#Kristi is working security

[purplehaired-revenant]

Writer’s Game: First Sentences

tagged by @i-mybrunettelady

Rules: post the first sentence of your last ten fics. If you haven’t written ten fics, share as many first-sentences as you have. 

tagging @guildwarsgirl @saberwitch @crusader-brian-slato

A Cirrus of Magic

The McCullough girls were being tested for magic, like all children their age.

Sophia’s Corruption

Sophia didn’t notice the change in her arm.

A Combination of Magic part 2

“How would you like to go on a holiday?”  Kristi asked Heidi as they sat together after the children had gone to bed.

Zoey’s Story

“Your cousin Kristi is back from Hoelbrak,” Zoey’s mother, Janet, said as they ate dinner.

unnamed

Heidi walked into the coin and immediately knew that Kristi was upset about something.

Off Duty Commander

Nobody noticed Kristi, not since she had left the Shadow Falcons, changed her name, stopped being the Commander.

unnamed 2

Kristi approached the Dead End bar, she had been sent there by Captain Thackeray to find a Private Investigator called Marjory Delaqua.

Kristi’s Raven

Heidi arrived home, it was late, and she was drunk, again.

Next Contestant

Kristi sat at the end of the bar watching, keeping an eye on everything that was going on, she had a drink in front of her but it was mostly for show.

unnamed 3

Heidi was woken by someone shaking her shoulder.

[1stpoliticalcartoons]

“South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s bid for Donald Trump’s VP slot on the Republican ticket blew up in recent days, unless the Trump team grossly underestimates how much Americans love their dogs and other animals.

Ahead of upcoming release of Noem’s new book, “No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward,” The Guardian news outlet obtained a copy, and the biggest revelation appears not to be what’s wrong with politics, but what’s wrong with Noem.

Noem, who served in the South Dakota House of Representatives and the U.S. House of Representatives prior to becoming governor, is also a hunter. Guardian writer Martin Pengelly reports that Noem writes in the book about her 14-month-old (still a puppy) wirehair pointer named Cricket.

These dogs require vigorous exercise and can be rowdy and highly exuberant when not exercised sufficiently, particularly when young. They need a confident owner.

Cricket was a female with an “aggressive personality” who needed training to hunt pheasant, wrote Noem. So Noem took Cricket out on pheasant run with other older dogs for training. But, young girls just want to have fun. Cricket was “out of her mind with excitement, chasing all those birds and having the time of her life.”

After the outing, which Noem considered ruined by Cricket, she stopped to talk with a local family, and Cricket, apparently not secured in Noem’s truck, escaped and headed for the family’s chickens. Chaos and chicken death ensued. Cricket was just having fun, with no idea of what was about to befall her.

“I hated that dog,” Noem recounts in the book, finding young Cricket “untrainable,” “dangerous to anyone she came in contact with” and “less than worthless … as a hunting dog.” Noem appears to place the blame for that on the dog, not herself.

Summary execution from Noem was near.

After her day of frolicking and joy, Cricket was then led by Noem to a gravel pit where she was executed.

By then, perhaps all fired up to dispatch any creature that didn’t fit Noem’s view of acceptable behavior, Noem shot a male goat she viewed as “nasty and mean,” because it wasn’t castrated (again, whose fault was that?), and who chased the kids and smelled “disgusting, musky, rancid.”

The goat also met his unnecessary fate in the gravel pit, in a story that sounds like the South Dakota version of Tony Soprano.

Since the Guardian story and wide pick-up of the animal executions, Noem has not backed down on her position that the story was an illustration of making “tough, challenging decisions.” Defining the dog as a “working dog,” seems to justify for her the act of putting it down. But the more Noem responds to what the majority of people see as indefensible, the bigger the hole she digs for herself in her own gravel pit.

Death for these animals was the only option in her mind? What about rehoming, sending the dog to training with someone else? How about letting the goat have its own enclosed space and keeping the kids away? Could the goat still be neutered? Would a hose down have helped with its smell?

As a potential VP pick, the concern is that her judgment is this poor. We’ve already endured nearly four years of a president and VP with poor judgment – this country can’t endure more.

Noem’s story reminded me of a friend who said when he was an older teen, he took Halloween candy from the younger children. Even as a grown man, he didn’t seem to recognize that what he had done as a teenager was wrong. He still thought taking candy from kids was funny. And like Noem, he didn’t have any awareness that it was a story you don’t tell other people because it reflects very poorly on him.

Mahatma Gandhi, who used nonviolent resistance in the campaign he led to obtain independence for India from British rule, said, “The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Noem doesn’t pass the sniff test.”

[woso-fan13]

30. ‘Get Back in Bed!’

“Y/N,” Kristie says, stretching your name out in warning. 

Your eyes go wide, looking at her and pressing your lips together to stop yourself from giggling. 

Kristie’s exasperated look is redirected from you to the doorway when she hears a commotion. She can only think of one group capable of causing such a commotion: the USWNT. 

Sure enough, bodies come piling through the door, filling the room. Your face lights up when you see your teammates, excitedly trying to get up and go see them. When your body makes it to the edge of the bed, an alarm starts going off. A look of shock crosses your face as you try to figure out where the noise is coming from. 

By now, familiar with the routine, Kristie stands from the chair she was in. Crossing to the bed, she presses a few buttons on the panel on the side and the noise stops. 

“If that alarm goes off again, the police are going to come arrest you,” she warns, “you need to stay in bed.”

You nod your head seriously, firmly believing her. You scoot back to the middle of the bed, making yourself comfortable and quickly becoming absorbed in the ad playing on the television. 

“The nurse taught me how to turn the alarm off the fifth time she tried to climb out of bed,” Kristie tells the team, “the police coming is my only little spin on it.”

“Does it work?” Abby questions from the group. 

“Oh, it absolutely does not, thank you for asking. But she’s so gullible that it’s a fun game we like to play.”

“She’s not gullible,” Abby says, looking at where you were intensely staring at the tv, “she’s just super drugged.”

“That too,” Kristie agrees, “but drugged is better than her screaming in pain.” 

Everyone’s faces go solemn as they think about how much pain you had been in earlier. A trip to the hospital and some pain meds had made a world of difference over the last few hours. The only problem is that now you were an absolute menace from the medication. You refused to stay in bed, determined to get out and go somewhere. You had pulled out two IVs before they wrapped this one so securely that your clumsy hands couldn’t get to it. 

