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your-dandy-king · 5 months

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Kitting Out (a handy dandy list)

Choosing from the list provided by @rapports-de-combat in this post, Murat would pack these items:

Rations for one meal

Water filled waterskin

Change of clothes

Lantern & oil

Pistol and smallsword

However, there are other little treasures from the Lost & Found vault he keeps in his domain. Lost and discarded things from the living world make their way into his domain all the time. Keys, wedding rings, umbrellas, clothes, and wallets and passports end up in his domain. And socks, lots of mismatched socks missing their mate.

Not all of them potentially have use. What good is a smartphone to him, when electricity doesn't work in his domain? No, these are simple things, things that do not require batteries or electricity, or complicated parts to work.

So, in addition to the above things, there are:

A travel-size sewing kit - self-explanatory, if you're Murat.

A blackjack - the smallsword and pistol are preferred, but not necessarily practical, especially if you're in a cramped space. A blackjack is a close-quarters weapon of the last resort.

A folding penknife - the sewing kit scissors won't do in every instance, but neither will a dagger.

Valuables - A small pouch of loose gemstones fallen out of their settings and lost by their original owners and now in Murat's possession. Diamonds, emeralds, sapphire, opals. Some gold and silver jewelry that he came by the same way. A few gold coins left behind by a helpful Roman centurion centuries ago, and maybe even a few coins bearing the profile of the King of Naples himself. These things might come in handy if they need to trade for goods.

A small camp mirror and a small bar of soap - Again self-explanatory, if you're Murat.

One of those really nice travel coffee mugs that keeps drinks cold/hot with a lid and a rubberized bottom - Now this is an indulgence, and Murat would admit as such. A lot of inventions from the times long after he died can leave him baffled, but this is one he can get behind.

A pack of playing cards - at the very least, he can keep himself and others entertained. And if he needs to gamble out of necessity, he's got the tools at hand.

A folding umbrella, but in a completely impractical color. What's the problem with fuchsia? He likes it!

Sunglasses - This may seem like an odd choice, but Murat remembers the road to Moscow, when the dust was thick and choking. Men would cut makeshift goggles and fashion protective eyewear for themselves out of stained glass windows looted from churches. He remembers the endless, killing glare of the sun on Egyptian dunes. Murat remembers all this and he snags a pair of wrap-around sport sunglasses for himself. Even if he doesn't end up needing it for practical reasons, he can look nice. There's plenty of pairs, however, and he ends up packing one for each man in the party.

Finding a pair for Davout is a bit of a challenge though. Murat personally doesn't care, but it also wouldn't do to have the Iron Marshal out of action. The man can't see without his spectacles and finding sunglasses that fit over them isn't easy. Among his piles of knickknacks and lost treasures, Murat finds ski goggles for Davout with a baby pink mirror finish.

When it comes to choosing a wardrobe, Murat not the most practical dresser. He never has been. Who needs to be when one needs to look good? He digs around in his Lost & Found vault, and settles for flared, pinstripe pants, a green and red floral shirt in a pattern he's been told is called "Hawaiian," a wide belt with a sliver and turquoise buckle, and a couple of layered beaded statement necklaces. Knee high leather boots, good for walking and riding. This is all topped off with a white cowboy hat and a leopard print coat. And feathers. Can't forget the feathers.

He is, as an outside observer might comment, a vision in psychedelic boho acid punk. Because he is Murat, and he will not go into battle dressed as a plain peasant. Nope, that just won't do.

#event: ney's painted paradise #Murat's gear #kit list

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murillo-enthusiast · 2 months

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Hello, Spokesperson. Forgive me, it’s been a while. Some things have gone wrong so I changed gears to Plan B.

After reviewing your latest homework, it seems you’ve accidentally blundered on two parts: (1) You have overlooked 5 challenges, and (2) The order is wrong on some words.

Now, it was probably because of the hectic-ness of so many challenges in little time, but I thought you could handle it Monsieur Tactician…(ᵔᴥᵔ)?

I’ll be continuing where I left off to finally finish this, so look out! But how will you know the number of challenges I send?

( Also I see you and Lannes’s own riddle making………..…..copycat >:] )

Tch. You are not the sole purveyor of puzzles- not that the dispatches between I and Marshal Lannes are a puzzle that needs to be cracked.

Lannes: IS IT 32 CHALLENGES

What.

Lannes: ITS IN YOUR FUCKING NOTES

... Anyway, I am very busy today, so later, I will have my ADCs go over my notes and my contacts and rectify the concerns that you have raised, Citoyen Riddler. Thank you for your clarifications, Citoyen, and rest assured, we will be watching out for your continued... shenanigans.

—·—

Riddle observations (currently incomplete and partially incorrect ordering) Red: Austrians, ass/Murat, go, hot, cracker, wife, yay, oysters, :), brainrot, cutting, eat, tub, shin,disgusting,burning paper... Green: I/love, ravioli,would(3/2?), eat, 32, admire, afar, give, hearts, to, everyone, look, when(?)/he,ever, up, in, already

—·—

Lameth: Well, it certainly keeps him and us busy scratching our heads!

Petiet: We need to buy more string for the theory corkboard...

#Anonymous #(( ooc: eyyyy this is still on ))#(( ooc: thank you for inspiring me to do my own puzzle heheh ))#(( ooc: i'll go through and fix the order/check for clues when i'm less busy ))#dalmatia tries to solve a riddle #the duke of dalmatia's correspondence #guest starring the duke of montebello

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fifaworldcup2026tickets · 3 months

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Switzerland FIFA World Cup: Announces Final 26-Man Squad for FIFA World Cup 2026

Switzerland FIFA World Cup: Switzerland is gearing up for a strong FIFA World Cup 2026 performance with a well-rounded and experienced squad. Manager Murat Yakin has meticulously selected his final 26-man roster, narrowing it down from an initial 38-man provisional team. The Swiss squad will head to the USA, Mexico, and Canada, hoping to make an important impact in the tournament.

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The selection process began with a long list of names, with players such as Aurele Amanda, Ulisses Garcia, Joel Monteiro, Bryan Okoh, and Becir Omeragic being cut from the squad in late May. On June 5, the Swiss Football Association announced that six more players would not be joining the final squad. Kevin Mbabu, Filip Ugrinic, Albian Hajdari, Uran Bislimi, and goalkeepers Pascal Loretz and Marvin Keller were left out, with one more player to be omitted before FIFA's deadline of June 7 for final squad submissions.

