three sharp knock jarr their collective drunk minds.

“You guys okay in there?” They hear Danneel slur.

“If you guys are having sex, it’s okay!” Misha hears Vicki drawl out.

They are never going to live this down.

[vm4vm0]

Wallows | These Days from Daniel Iglesias Jr. on Vimeo.

CREDITS: Director - Daniel Iglesias Jr. Concept - Jared Hogan Production Company - Psycho Films Commissioner - Mandee Mallonee Producer - Sam Canter Production Manager - Bridgette Hayes 1st AD - Michael Coursey Cinematographer - Casey Stolberg 1st AC - Jordan Oglesby 2nd AC - Ethan Kukulski Gaffer - Luka Pascalicchio Key Grip - Jamey Srock Swing - Jason Klinger Production Designer - Haley Appell Art Assistant - Hattie Smith Art Assistant - Simone Moscovitch MUA - Megan Lauchner Colorist: Tyler Roth Stunt Coordinator - Darryl Reeves PA - Case Huebel, Vincent Streech, William Bynan

CAST: Girl - Taylor Allard Paramedic - Floyd Linzie

[mikemortgage]

AP: Ivanka, Kushner could profit from tax break they pushed

WASHINGTON — At an Oval Office gathering earlier this year, President Donald Trump began touting his administration’s new “Opportunity Zone” program that offers massive tax breaks to developers who invest in downtrodden American communities. He then turned to one of the plan’s strongest supporters.

“Ivanka, would you like to say something?” Trump asked his daughter. “You’ve been pushing this very hard.”

The Opportunity Zone program promoted by Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner — both senior White House advisers — could also benefit them financially, an Associated Press investigation found.

Government watchdogs say the case underscores the ethical minefield they created two years ago when they became two of the closest advisers to the president without divesting from their extensive real estate investments.

They jointly own a big stake in a real estate investment firm, Cadre, that recently announced it is launching a series of Opportunity Zone funds that seek to build major projects under the program from Miami to Los Angeles. Separately, the couple owns interests in at least 13 properties held by Kushner’s family firm that could qualify for the tax breaks because they are in Opportunity Zones in New Jersey, New York and Maryland.

There’s no evidence the couple had a hand in the selecting any of the nation’s 8,700 Opportunity Zones, and the company has not indicated it plans to seek tax breaks under the new program. But the Kushners could profit even if they don’t do anything — by potentially benefiting from a recent surge in Opportunity Zone property values amid a gold rush of interest from developers and investors.

Ivanka Trump’s advocacy for the Opportunity Zone program “creates a direct conflict of interest with her spouse’s investment in Cadre,” said Virginia Canter, chief ethics counsel for the non-profit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

The couple’s financial disclosures show their jointly held financial empire is worth between $200 million and $800 million, with much of it in real estate, including a stake of between $25 million and $50 million in Cadre. Those documents state they must recuse themselves from dealing with policy matters that touch on real estate and “would have a direct and predictable effect on Cadre.”

Abbe Lowell, ethics counsel for the couple, said in a statement that Ivanka Trump “adheres to the ethics advice she has received from counsel about what issues she can work on and those to which she is recused.”

The Kushner Cos. did not respond to requests for comment.

President Trump was scheduled to attend an Opportunity Zone event in Washington on Wednesday that would depict the program as a boon to distressed communities. Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley told the AP that individual state governors of both parties nominate communities for Opportunity Zone designation. “The White House has nothing to do with those decisions,” he said.

The Investing in Opportunity Act, which became law last December as part of the Republican-sponsored tax overhaul, never gained traction when it was first proposed during the Obama administration, but it quickly found favour in a White House headed and dominated by real estate developers and investors.

A significant moment came when the law’s key GOP sponsor, South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, met President Trump after the violence-plagued white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017.

Trump promised Scott his support for Opportunity Zones as a way to show his administration’s outreach to minority communities. But Scott had already found a supporter weeks earlier in Trump’s daughter, in conversations that grew out of previous meetings about passing a child care tax credit.