For the most part, you have been as good as you can be. Mainly, you were content to ramble nonsensically to yourself, periodically looking to whoever else was in the room. Once they said some form of agreement, you would go right back into your conversation. You were also happy to stare at the tv like it was the most interesting thing that you had ever seen. 

Kristie had been lucky enough to be stuck with you. She had rolled her ankle at practice a few days ago, and the trainers wanted to play it safe. She had been passing the time watching old matches and reviewing games, but you needed her attention more. When she tried to pull out a laptop and watch some of the videos while you were sleeping, she was shocked by her headphone being pulled out of her ear. There you were, hospital gown hanging loosely off your body as you stared at her, the bed alarm going off in the background. Both of you stared at each other, completely confused. 

The team was pulled out of their conversation as a familiar sound filled the air. Looking over, they could see you attempting to climb over one of the rails that had been pulled up. 

“Y/N, get back in bed,” Kristie demands sharply. 

“But, I- I- I gotta go. Go help, gonna win. USA. USA”

You’re halfway over the railing, rambling a monologue that nobody can quite follow. The alarm is still going off and Kristie knows she needs to fix the situation soon before the nurse comes into the room. She walks quickly to the bed, turning the alarm off.

Now, she looks at you. You had actually managed to get one of your feet to the ground, the hospital branded non-slip sock supporting you. Your other limbs were indistinguishable as they tried to grip onto the railing of the bed. 

“Someone else needs to handle this. I’m supposed to be injured.”

Ash rolls her eyes and walks over to you. 

“Hi muffin. Did you get stuck?”

You hum an affirmative response, watching her suspiciously. She chuckles, easily picking you up and plopping you back down on the bed. As soon as you’re seated again, your eyes go back to the tv. The team follows your gaze, quickly figuring out where you might be headed. 

“Y/N?” Kristie asks. 

You don’t look away from the screen or verbally respond, but you do nod your head slightly. 

“Are you trying to go help at the soccer game?”

“I’m a soccer player. I’m a good soccer player and they’re not, they need help. I need to go help them or they’re not going to win.”

The team has to refrain from laughing at the not so subtle jab you had just directed to the USMNT. It was true, the game was not going well. You have always been honest. 

Kristie sighs, unsure how to respond. 

“Are you a boy or a girl?” she ends up asking. 

“I’m a girl, see? I have long hair and my nails are pink so I have to be a girl.”

“Can boys have long hair and pink nails?” Kristie probes. 

“Yeah.”

“Okay, whatever, not going to question that. But you’re a girl and this is the boy’s team. They wouldn’t let you play.”

“Oh.”

“I know, it’s very sad that you can’t play.”

“Kristie? I really want to play though.”

“I think we’re too far away, they’re in the Middle East. Maybe we can play with them another day.”

You look at Kristie like she’s an idiot, “they’re right there,” you whisper loudly, “I see them.”

Deciding that she would get nowhere trying to rationalize with you, Kristie grabs the remote. She changes the tv to Animal Planet and you are instantly absorbed in the crocodile the Irwin son is trying to relocate. 

Seeing that you’re content, Kristie walks back over to the group. She sits down heavily in a seat, leaning her head back and closing her eyes.

“Don’t judge me, you would lie to her too. She’s exhausting.”

[sysakiddo]

I can't stop thinking about Max and his maps. This drabble is completely self-indulgent and a love letter to Håkan's secretary, the baddest bitch.

Max is in the middle of writing an email when his assistant calls. Max doesn't like how the light from the window reflects on his computer screen and thinks about moving his table again. His office is way too big for him to have problems like this. The tall leafy plant in the corner seems to be thriving, even though he has never watered it. His assistant probably deserves a raise. 

“You have the Australian Ambassador on line two, sir.” 

He subconsciously sighs and rubs his right ear, a habit he has never gotten rid of. “Thank you, Kristy. I have a package to send as well; please come pick it up.” He changes the line. 

“Your excellency?” he sneers, picking up the pain au chocolate Kristy left for him on the table this morning. 

“Why don't I have a direct line to your office?” 

Daniel's voice is distorted through the phone. Max can hear cars honking in the background. Kristy opens the door to his office, picking up the green Ladurée bag from the corner of his table. She eyes the post-it note he stuck on the top, Daniel scribbled in his neat handwriting. She doesn't react, just picks it up and closes the door quietly. Definitely deserves a raise. 

“Only the king has one.” 

Daniel snorts, like Max is being funny just by being rude. “Pick up your phone next time, okay? Even though I quite like making small talk with your assistant.” 

Max doesn't react. He can feel a headache growing behind his eyes. Out of the corner of his eye, he can see how the number of his emails in the red circle grows on the computer screen.

“What's this I hear about you having lunch with the Hungarians on Thursday?” 

Daniel gets right to the point and Max hums. He doesn't question how Daniel found out about that. On a bad day, he still manages to charm his way to confidential information regarding state security. 

“Take me with youu,” Dan sing-songs. 

“Nee,” he replies. Daniel is well acquainted with the word. Either way, Max opens his diary and flips the pages quietly until he reaches Thursday. He opens the drawer with his stationery and pulls out the small honey badger-shaped sticker. Sticks it to the slot right next to the 'La Rotonde with HU'. It was Daniel who bought him the stickers after noisily going through his diary. He did not like the way +D looked in the time slots. It just looks like you have a dick appointment.

The negotiations begin with Daniel clicking his tongue. He mainly does it because he knows it drives Max insane. 

“Come on, baby. I'll take you to Monaco if you do.” 

Max takes another bite of the pastry, reclining in his chair. “Snorting coke on a yacht was cute back when I was twenty.” 

Daniel doesn't back off, unaffected. “What are you eating?” 

“Pain au choc.” 

“From Mozart?” 

Max looks at the tissue covered by the crumbs, Mozart engraved on it in golden fond. “Yeah, I guess.” 

Daniel makes a silly gasping noise. “How could you?” 

Paris has more bakeries than residents, yet Daniel is weirdly obsessed with the one on the same street as the Dutch embassy. 

Before he can respond, there is a knock on his door. One of the interns come in without waiting for him to invite them in. “Your excellency-” she starts and he holds up his pointer finger to interrupt her, pointing to the phone in his other hand. He subtly looks at his Rolex while doing so, wondering what she could possibly want at 9 am. She nods but doesn't exit the room. 

“I have to hang up now, schatje.” 

“No, no- listen. We can even hold hands at the dinner, watch them have an aneurysm about it.” 