This carefully selected group features a blend of seasoned veterans and rising stars. Granit Xhaka, the standout Albania-born midfielder, is set to lead the team at the age of 31 after an unbeaten season with Bayer Leverkusen. The former Arsenal star is joined by potential midfield partners such as Denis Zakaria, Remo Freuler, Fabian Rieder, and Ardon Jashari, who are all prepared to support Switzerland's campaign.

Football World Cup Tickets: A Blend of Experience and Rising Stars

The Swiss squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is a well-balanced mix of experienced veterans and promising young talents. Manager Murat Yakin has carefully selected his final 26-man roster, which combines seasoned players with fresh faces ready to make their mark on the international stage.

Leading the squad is Granit Xhaka, the Albania-born midfielder who has been in stellar form with Bayer Leverkusen. At 31, Xhaka brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the team. He is support by a strong midfield lineup that includes Denis Zakaria, Remo Freuler, Fabian Rieder, and Ardon Jashari. This mix of players offers both defensive solidity and creative flair, making the Swiss midfield one of the most balanced in the tournament.

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In defence, Yann Sommer is set to guard the goalposts, providing reliability and composure between the sticks. He will be back by defenders like Manuel Akanji, who has been a rock at the back for his club. The attacking unit geographies the dynamic Breel Embolo and the talented Noah Okafor, both of whom have the ability to unlock defences with their speed and skill.

Veteran forward Xherdan Shaqiri adds a touch of magic to the squad with his dribbling skills and eye for goal. His experience and ability to perform in crucial moments make him an invaluable asset to the team. This blend of youth and experience positions Switzerland as a formidable contender in the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Granit Xhaka: The Pivotal Leader of Switzerland's FIFA World Cup 2026 Campaign

Granit Xhaka, during his tenure at Arsenal, often divided opinions with his fiery temperament, impetuous decisions, and sporadic flashes of brilliance. However, on the international stage, he has consistently proven himself to be one of the finest midfielders in the world.

Now thriving at Bayer Leverkusen, Xhaka is experiencing a career resurgence. At 31, he stands as the undisputed leader and most crucial player for Switzerland. His performance in the last major tournament was nothing short of heroic, particularly against France, where he almost single-handedly propelled the Swiss team into the quarter-finals.

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Xhaka's game is define by his exceptional passing range and his ability to launch powerful long shots. When he is in top form, he is one of the most captivating players in Europe. His vision and precision in distributing the ball, combined with his knack for scoring from a distance, make him a significant threat to any opponent.

As Switzerland prepares for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Xhaka's role will be pivotal. His experience and leadership will be essential as the team faces off against some of the world's best. With Xhaka at the helm, the Swiss squad has a seasoned and capable leader ready to take on the challenges of the global stage.

Murat Yakin: Leading Switzerland to the FIFA World Cup 2026

Following Switzerland's underwhelming qualifying campaign, the Swiss Football Association released a statement declaring, "Murat Yakin has our full confidence." Typically, such declarations are unnecessary if confidence is already firmly establish. This statement underscores the pressure on Yakin, who has been at the helm since the 2021 season, to deliver a strong performance at the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026.

Vladimir Petkovic's successful tenure set a high bar for Swiss football, leaving Yakin with the challenge of meeting elevated expectations. Petkovic's era was mark by significant achievements and a rise in Switzerland's footballing reputation. Consequently, Yakin is task with building on this legacy and steering the team to success on the global stage.

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Yakin's leadership and strategic acumen will be crucial as Switzerland competes in the highly anticipated tournaments in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. With a squad brimming with talent and experience, the expectations are high. Yakin's ability to harness this talent and instil a cohesive, winning mentality will be pivotal in Switzerland's quest for glory.

The Swiss manager's approach to the game, accenting tactical discipline and adaptability, will be tested against some of the best teams in the world. His decisions, from squad selection to in-game tactics, will be under intense scrutiny. As Switzerland prepares for the World Cup, the focus will be on Yakin to demonstrate that the FA's confidence in him is well-placed.

Switzerland's FIFA World Cup 2026 Prospects

The Swiss team is well-prepared for the FIFA World Cup 2026 challenges, combining tactical discipline with individual brilliance. Manager Murat Yakin's squad selection reflects a strategic approach aimed at maximizing Switzerland's potential on the world stage. As they embark on their journey, the team carries the hopes of their nation. Ready to compete with determination and ambition in one of football's most prestigious tournaments.

Switzerland's FIFA World Cup 2026 roster boasts a mix of experienced veterans and dynamic young talents. All of them are eager to showcase their skills on the international stage, with key players like Granit Xhaka leading the midfield and Yann Sommer anchoring the defence. The Swiss team has the experience and stability needed for a deep tournament run. Up front, the combination of Breel Embolo and Noah Okafor promises a potent offensive threat, capable of challenging any defence.

Manager Murat Yakin's tactical approach and game management will be crucial in navigating the tough competition. His ability to make strategic decisions and adjustments during matches will be under. The spotlight as Switzerland aims to advance through the tournament. The team's preparation and unity will play. A significant role in their performance, and the blend of youth. And experience in the squad provides a balanced and adaptable lineup.

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jennsmischievousmind · 4 years

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Fucks not Found

Die Hard

“I’m not mean, I’m brutally honest. Five you got any band-aids?”

“Here we go sarcasm, can’t you communicate like a normal person.” One turned to you

“He’s kidding me, right? you look at the others - You’re kidding me, you’re the master of sarcasm, prendila in culo da un ciuccio imbizzarrito!”

“And Italian now, see, no communication skills,”

“Stop bickering like an old couple!” Five argued

“How many times do we have left?” Two asked Seven in the cockpit “About 3 hours.” She rolled her eyes.

“Green lantern sucks that’s all I’m saying,” You sat back, hands up defensively.

“Seven hold me back!” One feigned to stood up

“Ok you two, TIME OUT!” Five threatened you with her index, you mimed zipping your lips.

Two hours later you were finally on solid earth, you met up in a market to eat something and review details about the extraction.

Three and Two were acting weird, when Seven implied something happened between them in Vegas, you carefully looked at Four. One intervened, you gulped, he could kick you out the team in a second. He asked them if it was a matter of love, or just sex. Two insisted it was only sex. One approved her answered. Four gently kicked your foot under the table in a reassuring gesture.

The night fell slowly on Asia's World City, you geared up for Murat’s extraction. The plan was to use the sky’s crane to go from building to building, gas masks for a grand entry on the main hall, and a zip line for extraction. You look at yourself in the mirror, wearing all black and suit up like a spy, you kinda liked it, damn you were far from Italy and your barista job.

Before that you met Four in his room.

“You be careful up there, okay!”

“Yes m’am,” he cockily smiled, while packing his abseiling equipment. “By the way .. about what One asked Two and Three...,” you let the question hanging.

