#an offense under the Environmental Protection Act.

[coochiequeens]

I've been posting regularly since the start of Covid. And I still wasn't prepared to start my day reading this headline.

By Shay Woulahan December 20, 2023

A trans-identified male has appeared in court after being accused of dumping soiled adult diapers outside a children’s nursery and stealing clinical waste bags. Abbi Taylor, born Martin Tarling, was also accused of hiding in a public bin with soiled diapers, smearing excrement on children’s milk bottles and removing items from a waste receptacle outside a nursery.

Taylor, 47, has been charged with 9 counts related to incidents that occurred between October 2022 and November 2023. The charges include four counts of dumping bags of toxic materials, namely diapers containing human waste, at nurseries in South Tyneside, an offense under the Environmental Protection Act.

Taylor also faces a charge of outraging public decency stemming from his entering a waste bin containing the feces of children.

At the time of the incidents, Taylor was under a criminal behavior order imposed by the Nottinghamshire Magistrates’ Court prohibiting him from being within 10 meters of a nursery without reasonable excuse, suggesting he had been caught conducting similar activity in the past.

Although court listings used the name Martin Tarling, the Chair of the Bench, John Lee, asked Taylor if he preferred to be addressed by his “feminine” name and the defendant agreed. Taylor didn’t enter into a plea at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court and will appear in court again on January 16.

Though he attended his hearing at the South Tyneside Magistrates Court donning a full beard, Taylor was later described in the media as a “transgender woman.”

Reduxx has located a social media profile believed to belong to Taylor which features extremely disturbing content. On the account, which is registered in Taylor’s location of Newcastle upon Tyne, a number of sexual animations depicting women and girls in diapers have been posted. The profile photo for the account shows an animated little girl sucking on a pacifier with the words “baby girl” written on her t-shirt.

Under a section offering alternative names and nicknames, Taylor says he also likes to be known as Baby Abbs, Little Princess, and Baby Girl.

In his profile, Taylor describes himself as an “intersex female and an “ABDL little.” The acronym “ABDL” refers to the “Adult Baby Diaper Lifestyle” or “Adult Baby Diaper Lover” fetish, wherein adults are sexually aroused by acting or dressing as babies. The fetish is more formally known as paraphilic infantilism or “autonepiophilia.”

There is a noticeable overlap between men with autonepiophilia and men who identify as women, with a number of disturbing incidents involving gender confused males with diaper fetishes making headlines over the past year.

In April of 2022, a man from Helensburgh pleaded guilty to abusing two children by forcing them to entertain his fantasy of being a three-year-old girl named “Molly.” Stephen Cunningham repeatedly dressed up as a little girl in the presence of the two victims, including wearing adult diapers and providing the victims with pacifiers and baby bottles. He would shout offensive remarks at the children, and told one of the children he was an “adult baby.”

Cunningham also offered diapers for the minors to wear and sent them text messages describing his experiences of dressing up as “Molly.” He would also make references to standing in front of the child in a soiled diaper, asking them to buy him new ones.

Shortly after, a man in Swindon was sentenced to a 24-month community order after exposing himself to multiple teen girls. Andrew Keen, 41, was active in online sissy and crossdressing communities and posted YouTube videos of himself dressing in women’s clothing. Though he scrubbed his social media shortly after his arrest, Keen frequently interacted with transgender pornography and age regression accounts — including those pertaining to the “ABDL” community.

Earlier this year, Reduxx exclusively revealed that the transgender criminal whose pioneering legal case paved the way for violent males to be transferred into women’s prisons in the American state of New Jersey was a diaper fetishist.

Danielle Demers, who was convicted following an investigation by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, proudly declares himself an “adult baby” and frequently interacts with other members of the fetishistic subculture online.

[beardedmrbean]

German officials attempted to start a criminal investigation into a Gab social media user who allegedly called a left-wing female politician “fat,” but the platform refused to comply with the German authorities’ invasive demands to uncover the person’s identity, the platform told Fox News Digital.  

The Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt-BKA) contacted Gab about a user insulting the weight of politician Ricarda Lang, a prominent leader of an environmental party in Germany. It requested information that would identify who the individual was, under the suspicion they resided in Germany, so that they can continue their criminal investigation. 

Torba called Germany’s request “one of the more ridiculous foreign data requests that Gab received… [T]hey wanted us to dox a user for calling a female politician fat.” 

Gab’s official response was to inform the German government they should “get bent,” the CEO, Andrew Torba, told Fox News Digital.

“We stand firmly by our commitment to free speech principles and will not compromise the privacy or civil liberties of our users. We categorically reject any requests from governments, including the German government, that seek to stifle free speech or violate the privacy rights of our users for speech which is protected by US law. In this instance, we will not be providing any user data related to the alleged offense against a German politician. Accordingly: you can get bent,” Gab said. 

Germany has become the hate speech police, having some of the strictest laws in the world concerning social media posts. The agenda was accelerated after The Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG) was signed into law in 2017. It requires social media companies to promptly remove illegal content, including hate speech, defamation, and incitement to violence. 

“In this particular case the Gab user “[redacted]” published two posts that sexualize the German politican ‘Ricarda Lang’ and denigrate her weight,” the BKA allegedly said in its formal request to Gab. 

German authorities requested the person’s cell phone, email, IP address, payment method, past and present usernames, full name, date of birth, postal address, and personal ID documents and so on.  

Germany alleged the post attacking the politician’s weight and posting a graphic meme was a violation of its laws on insults. 

Section 185 of the German Criminal Code covers derogatory opinions, defamatory remarks, or expressions that show disrespect or contempt. This can include verbal abuse or statements that degrade someone’s worth. 

“The penalty for insult is imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or a fine and, if the insult is committed publicly,” the law said.  __________________________

Germany continues to be Germany

[mariacallous]

LONDON (AP) — For holding a sign outside a courthouse reminding jurors of their right to acquit defendants, a retiree faces up to two years in prison. For hanging a banner reading “Just Stop Oil” off a bridge, an engineer got a three-year prison sentence. Just for walking slowly down the street, scores of people have been arrested.

They are among hundreds of environmental activists arrested for peaceful demonstrations in the U.K., where tough new laws restrict the right to protest.

The Conservative government says the laws prevent extremist activists from hurting the economy and disrupting daily life. Critics say civil rights are being eroded without enough scrutiny from lawmakers or protection by the courts. They say the sweeping arrests of peaceful demonstrators, along with government officials labeling environmental activists extremists, mark a worrying departure for a liberal democracy.

“Legitimate protest is part of what makes any country a safe and civilized place to live,” said Jonathon Porritt, an ecologist and former director of Friends of the Earth, who joined a vigil outside London’s Central Criminal Court to protest the treatment of demonstrators.

“The government has made its intent very clear, which is basically to suppress what is legitimate, lawful protest and to use every conceivable mechanism at their disposal to do that.”

A PATCHWORK DEMOCRACY

Britain is one of the world’s oldest democracies, home of the Magna Carta, a centuries-old Parliament and an independent judiciary. That democratic system is underpinned by an “unwritten constitution” — a set of laws, rules, conventions and judicial decisions accumulated over hundreds of years.

The effect of that patchwork is “we rely on self-restraint by governments,” said Andrew Blick, author of “Democratic Turbulence in the United Kingdom” and a political scientist at King’s College London. “You hope the people in power are going to behave themselves.”

But what if they don’t? During three turbulent and scandal-tarnished years in office, Boris Johnson pushed prime ministerial power to the limits. More recently, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has asked Parliament to overrule the U.K. Supreme Court, which blocked a plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda.

Such actions have piled pressure on Britain’s democratic foundations. Critics say cracks have appeared.

As former Conservative justice minister David Lidington put it: “The ‘good chap’ theory of checks and balances has now been tested to destruction.”

GOVERNMENT TAKES AIM AT PROTESTERS

The canaries in the coal mine of the right to protest are environmental activists who have blocked roads and bridges, glued themselves to trains, splattered artworks with paint, sprayed buildings with fake blood, doused athletes in orange powder and more to draw attention to the threats posed by climate change.

The protesters, from groups such as Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil and Insulate Britain, argue that civil disobedience is justified by a climate emergency that threatens humanity’s future.

Sunak has called the protesters “selfish” and “ideological zealots,” and the British government has responded to the disruption with laws constraining the right to peaceful protest. Legal changes made in 2022 created a statutory offense of “public nuisance,” punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and gave police more powers to restrict protests judged to be disruptive.

It was followed by the 2023 Public Order Act, which broadened the definition of “serious disruption,” allowing police to search demonstrators for items including locks and glue. It imposes penalties of up to 12 months in prison for protesters who block “key infrastructure,” defined widely to include roads and bridges.