Max chuckles, shaking his head even though Daniel can't see. “Yeah, not good enough. I spent weeks persuading them to meet me.” As I know you did too. Did not really work, huh? he wants to add but doesn't want to look like an asshole in front of the intern who is still watching him with her big green eyes. His and Daniel's diplomatic styles are so different he learned a long time ago it's futile to compare them. 

“I'm having dinner with Amanda in two weeks.”

The number of unread emails reaches two hundred on Max's computer. “Getting warmer but no can do. You know how annoying I find the ENA graduates.” 

Dan himself has done his post-grad at ENA. He hears Daniel swear and he doesn't know if the reason is him or just the general despair of trying to walk down the street in Paris. “'kay, have a nice-” 

“Wait! Drinks with Håkan!” Max is silent for a second, that's how Daniel knows he lucked out. Sweden is hot shit right now.

“Make him bring the assistant, not his wife.” 

Everyone knows that the only opinion that matters to the Swedish ambassador is the one of his secretary. Daniel doesn't answer immediately, but Max knows him well enough to know he's smiling. 

“That goes without saying, Maxy.” 

Max, despite his best efforts, smiles. “Lovely. See you tonight.” 

“Rinaldi's at nine! Don't be late!” Daniel says before hanging up, even though it's usually him who is late for their little rendez-vous. 

He straightens up, raising his chin the intern's way. She has been watching him like a hawk this whole time. “Husband checking in on you?” 

She looks scared of him and not for the first time, he wonders what kind of stories about him are told to the newcomers. He doesn't have the heart to berate her for breaking the protocol.

“Yes. He doesn't want me to forget about him. Of course, I do not want him to worry.” he says. His mother tongue tastes sweet in his mouth. 

Second part!

[keep-both-eyes-on-trump]

Trump Watch #2

Trump has made more appointments. Here they are: 

He has picked Mike Waltz as national security advisor.

Waltz is a retired Army National Guard officer, Green Beret, three-term GOP congressman, and longtime ally of Trump.

He has praised Trump’s push for NATO allies to spend more on defense but has not suggested the US leave the alliance.

He is the leading critic of China in Congress and has supported legislation to reduce US reliance on China and safeguard against Chinese espionage.

He’s also in support of a “culture change” in how the US approaches the defense establishment and purchases things within the Pentagon. Specifically, he has mentioned new technologies from Silicon Valley that could help with defense and security but haven’t been able to break through the bureaucracy to be considered.  

He has appointed Mike Huckabee as US ambassador to Israel

Huckabee is a former Arkansas governor, ordained Baptist minister, and a Fox News show host from 2008 to 2015. He also ran for president in 2016. 

He is a strong supporter of Israel and once stated, “There’s no such thing as a Palestinian.” 

He has nominated Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense.

Hegseth served in the US Army with tours in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan and was also a Fox News host.

He is opposed to programs that promote equity and inclusion in the military, has said women shouldn’t serve in combat, and suggested pardoning service members charged with war crimes.  

He has picked John Ratcliffe for CIA director. 

Ratcliffe served as director of national Intelligence during Trump’s first presidency. 

As director of national intelligence he was accused of declassifying intelligence for use by Trump and Republican allies to attack political opponents.

Ratcliffe is the “China hawk,” calling China the top threat to US interests and the rest of the free world.  

He has picked Steve Witkoff to be his special envoy to the Middle East. 

Witkoff is a real estate investor, landlord, and founder of Witkoff Group. 

He has also been appointed as co-chair of Trump’s inauguration.

Special envoys are not standard diplomats and typically focus on specific issues in a time limited manner. It is unclear what Witkoff’s role will be. 

He announced Kristi Noem would head the homeland security department. 

Noem is the governor of South Dakota. 

She resisted most government regulations to slow the spread of infections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She is the governor criticized for killing her dog after it killed some chickens.

She has been a key supporter of Trump’s immigration and deportation policies and has strained relations with both the Oglala Sioux tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux tribe.  

He has chosen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head the new Department of Government Efficiency to “slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal agencies.” 

Ramaswamy is an American entrepreneur and vocal supporter of Trump. This appointment means he is dropping his candidacy for the Ohio Senate seat left vacant by JD Vance. 

He has called for mass layoffs of federal workers and the elimination of multiple federal departments including the Department of education. 

Musk is the Tesla and SpaceX CEO who has taken in billions from federal contracts. 

He asked voters to brace for economic “hardship” and deep spending cuts. 

He has appointed William McGinley as White House Counsel. 

McGinley was a partner at two international law firms and served in the first administration for Trump as the White House Cabinet secretary. 

He has a long history of working with political figures regarding ethics and campaign compliance. 

He has appointed Lee Zeldin for the EPA

Zeldin is a former New York congressman

He said this of his appointment, “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water.”

He has opposed some climate-related legislation while serving in congress according to the League of Conservation Voters.  

He has appointed Stephen Miller as White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor. 

Dan Scavino, James Blair, and Taylor Budowich have also been announced as deputy chiefs of staff. 

Miller is one of Trump’s longest serving and most trusted advisors working with Trump on his 2016 presidential campaign and joining him as senior advisor at the White House.

He helped draft many of Trump’s speeches and plans on immigration.   

He is expected to pick Marco Rubio as Secretary of State

Rubio is a Republican Florida senator and the son of Cuban immigrants. If picked he will be the first Latino US secretary of state.

He voted against the $61 billion military aid package for Ukraine and favors negotiation and an end to the war rather than further support to Ukraine to remove Russian forces for its territory.

More to come regarding Trump's announcement of dismantling the Department of Education and establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency.

The Watcher

[nintendouniverse2023]

I’ve been thinking about something lately and I think though I give SpongeBob and Patrick love interest in My AU

So the Sea Monster who was hired as the Kristy Krabs Security Guard would be SpongeBobs love interest

The Mermaid who works as a swim instructor would be Patrick’s love interest.

Hope you like it ~ 🩵🩷💖 and Give me any idea for names at the comments below.

[beardedmrbean]

The National Guard is being deployed on Wednesday to help with the high number of migrants being sheltered in Massachusetts.

Guard members are expected to make sure food will be delivered to hotels, arrange transportation for appointments, and help people get access to medical care. The National Guard will also be connecting people with necessities like diapers and cribs, and help to get children enrolled in local schools.

“Massachusetts is in a state of emergency," Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. "We're grateful to the National Guard for stepping up to help us ensure that families in need have access to basic services like food, transportation, medical care, and education.”

