#We’re not recognized in the constitution we’re not afforded the same rights as men

[ciderjacks]

”quirky” is also a misogynistic term nowadays im realizing. Like ok do u guys ever really hear that used against men when they’re being funny or silly. No. Just women. Why is this shit only socially acceptable when its terms used against women.

[rileymarie]

Fahrenheit 451 Quotes

“Let you alone! That's all very well, but how can I leave myself alone? We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?” And then he shut up, for he remembered last week and the two white stones staring up at the ceiling and the pump-snake with the probing eye and the two soap-faced men with the cigarettes moving in their mouths when they talked. But that was another Mildred, that was a Mildred so deep inside this one, and so bothered, really bothered, that the two women had never met. He turned away.

Once, books appealed to a few people, here, there, everywhere. They could afford to be different. The world was roomy. But then the world got full of eyes and elbows and mouths. Double, triple, quadruple population. Films and radios, magazines, books levelled down to a sort of paste pudding norm, do you follow me?”

Do you see? Out of the nursery into the college and back to the nursery; there's your intellectual pattern for the past five centuries or more.

Politics? One column, two sentences, a headline! Then, in mid-air, all vanishes! Whirl man's mind around about so fast under the pumping hands of publishers, exploiters, broadcasters, that the centrifuge flings off all unnecessary, time-wasting thought!”

School is shortened, discipline relaxed, philosophies, histories, languages dropped, English and spelling gradually neglected, finally almost completely ignored. Life is immediate, the job counts, pleasure lies all about after work. Why learn anything save pressing buttons, pulling switches, fitting nuts and bolts?”

More cartoons in books. More pictures. The mind drinks less and less. Impatience.

Surely you remember the boy in your own school class who was exceptionally 'bright,' did most of the reciting and answering while the others sat like so many leaden idols, hating him. And wasn't it this bright boy you selected for beatings and tortures after hours? Of course it was. We must all be alike. Not everyone born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal.

Coloured people don't like Little Black Sambo. Burn it. White people don't feel good about Uncle Tom's Cabin. Burn it. Someone's written a book on tobacco and cancer of the lungs? The cigarette people are weeping? Burn the book. Serenity, Montag. Peace, Montag. Take your fight outside. Better yet, into the incinerator.

You can't rid yourselves of all the odd ducks in just a few years. The home environment can undo a lot you try to do at school. That's why we've lowered the kindergarten age year after year until now we're almost snatching them from the cradle.

If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war. If the Government is inefficient, top-heavy, and tax-mad, better it be all those than that people worry over it.

Cram them full of non-combustible data, chock them so damned full of 'facts' they feel stuffed, but absolutely 'brilliant' with information. Then they'll feel they're thinking, they'll get a sense of motion without moving. And they'll be happy, because facts of that sort don't change. Don't give them any slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy. Any man who can take a TV wall apart and put it back together again, and most men can nowadays, is happier than any man who tries to slide-rule, measure, and equate the universe, which just won't be measured or equated without making man feel bestial and lonely.

And the second?” “Leisure.” “Oh, but we've plenty of off-hours.” “Off-hours, yes. But time to think? If you're not driving a hundred miles an hour, at a clip where you can't think of anything else but the danger, then you're playing some game or sitting in some room where you can't argue with the fourwall televisor. Why? The televisor is 'real.' It is immediate, it has dimension. It tells you what to think and blasts it in. It must be, right. It seems so right. It rushes you on so quickly to its own conclusions your mind hasn't time to protest, 'What nonsense!'”

“Jesus God,” said Montag. “Every hour so many damn things in the sky! How in hell did those bombers get up there every single second of our lives! Why doesn't someone want to talk about it? We've started and won two atomic wars since 1960. Is it because we're having so much fun at home we've forgotten the world? Is it because we're so rich and the rest of the world's so poor and we just don't care if they are? I've heard rumours; the world is starving, but we're well-fed. Is it true, the world works hard and we play? Is that why we're hated so much?

Lord, how they've changed it — in our 'parlours' these days. Christ is one of the 'family' now. I often wonder it God recognizes His own son the way we've dressed him up, or is it dressed him down? He's a regular peppermint stick now, all sugar-crystal and saccharine when he isn't making veiled references to certain commercial products that every worshipper absolutely needs.”

The same infinite detail and awareness could be projected through the radios and televisors, but are not. No, no, it's not books at all you're looking for! Take it where you can find it, in old phonograph records, old motion pictures, and in old friends; look for it in nature and look for it in yourself. Books were only one type of receptacle where we stored a lot of things we were afraid we might forget. There is nothing magical in them at all. The magic is only in what books say, how they stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us.

"Number one: Do you know why books such as this are so important? Because they have quality. And what does the word quality mean? To me it means texture. This book has pores. It has features. This book can go under the microscope. You'd find life under the glass, streaming past in infinite profusion. The more pores, the more truthfully recorded details of life per square inch you can get on a sheet of paper, the more 'literary' you are. That's my definition, anyway. Telling detail. Fresh detail. The good writers touch life often. The mediocre ones run a quick hand over her. The bad ones rape her and leave her for the flies.

“So now do you see why books are hated and feared? They show the pores in the face of life. The comfortable people want only wax moon faces, poreless, hairless, expressionless.

Only if the third necessary thing could be given us. Number one, as I said, quality of information. Number two: leisure to digest it. And number three: the right to carry out actions based on what we learn from the inter-action of the first two.

They're Caesar's praetorian guard, whispering as the parade roars down the avenue, 'Remember, Caesar, thou art mortal.' Most of us can't rush around, talking to everyone, know all the cities of the world, we haven't time, money or that many friends. The things you're looking for, Montag, are in the world, but the only way the average chap will ever see ninety-nine per cent of them is in a book.

Don't ask for guarantees. And don't look to be saved in any one thing, person, machine, or library. Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were headed for shore.”

The old man nodded. “Those who don't build must burn. It's as old as history and juvenile delinquents.”

[irarelypostanything]

Unnecessary Arguments - violence against Asian Americans

Person #1: “A bad day is when the McDonalds drive-thru screws up my order.” That was a comment on Fox News highlighting the ridiculousness of the claim that a series of shootings constituted a bad day, and not a hate crime. I repeat, this was a comment on Fox News. Even they agree that this quote is stupid

Person #2: There is no evidence that this was racially motivated

Person #1: We shouldn’t be arguing about this. We should agree that these racist violent acts are horrible, we should agree that something needs to be done about it, and we should go from there.

Person #2: We should agree that violent acts are horrible, and we should agree that racist acts are horrible, but there is no evidence that this was racially motivated

Person #1: You want to start this? Really? I’m tired of staying silent about this for so long. I’m tired of being treated like an outsider in spite of everything I’ve done. We can speak perfect English, we can adopt American holidays, we can work hard and commit no crimes and try to make a good life for ourselves and our families...and now this. We’ve seen the footage of elderly Asians senselessly beaten - our elders, the ones Asian culture holds in the highest esteem. Since the pandemic started, violence against Asian Americans has skyrocketed

Person #2: My issue is not with acts of violence that were obviously racist - my issue is our tendency to create a narrative, with flimsy evidence, that this is somehow all connected. I’ve heard a number of logical leaps taken in the mainstream media. That former president Trump somehow caused this by using the term “China Flu.” That this is part of White supremacy. That the right is to blame

Person #1: A neighbor asked me where I was from

Person #2: Oh, here we go. There’s no such thing as a microaggression. It’s not racist to simply ask where someone is-

Person #1: Let me finish. When I said San Francisco, he asked me my ethnicity. When I said Chinese, he asked if I was documented. When I said yes, he asked me if I had a green card or a visa. When I said I was a citizen, he asked if I had taken a test. When I said I was a fourth generation American, he said that Trump would be sure to keep my kind of people out

Person #2: You’ve already ranted to me about this. That guy was completely crazy

Person #1: Racial slurs yelled at me through the window by strangers, one time when I was ten. I kept thinking that maybe something was wrong with me. Maybe if I just kept acting as American as possible, the others would accept me. But of course, in the eyes people like Trump, I can never really be one of them. Of course not

Person #2: Trump is no longer the president

Person #1: Yes, I think terms like “China Virus” and “Kung Flu” may have had something to do with it. Yes, when the same cop who claimed this shooter was having a “bad day” also posted earlier on social media a picture that said “Coronavirus: Imported from China,” I think this may be part of a larger narrative. When the president of the United States, long before this pandemic, claimed that global warming was a myth created by and for China, I thought...yeah, this is it. America has spoken

Person #2: Trump is no longer the president. Good job, you did it. I’d fact check you on the global warming thing, but it seems we no longer have a Twitter account to check. Biden is the president, and still you claim that this is Trump’s fault? I thought he was on a mission to end racism. I look forward to the coming months of a pandemic cure and tripling the national debt

Person #1: You still don’t get it, do you? Do you know how it feels to hear a coworker ask a Japanese man if he celebrates Pearl Harbor?

Person #2: We’ve already discussed this as well. The two were friends who just so happened to have an inside joke. The Japanese man was fascinated by the imperial navy. That’s it

Person #1: I had a friend ask me if I was even born here

Person #2: And did she stop when you confronted her about it?

Person #1: Yes, but-

Person #2: And as I recall, that’s because you insisted on making the first few racial jokes. You can’t have it both ways. You can’t make jokes about how Asians are good at math, or are all good at piano, and then get so offended when someone states a negative stereotype. Be the change you want to see

Person #1: You’ve complained about historical revisionism?

Person #2: What?

Person #1: I hear it from you. Constantly. You complain that our country’s history is being tarnished because we’re no longer celebrating every aspect of American history. Well here’s a little history for you. Chinese Exclusion Act, 1882. Japanese internment, 1942. A Chinese American was killed and the two white men who did it were sentenced to 0 jail time and a fine of $3000. Do you know when that happened?

Person #2: 1930?

Person #1: 1982. American history is marred by racism. And yes, it freaked me out a little bit when someone acting on Trump’s behalf claimed to be treating Japanese internment as a precedent. And yes, it freaked me out a little bit when the same talking heads who claimed to condemn racism also claimed that Trump was not racist, that he was not discriminating on the basis of religion, that the abhorrent things he said and did were somehow nullified, as if half of the country periodically experienced a shared state of amnesia

Person #2: For the last time, Trump is no longer the president. My issue with this is that you’re not addressing the real problems. Actual hate crime against Asian Americans takes place, and now it’s getting pushed to the sidelines in favor of a shooting that targeted places listed as top locations for sex acts

Person #1: What was your source on that? The Daily Wire?

Person #2: A nationally-recognized public high school is called racist for “having too many Asians,” then effectively disbanded to form a different kind of school...there’s racism everywhere, a seemingly endless pandemic, and a rapidly escalating war that everyone seems to be forgetting about. You want to change the words we use to describe things? Fine. But don’t expect racism to end because you renamed a few dictionary words and then banned a few Dr. Seuss books. You’re not making the problem better, you’re making the problem ten times worse. With your political correctness, your insistence that race be a factor in hiring decisions, and your unceasing reminders of race at every turn, you are making people angrier and fanning the flames of division that you claim to be so passionately against. As we speak, racially divisive videos are circulating on social media. Want to find a common ground? Talk to us about the flag, the country, the rights and freedoms you are afforded by living in the greatest country in the world.

Person #1: We will, when you let us. Talk to me when we’re not afraid to step outside the front door

[syntaxeme]

Sugar is Sweet (and So Are You) ch. 2

[First Chapter] [Next Chapter] [Read on AO3] [Support me on Ko-fi] Rating: T Summary: Plagued by jealousy toward the men Angel sleeps with, Alastor comes up with a plan to keep Angel from having to work the streets. He wasn't planning on becoming an actual client, but having Angel all to himself might prove too sweet to give up--for as long as he can afford it, that is.

— — —

Alastor wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself after his conversation with Angel, but he felt he should be doing something. After some time of pacing around his own room, running his mind in circles trying to figure out what was expected of him here, he was forced to concede that he simply didn’t have the information necessary to make that determination. So he would have to seek someone who did. He went down to the lobby to sit at the bar with a visibly-hungover Husk and asked for his usual—gin and tonic, hold the gin.

“Husker,” he ventured carefully, swirling the tonic water in his glass. His friend (though he used the term loosely) grunted in response. “Would I be right to assume you’ve had some experience with. Er. Filles de joie?”

“First of all, dial down the volume,” Husk grumbled flatly, squeezing his head between his hands as if that might alleviate his headache. “And second, speak English.”

“You know. Working girls. Ladies of the night. Cocettes? Streetwalkers?” How many ways could he say it gently?

“Hookers.”

“…yes.”

“Sure,” Husk agreed with a shrug, resting heavily against the bar. “But what’s it to you? Since when d’you care about that kinda shit?”

