#albania press

[dedoholistic]

Un GRAZIE di cuore alla cara amica e collega autrice Angela Kosta per questo articolo che ha scritto su di me e sulle mie poesie “Oceano di Sensi”, “Tenebre” e “Notte d’Amore” e pubblicato su Albania Press.

[petvles]

My prediction for the countries that are going to go through to the finals thursday:

Armenia

Slovenia

Georgia

Austria

Lithuania

Australia

Romania

Cyprus

Greece

Denmark

[sarahscribbles]

I would like to present to you a concept called Loki’s Biting Kink. he wants to be bitten so fukn bad oh my god. not like, a skin-ripping chomp, but if his lover sinks their teeth in just enough to bruise him or even draw a bit of blood, he’ll praise them like it’s his job.

𝐀𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐨𝐤𝐢, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐬��𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬

𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐋𝐨𝐤𝐢 𝐱 𝐟!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟, 𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 (?)

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 𝟖𝟖𝟒

𝐀𝐍: 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐈 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐭

𝐋𝐨𝐤𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

You hadn’t fully understood the concept of a safe space until Loki. Often, you had inwardly laughed at friends and colleagues who called their partners their “home” or their “heart.” 

It had baffled you how they could view a person, a simple human being, as something so profound. 

Now, though, as you straddle Loki’s lap after over a month apart and bury your face in his neck, you finally understand how a person can be home. The scent of him wraps itself around you like a blanket; bergamot and clove and something pleasantly sweet is the perfume of your heart, and the scents you’ll forever associate with being safe and loved. 

“You’re so perfect,” you whisper softly, trailing your lips across his collarbone in a haphazard pattern of kisses. “My perfect, beautiful boy,” you continue, punctuating each word with another kiss to his bare chest. 

He’s barely been back from Albania for an hour, but you’ve already half stripped him and twisted yourself around him on the sofa. While you had once thought it a ludicrous and sentimental ideal, you now realise that your home has two arms and a heartbeat. It has hands that have never faltered in loving and protecting you, and lips that have kissed away your deepest worries. 

Your home is Loki. 

His deep laughter vibrates through your chest and you can’t help but smile. “Darling, anyone might think you were in love with me,” he teases and runs his hand along your naked back. 

You sit back in his lap to meet those sparkling green eyes. They’re dancing with humour and love and a softness that’s reserved solely for you. Despite the time that’s passed since you and Loki became “official” your heart still flutters in your chest. 

“Perish the thought!” you tease him back, cupping his face in your hands and pressing your lips firmly to his. The kiss is slow and deep and makes something deep in your stomach stir to life. 

Loki wraps his arms tightly around you, pressing you snugly against his chest so there’s no room to doubt that he adores you. 

You let your lips linger against his as you break apart and bask happily in the gentle afterglow. Loki’s eyes are soft and dewy as they hold yours, conveying a million things that words never will. He curls his fingers around your wrists as your thumbs stroke his cheeks, gently moving one to his lips to press a soft kiss to the heel of your hand. 

It’s love that burns fiercely through your blood. Love so deep that you know you would give your life for him if the need ever arose. You would do anything, anything, to keep this man safe. 

With a contented hum, you dip back below Loki’s jaw, pressing the same trail of kisses along his shoulder. He so rarely lets you worship him, but tonight, he seems only too happy to submit to your affections. He sighs happily and rolls his head to the side to grant you better access, and, as you inch along his skin, the familiar scent of him invades you once again.

It’s heady and wonderfully intoxicating and it stirs something possessive to life in the deepest recesses of your mind. It feels almost primal and, before you can fully comprehend what you’re doing, you sink your teeth into Loki’s shoulder. It’s hard, but not so much so to be uncomfortably painful, just enough that you know a bruise will blossom there in the morning.

Your claim on him.

He tenses beneath you and you hear his breath catch in his throat. You feel him go completely still, until the only sign he’s alive is the steady thump of his heart.

You panic.

You pull back frantically to look at him. “Sorry! I’m sorry. I don’t know why I did that. I should have asked. I should -,” you try to apologise, but Loki pulls you in for a kiss so deep you feel it all the way in your toes. 

His soft breath of laughter tickles your nose when he pulls away, and you’re surprised to see the faint dusting of pink that’s now painting his cheeks. “I’m…I’m a little embarrassed to admit that…that…” He trails off and looks at you. 

This perpetually composed god, this man who has looked his tormenter right in the eyes, is speechless beneath you and it only takes half a second for the pieces to slot into place. 

“My love, you don’t need to be embarrassed by the things that arouse you,” you say softly, reaching out a hand to cup his cheek and smiling when he leans into the palm of your hand. “And, as far as kinks go, this one is pretty tame.” 

You feel him relax beneath you and his arms snake to encircle your hips. “I adore you, do you know that?” 

You lean in to nudge your nose against his. “I do,” you say, giving him another brief kiss. “How about we go somewhere a little more comfortable? Maybe I can awaken something else in you.” 

“My little minx,” Loki teases, but then stands up so suddenly that your arms and legs are quickly locking around him for purchase. “But I’ll grant your wish, dove. Tonight, I am completely at your mercy.”

[arcane-vagabond]

Trapped in Silk: Prologue

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Summary: The world has been turned on its head ever since news spread that vampires are not only very real, but many have walked the earth undetected for centuries. You keep to yourself, head down and out of everyone's way. That is, until you bump into a stranger while avoiding a group of men chasing after you. You think you've seen the last of this stranger, only to run into him once more. Your life is turned upside down as he envelopes you into his life and into his riches. Are you a passing fancy, or are you the latest addition to his treasure trove? Only time will tell. (Vampire!AU)

Content Warning: Lots of talk of blood, Excessive prose, Vampires, self depracation. I think that's it, but please let me know if I missed anything!