Political sponsors and lobbyists told the AP that Ivanka Trump played an important role in promoting the legislation, while Kushner was also quietly supportive behind the scenes.

Sean Smith, Scott’s communications director, said that after their first conversation, Scott and Ivanka Trump talked by phone and in person nearly a dozen times. He added that Scott also spoke to Kushner about the program, but noted, “It was much more Ivanka than Jared.”

There is no indication the Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner directly intervened in the shaping of the Opportunity Zone program specifically to advance their financial interests. But backers of the program acknowledge that Ivanka Trump’s out-front role drummed up interest from public officials and financial stakeholders.

Along with the Kushner-tied Cadre Opportunity Zone funds, more than 50 real estate and private equity interests have made plans in recent weeks to create investment funds under the program.

Government officials have estimated the program would cost $1.5 billion in lost tax revenue over 10 years, but Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has estimated the zones would attract up to $100 billion in renewal efforts.

While the Opportunity Zone program mostly targets census tracts of high poverty and unemployment, it also allows “contiguous” tracts that might not be low-income, but are close enough to deprived communities to be eligible.

Critics say that could allow developers to cash in by targeting zones already teeming with investment and gentrified neighbourhoods. A study by the Urban Institute in Washington found that nearly a third of the more than 8,700 Opportunity Zones nationwide — and all 13 of the ones containing Kushner properties — were showing signs of heavy investment and gentrification.

from Financial Post https://ift.tt/2SNutkT via IFTTT Blogger Mortgage Tumblr Mortgage Evernote Mortgage Wordpress Mortgage href="https://www.diigo.com/user/gelsi11">Diigo Mortgage

[jasonheart1]

AP: Ivanka, Kushner could profit from tax break

WASHINGTON (AP) — At an Oval Office gathering earlier this year, President Donald Trump began touting his administration's new real estate investment program, which offers massive tax breaks to developers who invest in downtrodden American communities. He then turned to one of the plan's strongest supporters.

"Ivanka, would you like to say something?" Trump asked his daughter. "You've been pushing this very hard."

The Opportunity Zone program promoted by Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner — both senior White House advisers — could also benefit them financially, an Associated Press investigation found.

Government watchdogs say the couple's financial interests underscore the ethical minefield they created two years ago when they became two of the closest advisers to the president without divesting from their extensive real estate investments.

Trump and Kushner jointly own a big stake in a real estate investment firm, Cadre, that recently announced it is launching a series of Opportunity Zone funds that seek to build major projects under the program from Miami to Los Angeles. Separately, the couple owns interests in at least 13 properties held by Kushner's family firm that could qualify for the tax breaks because they are in Opportunity Zones in New Jersey, New York and Maryland — all of which, a study found, were already coming back.

Six of the Kushner Cos. buildings are in New York City's Brooklyn Heights area, with views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline, where a five-bedroom apartment recently listed for $8 million. Two more are in the beach town of Long Branch, N.J., where some oceanfront condos within steps of a white-tablecloth Italian restaurant and a Lululemon yoga shop list for as much as $2.7 million.

There's no evidence the couple had a hand in selecting any of the nation's 8,700 Opportunity Zones, and the company has not indicated it plans to seek tax breaks under the new program. But the Kushners could profit even if they don't do anything — by potentially benefiting from a recent surge in Opportunity Zone property values amid a gold rush of interest from developers and investors.

Ivanka Trump's advocacy for the Opportunity Zone program "creates a direct conflict of interest with her spouse's investment in Cadre," said Virginia Canter, chief ethics counsel for the nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. "Jared Kushner's interests are Ivanka Trump's interests and vice versa."

The couple's financial disclosures show their jointly held financial empire is worth between $200 million and $800 million, with much of it in real estate, including a stake of between $25 million and $50 million in Cadre. Those documents state they must recuse themselves from dealing with policy matters that touch on real estate and "would have a direct and predictable effect on Cadre." Ivanka Trump also has interests in Trump Organization properties which are not located inside Opportunity Zones.