“Oh, I don’t. In so many words. But I’ve always been a curious sort, and since I don’t have any personal experience of my own, I figure a secondhand account is better than none,” Alastor explained. The two had known each other long enough that inquiries like this weren’t entirely out of the ordinary, as there were plenty of things about society—mortal or demon—that Alastor had only seen at a distance. Husk, on the other hand, had seen and done quite a lot in his years and could be very helpful when he chose to be.

“Don’t know what you’re gonna do with it, but I guess it doesn’t really matter. Whaddaya wanna know?” He groped absently along the bar for the tumbler of gin he’d withheld from Alastor’s drink and tossed it back all at once, then immediately got dizzy and regretted the sudden motion. “Just. Keep it down.”

“It’s my understanding that escorts, like many other professionals, have regular clients,” Alastor answered, lowering his voice slightly, more because he didn’t want to be overheard having this particular discussion than for the sake of his friend’s comfort. “But I’m not sure what sort of relationship that constitutes.”

“Like you said, a professional one,” Husk told him. “It’s a job, and a client’s a client. No matter how many times ya see ‘em, that doesn’t change.”

“I see. So…that dynamic isn’t likely to develop into something else?”

He let out a dry laugh. “Somethin’ else like what? A gal doesn’t date a john if that’s what you’re askin’.” He was answering almost automatically, not bothering to question where this curiosity had come from. “I hear when a guy starts gettin’ ideas like that, most ‘workin’ girls’ are pretty quick to cut him off.”

Which was exactly what Alastor was afraid of, considering what he knew of Angel Dust. But then, maybe there was a difference if the escort in question had only one patron. Maybe whatever he was getting into with Angel didn’t have exactly the same rules. “In a slightly different vein, then, what about…” Even saying the word felt like an admission, like an embarrassment. But he truly needed some sort of reference point before he got into this, so he had no choice. “Sugaring. The sort of arrangement where—”

“Yeah, I know how it works,” Husk said, waving him off. “Not my thing, though. Too much commitment.”

Well. That was a positive thing, wasn’t it? In terms of what Alastor actually wanted from his interactions with Angel? Commitment, as far as he was concerned, meant exclusivity, which his jealous tendencies certainly appreciated. “Commitment. On the part of the client, you mean?”

“Sure. Once you tell ‘em they can rely on you, they’re gonna. And that means you hafta be able to deliver. Money. Presents. Dates. Whatever she wants, you hand it over.”

None of that sounded bad to Alastor, not if it was Angel he was spoiling; if his previously-idle money could provide enjoyment or satisfaction for the object of his affections, why not let it do so? ‘Dates’ would even mean they were enjoying time together. How could that be negative? “And in return…?”

Husk shrugged again. “She sleeps with you and pretends she likes you. Ain’t worth it if ya ask me.”

Alastor’s eager smile faded slightly. ‘Pretends’? That could be an issue. Even if he hadn’t yet expressed it, the attention and affection he wanted from Angel was the genuine sort, not something motivated purely by money. Maybe he was being greedy in hoping for something like that, when the point of this plan had simply been to stop Angel sleeping with other men. But after the spider’s welcoming attitude and that kiss earlier, he was now starting to hope (a four-letter word if ever there was one) that more might come of it.

As he was trying to decide how to word his next question, the lobby elevator dinged, and Charlie marched out of it, dragging a fully-clothed but obviously reluctant Angel Dust by his wrist. “Don’tcha have night classes or somethin’ I could take? You two givin’ out drinks at this thing?” he grumbled, trudging along behind Charlie without otherwise protesting. When he caught sight of Alastor, his expression shifted from annoyance to a sweet smile. “Hey, boys. Room for one more?”

“Come on, Angel, it’s bad enough that we’re late already,” Charlie scolded.

“What she said,” Husk muttered, his ears turning back and downward at the voices ringing through the lobby. “Get to your fuckin’ meeting already.”

As they walked past on their way to the conference room, where Vaggie and several of their other patrons were already gathered, Angel paused to steal another kiss to Alastor’s cheek, causing Charlie’s eyes to open wide even as he casually strolled past her. The Radio Demon refused to look anywhere near their proprietor, grasping his glass tighter and trying to pretend he didn’t notice her eyes boring into him. She must have taken the hint eventually, as she disappeared into the conference room and shut the doors to begin their meeting, allowing the tension in Alastor’s body to dissipate, at least somewhat.

“Y’know, no one could blame you if ya smacked him when he does that shit,” Husk pointed out, still dispassionate, illustrating with a swipe of his own dangerous claws. “After a couple times, he’ll get the picture, trust me.”

Now this was unusual. Alastor couldn’t recall ever having felt so violently vengeful on the behalf of another person before. He’d never borne Husk any ill will in the past. That said, the thought that he had at some point struck Angel instilled in Alastor a powerful urge to tear out his feathers one by one and then stab them all back in.

“I’m sure violence isn’t necessary,” he said instead, forcibly shoving those images to the back of his mind and reminding himself that Angel had proven more than once already that he could take care of himself. “Maybe he just needs a proper focus for his energy…”

“Hey, if you wanna volunteer, be my guest,” Husk snickered without smiling.

Their conversation was interrupted by an unfamiliar demon nervously slinking into the lobby, looking to check himself in. Alastor quickly shifted into salesman mode to secure another patron and get him set up in his own room. After a whirlwind tour of the establishment, which put him back in his element and did wonders to take his mind off any other concerns he might have at the moment, they made their way back down to the lobby.

“And if I’m not much mistaken, Charlie and the others should be finishing up another session just now,” he crowed, still leading the new arrival with an arm around his shoulders and gesturing to the conference room doors. “She’ll want to welcome you personally, of course, and discuss your goals and expectations for your stay.”

His prediction didn’t come a moment too soon, as the double doors swung open to release the handful of lesser demons who had been gathered for Charlie’s group counseling session. Alastor led the newest member of their merry band of misfits to the princess to call her attention. “Charlie, this fine fellow is—remind us of your name, my good man.”

“Knix,” the burly gent answered, apparently having some trouble with looking anyone in the eye.

“A new arrival!” Alastor concluded, and Charlie beamed at the thought, as always.

“Welcome to the Hazbin! I’m Charlie, and that’s Vaggie”—she indicated her partner, who was straightening up the conference room on her own—“and we run the group meetings. How did you hear about us? What inspired you to come in? Tell me everything there is to know about you.” While she was haranguing the poor fellow to within an inch of his life, Alastor conceded that his work was done and took a step back to watch Charlie’s protégés disperse to their own rooms.

He recognized one self-involved feline named Davronius, a rabbitlike misanthrope simply called Io, an elegant and aloof owlish demon who went by Donatella—but no spiders. Odd, considering how often Charlie held Angel Dust up as her ‘star pupil,’ the exemplar of the hotel’s efficacy. And he typically basked in the attention it got him. Maybe he was still talking with one of his fellow recovering sinners? What a ridiculous thing for Alastor to be jealous of. And yet…

A flash of color darted between the guests and into the conference room, then back out only a moment later. Niffty stood to one side of the doors, her face screwed up into a pout, her eye darting around the room to seek out imperfections. She must have been in a mood, further evidenced by her scurrying over to the stairs to fuss at a guest who was leaning against the banister. Once he had backed off, intimidated despite her tiny stature, she whipped a handkerchief from her pocket and started to polish his fingerprints off the otherwise-pristine wood.

“You know,” Alastor said, strolling in her direction, “the banister can’t serve its purpose if you won’t let anyone touch it.”

“Well maybe if they washed their hands once in a while, it wouldn’t bother me,” she answered testily. “Besides, Vaggie already cleaned up after the meeting, so I don’t have anything else to do. I have to do something.” That was a fair point; there was too much energy in her little form to stand still for long. If she tried, she might spontaneously combust.

“And the entire hotel is already spick-and-span from top to bottom?”

She shot him what he had come to recognize as her version of a glare. “What d’you think I was doing during the meeting? We only have sixteen occupied rooms, and all the empty ones don’t get messy. You don’t even let me go in your room, so it might as well be fifteen. The new guy just got here, so it’s basically fourteen! And now Angel’s not here leaving dirty dishes in the lobby or doing target practice in the common area—”

“N҉o҉t҉ ҉h҉e҉r҉e҉?” There was a scratch of static in Alastor’s voice that he tried to will away as he asked casually, “A҉ng҉el ҉isn’t here? Where is he?” There were only so many reasons he would leave, and considering his recent track record, Alastor was quick to assume the worst.

“He left with some lady while you were upstairs with the new guy,” Niffty explained, flicking her handkerchief briefly in the direction of Knix, who was still in mostly one-sided conversation with Charlie. “His manager, I think.”

That statement was confusing for a few reasons. First, the only person Alastor knew of who could be called Angel’s ‘manager’ was a fellow Overlord named Valentino—a man. Furthermore, Angel had mentioned some time ago that he and Valentino were no longer working together, and Alastor had noted the improvement in his mood since.

But most importantly, the manager issue shouldn’t have applied at all, considering what they had agreed upon earlier in the day. His time shouldn’t need to be managed. Or if anyone is managing it, it should be me. He realized immediately how possessive and controlling that idea was and chastised himself for it. Yet it didn’t change how he felt. This day had come to involve entirely too many feelings, the way he saw it, and he was beginning to get exhausted. Since Angel wasn’t there to explain himself at the moment, Alastor was sure to drive himself up a wall fixating on the problem—unless he had something else to do.

“Do you know what always lifts my spirits when I’m distraught, dear?” he mused, glancing in Niffty’s direction again.

A delighted smile lit up her face and banished any lingering frustration. “A good meal?”

“That’s exactly right. In fact—Charlie!” he called, striding across the room to meet his co-manager with Niffty on his heels. “I hate to interrupt your onboarding discussion, but would you be so kind as to let all our guests know that I’ll be serving dinner this evening?”

“You’re cooking? That’s great! I’ll make sure everyone’s there,” she assured him. With a sly smile, she pointed out, “You sure seem like you’re in a good mood today. Any particular reason for that?”

“When am I ever not in a good mood? Especially when we have a new guest to welcome.” He gave a brief pat to her head, refusing to acknowledge what she was implying, and swept off to the kitchen with Niffty to occupy himself with something he knew how to control.

[autisticsspeakingday]

I posted 6,744 times in 2021

102 posts created (2%)

6642 posts reblogged (98%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 65.1 posts.

I added 13,675 tags in 2021

#text - 5891 posts

#neko reblogs - 5881 posts

#neko queue - 969 posts

#reblog - 273 posts

#queue continuum - 182 posts

#star wars - 141 posts

#video - 96 posts

#ezra bridger - 88 posts

#thrawn - 83 posts

#cats - 71 posts

Longest Tag: 136 characters

#i think cis men should have to navigate ~women's business attire~ for a week & then  check in to see how they feel about this dress code

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

It’s election time in Canada!! We’re voting for our Prime Minister and House of Commons representatives!!!

My parents got this flier from the PPC, the People’s Party of Canada. The name sounds great, but there’s reasons why their party colour is blue (conservatives). They’re a bunch of people who think the Progressive Conservatives aren’t Republican/conservative enough and split off. Let’s see their platform for this election!!

Okay, from top to bottom:

- children are dependents, they’re saying “fuck you” to children immigrants

- Bill C-30 establishes internet media as separate from other telecommunications and motions to standardize , well, standards and penalties across both. B-36 is a CRIMINAL CODE bill to include hate speech as a part of terrorism. Freedom of speech is NOT a right in Canada, not if you’re gonna say hateful shit, and this acts gives consequences for hate speech.

- **rolling eyes at “sovereignty”** assholes, we have a Queen. She doesn’t do shit except recognize our Governor General, who is our backup when there’s a successful Vote of Non-confidence in the House of Commons. This is literally shooting themselves in the foot and saying “fuck the environment” at the same time.

- “respect constitutional division of powers” is nonsense cause that already happens; what this problem means is “fuck the federal carbon tax and any multi-government welfare programs” like the portable housing benefit, any possible universal income.

- “end federal measures that support lockdowns and other unscientific covid restrictions” just speaks for itself. They think lockdowns and mask restrictions is unscientific.

- “make like in Canada more affordable for all Canadians” how??? How the FUCK are you planning on doing that????

On the other side, they whine about kids not being able to attend school in person, increasing prices, and lockdowns. But basically these people know shit about actual science and how the GODDAMN GOVERNMENT(s) IN CANADA WORKS!!!!!

My local candidate for this party is a “mother and mental health therapist” holy fuck I’m a better candidate than this asswipe cause I took government administration classes as electives for my Disability Studies degree!!! The hell???

11 notes • Posted 2021-09-05 19:38:40 GMT

#4

In case anyone was wondering what I actually look like, especially after only 4 hours of sleep and still waking up.