Word Count: 1.2k

Masterlist || Series Masterlist

When considering all things sacred, blood is perhaps the one thing more precious than gold.

Blood not only keeps people alive, it carries their memories through their veins, cycling through them like the seasons that pass as time creeps on. Blood is sacred in that oaths are sworn upon it, one’s life tied to another in a promise so great that another’s life was staked upon it. Brotherhoods are formed in blood, cuts slashed into skin to allow the intermingling of one’s self with another.

The taking of blood was a great sin, condemning those who commit the act to an eternity of damnation, vying for salvation in any form they could find it. Cain stole Abel’s blood at the dawn of time, unleashing blood that was not his to give upon the earth and dooming all those that would follow in his path.

Humanity’s greatest monsters were those that ripped through flesh and stole blood from unwilling victims, rivers of blood like red silk against porcelain skin. Demons who once called themselves humans now drank their fill, casting themselves into darkness in fear of the shame the light of day would cast upon them.

These creatures had many names given to them over the centuries. Known as shtriga in Albania, vrykolakas in Greek, and strigoi in Romanian, most people knew them in modern times simply as vampires. Humanity had lost their fear of these creatures, writing them off as fairytales conjured up by ignorant, village folk who needed a reason for every bump in the night and a reason to keep their children in line.

Mutilations that were once the obvious work of the blood sucking dead, were now attributed to fellow human beings if not the odd wild animal attack. Humanity had strayed from the knowledge of their ancestors to favor the logic of the modern era. There couldn’t possibly be creatures that sustain themselves off the blood of other living beings, not ones that take the shape of a human, anyway. Of course you had insect species and small mammals that did so, but what evolutionary purpose would it serve a humanoid to sustain on nothing but blood?

How naïve they all had been.

No one was quite sure what to make of the press conferences at first, some believing them to be some kind of mass prank or some elaborate movie advertisement. It wasn’t long after that their kind started coming out in waves, no longer content to hide in the darkness that had once been their sanctuary.

The world had been in shock as droves of these creatures made themselves known, neighbors showing their true nature and some even advocating for the full integration of their kind with humans. Of course, there had been just as much pushback. People demanding that vampire kind leave, to where, they didn’t care. Just so long as they wouldn’t be forced to mingle and play nice with something they didn’t understand.

Vampire advocates had smiled placatingly each time, assuring the general masses that they had nothing to fear, reminding them that vampires had been there the whole time. Most people accepted this, most somewhat begrudgingly. After all, with their presence out in the open, at least there could be consequences and regulations, right?

Those in charge assured everyone that by working together, a new status quo could be created, the call for blood donors going out. While open feeding was not outlawed, it was highly discouraged—the powers that be wanting to maintain some semblance of control. A surprising number of people jumped at the opportunity to donate blood, whether it was through the hope that doing so would keep them from being attacked in the future or simply out of sheer curiosity and enthusiasm. It was the younger generations that seemed more at ease with the sudden development, a sense of cautious excitement ringing in the air in those first few weeks after the initial announcements. You had been finishing up some documents for a report to hand into your boss at the end of the day when Madison had stopped at your desk, a mischievous smile to compliment the spark in her eye.

“Can you believe that Dave from accounting has been a vampire all this time?” She whispered, though you don’t know why she bothered when her voice carried the way it did. You arched a brow at her, hands not stopping in their work as you waited for her to continue.

“I mean,” she scoffed, “who would have thought Dave of all people to be a vampire? He’s so…boring.”

“Vampires are just people, Mads,” you supplied, noting how strange the words felt on your tongue. It was true, of course, but three weeks ago, you’d never imagine having this conversation.

“Yeah, I guess,” she pouted, twirling a finger in her blonde curls. “I dunno, I just thought vampires were supposed to be these natural seducers or whatever. Hot and mysterious. Dave is…well, actually he’s not that bad now that I think about it a little more.”

“You’re ridiculous,” you snorted, a smile tugging at your lips as you paused in your typing to look at her. The grin was back on her face as she waggled her eyebrows.

“You love me,” she declared with a shrug. “Besides, you’re going to tell me you’ve never thought about what it would be like to do it with one of them?”

“No, Mads,” you rolled your eyes. “The thought of never crossed my mind of what it would be like to ‘do it’ with them. They’re the same people they’ve always been, just like I’m the same person I was three weeks ago. Not much has changed, not really.”

“You’re such a bummer sometimes, you know?” Madison giggled with a shake of her head. “You can fool everyone else, but you can’t fool me, babe. I know you’ve got a wild side in you somewhere. We just have to find it!”

She didn’t wait for your response before she turned on her heels and walked away. You loved Madison dearly, really you did. You’d been friends since high school, and you knew she meant well, but you also knew that her words were more than just words. You’d find out what she was up to eventually, and you knew you wouldn’t like it.

