#aliyah cooper

[ajortga]

cute and absolute

pairing: jenna ortega x actress!fem reader

word count: 1.8k+

summary: it doesn't go unnoticed that you are one of the only people that jenna lets her walls down with.

based off request!

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Where Jenna only accepts r's touch ??? Tyy

-🥝

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Jenna is squirming in the car, screaming at her friend to drive faster so she can eat. 

“I’ve been on set since 6 fucking AM! It’s been 10 hours and I’m hungry! I skipped breakfast for this damn shit! What the hell do you mean you can’t get a burrito right now? All I want is a damn burrito and you’re telling me that we have to pick up Y/N, our friend, and first buy the book you wanted because it’s closer? CLOSER?” She screams, gripping her knuckles that were already white enough.

Jacob, one of Jenna’s friends laughs hard, a little threatened but not enough to be stopped. “It’ll only take 15 minutes at most! It’s more convenient, the bookstore is along the way and closer to our location, then we can just buy any burrito you want aft-” 

“CLOSER? YOU KNOW WHAT’S CLOSER?” Jenna throws her arms up in dramatic effect, huffing, “Me going insane! My sanity is at 10% right now, and if I don’t get my burrito this instant, I’m going to crash this car and fucking run to the nearest place that has a burrito. DON’T touch me!” She yells, smacking her friend's arm away because she cannot think properly at this moment.

“I’m STARVING, and I’m a woman who needs food to survive in this film ECONOMY! Can’t you drive any faster?-"

Jenna suddenly hears your voice outside from the slightly opened car window. She peeks her eyes out, her hands holding the glass. She suddenly sees you, looking sweet, happy, and perfectly sane as you come out of your driveway. “Hi, Jenna!” You exclaim, completely unaware that she was just ballistic for a burrito 5 seconds ago.

Her frustrated demeanor melts off suddenly, a goofy grin on her face as she sees just how happy you are. She brings her hand up, waving. “Hi!”

She just forgot how hungry she was and the person she just was less than a minute ago. Why was she so upset that she had to wait longer so Jacob could pick you up? She stopped feeling the need to bang her head on the nearest wall. 

“Jacob was telling me that you had a long time on set, something about how I had to save him because you were going crazy, so I got you some snacks.” You pull out a bag filled with goodies from your pantry.

The man that was driving stuttered as Jenna slowly turned to him, “I did not say it like that.”

“Oh yeah?” You ask, grabbing your phone and swiping and squinting. “It says here, “Please save me from this woman, she’s acting like a toddler that just shit her pants. SOS, crying crying emoji..” Um, oh and here. “This girl is so dramatic, complaining about not getting her burrito, she's wailing in the back seat. Please save her.” Don’t lie to me.” You state with a grin as Jenna munches on chips.

He rolls his eyes, grumbling. 

Jenna interrupts, “Okay, Jacob, you traitor.”

“You cannot be talking, slapping my arm away when I try to calm you down but Y/N being some sort of angel and making you all cuddly.”

The fuming brunette slowly turns back to normal as you slither your arm around hers, laying your head on her shoulder. “Glad to know you love me. How was filming without me?”

Jenna sniffs, letting you ruffle her hair, “One of the directors was trying to show us how the scene should play out, the popcorn in the microwave caught on fire.”

You nod, awkwardly as you look around. “Was it your popcorn?” You guess.

She huffs and sinks into you, “Yes, and now I'm starving."

-

Aliyah is losing her mind. First, her father was fixing the doorbell, and now it seems to be ringing on its own. Now, her older sister won’t cooperate as she tries to steady Jenna’s legs that are in the air. The brunette shrieks, causing Aliyah to pull away and make her tumble.

Aliyah groans, “This is the thirteenth time already! Let me make this clear, you asked me to help you do this random one handed handstand, but you won’t let me even touch you so I can get you into the right pose? You’re so weird.” 

Jenna shrugs, her head on the floor as she hangs upside down from the couch. “I am letting you touch me!”

“No you aren’t! You start shrieking and then falling face flat when I do! How the hell are we going to make this work if you won’t cooperate?”

The two siblings hear some shuffling as you crawl through the dog door, fitting yourself in. They blink, staring at you as you wiggle yourself through and throw a hand in the air, showing that you brought food. “Burritos!”

“Y/N! What are you doing? Go through the back door you doofus! You could’ve just knocked!”

You finally manage to squirm your way in as you stand up, brushing some leaves off of you and throwing them into the trash. You flip your hair, crawling through doggy doors were one of your talents. You signal her Jenna to hear you out as you put up a finger, “First of all, I was ringing the doorbell like, five thousand times, then I knocked, and no one was answering! I’m not letting the food get cold.” You pause, looking at Jenna who is currently staring at you upside down and hanging from the couch. “What on earth are you doing?”

“Trying to do a one handed handstand.” 

“Oh, wait. Oh! I know how to do that!” Happily, you hand her sister the bag with burritos and tacos, before collapsing to the floor.

There was awkward silence as Jenna and Aliyah stared at each other, “Um..”

Jenna always knew you as the silly girl across the block. Even after 5 years of friendship, she thinks you’ve just gotten sillier.

“That wasn’t it, I haven’t done it in a year. Hold on.” You position yourself, slowly doing a handstand. Jenna can see your shirt slowly rising up and showing your stomach as you keep yourself steady. You lift an arm off and hang it up. “Did I do it?”

Jenna giggles and flops down the couch. “Yeah. I think so.” She crawls behind you and picks up your body that was upside down.

“Hey!”

-

“Okay, slow and steady..” You say softly, squinting and holding Jenna’s legs, making sure she was in the right position. “Aliyah, try steadying her while she puts one arm up.”

“No way, nope.” She argues, eating her taco, “She literally kept shrieking when I tried to and starting kicking and squirming.”

“She’s not shrieking right now?”

“Well you’re just different I guess, you’re her best friend, so..”

You raise your eyebrows, a smile tugging on your lips as you tickle Jenna and make her fall on you. “You just love me, don’t you!?” You giggle, hugging her as she squeals and nuzzles against you.

-

It was late in the evening as you got changed into pajamas and flopped onto your bed. Nights like this always felt better, where you would switch on a show, read a book, or call friends. You decide to check some emails, looking over some asking for you to star in movies, replying to companies that want you as their ambassador, you click out of the tab. 

A small ding sounds on your phone as you see that Emma had texted you. 

meh meh myers: LMAO look at this article i found about u and jenna: https://hypotheticalsofcelebrities

y/n: okay my own researcher and detective, or should i say pippa fitz amobi? u get me?

y/n: lemme go check it out

meh meh myers: yus ily

y/n: ur the pip to my ravi 🥺

meh meh myers: corny

You laugh at yourself as you open the link, the article named ‘Escalating Relationships, Cute or Absolute?’

You roll your eyes and scroll down.

Fans say that they’ve picked up on the actress’s behavior, scooting away from castmates who’ve gotten too close during interviews and only staying close to one or two close ones. Not that she’s uncomfortable, taken from the way she seems unfazed most times. But, it is noticed that she seems like a bundle of happiness with individuals. A clip right here shows her with a fellow castmate, Y/N L/N, both starred in the famous series, Wednesday. It is caught on how Ortega was silently making sure that her friend was okay during an interview that had turned a little more uncomfortable for the other girl, squeezing her hand and clinging onto her. It seemed to have worked, for how the girl began to relax. What a friendship they have!

The tiny moments of comfort and physical touch occur in other interviews too, as well as cute Instagram comments on each other's posts that come off as playful flirting. Some comments are pasted here.

Jenna Ortega commenting on Y/N’s post of a photoshoot press for Wednesday last year in September:

jennaortega: That’s my girl

Another one on a post of the girl just doing an Instagram photo dump this year in March:

jennaortega: if you squint closely you can see me doing the dishes for my wife in the third photo

jennaortega: i will take your last name if i have to

jennaortega: my woman, i love you

Y/N L/N commenting on a post for Jenna’s Adidas campaign last year in November:

y/n_l/n: i will be the only one applauding the longest for u

y/n_l/n: tis is why i got adidas merch

Fast forward to Christmas with a dump of Jenna’s favorite people (Y/N included) in December last year: 

y/n_l/n: I love you this is why I wanted to bake the turkey

y/n_l/n: merry christmas to my favorite person

Another one to a selfie of Jenna posted this year in April:

y/n_l/n: oh i’m interested, what’s your number?

y/n_l/n: sign my contract to be with me forever? comes with a long time of house wife chores!

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What do you think? Are they just really good friends with the cutest flirting? Or secretly dating? Answer us down in our poll, cute, or absolute?

Final vote with 20K votes

Cute: 24%

Absolute: 76%

—

carrots4life: but like, their relationship is both cute and absolute! why aint that a option?

mangofrosties: they are def dating istg i’ve never seen them both this happy unless they are together

-

You smile, looking away from your laptop as you kick your feet. You do feel like Jenna had a soft spot for you, she always hugged you first, tried picking you up, falling asleep with each other on set. But she was just your best friend, you would all say to interviewers.