Last month, the governor issued a state of emergency over rapidly rising numbers of migrant families arriving in Massachusetts. According to Healey's office, there are currently more than 6,000 families, including children and pregnant women, in emergency shelters across the state — that number represents both migrants arriving in Massachusetts, as well as residents experiencing homelessness.

Healey activated up to 250 National Guard members to provide services at emergency shelter hotels, and Lt. Gov. Driscoll said Tuesday they will be focused on areas that currently lack personnel.

"The plan that we have in place today with the deployment of the National Guard, which happened just last month, will put National Guard staff, soldiers, in locations as part of a response to our non-service providers, essentially creating rapid response teams in places that we don't have the ground service contractors or case management services happening on a regular basis," Driscoll said.

Housing Secretary Ed Augustus said Guard personnel will "help take some of the pressure off."

"Having somebody who's in that coordinator role at some of these unstaffed sites that can help facilitate the logistics, get kids registered for school, be a point of contact and this regional structure that's going to kind of oversee multiple sites -- I think that's going to take down a lot of the kind of confusion and communication issues by having somebody right there on site," Augustus told reporters after the LGAC meeting.

Several local leaders told Driscoll on Tuesday about the burden their own communities are working to absorb.

Westborough has more than 80 families housed in hotels, according to Town Manager Kristi Williams, with more expected to arrive in October -- the same month the state expects to open an emergency assistance shelter in the town.

Williams said her community is one of only about 80 in Massachusetts that is hosting families, a dynamic that is "really creating an unsustainable burden."

"We've enrolled 40 students currently. We were just recently asked to enroll an additional 25 students that come from five families and speak five different languages, and the district doesn't have the resources to support all of those different language needs," Williams said. "... We are happy to welcome the students. The lieutenant governor and I have had one-on-one conversations about this. Westborough is very happy to do our part, but we can't continue to expand and not see our neighbors supporting this crisis."

When she declared an emergency around the shelter system situation last month, Healey also appealed to the federal government to revamp the work authorization process in ways that could move more people through the system and into a job.

She followed up last week with a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas that took issue with a "confusing tangle of immigration laws" and an "inability for new arrivals to obtain work authorization from the federal government." Healey said there is "cause for alarm" around the "challenge in helping new arrivals exit the shelter setting."

The governor told the News Service on Tuesday that her administration has "not yet" received any response from the Biden White House.

"The Biden administration needs to act. They need to act now. We need federal funds here to help address this. We need the Biden administration to provide expedited work authorizations. The new arrivals desperately want to work. Having talked to many of them, they are desperate to work and they can be put to work tomorrow if we have expedited work authorization," Healey said during a flood damage tour in North Attleborough. "So that is something that I've asked for and pressed with the Biden administration. I will continue to do so with our Congressional delegation, and I know it's something that governors around the country are seeking. Because what we're seeing in Massachusetts is not something specific to Massachusetts, it's something that we're seeing around the country."

While the crisis is not limited to the Bay State, it has inflicted enormous strain here. Healey estimated last month that Massachusetts -- which under a 1983 state law entitles all homeless families to shelter -- is spending more than $45 million per month on programs and shelters for families.

Driscoll said some state agencies that in the past focused on shelter services have been "smashed together with refugee resettlement" given the high number of families arriving from other countries.

"This is a real challenge for us. This is not something that we anticipated was going to continue to increase at the level we've seen it," she said. "We have never had this many people in shelter in this commonwealth before. We have never had such a high-need population in shelter before. That is taxing all of us to try and identify solutions and to ensure that we have the resources when we need them, where we need them, and that is tricky when we already have a housing crunch underway, as we're all aware of, in many of our communities. That is going to take an all-of-us strategy."

Rep. William Driscoll, who previously worked in disaster response and today co-chairs the Emergency Preparedness and Management Committee, penned a letter on Monday urging Healey to overhaul the administration's "chaotic" response to the crisis and stand up a unified incident command structure.

"The current Humanitarian Arrivals crisis is not a challenge that can be reasonably absorbed or addressed by the routine day-to-day operations of state or local government agencies," Rep. Driscoll wrote. "The sheer volume and the needs of the arriving immigrants are complex and the official effort is barely keeping pace with the families arriving daily seeking shelter and other social services."

Asked if he felt Rep. Driscoll's criticism is fair, Augustus replied, "I do."

"I think we can always do better. Every single day we're trying to do better," Augustus told reporters. "We meet constantly, we're bringing more resources and more state partners to the table to try to do better. There's always room for improvement, and we're committed to doing that."

After a briefing with the lieutenant governor last week, Rep. Peter Durant said she had "indicated that they would most likely be seeking a supplemental budget for the costs that were coming in, but there was no indication as to what that would be, when that supplemental budget would come."

Asked Tuesday about the possibility of a supplemental budget to address the growing costs of the shelter system squeeze, Healey said, "We're evaluating that. More on that to come."

Her budget chief, Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz, told local officials at a separate event that a spending bill to close the books on fiscal year 2023 would emerge in the "next day or two."

[alexbkrieger13]

But at the same time its shocking that Alex Morgan was in the national team for 15 years and never had to be bothered really about performing for club. Explains why Sam still has the scoring record there and why she had about twice as many as all other forwards who had played as long as her when she left. The USWNT sought out talented players and then developed them themselves, maybe a sign that there was no league yet that was really working. But also feel like you could miss a lot of talent that way that weren’t picked up by the NT and improved later in their careers. For someone like Kristie for example club play was definitely important, it’s how she made it back to the national team. But Alex more or less saying she always had a secure spot.

They’ve only done that in the past because it worked, they still won. Now they can’t get away with that anymore, calling up veterans on past merits. If they include players who are not their best level anymore because they have that secure spot, that’ll get punished by other top teams.