You glanced at the clock—almost quitting time. You leaned back in your chair with a grunt, stretching out your back and shoulders before slumping forward. You knew you weren’t the most exciting person, that had always been Madison. Where she was the life of the party, you were content to hug the walls, watching the party go on around you in mild fascination. Madison had no problem going out and meeting people, the string of boyfriends and girlfriends she left behind her a testament of that. You hadn’t had a date in ages, vaguely recalling the first date with some random guy Madison had set you up with. He was a decent guy, Randy or Ricky or Rocky or whatever his name had been, but the spark just hadn’t been there. You supposed you were getting too old to believe in the possibility of true love or love at first sight. You’d have to settle like most anyone else.

With a sigh, you began closing out of the different programs you’d had open on your desktop, making sure that you had all the components for the report for your boss before slinging your purse over your shoulder. Yes, vampires may be real, but a fairytale romance surely was not.

A/N: Okay, yeah lol We're trying something new. We're branching out into uncharted territory. What of it?

As always, reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated. I no longer do taglists, so if you would like to be notified on when I post, please follow my sideblog ( @sailoraviator-library ) and turn on post notifications! You can find me and my works on AO3 under the username arcane_vagabond. Until next time!

[buscandoelparaiso]

Please this year Italy wasn't that chaotic

the crazy bald coach fought with our best striker because he stayed up all night playing FIFA before a match, we allowed albania to score a few seconds in beating a national record, our goalkeeper was about to commit murder on the pitch during every single match we played, a murder that would have included coach, coach staff and teammates. a lazio player came out of nowhere played 2 seconds against luka modric, scored a goal 7 seconds before the final whistle and sent us to the next round when we were basically DEAD. in the celebration of said goal one of our players almost broke a rib pressed by other teammates in the 'azzurri bundle', we scored an own goal against spain who drove us crazy for 90 minutes but didn't manage to score at all (we are still wondering HOW). In the meantime, same crazy bald coach decided to be a stracciacoglioni and forced everyone to follow military rules for the duration of the euro training, everyone hated them and most likely rebelled against, he also chose the worst line ups he could assemble ever in every single match, got them ALL wrong and possibly beat his own personal record of shit. he then proceeded to blame the players (and club coaches????? and hot weather???) for the poor performance, confirming he did nothing wrong and he was just a poor soul with bad players all around. Now players are indirecting him on social media because they basically can't stand him and his ideas of game, italian press can't stand him either and wants his head on a plate but he's obviously not going away because of the good old italian tradition of having your ass glued to the chair forever even if hell breaks lose. ALL this happened in 2 weeks and we also served cunt and faces because we were the hottest team in the tournament

[dweemeister]

By Rory Smith

BILBAO (The New York Times) — Miguel Martínez was not entirely sure how to react. On Monday evening, he found himself standing outside a bar in Bilbao, tuning in and out of his colleagues’ conversation, his eyes fixed on a television screen inside. He has been avidly tracking Spain’s progress in the European soccer championship, he said, and a work trip was not going to get in the way.

He had watched the country’s first two games with his 13-year-old son, back home in Seville. The city, he said, has caught a severe dose of major tournament fever, a condition that reliably sweeps across Europe on a biennial basis. Balconies are decorated with Spanish flags. The streets are alive with Spanish jerseys. Spain’s wins have prompted wild celebrations.

As far as Mr. Martínez could tell, though, Bilbao was somehow immune. There were plenty of flags draped from balconies, but they stood for Palestine, or Pride, or, most commonly, the Basque Country itself, in the form of the region’s traditional Ikurriña. The Spanish flag flew only from a handful of official buildings.

Mr. Martínez was well aware of why that is. The Basque Country, a mountainous region that presses up against the Bay of Biscay and the Pyrenees in the north of Spain, has long regarded itself as distinct from the rest of the nation. It has its own language, culture and identity. The Basque struggle for autonomy, even independence, has long and bloody roots.

He was keen, then, to be respectful of his hosts, and not cause any offense. When Spain scored early in its third group game, a meeting with Albania, he and his colleagues responded with a brief, muted cheer — little more than an exhalation, rather than the joyous abandon they might have displayed in Seville.

[mapsontheweb]

The territorial history of Armenia and Azerbaijan

“Atlas of the Ethno-Political History of the Caucasus”, Arthur Tsutsiev, Yale University Press, 2014

The Armenian historical view centers on the global threat associated with the expansion of Turkic-speaking tribal groups into former Armenian territories, including Artsakh (Karabakh). Today's Azerbaijan is itself largely the former Caucasian Albania, a land which became Christian in the middle of the 4th century, submerged from the 11th century by Turkish invasions and which, in the 19th century, completely disappeared, transformed into a territory Turkish and Muslim.

Azerbaijan comes from the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan of 1918-1920, created following Turkish intervention and taking its name from a Persian region located further south. This part of Eastern Transcaucasia, incorporated into Russia between 1803 and 1828, is in fact a former Persian territory with an indigenous sedentary Armenian population and a nomadic Turkish-Kurdish population who arrived later.

After the First World War, the Armenians would not have a state in the former Ottoman territories but a small formerly Russian territory around the city of Yerevan, southwestern part of the Transcaucasian Federative Democratic Republic (April -May 1918) which takes the name of the Democratic Republic of Armenia. From June 1920, the Kemalist Turkish nationalists began negotiations with the Soviets and the demarcation of the borders of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic (born December 2) was ultimately to the detriment of the Armenians themselves, since it did not does not include Karabakh, included entirely in Azerbaijan, at the insistent request of the Turks.