The door slightly creaks as you turn, smiling. “Hey baby, I think you should see this.”

Jenna flops on the bed with you, letting you cuddle her as she kisses you and reads your screen, a goofy grin on her face.

“I guess they caught on that we might be more than friends. I mean, it's not a lie that we are best friends, girlfriends is just a small little detail."

“Cute and absolute.”

[belanegara4]

International Symposium on the "History and Legacy of Muslims in the Caribbean"

ircica.org

International Symposium on the "History and Legacy of Muslims in the Caribbean"

OIC IRCICA

6–8 minutes

The International Symposium on the “History and Legacy of Muslims in the Caribbean” organized by IRCICA, OIC General Secretariat, the Government of Guyana and Guyana University was opened by President H.E. Mohamed Irfaan Ali with a Feature Address on 4 September 2023. IRCICA Director General Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç gave an address at the opening ceremony. Moderated by Mr. Al Creighton, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Education of the University of Guyana, the ceremony started with Quran recitation and translation by Hafiz Salih Rahim, and heard the opening remarks of H.E. Mr. Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Dr. Abdullah Hakim Quick, Special Envoy of IRCICA to the Caribbean; Dr. Alhoucine Rhazoui, Director of Cultural Affairs, OIC General Sceretariat, as well as cultural items, consisting of the Islamic Chant in Urdu recited by Mr. Imran Ali, Deputy President of the Muslim Youth Organization, and the Islamic Chant in Yoruba language presented by Mr. Toyib Hamza. A press conference followed the opening session. The ceremony and the working sessions were held at Arthur Chung Conference Center in Georgetown.

Subsequently, the same day, IRCICA Director General Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç was received by H.E. President Mohamed Irfaan Ali for a welcoming meeting. Professor Kılıç briefed H.E. the President about IRCICA’s objectives and activities. Mr. Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, high officials from Guyana, and the IRCICA delegation members, were also present at the meeting. Director General Prof. Kılıç presented H.E. President Irfaan Ali and Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Hugh Todd with samples of IRCICA’s publications in the series of studies on the Holy Qur’an.

The working sessions of the symposium, spread over three days, were on the following themes:

First day, Session I: Globalization and Localization in the Caribbean: Aliyah Khan, University of Michigan, | The Qasida and Muslim Devotional Music in Guyana and Trinidad; Frank J. Korom, Boston University | The Current State of Hosay (Moharram) Observances in the Caribbean; Abdin Chande, Adelphi University | Migration and Identity of South Asians of the Caribbean and East African Indian Ocean Region: A Comparative Analysis; Maurits S. Hassankhan, Anton de Kom University of Suriname | Localization and Globalization of Religion: The Case of Hindustani Muslims in Suriname.

Session II: Islam in the Greater Caribbean from Early History to Today: Abdullah Hakim Quick, The Islamic Institute of Toronto | Aspects of Muslim History and Legacy in Pre-Columbian America; Juan Thomas Ordóñez, Universidad del Rosario | Caribbean Lebanon: The Muslim Experience on the Colombia/Venezuela Border; Mohamed A. Hakim, Islamic Educator and Social Activist in Haiti | History of Muslims in Haiti; Nuri Muhammad, Imam, Radio Commentator and Social Activist | The Evolution of Muslim Presence in Belize and the Significance of Garifuna Cultural Retrieval;

Session III: Panel on Black Atlantic Muslim Movements – Remapping and Theorizing Global South Migrations:  Youssef Carter, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill | Western Sunrise in the Global South: The Islamic Party comes to the Caribbean; Tasneem Siddiqui, Drexel University | The Caribbean Is No Island: Rethinking Black Geographies through Muslim Resistance Movements; Nsenga Knight, Artist & Storyteller | Irregular Black Muslims: Diasporic Exchange & The Caribbean Elsewhere.

Second day, Session I: Guyanese Experience: Ateeka Khan, McMaster University | East Indians, Religion, and Politics in 20th Century Guyana; Nazim Baksh, Former Investigative Producer with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) | Conflict, Continuity and Change of Religious Narratives and Practices of Muslims in Guyana (1977-1981); Ahmad Hamid, Imam and Researcher | The Challenges and Role of CIOG in the Transformation of the Muslim Community of Guyana from Chaos to Stability; Wazir Baksh, Historian and Community Activist | The Masjid as an Essential Institution to Preserve Faith and Social Cohesion: The Case of Guyana.

Session II: Voices from Trinidad and Tobago: Halima-Sa’adia Kassim, University of the West Indies | An Evaluation of the Resultant Negotiations of Living in an Alien Society: The Indo-Muslims of Trinidad Claiming Their Place; Nasser Mustapha & Mirza Ali Mohammad, University of the West Indies | Race and Ethnic Relations in Trinidad and Tobago; Anand Rampersad, University of the West Indies | Successful Muslim Cricketers in Trinidad and Tobago.

Session III: Economy, Identity and Decolonization in the Caribbean: Ibraheem Musa Tijani, International Islamic University Malaysia | The Economic Development and Commerce of the Muslim Communities in the Caribbean and the Emergence of Islamic Finance in the Region; Stanley L. Soeropawiro, Policy Advisor Religious Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs (Suriname) | Economic Development among the Javanese Muslims in Suriname; Karimah Rahman, Toronto Metropolitan University | Decolonizing Muslim Indo-Caribbean Mental Health; Suleiman Bulbulia & Sabir Nakhuda, Historians and Authors | The Muslims of Barbados: Sustaining A Muslim Identity.

Third Day, Special Presentation at the University of Guyana by: Abdullah Hakim Quick, Nuri Muhammad, Mohamed A. Hakim and Stanley L. Soeropowero.

The closing ceremony of the symposium was conducted with the remarks of Prof. Dr. Aboubacar Abdullah Senghore, Assistant Director General, IRCICA and Ambassador Elisabeth Harper, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Guyana.

On 5 September 2023, IRCICA Director General Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç had a meeting with Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana. The meeting was a fruitful occasion to exchange views on research and education in Islamic studies.

During the symposium period, Director General Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç held contacts and meetings with Muslim cultural institutions and educational organizations in Guyana including the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG), Guyana Islamic Trust and the ISA School.

[wepurge-rpg]

Felicidades por un año en línea

¿Se acuerdan de Shiny Empire? El foro de las de Crazy Bored Asians, donde envy no dejaba de tirarle mierda a foros como Yugen, HeyDay y F3, pero cuidado con que alguien hablara mal de Shiny Empire, entonces ahí sí se volvía cero conflictiba.

Pues ya se murió, desde hace meses que solo andan ellas y sus amigas, parece ya hasta parece foro privado con todas sus multicuentas, pero por si acaso todavia no saben cuales son aqui se las dejo:

envy: Alexia C. Moon, Quinn Lee, Dylan Feng, Marisa Ngam, Summer Song, Nami Nagatani, Kiara K. Rhee, Cherie Chang, Cooper Im, Hayashi Moka, Aliyah Ackerman, Ashley Yang, Erik P. Jung.

pride: Dean Oh, Kip Yoon, Noah Jung, Benjamin J. Lee, Blair Shim, Ryo Kitamura, Dal Moon, Evan Myung

avarice: Easton Feng, August Kwon, Ivar T. Anzai, P. Clover Chew, Kenneth Oh, S. Asher Bancroft, Terese Woo

Claro que a ellas no les afectan las normas de maximo 3 cuentas en la apertura, ni el tiempo de espera cuando se borran las cuentas, pero considerando que ellas mismas hacen todo el foro ni diferencia hace.

Felicidades por un año, tambien felicidades por ser las mismas administradoras de Map of Seoul, Wysteria High, Walk The Line y Sugar Rush, a ver que otro foro abren cuando ya ni ustedes mismas se conecten.

Y si es posible, aunque creo que no, disimulen un poco las reservas y no acaparen a todo Ive, Enhypen y Aespa, se nota bastante que son ustedes cuando todos los sin talento de Enhypen están reservados y se ponen a hacer las mismas ships todo el rato.

Tambien alguien digale a los de Yugen que se notan son las de Days Gone, y a las de Windflower con ese nuevo foro de idolos y su skin horrenda.

