#Political alliances

[imhereformysciencefriends]

Royalty

Day 3 of @peerpressureweek I got real excited about this one lads

Cultural differences and language barriers my beloveds <3

”Ender prince,” the particles that hovered on the edges of his vision whispered. ”We may have found a solution.”

“Have you now?” he muttered, voice pitched low and distracted as he surveyed The End. The dragon was still keeping the main portal locked away beneath her wings, stranding thousands if not tens of thousands in the Nether and the Overworld. Only Ranboo, being the prince, and a handful of other particularly powerful Endermen could make the jump without the portal open. Well. Most Endermen could make the jump out. It was making the jump back in that posed the problem.

More than that, she thought herself a tyrant, making demands none of them could deny, for her overwhelming strength. She ate too much. Stored too much of her energy in those deadly crystals, the ones that none could break without risking damage to their Pearls. Even if they could somehow band together and wound her, she’d just draw on those energy reserves to heal herself, and she’d scorch and eat them all long before they managed to bleed the crystals dry.

But a solution. That had Ranboo’s ear.

”In the Nether—” Ranboo pulled a face, which had the particles laughing at him immediately. He hated the Nether. ”Yes, in the Nether, our Ender prince. There is a Piglin king. He is strong. Stronger than the dragon. His bastion wants to expand, but a clade of Endermen block the Piglins’ path most violently."

Ranboo perked. “So I go, order the Endermen to back down, and tell the Piglin king that if he kills the dragon, they will leave his territory entirely.”

The particles made a pleasant hum. They warned him again of danger, but yes. Ranboo knew. If he was strong enough to kill the dragon, he was more than strong enough to pose a serious threat to Ranboo’s life. Heck, if the particles were right, he’d might even be strong enough to kill the clade that blocked his path. Why didn’t he try? Ranboo had never heard of a Piglin being overly cautious.

Well, either way, Ranboo was thankful for it. Reincarnation might return the dead Endermen’s Pearls to The End, but nobody liked dying, and a peaceful, mutually beneficial resolution to the conflict was more than welcome. He donned his elytrian cloak, put chorus fruit and weapons in one shulker box, three diamonds in another, and closed his eyes and breathed.

Nether.

He opened his eyes, his Pearl thrumming behind his diaphragm, and scrunched his nose at the oppressive heat.

“I have arrived in the Nether; which way do I go?” he asked his particles, and they led him on a long and frankly confusing journey, during which he mentally recited what he was going to say. His path bottomed out in a stretch of warped biome, where he was promptly attacked by a hoglin. Okay, maybe he should’ve kept his weapons out, and only put them away after he’d reached the bastion. Shows of peace didn’t do him much good with wild animals.

But he dropped the hoglin carcass into the shulker box with the diamonds and called out for all Endermen in the area to come to him. Being their prince, they didn’t have much choice but to obey, though all seemed quite happy to see him.

“Are you alright?”

“Why are you here?”

“Are we able to go home yet?”

“Are we able to go home soon?”

“How can we help you?”

“What are you doing?”

Ranboo raised his hands, his tail flicking in a smile. “I am here to negotiate with the Piglin king that’s giving you trouble. Please refrain from attacking any Piglins unless they attack you first, at least until I say otherwise.”

All gathered Endermen bobbed their tails in a nod, and Ranboo flicked another smile at them. “Have any of you picked up blocks with gold in them? I hear Piglins like those; I can add them to my gift if you have any.”

So in the shulker Ranboo had three diamonds, a hoglin corpse, and two blocks of gold nuggets. Perfect gift, honestly. “I will return with the verdict. Stay away from the bastion for now.”

He warped to the bastion, the Piglin guards immediately on alert, but Ranboo made a show of dropping his weapons into his shulker, and then set the second shulker down between them.

“Please take this to your king. It is a gift from me. I would like to speak with him.” Nailed it.

They regarded him with open hostility and wariness, looking at his face (but Ranboo did not attack, despite their baiting him to do so). One guard kept a crossbow trained on him, the other tapped the box open like it might explode when he did. But, seemingly content with its contents, the guard nodded at the other with a grunt and took the box in.