Four’s lips closed in a thin line, his green eyes searching yours “We…,“ loud knocks on the door scared the shit out of you two, followed by Three’s voice telling Four to move his ass.

Your post was at the end of the zip line, laptop on top of a barrel, One was supposed to meet you there later to pick up the target.

Four and Seven on the cranes, Five in the lobby, Two and Three waiting for their go-to.

“Team set – Target set – it’s your call One.” You announced on the comm. You felt like a fucking MI:6 agent or something.

“Hit it, guys!” One spoke.

Five launched the laughing gas, Two and Three entered the lobby a minute later, heading for the lift.

“Five, I got a transmission, someone is calling the police from the security post!” you heard her groaned preceded by a loud bang.

“We’ve got 13 minutes from now!” She cursed , you launched a chrono on your laptop.

Four secured the zip line on his side, One arrived to secure it not far from you. Murat’s bodyguards became agitated because of the crane overhanging the penthouse.

Two and Three were on their way up. While Four decided to take a dip to avoid the bodyguards. One ran to the other side of the building.

“Skinny dipping” you let out snorting.

Focusing on the chrono you realized 60 seconds had passed and Four was still underwater.

“One … have you ever seen Le Grand Bleu? Four ain’t the main role!” you stated with a warning tone.

“That’s a good movie.” Two intervened shortly

Seven insisted Four was going to drown, but One stayed radio silent. Biting your lip, you became agitated; until Seven took over and shoot in the pool glass near Four, allowing him to breathe through the bullet hole. You let out the breath you were holding; shit One what the fuck man, you thought!

Police Sirens were being heard in the distance, the bodyguards left the pool area, you gave Four the go-to.

“How you doing over there? You having fun yet?” One asked Four on the comm, whom was abseiling and installing high intensity speakers on the windows’ penthouse. “Anyone ever asked you dumb questions when you’re ninety stories up?”

You sighed “Don’t distract him please, he has already lost time,”

“Yeah mom” One sighed “You care way too much for the boy, Eight,”

“Mate, Four cut One, you’re really ruining my flow right now, you know that?”

Neither of you came up with a smart answer, fortunately One moved on pretty quickly.

Time came for the second hit. One launched the audio in the speakers, the THX synthesized crescendo, you saw the glass shattered because of the high frequency. And then it was the 4th of July without the pretty colors. Gunshots were fired from the entire penthouse. At some point you wondered if from where you stood you could receive a bullet, so you curled up a bit behind your laptop and the barrel.

Apart from Three being under nitrous, everything was going as planned. Four had the target in no time.

“Bad news, I got a lift with 3-armed douchebags coming up. And more guys that were on the floor below, coming up the stairs, also armed .. for whatever that’s worth.” Switching the view cams, you saw Two and Three stuck at the stairs.

“15 minutes, time’s out” Five called out.

“Shit, police are crowding in the lobby,” You look around for One for direct advice, but he was nowhere to be seen until you look above “One, what the hell are you doing on the crane!?” you asked over the comm. “That’s ..that’s high,” was all he said.

They were surrounded and Seven for the second time tonight ended up saving their ass, maybe he wasn’t that bad after all you thought. They obviously got so mad at Seven for exploding the pool and drowning the all penthouse, almost killing Two.

You heard some screaming, looking above your screen like a meerkat you saw Murat Alimov sliding down the zip line. You detached him at his arrival, but he started running away, leaving you wondering but seeing Three hot on his tail you understood, this latter tackled the target to the ground. You groaned flinging your arms up “And now you’re hitting him, really!?!” Two landed next to you, followed by One.

“Your toy boy is stupid” you grabbed Two’s carabiner

“Tell me about it.” She sighed, reloading her gun

“Can’t one of you stop this dumbass!?!” One pointed at Three still beating up Rovach’s brother

You both shrugged.

“You've picked this dumbass.” Two said

One excused Three’s behavior to Murat Alimov, he asked you to take him quickly to the elevator.

“Sir, this way” you held his arm urging him forward the lift.

“Come on Four. We’re moving,” One came running behind

“Just go, I can’t get across. They cut the zip line,”

You stop dead in your tracks, still holding Murat.

“Four ...,” your voice was low even though everyone could hear you in the comm.

You heard gun shots and Four cursed.

One stopped behind, talking to Four, you were processing your next move. Shoving Murat to Two, you grabbed the pearl handle-gun Three stole and ran the opposite direction.

“Hey that's mine chiquita!”

One swirled on himself seeing you run “We're not waiting for you just so you know.” One voice echoed; you heard the elevator’s door closing.

“Four what’s your location?” you asked while running.

“Eight, go!”

“Where the fuck are you?!”

He sighed “I’m going for the crane!”

“Meet you there,”

You arrived at the crane’s feet, hardly breathing, “Shit I need to work on my cardio,”

“Eight!” you heard from above, Four jumped down next to you.

“See, you got out!” you slapped his chest for worrying you. Voices from the crane distracted you.

“Run!”

Four started running followed by you, but it wasn’t just a run, it was full parkour shit and you had no choice but to follow him.

Soon your charger was empty, 2 guys were down, 1 got thrown over the edge by Four, meaning only 3 left.

“Why are we climbing!?” You yelled at Four as he started running up the ledge.

One of the assholes started throwing grenades at you, like it wasn’t enough. Then you look ahead, Four jumped on 4 pylons and turned to you.

“Shit, Shit, Shit!!”

“COME ON!” The adrenaline took over, your legs jumped, feet joining on the 5 square foot platforms on top of the pylons. Four got a hold on you when you reached him.

“Shit!” you let out nervous laugh. “I’m a newbie in parkour remember?” But immediately you felt trapped, the douchebags were shooting at you. Suddenly a loud explosion had you two look up, your eyes widened as a bunch of I-beams fell from the sky crane.

“WHOA!!” Four yelled, shoving you inside the pylons corner, shielding you with his body, you grabbed onto him as hard as you could, trying to shield him as well. You tried focusing on something else than the heavy metallic sound the I-beams were making. Directing your attention on Four’s deep voice cursing and breathing loudly.

Screwing your eyes shot, you felt Four’s arms tightening at each thunder like sound. All of sudden the rattles sounded far away, a white silence filling your ears except for your heavy breathing. Locking eyes with Four, he pressed his forehead on yours. “Let’s go,”.

You resumed your escape, climbing down the pylons, without being seen, calling out the squad to give your position. Four was leading the way, but a shadow caught your eye. Before you could say anything, Four had been ran into by the biggest bodyguard, propelling the both of them into the empty. You froze, an image of your brother dead at the wheel flashed in your mind - not again - Until you heard a loud bang and Four cried out, he was alive, you ran to the edge, and saw them like 6 stories under, on a net, fighting.