[ulkaralakbarova]

A mom and dad who usually say no decide to say yes to their kids’ wildest requests — with a few ground rules — on a whirlwind day of fun and adventure. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Allison Torres: Jennifer Garner Carlos Torres: Edgar Ramírez Katie Torres: Jenna Ortega Nando Torres: Julian Lerner Ellie Torres: Everly Carganilla H.E.R.: H.E.R. Mr. Deacon: Nat Faxon Hiring Executive: Molly Sims Jean the Paramedic: Fortune Feimster Officer Jones: Arturo Castro Billie / Concert Coordinator: Tracie Thoms Layla: Megan Stott Tara: Yimmy Yim Hailey Peterson: Snowden Grey Officer Chang: Hayden Szeto Julie: Alana Baer Brian: Graham Phillips Brent: Wolf Fleetwood-Ross Trevor: Adam Faison Mr. Hwang: James Kyson Counter Gal: Michelle La Mr. Chan: Leonardo Nam Miss Hoffling: Naomi Ekperigin Chase: James Calixte Rob: Alek Cole Jeremy: William Samiri Tony: Ruy Iskandar Teacher Beth: Cloie Wyatt Taylor Nurse Linda: Joanna Strapp Bob: Brent Morin Joan: Cass Buggé Karen: Lynn Andrews Security Guard: Jordan Johnson-Hinds KC: K.C. Clyde Mary: Katie Baker Rosemary: Ava Allan Brad: Cameron Johnson Woman on Something: Taylor Cooper Mom in Car: Faryn Einhorn Kablowey Maroon Team Player: Jeremy Culhane Kablowey Green Team Player: Kristi Lauren Kablowey Blue Team Player: Olivia Norman Korean Customer: Arvin Lee Man from Bathroom: Peter S. Kim Officiant: Ron Yerxa Helium Kid #1: Nicholas Sean Johnny Helium Kid #2: Cameron James Elie Seven Year Old Nando: Romyn Smith Ten Year Old Katie: Aliyah Torres Terrified Kid: Joshua Gallup Stevie: Danielle Jalade Woman in Cheetah Suit: Erin Allin O’Reilly Officer Antonio: Rafael Boza Harry: Tyler Riggin Kablowey Orange Team Player: Mike Lane Kablowey Orange Team Player #2: Sandy Fletcher Sound Mixer: Chase Meyer Party Kid #1: Lola Raie Party Kid #2: Aidan McGraw Maid of Honor: Rachel Amanda Bryant Athletic Kid #1: Coral Coye Athletic Kid #2: Kodiak Lehman Athletic Kid #3: Makea Leonard H.E.R. Band Member: Keithen Foster H.E.R. Band Member: Carrington Brown H.E.R. Band Member: Alonzo Harris H.E.R. Band Member: Ricardo Ramos H.E.R. Band Member: Ajanee Hambrick H.E.R. Band Member: Malik Spence Allah-Las Band Member: Miles Michaud Allah-Las Band Member: Matthew Correia Allah-Las Band Member: Pedrum Siadatian Allah-Las Band Member: Timothy Hill Film Crew: Production Design: Doug J. Meerdink Original Music Composer: Michael Andrews Producer: Jennifer Garner Set Decoration: Rosemary Brandenburg Makeup Artist: Deborah La Mia Denaver Director of Photography: Terry Stacey Executive Producer: Miguel Arteta Assistant Art Director: Mike Piccirillo Editor: Jay Deuby Costume Design: Susie DeSanto Supervising Sound Editor: Darren Sunny Warkentin Supervising Sound Editor: Andrew DeCristofaro Executive Producer: Mark Moran Producer: Daniel Rappaport Costume Supervisor: Mitchell Ray Kenney Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Will Files Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Mark Paterson Visual Effects Supervisor: Jean-François Ferland Executive Producer: Justin Malen Stunts: Kelli Barksdale Makeup Department Head: Cristina Waltz Producer: Lawrence Grey Set Costumer: Natasha Romanow Set Costumer: Cesha Ventre Visual Effects Producer: Marie-Claude Lafontaine Second Unit Director: Shauna Duggins Set Dresser: Fante Zamora Book: Tom Lichtenheld Utility Stunts: Mallory Thompson Set Decoration Buyer: Jennifer Pray Producer: Ben Everard Art Direction: Jason Perrine Production Coordinator: Sally Potters Makeup Artist: Jamie Hess Book: Amy Krouse Rosenthal Producer: Nicole King Executive Producer: Adam Simpson-Marshall Visual Effects Producer: Erin Hewitt Set Dresser: Max Bostic Visual Effects Supervisor: Brandon Nelson VFX Artist: Sébastien Chartier VFX Artist: Jason Evanko VFX Artist: Alyssa Koncelik-Diemer Movie Reviews: r96sk: Rather unoriginal, though the cast make it more likeable than it would otherwise be. ‘Yes Day’ is exactly what it says on the tin, you will not be shocked to find out what the plot is. It plays out in the most predictable way possible, even the hearty moments are a little too sickly at times. With that sai...

[nicky35]

what was the drama with Zia? 😭

apparently she left her long time gf to be with te'a cooper. idk how true it is but it was all over twitter. i also remember zia's name getting brought up a few times when aliyah boston did one of those "who on the team would you not let date your child" tiktoks.

[ciarawinters]

Ciara at a glance

“Be a badass with a good ass"

NAME: Ciara Aliyah Winters ALIASES: CiCi to the rare few AGE: 29 [Born February 1st] OCCUPATION: Stage Manager at Sammie's place, in the real world she was a TV camerawoman and tech specialist for Art's paranormal show. Also self-titled Dumb Fuck Wrangler ARRIVED: Early November 2023 GENDER/PRONOUNS: Cis Female, She/Her SEXUALITY: Lesbian; men that hit on her may get throat punched QUIRKS: Loud, bossy, and not a single fuck given. Ciara is rather unapologetic about the way she is - it gets results and she knows what the fuck she's talking about. Youngest sibling energy and she's fully aware of it. If you ask her about her camera or any of the equipment they used on the show she will show her truest colors and go into full nerd mode. Aside from tech she kept her pulse on pop culture and trends to help keep both Art and the show relevant. Has been in town for only a few months and is already bored out of her mind.

BIOGRAPHY

Ciara doesn't have a lot of memories of her early childhood, though the deadbeat prison father and the scar on Chris' face certainly let her put a few pieces together as she got older. She never knew that side of the 'Winters' family, only knowing loving siblings and mom. As the youngest, Ciara was certainly the Mama's girl, often siding with her mom when tensions rose between her and her other siblings. Still, she loved them all. They were a part of her, of her life. So when Chris up and vanished 12 years ago it cut like a knife. He ghosted them, finally tired of his family if what Charlie said was to be believed. He never made it to her high school graduation. Or her college graduation. Or their mom's funeral.

His disappearance left a hole in her heart, one that she hid behind a wall of sass and grit. She was tough, she didn't need him. And so Ciara focused her life on her passion: film. Or more specifically, film production. To see something in front of her be transformed through the lens of a camera was absolute magic. While Ciara would always swear it was her hard work and dedication that landed her the internship with The Company, in her heart she knows it was pure fucking luck. It was the stepping stone she needed to push off her career, to claw her way up to head camera operator and techie. Ciara knew the exact angles, the exact timing, the exact lighting to pull off the perfect performance. If only Art would cooperate.

Despite her frustrations with the man, she quickly became attached. With his clumsy charm he filled in that hole Chris had left so many years before. And so Ciara insisted no one else was allowed to work with Art, no one else could make the show as successful as it was. Hell, she'd even been nominated a few times for her work. Had yet to win, but she swore it was only a matter of time until her talents were recognized by the monkeys in charge of the award ceremonies.

Though Chris had left her life, Ciara continued to stay in touch with her sisters. The only family she had left. When Charlie said enough was enough, she was going to look for Chris, Ciara encouraged her sister. But when Charlie stopped answering her texts...well...it was too much. There had to be something about Huntsville, WV that was making her lose her family. With a great deal of push Ciara convinced Art's production team that the small town in bumfuck nowhere was their next hit location. She would get answers, one way or another. Months later, guilt still secretly eats away at Ciara that she dragged Art into this Silent Hill ripoff. It's her fault he's here, that he's in danger. She'll find a way to make it up to him, somehow.