Ranboo stayed right where he was, and he and the guard pointing the crossbow at him had an honestly wonderful interaction. The guard’s tail kept flicking and twitching, and so Ranboo flicked his own smiles back in kind. What a friendly guard! Ranboo was expecting them to be far more hostile, for their conflict with the nearby clade! How nice :).

The bastion’s main gate opened once more and a group of Piglins poured out, their king at their center. Ranboo certainly thought he was king, his hands had golden rings on nearly every finger, and his body language spoke of confidence.

“Piglin king,” Ranboo greeted, giving another friendly flick of his tail. Here’s hoping the king was as personable as the guard, whose tail was practically wagging, now.

“Enderman. I thank you for your gift. You wanted to speak with me?”

“My Pigspeak is rarely practiced. Forgive me if I misspeak.” Ough, Ranboo was pretty sure that was the word. Pigspeak was a tough language, their sentences structured differently than Voidtongue, but Ranboo wanted the dragon dead more than he wanted to avoid social interaction with a member of a different species in a language he barely knew. “I have a problem. You have a problem with my Endermen. I would like us to,” Ranboo’s tail lashed in a frown, searching for the right words.

“Make amends?”

His tail and ears flicked up. “Yes! Amends. I will help your problem with my Endermen. You will help with my problem.”

“Ah, workin’ together then.”

Another issue was that Ranboo had learned Pigspeak with Ender tutors. The accent was… rough, to translate around.

“Workin’ together, yes. Together amends?”

“Right.” The Piglin king’s eyes were sharp. “What are you proposin’?”

Ranboo’s tail lashed in another frown, his eyes pinched around the edges. “Workin’ together is easier if you do not staring at my face,” he hissed, and tried not to give in to his urge to deathcall about it. That would summon all the nearby Endermen, and he wanted to prevent a bloodbath, not start one.

“A Piglin looks his opponent in the eye,” stated the king.

“We are not opponent! We are together amends!” Ranboo all but shouted, and mercifully the eyes did leave his face, the king now looking amongst his entourage.

“We aren’t,” he thankfully agreed, his gaze now settled somewhere around Ranboo’s neck, which was a little intolerable but much better than his face. “Come inside. We can discuss this further privately.”

Ranboo strode forward and pretended that he was not bothered by being encased in blackstone and surrounded by Piglins. He was the prince. He could kill a Piglin easily enough, and teleport away when their numbers overpowered him. Even so, it was easier when he and the king settled into a small, clean, and well furnished room. Well. Small in terms of height, the size of the room was about average but Ranboo had to stoop.

“For Piglins, not makin’ eye contact means you’re a coward and a weaklin’. I couldn’t keep havin’ this conversation with you out front; I’d lose face.”

Ranboo desperately tried to keep up with his accent and the confusing terms he was using as he took his seat. “Your face… will be torn off you?” Ranboo asked. That seemed a dire consequence for not doing something that no reasonable species would ever do in the first place.

“Er, no. It means they’d stop respectin’ me as much.”

Then why not just say that? Ranboo huffed, his tail lashing with agitation, but he only let it lash once. He was being polite. Well mannered. He was ignoring that Piglins had some terminal fucking issue with not saying what they meant. No, no, rude thoughts, he was being polite he was being polite.

“Thank you for conversation with me in here,” he said instead, “I have asked my Endermen do not attacking your bastion already. They are waiting for me. If you help me, they are leaving here total.” Ranboo’s tail lashed with a frown. No, that wasn’t the right way to say that. “They are leaving here entire? Entire…”

“Entirely.”

“Leaving entirely.”

“And you’re some kind of big hotshot who can make that kinda call?”

Call? Hm. He supposed he had called them to him. “I am Ranboo, prince of The End.”

That seemed to give the Piglin king pause. He leaned back in his chair, and dipped his head. Ranboo was pretty sure that this was a sign of respect? Endermen’s heads didn’t really move much, except to look at things. It involved him removing his eyes from anywhere near Ranboo’s face, so he would go ahead and assume that meant it was a respectful gesture.

“I am Technoblade, king of this bastion. What do you need from me?”

“Slay the dragon.”

The Piglin king did not move for a very long moment. Ranboo was content to sit in the silence while his thoughts moved; such things were commonplace in Ender conversation.

“Heh?!”

Oh, maybe Ranboo had used the wrong word. “Kill? Kill the dragon. Dragon stop aliving.” No, wait, that wasn’t a word—right? Ranboo was pretty sure that was not actually a word.