The government said it was acting to “protect the law-abiding majority’s right to go about their daily lives.” But Parliament’s cross-party Joint Human Rights Committee warned that the changes would have “a chilling effect on the right to protest.”

Days after the new act took effect in May, six anti-monarchist activists were arrested before the coronation of King Charles III before they had so much as held up a “Not My King” placard. All were later released without charge.

In recent months the pace of protests and the scale of arrests has picked up, partly as a result of a legal tweak that criminalized slow walking, a tactic adopted by protesters to block traffic by marching at low speed along roads. Hundreds of Just Stop Oil activists have been detained by police within moments of starting to walk.

Some protesters have received prison sentences that have been called unduly punitive.

Structural engineer Morgan Trowland was one of two Just Stop Oil activists who scaled the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge over the River Thames near London in October 2022, forcing police to shut the highway below for 40 hours. He was sentenced to three years in prison for causing a public nuisance. Judge Shane Collery said the tough sentence was “both for the chaos you caused and to deter others from seeking to copy you.”

He was released early on Dec. 13, having spent a total of 14 months in custody.

Ian Fry, the United Nations’ rapporteur for climate change and human rights, wrote to the British government in August over the stiff sentences, calling the anti-protest law a “direct attack on the right to the freedom of peaceful assembly.” Michel Forst, the U.N. special rapporteur on environmental defenders, in October called the British laws “terrifying.”

The Conservative government has dismissed the criticism.

“Those who break the law should feel the full force of it,” Sunak said in response.

Even more worrying, some legal experts say, is the “justice lottery” facing arrested protesters. Half the environmentalists tried by juries have been acquitted after explaining their motivations, including nine women who smashed a bank’s windows with hammers and five activists who sprayed the Treasury with fake blood from a firehose.

But at some other trials, judges have banned defendants from mentioning climate change or their reasons for protesting. Several defendants who defied the orders have been jailed for contempt of court.

Tim Crosland, a former government lawyer turned environmental activist, said it’s “Kafkaesque if people are on trial and they’ve got a gag around their mouth.”

“That feels like something that happens in Russia or China, not here,” he said.

To highlight concern about such judges’ orders, retired social worker Trudi Warner sat outside Inner London Crown Court in March holding a sign reading “Jurors – You have an absolute right to acquit a defendant according to your conscience.” She was arrested and later informed by the solicitor-general that she would be prosecuted for contempt of court, which is punishable by up to two years in prison. Britain has strict contempt laws intended to protect jurors from interference.

Since then, hundreds more people have held similar signs outside courthouses to protest a charge they say undermines the foundations of trial by jury. Two dozen of the “Defend Our Juries” protesters have been interviewed by police, though so far no one apart from Warner has been charged.

Porritt said the aim is “to bring it to people’s attention that there is now this assault on the judicial process and on the rights of jurors to acquit according to their conscience.”

IS BREXIT TO BLAME?

Many legal and constitutional experts say the treatment of protesters is just one symptom of an increasingly reckless attitude toward Britain’s democratic structures that has been fueled by Brexit.

Britain’s 2016 referendum on whether to leave the European Union was won by a populist “leave” campaign that promised to restore Parliament’s – and by extension the public’s -- sovereignty and control over U.K. borders, money and laws.

The divorce brought to power Boris Johnson, who vowed to “get Brexit done,” but appeared unprepared for the complexities involved in unpicking decades of ties with the EU.

Johnson tested Britain’s unwritten constitution. When lawmakers blocked his attempts to leave the bloc without a divorce agreement, he suspended Parliament -- until the U.K. Supreme Court ruled that illegal. He later proposed breaking international law by reneging on the U.K.’s exit treaty with the EU.

He also became enmeshed in personal scandals – from murky funding for his vacations and home decoration to lockdown-breaking parties during the pandemic. He was finally ousted from office by his own fed-up lawmakers in 2022, and later found to have lied to Parliament.

“People were elevated to high office (by Brexit) who then behaved in ways which were difficult to reconcile with maintenance of a stable democracy,” said Blick, the King’s College professor.

The populist instinct, if not the personal extravagance, has continued under Johnson’s Conservative successors as prime minister. In November, the U.K. Supreme Court ruled that a plan by Sunak to send asylum-seekers on a one-way trip to Rwanda was unlawful because the country is not a safe place for refugees. The government has responded with a plan to pass a law declaring Rwanda safe, regardless of what the court says.

The bill, which is currently before Parliament, has caused consternation among legal experts. Former Solicitor-General Edward Garnier said “changing the law to declare Rwanda a safe haven is rather like a bill which says that Parliament has decided that all dogs are cats.”

But Blick says Britain’s unwritten constitution means that checks and balances are easier to override than in some other democracies.

“Nothing can actually be deemed clearly to be unconstitutional,” he said. “So there’s no real blockage (on political power) other than that’s where you come back to self-restraint.”

A DEMOCRATIC DEFICIT?

In Britain’s system, Parliament is meant to act as a bulwark against executive overreach. But in recent years, the government has given lawmakers less and less time to scrutinize legislation. Because the Conservative government has a large House of Commons majority, it can push bills through after perfunctory time for debate. Many laws are passed in skeleton form, with the detail filled in later through what’s known as secondary legislation, which does not receive the full parliamentary scrutiny given to a bill.

It increasingly falls to Parliament’s upper chamber, the House of Lords, to scrutinize and try to amend laws that the House of Commons has waved through. The Lords spent months this year trying to water down the anti-protest provisions in the Public Order Act. But ultimately the upper house can’t overrule the Commons. And as an unelected assortment of political appointees, a handful of judges and bishops and a smattering of hereditary nobles, it’s arguably not the height of 21st-century democracy.

“Of course the Lords is indefensible, but so is the Commons in its current form,” William Wallace, a Liberal Democrat member of the Lords, told a recent conference on Britain’s constitution. “The Commons has almost given up detailed scrutiny of government bills.”

Since Brexit, academics, politicians and others have been debating Britain’s democratic deficit in a series of meetings, conferences and reports. Proposed remedies include citizens’ assemblies, a new body to oversee the constitution and a higher bar for changing key laws. But none of that is on the immediate horizon — much less a written constitution.

The protesters, meanwhile, say they are fighting for democracy as well as the environment.

Sue Parfitt, an 81-year-old Anglican priest who has been arrested more times than she can remember as part of the group Christian Climate Action, has twice been acquitted of criminal charges. She, too, was interviewed by police after holding a sign outside court reminding jurors of their rights.

“It’s worth doing to keep the right to protest alive, quite apart from climate change,” she said.

“It would be difficult for me to get to prison at 81. But I’m prepared to go. … There is a sense in which going to prison is the ultimate statement you can make.”

[lakeerieplesiosaur]

Why Israel's Right to Self-Defense is Non-Negotiable

The narrative around Israel's actions, especially in contexts like Gaza/West Bank, often gets muddled with political rhetoric and explicit antisemitism, but let's clarify a fundamental truth: Israel is not commiting genocide, is engaging in decolonization, and is acting in justified self-defense. Here's why this stance is objectively correct:

Historical Context: Since its inception, Israel has faced existential threats. From the 1948 War of Independence to the ongoing threats from Hamas, Hezbollah, and other entities, Israel's history is marked by survival against odds. This context isn't just history; it's a daily reality for Israeli citizens. Even before the establishment of Israel, Jews living in the land of Israel faced frequent massacres and were the victims of attempted genocide. In general, religious minorities in the middle east, both historically and currently, face violent persecution, sexual violence and slavery, and genocide. Unsurprisingly, many Druze, Yezidis, and Zoroastrians live in Israel as well as it is one of the only safe places for them in the middle east.

Moral Imperative: The moral duty of any government is to protect its citizens. When faced with threats like tunnels designed for attacks, or rockets aimed at civilian centers, the moral choice is clear: defend your populace. Placing the lives of another country above the lives of your own citizens is suicidal empathy at its finest - instead of ensuring your citizens are safe, you ensure no one is safe. The safety of another populations citizens is in the hands of their government, and if their government cannot ensure this for them (as is the case with Hamas,) it is a sad reality for them but Israel cannot be held responsible for a neighboring country's attempt to put their citizens in harm's way to advance their genocidal agenda. The terroristic leadership of Palestine is responsible for all deaths that have resulted from their government's abdication of their duty to protect their citizens in their genocidal quest to erase Israel.