[newyorkroleplay-blog1]

ALIYAH COOPER –

Birthdate: December 24th, 1988 (29) Gender and Pronouns: Female, she/her Hometown: Montreal, Canada. Neighborhood: Upper East Side, Manhattan Occupation: Actress Faceclaim: Shelley Hennig Trigger Warnings: None

BIOGRAPHY –

Kris Cooper was surely a miracle woman birthing five children at once. Instead of just one, she ended up having quintuplets. Two boys and three girls were born on Christmas Eve in Montreal, Canada. To say the least, they were in the public eye from the moment they were born. They had a happy childhood that anybody would have been lucky to have. The small community they lived in meant that there was no shortage of people watching over them. Although they seemed to be a spectacle at first, the people around them eventually just got too used to the five Cooper kids running about. The place was more home than they could ever imagine. Well, that was until their father lost his law firm and their mother’s gallery was in shambles. Aliyah didn’t want to move, but her tiny little mind told her that she was going to love the bright and shiny lights of New York. Little did she know that people would be way less friendly than they had been in Montreal. The quintuplets were bullied and Aliyah wanted nothing to do with any of the people she was being forced to be around in school. Yes, things eventually changed as they usually did, but why would she forget how people treated her? Especially when the Cooper siblings got their own reality show. They were still children when cameras were thrust into their faces for the first time. The things were meant to film every waking moment of their lives. When Aliyah woke up, a camera was there to see how she started her day. When she went to hang out with a ‘friend’, a camera was there. She would have been lying if she said she didn’t love the attention. All of the spotlight was on her and her family. What more could she ask for? Her teen years were all captured for the show and there was no shortage of people she could cal a friend. Sure, they probably weren’t genuine or trustworthy in the slightest, but why would she have cared? What mattered was that there were people that wanted to be around her. The only problem was that the show would eventually run its course. By the time she was finishing high school, the show was airing its series finale that featured the quintuplets graduating and waiting for a future. Aliyah couldn’t just step out of the spotlight though. Yes, the show may have been over and she didn’t have cameras constantly watching her every move anymore, but that wasn’t going to stop her from putting a camera in front of her. An actress was what she told her mother she wanted to be. And, of course, her mother Kris welcomed that with open arms. To Aliyah, her mother was her best friend and it was easy to get the woman to be her manager when the time arose to start looking for opportunities. She was immediately put into the best acting classes money could buy, but that wasn’t something she really needed. Drama dripped from her pores as if it was what she was meant to do all her life. So of course she nailed her first audition. It was for a small role in a television show called Degrassi in Canada, but it was just a small taste of what she was truly capable of. Audition after audition, role after role, leading lady after leading lady. she was set to be a star. The only thing still looming over her head was the fact that her siblings were still around. Four other people who had the same birthday as her and shared the same genes as her meant that she would always have to worry about the media asking about them. Is Annalise writing her next book? How’s Ashton? Aliyah loathed having sisters because she always felt like they were competition. She was always trying to be the best of the three of them. That was why she got along with her brothers more. There was nothing to battle them for. Aaron was a lawyer and Adrian was just Adrian. She only got asked about them when she posted a picture of one of them on Instagram. It wasn’t that she hated her sisters. No, it wasn’t that at all. She simply just wanted to be better than them in every way. With every movie or television role, she was gaining a little bit more popularity than them. And that was all she cared about at the end of the day. Nevertheless, she still spent time with her family as much as possible. After all, she still loved them. A successful acting career wasn’t going to stop that. She even went so far as to say yes to starring in her sister’s show, Gossip Girl. She had never actually read the book since she was always too busy reading scripts, but she figured it would be decent enough. The premise intrigued her, that is. Playing Blair Waldorf, the queen bitch, was just the role of a lifetime. And, with the popularity steadily creeping up day by day, Aliyah was gaining the attention she so desperately craved. Sure, it was based off of Annalise’s book, but who ever paid attention to that anyway? People cared more about the actors bringing the story to life, didn’t they? That was what her mother nodded to when she had asked while the older woman had her eyes towards her phone at least. Something just didn’t feel the same though. All of the acting gigs she got and none of them felt real enough. Well, the role basically made for her that her sister wrote was, but that was different. No, she wanted more. It was almost as if luck had went her way when the producers of Catching Up With the Coopers showed up again. Hearing that they wanted to revive the show was like music to Aliyah’s ears. Now all she really needs is for her siblings to jump on board as well. And, boy oh boy, is that going to be the real role of a lifetime. Convincing her siblings that reviving their reality show would be a good idea was going to be tougher than any gig she could ever audition for. With that many headstrong personalities in one room, all hell is certainly going to break loose.

PERSONALITY –

( + ) candid, creative, intelligent ( - ) egotistical, obsessive, tactless.

[walking-sons-of-the-dead-anarchy]

[jewishbookworld]

The 107 books posted on JewishBookWorld.org in December 2021

The 107 books posted on JewishBookWorld.org in December 2021

Covers for some of the 107 books posted on JewishBookWorld.org in December 2021: A-J Here is the list of the 107 books that I posted on JewishBookWorld.org in December 2021. The image above contains some of the covers. The bold links take you to the book’s page on Amazon; the “on this site” links to the book’s page on this site. (more…)

[hayleyb100]

The Ribbon, Part 2

Part 1

❗️ Notes

-TRIGGERS INCLUDED: SCHOOL BULLYING AND ANGST WITH FAMILY -This is a dedicated story of the swap version of my OC Richard(Father of Raihan) and his granddaughter, the shipchild of Leon and Raihan called Ari. -The character Ari belongs to @weclownstoday​. Huge appreciations for letting me add her to the story!

An uncomfortable silence filled the whole room. Richard saw the girl scanning him from top to bottom, just like how he is doing the same. Without the girl having to explain, Richard could feel in his intuition that she is his granddaughter. She had the purple hair that looks so familiar to him: The unique hair color of the Former Champion of Galar, who got married to his son Raihan. It was on the news headline for years. On top of that, she also had the peculiar turquoise-colored eyes that are passed down in his Pendragon family.

As Richard's face frowned more from trying to investigate who the girl is, she fiddled with her wooden doll nervously. Richard's dragon glare is already scary as it is, so it was far worse for a child who is left alone with a stranger.

"Who are you?" why, that is such a sweet first question for a child.

"......." she only stared back at Richard, grabbing the doll closer.

"......." Richard stared her back, making the atmosphere even more awkward.

The girl finally made a move other than fiddling her doll. She hesitantly put her hand in a pocket, pulled out a slightly crumpled paper, and gave it to Richard.

Richard was pleading his intuition was wrong. A child that resembles him standing in front of a stranger's home in the middle of the night alone with a note to give him? It was obvious but he wished his intuition was wrong and silly for once. But his intuition was written precisely on the paper. Familiar handwriting of his son-in-law, the Champion, he sees as a Gym Leader was there. It claimed they can't care for the child anymore and sending her for his care.

That short message pushed Richard to the whole chaos of emotions. He first got extremely upset for them deciding this without a word of discussion with him. He was also confused on how to explain this situation to the child since it was obvious they didn't explain this to the child. There was no way a child can be so calm and collected when their parents dumped her in front of a stranger's door. Another wave of rage overwhelmed as Richard realized those two irresponsible parents tossed the hard part of the explanation to him. It was even more difficult since, it may sound ridiculous, but he didn't even know about his granddaughter's existence.

'What a beautiful first encounter for sure,' thought Richard.

'Normally, I expect this kind of the first encounter in the maternity ward, right after their birth, or at least right after they are discharged from the hospital.'

He inhaled deeply, asked the girl to stay here while he went to call alone in the room. The number he desperately wanted to call for decades but honestly scared not to.

"Hello?" a familiar woman's voice came.

"...Aliyah."

"Richard..." an awkward silence filled the whole atmosphere.

"Did she arrive there well?"

Richard sneered to suppress rage.

"So, the first thing you ask from getting a call from your ex-husband after decades is how is your abandoned granddaughter?" a clear snap with rage. Richard couldn't help it.

"It would have been nice of you to at least told me of her existence before doing something so reckless. What is all this?"

"Richard, please don't say that... We didn't have a choice."

"Oh? I heard the Chairman, your father, passed away three years ago. So who ordered you to do this now? Are you still the same old woman who can't decide anything on your own?"

"......." after a brief silence, Richard hears someone snatching the phone.

"Hello?"

Richard's heart drops, as the voice pierces into his ears and tears his heart in two.

"...Raihan."

"I'm surprised you remember my name, considering you abandoned me for your career as a Gym Leader."

Richard was lost for words.

"Is that what your mother told you?" even at Richard's shaky voice, Raihan interrupted.

"Doesn't matter who says what now, is it? You abandoned me, and that's the only fact here."

Richard falls into silence since it's true. No matter if it was his shitty father-in-law who threatened him, his wife wasn't cooperative, and the world turning a cold shoulder, he DID leave his son behind.

"Well? You did me wrong, so at least take care of my mistake."

"...Please do not tell me that you just addressed your daughter as a mistake."

"What? It's what you think of me, so can't I say the same? It's what I learned from you."

NO, RAIHAN, NO!! Richard nearly screamed, but something stopped him.

"I don't even know if I'll ever forgive you for caring about my mistake, but eh... Whatever." with that as of last, the long-overdue phone call ends.

Richard couldn't breathe from the pain. He thought he did what was right to protect his son, but he is now engraved in his son's heart as a horrible father and the butterfly effect from that is about to tear his grandchild's life apart. He started to question all his decisions and motives. His life is about to crumble down. But the grimmest thing of all is that he isn't even allowed to do that. He knew that girl needs a caretaker and there is no way he'll send her away somewhere else. Not after what happened to him and his son.

He stroked his face to calm down and went out to the living room where his granddaughter is.

________________________________

She was still fiddling her doll, showing a clear sign of anxiety. Richard took a sharp inhale and called her.

"Umm... Your name is?"