“I, yeah, okay, I got that, actually, but you want me to?”

“Yes.”

“Can’t you, I don’t know, do it yourself?”

“No. You know the game Fruit, Seed, Stone?”

“I’m… not familiar, no.”

“Fruit defeats seed, because without fruit, seed does not have energy to grow. Seed defeats stone, because stone cracked open by seed–” he didn’t know the word for germinating in Pigspeak, “growing. Stone defeats fruit, it can… fruit open.” Ranboo mimicked the act of bashing a rock against a chorus fruit to open it. “Each weak to one opponent and strong to other.”

“And this is like that? The dragon’s strong against Endermen, but weak against Piglins?”

“Yes! You understand.”

Technoblade sighed and pushed his ringed fingers through his hair, head tilted back towards the low ceiling. “What happens if I don’t agree?”

Ranboo’s tail waved in a shrug. “My Endermen cannot leave. The dragon locked The End. She guards it. They cannot go home. I told my Endermen do not attacking your bastion. They will not. But they cannot leave.”

Technoblade’s head bobbed forwards and backwards, which was a very strange motion Ranboo couldn’t decipher in the slightest. “Right. But if I kill the dragon, that frees The End, and if I unlock The End, they’ll go home with you.”

“Yes.”

“And we can send our hunting parties out to forage mushrooms and kill hoglins that way without issue, once they’re gone.”

“Yes.”

“What makes Endermen so weak against the dragon, anyway? She stare at you too hard?”

“Fire,” Ranboo said, stone serious. “Her breath deadly to Piglins, yes, but her breath very deadly to Endermen. I can,” he mimicked bashing again, “Piglin with my hands until Piglin dead, but I cannot punch fire, and I cannot reach her when she flying.”

Technoblade huffed out a laugh, and sat forward again, extending a hand. “Fine. I play pest control for you, you get your people outta my backyard.”

Ranboo’s tail flicked in a smile at Technoblade’s outstretched hand, but he didn’t have any block to put in it. Oh well. He pulled up a block of the blackstone floor and placed it in Technoblade’s palm, happily leaving his own hands on the brick.

“Yes! I am happy you together amends with me.”

Technoblade laughed again, and set the blackstone back where Ranboo had pulled it up from. “Sounds good. But you gotta either let me teach you better Pigspeak, or teach me your language. Listenin’ to you talk is makin’ my ears bleed.”

Ranboo’s tail lashed with a concerned frown, his head dipping this way and that to examine the king’s ears.

“Er, ah, no, not literally bleedin’, it’s a figure of speech.”

Ah, more Piglin nonsense. “I will teach you Voidspeak, but you must saying what you are meaning.”

Technoblade snorted. “Fair enough. I look forward to workin’ with you, Ranboo.”

And Ranboo’s tail flicked with a smile as he agreed.

[ladysapphire928]

The chapter is a little long, but I finally got it done! That counts for something right? Anyways, enjoy more of Devina and Vil arguing and Rook trying to play mediator.

[destielmemenews]

"The Haitian Bridge Alliance made the move after inaction by the local prosecutor, said their attorney, Subodh Chandra of the Cleveland-based Chandra Law Firm."

"Trump and Vance, a U.S. senator from Ohio, are charged with disrupting public services, making false alarms, telecommunications harassment, aggravated menacing and complicity. The filing asks the Clark County Municipal Court to affirm that there is probable cause and issue arrest warrants against Trump and Vance."

source 1

source 2

source 3

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[michaelsmith-us]

Friends Turned Foes Turned Friends: The Surprising New Camaraderie Between Sonia Gandhi and Jaya Bachchan

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[tmarshconnors]

Democracy According to the Left 

In the latest French elections, Marine Le Pen and her National Rally achieved a remarkable victory by winning every single department, except Paris. Garnering the most votes, one would naturally assume that such a resounding success would place them at the forefront of the political landscape. However, despite this overwhelming support, the National Rally found themselves relegated to third place. This raises an important question about the state of democracy as practiced by the Left – is it truly democratic, or is it veering into the realm of tyranny?