14 notes • Posted 2021-08-21 15:02:23 GMT

#3

**waves at @lilac-vode and @not-the-tie-youre-looking-for**

Just finished Outbound Flight. and...

right in the feels.

excuse me, I need some tea...

It's always a fun time to read a book where you know tragedy is going to occur, you just don't know exactly how. And I've read enough fanfic to have a hunch on what happened. So I tried to not get attached to the characters.

my soundcloud playlist did NOT help. Songs perfectly timed included the Invader Zim opening, and songs from Detroit Become Human, and some slowed down songs that I can't remember the name of (and I'm too tired to look up; I've only had ~4 hours of sleep; "Chiss don't need as much sleep" yes, well, humans need an absurdly long time to hallucinate in a coma, even by our own planet's standards, and I definitely didn't get enough of it last night)(I wonder if Chiss can see humans bioluminescence cause we sure can't)

So, is it me, or does Thrawn in Outbound Flight feel more like canon Thrawn than Heir et al?

anyways, I need to find a copy of Specter of the Past and Survivor's Quest. And probably Greater Good cause who knows how long the library is gonna take to get it in.

16 notes • Posted 2021-07-31 23:08:59 GMT

#2

Meet my Characters

at least, my RPG characters. Well, the ones I love to play the most.

Sparky, the Kender Sorcerer (originally DnD 3.5): my first character, Sparky Catt is a kender that was raised by humans after being found floating in the river. She has memory problems, suspected from hitting her head while in the river as a babe. She... she managed to find a portion of the Deck of Many Things and level up a couple times beyond the rest of the party. She is said to be "a great smitter of justice" which is hilarious cause kenders are chaotic. I've ported her to Pathfinder and 5e games. (general hiatus)

Fluffy, the snowman Paladin (a la Marshmallow from Frozen). We have a Disney Frozen 5e game. Fluffy is one of the baby snowman from Spring Fever. She uses whatever pronouns, because "water is fluid", and her war cry is "FOR MOMMY!!!" The party had a discussion at one point on whether Fluffy counts as a princess (it was decided that no, while recognized as creations/children of Elsa, the snow constructs are not in line for the throne, and thus are not royalty). When our usual Party Face is not there, FLUFFY is the Face of the party. And she... doesn't quite understand how money works. (general hiatus)

Orsolya "Ula" Dovkin is... a bear. An albino Asian Black Bear, specifically. This is what our group calls the Eshia campaign, a complete 5e homebrew that's anthropomorphic. So yeah, albino black bear fighter. Who was raised by elephant monks and is actually kinda smart, yet has yet to clue in that she's a Prophet (everyone else knows; she has monks and priests following her around, but nope, doesn't notice). Also, she LOVES noodles. (and yes, I did name her "bear" multiple times) (general hiatus)

Cordelia Clanofnone, esq, Tempest Cleric and Champion of Kord. So, she's my first character for "the evil campaign". I was literally asked to join the game the night before because they needed a tank/healer to keep the sorcerer alive. So I threw Cordelia together. She's a hill dwarf who grew up in an orphanage (... are you seeing a trend?) who then ran off to become a sailor and see the world. And then Kord was like "hey, I want you to be my cleric," and she was "ah FUCK!!!" She and Kord have an interesting relationship. and she's a terrible cleric. But somehow is his champion. she hates it. (retired)

Janna Howard, necromancer of little infamy. My second character for the evil campaign. We got a few more tank characters into the game, so my DM let me pull Cordelia out and bring in Janna. Janna is inspired by Johannes Cabal, a character and series by Jonathan L Howard. She's an aasimar who was SUPPOSED to become a cleric, but decided to write a thesis instead. And murder her way to her research materials. Janna does things like burn down fake libraries, summon Orcus to call him a bitch, murder whole cults (for their books), steal from incubi, and trap her angelic guide into an amulet. She may or may not have accidentally endeared herself to Lolth. Most of the time I play her, I'm sipping tea and making judgmental comments in my notebook. (hiatus due to baby)

Feri identifies as a Murder Cupcake. She's my current Vampire the Masquerade LARP character (Sabbat setting). She's a Brujah brawler with amnesia, whose memory starts ~100 years ago and doesn't remember being human at all. She's strong, she's sweet and social, and she's not very smart. However, she's literally walked across an underworld (sort of, she was carried for a bit) and back into the material plane. Her interests are pretty pink (lolita) dresses, and M U R D E R. Her current pack is Les Fées Vertes, which is... mostly Toreador, so it's very pretty. For a while, Feri was the only girl, so I joked that she had a boy band. Hm, and Feri tends to assign a familial relationship title to packmates and... pretty much everyone who isn't "meat." (pandemic hiatus)

Kwami, Lashunta Solarian. Starfinder game. Okay, she doesn't have much personality. But she's the only melee fighter in a party of ranged fighters and spellcasters, so she's fun. Also, she's a solarian, so she gets a star sword :) (general hiatus)

MYSELF. We're playing an isekai version of Curse of Strahd. So, we're basing our initial class and race on one of those personality quizzes. We point-bought our status "so the module has a chance to kill us." We have made. So. Many. Jokes. Including the fact that we're mostly spellcasters wielding staffs, so we should challenge Strahd to Quidditch. *I* am playing a Divine Soul Human (variant) Sorcerer/Paladin. And like most of our party, I'm Chaotic Good. Yes, I've almost died several times. Usually my own fault. There were shinies.

19 notes • Posted 2021-07-14 06:27:36 GMT

#1

that beautiful moment when you realize your ADHD medication has kicked in and all of a sudden you have executive functioning and something resembling an attention span

23 notes • Posted 2021-08-12 17:06:10 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

[d4a2evrlv]

Couples -TIME slipped by - keep the doors open...

As a blog of sorts, it seems to me that based on some friends who are finding stress in their lives, it is time to put some vision on some people who are finding themselves out of sorts with their mates and in need of some motivation to restore their faith in themselves.  Fortuantely or unfortunately, I am well beyond my nascent days but will take advantage of some knowledge about myself and my mate that I've discovered is similar with others people.  So, here are a few reality checks:

A point arrives in men's ♂ lives when the body no longer produces an adequate supply of nitric oxide(NO), the value of which was documented in 1992, and 3 scientists were given a Nobel prize for in 1998, as they linked it to the cardiovascular system.  You can get more info as you feel it is needed, but you'll find that NO is, among other things, important for men to get an erection.  Why is this important?  My own experience as well as that of many others is that when that part of our anatomy starts to let us down, our self-image also drops.  Our mood changes.  We put up walls around the subject of sex - some people even lose interest in it and that spills over into their relationship with a significant partner...

A point arrives in women's ♀ lives when they too lose some of their positive self image.  It is important to note that the issue related to NO also impacts women ♀.  NO is an arousal booster for ♂ and ♀, so it is important to realize that as aging issues, ranging from dismay that there are new wrinkles in the skin to dryness where you least want it arrive, there is something going on about which couples need to do something.

First and foremost, it is a time to keep open lines of communication with your partner, otherwise the 'drifting apart' syndrome sets into the relationship - doors close, walls go up, men become complacent alone on websites where younger more supple bodies are on display, women feel awkward about even discussing sex, etc.  It is in the 'etc.' where we need to play some games AND take some personal responsibility for our own bodies.  Here there is no attempt to discuss all of the various supplements that are available to combat the multitude of maladies that seem to attack us as time marches on - including NO.  What I hope you might take away, in addition to a few smiles, is an attitude that you can do something about your own life to add quality to it. I strongly suggest that if you are over the age of 50, you look into the combination of diet and supplements that will help you as each new aging challenge arises.  Nobody is going to hold your hand - YOU have to do it if you really want to keep your partner and yourself tuned to the wonderful channel we call life.  People who have good relationships live longer, love longer and generally have more happiness than even the wealthiest of single people.  I will also add that if you are overweight, drink eight 12 oz glasses of water EVERY day.  That might not solve all of the issues related to weight, but if you're overweight, you've likely found out a few clues from other sources, including pushing yourself away from the table, but for more than 50 years, I've had the pleasure of seeing the value of the water aspect of weight control work with unmitigating success.

Now, let's play some games with some questions that you might have asked your partner some years ago, but might not have asked recently...

> Honey, which perfume do you prefer ...  ??   And later, after considering the reply and adding it to the venue,  'Could you do the clasp on this necklace for me ...  ??'

> Come here - it's been way too long since I've tasted your tongue!

> Could you come here and help me decide which panties I should wear today?

> I think we should sleep in the nude tonight, just in case ...

> Do you think you could wear that silk negligue to bed tonight, just in case ...

> Come here and kiss me, I want to see if this lipstick is too smeary to wear today ...

> Oh, by the way, I put one of your blue pills next to your water glass, just in case ...

> Come here, lover, I have plans for your tongue ...

> You taste delicious, can I have a second helping?!

This is just a start, and I hope some others will add comments that raise libidos.  I do have one additional suggestion, and that is to set aside one day of the week where you turn off the TV (I even prefer that the internet and emails are ignored as well), don't allow yourself to engage in memories of when he/she did or didn't do something that annoys you.  Don't discuss the news or politics.  Don't allow yourself to criticize your partner!  (When you have been together for a long time it is way too easy to do it - zip it for a day!) Instead do some things together, whether a game or a walk, but get away from the onslaught of the multimedia world and take a day for living.  Try to use that time to engage in some of the things that made you want to be together in the first place.  You'll be surprised how much THAT can reduce the stress in your life and make handling all of the other days much more tolerable.  Remember, the relationship started with a decision on each of your parts - 2 B By U !

+++++   AS NOTED - THAT WAS JUST A START +++++  CONTINUATION -

A compliment & a complaint - sometimes they just balance out, but I hope some readers will find some incentives to put this into a plus for the guys they love, and maybe some guys will find some incentives to deserve the lasses they love - you get to decide, and comment!

First up is the compliment, and it goes to the ladies whom I've known over time who have been so amazingly well balanced in using their energy to help keep their household.  It includes great respect for the cooking, the washing, the cleaning and then, having the energy left to give TLC to family and friends.  My feeling is that were it not for that awesome naturing and flexibility, the world would nearly fall apart.  I raise a toast to each of you, and some special salutes to those who have done all of this while raising children and even working - those are balancing acts that words cannot adequately compliment.  I focus these comments to ladies, as I believe they, as a group, have been far superior to the men in this regard.  I also want to compliment the men who indeed HAVE been proactive in the same way, and account for solid contributions to the foundations of a balanced society.  There is not space to include all of the aspects of "balanced", but suffice to say that it includes both the mental and spiritual balance.

I also have some complaints, and admit from the start that they constitute some prejudices that I have harbored in my observations of an admittedly somewhat small sample.  Still, I believe they are behavioral and changeable such that the reader could take one or two to heart, and thereby add some great joy to their special loved ones.  I start with a list of things that can be done once a month (more if you find it of value), and here, I would garner support from some and surely not all, but please read with patience:

Not done enough by most men each month: 1. Give compliments and thanks for the supportive things done to add ease and value to your lives, including*: -Making of the bed and changing of the sheets -Grooming the dog and/or cat -Washing your clothes -Ironing your shirts -Cleaning - bathroom, house, etc. -Perparing your meals - not just preparing, but being attentive to what you want

2. Providing motivation for our loved ones to be nicely attired, practice good hygeine and be motivated to the task.  Hugs, kisses, shared funding, good examples set by ourselves all contribute to the desire to do those things, and although there are many who in fact do them, it is not by any means inculcated into each of us to make the effort EVERY DAY to foster those behaviors.

3. Be at home.  Yes, we have jobs, yes, we have to set priorities, but all too often, men do not set the home priority high enough.  Please belive me, it will come to haunt you if you do not do it.  You may have the money to go somewhere else after work, you may have the money to pay a baby-sitter when needed, but by prioritizing this aspect of your life higher, you will garner the motivation to do even better than you can imagine when you elevate this to a higher level in your life.  It may be that many have already experienced these benefits as a result of the pandemic, but if you h have not done so, look carefully at youself...

4.  Be yourself, but remember, the world is and has always been a stage, and it is up to you to determine both the role you will play, and the pleasure you will be afforded.  That pleasure will be afforded on the basis of how you play your role.

5. Recognize that you love has sexual needs, and that there are many ways to meet them. **

*  Sometimes a family has sufficient income to have someone else do some of these chores, but the majority of households DO NOT have such luxury, so it falls to family members to do it.  The brunt of it all is most often borne by the ladies, but hopefully there are a lot of husbands who pitch in to help, and thereby balance the scales for arduous work!

** First and foremost, talk.  You have needs, your partner has needs, and you will spend your life frustrated if you do not get into a head-to-head, heart-to-heart, TOTALLY CANDID discussion about what they like and don't like and how you can reach agreement on when, how, etc.