"Ms. Trump has divested assets, set up trusts, removed herself from businesses and decisions about her investments," Abbe Lowell, ethics counsel for the couple, said in a statement. "In addition, she adheres to the ethics advice she has received from counsel about what issues she can work on and those to which she is recused."

The Kushner Cos. did not respond to requests for comment.

President Trump was scheduled to attend an Opportunity Zone event in Washington on Wednesday that would depict the program as a boon to distressed communities. White House spokesman Hogan Gidley told the AP that individual state governors of both parties nominate communities for Opportunity Zone designation "based on what underserved areas would benefit most. ... The White House has nothing to do with those decisions."

The Investing in Opportunity Act, which became law last December as part of the Republican-sponsored tax overhaul, never gained traction when it was first proposed during the Obama administration, but it quickly found favor in a White House headed and dominated by real estate developers and investors.

A significant moment came when the law's key GOP sponsor, South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, met President Trump after the violence-plagued white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August of 2017.

Trump promised Scott his support for Opportunity Zones as a way to show his administration's outreach to minority communities. But Scott had already found a supporter weeks earlier in Trump's daughter, in conversations that grew out of previous meetings about passing a child care tax credit.

Political sponsors and lobbyists told the AP that Ivanka Trump played an important role in promoting the legislation, while Kushner was also quietly supportive behind the scenes.

"Ivanka was on board with it," said Sean Smith, Scott's communications director. After their first conversation, Smith said Scott and Ivanka Trump talked by phone and in person nearly a dozen times. He added that Scott also spoke to Kushner about the program, but noted, "It was much more Ivanka than Jared."

A team from Economic Innovation Group, or EIG, a Washington think tank that pioneered the Opportunity Zones concept, met with top Kushner aides Reed Cordish and Chris Liddell two weeks before the tax reform bill was passed.

Funded by Napster founder and early Facebook investor Sean Parker, EIG spent more than $1.4 million on lobbying over the past two years, both before and after the Investing in Opportunity Act passed. The group met with White House officials every quarter since the start of the Trump administration, and also met with frequently with officials from Treasury and other White House agencies, records show.

"Creating the incentive to bring capital into communities that are currently being overlooked is just a tremendous opportunity," Ivanka Trump said as her father and a crowd of supporters nodded during the White House session February 14.

Last month, at a dinner in Washington put on by the conservative Kemp Foundation, Scott singled out Ivanka Trump as his point person on the initiative. "When we were looking for help to get the tax bill across the finish line," he said, "I kept looking to the same person for help in the White House."

There is no indication the couple directly intervened in the shaping of the Opportunity Zone program specifically to advance their financial interests. And public officials say there is no evidence that any actions were taken to influence the selection of Opportunity Zone boundaries.

But backers of the program acknowledge that Ivanka Trump's out-front role drummed up interest from public officials and financial stakeholders.

Along with the Kushner-tied Cadre Opportunity Zone funds, more than 50 real estate and private equity interests have made plans in recent weeks to create investment funds under the program, including several with ties to the couple and the Trump administration.

Last month, former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci launched an opportunity zone fund tied to his Skybridge Capital investment firm, aiming to build projects worth more than $3 billion. Opportunity Zone funds have also been set up recently by New York-based Normandy Real Estate Partners and Heritage Equity Partners, two firms that have worked with Kushner Cos. on real estate ventures.

They are flocking to what financial analysts say are some of the most generous tax benefits they have ever seen. Investors who plow capital gains from previous investments into Opportunity Zone projects can defer taxes on those gains up to 2026. If they decide not to cash out their investment for seven years, they get to exclude up to 15 percent of those gains from taxes. And they can permanently avoid paying taxes on any new gains from investment in the zones if they hold onto the investment for a decade. With capital gains taxes as high as 23.8 percent, the savings can easily add up.

Government officials have estimated the program would cost $1.5 billion in lost tax revenue over 10 years, but Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has estimated the zones would attract up to $100 billion in renewal efforts.