"No, no, no" you look around, trying to come up with something until you saw a rolled fire hose.

"Big Mclane energy" grabbing the hose you tied it up to your waist, not thinking any longer in fear your brain you’d stop you, you jumped. Screaming like hell on your down, until the hose came to an abrupt stop, the knot immediately untying under the pressure letting you free fall 2 meters. Slamming on the metal net, the shocked knocked your airway for a second.

You groaned "..Never again!" propelling yourself up with difficulty. The adrenaline kicking in you ran to the big guy, jumping on his back and tightening his neck. It didn’t last long till he threw you off him with one arm, going on with punching Four. Between Four’s grunts breaking your heart, you heard the team arguing on the comm’. Seven yelling he’ll not let the both of you behind. Crawling back to Four, the big guy pushed him over the edge, himself falling a bit backward, a gasp escaped your dry throat. Fortunately, Four’s foot got stuck in the orange plastic net, you no longer cared that the big guy was still there, you had to go for Four. The big guy was determined to catch Four to crush him himself.

“GRAB MY HAND!” you extended your arm over the edge, facing the void, his left hand grazed yours, but a foreign hand slide around your neck.

“NO!!” Four yelled, writhing trying to reach the ledge.

The fall had already knock out your lungs so it didn’t take long before your vision became fuzzy. As the guy chocked you, your eyes rolled to the back of your head. Your mind drifted to your brother, his warm hug before he got on that green car, his cheeky smile never leaving his face, his hand in yours at your mother’s grave.

“It’s only the two of us now.” A tear rolled down your face.

Sixth chapter White Flag

A/N: don’t forget to double tap if you liked it 🙏

#billy x reader #four x reader #four imagine #6 underground four x reader #6 underground imagine #ben hardy #Fucks not Found

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creepingsharia · 4 years

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Feds Dismantle 3 Islamic Terror Financing Cyber Campaigns

CAIR - also a wing of Hamas, that raises money via zakat, was not dismantled, but a related wing of Hamas was. Twitter, Facebook and Youtube are still complicit.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Global Disruption of Three Terror Finance Cyber-Enabled Campaigns

Largest Ever Seizure of Terrorist Organizations’ Cryptocurrency Accounts

The Justice Department today announced the dismantling of three terrorist financing cyber-enabled campaigns, involving the al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, al-Qaeda, and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS). This coordinated operation is detailed in three forfeiture complaints and a criminal complaint unsealed today in the District of Columbia. These actions represent the government’s largest-ever seizure of cryptocurrency in the terrorism context.

These three terror finance campaigns all relied on sophisticated cyber-tools, including the solicitation of cryptocurrency donations from around the world. The action demonstrates how different terrorist groups have similarly adapted their terror finance activities to the cyber age. Each group used cryptocurrency and social media to garner attention and raise funds for their terror campaigns. Pursuant to judicially-authorized warrants, U.S. authorities seized millions of dollars, over 300 cryptocurrency accounts, four websites, and four Facebook pages all related to the criminal enterprise.

Funds successfully forfeited with a connection to a state sponsor of terrorism may in whole or in part be directed to the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (http://www.usvsst.com/) after the conclusion of the case.

“It should not surprise anyone that our enemies use modern technology, social media platforms and cryptocurrency to facilitate their evil and violent agendas,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The Department of Justice will employ all available resources to protect the lives and safety of the American public from terrorist groups. We will prosecute their money laundering, terrorist financing and violent illegal activities wherever we find them. And, as announced today, we will seize the funds and the instrumentalities that provide a lifeline for their operations whenever possible.”

...

Al-Qassam Brigades Campaign

The first action involves the al-Qassam Brigades and its online cryptocurrency fundraising efforts. In the beginning of 2019, the al-Qassam Brigades posted a call on its social media page for bitcoin donations to fund its campaign of terror. The al-Qassam Brigades then moved this request to its official websites, alqassam.net, alqassam.ps, and qassam.ps.

The al-Qassam Brigades boasted that bitcoin donations were untraceable and would be used for violent causes. Their websites offered video instruction on how to anonymously make donations, in part by using unique bitcoin addresses generated for each individual donor.

However, such donations were not anonymous. Working together, IRS, HSI, and FBI agents tracked and seized all 150 cryptocurrency accounts that laundered funds to and from the al-Qassam Brigades’ accounts. Simultaneously, law enforcement executed criminal search warrants relating to United States-based subjects who donated to the terrorist campaign.

With judicial authorization, law enforcement seized the infrastructure of the al-Qassam Brigades websites and subsequently covertly operated alqassam.net. During that covert operation, the website received funds from persons seeking to provide material support to the terrorist organization, however, they instead donated the funds bitcoin wallets controlled by the United States.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia also unsealed criminal charges for two Turkish individuals, Mehmet Akti and Hüsamettin Karataş, who acted as related money launderers while operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.

Al-Qaeda Campaign

The second cyber-enabled terror finance campaign involves a scheme by al-Qaeda and affiliated terrorist groups, largely based out of Syria. As the forfeiture complaint details, these terrorist organizations operated a bitcoin money laundering network using Telegram channels and other social media platforms to solicit cryptocurrency donations to further their terrorist goals. In some instances, they purported to act as charities when, in fact, they were openly and explicitly soliciting funds for violent terrorist attacks. For example, one post from a charity sought donations to equip terrorists in Syria with weapons:

Undercover HSI agents communicated with the administrator of Reminder for Syria, a related charity that was seeking to finance terrorism via bitcoin donations. The administrator stated that he hoped for the destruction of the United States, discussed the price for funding surface-to air missles, and warned about possible criminal consequences from carrying out a jihad in the United States.

Posts from another Syrian charity similarly explicitly referenced weapons and extremist activities:

Al-Qaeda and the affiliated terrorist groups together created these posts and used complicated obfuscation techniques, uncovered by law enforcement, to layer their transactions so to conceal their actions. Today’s complaint seeks forfeiture of the 155 virtual currency assets tied to this terrorist campaign.

ISIS Campaign

The final complaint combines the Department’s initiatives of combatting COVID-19 related fraud with combatting terrorism financing. The complaint highlights a scheme by Murat Cakar, an ISIS facilitator who is responsible for managing select ISIS hacking operations, to sell fake personal protective equipment via FaceMaskCenter.com (displayed below)

The website claimed to sell FDA approved N95 respirator masks, when in fact the items were not FDA approved. Site administrators claimed to have near unlimited supplies of the masks, in spite of such items being officially-designated as scarce. The site administrators offered to sell these items to customers across the globe, including a customer in the United States who sought to purchase N95 masks and other protective equipment for hospitals, nursing homes, and fire departments.