The Illusion of Democratic Process

At its core, democracy is supposed to be the embodiment of the people’s will, a system where every vote counts and the majority's voice guides the direction of the nation. Yet, the French electoral system has revealed cracks in this ideal. Despite the National Rally’s sweeping victories across most departments, the complexities of the system allowed for a political maneuver that essentially silenced the voice of millions of French voters.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen such outcomes. The Left often champions democracy, but when the results don’t align with their vision, they find ways to manipulate the system. It’s a pattern that raises concerns about the integrity of democratic processes under left-leaning governance. Is it truly democracy when the clear mandate of the people is overridden by political engineering?

A Tale of Electoral Engineering

The French electoral system’s two-round process allows for alliances and tactical voting that can skew results in favor of the establishment. In this case, traditional parties banded together to keep the National Rally out of power, despite their strong showing in the polls. This isn’t an isolated incident but rather a tactic increasingly employed to maintain the status quo.

Such practices undermine the very essence of democracy. When political elites manipulate electoral outcomes to preserve their dominance, they effectively disenfranchise large segments of the population. This isn’t the rule of the people; it’s the rule of a privileged few who decide what is best for everyone else.

The Double Standard

Imagine if the roles were reversed. If a right-leaning party employed similar tactics to suppress a left-wing victory, there would be an outcry, and rightly so. But when the Left does it, it’s often framed as a necessary measure to protect democracy from ‘extremism.’ This double standard is not only hypocritical but dangerous. It sets a precedent that justifies the erosion of democratic principles in the name of protecting them.

This selective application of democratic norms leads to a slippery slope where the end justifies the means. Today, it’s about keeping Marine Le Pen out of power. Tomorrow, it could be about suppressing any dissenting voices that challenge the prevailing narrative. It’s a path that leads away from true democracy and toward tyranny.

A Warning for the Future

The marginalization of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally is a symptom of a broader issue. When democratic processes are subverted, and the will of the people is ignored, it breeds discontent and distrust in the system. People begin to feel that their votes don’t matter, that their voices aren’t heard. This disillusionment can have serious consequences, leading to social unrest and a fracturing of the political landscape.

For democracy to thrive, it must be allowed to function as intended. This means respecting the outcomes of elections, even when they don’t align with the preferences of those in power. It means ensuring that every vote counts and that political engineering doesn’t override the will of the people.

Marine Le Pen and her National Rally’s experience in the recent French elections is a stark reminder of the fragility of democracy. When political elites manipulate systems to maintain control, they undermine the very principles they claim to uphold. This is not democracy; it’s tyranny masquerading as democratic process.

As we move forward, it’s crucial to safeguard our democratic institutions from such subversion. The will of the people must be paramount, and every effort should be made to ensure that democracy is more than just a name – it should be a living, breathing practice that genuinely reflects the voice of the populace. Only then can we truly call ourselves democratic.

[chaoticaquatic]

Come indulge in some CroKri style DualSign with extra steps. I miss role-playing on Cherubplay,,,      (´°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ω°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥｀) 

[newspatron]

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[newsmix443]

In the Race for Uttar Pradesh: The Impact of Owaisi-Apna Dal Faction Alliance

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This newly formed alliance, named the 'PDM Nyay Morcha', aims to represent the marginalized sections of society, posing a direct challenge to the SP's PDA (Pichchde, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) pitch. Led by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Apna Dal (K) leader Pallavi Patel, the alliance aims to capitalize on the sentiments of the Muslim-Yadav vote bank, traditionally aligned with the SP.

The AIMIM, although a relatively new player in Uttar Pradesh politics, has shown signs of promise, particularly in urban local body elections. Similarly, Apna Dal (K), founded as a splinter group from the BSP, has struggled to establish itself but remains a formidable force, especially in certain constituencies.

Despite their individual challenges, the combined force of AIMIM and Apna Dal (K) could potentially sway the electoral outcomes, especially in constituencies where their vote shares exceed the winning margins. While they may not emerge as major players in terms of Lok Sabha seats, their impact on the electoral dynamics cannot be overlooked.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, all eyes will be on how this alliance shapes the electoral narrative and influences the outcomes in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections.