Not enought done by most ladies each month: 1.  Tell your guy more of what he's doing right than what he's doing wrong.  When you vocalize the 'wrong' - and without question ladies, we OFTEN KNOW when we're wrong - you are instigating the creation of a wall between you.  It is not that we haven't all got walls, but more daunting your approach, the higher the wall.  It is sad, as the "I told you so..." conversation doesn't contribute to the solution.  You may think it will prevent or deter a 'next-time', but often words gogue below the surface and undermine optimal communication. 2.  Don't play the role of the martyr.  If the communicaton lines are broken - work to fix them, but taking that role of the down-trodden is not going to play well for the long-term.  It may get the kids on your side, but be an adult with an eye on balance across the whole family - negotiate - use your resources to move to a position of respectful grace. 3.  Try to understand the word pleasure on a multitude of levels - not just a couple of them, and don't get yourself stuck inside an excessively repeative rut - reach out, go on the internet and find out what other ladies do to leverage both their own and their lover's pleasure. a.  Tell him what you like b.  Be open to some new sensations c.  Prepare for a fun "Date" Lipstick Panties (or maybe NO panties!) Perfume Show-off your assets - tease, buy some exotic things Underrated:   silk gloves a dildo that YOU pick out and use letting him see you play with yourself Invite him, flirt with him, make him a bit jealous d. Taste (one hint, get your man to drink a bit of pineapple juice every day!) Whether you are old or young, your man WANTS to taste YOU!   Take the time to teach him how to find and reach the pleasure points you enjoy! Don't expect he knows everything - he doesn't know you like you know yourself Train him to be your lover, teach him when and how to please you e. NEVER STOP pushing to have sex! As men age, the nitric oxide of our youth does not keep pace with our desire to have sex.  Keep this in mind - at the age of 100 we will still WANT to have sex.  While some pills will help the situation YOU should find out where they are kept and PUT THEM OUT REGULARLY FOR HIM AND MAKE SEXUAL DEMANDS - even if you just put on something sexy and give him some tongue exercise!! f.  Kiss - never stop, never skip a day.  Remember the time you nearly wanted to put your tongue down his throat?  He does, and it never ceases to be part of his fondest memories...

This is probably incomplete, but hopefully it is motivation for some fun in your lives and a catalyst for pumping up you desires to play and be played with throughout your lives.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM  AN AMERICAN

October 25, 2020

Heather Cox Richardson

Recognizing that he is losing the demographics he needs to win reelection, Trump has clearly decided that his best bet is to spur his base to turn out in vast numbers and vote. To that end, he has given up any pretense of appealing to any but his base. At the same time, he and members of his administration are pretending the coronavirus pandemic is ending.

Last night in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Trump held a rally not in front of an American flag, but in front of a thin blue line flag. This flag reflects the old saying that law enforcement officers constitute the boundary-- the thin blue line-- between chaos and order. It is a black and white American flag, with a blue stripe running across its middle. The creator of the new flag, Andrew Jacob, insists “the flag has no association with racism, hatred, bigotry…. It’s a flag to show support for law enforcement—no politics involved.” But white supremacists waved it at the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and it has come to symbolize opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement. Its adherents talk about “socialism” and “law & order” and “illegals.” According to Jacob, “The black above represents citizens… and the black below represents criminals.”

Flags matter. They are the tangible symbol of a people united for a cause. That Trump replaced the American flag with the Thin Blue Line flag as the centerpiece of his rally is a rejection of the nation itself in favor of his role as the leader of the alt-right. And it was not inadvertent: White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany called attention to the prominence of the flag, tweeting: “The Thin Blue Line flag is flying HIGH at President [Trump’s] rally in Wisconsin!”

The Trump administration is playing to his religious base, as well. Last Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar made the United States a co-sponsor of an international declaration opposing abortion. While United Nations human rights bodies, as well as most of our former allies, seek to protect access to reproductive rights including abortion, we have now signed onto the Geneva Consensus Declaration declaring that “there is no international right to abortion, nor any international obligation on the part of States to finance or facilitate abortion.” The declaration also reaffirms that “the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State,” a sentiment that appears to undermine same-sex couples.

The declaration claims that the goal of the signers is to “Ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights and equal opportunity for women at all levels of political, economic, and public life; [and to] Improve and secure access to health and development gains for women, including sexual and reproductive health, which must always promote optimal health, the highest attainable standard of health, without including abortion.” But women’s rights and health are hardly a priority for the other sponsors, Brazil, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, and especially Uganda, where women die in high numbers from complications related to pregnancy and where gay sex is punishable by death. Saudi Arabia, where men can sue their daughters or wives for “disobedience,” also signed the declaration.

The administration is also talking about identifying Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Oxfam—all groups that protect human rights—as anti-Semitic because they have criticized Israel’s policies toward Palestinians. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, an evangelical who has used US support for Israel as a way to fire up evangelical support for the president, is backing the proposal, but career officials at the State Department and lawmakers from both parties are alarmed. Such a declaration would give authoritarian governments a way to ban the work of these human rights organizations.

And then, of course, there is the confirmation of Trump’s appointee to the Supreme Court to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Nominee Amy Coney Barrett is an originalist who excites evangelicals because of her expressed opposition to abortion rights and excites corporate leaders by her views on the limits of federal power, including her likely opposition to the Affordable Care Act. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is rushing her confirmation through. In a rare Sunday session this afternoon, after the Senate voted to limit debate on the nomination, McConnell noted: “A lot of what we’ve done over the last four years will be undone sooner or later by the next election. They won’t be able to do much about this for a long time to come.” Tomorrow, the Senate is expected to confirm Barrett’s elevation to the Supreme Court.

While the administration is working to fire up Trump’s base, it is also working to downplay the coronavirus, even as infections continue to rip across the nation. Daily infection numbers are the highest they have ever been during this crisis, with 78,702 new cases reported on Saturday and more than 20 states at record levels of infection. We have had more than 8.5 million infections in the country and have lost almost 225,000 Americans in the official count to Covid-19. Wisconsin has opened a field hospital; Utah is so overwhelmed it is preparing to ration care.

We learned last night that at least five people on the staff of Vice President Mike Pence have tested positive for the coronavirus, including Pence’s chief of staff, Marc Short. Nonetheless, the vice president is not going to quarantine; he is going to continue to campaign. According to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, Pence can travel because he is working and he is “essential personnel.” According to other officials, Meadows was hoping to keep the outbreak out of the news.

Today, Meadows told CNN’s Jake Tapper that the administration was “not going to control the pandemic.” Instead, "What we need to do is make sure that we have the proper mitigation factors, whether it's therapies or vaccines or treatments to make sure that people don't die from this."

Other countries have managed to bring their numbers of infection and death downward, but the White House plan seems to be simply to let the disease take its course. South Korea, with 55 million people, got the disease at the same time we did. It has had fewer than 500 deaths. With our population of about six times theirs-- 331 million— we have almost 225,000.

But Trump is trying to demonstrate that all is well by rejecting mask use, holding rallies, and telling people, “It is going away.” He has held nearly three dozen rallies since August, usually at airport hangars, appearing to revel in speaking before crowds. In an investigation, USA Today discovered that, in at least five counties, Covid-19 cases rose after Trump’s rallies. “We are coming around, we’re rounding the turn, we have the vaccines, we have everything,” Trump said in New Hampshire on Sunday. “Even without the vaccines, we’re rounding the turn. It’s going to be over.”

The staunchly conservative New Hampshire Union Leader, from Manchester, New Hampshire, isn’t buying it. Objecting to the president’s dramatic expansion of the national debt by more than “7 TRILLION dollars” (their capital letters), as well as his weaponizing of social media, the editors note that “We may be turning a corner with this virus, but the corner we turned is down a dark alley of record infections and deaths.”

The Union Leader is backing Joe Biden. “We have found Mr. Biden to be a caring, compassionate and professional public servant. He has repeatedly expressed his desire to be a president for all of America, and we take him at his word. Joe Biden may not be the president we want, but in 2020 he is the president we desperately need. He will be a president to bring people together and right the ship of state.”

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

 Heather Cox Richardson

[pocket-anon]

The Long Way Home (6/10)

The reception for this story continues to be so generous, and I can't thank you guys enough. I spent so many months anxious about whether anyone would like this fic, whether there would still be an audience for it, whether it would be worth the hundreds thousands of hours I've spent laboring over it/thinking about it/tweaking and re-tweaking it - but you all have been incredibly sweet and supportive, and I'm so grateful to you all for cheering me on. Hope you enjoy this week's installment!

As always, thanks to my beta, @captainstudmuffin, and to @lifeinahole27, @clockadile, and @ladyciaramiggles for their additional feedback.  Additional thanks to my wonderful CSBB artists, @waiting-for-autumn and @giraffes-ride-swordfishes for providing some gorgeous artwork to accompany this fic!  Links to their illustrations of certain scenes (*) will be in the text - go show them some love!

Find it on AO3.  Nautical term glossary here.

Missed a chapter?  Get caught up here.

Summary:  After an unnaturally long life fraught with personal tragedy, Killian Jones has become known throughout the realms as the infamous Captain Hook, an opportunistic ne’er-do-well and one of the most formidable pirates to ride the waves.  When he crosses paths with a mysterious young woman with no memory of who she is or how she arrived there, he recognizes the chance to claim a monetary reward that will constitute his biggest score yet.  But a journey across the world to get her home leads to a series of adventures that reveal that her value lies in far more than gold and jewels.  A Captain Swan Anastasia AU - sort of.  (Captain Swan Enchanted Forest AU.  Romance, Adventure, & Eventual Smut.  Rated E.)

Warning: Brief but graphic depictions of violence, peripheral character death, and smut.

Alec is back on his feet in several days, though he continues to be hobbled by his injury and he’s restricted to light duties like mending sails and cleaning weapons.  Swan begins to keep him company under the guise of having him teach her these skills, and when every sail is repaired and every gun, canon, sword, and dagger aboard polished to a shine, she goads him into spending another morning teaching her how to tie different kinds of sailor’s knots.

The youngest member of the crew takes her attention in stride.  “If you spend any more time with me, ma’am,” he jokes on their fourth morning together, “Cap’n’s bound to get jealous.”

Swan hums, the side of her mouth quirking.  “The Captain is a grown man who can afford not to be the center of a woman’s attention all the time,” she replies airily, picking her latest knot out of her piece of practice rope.  “Heaven knows he’s probably had enough women fawning over him to last a lifetime.”

Alec chortles and agrees with a bob of his shiny, bald head.  “Even so – and not that it’s any o’ my business, milady,” he says quietly, darting a glance up at the ship’s wheel where Hook is talking with the helmsman, “when I see a man look at a lady the way Cap’n does you, it’s generally safer t’ keep my distance.”

“Hmph.”  Swan wills her cheeks not to warm and tries to ignore the way her heartbeat quickens at the implication.  “If the Captain looks at me differently, it’s because he thinks our friendship is a good investment,” she points out.  The knot finally comes undone, and she twirls the rope triumphantly in her hands.  “And if he has expectations with regard to how I spend my time, he hasn’t told me.”

“Pretty sure he knows better than that, ma’am.”

She huffs and flashes Alec a grin, her eyes laughing. “Well, at least all his time around women has taught him a thing or two.”  She stands and offers him a hand.  “It’s almost lunchtime.  Do you have other duties, or can I walk you to the mess?”

He waves her off and grabs the wooden staff he’s been using for support.  “I think I can do it.”  He plants the staff on deck and pauses for a deep breath before he hoists himself up with a strained grunt.  Swan gasps when he suddenly hisses and teeters, an agonized sound escaping him as he crashes to the boards.

“Alec?” she yelps. She whirls toward the stern deck. “Hook?  Help!”

The Captain’s head whips around at her call, and he all but flies down the ladder, reaching them as quickly as any of the other men.  He gently nudges her to the side and kneels next to his fallen crewman.  “What is it, lad?  The leg?”

Alec groans and nods, rolling over on to his back with pain creasing his forehead.  “It’s been worse since last night,” he confesses.

Hook works quickly to untie the wide bandages encircling his thigh and carefully peels back the edges of the split in the Alec’s trouser leg, which is stiff with dried blood from the original injury.  His lips form a thin line as he peers at the exposed skin.  The flesh near the edges of the laceration is tinged a beefy red and so swollen it resembles the skin of an orange.  “This doesn’t look well,” he mutters.  He glances up at the other men standing by.  “Get him below and cut the trouser leg off,” he orders, gesturing at the soiled fabric.  “Find him a clean bandage, and no further duties until he’s healed.”  He stands up and allows Martin and Smee through so they can bear Alec up on his good leg and help him away.

Swan appears at his side, anxious.  “Will he be alright?” she asks softly.

Hook sighs, suddenly looking very world-weary.  “I don’t know,” he admits once Alec is out of earshot.  “I’ve seen the same happen to many a sailor.  We’ll watch it closely.  If it gets much worse, he may have to choose between losing the leg or losing his life.”