From then on, the Armenians are a people who have the particularity of being deprived of a large part of their historical territory even though it dates back to the 9th century BC with the kingdom of Urartu and its territorial peak dates from the end of the 2nd century BC when King Tigranes dominated a territory stretching from the Caspian to the Mediterranean.

by cartesdhistoire

[unnervinglyferal]

List of European countries and why I hate them, in alphabetical order:

Albania - I've never heard fucking anything about the people here, do you people even do anything save for having beef with everyone else in the Balkans. Fuck you.

Andorra - I don't think this place is even a real country. It's like the size of my dick. Fuck you.

Austria - You know what you did. Fuck you.

Belarus - Sucking Russia's dick just for the novelty of getting to be featured in their ongoing cringe compilation. An utter embarrassment. Fuck you.

Belgium - If there's two things I hate, it's colonialist brutality and the fucking smurfs. Fuck you.

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Despite all the rest of their shitshow, at least the rest of the Balkans can at least agree whether they're one country or two countries. Make up your minds. Fuck you.

Bulgaria - The best thing you've got going on is the yoghurt and even that isn't as good as the greek ones. Fuck you.

Croatia - Out of all the countries in Europe whose existence I had literally forgot about, this is the oldest and the largest. How do you trace your history back to the fucking antiquity and only barely seem to exist at all? Fuck you.

Cyprus - I actually had to google to check that Cyprus isn't just a part of Greece, but apparently you gained independence from the UK in 1960? How the fuck are you in Europe and get colonized by Europe. Fuck you.

Czech Republic - Your main export is utterly unpronounceable last names. There's a reason why you can't shouldn't be allowed to put five consonants in a row. Fuck you.

Denmark - Annoyingly smug golden retriever-ass mushy-faced fucks. If I pressed my open palm into a dane's face, it would ooze through my fingers because these mushy fucks don't have bones.

Estonia - The bitter, prettier and smarter sister to Finland who is passive-aggressively better at everything but still doesn't get the same attention. Finns show up to your shores to raid the booze stores, vomit on everything, and leave, and you just let them. Fuck you.

Finland - An entire nation of spoiled ivory tower whiners who just will not understand how good they have it. The entire country would die out by mass suicide if things ever got half as bad as they are in the rest of the world. Fuck you.

France - The only reason why the french aren't known as an equal mass of colonialist brutes as the brits are is the language barrier. They're just as stupid but you'll never know what they're thinking because they consider learning another language to be beneath them. Fuck you.

Georgia - The americans stole your name and put it on a state and you just fucking let them. Now we have to hear about their utter lack of understanding of geography every single time some shit happens at your borders. Fuck you.

Germany - I'm jewish. And looking at your involvement in Israel, I'm starting to think you people don't really even care that much whose side you're on, if there's a genocide happening anywhere, you just like to be included. Fuck you.

Greece - You have like 4000 years of recorded history verifying that you've spent that entire time thinking you're smarter and prettier than anyone else in the whole world. You specifically invented the word hubris to describe yourselves. Fuck you.

Hungary - I'm pretty sure that you guys are the reason why people think all of Europe is a backwards shithole. Fuck you.

Iceland - The only reason you people can dedicate all of your time in inbreeding ponies and people is because your climate is so miserable that nobody wants to move there. Fuck you.

Ireland - Your climate is just as wet and miserable as Iceland, but you still got colonized by the english. Fuck you.

Italy - I've never met an italian who was capable of doing anything in a punctual and organized way. Imagining a whole country being run by italians seems impossible. Like having 15 cats successfully operating a tank. Fuck you.

Kosovo - What the fuck even is the Balkans. You guys don't even have your own language. Fuck you.

Latvia - Like Estonia without any of the good parts. Fuck you.

Liechtenstein - This isn't even a real country, this is just the quarantine containment where Switzerland ships the people who are too annoying for Switzerland. Fuck you.

Lithuania - The most boring of the Baltics. Fuck you.

Luxembourg - There is no way this place is fucking real. The fuck do you mean your citizens are called luxembourgers. The fuck do you mean your official language is luxembourgish. What the fuck is any of this. Fuck you.

Malta - Same thing as Liechtenstein, but for all surrounding countries around the Mediterranean sea. Fuck you.

Moldova - How and why is there a tiny-ass country the size of my dick on the border of the Balkans. How does this exist. Fuck you.

Monaco - This isn't a real country, it's a french ploy for tax evasion. Fuck you.

Montenegro - Oh won't you look at that, another teeny tiny Balkan country. Montenegrin is the stupidest name I've ever heard for a language, that sounds like a comedy bit. Fuck you.

Netherlands - Fuck your weed and fuck your bicycles. Fuck you.

North Macedonia - This also feels like a country they just made up just to make the list of European countries longer. Fuck you.

Norway - Fuck your oil and fuck you.

Poland - Your main export is far right politics and porn-addicted communist furry femboys. Fuck you.

Portugal - Spain but a little bit to the left. The only way to tell the spanish and the portugese apart is by whether they get mad when you call them spanish. Fuck you.

Romania - Get your fucking shit together. Fuck you.

Russia - Fuck you.

San Marino - Italy has two stupid little city-states as pets. This one is the one I hate less because it only contains tax evaders.

Serbia - The only thing I know about Serbia is A Serbian Film. Fuck that film and fuck you for making me remember it.

Slovakia - The wettest, saddest slavs of all the slavs of Europe. Fuck you.

Slovenia - Slovene is the second-stupidest name I've ever heard for a language. Fuck you.

Spain - I have no idea how the fuck a people who are as disorganized as italians managed to also be as competent as france and britain at colonialism. Fuck you.