While the Opportunity Zone program mostly targets census tracts of high poverty and unemployment, it also allows "contiguous" tracts that might not be low-income, but are close enough to deprived communities to be eligible.

Critics say that could allow developers to cash in by targeting zones already teeming with investment and gentrified neighborhoods. Amazon's recent decision to locate a new headquarters in the bustling New York City neighborhood of Long Island City, for example, drew rebukes following reports it was in an Opportunity Zone.

A study by the Urban Institute in Washington found that nearly a third of the more than 8,700 Opportunity Zones nationwide — and all 13 of the ones containing Kushner properties — were showing signs of heavy investment and gentrification, based on such factors as rent increases and the percentage of college-educated residents.

The Kushners' most immediate advantage could come from their investment in Cadre. CEO Ryan Williams announced late last month that Cadre was starting up an Opportunity Zone fund that would aim to build major development projects in designated areas of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Miami.

The company said the program "fits with Cadre's commitment to identifying opportunities in less-advantaged areas that are primed for growth."

from Local News https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/national-politics/ap-ivanka-kushner-could-profit-from-tax-break-they-pushed

[rubalcavah]

Wallows - These Days from Daniel Iglesias Jr. on Vimeo.

CREDITS: Director - Daniel Iglesias Jr. Concept - Jared Hogan Production Company - Psycho Films Commissioner - Mandee Mallonee Producer - Sam Canter Production Manager - Bridgette Hayes 1st AD - Michael Coursey Cinematographer - Casey Stolberg 1st AC - Jordan Oglesby 2nd AC - Ethan Kukulski Gaffer - Luka Pascalicchio Key Grip - Jamey Srock Swing - Jason Klinger Production Designer - Haley Appell Art Assistant - Hattie Smith Art Assistant - Simone Moscovitch MUA - Megan Lauchner Colorist: Tyler Roth Stunt Coordinator - Darryl Reeves PA - Case Huebel, Vincent Streech, William Bynan

CAST: Girl - Taylor Allard Paramedic - Floyd Linzie

[dragnews]

Security clearance for Russia probe may be hard for Giuliani: legal…

(Reuters) – Rudy Giuliani, who last month joined President Donald Trump’s legal team in the Russia probe, lacks a security clearance and may find it hard to get one to see classified documents because of his work with foreign clients, legal experts said.

FILE PHOTO: Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks to members of the media as he attends the funeral service for U.S. evangelist Billy Graham at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S., March 2, 2018. REUTERS/Chris Keane

Former New York mayor Giuliani told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that he would apply for top secret clearance, along with another Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow. Trump’s outgoing White House lawyer Ty Cobb has a security clearance but no one on his outside legal team has had once since lawyer John Dowd resigned in March.

“They said they would get it right away,” Giuliani said.

Giuliani’s work as a lawyer and security and business consultant during the past 16 years has included assignments on behalf of the government of Mexico City and the Qatari state oil company.

Many of his clients have not been publicly disclosed.

The contacts could raise red flags during his background check about his susceptibility to foreign influence, according to some legal experts. The security clearances are typically issued by the U.S. Department of Justice after FBI review. 

The contacts could “cause a significant delay, if not outright denial,” of clearance, said Virginia lawyer John V. Berry, who specializes in the area.

Berry said a slow clearance may be an issue if Giuliani negotiates with U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is looking into conclusions of intelligence agencies that Moscow interfered in the 2016 U.S. election.

“It’s hard to represent someone without knowing what’s in the files,” Berry said.

Washington national security lawyer Bradley Moss said he thought Trump’s team might ultimately decide it was too much trouble to get Giuliani a security clearance and “just keep him in the big picture.” Moss pointed out Giuliani has acted as the public face of the Trump team since coming aboard.

Both Berry and Moss said Trump has the power to grant a clearance, despite any concerns.

Given the involvement of intelligence agencies and issues of contact with Russia, some of the materials relevant to the investigation would be classified as top secret or higher. The Kremlin denies interference in the election and Trump denies any collusion with Moscow officials.