"Ari..." she said shortly, looking down at her tip of the toes.

"I see... Greetings. My name is Richard Pendragon."

He was as anxious as the girl, since judging from Raihan's attitude, it was obvious how Aliyah and his son described him to his daughter.

"...Ari. Please listen to me carefully." another inhale.

"From today onward, I will take care of you. You are staying here with me, your grandfather. Alright?"

Richard thought it would be better for Ari's sake to open everything up before she finds out everything later and gets more pain.

"O... Okay..." Ari said nervously. "For how long?"

Richard's throat got blocked with intense torment. How can he dare to just bluntly answer 'forever' when she has no idea that her parents abandoned her and she is solely believing her parents would get her later?

"For... as long as we have to." Richard ended up giving a vague answer where he didn't lie but wasn't clear either.

Richard had no idea what to do with a little girl, so he started by shopping the stuff for her like clothes and children's books. She came with a suitcase of clothes but that was not enough. He didn't know what's popular among girls these days so he bought a pink ribbon as an accessory. 

 Ari had no idea why her grandpa was buying so many clothes when she's just going to stay for a couple of days until her dads come to get her. But since she heard all the horrible and scary things about her grandpa from her father, she just listened and followed him around without arguing. Sooner or later, the old storage room next to Richard's room turned into a lovely room for a little girl. Ari still was in wonder, but just watched how things go. She realized her grandpa wasn't too awful like her father described. He cooked some delicious food for all three meals and although clumsy, he tried his best to tie her hair and dress her. He also registered her to the local trainer's school to get appropriate lessons.

But that's when Ari started to feel something's wrong.

If dad is coming to get her soon, why would her grandpa register her to a school?

________________________________

She still was in denial until days turned into months and months turned into years without any contact from her parents.

"Umm, s, sir?" Ari nervously called him.

"Yes, Ari?"

"Can I call my father?"

"............."

Richard hesitated. But in his head, he knew the answer. He can't hoard a secret like this. Look how keeping that secret from his son ruined the relationship between him and his son.

"Ari, umm... Your father will not come for you. Do you remember I said you will have to stay here as long as you have to? It means..." Richard just couldn't continue. The pain came back at his granddaughter's frowning face.

"N- no!" Ari shook her head in denial. But deep within, she already knows what her grandpa is telling her is true. She tumbled on the floor and started wailing.

"Dad! Father! I'm sorry, I won't be naughty again! Please come and get me!"

Ari's helpless tears brought Richard down to his knees too. He was so sorry for her, thinking everything that happened is because of his foolish choice.

[togetherboth]

The above text is from Jerry’s FBI file (I believe the prefix to the file code means that they felt this was a ‘domestic security’ issue 😳). The advertisement also ran in the New York Times on 10th May 1948. Here it is (under a cut, because this got long)...

I had never heard of The American League for a Free Palestine, so I looked them up. Here’s some information on them from the Center for Jewish History, which holds their archive:

‘American League for a Free Palestine (ALFP) was created in July 1944, by Peter H Bergson (formerly Hillel Kook), for the purpose of supporting and funding his Hebrew Committee of National Liberation in Palestine. The ALFP attracted Jewish and non-Jewish members from all occupations, but especially those in politics and entertainment. The ALFP’s most notable achievement was the work of award winning playwright and director Ben Hecht, a member of the league. Hecht wrote A Flag is Born to propagandize the cause by comparing the fight for a free Palestine against the British to the American Revolution. With money raised from the production of the play, the league purchased a boat for the aliyah of Holocaust survivors from France. The group dissolved in December 1948 as the goal of the league had been achieved.’

This also, from the A Flag is Born Wikipedia page:

‘Following the Broadway run, A Flag is Born traveled to Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Boston. It was also scheduled to play at the National Theater in Washington, D.C. However, in an early action of the civil rights movement, Americans who opposed racial discrimination began a boycott to oppose the practice of barring blacks from attending Washington theaters, and the committee moved the play to the Maryland Theater in Baltimore. A special train brought members of Congress to the performance. The American League for a Free Palestine and the NAACP cooperated to use the occasion to force the management of the Maryland Theater to abrogate its segregation policy (blacks restricted to the balcony) for the duration of the play's run which, in the context of the times, was considered a victory for civil rights.’

It’s interesting that this event is mentioned in Jerry’s FBI file but is completely absent from Dean’s, even though they’re clearly both on the bill. (I mean, for ‘interesting’ read ‘antisemitic’, let’s be real). They’d been together for less than two years at this point, and I think this event is the earliest thing in either of their files. I wonder if they/Jerry came to be on the FBI’s radar this early on, or if someone went back and researched later.

Aside from all this, can you imagine going to an event and getting the Ritz Brothers, Phil Silvers, Sid Caesar and Martin & Lewis all on the same bill?! The whole lineup is pretty incredible, in fact. Ruth Chatterton was an actor, director, aviatrix and novelist; Bill Robinson was an unbelievably important Black American entertainer and the original Mr Bojangles; Mario Berini was, despite the name, a Russian Jewish tenor who sang with the Metropolitan Opera and had appeared in Ben Hecht’s A Flag is Born two years before.

Hazel Scott, of course, is this Queen:

WHAT A LINEUP, DEAR GOD!

[typingtess]

NCIS: LOS ANGELES:  "A Land of Wolves" – Act Four

In interrogation, Gomez wants his lawyer.  "Not a JAG joker, a real lawyer."  Aliyah thinks Gomez is a Netflix death row documentary – human trafficking and accessory to the kidnapping of a federal agent.

Fatima and Aliyah promise that the Cartel will know Gomez was working with the Feds, even if he doesn't.  Without a deal, he won't cooperate.  Fatima and Aliyah won't budge but Gomez keeps talking.  He and some buddies were moving the people for his cousin.  It made them some extra money.  He has no idea where Kensi is.

Fatima and Aliyah know the "soldiers" aren't Gomez's buddies.  Deeks is worried.  Sam tells Deeks they are going to find Kensi.  "Just because you say that doesn't mean it's true."  Sam tells Deeks they are going to find Kensi.

Kensi left a fire – a fire Deeks saw.  Landing, they find Kensi's knife and the word "11 Militia" in the ground.

In the 11 Militia hangout.  Pee Guy, "Ghost" and the failed securer of the perimeter are arguing about what to do with Kensi and Rosa.  "Ghost" plans to kill them.  And if Kensi is a fed, failed securer asks.  "Ghost" thinks Kensi is committing treason bringing Rosa into the country and the sentence for treason is death.

Kensi, feigning being unconscious, hears "Ghost".

[theinsiderrp]

LA IS HOSTING... THE FIRST HALLOWEEN PARTY OF THE SEASON

tonight in LA, there’ll be a fan party and concert! it’s an opportunity for fans and stars to interact side by side while enjoying a series of live performances from people in academies across the globe! 

you’re not REQUIRED to go. however, it will do well for our image and give your profile a boost if you’ve been a bit lost so far. 

COSTUMES

at this event, seeing as it’s so early, it’s really only fans who dress up. celebs tend to just wear black/red/orange/festive colours at most. celeb parties happen later in the month.

PERFORMANCES

performers usually sing THREE songs tonight: - a throwback  - a current hit  - a tease of the future 

see you there, maybe! 

VIP BOXES SEATING PLAN

box A - amelia, sylvia, jay, james, peter c, luna, bianca box B - haley, funi, ally, delilah, aiden, brett, aliyah box C - victoria, youi, addy, kitty, ethan, sylvie box D - perrie, georgie, taylor, lavender, joaquin,  box E - brie, cooper, pansy, astraea, jacob, madeline box F - adriana, jihoon, wren, corey, nicolas, kendra, amy box G - mikayla, yohan, dixie, lucie, alexis, jean, phoebe, youngmi, jasper, nicolo box H -  elijah, tomiko, clara, maverick, mila, belle box I - josh, inseok, daisy, josie, river, avery, yeong su box J - cam, dean, emmett, callie, robyn, dorethea, minhyuck box K - kit, tilly, dylan, fleur, leon, ezekiel, nicolai, lily, roman box L - whitney, harley, aurora, rowan, judah, freddie, harlow box M - kai, kira, phoenix, flora, sofia, se ri, grayson, mia box N - anya, ben, lennox, grace, kaden, daphne, sabrina, brielle box O - lottie, hudson, yasmine, salem, violet, teddy

[dailytafsirofquran]

Tafsir Ibn Kathir: Surah Al-Baqarah Ayah 47-48

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

47. O Children of Israel! Remember My favor which I bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the Alamin (nations).

Reminding the Children of Israel that They were preferred above the Other Nations

Allah says;

O Children of Israel! Remember My favor which I bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the Alamin (nations).

Allah reminds the Children of Israel of the favors that He granted their fathers and grandfathers, how He showed preference to them by sending them Messengers from among them and revealing Books to them, more so than any of the other previous nations.