Yeah though to be fair to Alex she did have a rough time with injuries with Club for the first few years of her pro career and yeah with the US system with the clubs they were almost always out so it was very difficult for us players to really be consistent in there club teams until really the last couple of years

[elsolnetworktv]

Trump nominates South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he has chosen South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security, saying that she will “work closely with Border Czar Tom Homan” and “ensure” that the country is safe from her “adversaries.” Trump, who confirmed the appointment through a statement published on his profile on the social network Truth Social, stressed that…

[aanews69]

The Truth Behind Kristi Noem’s Rise to Power Delve into the compelling journey of Kristi Noem as we unravel the truth behind her meteoric rise to power. Immerse yourself in the landscapes of South Dakota, where her story begins amidst rolling plains and a family ranch that instilled a robust work ethic and resilience. Discover how Noem's early experiences shaped her political ascent, from the state legislature to the US Congress, and now to a pivotal role in the Trump administration as DHS secretary. Uncover the challenges she faces in balancing heartland values with national responsibilities, especially in immigration and security. Join us as we explore her controversial moments, like her comments on Native American tribes, and how they might influence her leadership on the national stage. Leave comments and share your insights on Noem's potential impact. Engage in this narrative as we celebrate both her dedication and the multifaceted challenges ahead. Your feedback is wanted as we continue to follow this dynamic political figure. Subscribe👇: https://sub.dnpl.us/AANEWS/ - Want some Great Buys check out our List: https://viralbuys.vista.page #kristinoem #immigration #southdakota #donaldtrump #trump #trumpnews CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 00:25 - Kristi Noem Early Years 01:19 - Political Career Overview 02:47 - Controversies and Criticisms 05:27 - Future Challenges Ahead 07:31 - Conclusion and Wrap Up

[thxnews]

Franco-American Customs Cooperation Strengthened

Could this be a pivotal moment for international customs cooperation? Today, in Washington, a significant step was taken to strengthen Franco-American customs cooperation. The Minister Delegate for Public Accounts, Mr. Thomas Cazanave, and the Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Ms. Kristie Canegallo, signed a Joint Declaration of Intent. This agreement aims to bolster cooperation between France and the United States in customs matters, enhancing the facilitation of travelers and goods.  

Enhancing Customs Cooperation

The Joint Declaration outlines several key areas of improved collaboration, including: - Intelligence sharing - Inspections - Investigations - Targeting - Operational cooperation - Exchange of best practices This cooperation is crucial for securing container traffic, major port and airport facilities, express freight, e-commerce, and financial flows of criminal organizations.  

Targeting and Risk Analysis

A significant focus of this enhanced collaboration will be on risk analysis and targeting of controls on passengers and cargo. Cooperation will intensify between CBP’s National Targeting Center and the French Customs Risk Analysis and Targeting Service. This joint effort aims to improve the effectiveness of customs operations in identifying and mitigating potential threats.  

Hands and drugs. Photo by Emilian Danaila. Pixabay.  

Combating Transnational Crime

The declaration emphasizes the need for joint efforts in combatting: - Arms trafficking - Drug trafficking - Transnational organized crime - Threats to national security This collaboration will involve entities such as the French Customs Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations. Additionally, the French National Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigations will work closely with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations.  

2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Wikimedia.   Securing Major Events One of the notable aspects of the Joint Declaration is the emphasis on securing the upcoming 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. Both nations will share best practices to ensure the safety and security of these major international events.   Reaffirming Commitment On this occasion, Mr. Cazanave and Ms. Canegallo reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening operational cross-border cooperation. This commitment aims to better combat threats to the flow of goods, national security breaches, narcotics, fentanyl, forced labor, arms trafficking, economic and fiscal fraud, and money laundering.  

Key Details of the Agreement

Feature Details Agreement Date May 23, 2024 Signatories France (Mr. Thomas Cazanave), USA (Ms. Kristie Canegallo) Key Areas of Cooperation Intelligence sharing, inspections, investigations, targeting, operational cooperation Focus Areas Container traffic security, major port and airport facilities, express freight, e-commerce, criminal financial flows Major Events 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics   To Sum Up The signing of the Joint Declaration of Intent marks a significant milestone in Franco-American customs cooperation. By enhancing intelligence sharing, operational collaboration, and focusing on securing major events, France and the United States are taking crucial steps to improve customs operations and security. This strengthened cooperation not only benefits both nations but also sets a precedent for international collaboration in customs and security matters.   Sources: THX News & US Department of Homeland Security. Read the full article

[atlanticcanada]

P.E.I. leading the way in electronic medical record rollout

Prince Edward Island is leading the country with its recently implemented, province-wide, electronic medical record system.

It’s a key part of the island’s fundamental family medicine reorganization, a move which officials hope will finally strike a serious blow against the ongoing healthcare crisis.

The vast majority of family doctors on P.E.I. are now using an electronic medical record to manage the treatment of their patients.

Just two years ago 70 per cent of island general practitioners were primarily using paper records, and the rest were using what amounted to a virtual filling cabinet.

The new system is standardized, allowing doctors and allied health professionals to share patient information instantly and more securely than through a fax or by mail.

“I send a referral through the system,” said Dr. Kristy Newson, physician lead. “They see my patient. They message me back saying, ‘this patient was seen, please review,’ so in that type of way or collaboration has improved.”

It hasn’t been without hiccups, various technical glitches caused hundreds of missed referrals over the last two years, however, Health P.E.I. officials say those issues have been resolved.

The rollout also taken a month-long pause over the last summer, to give doctors who are already on the system extra training, and to make software improvements suggested by doctors.

“We’re focusing on just having those supports in place for when people need them, so they can take advantage of them,” said Kim Knox, director of Digital Health. “Listening to the concerns and trying to action that.”

There are now 176 community health providers, doctors or nurse practitioners along with their allied health professionals, on the system. That represents almost all of the family doctors on P.E.I.

The system allows a number of health professionals to work closely together, sharing patient information efficiently and comprehensively. It’s the foundation of P.E.I.’s patient medical homes initiative, a move to replace single practice family physicians with teams of specialists, to serve more patients with fewer MD’s.

“The doctor is part of the team, but they’re not everything,” said Dr. Michael Gardam, Health P.E.I. CEO. “Many doctor visits don’t need to be held with a doctor. You may be seeing a physio or a nurse practitioner, or whomever, and all those people are sharing your care, so they all need to access that record.”

12 patient medical homes have been set up so far.

Dr. Gardam also says this is the best possible recruiting tool, no new doctor graduating from med school wants to work where paper is the preferred method.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/is5KkzT

[innatewellness]

Wellness Truthful Promotes Health Of Thoughts, Physique, And Soul Information

Even young people, feeling perfectly nicely, could be informed about weak spots in their our bodies on the premise of their thermogram. Thermography represents a true “preventative medicine” which helps to avert illness. As thermograms allow the progress of recovery to be adopted they supply bioresonance therapy a valuable aid in monitoring the progress of ongoing therapy. The Wirtum SINGULAR system is appropriate for each human and veterinary natural treatments. You wish to present highly effective bioenergetic medication and increase shopper care.