Giuliani did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday on whether he would have difficulty securing a clearance. On Thursday, he played down the importance of a clearance for his role.

“There are only a few excerpted portions that we have to see,” he said. “I know what’s in them from the newspapers but, to make sure, they’re getting me a security clearance.”

Sekulow said he started the process after Dowd left the legal team. He said other lawyers on the team would seek clearance as well.

Giuliani took a leave of absence, rather than resigning, from law firm Greenberg Traurig to join Trump’s legal team.

Virginia Canter, an ethics lawyer with watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said that is a potential problem because he is still tied to a firm that represents foreign governments.

Berry said investigators conducting background checks for security clearances look at how close a person’s ties are, what kind of money they receive from the contacts, and whether the country has interests adverse to the United States.

To get a clearance, candidates must fill out Standard Form 86, a 127-page document that Berry said “goes into every part of your life” and requires listing foreign contacts.

Moss said interim security clearances could be issued but only after the form is reviewed and there are no immediate red flags.

Trump son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner received a temporary clearance but lost access to highly classified information in February 2018. Kushner had not received his full security clearance because of his extensive business and financial connections.

Reporting by Karen Freifeld; editing by Anthony Lin and Grant McCool

The post Security clearance for Russia probe may be hard for Giuliani: legal… appeared first on World The News.

from World The News https://ift.tt/2KCtPDt via Today News

[dani-qrt]

Security clearance for Russia probe may be hard for Giuliani: legal…

(Reuters) – Rudy Giuliani, who last month joined President Donald Trump’s legal team in the Russia probe, lacks a security clearance and may find it hard to get one to see classified documents because of his work with foreign clients, legal experts said.

FILE PHOTO: Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks to members of the media as he attends the funeral service for U.S. evangelist Billy Graham at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S., March 2, 2018. REUTERS/Chris Keane

Former New York mayor Giuliani told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that he would apply for top secret clearance, along with another Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow. Trump’s outgoing White House lawyer Ty Cobb has a security clearance but no one on his outside legal team has had once since lawyer John Dowd resigned in March.

“They said they would get it right away,” Giuliani said.

Giuliani’s work as a lawyer and security and business consultant during the past 16 years has included assignments on behalf of the government of Mexico City and the Qatari state oil company.

Many of his clients have not been publicly disclosed.

The contacts could raise red flags during his background check about his susceptibility to foreign influence, according to some legal experts. The security clearances are typically issued by the U.S. Department of Justice after FBI review. 

The contacts could “cause a significant delay, if not outright denial,” of clearance, said Virginia lawyer John V. Berry, who specializes in the area.

Berry said a slow clearance may be an issue if Giuliani negotiates with U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is looking into conclusions of intelligence agencies that Moscow interfered in the 2016 U.S. election.

“It’s hard to represent someone without knowing what’s in the files,” Berry said.

Washington national security lawyer Bradley Moss said he thought Trump’s team might ultimately decide it was too much trouble to get Giuliani a security clearance and “just keep him in the big picture.” Moss pointed out Giuliani has acted as the public face of the Trump team since coming aboard.

Both Berry and Moss said Trump has the power to grant a clearance, despite any concerns.

Given the involvement of intelligence agencies and issues of contact with Russia, some of the materials relevant to the investigation would be classified as top secret or higher. The Kremlin denies interference in the election and Trump denies any collusion with Moscow officials.

Giuliani did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday on whether he would have difficulty securing a clearance. On Thursday, he played down the importance of a clearance for his role.

“There are only a few excerpted portions that we have to see,” he said. “I know what’s in them from the newspapers but, to make sure, they’re getting me a security clearance.”

Sekulow said he started the process after Dowd left the legal team. He said other lawyers on the team would seek clearance as well.

Giuliani took a leave of absence, rather than resigning, from law firm Greenberg Traurig to join Trump’s legal team.

Virginia Canter, an ethics lawyer with watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said that is a potential problem because he is still tied to a firm that represents foreign governments.