The unsealed forfeiture complaint seized Cakar’s website as well as four related Facebook pages used to facilitate the scheme. With this third action, the United States has averted the further victimization of those seeking COVID-19 protective gear, and disrupted the continued funding of ISIS.

The claims made in these three complaints are only allegations and do not constitute a determination of liability. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government. Further, charges contained in criminal complaint are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

IRS-CI Cyber Crimes Unit (Washington, D.C.), HSI’s Philadelphia Office, and FBI’s Washington D.C., New York, and Los Angeles field offices are investigating the case. Assistant U.S Attorneys Jessi Camille Brooks and Zia M. Faruqui, and National Security Division Trial Attorneys Danielle Rosborough and Alexandra Hughes are litigating the case, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Brian Rickers and Bria Cunningham, and Legal Assistant Jessica McCormick. Additional assistance has been provided by Chainalysis and Excygent.

Attachment(s):

Download _criminal_complaint.pdf

Download _affidavit_in_support.pdf

Download civil_complaints_.pdf

#Islam #Muslim #Sharia #Jihad #Legal #Finance #News #Politics #Media #Technology #Travel #Zakat

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histoireettralala · 4 years

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Monster

Hello friends! This is a new thing that sprang out of another discussion with @joachimnapoleon. Once the idea took hold of my brain, I couldn’t get rid of it, so... here you go.

*****

When Joachim told her one morning that he was going to buy a horse, Caroline wasn't surprised. He'd been meditative and quiet the last four days, throwing longing looks at the stables and the grazing horses. This was just the way he usually behaved when pining for a new horse.

So she had kissed his cheek and off he’d been gone.

And now, staring at the horse, she wondered how everything could have gone so wrong.

The horse was, to put it mildly... unsightly.

It was a huge and menacing black form, with a head like a lump of rock and teeth like tombstones, and it was staring back at her.

But when Joachim turned to her with his beaming smile, asking: "Isn't he wonderful ?", Caroline didn't have the heart to tell him his precious new friend looked like it belonged with garbage.

*** Caroline could have made her peace with the horse being ugly.

Despite popular opinion, Joachim wasn't stuck on looks, for animals in any case. How many times had she seen him fall all over himself to rescue a mangy alley cat or sorry three legged dog... wounded bird... stinking weasel... Name it, he'd fall for it.

No, to be honest, Caroline was more likely to judge on looks. And she enjoyed the sight of her beautiful husband on a beautiful horse, and basked in the appreciative looks and sighs of envy the lovely vision always drew.

But if the horse was ugly, he was twice as mean.

Nobody could approach him, let alone touch him.

He hated everything and everyone. Feeding him was hazardous. Petting him was for the brave and suicidal. Nevermind riding him.

But Joachim was determined.

After an epic first ride that had Joachim look like he'd been dragged through several hedges, and through a considerable amount of mud, with a shiner and a split lip, Caroline hoped he'd come to his senses. But the silly man was more smitten than ever and the horse snorted indignantly in her direction.

And indeed, if he hated the whole world, Joachim was his only exception.

The beast even took to putting his huge body between Joachim and whoever approached him, shielding his Rider from the enemy.

Everything was the enemy. Especially Caroline.

Clearly the monstrous animal was gearing up for war. He always stared at her in that uncanny way of his, projecting threats with his every move.

And Joachim coed over him as he would have over a helpless kitten, petting him, talking nonsense. And the beast was throwing her smug looks, Caroline realized.

The damned horse now took almost all of his free time and Caroline found one more reason to hate him.

*** Joachim was happy.

He knew his new purchase hadn't convinced.. well, anyone, but he would give them time to come to their senses.

That horse was awesome. Perfect. Wonderful. Spirited, combattive, brave, powerful and fast - oh God, so fast, Joachim hadn't had such a blast on a horse since... Oh, he had never had so much fun with a horse, ever.

He was back from a ride, whistling happily, with an armful of wild flowers for Caroline (she always scoffed at this, but when he didn't come with flowers she couldn't quite hide her disappointment), and smiled when he heard her voice.

"... And he's always gone, now, riding, riding, there's nothing but the Monster, and you know I get it and it's fine, but the Monster.."

Joachim stopped short, his face falling.

Monster ?

That damn fine animal with so much heart ?

Monster ??

Joachim almost stomped back to the stables. But he remembered hearing Napoleon calling him a village rooster or King Franconi, and, with a sniff, shook his curls backwards, set his shoulders straight, and strode into the room with an easy smile.

He was not going to let a nickname ruin his life. Or style.

*** "Where is my big precious Monster ?" Joachim shouted when the family neared the stables; an impatient stamping and neighing answered him, while Caroline faltered on the alley, drawing curious looks from the children.

Oh no, he'd heard her.

Joachim could be so protective, Caroline fretted, wrapping himself around the object of his cause, whether it be a snarling, spitting cat or a crying kid.

Caroline knew first hand the intensity of that devotion.

He'd heard her.

"Oh it's you, my lovely, " he was saying, petting the horse, his voice warm and steady, " my sweet Monster."

There was no sourness to his tone.

The children were looking at the horse, amazed. It was perhaps the biggest they had ever seen. Little Louise was reaching a small hand toward a powerful leg, and Joachim gently caught it and picked her up, kissing her cheek. "See, my little love, our Monster here is just like you or me, he doesn't like to be surprised or touched by someone he can't see or doesn't know, so I'm going to introduce you, alright ?"

The little one nodded and Joachim introduced Monster to the children.

Caroline watched the big brute tolerate her children's enthusiastic and clumsy petting with a single twitch, promptly eased by Joachim's careful attention.

(Maybe she'd judged him a little too fast, she thought.)

((It didn't hurt being cautious))

**** "It's alright," Joachim quietly reassured her on their way back home.

She silently looked up at him. And he beamed.

"It's an awesome name! He IS the most fearsome and terrible mount ever known to man, and it's only fair his name should strike fear and respect among all creatures!"

He took her hand in his and squeezed it gently, then he bent to kiss her cheek, wrapping his arm around her.

"It's fine, my love," he said.

Caroline threw her own arms around him, hugging him tight.

*** "... And so I wondered when I could come ?" Lannes' voice echoed through the room.

- Anytime," Caroline answered easily. "Although you might want to avoid the stables."

Lannes had never been one to NOT jump both feet into trouble.

"Why is that ?"