It is essential to take this treatment precisely as prescribed by your physician. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue together with your common schedule. The action of the therapy works to stimulate the body’s lymphatic system to break down and flush out granular portions of calcium that may have constructed up in areas the place micro-tears exist. You might have the same symptoms should you undergo from a meals allergy or food intolerance, nonetheless, there are some important distinction you should be aware of. It is frequent for one thing that has by no means brought on you a problem before to begin doing so. If for causes of poor immune system ranges or poor food plan, you have an excessive amount of of 1 particular element in your system, your body will have bother dealing with these elevated ranges.

It is a known incontrovertible truth that alcohol and drug abuse can enhance the underlying risk for mental disorders, especially in youngsters. In order to have a long-lasting and sustainable effect on the patients, the use of multimodal therapies has been considered just lately bioresonance testing. As a full-body, holistic therapy centre, we also supply psychological services, or the examine of thoughts and behavior. We are rather more than our physical our bodies, and in many circumstances, our mental state can take a significant toll on the bodily wellbeing of our bodies.

Initially the Mora NovaTM is used to gauge an individual’s frequency patterns in the form of oscillations . Those patterns are then compared with the harmonious patterns saved throughout the Mora’s database. When frequency patterns throughout bioresonance therapy toronto the body are determined to be confused or unhealthy the Mora Nova delivers individualized therapies to deal with and invert the dangerous frequencies till healthy patterns are restored.

Scan is an lively assessment and visualization help for stress detection and stress reduction methods. Scan does not diagnose, treat, cure or stop any disease conditions. Scan doesn't replace standard medical care by a doctor or different well being care provider. Gurwitsch was persuaded that this radiation is an expression of morphogenetic fields throughout the organism that structure and manage the life processes within the cell and the organism.

Bioresonance health panels are actually out there at Genevieve’s Self-Care Initiatives! In today’s blog post, we are going to explore what bioresonance testing is and the way it could allow you to. "The clinical software of this system for neurological illnesses is an absolute novelty—the medical use was permitted by the FDA lower than three years ago," Bruno mentioned. "Few sufferers know of this therapy option thus far, and there aren't many specialised centers outfitted with the required technology."

Vise versa, unaddressed health problems could be inflicting emotional stress. This is why a bioenergetic test can assist in attending to the root of troublesome well being concerns. Pamela Baker and Kristy Davis have shared the gift of an everlasting friendship of over 35 years. The QUEX S/INDIGO/QUEX ED expertise is the most superior Quantum Biofeedback therapy system on the planet at present.

Through Personal DNA Genetic testing, adjusting dosages of medications in accordance with what your DNA wants can be attainable, which improves the security and ef cacy of your therapy. The test additionally helps pro- vide further information about the hidden characteristics of your physique, enabling you to grasp your physique higher and know tips on how to act in accordance to your body’s wants. Your DNA can reveal so much about your individual personal health and wellness. Getting an outline of your DNA helps give extra accurate suggestions to stop early onset and to offer acceptable motion on lowering the risk of creating illnesses. I travel with a portable therapeutic massage table and provides to offer therapeutic therapeutic massage remedies to shoppers in Edmonton.

Bioresonance and Biofeedback therapy is a new and dynamic well being science that helps to detect illness and illness to guide the patient to raised health. Any data, products or services talked about on this website usually are not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or forestall any disease. Ability to individualize and select treatments/supplements that can probably assist therapy going forward bioresonance therapy benefits. The indicators are transmitted via a special, shielded cable to the gadget, where they are processed primarily based on their frequency, amplitude and section parameters. After that, they're transmitted back into the physique through an identical cable and electrodes, as a therapeutic sign. The body’s endogenious eletromagnetic and mechanical waves are used in therapy, with the assistance of multi-layered electrodes .

[simpingforcadbury]

Love Language + Relationship Headcanons

Love Language:

Willy receives love through ‘physical touch’ but gives through ‘acts of service’.

Kristie receives love through ‘quality time’ and gives through ‘physical touch’.

Relationship:

Something they enjoy from their relationship is their open communication and honesty. It took a long time for Willy to open up when they were friends. But once he trusts, he tends to trust wholly.

They rarely argue but when they do, they treat it as a debate in order to resolve the problem they are facing or to help each other understand why they have a particular stance on an issue.

Teamwork makes the dream work. Their relationship is creative problem solving at its finest.

They’re both fiercely protective of one another. They will stand up for each other and their family when people try to challenge or ridicule them. Growing up in what was considered a ‘man’s world’ Kristie is no stranger to standing her ground, particularly with regards to her profession and her choices. She has no problem doing the same for Willy and her family.

They enjoy cooking together and will generally undertake daily chores together.

Both Willy and Kristie are cautious extroverts.

They are both very secure and trusting in their relationship. Willy isn’t overly jealous when other people try to flirt with Kristie, he finds it amusing (and a massive ego boost) when she turns them down. They both know they’re not going anywhere with anyone else.

Back to masterlist

[yourmidnightlover]

Dreams of Iris - Chapter 1

chapter 1 - sealed with a kiss

series masterlist

spencer reid x fem!reader

series overview: when introduced by penelope, reader and spencer take on a sexual bdsm relationship. secrets are discovered as time goes by. what happens when they both try to discover who the other is within themselves?

series warnings: bdsm themes, smut (rough sex, penetrative sex, spitting, choking, cum play, fingering, oral (male and female receiving), bondage, overstimulation, edging, grinding, thigh riding, handjob, aftercare), talk about/illuding to previous abusive relationship, angst, crying. this series is 18+

chapter summary: when spencer and reader are at penelope’s birthday party, their paths cross, and they’re able to get to know each other.

chapter warnings: mostly fluff, mild sexual innuendoes

A/N: hi!! i’ve been pretty mia the past few days, i know. i’m sorry for the constant breaks i’ve been having. my mental and physical health has been slowly declining over the past month but we’re finally getting back uphill! i’ve been thinking about making this series for a while now, but never truly started it. i hope you enjoy this and the future chapters!

“i’m so sorry i’m late, pen,” you rushed out with a smile. “after i played with him, my dog wouldn��t come back inside.”

“oh, gosh it’s alright!” she assured you with a wave as if she were actively brushing it away. “anything for charlie.”

“he’s a handful, alright,” you laughed once more as you entered her apartment.

the place was decked out with color, and you expected nothing less from the dazzling woman. there were neon balloons, a few streamers, and you could see the cake she placed on the counter.

“so where’s the fiancé?” you gently nudged her shoulder.