Sweden - As smug and mushy as danes and as inbred as icelanders. Fuck you.

Switzerland - You know what you did. And continue doing. Fuck you.

Ukraine - You wouldn't be in this fucking situation if you hadn't trusted Soviet Union's pinky promise to never invade. A russian's promise is not worth the oxygen it wastes. You guys are cool but nonetheless, fuck you.

United Kingdom - Fuck you smug bastards for everything.

Vatican City - Italy has two stupid little city-states as pets. This one is the one I hate more because it contains the pope. Fuck you.

[rjzimmerman]

If you've been following COP29 (aka the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), you probably quit about 10 days ago. I paid scant attention to it after day one. It was doomed to failure, and with trump approaching the entrance ramp to global climate chaos and the latest iteration of the Barnum & Bailey Circus, I figured I didn't want to waste my time.

Excerpt from this story from Truthout:

Another year of climate breakdown approaches its end, marked by reports that 2024 will be the first year in which the world’s average surface temperature exceeded the pre-industrial average by 1.5 degrees Celsius (1.5°C) — and by another COP climate conference. Would the 29th in the series, held in Azerbaijan, be more of the same, a fossil fuel-friendly cop-out?

It began with poetry. The COP29 president, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources H. E. Mukhtar Babayev, addressed a 9,000-word letter to delegates, laying out areas to be discussed. At its head, an epigraph from a Persian poet, Nizami Ganjavi, warning humankind that it could “destroy itself” if harmony “between people and nature” is lost.

The president’s concern, needless to say, was entirely feigned. Babayev’s epistle evaded mention of fossil fuels, except in a positive light. This was predictable. Prior to entering politics he worked for SOCAR, an oil company that stands accused of large-scale pollution as well as violations of human rights and workers’ health and safety. Even as its former employee presided over the COP’s opening ceremonies, SOCAR was pressing ahead with a massive expansion of drilling operations.

Altogether, COP29 was a shambolic and fractured event. The host nation used the opportunity to arrange new fossil fuel deals and granted access to 1,773 fossil fuel lobbyists plus 480 lobbyists for carbon capture and storage — Big Oil’s latest dangerous and dishonest ruse to justify continued drilling. The conference’s other failures include Saudi Arabia’s attempt, with considerable impact, to stifle any discussion of transitioning from fossil fuels; the rich countries’ refusal to pay poor countries remotely near the requisite figure to help cover decarbonization efforts and their “loss and damage” from climate change; and a revival of markets for carbon “offsets” — the scam by which rich countries and corporations pay for climate-related activities in low-wage economies in order to justify by some supernatural calculus their own failure to cut emissions. Absent were the leaders of most of the jurisdictions responsible for the climate crisis: the United States, China, the EU, Russia, Germany, Canada, Australia and France.

On the other side of the climate justice scales, Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape announced that his government would not attend, in protest at the big polluters’ refusal to provide “support to victims of climate change.”

The perfidy, venality and “bullshit” on display at COP29 prompted Albania’s prime minister, Edi Rama, to veer off script in a moment of emperor’s-new-clothes candor: “What on Earth are we doing in this gathering over and over,” he said, “if there is no common political will on the horizon to go beyond words and unite for meaningful action? And adding insult to the injury, some major and minor players even boycotted this annual global event.”

[mariacallous]

The US-sanctioned president of Bosnia’s Serb-dominated Republika Srpska entity, Milorad Dodik, organised a cocktail party with government members and coalition partners to toast Donald Trump’s victory in the US on Wednesday.

“Since the US embassy in Sarajevo didn’t organise a celebration for Donald Trump’s victory, I took it upon myself to do so as the President of Republika Srpska,” Dodik wrote in one of seven X posts dedicated to Trump.

Before the party on Wednesday at noon, Dodik gathered his supporters in front of the Palace of the President in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska’s administrative centre, where he held a celebratory speech while wearing Trump’s MAGA red baseball cap.

“For Republika Srpska and me personally, Trump’s victory symbolises a return to values we hold dear—family, freedom of choice, and the right to preserve one’s traditions,” Dodik said.

“In a changing world where individuals and countries are often expected to forget their roots, I see in Trump’s leadership the possibility of a different, fairer approach that does not impose ideas that Americans themselves do not support in their own homes,” he added.

Dodik may be hoping that a Trump administration will remove US sanctions imposed on him, first introduced in 2017, six months into Trump’s first term, and intensified under the Joe Biden administration since 2022.

Since 2022, the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, OFAC, has placed sanctions on numerous companies and individuals in Bosnia, most of whom are closely linked to Dodik.

These measures began to have a stronger impact this year when OFAC issued a warning that anyone assisting or providing financial services to sanctioned individuals and companies could also face sanctions.

This prompted Bosnian banks to close accounts belonging to those on the US blacklist, both in Republika Srpska and in Bosnia’s Federation entity.

Victory by Trump would mean a “better geopolitical situation for Republika Srpska”, Dodik said last year, claiming he regretted not declaring the entity’s independence from Bosnia during Trump’s 2016-2020 presidency.

However, Dodik’s celebration day ended with freshly-imposed US sanctions on an individual and a company close to his already-sanctioned son, Igor Dodik.

This time, OFAC blacklisted Vladimir Perisic, general director of the Prointer company, which was also sanctioned in June this year.

“As the general manager of Prointer, a company controlled by Igor Dodik, Perisic provided Igor with updates, sought Igor’s approval and guidance, and executed business decisions according to Igor’s instructions,” OFAC stated in a press release on Wednesday.