Similarly, Allah said, And We chose them (the Children of Israel) over the Alamin, (nations) with knowledge. (44:32)

And (remember) when Musa (Moses) said to his people: "O my people! Remember the favor of Allah to you: when He made Prophets among you, made you kings, honored you above the Alamin (nations).'' (5:20)

Abu Jafar Ar-Razi reported that Ar-Rabi bin Anas said that Abu Al-Aliyah said that Allah's statement,  (and that I preferred you over the Alamin) means, "The kingship, Messengers and Books that were granted to them, instead of granting such to the other kingdoms that existed during their time, for every period there is a nation.''

It was also reported that Mujahid, Ar-Rabi bin Anas, Qatadah and Ismail bin Abi Khalid said similarly.

The Ummah of Muhammad is Better than the Children of Israel

This is the only way the Ayah can be understood, because this Ummah is better than theirs, as Allah said; You are the best of people ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin good and forbid evil, and you believe in Allah. And had the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) believed, it would have been better for them. (3:110)

Also, the Musnad and Sunan Collections of Hadith recorded that Muawiyah bin Haydah Al-Qushayri said that the Messenger of Allah said, You (Muslims) are the seventieth nation, but you are the best and most honored of them according to Allah.

There are many Hadiths on this subject, and they will be mentioned when we discuss Allah's statement (You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind), (3:110).

48 And fear a Day (of Judgment) when a person shall not avail another, nor will intercession be accepted from him, nor will compensation be taken from him, nor will they be helped.

After Allah reminded the Children of Israel of the favors that He has granted them, He warned them about the duration of the torment which He will punish them with on the Day of Resurrection.

He said, And fear a Day, meaning, the Day of Resurrection.

When a person shall not avail another, meaning, on that Day, no person shall be of any help to another.

Similarly, Allah said, And no bearer of burdens shall bear another's burden. (35:18)

Every man that Day will have enough to make him careless of others. (80:37)

O mankind! Have Taqwa of your Lord (by keeping your duty to Him and avoiding all evil), and fear a Day when no father can avail aught for his son, nor a son avail aught for his father. (31:33)

This indeed should serve as a great warning that both the father and the son will not be of help to each other on that Day.

Neither Intercession, Ransom, or Assistance will be accepted on behalf of the Disbelievers

Allah said,

nor will intercession be accepted from him, meaning, from the disbelievers.

Similarly, Allah said,

So no intercession of intercessors will be of any use to them. (74:48) and described the people of the Fire saying, Now we have no intercessors. Nor a close friend (to help us). (26:100-101)

Allah's statement here, (2:48), nor will compensation be taken from him, means, that Allah does not accept the disbelievers to ransom themselves.

Similarly, Allah said,

Verily, those who disbelieved, and died while they were disbelievers, the (whole) earth full of gold will not be accepted from anyone of them even if they offered it as a ransom. (3:91)

Verily, those who disbelieve, if they had all that is in the earth, and as much again therewith to ransom themselves from the torment on the Day of Resurrection, it would never be accepted of them, and theirs would be a painful torment. (5:36)

And even if he offers every ransom, it will not be accepted from him. (6:70)

and, So this Day no ransom shall be taken from you (hypocrites), nor of those who disbelieved. Your abode is the Fire. That is your Mawla (friend _ proper place). (57:15)

Allah stated that if the people do not believe in His Messenger and follow what He sent him with, then when they meet Him on the Day of Resurrection, after remaining on the path of disbelief, their family lineage and/or the intercession of their masters will not help them at all. It will not be accepted of them, even if they paid the earth's fill of gold as ransom.

Similarly, Allah said,

Before a Day comes when there will be no bargaining, nor friendship, nor intercession. (2:254)

On which there will be neither mutual bargaining nor befriending. (19:31)

Allah's statement next, nor will they be helped.

means, "no person shall get angry - or anxious - on their behalf and offer them any help, or try to save them from Allah's punishment.''

As stated earlier on that Day, neither the relative, nor persons of authority will feel pity for the disbelievers, nor will any ransom be accepted for them. Consequently,  they will receive no help from others and they will be helpless themselves.

Allah said,

While He (Allah) grants refuge (or protection), but none grants refuge from Him. (23:88)

So on that Day none will punish as He will punish.

And none will bind (the wicked, disbelievers and polytheists) as He will bind. (89:25-26)

"What is the matter with you? Why do you not help one another (as you used to do in the world)!'' Nay, but that Day they shall surrender! (37:25-26)

Then why did those whom they had taken for alihah (gods) besides Allah, as a way of approach (to Allah) not help them Nay, but they vanished completely from them) (46:28).

Also, Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn Abbas said that Allah's statement, ("What is the matter with you?

Why do you not help one another?''), (37:25) means,

"This Day, you shall not have a refuge from Us. Not this Day.''

Ibn Jarir said that Allah's statement, (nor will they be helped), meaning, on that Day, they shall neither be helped by any helper, nor shall anyone intercede on their behalf. No repeal or ransom will be accepted for them, all courtesy towards them will have ceased, along with any helpful intercession.

No type of help or cooperation will be available for them on that Day. The judgment will, on that Day, be up to the Most Great, the Most Just, against whom no intercessor or helper can ever assist. He will then award the evil deed its kind and will multiply the good deeds.

This is similar to Allah's statement, But stop them, verily, they are to be questioned. "What is the matter with you?

Why do you not help one another?'' Nay, but that Day they shall surrender. (37:24-26)

[purplesurveys]

1175

What’s the last vegetable you ate, and when did you eat it?  My dinner had broccoli and bell peppers in it.

What was your last Facebook notification for?  It was Aliyah replying to our comment thread on one of my posts. There wasn’t anything in her comment that was worth replying to anymore, so I just reverted with a Haha react.

What bands have you seen live? Paramore, Coldplay (not super legally), and One Direction.

Tell me an interesting fact about your mother:  She almost became a flight attendant, but she failed the final screening because of her height. I think the idea of her nearly having a completely different career is very interesting.

What do you think is the most important thing to happen to you before the age of 13?  In my case, probably getting my period. I got my first one when I was barely 10.

What were you super against as a young child but aren’t anymore?  Chicken curry. I also hateeeeeeeed Dora the Explorer with a passion, but now I find the show hilarious haha.

What are your plans later today? My work sched this week had been so fucking PACKED, that I want to do nothing but catch up on sleep all weekend. But seeing as I’m a proponent of revenge bedtime procrastination, I also highly doubt I’d let myself fall into a nap (Exhibit A: Me currently taking this survey at 2 AM...) If anything, I’ll probably just continue watching BTS In The Soop and finally start on Season 2 of Bon Voyage.

Are you doing anything exciting this weekend?  Well, it’s the weekend already, so...that ^ I will also have to take Cooper to the vet this Sunday.

Who do you talk to the most? Other than my team at work, Angela. I’ve been extra talkative these days because of our now-mutual excessive love for BTS, that I sometimes feel bad that I keep bombarding her with messages.

What are some things you do regularly that make you feel old?  Talk to my friends who are still in college, especially when they update me about the current happenings in UP that I have absolutely no clue about anymore.

Who is your best guy friend(s)?  I don’t have any best guy friends.

Do you wish your skin was lighter or darker?  Neither; I’m fine with my tannish skin tone.

If you had a tiny scar on your face, would you get it removed or just keep it?  Keep it; I already do.

Have you had an x-ray in the past year? Nah. My last one had been nearly 5 years ago, when I needed to get my back checked for scoliosis.

Do you think your first love still loves you?  No. And that’s okay. :)

What is something that is “going right” in your life?  EVERYTHINGGGGGGGGGGG I am so so happy with my life right now weeeee. I have the job of my dreams – I’m even working with THE ACTUAL K-POP GROUP SLASH PHENOMENON SLASH ICONS BTS for one of the clients I handle FHKDHGKHGFDKGHDKGH, I have the best and most supportive friends in the world, and I am now starting to grow my collection of BTS merch with my hard-earned money. Everything is going abso-fucking-lutely perfectly, and to think I didn’t think I would make it past 2020.

When did you feel ready to start dating?  Middle of high school.

When was the last time your pet bit you? If you don’t have a pet, have you ever been bitten by someone else’s?  I was play fighting with Cooper earlier tonight, and he got a little bit excited and ended up biting my upper lip quite harder than usual. It stung for a while, but it’s okay now.

Where were you the last time you made out?  I think it was my bedroom.

When was the last time you cried tears of joy? Yesterday.

How do you type your sad smileys?  Just this :(

Do you have “decorative hand-towels” that cannot be used in your house?  Nope.

What was the last soda you drank?  Probably the Coke I drank at an org event last year, pre-pandemic, out of sheer thirst. There wasn’t any water being served so I just gulped down the soda and tried to ignore the annoying fizziness. I don’t drink soda.