“he’s somewhere in the kitchen making small talk,” she rolled her eyes. “even though i told him to refill the punch bowl!” she directed her gaze to where luke was talking to emily in the kitchen.

“poor guy,” you winced as he looked towards penelope, surely remembering what she had asked of him before he jumped into action and opened the fridge door.

“sorry, princess,” he chuckled as he walked towards penelope after refilling the bowl, placing a chaste peck on her cheek.

“what happened to queen, huh?” she chuckled while trying to keep a straight face on, pretending to scold the man.

“oh, you’re right,” he sighed. “you’ll always be my queen - mainly of ice, but i digress,” he laughed before turning his attention towards you. “hey, y/n. it’s so good to see you again,” he reached for a hug which you gladly embraced.

“you too, man,” you smiled before releasing him from your grasp. “how’s the almost-married life treating you?”

“it’s going amazing with this one,” the couple looked at each other with the epitome of heart eyes.

“he’s so cheesy, i know,” penny grinned with a fake scoff thrown his way.

you could only hope to find a love so enchanting one day. a love that stole your heart and mind all the while allowing you to grow as your own person with them. a love that would emphasize all the best qualities you had and helped you find your best self.

“it’s mostly just the team here, so if you’d like i could introduce you to the ones you don’t already know?”

“that’d be great, actually!” you nodded as she looped your arm into hers, beginning to lead you around the place.

“so you’ve met emily and jj, right?”

“yea, at karaoke night,” you clarified as you waved at the two of them in the kitchen where luke was once talking. “and i met rossi at one of his book signings.”

“right! i forgot you read those books,” she bit her lower lip. “tara? matt?”

“tara i also met at karaoke night, she can get pretty wild. i’m pretty sure matt was with his family that time, though,” you informed her as she approached matt and his wife, the two being very attractive.

“matt, kristy, this is y/n y/l/n, one of my best friends,” she kindly introduced you, placing a hand on your back as you smiled at the couple.

“hi, y/n,” matt extended his hand to shake. “it’s so nice to finally meet you.”

“you as well,” you replied. “i’ve heard only great things about pen’s team.”

“this one included?” kristy joked as she nudged her husband. “i’m kidding, he’s truly great. it’s so nice to meet you,” she shook your hand as well.

“alright, we have one more stop to make,” penny whispered in your ear before taking your arm in hers once more and guiding you to where spencer, as she’s shown you in pictures, was sitting on the couch.

he’s much more beautiful in person. the photos didn’t seem to do him justice, especially that jawline of his.

“spencer, this is y/n y/l/n,” he looked up from his book to greet you, his eyes going wide before he cleared his throat.

“um… hi, y/n,” he smiled. “i’m doctor rei-spencer reid, but you can call me spencer or reid or whatever you’d prefer, really,” he stumbled out.

“hi, spencer,” you nodded, extending your hand to shake. “you can call me y/n,” you joked, a soft laugh leaving the both of you as your eye contact continued.

“okay, so i believe you’ve now met the full team!” penny interrupted, giving you a pat on the back before having you sit beside spencer.

“so…” you trailed on after pen walked away. “i’m assuming it’s phd and not md.”

“oh, yes,” he laughed as he closed the book, home turning his body to face you. “i have three phd’s.”

“pen did say you were the genius of the team,” you nudged his shoulder gently.

“i uhm-garcia tends to brag a bit on her friends,” he humbly explained, trying to bite back the persistent grin.

“oh come on,” you egged him on. “it’s alright to admit when you’re above average. i mean, 3 phds? she told me how you can read like a billion words a minute and have an eidetic memory.”

“i-i mean… in a way that’s all true,” he blushed. “i can only read 20,000 words a minute.”

“you say that as if it’s still not incredibly impressive, doctor,” you compliment him, chuckling as you place your hands in your lap and begin to twiddle them.

“thank you, y/n,” he placed his hand atop your fidgeting ones, forcing your attention into himself. “so,” he cleared his throat, “penelope says that you own a bookstore?”

“i do,” you nodded. “it’s a bit quaint and homely, which is how i wanted it. i like the comfortability that comes with the place. people have told me the ambiance is soothing.”

“seems pretty accomplished,” he added. “i suppose i’ll have to stop by sometime, check it out.”

“i suppose you will,” you smiled.

there was just something that drew you to him. perhaps it was his smile, or his curly hair. or maybe it was the way he was so welcoming and comforting. the energy he gave off while simply sitting on a couch was able to calm your nerves.

it was gentle, warm, and tender. you could tell he’d been through a lot - and not just because pen had told you he’d been through a lot. the way he presented himself made it seem as though he took every day as a blessing. he made sure to make the most of every day he was given and to take chances.

and maybe he’d take a chance with you.

he, in fact, did stop by your bookstore the next day. you saw him enter on the cameras you had set up, and it was quite odd knowing he wasn’t aware of your presence.

he began by browsing the nonfiction section, eyeing some old historical books before moving to the ‘owner recommendation’ section. he pulled a couple of books from the shelf, smiling as he admired the cover. it was clear he recognized each one he pulled, as if he was the one who made the shelf in the first place.

eventually, he made his way to the front desk. he looked a bit… disappointed when he saw that you weren’t the one at the front desk. you chuckled to yourself before opening the door from your office, making your way to greet spencer yourself.

“hey, stranger,” you tapped his shoulder, hiding your hands behind your back immediately after with a sly grin.

“y/n! hi,” he smiled, the disappointment no longer comprehensible on his face as he embraced you in a hug. “i was hoping i’d run into you.”

“were you, now?” you pulled back from his arms and bit your lower lip.

“um-yea-yes. i was,” he nodded, sticking firm with his answer. “i wanted to get to know you more? i really enjoyed talking to you the other day and thought that maybe we could finish our conversation?” he raised his eyebrows, waiting for the other ball to drop.

“i would like that,” you nodded before glancing at your employee who gave you raised brows himself, two thumbs up displayed as he mouthed ‘he’s hot’ behind his back. you stifled a laugh and rolled your eyes before adding, “would you want to grab a cup of coffee? i actually have a room in the back that has all the fixin’s.”

“i think i would like that very much,” he agreed before you grabbed his hand, leading him to your office.

“have a seat,” you motioned to the couch as you made your way to the coffee station. “how do you take it?”

he bit his lip at the innuendo before answering , “sweet.”