Economic and Social Impact: The constant state of alert, the need for bomb shelters, and the economic strain of defense spending highlight the cost of living under threat. Israel's proactive defense isn't just about military strategy but about ensuring a semblance of normalcy for its citizens. Israel has lost many people over the decades to these terrorist groups. So many children have grown up in bomb shelters. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been displaced by the fighting just recently, even more have lost their homes over the decades. The terrorist regimes have destroyed so many natural and historical wonders in the land of Israel; the north is currently burning due to the actions of the enemies of Israel who have no regard for the environmental impact of their near daily bombing of Israel.

Global Perspective: While critics might focus on Israel's actions by mischaracterizing them in the most antisemitic way possible to push their propagandazied delusions, they often ignore the broader geopolitical context where Israel stands alone in a region controlled by genocidal terrorist regimes, all of which are engaging in a multifront war on Iran's behalf to commit genocide against Israel, the Jews, and any who support them. Let us be clear: the goal of Israel's enemies is genocide. It is a joke to frame Israel's actions as genocidal when they are currently the victim of an ongoing genocide attempt. This isolation and their position as a target of genocide by several different coordinated terrorist groups necessitates a robust defensive and offensive response. There is no reason for Israel to have to play the games of these genocidal regimes that are not shy about their desire to erase Israel. They will not live in peace and will respect Israel's territory, so Israel is justified to enter the territory of these genocidal entities, eliminate the threat to its people, and impose order. These terrorist regimes need to be demilitarized. Israel is not the only benefactor from this: civilians in these areas benefit from the dissolution of their terroristic governments that enforce a low standard of living, sacrifice their citizens' lives in political stunts, and impose barbaric conditions such as Sharia law-based apartheid against women.

Humanitarian Efforts: The IDF takes humanitarian efforts beyond any other military. They warn civilians in advance of strikes and establish safe zones; they have clearly defined military targets and take as much care as possible to keep civilians away from them; they distribute food, water, medical care, and temporary housing at a rate far beyond what any military has ever done foe a civilian population in a modern or historical conflict. Palestinians who aid the IDF are granted Israeli citizenship. Israel aleeady supplied over half of Palestine's water and electricity free of charge prior to the war. This isn't widely publicized due to antisemitic misreporting in main stream media but reflects a nuanced approach to security and humanity, and shows that the IDF is in fact the most moral army. The casualty numbers from the Hamas ministry of health are notoriously inaccurate and have been caught falsifying numbers in numerous ways, but even using their numbers to civilian to combatant death ratio is one of the lowest EVER observed in modern warfare - it is around 1 combatant killed per 1.5 civilians (and is likely even lower than this due to inflated casualty numbers.) The UN puts the average civilian to combatant death ratio in modern wars at 1 combatant for 9 civilians.

In essence, Israel's right to defend itself isn't up for debate. It's a necessity born from reality, not rhetoric. Israel's stance isn't about aggression but survival, a principle that should resonate universally. Israel is not the aggressor in any of the regional conflicts it finds itself in and thus the burden of casualties is the sole fault of the aggressor (the Iranian axis of terror.)

[snickers-the-fluffy-boi]

Abusive Sexual Contact

Advocating Overthrow of Government

Aggravated Assault/Battery

Aggravated Identity Theft

Aggravated Sexual Abuse

Aiming a Laser Pointer at an Aircraft

Airplane Hijacking

Anti-racketeering

Antitrust

Armed Robbery

Arson

Assassination

Assault with a Deadly Weapon

Assaulting or Killing Federal Officer

Assisting or Instigating Escape

Attempt to commit Murder/Manslaughter

Bank Burglary

Bankruptcy Fraud/Embezzlement

Bank Larceny

Bank Robbery

Blackmail

Bombing Matters

Bond Default

Breaking and/or Entering Carrier Facilities

Bribery Crimes

Certification of Checks (Fraud)

Child Abuse

Child Exploitation

Child Pornography

Civil Action to Restrain Harassment of a Victim or Witness

Coercion

Commodities Price Fixing

Computer Crime

Concealing Escaped Prisoner

Concealing Person from Arrest

Concealment of Assets

Conspiracy (in matters under FBI jurisdiction)

Conspiracy to Impede or Injure an Officer

Contempt of Court

Continuing Criminal Enterprise

Conveying False Information

Copyright Matters

Counterfeiting

Counterintelligence Crimes

Credit/Debit Card Fraud

Crime Aboard Aircraft

Crimes on Government Reservations

Crimes on Indian Reservations

Criminal Contempt of Court

Criminal Forfeiture

Criminal Infringement of a Copyright

Cyber Crimes

Damage to Religious Property

Delivery to Consignee

Demands Against the U.S.

Destruction of Aircraft or Motor Vehicles Used in Foreign Commerce

Destruction of an Energy Facility

Destruction of Property to Prevent Seizure

Destruction of Records in Federal Investigations and Bankruptcy

Destruction of Corporate Audit Records

Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials

Detention of Armed Vessel

Disclosure of Confidential Information

Domestic Security

Domestic Terrorism

Domestic Violence

Drive-by Shooting

Drug Abuse Violations

Drug Smuggling

Drug Trafficking

DUI/DWI on Federal Property

Economic Espionage

Election Law Crimes

Embezzlement

Embezzlement Against Estate

Entering Train to Commit Crime

Enlistment to Serve Against the U.S.

Environmental Scheme Crimes

Escaping Custody/Escaped Federal Prisoners

Examiner Performing Other Services

Exportation of Drugs

Extortion

Failure to Appear on Felony Offense

Failure to Pay Legal Child Support Obligations

False Bail

False Pretenses

False Statements Relating to Health Care Matters

Falsely Claiming Citizenship

False Declarations before Grand Jury or Court

False Entries in Records of Interstate Carriers

False Information and Hoaxes

False Statement to Obtain Unemployment Compensation

Federal Aviation Act

Federal Civil Rights Violations (hate crimes, police misconduct)

Female Genital Mutilation

Financial Transactions with Foreign Government

First Degree Murder

Flight to Avoid Prosecution or Giving Testimony

Forced Labor

Forcible Rape

Forgery

Fraud Activity in Connection with Electronic Mail

Fraud Against the Government

Genocide

Hacking Crimes

Harboring Terrorists

Harming Animals Used in Law Enforcement

Hate Crime Acts

Homicide

Hostage Taking

Identity Theft

Illegal Possession of Firearms

Immigration Offenses

Impersonator Making Arrest or Search

Importation of Drugs

Influencing Juror by Writing

Injuring Officer

Insider Trading Crimes

Insurance Fraud

Interference with the Operation of a Satellite

International Parental Kidnapping

International Terrorism

Interstate Domestic Violence

Interstate Violation of Protection Order

Larceny

Lobbying with Appropriated Moneys

Mailing Threatening Communications

Major Fraud Against the U.S.

Manslaughter

Medical/Health Care Fraud

Missile Systems Designed to Destroy Aircraft

Misuse of Passport

Misuse of Visas, Permits, or Other Documents

Molestation

Money Laundering

Motor Vehicle Theft

Murder by a Federal Prisoner

Murder Committed During Drug-related Drive-by shooting

Murder Committed in Federal Government Facility

Narcotics Violations

Obstructing Examination of Financial Institution

Obstruction of Court Orders

Obstruction of Federal audit

Obstruction of Justice

Obstruction of Criminal Investigations

Officer Failing to Make Reports

Partial Birth Abortion

Penalties for Neglect or Refusal to Answer Subpoena

Peonage

Perjury

Picketing or Parading

Pirating

Possession by Restricted Persons

Possession of False Papers to Defraud the U.S.

Possession of Narcotics

Possession of Child Pornography

Private Correspondence with Foreign Government

Probation Violation

Product Tampering

Prohibition of Illegal Gambling Businesses

Prostitution

Protection of Foreign Officials

Public Corruption Crimes

Racketeering

Radiological Dispersal Devices

Ransom Money

Rape

Receiving the Proceeds of Extortion

Recording or Listening to Grand or Petit Juries While Deliberating

Reentry of an Alien Removed on National Security Grounds

Registration of Certain Organizations

Reproduction of Citizenship Papers

Resistance to Extradition Agent

Rescue of Seized Property

Retaliating Against a Federal Judge by False Claim or Slander of Title

Retaliating Against a Witness, Victim, or an Informant

Robbery

Robberies and Burglaries Involving Controlled Substances

Sabotage

Sale of Citizenship Papers

Sale of Stolen Vehicles

Searches Without Warrant

Second Degree Murder

Serial Murders

Sexual Abuse

Sexual Abuse of a Minor

Sexual Assault

Sexual Battery

Sexual Conduct with a Minor

Sexual Exploitation

Sex Trafficking

Shoplifting

Smuggling

Solicitation to Commit a Crime of Violence

Stalking (In Violation of Restraining Order)

Stolen Property; Buying, Receiving, or Possessing

Subornation of Perjury

Suits Against Government Officials

Tampering with a Witness, Victim, or Informant

Tampering with Consumer Products

Tampering with Vessels

Theft of Trade Secrets

Torture

Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods or Services

Transmission of Wagering Information (Gambling)

Transportation into State Prohibiting Sale

Transportation of Slaves from U.S.