Caroline stifled a laugh.

"Joachim bought Satan's horse, that's why.

- Now I have GOT to see that."

*** "Damn," Lannes whistled, half horrified, half admirative. "That's... quite an animal."

"Right ?" Joachim was beaming, atop the strangest, ugliest horse Lannes had ever met. He could swear the beast was seizing him up and finding him wanting. This tickled his pride.

He was no Murat or Lasalle, but Jean Lannes was a damn fine horseman if he said so himself (he did, thank you very much.)

"Finally someone who understands! I know he doesn't look so pretty, but after all, Napoleon can't dress, does that stop him from taking over the world ? No Sir! Monster here is the real deal, not for the faint of heart!"

Monster, Lannes mused, eyeing the animal who eyed him back warily.

Monster, Monster, he thought, watching man and rider storm around the park, fleeing into the wood as if Satan himself was chasing them.

Monster, Monster, Monster...

He HAD to ride that horse.

*** "I told you, " said Caroline, passing him the bag of frozen peas.

"Owww," Lannes answered miserably.

She tutted and shook her head, and Lannes barely refrained to tell her how much she looked like Mme Campan when she did that. He was already down after all.

"That horse hates me," he whined.

She wasn't moved.

"He hates everything, Jean, don't feel too special.

- Ow. Even you ?"

She burst out laughing.

"Oh, especially me. "

Murat entered the room, Lucien on his back and the girls holding his hands from each side.

"Uncle Lannes fell, " young Lucien giggled, "it was so funny!

- No it wasn't," Letitia said, throwing Lannes an alarmed look. "Uncle Jean could have been really hurt ! Are you okay, Uncle Jean ?

- Oh," said Lucien, his laughter abating when he noticed his uncle's wince." Was Monster too big for you ?"

The innocent question needled Lannes and he instinctively straightened.

"Not at all, " he heard himself say. " I will do it again!"

*** He did it again.

So did Monster.

*** "Really", Larrey rebuked him while taking a close look to his aching, swollen leg, " You should know better."

Acknowledge defeat ? Never.

*** It happened again.

And again.

*** Monster was flying like the wind.

He was the strongest, fastest horse, and his Rider was the strongest, fastest Rider. The only one who deserved to fly with him. The only one who got him.

Monster pranced and danced and ran.

His Rider's warm laughter and warlike yells went well with him.

Monster was having fun.

*** Lannes tried his luck again.

It happened again.

*** Monster was careful.

This time, his Rider had come to him with the small beings he had introduced to him. Just like Her, those small humans were important to the Rider, Monster knew. He shouldn't crush them. He bent his head to let a little hand pet his nose, and whiffled, and black curls flew while a giggle rose in the air. "It tickles, Papa!"

They smelled like Him.

Monster let his Rider put one of the small ones on his back, and stoically endured the little hands pawing at him. It didn't feel right with such a small weight on his back. But the hands he knew were still here, on his neck, on his flank, the voice he trusted was always present, steady and warm. His Rider wasn't forsaking him.

Monster would tolerate the small ones.

As long as it was clear he had Only One Rider.

*** "I don't understand," Louise said, "What is your fascination with that horse ? We have several of our own, and none so mean. Do you like getting thrown off ?!!?

- I don't know, " Lannes grumbled.

"You are mad," Larrey snapped. " There's nothing I can do about this.

- I can't help it," Lannes whispered.

He just HAD TO ride that horse. Just once.

They made quite a fearsome pair, Murat and Monster, a dramatic black blur fit for some epic tale, and Lannes just wanted to be part of it.

"I know," Murat said, patting his shoulder." But it has to be his choice."

I want it so much, Lannes didn't say.

*** Monster threw him off again.

Murat tended to him without a word.

"Why don't you just tell him to stop ?" Caroline had asked him around the fourth Dumping.

But Murat knew it was useless. He understood Monster's lure better than anyone. And he knew Lannes quite well too. They were just as pig headed as each other. None of them would ever yield.

"Holy shit", shouted Lannes, " what a dumping that one was !"

It had been something, Murat mused. Thankfully the children hadn't seen that one.

"Had enough ?" He lightly asked.

Lannes hesitated.

"To be honest..."

Murat leaned toward his friend.

"... No."

They both burst out laughing.

*** Letitia was very proud of her ability to ride Monster - and she didn't understand why they called him Monster (it wasn't very nice, and he was a very nice horse, she thought).

Of course she couldn't ride him alone, and she wouldn't dare anyway, not without Papa, but there was no hiding the fact that she was very, very proud to be sitting atop Monster.

Monster didn't like ANYONE except Papa (not even Mama!) and maybe, them, sometimes, if they were good and obeyed Papa.

Letitia wanted to be a good rider, so she complied and enjoyed her slow, gentle rides on the big horse.

Spotting Uncle Jean, she smiled and waved. Uncle Jean waved back, and the little girl didn't quite identify the emotions shining in his eyes (Uncle Jean had very expressive eyes, she had heard, and it was true, but that didn't mean she knew what she just saw).

*** Lannes had been very good.

He really had.

He had not touched Monster for weeks, nearly three whole months. He had come almost weekly to Joachim's house, each time taking time to visit the horse - well, stare at him and talk to him. At him. Whatever.

He had tried hard to build a bond.

The horse seemed to tolerate him now, at least that's what Joachim told him with a smile.

Lannes had been patient.

The day Monster allowed him to pet his nose almost had him crying.

He'd never had to work so hard for a horse's grudging approval.

*** It was the beginning of summer and Joachim and Caroline were celebrating the completion of their new pool with a giant party. There were balloons everywhere, kids running after each other, dogs running after kids, music and wine were flowing, and Napoleon himself was smiling as little Lucien was telling him how he'd vanquished the Ghastly Ghoul In The Attic.

A triumphant yell rose and the thumping of hooves drew everybody's attention.

A big, ugly black horse appeared on the lawn, stopping them all in their tracks.

Caroline gaped at the sight.

Jean Lannes was riding Monster, a savage joy lighting up his face, his fist clenched in the air as he passed by Murat.

"Best horse ever!!" he exclaimed, breathless with exhilaration. " This is the best aaaaahhhhh..."

Monster suddenly reared up and stamped down hard, and to the sound of Napoleon and Larrey' synchronized sighs, Lannes' yell turned into a yelp of surprise. Amazingly, Lannes held on, but Monster reared up again and Murat, running toward them, watched his brave, suicidal friend take a proper maiden flight into the pond.

There was a moment of stunned silence and then all hell broke loose.

As he fished his friend out of the pond, Murat saw Monster gently trot toward his grazing.