OFAC also sanctioned a company named Elpring, which was set up shortly after the Kaldera company was sanctioned in June as an attempt to evade the sanctions.

Meanwhile Trump’s White House comeback was also hailed in Albania, where another US-sanctioned politician, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, who in 2021 was blacklisted by Washington “for involvement in corrupt acts”, took to Facebook to welcome the Republican’s win.

“On behalf of the Democratic Party, the sister party of the Republican Party, I wholeheartedly congratulate Donald Trump for the historic victory of the 47th US President… and express belief that traditional relations between two countries will see excellent developments,” Berisha, who is under house arrest in Tirana, said.

Trump was also congratulated by Ilir Meta, head of the opposition Freedom Party, who is under arrest for corruption charges.

[black-arcana]

WITHIN TEMPTATION Shares Preview Of New Single 'A Fool's Parade'

On April 5, 2024, WITHIN TEMPTATION will release their brand-new song, "A Fool's Parade", which marks a collaboration with the talented Ukrainian producer Alex Yarmak. According to a press release from WITHIN TEMPTATION's publicist, "A Fool's Parade" "highlights Russia's pretense regarding the war, and condemns its lies, ongoing crimes and brutal intentions."

A preview of "A Fool's Parade" is available below.

The song, released as a harbinger of the much-anticipated "Bleed Out 2024 Tour", is a powerful expression of what the press release calls "WITHIN TEMPTATION's commitment to continue shedding light on the ongoing existential struggle that Ukraine is facing against Russia's cruel invasion."

For the recording of the accompanying music video for "A Fool's Parade", Sharon den Adel — the frontwoman of WITHIN TEMPTATION — traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine. The music video is being directed by renowned Ukrainian video director Indy Hait.

With involvement in initiatives such as the Ukraine Aid OPS foundation, WITHIN TEMPTATION aims to keep drawing attention to Europe's much-needed support for Ukraine's defense.

In a June 2023 interview with James Wilson-Taylor of Rock Sound, Den Adel spoke about the lyrical inspiration for WITHIN TEMPTATION's "Wireless" single: "When the war started in the Ukraine, we were in the studio writing songs, And it's one of the songs that we wrote. And it is about war, of course. It's about a soldier going to war and thinking he's going to liberate people, do good stuff and be a hero and everything, but then he finds out that he's been lied to by media but also government. And then he finds that he can't go back because he's already in his army gear, for instance. You can't go forward, you can't go backward because you have your buddies next to you and you'll all die in the field. And in front of you, you have a mission impossible almost."

The Dutch singer continued: "So that's what we try to do — maybe also shine a light on certain situations within the war. It's just we're storytellers — it's like amplifying a certain kind of emotion that people could feel in this situation."

Asked how she and her bandmates decided to use Russia's invasion of Ukraine as inspiration for one of their songs, Sharon said: "Well, from my point of view, it's not just their war. I really believe what some people are saying — it's really our war as well. Because it's next to us. They already said, they're not gonna stop at Ukraine; they're gonna go further. And a couple of hours flying from my home, it's already Kyiv. So it's also our war. I think we should be aware of the fact that this is a danger for all of us. They won't stop. And hopefully — we wanna keep this a little bit alive in our own small way by writing about it and talking about it and waving a flag on stage about it."

In March 2022, WITHIN TEMPTATION was one of the artists who took part in a telethon concert in support of Ukraine. "Save Ukraine - #StopWar" united more than 20 countries and bring together more than 50 participants. The marathon was broadcast from Warsaw on the Polish TV channel TVP. In addition, broadcasters from many countries around the world, including Estonia (EBR),Lithuania (LTR),the Czech Republic (ČT2),Georgia (GPB / First),Albania (RTSH 2),Montenegro, Slovenia, Latvia (LTV),Croatia (HRT),Slovakia (RTVS),Austria (Puls 4),Cyprus, Canada (OMNI) and others, rebroadcasted the marathon on their local channels.

In an interview with Greece's Rock Overdose, Den Adel stated about her band's participation in the event: "For us, it was an honor to be asked for it. I think as a band and as people, we really value freedom of speech and freedom and democracy. I think as a band, people sometimes say, 'Don't be so political,' people say, 'Don't be so expressive and don't take a side on things.' But as a musician, I think it's important to represent who you are, not just in music but really stand for what you make and what you are saying in your lyrics in a way. And things that are happening in the world inspire us to write music, and then you also have to take a stance and what side you are. I think when it's so obvious where there's an aggressor and where there is a country being violated, invaded, you should take a stance and then it makes it much easier even to be very clear about where you stand in this whole conflict. Of course, it's something that we are keeping ourselves updated with every day because we find it very sad to see that a country that wants to be a democracy is invaded this way. So we are very honored to be asked also to play for this event, this marathon, and happy to do it."

Released last October, WITHIN TEMPTATION's latest album, "Bleed Out", signifies a bold leap forward for the band. From contemporary, hard-hitting, and djenty riffs to soaring melodies displaying their symphonic roots, WITHIN TEMPTATION has created a sonic journey that fuses diverse musical styles and thought-provoking themes. This is an album that is as epic as it is unflinchingly outspoken, and now more than ever, this is a band who isn't afraid to make a stand on issues the members care about.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, WITHIN TEMPTATION have shifted their focus from writing about personal emotions and societal subjects to tackling global injustices and reflecting the tumultuous state of the world in a way that other artists seem unable or unwilling to do.