The color leaves her face, and he turns and wordlessly takes her hand, settling it in the crook of his left elbow as he escorts her toward the hatch leading to his quarters.  He’s silent for a few paces. “You’re worried about him.”

“Of course I am,” she replies with a puzzled frown.  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“No, it’s just…”  He scratches the back of his head with his brace, his eyes on his toes.  “I’m still surprised that you’ve come to care about a band of pirates, I suppose.”  His brows lift.  “Unless there’s something special about Alec?”

For some reason, the question sets Swan brimming with impatience, and she rolls her eyes, in no mood for his teasing.  “Really?” she demands.  When his only answer is an enigmatic shrug, she huffs.  “Alec’s tall and he can swing a sword, but he’s still barely more than a boy, Hook.”  She pulls a face.  “An actual boy, not a one hundred fifty year-old in a boy’s body; I know you brought him on after Neverland.”  She sighs, forehead lined with concern.  “He’s a kid, and he’s hurt and scared and… and I just thought he could use a little company these last few days.”

Hook nods slowly, his expression turning touched and a little sad as he brings his hand up to cover hers.  “You’re right,” he murmurs apologetically.  “You’ve shown him a great kindness.  We aren’t used to such things, but he needs all of it he can get now.  There’s a good chance this week does not end well for him, one way or another.”

Swan swallows the enormous lump that rises in her throat.  “Maybe he’d let me read to him,” she offers in a small voice.  It feels like so little – like nothing – but it’s all she can think of.

Hook flashes her a muted smile.  “I’m sure he’d appreciate that, love.  Few sailors are lucky enough to have a good-hearted woman to help look after them in times like this.  Your presence is a gift to this crew.”  His fingers tighten affectionately over hers, and his eyes fall back to the deck, his tone growing somewhat despondent.  “I think you’ll be sorely missed.”

She blinks rapidly at his sentiment, her mouth forming a watery little smile, and as they descend below deck to have lunch, her heart feels heavy, weighed down by the cloud of Alec’s predicament and churning with mixed feelings.  She chuffs silently.  Leave it to Killian Jones to surprise her again.  He may have tried to tease her about her relationship with Alec, but contrary to his crewman’s suggestion, he doesn’t seem jealous – not really.  She should be glad for that, impressed by that.  Instead she feels more than a tiny prick of disappointment.  And more than a little vexed at how she feels.

Lunch is quiet, the mood solemn, and though she catches Hook’s eyes on her from time to time, the pair of them remain largely lost in their own thoughts.  Swan finishes quickly and hops up to select a book for Alec. “What do you think he’d like?” she muses, walking her fingers across the titles.

“Captain?”

Their heads turn toward the muffled call and the sound of rapidly encroaching footsteps in the passageway outside.  A hand knocks fervently on the door.

Hook finishes his last bite and brushes a stray crumb from the corner of his mouth.  “What is it, Smee?” he answers.

The knob turns, and Smee pops in.  “A ship, sir,” he reports.  “Packet, by the looks of it.”

Hook frowns. “Slavers?”

“Probably.”

“Slavers?”  Swan’s voice draws their attention.

Hook turns toward her, his countenance darkened.  “Aye. This close to the Foundering Islands, a ship like that is almost certainly carrying fresh prisoners of war to the slave markets east of here.”  He glances back at his first mate.  “Maintain course and speed, Smee.  I’ll come up shortly.”

Smee gives a hasty nod and scuttles away.

The door closes behind him, and a sigh passes Hook’s lips.  He rises and reaches for his sword belt.

Swan watches him put it on. “Are you going to engage them?”  

To her confusion, he shakes his head as he does up the buckle.  “Not likely.  Every choice to engage is a calculated risk, love.  We’re a man down now, and there isn’t much to be gained from attacking a ship like this.  Slavers can be a nasty lot, and we’re not in the business of capturing or selling slaves.” He reaches for his coat with a scowl. “It’s a disgusting practice.”

Her brow creases in thought. “What if… what if you took the ship but set the slaves free?”  She meets his confounded look with an earnest stare.  "You could help them."

Hook blinks, conflicting emotions writing themselves all over his face.  “Swan…”

“No, think about it.  You became a pirate to escape service to a ruthless king,” she argues, her voice growing bolder.  “Why should all those people stay condemned to life under a master if the Jolly can save them?”

He flexes his jaw with indignation.  “I’m not in the business of risking my crew in order to play hero.”

“What if the crew thought it was worth the risk?”  

Hook's countenance hardens, and he looks away, his gaze dropping to the floor as he turns to leave. He strides away without another word, and she watches the door shut behind him with sad eyes, frustration dragging her stomach down to the depths and leaving her unsure whether to appreciate or regret this acute reminder that, regardless of whatever misguided feelings she may harbor for the Captain, she may have put her faith in his good heart too soon.

 *             *             *

 His boots fall heavy on the deck as Hook stalks across the boards to join Smee at the wheel, his chest still aching from the disappointment on Emma’s face.  

“Steady at your ten o’clock, sir,” Smee informs him briskly, nodding toward the northwest horizon.  

Hook squints at the telltale rig configuration of the smaller vessel, his lips pressed into a grim line as he pulls out his spyglass and examines the ship more closely.

“I assume we’re leaving them alone?”

He licks his lips and stows his glass, his eyes landing upon the angry scratches that zigzag across the worn surface of the black sideboard next to the ship’s wheel.

It’s not too late to start over.  I can change, Bae.  For you.

You say that.  I know you’ll never change, because all you care about is yourself.

The last conversation he had with Baelfire in Neverland years ago leaps into his mind – the last time he hoped for a happy ending for himself and someone he cared for.  The last time that someone had looked on him with hope fading from their eyes.  

Hook stares intently at what remains of the ‘P’ and ‘S’ he once carved to orient the lad to the sides of the ship – letters obliterated in a fit of rage – and he swallows thickly. Regret slams down on him like a tidal wave as he remembers how he chose self-preservation over courage and anger over contrition, betraying Bae to the Lost Boys the moment he and the lad had had a falling out.  Coward.  His hand curls into a fist.  

He won’t lose his chance with Emma.  Not like this.

“Call all hands on deck,” he says quietly.

Smee turns.  “Sir?”

Hook fixes the other ship with a determined glare.  “All hands,” he repeats flatly.  “I need to address the crew.”

Though clearly perplexed by the demand, Smee knows better than to ask questions.  He closes his open mouth and hurries away, and five minutes later the men are assembled around the main-mast, murmuring amongst themselves at this unexpected summoning.

Hook stands above them on the stern deck, his hand resting on the rail near the ship’s bell.

“I’ve called you here,” he calls, “with an opportunity.”  His voice rings out across the Jolly, and every set of eyes is upon him. “To port lies what is most likely a ship belonging to slavers, men who put a price on flesh and trade other people as if they were chattel.  It’s been our custom to let slavers alone because I refuse to make a profit off of cargo that shouldn’t be cargo and because we don’t raise swords for anything other than profit or revenge.”

Sounds of agreement ripple through the crew.

“But I am proposing a change,” he continues.  “I claimed this ship and turned pirate to free myself from the service of a king who used loyal men like me as puppets.  He betrayed my trust, and my brother died because of his treachery. We,” he says, gritting his teeth, his eyes flitting over the faces of those assembled, “are men of honor.  We live by a code.  We go where we please and take what we like and answer to no one but each other.”  Cheers ring out, and he yanks his cutlass from the scabbard and swings it toward the other ship, his voice rising.  “And I say it is a foul thing for us to claim to value freedom but turn a blind eye to cruel men who make a living depriving others of it!” he bellows.  His heart rams against his ribs.  “I know there is risk and little profit to be had,” he admits, “but we are the most able crew to sail the seas, and for the sake of our decency and our self-respect as pirates, I say we take those bloody slavers down! Will you stand with me?”

Roars of approval fill his ears, fists jutting into the air in solidarity, and the voices of his men form an enthusiastic chorus as they chant, “Captain Hook!  Captain Hook!”

Hook hears movement and a gratified hum behind him and turns to see Emma standing nearby, her ponytail flapping over one shoulder like a victory banner on the breeze.  She leans against the sideboard, her face bright, her cheeks rosy, and her small smile brighter than the sun.  Hope fills him anew when she gives him a little nod, and he nods back.  Perhaps there’s something more valuable than gold or jewels or even revenge worth fighting for now, he thinks.

He allows her to remain on deck as they shift course to intercept the other ship, and Swan watches with sober fascination as they hoist the colors and fire the customary warning shot. As expected, the slavers refuse to surrender.

“Leave them alive, if you can,” Hook barks on the Jolly’s approach.  “I want to send a message.”  

He turns back to Emma. “I know how you feel about being asked to stay below, love,” he acknowledges gently, “but perhaps you’ll oblige me this time?”

He considers it a small miracle when she concedes without protest.  Emma turns toward the hatch to his quarters, pausing to lay her hand on his shoulder and gaze up at him with anxious eyes.  “Be careful?”

He gives her a soft smirk and risks reaching forward to cup her face, his thumb drifting softly across her skin.  “You try not to worry, and I'll try not to need a daring rescue today. Alright?”  His heart leaps at the way she blushes, a chuckle playing on her lips as she heads down below.

The crew of the slave ship numbers about fifteen, and though they put up a fight, this particular group proves no match for the men of the Jolly Roger, even with the latter utilizing non-deadly force.  Within twenty minutes, the slavers find themselves trounced, bound, and forced to huddle in the center of the main deck, their expressions a mixture of anger, resentment, and fear as they eye the pirates that form a tight circle around them.  

“Which one of you is in charge?” Hook demands, striding forward.  Glances dart toward a heavy-set scoundrel with a barrel chest and a bald head whose skin is bronzed and leathery from the sun.  Hook tips his chin at him.  “You.”

The man raises his dark, beady eyes.

“You know who I am?” He sees the slaver glance at his hook, and he smiles coldly.  “You do. Excellent.  So you know how lucky you and your men are to still be alive.” His face hints at a snarl.  “You are being given quarter this once in order to deliver a message to your fellows in the slave trade.”  Hook lifts his head and raises his voice.  “Personal freedom is not a commodity to be bought and sold, and as pirates, we can be indifferent no more,” he announces.  “You are no longer safe from our interference.  We will demand surrender from any slave ship we come across, and we will encourage our brethren to do the same.”  He draws his sword on them, his voice taking on a deadly timbre.  “You are relieved of this ship and everything and everyone aboard.  Get to your boats and go before I decide to stop being generous.”

Most of the slavers climb to their feet and shuffle off under the escort of his men, but their leader lags behind and glowers at Hook.  “So you steal property and yet suppose yourself the better man,” he sneers.

Hook launches forward, his blade slicing through the air and biting the flesh just below the other man’s jaw.  “People,” he hisses, rotating the sword edge with excruciating slowness until it just barely draws blood, “are not property. And I’m a better man now than when I allowed you to continue this bloody business unfettered.”  He hooks a large loop of keys off the man’s belt and plants a boot in his stomach, watching with grave satisfaction as the slaver wheels across the deck and crashes into the gunwhale with a tortured grunt.  The man crumbles to his knees, and Hook snorts. “Get him out of my sight.”

He finds his way below, and his stomach churns increasingly as he draws closer to the hold, the air growing uncomfortably warm and thick with the stench of unwashed bodies and human foulness.  He finds Martin and Roberts waiting for him at the hatch with revulsion in their eyes.

“Are there many?” he asks quietly.

Martin nods, his expression grim.  “Aye, Captain.  See for yourself.”  He steps aside, and the open hatch comes into view.  

The heat and smells are immediately magnified, hitting him in the face like a sordid cloud as Hook kneels and peers down into the dimly lit space, and it takes everything he has not to retch.  He looks away for a second, face clenched in a grimace, before steeling himself and turning back to examine the hold.  The terrified eyes of men, women, and even some older children stare back up at him. The light of a few hanging lanterns casts shadows across their faces, and he can see that they’re packed shoulder-to-shoulder like livestock, the close and distant clinking of their chains confirming for him that the entire hold is full with bodies.

His gaze locks onto a boy, aged perhaps eleven or twelve, with shaggy dark hair.  The lad’s pale, round face is smudged with tears and filth and set with wide, timid eyes, and something in Hook’s chest wrenches as his own time as slave to a series of hardened captains – six years of childhood that was several lifetimes ago – suddenly feels as though it’s not so far away.  Fury flares in his blood.  “Get them out,” he growls, managing to hide the quaver in his voice as he tosses Martin the ring of keys, “and see if any of them knows how to sail this vessel home.”

He hurries back above deck, pausing under the guise of visually inspecting the sails in order to catch a few deep lungfuls of the ocean air and allow his pulse to stop hammering.  His ears pick up the steady squeaking of pulleys as his men lower the boats full of slavers astern, and there’s a pair of splashes when they finally hit the water. Good riddance.  