Lannes, drenched to the bone, a water lily on his head and mud decorating his clothes, was looking at the horse with dreamy eyes, even as he was limping and rubbing the small of his back.

"It was AWESOME", he croaked. " Did you see ?"

Their eyes met and they couldn't hold back a snicker.

Larrey was tapping his foot.

His exasperated face almost set them off again.

Napoleon, raking his hand over his face, told Murat he'd sent Lasalle take care of the damnable horse, and can you please, my dear Lannes, desist from such useless endeavours ?

Murat handed his friend over to a furious Larrey, and backed off, getting ready to go to the house to get clean clothes and towels.

Lannes' eyes met his over Larrey's shoulder.

This was not the end.

END

#fanfiction #trifecta au #the horse #joachim murat #jean lannes #caroline bonaparte #and guest starring #monster

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effectsdatabase · 6 years

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Last week's top 20 videos (2018, week 29)

Top 20 videos last week (July 15-21)

Boss - RV-500 (by Knobs)

Limited Edition ZVEX Germanium Woolly Mammoth (by Z. Vex)

LR Baggs Align Series Pedals With Pete (by AndertonsMusic)

Electro-Harmonix Oceans 11 Reverb | Reverb Tone Report (by reverbmarket)

SNAMM '18 - Gamechanger Audio Plasma Pedal Demo (by Premier Guitar)

Dwarfcraft Ghost Fax Phase Computer | CME Gear Demo (by Chicago Music Exchange)

Pyramids & Avalanche Run - Mike Tolan (Talons', the Six Parts Seven) (by EarthQuaker Devices)

Tech 21 dUg Pinnick Signature DP-3X Demo with Vanya (by Tech 21)

The Caline Pegasus Overdrive CP-43 Pedal - An Affordable Klon Style Pedal (by intheblues)

NUX Tape Core Deluxe = Cool Delay Pedal! (by Chords Of Orion)

"Area 52" TonePrint for Hall of Fame 2 (by TC Electronic)

#TONEHEADS - Greg Murat with improv & a bit of "The Morning" (by ToneWoodAmp)

Talkbox Round Up with 60 Cycle Hum || Banshee v Heil v Boss VO1 #TGU18 (by JayLeonardJuatco)

Magnetic Effects White Atom V3 (by Magnetic Effects)

Juan Alderete and Dwarfcraft Ghost Fax (by Dwarfcraft Devices)

Mattoverse Electronics Inflection Point (by Mike Hermans)

SolidGoldFX - Zeta DLX (by 60 Cycle Hum)

Keeley Electronics - Robert Keeley and Johnny Hiland - Aria Compressor + Drive and more! (by Keeley Electronics)

A gold brick? Nope, it's an Aero Expression Pedal from Mission Engineering! (by EytschPi42)

Boss GT1000 - suoni, funzioni e recensione (by accordoTV)

Overviews of the previous weeks: http://www.effectsdatabase.com/video/weekly

Discuss this list at the forum: http://forum.effectsdatabase.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=741

from Effects Database http://bit.ly/2uLoW4m

#FXDB #Effects Database

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noiseartists · 4 years

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FLEUR DU MAL: A perfect blend of Shoegaze, Post-Rock and 80s indie pop

FLEUR DU MAL is a duo from Paris, France, created in 2019.

“We offer a seamless blend of a wide array of sounds, from French "chanson" to Post-Metal, and everything in between.”

It is an apt description. I am really fond of their music that cleverly includes some of the music I have loved (and still love) with clear influence from 80’s French Pop (Etienne Daho), French Shoegaze (Welcome to Julian, Dead horse One) and French Post-Rock (Alcest) .

It seems an unlikely mix, but FLEUR DU MAL managed bringing everything together, never copycating, creating their own unique blend of music. They may be the only band to have suceeded such an extraordinary feat. Etienne Daho would been proud (listen to the cover below).

Their way they singing also reminds me of one of my favourite French Shoegaze bands of the 90s, the Sigh, that you can find in exclusivity on Noise Artists Bandcamp portal (LP is available, EP will be soon).

Needless to say that I quickly became a huge fan of their music, with so many sounds I love and so many memories arising from listening to their music. I recon that many French indie fans of my generation will have the same reaction and hopefully all the following generations.

The music work to date is:

2020: Spleen II, EP

2019: Spleen I, EP; Regrets, single; Soleil, single

Their 2 EPs have a similar structure:

An intro mixing electronica an guitar indie without Lyrics but with simple and captivating melodies and structures.

Song 3 is a cover (Etienne Daho and Jean-Louis Murat respectively, 2 of the godfathers of the French 80’s Indie movement).

Song 5 is a finale with a more Postgaze feel that draws longer, over 7 minutes

And now the (great) interview.

Who are the group members?

The band is comprised of Obermann and Faber. We are two veterans on the Parisian indie scene, played in too many bands to mention them all. Suffice to say we played almost everything, from French pop to Stoner.

How did you meet?

We met through friends and began to go to concerts together and talk about music. When you’re both fans of Prince and Deafheaven, there’s a lot in between to chew over!

How did you come up with your name?

FLEUR DU MAL, the name as well as the overall concept, was Obermann’s idea. We wanted to have something literary, which refers to French classicism with a hint of subversion thrown into it. And romanticism, too. Our nicknames, also, refer to literary figures.

What is your music about?

Our music is mostly about feelings and atmospheres as opposed to tangible things. We favour escapism and sentiment over reality. Besides, we prefer to have people make their own minds about our lyrics, which are very general and open to interpretation.

What are your goals as an artist artistically/commercially?

First, we want to play for ourselves and the people we love. Almost all good music, from Stax soul music to old school hip hop, has been created to bring people together, not to make money. That being said, we want to be heard by as many people as we can.

What are you trying to avoid as a band?

Doing things solely for commercial purposes, copying things that are fashionable. Being really indie and getting to a certain age brings you some perspective. We probably won’t get rich doing this so why bother doing things that get in the way of artistry just for success?

Why do you make the music you make? Is it in you? Is it your environment?

Both, we guess. We don’t believe in revelation, this idea that music comes at us naturally and that we’re just vessels for it. It’s first and foremost a lot of work. That being said, once we come up with a new idea for a song, things progress very quickly.

What inspire you for the music or for the Lyrics?

We are ardent fans of music. We listen to a lot of things and love “pop culture” in the largest sense of the term. For this project, specifically, we dug deep into the records we were listening to when in our teenage and early adult years: 90s alternative rock and metal, early post-rock, etc. Our lyrics, on the other hand, are very personal and always in French. It makes for an interesting encounter, we think.