While songs such as "Wireless" and "We Go To War" examine the authoritarian aggression on display in Ukraine and other warzones, the title track itself addresses the plight of women fighting for their rights in Iran after the murder of Mahsa Amini.

The album also grapples with the complex issues around a woman's right to choose in recent single "Don't Pray For Me" and throughout, this impassioned and political focus is reflected in the intensity and heaviness of the music. Embracing a new era of musical exploration and lyrical depth, WITHIN TEMPTATION have pushed boundaries and showcased their artistic evolution, delivering a fist-in-the-air proclamation of both their moral convictions and their fearless approach to music.

[because-its-eurovision]

Even though I've been watching for years I still don't understand all the ins and outs of the running order (I only know that being in the first half of the final is bad?) but I'm looking forward to hearing you talk about it and learning more 😌

How to get the best out of Eurovision running order 101 👩‍🏫

Rule of thumb: the later, the better. Especially if you try to win. Nobody has ever won Eurovision performing second.

Allocation draw for the semi-finals is held in January, Big-5 countries draw their half for the final during the opening ceremony, and semi-final qualifiers draw their halfs for the grand final at the press conferences after their semi. Producers then decide the running order and it is accepted by EBU. The only exception is the host country, which draws their place in the running order randomly during the EBU meeting in March. Try to be lucky.

In semi-final the second half has better qualification rate than the first half. Second and third place have the worst qualification rates.

To avoid performing second place, try not to be annoying and/or from these countries: Estonia (2013 & 2021) Latvia (2014 & 2022), Israel (2014 & 2022), Ireland (2015 & 2019), Poland (2016 & 2017), Romania (2018 & 2022), Albania (2019 & 2021).

Usually a maximum of five songs qualify from the first half, the only exception so far being the first semi of 2018 with six qualifiers from the first half. The usual split is 3/7, 4/6 or 5/5.

Hope that you get to perform last. But if your song is an uptempo, performed on the last spot of the semi-final and you qualify, be prepared to open the grand final (Belgium 2016, Israel 2017, Ukraine 2018, Czech Republic 2022).

Hope for a place right before or right after a commercial break. If you want to ensure a spot after a break, bring a big prop that needs extra time to get ready on stage (United Kingdom 2017, Ireland 2021, Australia 2022).

The producers give the favorites best places in the running order, usually as late as possible in their half. You can try to influence that by betting for your own country so it gets high up in the odds (Malta 2021).

If there are many favorites or frontrunners, they are not placed back-to-back. Being the one entry sandwiched between two favorites is not great so try to avoid that (Cyprus 2015, Denmark 2017, United Kingdom 2019).

The running order isn’t everything. Of the last ten winners, five came from the first half and five from the second half. Eight times out of ten, the winning song was performed earlier than the one that placed second. Most important thing is to have a great song, all the rest follows.

[the-jam-to-the-unicorn]

So there's going to be a press conference on Sunday and Olena's going to be part of it too? Can we hope for a joint appearance?

Maybe because she accompanies him for support and send a sign, but it's probably more of a President event. I doubt we will see her there. She was never present for the big press conferences.

It's going to be interesting how they will organize all the events for the war anniversary. If he travels to Poland or the border on February 24, they will probably have to push back some events to February 25 or cancel some or someone else takes over (or if Tusk and / or Duda travel to Kyiv they will attend events together but I doubt that).

They most likely had planned some joined appearances for February 24 (remembrance service in St. Sophia, visiting the wall and laying down flowers, ...). The question is how many events are still going to happen (on this day or February 25). Or maybe, if he's out of town, Olena takes over with Shmyhal or Stefanchuck or someone else.

They also had probably invited people to Kyiv for the war anniversary, so if these visits still happen, who knows when and who will greet the guests (if the visits haven't been cancelled).

A lot depends on the Polish situation right now and if the meeting on February 24 takes place or not (and how long he will be gone for that day).

I can see them traveling together next week (February 28) when Ze visits Albania. The First Lady of Albania invited Olena a while ago and she was very invested since summer in Olena's projects. And with all the new audio guides and Ukrainian bookshelves, I can see them also finishing projects in Albania besides the First Lady of Albania getting part of Olena's other projects and working with her as First Ladies (and Albania getting part of the OZF maybe).

Plus, there are rumours about Ze either meeting Erdoğan in Albania or a trip to Turkey in addition, and Olena hasn't then Emine Erdoğan in a while.

So, fingers crossed for Albania. 😁🤞

And maybe at least one small couple appearance on February 24 or 25. 👀

[togetherhearted]

Hi! Could I please get a match up with a record of ragnarok character (if you can't pick one it's alright to pick multiple)? :D

• I'm 18 years old and I have light brown hair that's wavy and reaches past my shoulders, my skin is very pale and I have hazel eyes, I also wear glasses, I'm 163cm tall and have a sorta curvy body but I'm a little chubby on my stomach because I like trying knew food or sweets I see, I'd consider myself polite and friendly, I'm an intp, so I'm closed off at first but when I actually become friends with someone I can have a more extroverted personality around them, I unfortunately can be a bit jealous and possessive but I don't tell the person I am, I hate to ruin someone's mood or friendship with someone else just because I'm jealous, so I try to press it down as much as I can

I like: Anything to do with space or theory about the universe, cooking/baking, visiting new places with my friends, bike rides, movies, chess, libraries, reading, leaning about different cultures, cats, music and coffee

I dislike: People being rude to my friends, spiders, overy sweet food and alcohol