Hook hustles to the aft rail to watch the slavers depart.  Pistols emerge, and a handful of his men train their weapons on the boats to keep the other crew in line as they go.  His eyes dart over to the Jolly and to the hatch leading to his quarters, and the thought of Emma holed up safely below while the slavers row in the opposite direction brings a relieved sigh to his lips as he looks to Thomas and Smee standing guard on the Jolly’s deck and gives them a grateful nod.  

The sound of dozens of footfalls causes him to turn around, and satisfaction curves his mouth at the sight of the first of the former slaves climbing up and out into the sunlight. Many cringe and duck behind their hands as they adjust to the brightness, but there is excited chatter amongst them, and though he can see plenty of arms and legs adorned with red marks, the irons that caused them have been abandoned below.

All told, over fifty people emerge from the hold, followed by Roberts and Martin, who appear as happy as any of them to be out of the bowels of the ship.  

Hook approaches. “That’s everyone?”

Martin swipes his sleeve over his damp brow, looking weary.  “Yessir.”

“Can they sail?”

He bobs his head. “Aye.  I counted a dozen of them who identified as seafarers.  They think they can manage.”

“Provisions?”  Hook turns to Roberts.

The quartermaster hums the affirmative.  “Stores’re fine.  They’ll do alright, I think.  They estimate their homeland’s less than a week from here.”  He scratches at the base of his neck.  “Shall we investigate the crew quarters, Captain?”

Hook smirks half-heartedly. “Of course, Old Man.  What kind of pirate do you take me for?”

It’s not a huge haul, and much of what they find by way of clothing and linens they leave for the former slaves, but they do locate a fairly generous purse in the main cabin and some useful supplies worth scavenging – weapons and ammunition, extra lantern oil and wicks intended for the slavers’ return trip from market, parchment and writing supplies, pipe tobacco, and a few bottles of quality spirits. The Captain hums with approval as he finishes counting the money with Roberts and seals the coins back into the satchel.

“Not a bad day’s work, eh, sir?” Roberts asks, accepting the purse for safe-keeping until it can be divided amongst the crew.

“No.”  Hook leads him back up the ladder, savoring the swirl of wind that greets him when they emerge on deck.  He takes in the scene before them.  Some of the former slaves inspect the rigging while explaining the structure of the ship to the less experienced sailors, others haul buckets of water from the sea in order to wash, and children weave in and out of the crowd like a school of fish as they chase each other across the deck.  Their youthful laughter fills the air, and Hook cranes his head to watch the lad he saw before scramble by with his mates, all traces of fear gone from his small face.  Where once the deck of this ship was dour, it’s now filled with life, with hope, and this, this is their doing.  Correction, he thinks.  This is Emma’s doing through them.  This is the work of an angel.  “No,” he says, his chest swelling with a peace he hasn’t known in a long time. “Not a bad day’s work at all.”

 *             *             *

 The taking of the slave ship is a much quieter affair than their run-in with the pirate hunters had been, and Swan has the benefit of company to distract her now as she waits below deck.  She knocks on the open door of the crew quarters and pokes her head in.  “Alec?”

Faced away from her in his berth, the young man cranes his neck, arching a bit off his pillow to meet her eye.  “Milady?”

She steps across the threshold, cradling a book in her arms.  “Mind if I wait here with you?” she asks, coming in to stand in front of a bench across from him.  “I could use a distraction.”

He smiles appreciatively and nods, gesturing for her to have a seat.  “Me too.”

She settles down, pulling her legs up under her in order to sit cross-legged.  “How do you feel?” she asks, studying him.  As Hook had ordered, the fabric of his trousers has been completely cut away to expose his leg, and a clean bandage is wrapped around his wound.

Alec makes a noncommittal noise.  “The pain’s not bad when I don’t stand.”  He looks up at her, his face guilty.  “I’m sorry if I frightened you earlier, ma’am.”

She shakes her head. “It’s alright.  I’m sorry I didn’t notice you weren’t feeling well today.”

“Nah.  S’nothing,” he says, attempting to sound cavalier.  He glances at her book.  “What’s that?”

Swan holds it up for him. “Legends of the Deep.  I’ve been working my way through the Captain’s collection.  Do you know it?”

Now it’s Alec who shakes his head.  “Never been very good at readin’, t’ be honest.”

“Perhaps I could read it aloud?”

He brightens.  “I’d be much obliged, ma’am.”

Swan grins and pulls the book open to the first page.  She clears her throat and wets her lips.  “It is said that the sea is an enchanting place, full of beauty and mysteries beyond the comprehension of mortal men…”

She’s a dozen pages in when the sound of Alec’s snoring causes her to look up.  A muted smile plays on her mouth, and she sighs, softly swinging the cover shut.  Her eyes fall to his leg, and worry wrinkles her forehead once more as she rises and slips out of the cabin, pulling the door softly closed behind her.  

Standing in the corridor, she glances briefly in the direction of the Captain’s quarters, gnawing at her lip before she decides to climb the ladder to the hatch instead, her heart pounding as she eases it open just a few inches so she can peek outside.

Her ears strain for clues as to what’s going on, and she grows excited several moments later when a familiar pair of boots passes a few feet from her nose.  “Thomas!  Thomas!” she hisses.

The boots turn to face her, and Thomas kneels, his amused expression coming into view as he cants his head sideways to meet her eye.  “Milady?”

Heat creeps up from her neck, and she suddenly feels a little silly.  “Is everything going alright?”

He chuckles.  “Very well, ma’am.  The slavers are being loaded into boats as we speak.  We’ll see that they leave without any trouble,” he assures her, patting the gun tucked into his belt.  “Cap’n’s gone below to see to the slaves, I think.”

Swan exhales, a relieved smile coming over her face.  “That’s good.”

“Aye.”  He nods with a grin.  “Sit tight, ma’am.  It might take ‘em a bit to get sorted, but I imagine we’ll have everyone back aboard soon enough.”

She beams and retreats, feeling much more content as she descends the ladder.  They’re safe.  He did it.  Pride in the Captain brings a private smile to her lips, and her heart flutters.  She gives a relieved huff.  Perhaps she wasn’t so far off in her read of him as she feared.  

She elects to continue reading in his quarters where the light is better, hunching over his table with the book open in front of her.  Within minutes, however, her own eyelids grow heavy and her head begins to loll with the weight of sleep.

 *             *             *

 “Swan?”  Hook eyes her still form and murmurs her name, wearing a soft expression as he moves around his table to stand beside her.  He pauses a moment to study the serenity on her face and the gentle rise and fall of her shoulders with each breath.  Her long lashes are dusky against her cheeks, her exquisite features blissfully free of emotion, and she rests on the table, her head cradled on one folded arm while the fingers of her other hand grace the cover of an open, overturned book.  A wavy lock of her hair lies haphazardly draped over her eyes, and she’s so achingly beautiful that his chest hurts.  

He has no clue what he’s done to deserve time with this woman, but he was guilty of understatement when he called her a gift to his crew.  Her presence has infused the Jolly with a new sense of life and excitement and given the men a fresh collective purpose in keeping her safe and delivering her home.  He’s watched them over the past several weeks – noticed them smiling more freely and singing more heartily.  He’s seen them beam proudly every time they make the Princess laugh.  He might be completely besotted, but it’s clear they’re all a little in love with her, and the prospect of leaving her behind in Misthaven makes him so melancholy that he’s wished more than once for an excuse to prolong their journey with an unplanned stop in port or a detour to a less direct course.  He feels a pang of guilt about it now that Alec’s condition actually makes a stop in a port to find a surgeon a real necessity.

A small voice inside tells him not to wake her, but it’s as though his hand has a mind of its own when he reaches forward and delicately brushes her hair out of her face.  The graze of his fingertips over her forehead causes Emma to stir.  She sucks in a deep breath and wrinkles her brow, and he pulls his hand away just before she opens her eyes and looks up at him.

Her face lights up, and she sits up hastily, looking a bit embarrassed to have fallen asleep. “You’re back.”

He relaxes and nods. “Aye.  Some of the men are still on the other ship conferring with the people about how they plan to sail her home, but I wanted to come check on you.”

Emma eyes him proudly. “You did it then.  You set them free.”

His cheeks warm. “Yes, well, someone convinced me it was the right thing to do,” he reminds her, glancing at the toes of his boots with an uncharacteristically humble grin.

“And here they say Captain Hook doesn’t care about anyone but himself,” she teases.

He looks back up at her, considering her statement with a pained smile.  “Maybe I just needed reminding that I could,” he says at last.

The admission hangs between them for a moment, and his heart somehow feels both heavier and lighter for having made it.  Emma’s expression sobers as she studies the emotions flitting across his face with that soul-searching stare of hers, and, though he can’t identify all of the feelings jumbled up inside him, he realizes that, for the first time, he’s not as afraid of what she might see.

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Felony Disenfranchisement: How Voter Suppression Undermines Democracy

By Laura Fagbemi, Rice University Class of 2022

July 8, 2020

As the polarized 2020 presidential election approaches – accompanied by especially high socio-political tensions following the increased awareness for racial bias in the police and criminal justice systems – many Americans are motivated to vote in November. The right to vote has been held up as a foundational tenet of American democracy under the premise that, at least for the last century, every adult citizen should be equally represented by our government. But when voting is not actually possible for every adult citizen, the validity of this premise is in jeopardy. Voter suppression, which finds its roots in the racist literacy tests, grandfather clauses, and poll taxes of the Jim Crow Era, continues to pose a threat to American democracy, though its tactics of implementation have changed since the 1800s. [1]

Today, millions of Americans are unable to vote due to various state-level laws that restrict people who have been convicted of a felony from voting, even after they have completed their prison sentences and parole periods.In our current era of mass incarceration, the consequences of felony disenfranchisement policies have grown dramatically. Due to the unprecedented number of incarcerated people and a patchwork of laws across numerous states, the overall number of disenfranchised individuals has risen from 1.17 million in 1976 to 6.1 million by 2016. [2] Ultimately, felony disenfranchisement laws keep millions of Americans in a state of perpetual liminality in terms of their citizenship. Formerly incarcerated people are expected to contribute to our society – through paying taxes, keeping a residence, and maintaining employment – without being afforded the right to be represented by the government that oversees it. Essentially, they are being taxed without being represented.

As of 2016, more than 6 million Americans are forbidden to vote due to laws that restrict the rights of those convicted of felony-level crimes [3]. Only two states – Maine and Vermont – do not restrict the voting rights of any citizen with a felony conviction. Eleven states restrict voting rights for some or all people with a felony conviction even after they have completed their sentence and are no longer on parole. [2] Felony disenfranchisement laws are often defended by politicians who frame them as a solution to an issue of public safety. For instance, in a 2002 U.S. Senate hearing on legislation which aimed to secure the voting rights of certain formerly incarcerated individuals, Senator Mitch McConnell said, “We’re talking about rapists, murderers, robbers, and even terrorists or spies. Do we want to see convicted terrorists who seek to destroy this country voting in our election?” [4] However, the most recent analysis of felony sentences in state courts done by the Bureau of Justice found that only 18% of all felony convictions were for violent crimes, meaning 82% of people convictedof a felony are non-violent. [5] This means that millions of non-violent individuals who have completed their prison sentences and parole periods are still denied the right to representation in their government.