Berry said investigators conducting background checks for security clearances look at how close a person’s ties are, what kind of money they receive from the contacts, and whether the country has interests adverse to the United States.

To get a clearance, candidates must fill out Standard Form 86, a 127-page document that Berry said “goes into every part of your life” and requires listing foreign contacts.

Moss said interim security clearances could be issued but only after the form is reviewed and there are no immediate red flags.

Trump son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner received a temporary clearance but lost access to highly classified information in February 2018. Kushner had not received his full security clearance because of his extensive business and financial connections.

Reporting by Karen Freifeld; editing by Anthony Lin and Grant McCool

The post Security clearance for Russia probe may be hard for Giuliani: legal… appeared first on World The News.

from World The News https://ift.tt/2KCtPDt via Online News

[newestbalance]

Security clearance for Russia probe may be hard for Giuliani: legal…

(Reuters) – Rudy Giuliani, who last month joined President Donald Trump’s legal team in the Russia probe, lacks a security clearance and may find it hard to get one to see classified documents because of his work with foreign clients, legal experts said.

FILE PHOTO: Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks to members of the media as he attends the funeral service for U.S. evangelist Billy Graham at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S., March 2, 2018. REUTERS/Chris Keane

Former New York mayor Giuliani told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that he would apply for top secret clearance, along with another Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow. Trump’s outgoing White House lawyer Ty Cobb has a security clearance but no one on his outside legal team has had once since lawyer John Dowd resigned in March.

“They said they would get it right away,” Giuliani said.

Giuliani’s work as a lawyer and security and business consultant during the past 16 years has included assignments on behalf of the government of Mexico City and the Qatari state oil company.

Many of his clients have not been publicly disclosed.

The contacts could raise red flags during his background check about his susceptibility to foreign influence, according to some legal experts. The security clearances are typically issued by the U.S. Department of Justice after FBI review. 

The contacts could “cause a significant delay, if not outright denial,” of clearance, said Virginia lawyer John V. Berry, who specializes in the area.

Berry said a slow clearance may be an issue if Giuliani negotiates with U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is looking into conclusions of intelligence agencies that Moscow interfered in the 2016 U.S. election.

“It’s hard to represent someone without knowing what’s in the files,” Berry said.

Washington national security lawyer Bradley Moss said he thought Trump’s team might ultimately decide it was too much trouble to get Giuliani a security clearance and “just keep him in the big picture.” Moss pointed out Giuliani has acted as the public face of the Trump team since coming aboard.

Both Berry and Moss said Trump has the power to grant a clearance, despite any concerns.

Given the involvement of intelligence agencies and issues of contact with Russia, some of the materials relevant to the investigation would be classified as top secret or higher. The Kremlin denies interference in the election and Trump denies any collusion with Moscow officials.

Giuliani did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday on whether he would have difficulty securing a clearance. On Thursday, he played down the importance of a clearance for his role.

“There are only a few excerpted portions that we have to see,” he said. “I know what’s in them from the newspapers but, to make sure, they’re getting me a security clearance.”

Sekulow said he started the process after Dowd left the legal team. He said other lawyers on the team would seek clearance as well.

Giuliani took a leave of absence, rather than resigning, from law firm Greenberg Traurig to join Trump’s legal team.

Virginia Canter, an ethics lawyer with watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said that is a potential problem because he is still tied to a firm that represents foreign governments.

Berry said investigators conducting background checks for security clearances look at how close a person’s ties are, what kind of money they receive from the contacts, and whether the country has interests adverse to the United States.

To get a clearance, candidates must fill out Standard Form 86, a 127-page document that Berry said “goes into every part of your life” and requires listing foreign contacts.

Moss said interim security clearances could be issued but only after the form is reviewed and there are no immediate red flags.

Trump son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner received a temporary clearance but lost access to highly classified information in February 2018. Kushner had not received his full security clearance because of his extensive business and financial connections.

Reporting by Karen Freifeld; editing by Anthony Lin and Grant McCool

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