Hobbies: Cooking/Baking, playing the piano and violin, chess, tennis, gardening

I'm half Albania and half Croatian so I speak Albania, Croatian and English, as a kid I was in theater and in ballet, I also did traditional dancing and I was in a lot of preferences

Mhhhh let's see my instincts matches you with our beloved king of the underworld

[musingsofmonica]

September 2024 Diverse Reads

September 2024 Diverse Reads

•”The Fallen Fruit” by Shawntelle Madison, September 03, Amistad Press, Historical/Science Fiction/Time Travel/Cultural Heritage/African American & Black/Women/

•”Where They Last Saw Her” by Marcie R. Rendon, September 03, Bantam, Thriller/Suspense/ Mystery & Detective/Women Sleuths/Cultural Heritage/Native American & Aboriginal

•”Sky Full of Elephants” by Cebo Campbell, September 10, Simon & Schuster, Literary/Science Fiction/Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic/Magical Realism/Cultural Heritage/African American & Black

•”Reservoir Bitches: Stories” by Dahlia de la Cerda,  translated by Julia Sanches & Heather Cleary, September 10, Feminist Press, Science Fiction/Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic/Short Stories/Feminist/Women/World Literature/Mexico

•Rejection” by Tony Tulathimutte, September 17, William Morrow & Company, Literary/Coming of Age/Humor/Satire/Short Stories/Novel in Stories

•”Entitlement” by Rumaan Alam, September 17, Riverhead Books, Literary/Psychological/Family/Life/Social Themes

•”We Came to Welcome You” by Vincent Tirado, September 03, William Morrow & Company, Horror/Thriller/Psychological/Cultural Heritage/Diversity & Multicultural/LGBTQ 

•”Misinterpretation” by Ledia Xhoga, September 03, Tin House Books, Literary/Psychological/Women/Family Life/Marriage & Divorce/World Literature/New York/Albania  

•”Vilest Things” by Chloe Gong, September 10, S&S/Saga Press, Fantasy/Action & Adventure

Fantasy/Romantic/Asian Futurism

•”This World Is Not Yours” by Kemi Ashing-Giwa, September 10, Tor Nightfire, Horror/Science Fiction/Hard Science Fiction/Space Exploration/Alien Contact/LGBTQ 

•”Colored Television” by Danzy Senna, September 03, Riverhead Books, Literary/Family Life/Racial Identity/Cultural Heritage/African American & Black/Women

•”Songs for the Brokenhearted” by Ayelet Tsabari, September 10, Random House, Literary/Historical/Family Life/World Literature/New York/Yeman

•”The Hysterical Girls of St. Bernadette's” by 

Hanna Alkaf, September 24, Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, YA/Thriller/Suspense/Supernatural/Dark Academia/Social Themes/Girls & Women/People & Places/Asia

•”The Beauty of Us” by Farzana Doctor, September 17, ECW Press, Contemporary/School & Education/Boarding School & Prep School/Social Themes/Girls & Women

•“We're Alone: Essays” by Edwidge Danticat, September 03, Graywolf Press. Personal Memoir/Essays/Short Essays/Essay Collection/Reportage/Ethnic Studies/Environmental Conservation & Protection/Caribbean & Latin American/Haiti

•”The Cottage Around the Corner” by D. L. Soria, September 03, Random House Worlds, Contemporary/Romance/Romantic Comedy/Fantasy

•”When Haru Was Here” by Dustin Thao, September 03, Wednesday Books, Contemporary/Romance/Social Themes/Death, Grief, Bereavement/LGBTQ

•”Adam & Evie's Matchmaking Tour” by Nora Nguyen, September 24, Avon Books, Contemporary/Romance/Romantic Comedy/Women/Cultural Heritage/Asian American/World Literature/Vietmam

•“We'll Prescribe You a Cat” by Syou Ishida, travel by E Madison Shimoda, September 03, Berkley Books, Contemporary/Family Life/Animals/World Literature/Japan

•”We Need No Wings” by Ann Dávila Cardinal, September 10, Sourcebooks Landmark, Contemporary/Magical Realism/Family Life/Death/Women/Cultural Heritage/Hispanic & Latino/World Literature/Spain 

[usafphantom2]

France will provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine with 40 SCALP cruise missiles

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 17/01/2024 - 08:17in Military, War Zones

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday that France will provide Ukraine with 40 long-range SCALP cruise missiles and hundreds of bombs. This announcement, made during a press conference, highlights France's growing commitment to support Ukraine in the midst of its ongoing conflict with Russia.

President Macron also revealed plans for a bilateral security cooperation agreement with Ukraine, similar to the recent pact between the United Kingdom and Kiev. This measure further solidifies France's position in the international effort to strengthen Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression.

The SCALP missile system, known in the United Kingdom as Storm Shadow, is highly regarded for its precision and range, capable of hitting targets in the depths of the eastern regions of Ukraine occupied by Russia, far beyond the front lines. This capacity is crucial for Ukraine to reach strategic locations occupied by Russian forces.

In addition to the delivery of missiles, France's commitment includes a substantial supply of bombs, intensifying the level of military aid extended to Ukraine. This support is part of a broader international initiative to provide Ukraine with the necessary resources to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The effectiveness of the SCALP missile was previously demonstrated in Ukrainian hands, namely during an operation that led to the destruction of important Russian military means in Sevastopol.

Tags: Military AviationFranceSCALP-EGWar Zones - Russia/Ukraine

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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