Tell us what you are looking when trying to achieve your sounds. Do you experiment a lot or have a clear idea of what you want?

From the very start, we had a very precise idea of what we wanted to achieve sound-wise: a mix of shoegaze, post-rock and alternative metal. Very early in the creative process, we decided we would do this without live drums because a drummer tends to impose a specific aesthetics that would have undermined the overall coherence of our sound.

Also, because we sing in French and French has a specific sound that does not always match rock music so well, we wanted to have our voices slightly higher in the mix than what is usual heard in this type of music. This, we think, renders our sound more original than most non-Anglo-American Shoegaze and Indie Rock bands, who rarely sing in their native language.

One way to make sure our sound would have some personality was to record covers of our favourite French artists. We treated those songs as if they were originals and this helped us sharpen our sound.

Describe your palette of sound.

There is duality in everything we do. On the one hand, there are ethereal sounds, overdriven guitars that are drenched in delays and modulation effects.

On the other hand, there is a ground- shaking bass sound and heavily saturated rhythm guitars, both reminiscent of 90s alternative metal. Our gear is pretty straightforward, though.

We mainly use Boss and Electro-Harmonix pedals, either stock or modded, as well as a few fancier toys, but not too many. Drum machine sounds are kept as minimal and dry as possible, to provide a space of expression for anything else.

Who would you want as a dream producer, and why?

One of our pride has been to be able to produce a highly personal and recognizable sound without the help of a producer. We just have someone working on our mastering. But if we had to choose someone, and because we’re talking about dreams, here, why not Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross?

If you could guest on someone else’s album, who would it be and why? What would you play?

What would be fun to do would be to bring our heavily distorted and ethereal sound to artists that do not usually have this sort of musical universe, like a country or pop singer. If Etienne Daho, the godfather of modern French pop, wants us to produce his next record, we’re ready for this!

What musical skills would you like to acquire or get better at?

It’s great to play within your own limitations, right. That being said, we always like to try new things: practice palm-muted rhythmic parts at high tempos, for instance. Obermann likes to train playing technical prog death metal.

Which other musician/artist would you date?

We do not make music in order to get laid!

Is there a band that if they didn’t exist you wouldn’t be making the music you make?

Hard to name one but Alcest has been particularly influential to us. Neige has invented a style of music that merged the spirit of Black Metal with elements of Shoegaze and Dream Pop and there is no word to express how indebted we are to him. We strongly identify with his artistry and work ethic.

Also, he proved you can be French and make a strong impact abroad.

You are from France what are the advantages and inconvenient?

France has long had a bad image as a rock making country. John Lennon famously made fun of us by comparing French rock music and English food. But as English cuisine itself has gotten better and better throughout the recent period, French rock music has also improved a lot and does not pale anymore in comparison to the scenes in other European countries for instance.

Straightforward rock music sung in French will always sound quite appalling but French musicians are very good when it comes to step aside and mix rock with other elements, electronica for instance. Besides, French metal is now wonderful.

Bands like Gojira or Blut aus Nord are leaders in genres they sometimes contributed to forge. Simply put, there’s no inconvenient in being a French band, only advantages.

What are some places around the world that you hope to play with your band?

Anywhere possible .We had a couple of articles published by South American webzines. It would be great to play there.

When is the next album/EP due?

Our first EP was released in September on Shore Dive Records. The new one just came out , also on Shore DIve Records. It’s relatively brighter than the previous one. There will be a third, darker and metal-indebted one to complete the trilogy. Then, we’ll see… [it was released on Shoredive Records on 24th October]

Some artists you recommend.

Dead Horse One [hopefully soon on Noise Artist ndle], Computers Kill People, Venice Bliss, Brusque, Opium Dream Estate, Catherine Watine, La Féline, Pauline Drand, all good French bands/artists and, more importantly, people we love and respect as human beings. Check them out.

Anything else you want your fans to know?

We already revealed too much!

Where to find Fleur Du Mal:

Bandcamp

Facebook

Youtube

#Noise Pop #Indie Pop #Indoe rock #Paris #France

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steebtiny · 4 years

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Are teachers in marinskii and bolshoi hard with their students? Like do they push them to work, to get better, like in the academy or it’s more relaxed and it’s up to the dancer to work ?

they are strict and demanding, no matter if it’s in the academy or theatre. but from what i’ve seen/heard from dancers, the atmosphere and expectations are different. the academy is for learning. you are a student, nothing more. you listen to your teachers and do as they say. but in the theatre, you become an artist and you start to develop your career. you are still a student for life, since you need to keep moving forward, striving for improvement every day. but your relationship with your coach would be different. dancers are not (or i could say, no longer?) 100% subservient to their coaches, but i think that develops with time and experience. you don’t question your coach’s every correction as a young graduate. but you are not expected to be completely “accommodating”: you could discuss artistic choices with your coach, question their perspectives and respectfully disagree. it’s still a teacher-student relationship in which the dancer is expected to be deferential, but it’s also more “collaborative”, i guess?

class is a big difference and a great example. in the academy, you are learning the basics so your teacher will be picking apart your every muscle, placement and movement. everything has to be correct. you can’t just mark choreography or half-ass anything.

in the theatre, it’s much more lax. every day they have a 1-hour class in the morning, rehearsals in the afternoon and more often than not, a performance in the evening. they are usually tired mentally and physically, so the company class is for them to wake up their joints and muscles and to warm up. they are also allowed to pick what muscles/technique to focus on depending on the performance schedule, to leave early if they have a rehearsal/performance coming up, to opt out of certain things if they’re exhausted or currently prone to an injury, etc.. the coaches are there to overlook the class, give out combinations and corrections. but they won’t be scolding you for choosing to stretch instead of doing a combination per se. you can do whatever you want as long as you’re ready for what’s to come on the day, your technique isn’t deteriorating and you’re not doing it to slack off. because you know your body best. if you do any of those things in the academy, you’re going to be yelled at and possibly punished.

you can also see it in the dancers’ attire. students in the academies are to follow a strict uniform code, wearing assigned leotards, skirts, shirts and tights. everything is sewn tight, clean and neat to instill that sense of discipline and cleanliness in the children. dancers wear their own dance gear to company class, with the occasional hoodies, vests and comfort sweatpants to the barre (although they do take them off after some stretching and exercises).

check out murat ushanov and oleg ignatiev’s videos (1) (2). i’ve been obsessed lol they’re so funny yet accurate, and sum up the difference between academy and theatre pretty humourously.

#why do i ramble so much wtf #i sincerely apologise to everyone who sees this on their feed #mariinsky ballet #bolshoi ballet #ballet #ask #me

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