The legal basis for modern disenfranchisement policies finds its roots in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. While the amendment guarantees “equal protection” and “due process” for all Americans, Section 2 of the amendment allows individual states to deny their residents the right to vote for “participation in rebellion or other crime.” [6] Section 2 prevails as the crucial constitutional loophole that upholds any state’s right to suppress the vote of those convicted of a crime. The 14th Amendment’s role as a durable, federal-level device of voter suppression was solidified by Richardson v. Ramirez, a 1974 Supreme Court decision that validated felony disenfranchisement policy in California. In Richardson, three men from California who had completed their time for felony convictions brought a class petition for their right to vote, under the premise that California’s felony disenfranchisement laws denied them the right to equal protection. The Supreme Court found that Section 2 overrides the Equal Protection Clause by exempting felony disenfranchisement from its scope. [7]

Because of the Richardson decision, the 14th Amendment was officially interpreted to shield felony disenfranchisement policies from federal or constitutional dispute, any reform or abolition of these policies depends completely on individual, state-level action. While we typically recognize the 14th Amendment as a historical landmark that endowed formerly enslaved Black Americans with citizenship and the right to vote, Section 2 of the amendment has effectively worked to reduce Black political clout for years. Due to racial bias in the criminal justice system, Black defendants are more likely to be wrongfully convicted and are often dealt harsher sentences than White defendants for the same crimes.This means felony disenfranchisement policies disproportionately affect Black Americans. [8] [9] As of 2016, one of every 13 Black adults is disenfranchised because of a felony charge, compared to one of every 56 non-Black voters. [3]

Not only do felony disenfranchisement laws significantly reduce the political influence of the Black community today, but they are firmly rooted in the racist legal climate of the Jim Crow Era. Florida, a critical swing state which had some of the nation’s harshest disenfranchisement laws until 2018, is a case study that exemplifies the historical link between racism and felony disenfranchisement. The adoption of the 1868 Florida Constitution, which prevented people convicted of a felony from voting for life, was a response to the 14th Amendment and the Reconstruction Act of 1867, which were federal laws that required all 50 states to extend the right to vote to men over the age on 21, regardless of race. The new state constitution established several laws that weakened Black political representation, including one that imposed a lifetime voting ban for all persons who were convicted of a felony, the same category of crime that Florida had recently recognized and expanded through its Black Codes, which were restrictive laws specifically designed to limit the freedom of Black people in the post-war South. [10] Charges for felonies that were part of the Black Codes would even increase during the period immediately prior to elections. [11]

Before 2018, Florida’s governor was the only legal entity who had the power to restore the voting rights of the formerly incarcerated through a case-by-case clemency process, but citizens were forced to wait up to 7 years just to apply, and then had to make a trip to Tallahassee for their hearing. Former governor Rick Scott rejected all but a few hundred applications out of tens of thousands. [10]Felony disenfranchisement in Florida continues to be a racialized issue, long after the end of the Jim Crow Era. In 2000, only 11 percent of Florida voters were Black, but Black people cast over half of the ballots that were rejected by the state’s “felony purge lists.” Over 24,000 of those voters were rejected on account of being “suspected felons,” even though many of them had already had their rights reinstated through the clemency process. [10] In the 2018 midterm election, Floridians voted 64% in favor of an amendment to their constitution that would allow people convicted of a felony – except those convicted of murder or sex crimes – to automatically regain their right to vote after the completion of their sentences and parole periods. Soon after this, Republicans in Florida’s state legislature enacted SB7066, which required that ex-felons pay existing fees imposed by a court before they could regain their ability to vote. [12] However, in May of 2020, a federal district court judge found that SB7066 was unconstitutional because it constituted a poll tax. [13] Florida exemplifies not only the unjust origins of felony disenfranchisement laws, but also the continued resistance to abolishing them.

Often thinly disguised as methods of ensuring public safety and protecting the integrity of our democracy, felony disenfranchisement and other types of voter suppression ironically undermine the key to democracy and reinstate the injustice that spurred the founding of America as an independent nation: taxation without representation. Although they have completed their prison sentence and parole or probation period, which are the expressed punishments for their crimes, formerly incarcerated individuals who have been disenfranchised are further punished once they attempt to re-enter society. They are expected to work, pay taxes, and keep a home – many parole programs even explicitly require their participants to maintain employment and a residence – but are not permitted to exercise one of their most fundamental rights as American citizens.

Not only do felony disenfranchisement policies impose the injustice of taxation without representation on an individual level, but they can sway the direction of wide-scale electoral politics. The number of Americans who are silenced by felony disenfranchisement policies is significant: one study found that felony disenfranchisement policies likely affected the results of seven Senate races between 1970 and 1998 and the notoriously close 2000 Bush-Gore election. If disenfranchised people convicted of a felony in the state of Florida alone had regained their right to vote, “Gore would certainly have carried the state, and the election.” [14] While the American prison system claims to combat social ills by removing supposed criminals from the streets and releasing them once they are ready to rejoin society, felony disenfranchisement policies create problems by preventing effective reentry and undermining the core principles of democracy. In recent years,many states have been reconsidering their disenfranchisement policies: ten states have either repealed or amended lifetime disenfranchisement laws. However, the disenfranchisement of people convicted of felonies remains the national standard: as of 2020, only two states impose no voting restrictions. [2] There is still significant work to be done in order forto create an America in which no citizen is taxed without representation.

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Laura Fagbemi is a rising junior at Rice University majoring in Social Policy Analysis and English. She works as a research assistant in the Rice University Sociology Department and is involved with several student-run initiatives centered around advocacy and policy building. She plans on attending law school after her graduation in 2022.

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1.     “Race and Voting in the Segregated South.” Constitutional Rights Foundation. Retrieved July 1, 2020 from https://www.crf-usa.org/black-history-month/race-and-voting-in-the-segregated-south.

2.     Chung, Jean. (June 27, 2019). “Felony Disenfranchisement: A Primer.” The Sentencing Project. Retrieved June 30, 2020 from https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/felony-disenfranchisement-a-primer/

3.     Uggen, Christopher, Ryan Larson, and Sarah Shannon. (October 6, 2016). “6 Million Lost Voters: State-Level Estimates of Felony Disenfranchisement, 2016.” The Sentencing Project. Retrieved June 30, 2020 from https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/6-million-lost-voters-state-level-estimates-felony-disenfranchisement-2016/.

4.     (February 14, 2002). “Clip of Senate Session.” CSPAN. Retrieved June 30, 2020 from https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4754815/user-clip-mmc.

5.     Rosenmerkel, Sean, Matthew Durose, and Donald Farole, Jr., Ph.D. (December 2009). “Felony Sentences in State Courts, 2006 – Statistical Tables.” Bureau of Justice Statistics. Retrieved June 30, 2020 from https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/fssc06st.pdf.

6.     “The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.” Legal Information Institute: Cornell Law School. Retrieved July 2, 2020 from https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxiv.

7.     Richardson v. Ramirez, 418 U.S. 24 (1974). Retrieved July 2, 2020 from https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/418/24/.

8.     Gross, Samuel R., Maurice Possley, and Klara Stephens. (March 7, 2017). “Race and Wrongful Convictions in the United States.” National Registry of Exonerations, Newkirk Center for Science and Society. Retrieved June 30, 2020 from http://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Documents/Race_and_Wrongful_Convictions.pdf.

9.     Schmitt, Glenn R, J.D., M.P.P., Louis Reedt, Sc.D., and Kevin Blackwell. (November 2017). “Demographic Differences in Sentencing: An Update to the 2012 Booker Report.” United States Sentencing Commission. Retrieved June 30, 2020 from https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/research-publications/2017/20171114_Demographics.pdf.

10.  Wood, Erika. (December 16, 2016). “Florida: An Outlier in Denying Voting Rights.” Brennan Center for Justice. Retrieved June 30, 2020 from https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/florida-outlier-denying-voting-rights#Introduction.

11.  Lewis, Sarah A. (December 2018). “The Disenfranchisement of Ex-Felons in Florida: A Brief History, ECAN Bulletin.” University of Florida Levin College of Law. Retrieved June 30, 2020 https://scholarship.law.ufl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1846&context=facultypub.

12.  The Editorial Board. (February 21, 2020). “Florida’s Voting-Rights Fight Could Tip the 2020 Election.” The New York Times. Retrieved June 30, 2020 from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/opinion/florida-felon-voting-rights.html.

13.  Breslow, Jason. (May 24, 2020). “Federal Judge Rules Florida Law Restricting Voting Rights for Felons Unconstitutional.” NPR. Retrieved June 30, 2020 from https://www.npr.org/2020/05/24/861776313/federal-judge-rules-florida-law-restricting-voting-rights-for-felons-unconstitut.

14.  Uggen, Christopher and Jeff Manza. (December 2002). “Democratic Contraction? Political Consequences of Felon Disenfranchisement in the United States.” American Sociological Review. Retrieved July 2, 2020 from https://as.nyu.edu/content/dam/nyu-as/faculty/documents/Democratic_Contraction.pdf.

Photo Credit: Whoisjohngalt

[buzzdixonwriter]

Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happiness In The Age Of COVID-19

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. — The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America

Other important documents come earlier (the Federalist papers, etc.), others come after (the Constitution of the United States), but the Declaration of Independence is the document from which everything that follows is based.

It’s not a series of detailed political analysis and arguments (as were the Federalist Papers) nor a step-by-step guide for running a country (as is the Constitution) but it does succinctly express in clear language what it is we want as a nation, our grievances against the English government of that day, but most importantly, a summation of our collective hopes and dreams:  Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

Recently we’ve seen some Trumpenproletariat types protesting the lockdown orders in various parts of the country on the claim it’s both “communist” and “fascist” (howda %#@& do you manage that?!?!?), and violates their rights.

Oh, really?

Well, let’s just take a look at what the Declaration of Independence says about that in the quote above.

Now, we’re not going off on any tangents by examining the term “men”.

There’s no doubt the signers the Declaration of Independence thought of “men” only in terms of white Anglo Christian or Deist males who owned property and not in the broader context of all humanity.  One of the inspiring things about the Declaration and other core American documents is that we can read them with ever widening circles of inclusion, so that “men” means “people” and “people” means all races / colors / creeds / genders / orientations / income levels.

Oh, yes, African-Americans received horrific treatment at the hands of the white Anglo majority in 1776, and native tribes fared no better, the cruelty inflicted on them differing only in kind, not magnitude.

But today it means everyone, including citizens of other countries, natives of other lands.

So let’s look at the first right listed:  Life.

If you don’t have the right to that, all the other rights are useless, meaningless, and utterly void.

(Now I know the Trumpenproletariat are chompin’ at the bit to take up the so called pro-life topic here, but not this time, folks; that’s another debate for another day, so try to stay focused).

We do not possess the right to kill or inflict unjustifiable harm on other humans.

That means you can punch the guy trying to assault you, it doesn’t mean you can walk down the street decking people at random.

The Federalist papers, the Constitution, and most of all common sense tell us it is not -- repeat NOT wrong to limit certain activities when they prove to be a risk to the public at large.

Social distancing for the coronavirus is no different from the fire marshal posting a sign saying only X number of people can be in a nightclub at one time because people have died as a result of overcrowded nightclubs and other venues catching fire.

So the first self-evident unalienable right clearly supersedes all the others:  It is our duty to conduct our affairs in a way to minimize our potential harm to others.

You want to go roaring along at 150mph in your car, do it on a sanctioned closed track, not in a school zone.  If you can’t grasp that you’re too damn stupid to be allowed out in public without a keeper at the end of your leash and a ball gag in your mouth.

Period. Full stop.

The next right after Life is Liberty, and it’s the second most important.

If Life is the foundation upon which all other rights are laid, then Liberty is the frame for those derivative rights.  If we can’t decide what actions are in our informed and enlightened best interests, then we have no real control over ourselves and none of the remaining rights matter as they can be taken away in an instant if so desired.

But this brings us back to the principles of good governance; i.e., fire codes and traffic laws.  We recognize for the common good that we must abandon hyper-individualism and agree to certain limits on behavior; i.e., don’t pack too many bodies in a confined space, don’t travel so fast as to endanger others.

This is what social distancing is all about!

“We the people” agree there are certain standards we need adhere to in order to prevent a pandemic from ravaging tens of millions of American citizens, killing up to two million in the process if no steps to limit it are taken.

The only people who refuse to recognize that are sociopaths.

As Jesus taught “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (and don’t try any of your embarrassing sophomoric word games here; I’m an SBC VBS Bible Verse Quick Draw vet and I will clean your clock muy pronto), so I say “It is easier for a sociopath to become rich than to gain empathy.”

And those are the folks behind these astro-turf protests:  Wealthy people who fear they won’t make more than yesterday during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They say “3% fatality rates are acceptable” because they aren’t going to die alone in hospital isolation gasping for air because there are no ventilators available or trapped in their own bedrooms without medical attention because they can’t afford it. 

No, the billionaires are the Count Prosperos of this generation, and their towers will turn red and fall as a result of their stupidity (news flash for the cheap seats:  Being rich doesn’t mean you’re smart, it just means you have money). 

This desire to “reopen” the country is an obscene mirror-image parody of “the pursuite of Happiness”.

Let it be stipulated that the accumulation of wealth is one -- but not the only -- form of pursuing happiness, and that so long as not unjust harm is inflicted against any innocent third party, you go right ahead and make as much money as you can.

What you should never do is unjustly harm another in your pursuit of happiness-thru-wealth.

It’s a deliberately vague and confounding phrase to begin with, but note it doesn’t guarantee achieving happiness, just the right to “pursue” same.

Throwing away human lives on the chance we might be happy with the result in monstrous.  Do those doomed to die by such your scheme give up their right to their own life, liberty, and happiness?

So shut up with this faux “revolutionary hero” fantasy you Trumpenproletariats so fondly dwell in. 

Get involved in the real world for a change, not the demented ravings of an Adderall addicted TV clown.

  © Buzz Dixon

[ramialkarmi]

Inside New York City Cyber Command — a government agency most people know nothing about that's leading America's biggest city into the future

Most people have never heard of NYC Cyber Command (NYC3), but it is perhaps one of the most important government agencies in America's biggest city.

It is responsible for protecting the city from cyberattacks and other online threats that could have devastating consequences for millions of NYC's residents.