Transportation of Stolen Vehicles

Transportation of Terrorists

Trespassing

Treason

Unauthorized Removal of Classified Documents

Use of Fire or Explosives to Destroy Property

Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction

Vandalism

Video Voyeurism

Violation of Prohibitions Governing Atomic Weapons

Violence at International airports

Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Activity

Willful Wrecking of a Train Resulting in Death

Wire Fraud

That’s the list of all of my crimes

[ejesgistnews]

A video circulating online shows a Chinese national in Lagos tearing Nigerian Naira notes, believed to be N1000 denominations, in front of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) officials. The incident occurred on Wednesday outside a Chinese company located opposite Eko Kate along the Lekki-Epe Expressway. Read Also: How Police Authorities Tried To shield Officer Who Raped Minor, Quickly Punished Female Officer For Exposing Randy Officer (Video) In the viral footage, the Chinese citizen, dressed in only shorts, is seen pulling out the Naira notes from his pocket before tearing them in front of government officials. The video was shared by an X user, @dammiedammie35, who reported that the act was in response to the sealing of the company, allegedly for violating local laws. [embed]https://twitter.com/i/status/1856944759064887375[/embed] The netizen wrote, "Yesterday, at a Chinese company opposite Eko Kate along the Lekki-Epe expressway, this Chinese man, for reasons best known to him, tore Nigerian Naira notes in front of LASEPA officials after they sealed his premises for breaking certain laws. Pay Attention To: What is the Nigerian Coast Guard Bill as CSOs Advise NASS, Tinubu to Reject It? As the officials attempted to arrest the man for the Naira abuse, a group of individuals, believed to be workers of the sealed company, intervened. They defended the Chinese national, pushing away the LASEPA officials and attempting to disrupt the arrest. The witness who recorded the video can be heard shouting, "He tore Nigerian money. The Chinese man has disrespected Nigeria." In response to inquiries about the incident, Dele Ayewale, the spokesperson for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), confirmed he had heard of the incident but had not seen the video. SaharaReporters sent the video to Ayewale, who promised to follow up, but no further comment had been received by the time of publishing. This incident recalls previous cases of Naira mutilation. In May 2022, Li Lei Lei, a Chinese national, was sentenced to two years in prison for tearing Naira notes worth N3,200. He was convicted of tampering with Nigerian currency under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Establishment Act. The CBN has consistently warned against abusing the Naira. In May 2021, CBN official Dorothy Onyene reminded Nigerians that tampering with the Naira is a punishable offense, subject to a fine or imprisonment. She urged the public to handle the currency with respect to avoid legal consequences. The government’s commitment to curbing Naira abuse was further demonstrated in April 2024 when Nigerian crossdresser Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison for mutilating Naira notes worth N490,000. Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, condemned such acts, warning that the practice damages the country's image and must stop. This latest incident serves as a reminder that tampering with the Naira remains a serious offense in Nigeria, with legal repercussions for offenders.

[vinodkaushikadvocate]

in Case of National Green Tribunal (NGT) , Bail is Possible ?

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is a specialized judicial body in India that handles cases related to environmental protection and conservation. In general, bail is a legal provision that allows an individual who has been arrested or detained to be released from custody until their trial or court appearance.

Whether bail is possible in a case before the NGT depends on the specific circumstances of the case and the applicable laws. The NGT Act, 2010, empowers the NGT to exercise the same powers as a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, including the power to grant interim relief.

If an individual is arrested or detained in connection with an environmental violation or case before the NGT, they may seek bail through appropriate legal channels. The decision to grant bail would depend on factors such as the nature of the offense, the severity of the alleged violation, the likelihood of the individual fleeing or tampering with evidence, and other relevant considerations.

It's important to note that environmental offenses can vary widely in their nature and severity, ranging from minor infractions to serious violations with significant environmental consequences. In cases where bail is sought, the court or tribunal would carefully consider all relevant factors before making a decision.

[thestoryofmymind99]

Europe Adopts Landmark Regulation to Govern Artificial Intelligence

New Regulation Aims to Protect Fundamental Rights and Boost Innovation

In a significant move, the European Union has adopted a groundbreaking regulation to govern the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within its member states. The regulation, which was agreed upon in negotiations with member states in December 2023, has been endorsed by the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) with an overwhelming majority. With 523 votes in favor, 46 against, and 49 abstentions, the regulation aims to protect fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of law, and environmental sustainability from high-risk AI applications.

At the same time, it seeks to foster innovation and establish Europe as a global leader in the field of AI.

Banned Applications

The new regulation introduces a ban on certain AI applications that pose a threat to citizens' rights. This includes the use of biometric categorization systems based on sensitive characteristics and the untargeted scraping of facial images from the internet or CCTV footage to create facial recognition databases. Additionally, the regulation prohibits the use of AI for emotion recognition in the workplace and schools, social scoring, predictive policing solely based on profiling or assessing characteristics, and AI that manipulates human behavior or exploits vulnerabilities.

Law Enforcement Exemptions

The use of biometric identification systems by law enforcement is generally prohibited under the regulation, except in specific situations that are exhaustively listed and narrowly defined. The deployment of real-time biometric identification systems can only occur if strict safeguards are met, such as limited use in time and geographic scope, and subject to specific prior judicial or administrative authorization. Post-facto use of such systems, known as post-remote biometric identification, is considered a high-risk use case and requires judicial authorization linked to a criminal offense.

Obligations for High-Risk Systems

The regulation also imposes clear obligations on high-risk AI systems, which have the potential to cause significant harm to health, safety, fundamental rights, the environment, democracy, and the rule of law. Examples of high-risk AI uses include critical infrastructure, education and vocational training, employment, essential private and public services, law enforcement, migration and border management, and justice and democratic processes. Such systems must assess and reduce risks, maintain use logs, ensure transparency and accuracy, and provide human oversight.

Citizens will have the right to submit complaints about AI systems and receive explanations regarding decisions made by high-risk AI systems that affect their rights.

Transparency Requirements

The regulation also introduces transparency requirements for general-purpose AI systems and the models they are based on. These requirements include compliance with EU copyright law and the publication of detailed summaries of the content used for training. More powerful general-purpose AI models that could pose systemic risks will be subject to additional requirements, such as model evaluations, assessment and mitigation of systemic risks, and reporting on incidents.

Furthermore, the regulation mandates that artificial or manipulated images, audio, or video content, commonly known as "deepfakes," must be clearly labeled as such.

Measures to Support Innovation and SMEs

To support innovation and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the regulation calls for the establishment of regulatory sandboxes and real-world testing at the national level. These initiatives aim to provide a platform for the development and training of innovative AI technologies before they are placed on the market, making them accessible to SMEs and start-ups.

The adoption of the EU's Artificial Intelligence Act marks a significant milestone in the regulation of AI technologies. By addressing citizens' proposals from the Conference on the Future of Europe, the regulation aligns AI development with fundamental values and safeguards. However, the journey does not end with the AI Act itself.

The implementation of this law will require further work and a rethinking of various aspects of our societies, including education, labor markets, and warfare. The EU's commitment to putting human beings and European values at the center of AI's development sets the stage for a new model of governance built around technology.

[libbylayla1984]

Europe Adopts Groundbreaking Regulation to Govern Artificial Intelligence

The Artificial Intelligence Act aims to protect fundamental rights and establish Europe as a leader in AI technology.

In a landmark decision, the European Union has adopted the world's first binding law on artificial intelligence (AI). The regulation, known as the Artificial Intelligence Act, was endorsed by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) with an overwhelming majority. This groundbreaking legislation aims to safeguard fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of law, and environmental sustainability from the potential risks posed by high-risk AI systems.

At the same time, it seeks to foster innovation and position Europe as a frontrunner in the field of AI technology.

The new regulation establishes clear obligations for AI systems based on their potential risks and level of impact. It also includes a comprehensive list of banned AI applications that threaten citizens' rights. Additionally, the law provides provisions for law enforcement exemptions, transparency requirements, and measures to support innovation and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Banned Applications

The Artificial Intelligence Act prohibits certain AI applications that pose a threat to citizens' rights. These include the use of biometric categorization systems based on sensitive characteristics and the untargeted scraping of facial images from the internet or CCTV footage to create facial recognition databases. The regulation also forbids the use of AI for emotion recognition in the workplace and schools, social scoring, predictive policing based solely on profiling or assessing characteristics, and AI that manipulates human behavior or exploits vulnerabilities.