[currentmediasstuff]

BJP Forges New Paths in Tamil Nadu Politics: Reaching Out to AIADMK Rebels

In the dynamic landscape of Tamil Nadu politics, recent developments have showcased the BJP’s strategic moves as it navigates alliances and seeks to strengthen its presence in the state. With the AIADMK firm on its decision not to return to the NDA fold, the BJP has pivoted its approach, opening channels of communication with rebel AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam (OPS) and TTV Dhinakaran.

For OPS and Dhinakaran, aligning with the NDA presents a potential avenue to rejuvenate their political careers. However, the BJP’s outreach raises questions about its objectives in forging new alliances.

The announcement from AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami reaffirming the party’s stance against reuniting with the BJP provided clarity for the national party. Following this, the BJP swiftly moved to engage with OPS and Dhinakaran, acknowledging their interest in collaboration.

OPS, who had been waiting for a decisive move from the BJP, resumed political activity in his hometown of Theni. Sources close to him revealed his disappointment with the BJP’s hesitance to extend an offer, especially amidst ongoing negotiations with the AIADMK.

The BJP’s message to OPS and Dhinakaran reportedly includes an invitation to share the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his upcoming visit to Tamil Nadu. This gesture signals the BJP’s willingness to integrate the rebel leaders into its fold, recognizing their potential to influence local politics.

For Dhinakaran, whose political journey has been fraught with challenges, joining the NDA offers a chance at redemption. Despite facing legal hurdles and setbacks, his association with the BJP could provide a platform to rebuild his political stature, particularly in the wake of his aunt Sasikala’s reluctance to reenter the fray.

As the NDA gears up for seat-sharing discussions, OPS and Dhinakaran eye a significant share of seats in Tamil Nadu. Leveraging their respective support bases, they aim to secure representation in key constituencies, including Theni, Ramanathapuram, and Sivaganga.

Meanwhile, the AIADMK faces challenges in forming a formidable alliance to rival the DMK-led front. The uncertainty surrounding its partnership with the DMDK and ongoing negotiations with the PMK underscore the party’s dilemma.

The PMK, cognizant of its diminishing electoral clout, is bargaining hard with both the AIADMK and the BJP. However, its dwindling performance in recent elections underscores the need for a strategic alliance to remain relevant in Tamil Nadu politics.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, the BJP’s overtures to AIADMK rebels signal a recalibration of its strategy in Tamil Nadu. With alliances taking shape and negotiations underway, the state braces for a crucial electoral battle, where every alliance and partnership could tip the scales of power.

[kesarijournal]

Geopolitical Follies: A Tongue-in-Cheek Tour of Today's Global Dramas

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[hyperlexichypatia]

Yes! I can see why smaller worlds would be afraid of being either ignored or swallowed up, though. Like smaller countries in the E.U. This is what I think about when I can't sleep.

See, I actually really like the take that alien characters on Deep Space Nine (and also Discovery's first season) have that the Federation are basically like a sort of insidious, outwardly friendly, slow-motion version of the Borg Collective. I absolutely agree that it makes sense for certain outsiders to perceive them that way. But I also think that it's clearly not actually true; Earth is still Earth; Vulcan is still Vulcan; I assume that the other Federation world's would still be recognizably themselves if we had actually enough before-and-after data to compare them. You don't lose your culture just because it's only one of many.

[rollwithdicey]

Before I get back to fully posting normally I also want to put this out there,

If you live in the United States,

If you become a member of the Satanic Temple you are legally protected by your First Amendment right for "Freedom Of Religion" to your own bodily autonomy.

The Satanic Temple is legally recognized as a church by the IRS and the Federal Court System. The are in multiple lawsuits against states such as Texas, Idaho, Missouri, and Arkansas that are implementing strict abortion bans.

This Bodily Autonomy also includes LGBTQIA+ members and Transgender individuals seeking medical attention

You can contact them and they will fight for you and your rights to practice your religion

This link brings you to their RRR Campaign page for more information:

Signing up is free and you can easily find a congregation near you, and it's not exclusive to the US, but for what's currently happening in the US following the presidential election, I'm making this post for you. You're also able to purchase a membership card and certificate after you join but joining is completely free.

One's body is inviolable, subject to one's own will alone.

Hail thyself

[thepiedcurrawong]

why are terfs all like "bodily autonomy!" and then they get pissed at people for trying to transition. seems kinda contradictory almost as if their ideals are built on irrational hatred rather than societal progress

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[cactiunderyourfeet]