“seems fitting,” you sighed as you placed a pod in the keurig.

you placed a couple pumps of vanilla syrup in both of the cups along with two scoops of sugar in one, only one in the other. you took one mug and put it under the stream, letting the hot liquid flow into the cup before stirring it and handing the mug to spencer, doing the same thing for your own.

“thank you,” he muttered before taking a cautious sip of the coffee. “you didn’t mention how successful your bookstore is.”

you shrugged, “i didn’t think that was really important. i mean, what really deems something as successful?”

“that’s a good way of looking at it,” he added as you took a seat beside him on the couch. “did i interrupt something when i came?” he furrowed his brows.

“no, no need to worry,” you placed a calming hand on his forearm. “nothing that i can’t do later. it’s just bills and everything.”

“right,” he smiled. “have you always wanted to open a bookstore?”

“well, i always wanted to be self employed so i guess? i just wanted to make sure i was secure since i was a little girl,” you revealed. “my dad was always out of work and my mom had to stay home to take care of us. stability was something our lives always lacked, so i knew it was a main priority for me when i would grow up.”

you didn’t expect to reveal so much of your past so soon. a part of you was ashamed of it and tried your best to keep it hidden. but you could tell that spencer would never judge you for your past like other people have.

“and you accomplished that,” the accolade made you blush, or maybe it was the way his free hand made its way to your thigh.

“so,” you sighed. “did you always want to join the bau?”

“no, not really,” he chuckled, his thumb beginning to rub circles on your skin. “when i was little i wanted to be a cowboy, but before that a magician.”

“a magician?” you giggled at the thought.

spencer in a black cape, you at his side in a sparkly purple leotard, clinging to his arm with a wide smile.

“yea! i know a bit of sleight of hand,” he added.

“i wanna see!” your eyes lit up, all wonder entering them in the most innocent, beautiful way spencer had ever seen.

“alright,” he sighed as he looked around the room. “see my hands?” you nodded eagerly. “completely empty, right?” you nodded once more as you bit your lip. “so… how did i do…” you looked at him quizzically for a brief moment, “this?!” he reached behind you and picked out a single red rose from your hair.

you reached your hand out as he presented the rose to you, placing it in your hands. you looked at the flower with admiration, as if he had just handed you the world. he hugged your hands with his own, bringing them to his lips to place the softest kiss to them. his lips felt like clouds on your skin, and you could only imagine what they would feel like elsewhere, traveling down your body and exploring your own mouth.

“that was so cool!” you decided to say, rather than displaying your own internal monologue so soon.

“thank you, thank you,” he blushed as he waved to a faux crowd. “i’ll be here as long as the owner wants me to be.”

forever, you thought.

“can you teach me?!” you asked, now sitting on your feet and nearly launching yourself on top of the poor man.

“a magician never reveals his secrets,” he rose his hands in defense.

“i want to know all of your secrets,” you said in a low, innocent voice.

“all in due time, angel,” he compromised. “all in due time.”

you shivered at the nickname, partially wondering where he had gotten it from all the while hoping he’d call you it again.

“promise?” you were now a mere inches away from the man, your thighs touching as his hand wrapped around one of them.

“promise,” he whispered as you closed the gap, he pressed his lips to yours softly, not wanting to go too far so soon.

the kiss was a seal to the promise he had made. one day, he’d let his guard down for you. one day, he’d let you knock his walls down. one day, he’d be rescued by his princess from the tall tower he had built to protect himself. one day, he would let you see how he was both the victim, and the monster.

[thxnews]

United Front Against Synthetic Drugs and Firearms

North American Nations Pledge Stronger Cooperation to Combat Illicit Trafficking On February 7, 2024, a pivotal meeting of the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee took place, marking a significant stride in the collective effort of Mexico, the United States, and Canada to confront the challenges posed by synthetic drugs and firearms trafficking. Hosted by Mexico's Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Rosa Icela Rodriguez, this gathering underscored a renewed commitment among the nations to safeguard the health and security of their citizens.  

A Tri-Nation Resolve

Strengthening Bonds to Combat Illicit Trafficking The meeting saw key officials, including Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo, White House Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, and Canada’s Deputy Clerk Nathalie G. Drouin, come together to review and amplify their fight against the scourge of illicit synthetic drugs and illegal firearms across North America. This initiative, borne out of the North American Leaders’ Summit in January 2023, aims to guide priority actions and foster a united front against these pressing threats.  

Advancing Joint Efforts

Bolstering Chemical Control and Legal Frameworks The United States, Mexico, and Canada have pledged to enhance collaboration on controlling precursor chemicals and equipment used in illicit drug production. By continuously reviewing legal frameworks and engaging the private sector, the nations aim to cut off the supply chain of illicit synthetic drugs at its root. Moreover, strengthening diplomatic efforts to complement the Global Coalition's work against Synthetic Drug Threats stands as a testament to their dedication to eradicating this menace.  

Innovating Public Health Strategies

Towards a Unified Drug Analysis Protocol In an ambitious move, the trilateral partners are set to develop and implement a common drug and substances analysis protocol. This initiative will enable toxicologists from the three countries to gain a deeper understanding of regional drug trends, enhancing their ability to address the public health implications of drug misuse. Furthermore, plans to convene a forum to discuss strategies for supporting the long-term recovery of individuals with substance use disorders highlight a compassionate approach to tackling the crisis.

Expanding the Committee's Scope

Addressing Firearms Trafficking Recognizing the intricate link between illicit drug distribution and firearms trafficking, the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee has broadened its focus under the North American Drug Dialogue. Moreover, the development of a trilateral report documenting cross-border firearms seizures will provide invaluable insights into the operations of criminal organizations. Consequently, this effort paves the way for more informed and effective countermeasures.  

Collaborative Investigations and Information Sharing

Leveraging ATF's eTrace Database The commitment to utilize the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) eTrace database marks a significant step towards joint investigations of illicit firearms trafficking. This, coupled with the initiative to embed Mexican personnel at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection National Targeting Center, signifies a leap towards seamless information sharing and coordination among the nations.  

Summary

As the nations of North America band together at this critical juncture, their collaborative endeavors offer a beacon of hope for tackling the dual threats of synthetic drugs and firearms trafficking. The commitment to innovative public health strategies, legal reforms, and cross-border cooperation exemplifies a comprehensive approach to safeguarding communities and fostering a safer, healthier future for all citizens across the continent. Together, Mexico, Canada, and the United States stand poised to make significant strides in combating these challenges, demonstrating the power of unity in the face of adversity.   Sources: THX News & US Department of Homeland Security. Read the full article