Law Enforcement Exemptions

The use of biometric identification systems by law enforcement is generally prohibited under the Artificial Intelligence Act. However, there are narrowly defined situations in which the use of "real-time" biometric identification (RBI) systems is allowed, provided strict safeguards are met. These safeguards include limitations on the time and geographic scope of usage and the requirement for specific prior judicial or administrative authorization.

Post-facto use of RBI systems, known as "post-remote RBI," is considered a high-risk use case and requires judicial authorization linked to a criminal offense.

Obligations for High-Risk Systems

The regulation imposes clear obligations on high-risk AI systems due to their potential harm to health, safety, fundamental rights, environment, democracy, and the rule of law. Examples of high-risk AI applications include critical infrastructure, education and vocational training, employment, essential private and public services such as healthcare and banking, certain law enforcement systems, migration and border management, and justice and democratic processes. These systems must assess and mitigate risks, maintain use logs, ensure transparency and accuracy, and incorporate human oversight.

Citizens will also have the right to submit complaints about AI systems and receive explanations regarding decisions made by high-risk AI systems that affect their rights.

Transparency Requirements

The Artificial Intelligence Act introduces transparency requirements for general-purpose AI (GPAI) systems and the models they are based on. These requirements include compliance with EU copyright law and the publication of detailed summaries of the content used for training. More powerful GPAI models that could pose systemic risks will face additional obligations, including model evaluations, assessment and mitigation of systemic risks, and reporting on incidents.

The regulation also mandates clear labeling of artificial or manipulated images, audio, or video content, commonly known as "deepfakes."

Measures to Support Innovation and SMEs

To foster innovation and support small businesses, the Artificial Intelligence Act calls for the establishment of regulatory sandboxes and real-world testing at the national level. These initiatives will provide SMEs and start-ups with the opportunity to develop and train innovative AI systems before bringing them to market.

The adoption of the Artificial Intelligence Act marks a significant milestone in the regulation of AI technology. It reflects the European Union's commitment to protecting fundamental rights, fostering innovation, and ensuring the responsible and ethical use of AI. The law not only prohibits AI applications that threaten citizens' rights but also establishes clear obligations for high-risk AI systems.

By implementing this groundbreaking regulation, Europe aims to lead the way in AI governance and set an example for other regions around the world.

While the AI Act provides a solid foundation, there is still much work to be done in putting the law into practice. AI technology will continue to shape our societies, requiring us to rethink various aspects of our democracies, education models, labor markets, and even warfare. The European Union must now focus on effectively implementing the AI Act and addressing the broader implications of AI in our society.

[thxnews]

US Imposes Sanctions on Human Rights Violators

  Addressing Heinous Acts Worldwide

In a landmark move marking Human Rights Day and the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United States is intensifying its commitment to combatting human rights abuses globally. The Departments of State and Treasury have jointly imposed visa restrictions and sanctions on 37 individuals across 13 countries.  

Focus on Challenging Issues

Today's actions specifically target some of the most challenging and harmful forms of human rights abuses worldwide. These include conflict-related sexual violence, forced labor, and transnational repression, amplifying the U.S. stand against such atrocities.   Protecting Vulnerable Populations The sanctions aim to promote accountability for heinous acts, especially in environments with poor rule-of-law adherence. The focus is on supporting vulnerable and marginalized populations, including political dissidents, women, civil society leaders, activists, LGBTQI+ individuals, and environmental activists targeted by repressive governments.  

Combatting Gender-Based Violence

A significant portion of the designations today are directed at individuals responsible for gender-based violence and the repression of women and girls globally. This includes county commissioners and a governor in South Sudan, as well as Taliban leaders, connected to restricting access to secondary education for women.  

Confronting Iranian Human Rights Offenses

The Iranian regime remains a significant offender, both domestically and abroad. The U.S. has designated two Iranian intelligence officers involved in recruiting individuals to plot against regime opponents in the United States, further highlighting Iran's human rights abuses.  

Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act (UHRPA) Report and Xinjiang Sanctions

The UHRPA Report to Congress is issued, with the Treasury sanctioning two PRC government officials under UHRPA for their involvement in serious human rights abuses in Xinjiang. The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force adds three PRC entities to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List.  

Expanding Visa Restriction Policies

The U.S. is revising, expanding, and issuing visa restriction policies for Zimbabwe, Syria, and Uganda. This move aims to hold government officials and others accountable for their involvement in repression, human rights abuses, and other unacceptable acts.  

Condemning Sudanese Armed Forces and RSF

Earlier this week, the U.S. determined that members of the Sudanese Armed Forces and Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.  

UN Security Council Designations

Designations of criminal gang leaders in Haiti and armed group leaders in the DRC are reinforced by nominating these individuals for UN Security Council designations. This aligns with previous U.S. efforts to disrupt criminal activity in Haiti.  

Global Allies United

To reinforce the impact of today's designations, the U.S. is working in concert with allies like the United Kingdom and Canada. Each country is taking similar measures to deter human rights abuses globally.  

Sustained Commitment to Human Rights

The United States affirms its commitment to using all available tools to promote accountability, signaling strong support for human rights and fundamental freedoms. These actions are a testament to the enduring effort to uphold the international rules-based order.

Conclusion

In a historic move, the United States is taking decisive action against human rights abuses globally. The joint efforts of the Departments of State and Treasury, along with international allies, underscore the nation's commitment to accountability, human rights, and fundamental freedoms.   Sources: THX News & US Department of State. Read the full article

[advgyanindia]

Understanding Indian Kanoon: The Foundation of Justice in India

Introduction

Indian Kanoon, also known as the Indian legal system or Indian law, is the foundation of justice in India. It refers to the comprehensive set of laws, rules, and regulations that govern the country and ensures that justice is upheld for its citizens. Encompassing a rich and diverse legal history, Indian Kanoon has evolved over the centuries to adapt to the changing needs of society.

Historical Background

The roots of Indian Kanoon can be traced back to ancient times, where different kingdoms and regions had their distinct legal practices. However, a significant milestone in the development of Indian law was the establishment of the British East India Company's rule in the 18th century. The British brought with them their legal system, which was a blend of common law principles and local customs. Over time, this led to the codification of laws, most notably with the enactment of the Indian Penal Code, Indian Contract Act, and the Indian Evidence Act in the 19th century.

Structure of Indian Kanoon

Today, Indian Kanoon is a complex web of laws, regulations, and judicial precedents. The legal system is divided into multiple branches, with the Supreme Court of India at the apex, followed by High Courts in each state, and subordinate courts at the district level. Additionally, there are various specialized tribunals that handle specific matters like tax disputes, labor issues, and environmental cases.

Criminal and Civil Law

Indian Kanoon encompasses both criminal and civil laws. Criminal law deals with offenses against society, and punishments for crimes are specified under the Indian Penal Code. Civil law, on the other hand, deals with disputes between individuals, organizations, or the state. This includes matters related to property, contracts, family law, and more. The Code of Civil Procedure governs civil cases in India.

Role of the Judiciary

The judiciary plays a pivotal role in upholding justice under Indian Kanoon. The Supreme Court of India, as the highest judicial authority, ensures the uniform interpretation and application of laws across the country. High Courts and subordinate courts hear appeals and cases from their respective jurisdictions.

In recent times, the judiciary has taken significant steps to protect the fundamental rights of citizens and promote social justice. Public interest litigations (PILs) have been instrumental in addressing various social issues and holding the government accountable.

Challenges and Reforms

While Indian Kanoon has a strong foundation, it faces challenges such as a large backlog of cases, delays in justice delivery, and the need for modernization of laws to address emerging issues in a rapidly changing society. To address these challenges, efforts have been made to introduce alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, encourage e-filing of cases, and promote legal literacy among citizens.

Conclusion

Indian Kanoon is the backbone of justice in India, ensuring that the rights of citizens are protected, and disputes are resolved in a fair and impartial manner. With its rich historical legacy and continuous evolution, the Indian legal system remains a crucial pillar of the nation's democracy and social progress. As India moves forward, embracing technological advancements and promoting access to justice will be vital to strengthen the efficacy of Indian Kanoon in the years to come.

[firmusadvisoryltd]

Know the Process of Company Registration in Ghana

Ghana is rich with natural resources and this country has enormous tourism potential that attracts huge number of people from different part of the world. Due to the abundance of natural resources, a number of businesses try to come here and operate from Ghana. Before going ahead, they should know about the overall process of company registration in Ghana.   