What was the last thing someone made fun of you for?  I was having a video call session with my workmates this afternoon as a way to end the week on a good note, and I recounted my experience of being locked out of the office while I was in the middle of a presentation for a client, and how I managed to get myself back in.

Have you ever had any type of surgery?  Nope.

Should kids be allowed to get tattoos/piercings without parental consent?  No.

Who was the last person to hit on you?  No one has in a while.

What was the last thing you decided not to do, that you were supposed to?  A deliverable a client asked me to do. It can wait til Monday.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to tell someone?  Maybe straight up admitting to my mom that she can be hurtful sometimes. It’s hard because she never actually processes things like that and they do nothing but vanish into thin air, even though it takes everything in me to be that honest.

What do you put on hot dogs?  Mayonnaise.

Ever fallen in the shower?  Like once, when I was 10 or 11.

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever called someone you care about?  Continued from last night. It was probably ‘bitch.’ Based on what I’ve learned from my mom, I put extra effort in particuarly watching what comes out of my mouth, because I know how words stick.

Do you think that things will get better?  I did, and now it has.

Have you ever legitimately saved a person’s life?  I think I may have. The story is a little triggering though, so I wouldn’t share it.

What’s your favourite book genre?  Doesn’t really count as a genre but I like auto/biographies.

Have you ever walked out of a movie at the theatre?  I’ve felt like it, but I’ve never done it.

Do dogs like you?  Yes, at least for 99.5% of my experiences.

Would you say that you project an air of authority?  In certain circles. But there are some groups where I trust others to lead rather than me.

Have you ever jumped off a high dive into a pool?  Nah, because I’ve never seen one. But even if I did, I think I would be too scared to do it hahaha.

Do you use one towel when you shower or two? (one for hair, one for body)  One. I use it to wash my entire body already.

Have you ever been to one of the great lakes?  No.

Who do you know that had a baby recently?  The son of one of my old college instructors. I believe she had been born in March because that prof recently posted family photos on Facebook that celebrated the baby’s first monthsary.

Do you like Usher’s songs?  Not in particular.

When was the last time you went to a waterpark?  Not a big fan of these as I find them unhygienic haha. The last time must have been...like anywhere between 12-15 years ago.

Have you ever ridden a train? Just once, and I had to go with Jum because I didn’t want to go alone.

What do you eat your French fries with?  Mayonnaise. If there isn’t any available, I’d want the fries to at least be generously sprinkled with salt; otherwise I’d find it too bland.

Do you have family problems?  Nothing blatant, but I know we are more dysfunctional than how we make it out to be.

What’s the last food you ate that was stale?  Pizza. I got two extra large boxes for my birthday last Wednesday and until now we still have some of it around :((( I ate some slices at around 3 AM earlier and they were tough as fuck to chew, hahaha. Still good, though.

How do you like your grilled cheese?  I don’t have grilled cheese sandwiches often. Surprise me.

What is the most challenging meal you have ever cooked?  I don’t cook.

What was your favorite thing to do as a little kid?  I liked watching my cousin play video games; playing outside; and answering my friends’ autograph books (aka my pre-survey days, lol).

Have you ever been close to drowning? Yup but just once. I was swimming and was just about to come up for air when one of my cousins, coming from the bottom of the pool, suddenly started to playfully pull me down. I was nearly out of breath by then and he had a much stronger grip on me, so I struggled for a while and ended up panicking and thrashing around a bit before I was able to wriggle myself free.

Have you ever had a panic attack?  It’s rare that it happens, but when it does it’s really bad and there’s no telling when it would subside.

Do you like doing housework?  Some, and only if I’m in the mood to. If I feel like I have to do it, then I get lazy.

Would you ever get implants?  I considered it before as a teen, back when small-chested girls were still bullied or made fun of on an everyday basis. How fucked up is that? I’m so relieved at how much social media has progressed.

Do you own a robe?  No.

Do you have a little sister? What’s her name? I have a younger sister but she’s barely a baby; she’s literally turning 21 this year. Nina.

Do you like crust on pizza or do you cut it off?  I like crust as long as it’s normal crust or stuffed crust. I can’t stand thin crust.

What was the last song you listened to?  Euphoria - credited to BTS, but it’s a Jungkook solo.

Have any of your family members been to jail?  Not blood relatives, but I know of super extended unrelated family members who’ve been to prison. Is there anyone that you feel you still need some closure with?  I don’t think so. Sometimes no closure is closure.

Can you remember when you first learned how to read?  I can’t, actually. All I remember is that I suddenly wanted to read everything by the time I was 5 and asked for nothing but storybooks every Christmas.

What event in your life has transformed your personality the most?  College. Gabie also had a very big influence on me during our relationship.

Have you ever had any teeth pulled?  Yes, but it was because it was already decayed.

Do you still want to be what you wanted to be in elementary school?  No, but I do elements of it in my work so that works out well for me. I wanted to be an author when I was in grade school, and today I regularly write various materials in my job.

What’re some TV shows that you would like to get into?  I just wanna get reconnected with The Crown again. I was already into it but I had to stop watching for a LONG time, because the show had some personal connections to my ex and so it seemed hard to get into the new season without breaking down lol. Now that I’m doing fine, I feel like it’s a good time to revisit the show.

How would you feel if you were drafted for the military?  Won’t happen here, but it’s the kind of situation where I wouldn’t really have a choice and would have to follow.

What is your favorite Queen song?  I don’t have any.

Do you know how to use any foreign currency? What do you mean, use...? Don’t you just use money to pay?? Hahaha or if you mean convert, then yeah I know how to do that with several currencies – US dollar, Korean won, Euro, Japanese yen, and whatever official name the pound has.

Been kissed by someone who you knew was “bad” for you?  Nope.

Ever taken an at-home pregnancy test?  I have not.

When was the last time you were at a loss of what to do?  I usually don’t have plans laid out on weekends these days anymore, so lately it’s all been a matter of winging it and just wanting to make sure that by the end of the day I get to say I made the most out of my free time.

What did you do on your favorite date with a guy/girl?  The time we did museum hopping + Italian dinner, or the one where we had French dinner + jazz bar.

What’s a movie you have seen in the theater more than once?  I never do rewatches for movies still in cinemas.

What is the reason you’re still alive?  I was stubborn and wanted to see if life would get better; I didn’t want to leave my dogs behind; I didn’t want to miss out on how potentially great and exciting my life could end up being; I didn’t want to cause and leave an even bigger emotional rift on my family.

I’m so happy I stayed.

Have you ever had sex in someone else’s bed/bedroom?  Yeah. Not the best decision, and I wouldn’t do it again lol.

Do you ever brush your hair before you go to bed?  Sometimes, so that it doesn’t look like a bird’s nest when I wake up the next day.

Have you ever had a dream about sleeping with a celebrity? (You don’t have to give details.)  I don’t think so. I have definitely imagined it in...other ways, though.

Has anyone ever told you that they needed you? Do you think they meant it?  Both in the superficial and loaded senses, yeah. 

How did you feel when you woke up today? What was the first thing you thought about?  I felt kind of like shit, just because I slept for only 1.5 hours – my body automatically wakes me up by a certain time, no matter what time I fell asleep. And also because my back and shoulder muscles were killing me with how sore they felt.

Do you still tell your parents that you love them?  I show it, but I don’t say it. I’m pretty stingy when it comes to that phrase.

Have you ever said “I love you” to someone you weren’t going out with?  Yes? It shouldn’t be limited to people you’re dating? I express it to Anj and Andi all the time.

Have you ever been threatened before?  Sure.

Would you date someone with a physical disability?  Yes.

Think of the last person you had sex with. Do you think they’ve slept with anyone else since they last slept with you?  Purely guessing, it’s likely. I’m not updated about her life anymore, though; life has been going on as if she never existed.

The last time you dyed your hair, what color did you dye it?  I’ve never had it dyed.

Think of the last time you went out to eat. Who paid?  I went out by myself, so I paid.

Do you save at least 15 percent of your income?  Yeah. I had a very good saving streak in which I was able to save anywhere around 50-60% every month...and thennnn I became a fan of BTS early this month LOOOOOL so now I’m back to like square three when it comes to my savings haha. Like I still know my limits and when to fucking stop taking out money from my bank account, but I’ve been spending dramatically more than I have been in the last few months.

Do you ever go on Reddit? If so, what are some of your favorite subreddits?  I used to go much more regularly, to the point where it was a part of my daily routine. Now I go at least once a month. I usually check out the Ask Reddit (for anecdotes), Today I Learned (for trivia), and GMM subreddits. Sometimes I’ll get on the Squared Circle subreddit as well to be updated on wrestling.

Were you ever a flower girl or ring bearer in anyone’s wedding when you were little?  Many times as a flower girl, yeah.

Are your parents in good health?  Fortunately, yes.

Have you ever been a caregiver to a sick/disabled relative?  Nope.

Is there any type of medicine you can’t take? For what reason?  Not that I know of.