Although the Command is nearly two years old, most New Yorkers have no idea what it is or how it began — until now.

NEW YORK — In the fall of 2012, President Barack Obama's defense secretary, Leon Panetta, arrived to Manhattan's west side to deliver an unprecedented speech about cyber warfare.

Aboard the USS Intrepid, the legendary World War II aircraft carrier now functioning as a museum along the banks of the Hudson River, Panetta devoted his entire speech to a topic seldom discussed in public by such a senior government official, let alone a member of the president's Cabinet.

The US was on the verge of a "cyber Pearl Harbor," Panetta warned.

Attackers could target and shut down power plants, water treatment facilities, and gas pipelines that would "cause physical destruction and the loss of life. It would paralyze and shock the nation and create a new, profound sense of vulnerability."

Panetta's words were stretched for emphasis and enunciated with such clarity that it was impossible to overlook what he was saying:

A cyber Pearl Harbor.

The invocation of one of the deadliest attacks ever on American soil would surely raise some eyebrows. But the tides of war were changing, and Panetta wanted the country to know about it in no uncertain terms.

The speech struck a chord with the crowd of mostly New York City business executives and national security professionals.

Among them, sitting at a far-off table in the corner of the room, was a little-known cybersecurity specialist named Geoff Brown.

Finding the right man to lead NYC3

On a Wednesday in March, Brown, 41, now the chief information security officer for New York City, was just wrapping up a call in a conference room in downtown Manhattan.

Rows of empty cubicles amid an otherwise nondescript interior made the office feel less like secondary office space for NYC's cutting-edge Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT for short), and more like an empty set from a '90s movie that never got off the ground.

The conference room wasn't any less drab, except for a display case in the corner memorializing a two-page document as if it were the US Constitution:

Executive Order No. 28. July 11, 2017. New York City Cyber Command.

"It's really a brilliant document," said Brown, the man charged with leading New York City Cyber Command (NYC3), the government agency Mayor Bill de Blasio established last year to lead the cyber defense of the city.

In the summer of 2016, Brown was hired as the city's CISO, reporting directly to DoITT Commissioner Anne Roest, who has since retired from city government. She said he was "exactly what we were looking for."

He understood the biggest risk was people.

"Brown viewed [the job] as a balance between business and security and he understood the biggest risk was people," Roest told Business Insider. "The implementation of cyber is extremely technical, and to find someone who can speak about it at a level a layman can understand is a rare find."

Anthony Shorris, NYC's former first deputy mayor and one of the driving forces behind founding NYC3, had equally complimentary things to say about Brown: "He is comfortable in kind of a theoretical ambit, but also very ready to deal with the midnight phone call."

"This is not just a job about boxes and wires," Shorris continued. "It's about getting people who run very large enterprises to be willing to work in a collaborative way with somebody whom they don't know at all in a functional area they know very little about. And he had a good manner in working his way through that — being forceful without being threatening."

'We should not have to be held hostage'

Disruption of civilian life by hackers who find their way through the backdoor into the controls of critical systems — whether it's the switch to a power grid, the wheel to a car, or the password to a computer — is no longer the stuff of science fiction.

Yet governments from the local to the federal level have generally been slow to keep up with the evolving landscape of threats that cities face every day in cyberspace.

Just ask Keisha Lance Bottoms, the mayor of Atlanta.

On March 22, unidentified hackers broke into the city's computer network, placing malware on its systems and restricting access to vital data. The culprits demanded officials pay them $51,000 in bitcoin to unlock the government's encrypted systems.

A week after the attack, Bottoms was still calling it "a hostage situation."

Municipal court hearings were rescheduled and residents were unable to pay traffic tickets and water bills online for weeks. Atlanta Municipal Court finally reopened on April 16.

In the last two months, hackers have launched similar ransomware attacks against the Department of Transportation in Colorado and MedStar Health, a non-profit that operates 10 hospitals in the Washington, DC area.

Such attacks are so insidious and oftentimes so insufficiently understood that they rarely make front-page news. But the consequences could be severe, as some city officials recognize.

Yet others are still dragging their feet to do anything about it.

"There are a lot of cities that don't put cybersecurity right up there as a major issue for them to worry about," Herb Lin, a cyber policy and security expert at Stanford University, told Business Insider. "The problem is cybersecurity has never been treated, up until recently in some cities, as something that warrants high-level, concentrated attention."

Cybersecurity has never been treated, up until recently in some cities, as something that warrants high-level, concentrated attention.

In NYC's case, Lin said, the fact that "some cognizant body in government made a conscious decision to say, 'cybersecurity is really important for us and we're going to put resources, time, and money into establishing a consistent and organized response to cyber threats' ... you could make the argument that that's the most important thing."

Brown realizes this and hopes NYC3 sets an example for other cities to shift away from what he calls "the Marcus Crassus model," an analogy he admits he borrowed from someone else.

Crassus, a legendary general in Ancient Rome, formed the first known private fire brigade at a time when the city had no public firefighting force. When a property was on fire, Crassus wouldn't let his men fight the raging flames until he had negotiated a price for his services with the property owner.

"Eventually, society realized that that is not the approach we should take. We should not have to be held hostage by people that are going to help us," Brown said. "Right now unfortunately, I think in cybersecurity we have the old Marcus Crassus model, where if you have enough money and you have a problem, you can pay the best and the brightest to come and help you."

In other words, only those who know the importance of online security and who have the means to buy sophisticated anti-malware software are able to protect their digital lives.

The rest are left out to dry. NYC3, Brown says, is trying to fix that inequity.

'New York is always blessed and cursed by the same thing'

NYC is not the first major US city to implement sweeping cybersecurity reforms.

In 2013, four months after assuming office, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti issued an executive order calling for a Cyber Intrusion Command Center that would serve as the singular agency responsible for identifying cyber threats, responding to intrusions, and protecting the city in cyberspace.

A year later, Tim Lee, a veteran CISO at the port of Los Angeles, was promoted to lead cybersecurity efforts citywide.

But even with Garcetti's executive order, Lee realized the city still had a long way to go.

"There was no coordination, no threat information sharing, and no standards and policies applied to all of the city's departments," Lee told Business Insider. "Each department was running its own operations."

So Lee started pushing for the creation of a centralized threat management platform that would allow the city to funnel intelligence from each department into a single feed. This so-called Integrated Security Operations Center opened in 2015.

The fact that NYC and LA have the most advanced cybersecurity defenses in the US should come as no surprise. They are the No. 1 and 2 most populated cities in the country, respectively, which also makes them a bigger target for hackers intent on causing significant harm.

But being a prime target has its advantages.

"New York is always blessed and cursed by the same thing," Shorris said. "The fact that it's so enormous and so visible makes it a bigger target than any other city, which is a curse, but it is also blessed with more resources than any other city."

NYC and LA have simply been able to afford things that other, less-resourced cities could only dream of.

In June 2017, for example, de Blasio unveiled Cyber NYC, a long-term plan aimed at positioning the city as a "global leader for cybersecurity" through public-private partnerships. With it, he announced a $30 million investment to train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and to help support and grow the local cybersecurity industry.

NYC3 has also teamed up with New York University to provide students studying cybersecurity access to the Cyber Range, a virtual network provided by NYC3 that simulates real-world security vulnerabilities and attacks.

"Cybersecurity is a contact sport," Nasir Memon, the founder of NYU's cybersecurity program, told Business Insider. "You have to engage in these simulated exercises like the Army or Marines do."

How a team of 30-somethings came to lead NYC Cyber Command

After Brown started at DoITT, the idea of centralizing the city's cyber defenses under one agency wasn't formalized yet.

But several months, and many meetings and big-picture discussions later, the notion of a cyber command began to crystallize.

"What Anne and I began talking about was the realization that we had not made sufficient investment in [cybersecurity] generally," Shorris said. "This was not a lane anyone was really driving in. There wasn't a point of accountability for it."

Their solution was NYC3, which Shorris described as an all-of-government approach that would enable the city to more effectively respond to cyber threats and potential attacks.

When they brought the idea to de Blasio, Shorris said the mayor had "zero" hesitation.

"He understood instantly that [cyberspace] was a threat," Shorris said. "He reads the paper like anybody else and knows this is a big issue. He was very supportive from beginning to end."

In the months following de Blasio's executive order, the Command's top brass started to take shape.

In October 2017, Quiessence Phillips, 34, who formerly led the cybersecurity incident response team at Barclays, was hired as the deputy CISO for the threat management unit to "fight the fight" (as Brown put it). She'd also help lead NYC3 as part of the city's network operations center, a hub in Brooklyn where computer technicians and engineers monitor potential security threats 24 hours a day.

Other city agencies and law enforcement partners also operate out of the hub.

A month later, Michael Krygier, 34, a former consultant at the cybersecurity firm Mandiant, was hired as the Command's deputy CISO for urban technology. Krygier often thinks about what the security of the city will look like when faced with the widespread use of new technology, like self-driving cars and ambulance drones.

Colin Ahern, 32, a military intelligence veteran deployed twice to Afghanistan, was brought on as the team's deputy for security sciences to help engineer the tools NYC3 uses to execute its mission. Mike Kenney, 33, is Brown's chief of staff.

NYC3's team is relatively small, but growing. Brown said he has a vision for the Command to be a couple hundred people.

The executive staff — Kenney and the three deputies — is young and excitedly ambitious, yet not in the naïve or overly idealistic way that one might expect a group of millennial technology enthusiasts to be.

"I understand intrinsically how daunting, in all honesty, this is and how quickly things can occur. It's just the nature of the beast," Brown said. "I am the one that's accountable. I really am. I'm proud to own that on behalf of our city."

Although NYC3 is a standalone agency, the executive team works closely with DoITT, and briefs the first deputy mayor on a weekly, sometimes daily basis, either over the phone or in writing. They speak more frequently if an urgent threat warrants it, but will hold a face-to-face briefing at least every few weeks to get City Hall up to speed on the volume and trends of threats at home and abroad.

'When bad things happen, they actually affect real people'

After Brown, a New Jersey native, graduated from college, he worked as a researcher at the Stimson Center, a Washington think tank focused on security issues.

Then came 9/11.

Like so many Americans in the aftermath of that day's tragic events, Brown found a role to play in the nation's collective response.

By chance, Brown had a friend whose sister knew one of the co-leads of the NYC-based office of the 9/11 Commission, a bipartisan group of officials Congress tasked to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attacks.

He was hired as a research assistant.

"The Commission exposed me to a number of really weighty things," Brown recalled. "That experience taught me a lot about the national security apparatus, but also that when bad things happen, they actually affect real people."

Soon after his work with the Commission, Brown started working on international affairs and cybersecurity issues within the government, including at the US State Department, although he provided few other details about the nature of his sensitive work.

He left his experience immediately following public service equally undefined, except to say that he went on seeking "entrepreneurial pursuits" in the private sector.

"You will have some questions when it comes to who I am and what made me, but please know there are very important reasons why we have gaps in that narrative — like very important reasons," Brown said cryptically.

After those "entrepreneurial pursuits," Brown joined JPMorgan for two years as the head of the bank's cyber threat intelligence team, and then led the threat management program at a payment processing company called First Data.

After another two years there, Brown said he was beginning to settle on a life in the private sector.

"I had done my part, I thought. I had done work more so than many people do in many different places all over the world to help our country," he said. "I was like, 'I did my thing. I'm going to make a ton of money now. I'm just going to kill it.'"

Then he got a call about an exciting opportunity that had just opened up in NYC. And the choice was simple.

No room for failure

Despite its importance, NYC3 has largely flown under the radar.

Since de Blasio's executive order in July 2017, the Command has been featured only sparingly in the press. Aside from a Q&A with a small local outlet and an interview with a niche podcast, one might never know that Brown has one of the most important jobs on the Eastern seaboard.

But such a lack of awareness isn't likely to last. During a press conference with de Blasio last month, Brown made his biggest public appearance yet to announce a new mobile phone app — conceived by the NYC3 team — that New Yorkers will be able to download starting this summer to help protect themselves online.

While the success of this initiative remains to be seen, its vision is consistent with that of NYC3: Cybersecurity is no longer a peripheral concern that should be relegated to technocrats in government.

It is something that concerns everyone, Brown says.

"If I wasn't supposed to be here, I wouldn't be here. I'd be another one of these people in our industry, out there," Brown said as he swiveled in his chair to point out the window of his ninth floor conference room at the banks and hedge funds scattered across downtown Manhattan.

"If this city is going to remain the commerce capital of the world, we're going to have to be really good when it comes to our technology, which means we're going to have to be safe and secure. If we're not, it's going to be a problem."

SEE ALSO: New York City just launched a free app to protect people's phones because cyber criminals are becoming a bigger threat

DON'T MISS: New York is quietly working to prevent a major cyber attack that could bring down the financial system

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