Company registration is a critical process for any entrepreneur or investor before operating in Ghana. It is a legal requirement under the Companies Act 2019 (Act 992) that every business must register with the Registrar General's Department (RGD) to become a legal entity. In this blog, we will discuss the process of company registration in Ghana, its benefits, and the requirements for registration.

Process of Company Registration in Ghana

The company registration process in Ghana involves the following steps:

Choose a Business Name - The first step is to choose a unique business name that is not already registered with the RGD. The name must not be misleading or offensive and must not violate any existing trademarks or intellectual property rights.

Reserve the Business Name - Once a name has been chosen, it must be reserved with the RGD. The reservation can be made online or in person at any of the RGD offices across the country. The reservation is valid for 30 days, during which time the business owner must complete the registration process.

Complete the Registration Forms - The next step is to complete the necessary forms, including Form 3 (Application for Registration of Company) and Form 4 (Notice of Situation of Registered Office).

Pay the Registration Fee - A registration fee must be paid to the RGD before the registration can be processed. The fee varies depending on the registered company type and the authorized share capital amount.

Obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN) - Every registered company must have a TIN obtained from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). The TIN is used for tax purposes and is required for opening a bank account and other business transactions.

Register for Value-Added Tax (VAT) - If the company is engaged in taxable activities, it must register for VAT with the GRA.

Obtain Business Operating Permits - Depending on the type of business, additional permits and licenses may be required from other government agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drugs Authority, and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre.

Benefits of Company Registration in Ghana

There are several benefits of company registration in Ghana, including:

Legal Entity Status - A registered company becomes a separate legal entity, which means it can enter into contracts, sue and be sued, and own property in its name.

Limited Liability - A registered company enjoys limited liability, which means the shareholders are only liable for the company's debts to the extent of their shareholding.

Access to Funding - Registered companies can access various sources of funding, such as bank loans, venture capital, and equity financing.

Brand Protection - Registering a business name protects the brand and prevents others from using a similar name.

Credibility - Registered companies are perceived as more credible and professional, which can help attract customers, partners, and investors.

Requirements for Company Registration in Ghana

To register a company in Ghana, you have to meet the following requirements. 

At least two shareholders and two directors must be Ghanaian citizens or resident foreigners.

A registered office in Ghana, where all official communications and notices can be sent.

The minimum authorized share capital of GHS 5000.

A Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association outline the company's objectives, structure, and rules.

A company secretary must be a Ghanaian citizen or resident foreigner.

Company registration is crucial for any business that wants to operate in Ghana. The process is simple, and the benefits of registration far outweigh the costs. Registered companies enjoy limited liability, access to funding, brand protection, and increased credibility. So, if you are one of the aspirant entrepreneurs to open your business in Ghana then follow these steps to get your business registered in this country. 

Resource: https://firmusadvisoryghana.wordpress.com/2023/05/06/know-the-process-of-company-registration-in-ghana/

[emptyheadgamer]

For example, my state's definition for assault weapon as is currently in law is

Any semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol which expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is equipped at the time of the offense with a magazine which will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock.

anything with a threaded barrel regardless of what's attached, >20 magazine capacity, or has a folding stock.

Behold: super scary hyper dangerous assault weapons in virginia:

Ruger mini-14 Ranch rifle with a Folding stock

Glock 43 with a threaded barrel covered by a thread protector

Sig p320m18 with factory standard 21 round mag

Maverick 88 pump action shotgun with folding stock

Not assault weapons under virginia law, despite being machine guns (already illegal at the federal level due to the Hughes Amendment to the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986)

M2 browning

No >20 round magazine, no folding stock, no threaded barrel.

Glock 17, Illegally modified with a selector switch to make it full auto capable (anytime you hear about "that glizzy with the switch" this is what they mean)

Again, No >20 round magazine, no folding stock, no threaded barrel.

I'm not even necessarily opposed to some degree of gun control, I'm not one of those who thinks the Hughes amendment should be repealed. But those laws are so poorly written every single time that they not only make life harder for law abiding citizens, but they often just flat out fail in what they set out to do.

Its the same problem that goes on with women's health care, environmental regulation, and internet protection/censorship. Those writing the laws have no knowledge on the subject and refuse learn or listen to those who do.

I object to the term "assault weapon" because its poorly defined, intentionally chosen because it will be confused with "assault rifle" by non gun enthusiasts, and has inconsistent and arbitrary legal definitions across each state (and outside of US law its also just not a term that is used).

I object to calling civilian AR15's in the US assault rifles because that is a specific role of weapon within military applications (in the same vein as squad support weapon or designated marksman rifle) and filling that requires full auto capability.

how is anyone supposed to have any form of meaningful communication about anything if even the basic meanings of words just get ignored.

[fatehbaz]

Genuinely asking, but that thing with the laws in Texas about felony for blocking access to a hospital or emergency vehicle with its lights on is a felony that sounds like reasonable? Unless the idea is that a cop car with its lights on is an "emergency vehicle"? But blocking an ambulance with its lights on should absolutely be punished

Well, I don’t think anyone ought to be imprisoned by the state -- especially in the US where slave labor is legal, and especially in regions of the US where prisons are built atop slave plantations in extra-humid and hot environmental conditions, and especially since the US uses drug laws and felony convictions to deliberately target and disenfranchise multiple generations of non-white people -- and so I don't trust any legal maneuvering that allows the state to more-easily achieve felony convictions.

Does this complicate the situation and put me in kind of a weird moral predicament, if, for example, reactionary “Virus Truthers” or whatever are blocking access to hospitals? Sure. But the understanding in this case seems to be that Texas is really just targeting Black Lives Matter-type protestors.

Also, this is Texas. And not just Standard Texas, but Texas-in-Desperate-Defense mode under Abb*tt, violently convulsing and lashing-out in response to the perceived threat, however minor, of black/Latin communities reaching a critical mass point where they might potentially achieve even a meager amount of state-level power in the aftermath of Blue Georgia, etc.

Do you trust the State of Texas when it says it’s concerned for your safety?

(This discussion, by the way, is in response to early September 2021 news of the Texas legislature simultaneously passing the infamous abortion restrictions; funding for “the 1836 Project” to white-wash history materials and use state-affiliated offices to spread state-ordained propaganda; prevention of public school students from receiving credit for “civic engagement” activities; requiring professional sports teams to play the national anthem before games; punishing any city that cuts police budgets; etc.)

Texas, Florida, Alberta, etc., all clearly used the p@ndemic as cheap, shallow, and obvious cover to criminalize racial justice and anti-fossil-fuel protesting. In June 2020, Alberta passed the Critical Infrastructure Defense Act, which can be interpreted by courts to mean you can be charged $25,000 a day and held in jail for 6 months for, like, walking down a highway or gathering on the street with more than one other person. These US states also used the reactionary DC Capitol Hill event in January 2021 to re-direct concern-trolling back towards leftist-ish protesting.

In the aftermath of Blue Arizona and Blue Georgia and whatever, when those in power realized that gerrymandering alone might no longer be enough, and that social awareness might be swinging away from the full-on reactionary standards that the US is usually accustomed to, in merely 3 weeks in January 2021, 9 US states introduced 14 major anti-protesting bills, most of which used “protestors could block emergency vehicles” language to fear-monger. Nebraska’s bill would categorize a disruptive gathering of more than 2 people as a “riot”. Also, Nebraska could deny bail to anyone arrested at a “riot”. The version of this law in Nebraska, Mississippi, and Indiana would also punish anyone who “aided” the “riot”, which could include charging/imprisoning someone’s older sister, miles away, at home, for getting on social media to say something like “I support you guys!” The bills in Arizona and Kentucky would allow law enforcement to detain people without charge for 12 hours.

Now, a lot of this legal precedent and language had been practiced in state-level anti-protesting legislation from the past couple of years in South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Louisiana especially, states basically completely owned and operated by energy corporations, where the legislation was specifically designed to target Indigenous protestors and others who demonstrated against fossil fuel pipelines. The term "critical infrastructure" was used to designate railroads, corporate headquarters, pipeline peripheries, etc., as "essential" to public good/health or whatever. Therefore, it would become a felony with severe consequences and mandatory minimum sentencing if the operation of these facilities was disrupted.

In the January 2021 round of legislation, “obstructing traffic” could be considered a felony riot-related offense in the legislation in Oklahoma, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Rhode Island, Kentucky, and Mississippi.

In Oklahoma, Florida, and Mississippi, the legislation protects drivers who, when “fleeing a riot,” strike and kill protestors with their vehicles.

In April 2021, much fuss was rightfully made about how DeSantis signed into law one of the scariest anti-protesting pieces of legislation. And this is Florida, where 20 million people have to put up with this bullshit. The law provides immunity to drivers who strike/kill protestors “obstructing traffic”; makes “blocking a highway” a felony offense; and denies bail to anyone arrested at a protest until their first court appearance. It also created a new felony crime called “aggravated rioting”.