Do you have a favorite pair of pajamas? What do they look like?  I don’t have pajama sets since I find them too warm.

Do you have any interesting pillow cases?  Eh, I don’t think so.

If something on your body hurts, which part is it most likely to be?  Shoulder muscles or my lower back.

Are you more afraid of spiders or bees?  Bees.

Have you ever worn fake nails? If so, what did the last pair you wore look like?  No.

Is Russian or Native American history more interesting to you?  Native American.

[donewithcapitalistfrayers]

my translation of Hananya Vanda's 2016 article "This is How We Love Our Ethiopians" (i have added scarequotes around obviously ironic/satirical comments for clarity) 

The recent appointment of Ethiopian judges demonstrates the emergence of a new bureaucratic discourse ostensibly expressing change, but in fact it is the same lady in a changed robe. The bureaucracy maintains its relations with a thin layer of Ethiopians serving in it, but strives for repositioning in response to the determined wave of criticism from young Ethiopians The statement on the eve of Rosh Hashanah by Ayelet Shaked, the Minister of Justice, regarding the appointment of judges in a new way, is an excellent opportunity to talk about the relationship between the bureaucracy and Ethiopian olim. This statement is part of recent exciting changes for Ethiopians. This of course is not done in a vacuum; In the last decade, there has been a significant turning point among Ethiopians in The Land. They have returned to being a self-acting subject, from a long process of scientific objectification that they have undergone since the early 1980s. If desired, for them this decade is the Ethiopian Renaissance, and for their researchers–their downfall. Of course, they do not mean that they ceased to be the subjects of journalistic reporting or of doctoral dissertations inside and outside israel, but for the first time in this decade, the Ethiopian artists for the first time in their history turned their spotlight on what is now known as 'fringe anthropology'. In this sense, it's a real revolution. We have no intention here of referring to the anatomy of 'fringe anthropology', a fascinating world in itself, but to presenting some expressions from the new discourse created in the last decade and especially to the process of re-establishing relations between the bureaucracy and those who see themselves as "representatives of the Ethiopian" community. It is worth noting here that this re-establishment was done without the mediation of those previous "experts" for Ethiopians. This time, in this context, an opportunity was given for the emergence of new experts and consultants following a tripartite contract created between them and various "community representatives" and the bureaucracy. Anthropology Absorbs Aliyah The relationship between the bureaucracy that absorbs Aliyah and the Ethiopians in israel began in the early 1980s, with Aliyah from Ethiopia. Its formation was described in a chilling way by the anthropologist Esther Herzog, one favorable exception in the total academic darkness. Today, on the eve of the start of the fifth decade, this relationship is on its last legs but its anachronistic expressions persist. Until the previous decade, this hierarchical system has been maintained and renovated and today a thin layer of Ethiopians can be seen in the bureaucracy, whose language and course of action express the many-years-long process in which it was cast. The language of this system is certainly not novel, but an almost exact reproduction of relations that have already been successful in absorbing the so-called "Mizrahim." The same sociology absorbs aliyah was copied by a new generation of experts who emerged following the encounter with the Ethiopian olim. Even the discourse that surrounded the absorption remains intact, but one major difference can be found - the treatment of Ethiopians was based on "good intentions". As befits an anthropology-absorbing aliyah, the lingua franca of the absorption system, in order to interpret and explain the situation of Ethiopians in Israel, is based internally and externally on the difference between the background of Ethiopian olim and the 'receptive modern state' (from its perspective). The "cultural gap", "tradition versus modernity", "role model" and the developmental concept "from a remote village" or "shepherd" in Ethiopia to "something" in Israel, are used interchangeably as an important component of this international language, which of course aims to realize their "well-being". In the previous decade, fortunately, there has been a sharp, well-prepared and unapologetic criticism, especially in the face of the most prominent representatives of this system - the anthropologists. The ethnographic product of these is called "fringe anthropology" and the same thin layer of Ethiopians who serve in it are called "storytellers". This critique, of the variety of violent appearances of the bureaucracy, could be found on the YES [Young Ethiopian Students] blog which is no longer running. This language, which began with a small handful of Ethiopian students, has become widespread and popular. This critique did not remain a virtual text, even if well-worded, but was translated into deeds, hence its power. For instance, a distinction was made between Ethiopians who actually serve in the system or those who support the system from the outside and Ethiopians who see themselves as a "free public." This expression, which is apparently derived from Ethiopian politics, is expressed in a group calling itself the "Popular Front for the Liberation of Ethiopians from the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption." This group worked vigorously with the Ministry after identifying a problem. It turned out that tens of thousands of students of Ethiopian origin were not under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, but under the responsibility of a representative on its behalf who was from the Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption. The ministry he headed was responsible for defining new olim and yet, for no apparent reason, students of Ethiopian descent, even those born in The Land, were under its responsibility. In a successful action that included the defining of the problem and a number of short demonstrations by a handful of young men and women, a long-standing bureaucratic structure was abolished, which was an expression of a distinct category introduced in relation to Ethiopian olim. From Cute Ethiopians To Radicals For example, Ms. Amy Palmor, director general of the Department of Justice, recently stated that the "most radical group in the community" was involved in compiling the report against racism . Palmor is referring to the members of the "Joint Forum for Combating Racism." Despite the beautiful name, this group expresses the confusion that exists among young people who are full of good intentions, but who have a problem understanding the forces at work. Defining them as "radicals" is a bit puzzling. First, what radical group could cooperate with the authorities, who see racism as only a particular phenomenon for Ethiopians? Suppose there is a connection between racism and police actions - are there no laws in Israel to treat abusive police officers? And the main thing - what is so radical about cooperating with the authorities when they will eventually compile a report whose whole essence is to create more monitoring and control mechanisms for the Ethiopians? The radicalism of this group is also reflected in the strange demand to integrate the stories of the aliyah of Ethiopians into the "Zionist rescue ethos" narrative. This phrase has indeed appeared a lot on the YES blog, but unfortunately these young people use it in a foul way that negates the original critique. This group is one expression out of the margins for collaborating with the authorities, but now they want to have a new relation with the bureaucracy in pseudo-critical packaging (here it is worth mentioning that they are a bit reminiscent of the new Mizrahi movement "Golden Turn - now our turn "). In any case, the use that Palmor makes of the group and its labeling as "radical" stems not only from a desire to obtain a seal of approval for the realization of the report but also for the purpose of re-establishing relations with these "radicals" in response to the new criticism that has emerged. From A Remote Village To A Judge: The latest announcement regarding the appointment of judges is but another manifestation of the same phenomenon: the preservation of the relationship between the bureaucracy and the thin layer of Ethiopians who serve in it. This appointment and the announcements on it fit the well-publicized wave of "good news" following a protest by Ethiopians: an outstanding Ethiopian officer who rose to greatness, who even participated in an Israeli rescue mission in a natural disaster that befell Third World residents; A beauty queen who met Obama; The first Ethiopian officer in the Israel Police; And recently, we were even informed of one Ethiopian [IOF] officer who rose to greatness and became deputy station commander. The "dazzling" news of Rosh Hashanah Eve are two judges - as usual, this was accompanied by an assertive statement, which was repeated in all the [zionist] media. This time it is Ms. Haimovich and Ms. Gerdy. Apparently to avoid doubts, a headline appeared in the article, accompanied by a picture for illustration, with a statement: "I, who was born in a remote village, was privileged to be a judge in Israel." It turns out that Ms. Haimovich is not a girl from a remote village in western Poland, but from the remote villages of Ethiopia. "A remote village," as mentioned, is a common currency in the miraculous relationship that exists between the bureaucracy that absorbs immigration and that thin layer of Ethiopians, who even when they become Haimovich, the sense of remoteness is not released from them. For those unfamiliar with Ethiopian affairs, Haimovich was among the "representatives of the community," who, following the 2015 Ethiopian protest [aka Black Lives Matter uprising in '48], organized an injera meal as part of reconciliation efforts between the Israel Police and "community representatives." Reconciliation, in the language of bureaucracy, is nothing but a cultural product embodied in a rite of passage that ends with eating the food of the "other," just as the food of the "other" is an immediate target of the racist's mockery. The reconciliation meeting took place even though those “leaders” are not really leaders but self-appointed despite having nothing and a half to do with the protesting public. The search for leaders is another expression, like eating, of how the system perceives Ethiopians. In the end, Ms. Haimovich was among the same "leadership" that awarded a certificate of appreciation to the police commissioner, on the very day it was announced that the policemen who attacked the Ethiopian soldier who ignited the 2015 protest would not stand trial. Finally, in a rather symbolic way, Ms. Haimovich is photographed against the background of the National Insurance Institute, a governmental institution that expresses real violence against many israeli subjects in general and Ethiopians in particular. Despite this, there is room for optimism, even if cautious, regarding Ethiopians in israel. The language of bureaucracy is no longer foreign to them.