If you think this had anything to do with protecting emergency vehicle traffic flow, DeSantis made it pretty clear when announcing his decision at a press conference in April 2021, saying: “If you look at the breadth of this particular piece of legislation, it is the strongest anti-rioting, pro-law enforcement piece of legislation in the country.” And: “But I can tell you that case was bungled by the attorney general there in Minnesota. They didn’t handle it properly.” (Referring to BLM/Chauvin protests.) And: “We also saw around the country people toppling monuments of people like George Washington. This bill protects all monuments in Florida. You have no right to go in and take down monuments, we’re not going to let the mob win the day with that.”

Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Alberta, etc., don’t give a shit about “health” or “public safety”.

[rjzimmerman]

This surprise rule is not just offensive, but from my perspective, violates the Administrative Procedure Act. If I’m right, the Biden administration will be able to block this rule from taking effect through the courts.

Basically it means......all industrial sources of greenhouse gas emissions, i.e., air pollution, will be able to continue doing so, and cannot be regulated, excerpt for energy generation plants. So that stinking stuff from the oil refinery or the cement factory or the steel mill or the rendering plant.....can’t stop them.

Excerpt from this story from Politico:

In a surprise move, the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday will unveil a climate rule that will effectively prohibit the future regulation of greenhouse gases from any stationary industry other than power plants.

The rule comes just eight days before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, who has pledged a multitrillion-dollar initiative that would combat climate change by making sharp cuts in the United States' carbon dioxide pollution. The new regulation could hamstring much of that agenda, for example by prohibiting Biden's EPA from setting carbon limits on oil and gas wells or refineries.

The vehicle for the latest EPA action was also surprising: The agency included it in a long-planned Trump administration regulation that had originally been aimed at a much narrower target — easing greenhouse gas limits for coal plants that might be built in the future. It never sought public comment on the proposal to exempt a wide swath of industries from carbon restrictions.

Environmentalists quickly condemned the rule — first reported by POLITICO — as a parting gift to polluters.

“EPA is perverting the Clean Air Act to ensure that no industry other than the power sector ever has to cut its climate pollution,” said David Doniger, senior strategic director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Climate & Clean Energy program.

“This unlawful rule is a transparent attempt to erect roadblocks to protecting public health and the environment for the new administration,” said Jay Duffy, an attorney for a group called the Clean Air Task Force.

The EPA did not respond to questions about the rule, including whether it complied with requirements to provide public notice and seek comment on rules.

Under the final rule being being published in Wednesday’s Federal Register, any stationary source whose industrywide greenhouse gas emissions make up less than 3 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas pollution will be deemed “necessarily insignificant without consideration of any other factors.” That means the source would not qualify for regulation under Section 111(b) of the Clean Air Act, the section that was the primary way the Obama administration regulated greenhouse gases from power plants and other sources.

The 3 percent threshold would appear to exclude every stationary greenhouse gas polluter in the U.S. aside from power plants, which the Obama administration made the subject of its major climate regulation in 2015. The rule does not apply to mobile sources like cars and trucks that are regulated under a separate part of the law.

Duffy noted that EPA never formally proposed any specific percentage threshold for regulation. This raises questions about whether the Trump administration violated laws requiring it to take public comment on rulemakings in its haste to finish the rule before Biden takes office.

[monstersdownthepath]

Spiritual Spotlight: Angazhan, the Ravenous King

Chaotic Evil Demon Lord of Apes, Tyrants, and Jungles

Domains: Animal, Chaos, Evil, Plant Subdomains: Decay, Demon, Fur, Growth

The Complete Book of the Damned, pg. 18~19

Obedience: Ingest hallucinogenic jungle plants and then beat a complex rhythm on a large drum made of human skin and bones while chanting prayers to Angazhan. Benefit: Gain a +4 profane bonus on saving throws against diseases and poisons caused by exposure to the jungle or inflicted by creatures native to jungles.

Heurgh, Angazhan has some pretty restrictive requirements here, and his Benefit really only works against a single environment, making Angazhan one of the most environmentally-locked deities since Dagon! It’s fitting, considering Angazhan is basically only worshiped in Darkest Africa the Mwangi Expanse, a massive and terrifying jungle he’s had his six-fingered hands buried deep into ever since humanity began settling the land. Since worship rarely ever leaves a jungle home, any player character wanting to serve the Ravenous King had better make sure they’ll be sticking close to the vine-draped homeland, or they’re just completely out of luck! Not just because they lose out on the benefit above, but because they lose out on a good number of Boons too!

anyway, it’s a difficult alignment to set up for and keep a secret, if you’re trying to hide your worship of the Tyrant King. You COULD pass off the drum as being made of animal tissues, but the loud chanting to a known and famous Demon Lord and the fact you’re likely to be seeing stars and colors due to your Hearty Breakfast is much harder to explain if someone kicks your door in. The fact you need both jungle drugs and a drum means this Obedience is utterly ruined if you get robbed or have your equipment stolen, though at the very least it’s easy enough to replace your belongings... if you’re in a jungle. If you’re not, getting a new drum is simple, but a visit to the black market may be necessary to restock on your Hearty Breakfast.

The benefit is notably weaker than other benefits of a similar theme; a few deities are generous enough to give universal protections from poison and disease, but Angazhan punishes you for going where he cannot tread. Fitting for a tyrant who likes having people under his thumb, but annoying for someone trying to actually extend his reach. In a jungle area, however, it’s MUCH more impressive than it looks in a vacuum; many, many, many, MANY horrors within the deep and mysterious tangles rely on poisons or disease to fell their enemies and their prey, so the added protection will always come in handy!

Boons are acquired slowly: the first once you reach 12 hit dice, the second at 16, and the third at 20. However, the Evangelist, Exalted, and Sentinel Prestige Classes can be entered as early as level 7; doing so grants you the Boons at levels 10, 13, and 16 instead. Servants of demons may also take the Demoniac Prestige Class; you don’t get the Boons any faster than E/E/S, but you may select which Boon set you get, and you get cool demon-related powers!

------- EVANGELIST -------

Boon 1: The Jungle Consumes. Gain Pass Without Trace 3/day, Tree Shape 2/day, or Spike Growth 1/day.

‘Consumes’ indeed; Spike Growth can render a frankly offensive amount of terrain completely inhospitable (ten 20ft squares!), shredding 1d4 HP off every creature trying to pass through a single 5ft square and threatening to halve their movement speed for a full day every time they take damage. As anyone who’s played as or fought against a Druid can attest to, Spike Growth is useful for exactly two things (slowing an enemy’s retreat or advance) but it’s amazing at doing so. The sheer amount of terrain the spell covers and the length of time it covers for (an hour per level) makes useful for stopping everything from a charging dragon to a charging army... provided your foe has less than 4 DR. In order to halve someone’s movespeed they need to actually take damage from the growth AND fail a Reflex save, meaning even the meager DR 5 you’re likely to encounter at levels 10+ is enough to make Spike Growth completely irrelevant.

If you can use it against a foe who’s not immune to it, though, it’s absolutely stellar. Moving through even a single 20ft square triggers four separate Reflex saves to avoid having one’s movespeed halved for a full day, and--as written--the halved speed can’t be undone with Fast Healing or Regeneration, the victim MUST find a Cure spell. Perhaps the biggest downside is that using it to its fullest potential--that is, to cripple a charging swarm of foes--is unlikely to happen, delegating it to crowd control versus a small amount of enemies.

It’s leagues better than the niche Tree Shape, but Pass Without Trace also has its merits, hiding up to 10 people from sniffing noses and prying eyes for half a day, letting you and your allies effortlessly vanish into the foliage. Indeed, all three of these spells are extremely useful in the jungle setting Angazhan demands you remain in, so if you ARE actually hiding around in the Mwangi Expanse, all three of these can be genuine picks depending on if you plan to be a trapper, a stalker, or a sentree that day.

Boon 2: Canopy Crawler. Your feet become prehensile and apelike, allowing them to act as a second pair of hands for every purpose except wielding a shield or weapon, such as to execute somatic components, to aid in climbing, to hold objects, and to maintain your Dexterity bonus to AC while climbing. In addition, you gain a climb speed equal to your walking speed +10, and can attempt a Climb check in place of the following checks: Acrobatics checks to swing or leap between branches and vines; Stealth checks to remain hidden within trees, and you can move at full speed through them without penalty; and Stealth checks to snipe from trees, the penalty for doing so reduced by 10. 

The way this ability is written in the book is kind of a mess, so I tried my best to shuffle it into a more easily digestible form.

Anyway: Freaky monkey feet! For all your freaky monkey feet needs! One of the more unique Boons in the game, and unlike most highly unique Boons, this one is still highly useful! While your handfeet can’t wield weapons or shields, you can use them for more or less anything else while your actual human hands are occupied. Sleight of Hand? No, my friend, I’m on a completely different level.

The big star here is the free climb speed, which automatically gives you a meaty +8 to Climb checks, making the various skill checks it replaces much, much easier to exploit. You become an expert of gorilla... guerrilla... Gorilla Guerrilla Warfare, soundlessly moving from tree to tree and hurling spears or firing arrows with nary a peep but for the whoosh of the weapon through the branches and leaves, moving from position to position as easily as playing hopscotch. Even if you never invested in Stealth at all, you can suddenly pour ranks into Climb and become an ersatz Rogue for the party, leading a silent charge against the foes of the Ravenous King’s cult. 

Side note, this ability combines beautifully with all 3 of the spell-likes from The Jungle Consumes, as your brachiating movements put you above Spike Growth, Pass Without Trace makes you utterly impossible to nonmagically track if you attack at night, and Tree Shape lets you become a horror movie villain that vanishes the instant it appears you’re about to be ‘caught.’

Boon 3: One With The Jungle. While in the jungle, you gain blindsight to a range of 60 feet, you gain a +2 insight bonus to AC and on saving throws, and you are never flat-footed or surprised. You ignore cover and concealment caused by natural features of the jungle, as the very plants and stones twist out of the path of your attacks and spells.

An eternal Diet Foresight if your reward for remaining in the Ravener King’s grip, but this ability--unlike Canopy Crawler--is entirely blank if you adventure outside of your god’s chosen locale, a punishing loss of an otherwise incredibly strong defensive ability. Being impossible to catch by surprise is good enough on its own, especially at levels where enemies can have Sneak Attacks exceeding +4d6, poisons that cause people to hemorrhage ability scores, or fatal grappling embraces, to say nothing of what happens if a spellcaster gets the drop on everyone. The +2 to AC and universal bonus to saving throws will struggle to make a difference, but it’s a rare insight bonus and will thus stack with all your existing bonuses... and, of course, it lasts forever so long as you remain in a jungle.

I enjoy that the jungle will shuffle aside to let you shoot and swat your enemies without penalty, making my ‘treetop sniper’ suggestion in Canopy Crawler even more viable. Now, as long as you can see even the smallest portion of your target, the natural world will bend and sway to avoid your blows so that they always strike true, letting you attack enemies without the possibility of them retaliating unless they begin cutting down the whole jungle... at which point they’ll have much bigger issues than just you.

------- EXALTED -------

Boon 1: Jungle’s Wrath. Entangle 3/day, Bull’s Strength 2/day, or Summon Monster III (1 fiendish ape, 1d3 fiendish advanced baboons, or 1d4+1 fiendish baboons) 1/day.

Bull’s Strength is always nice to have to give the beefy members of your party, giving them an extra +2 to attack and damage rolls for ten or so minutes at a time, among other bonuses. Strength bonuses are some of the most boring but practical things you can hand out, because you never know when you’ll just need to do something as simple as moving a large rock or hit something for 2 more points of damage than normal. Having it at twice a day means it’ll likely carry through the most important battles or puzzles you’ll face.

Entangle, however, tends to be the better option here. See everything I said above about Spike Growth? Paste that here, as well, but trade off the damage for the ability to grapple everything trying to move through the 40ft radius(!) of plantlife you’ve affected. In some ways it’s better than Spike Growth, utterly halting the movement of anyone heading through it if they fail their save rather than halving it, and being difficult terrain even if the victims succeed, which halves their speed anyway.

Seeing summoning abilities on a Boon is usually good, but the painful limitation of only being able to summon various demon apes means it severely lacks its normal Swiss Army application. It’s only really good if you need either a distraction, or something heavy moved, both of which could be accomplished with Entangle and Bull’s Strength without it being tied to a creature with subhuman intelligence. At the very least, apes have humanoid hands and can thus perform tasks very few other summoned creatures could do, such as wielding weapons.

Boon 2: Summon Child of Angazhan. 1/day as a swift action, you can summon an Advanced Fiendish Girallon, 1d3 Advanced Fiendish Dire Apes, or 1d4+1 Advanced Fiendish Apes as if you had cast Summon Monster VI.

In spite of my mockery of the Boon above, the ape restriction here is anything but painful. ... well, it’s painful for anyone who’s not you, mind. An Advanced Fiendish Girallon is a CR 8 monstrosity with enough damage output and resilience from the Fiendish template to punch above its weight class. A Girallon is a four-armed, Large-sized ape beast with five attacks (and Rend!) a round, with enough agility and maneuverability to run down fleeing foes or chase them through just about any terrain easily.

It’s also your best option among the summons; the Dire Apes and normal apes are nice, but the chance of summoning a single Dire Ape or a meager 2 fiend apes means a Girallon is the best go-to unless you need a lot of bodies rather than one large one. The Fiendish template is really what gives this ability the oomph it needs to shrug off most of my criticism of Jungle’s Wrath, granting even your normal apes a bit of Spell Resistance and elemental resistance to Fire and Acid... though, notable, both the normal ape and the Dire Ape have too few HD to gain the advanced benefits of the Fiendish template, and none of the creatures here have high enough Charisma to make the Smite Good ability granted to them useful, even with the +4 to all ability scores from Advanced.

Perhaps the biggest gold star this power has, however, is the fact that it can be used as a swift action. You can instantaneously flank an enemy with a murderous gorilla and then stab them in the back when they rightly turn around to look at said murderous gorilla in disbelief, or you can blast them with another spell, or you can do any number of other things with the distraction you’ve just created. Don’t forget that Summon Monster VI also has a range of Close, letting you hurl a demon gorilla at an enemy from 25+5ft/lvl away. The downside, however, is that SMVI also has a duration of a meager 1 round/lvl, meaning you’ll often run into the issue of saving the use of this ability, often until you no longer need it.

Boon 3: Jungle’s Might. You gain a +2 profane bonus to your Strength score and a +2 bonus on Fortitude saving throws.

Useful but boring. It’s moderately better than most stat-buffing Boons thanks to the additional Fortitude bonus, but final Boons typically give +4 bonuses, not +2. There’s no flash or pizazz here, nothing to really expand upon, so lets move on!

------- SENTINEL -------

Boon 1: Tyrant’s Roar. Gain Command 3/day, Sound Burst 2/day, or Suggestion 1/day.

I almost got mad because I mistook Sound Burst for a different, much worse spell. Nope! That was sonic scream or whatever, one I’m so unimpressed with I didn’t even bother looking it up. Sound Burst is significantly better, anyway, able to stun a small crowd of enemies in a single casting, which is exactly what you--as the Sentinel--want to happen. Either because you’re holding back an enemy(/ies) for your allies to get into place, or because you’re holding them still so you can get in close. The damage it deals is pitiful, but it’s automatic even if they succeed against the stun effect, and you never know when 8 damage to up to a crowd will make a difference!

Like most of Angazhan’s blessings, it gets better if you’re in a jungle, as the hostility of the Mwangi Expanse means invaders are likely to be clustered together as tightly as possible to prevent attacks from all angles. Punish them, hard.

Command is in-character for the Tyrant King, and it rewards creative uses beyond the ‘come,’ ‘stay,’ and ‘drop’ commands, though those serve their purpose well enough. I’m quite partial to KNEEL, which fits Angazhan rather well! The only problem is that its low saving throw scaling means it’s unlikely to affect enemies that matter, and in combat it’s often much better to just rush in and start slapping. Out of combat Suggestion is king, though it’s an odd choice for someone who tends to force people to follow his orders through violence and threats rather than relying on coercive and subtle magic. Personally, I’d let the Face of the party or the dedicated enchanter rely on Suggestion, and carry Sound Burst around for those times you need to explode people’s eardrums.

Boon 2: Reign of Terror. You add your Strength modifier to Intimidate checks (this does not stack with Intimidating Prowess or similar feats and abilities) as well as your Charisma modifier. Once per minute, you may use Intimidate to demoralize a single creature within 30ft as a swift action, or all creatures within 10ft as a move action. When using Intimidate to demoralize a creature in this way, if your result exceeds the DC by 5 or more, the creature is frightened for 1 round and then shaken for the normal duration; if your result exceeds the DC by 10 or more, the creature cowers for 1 round, then is frightened for 1 round, and then is shaken for the normal duration. When you use Intimidate to demoralize an ally, instead of being shaken, that creature gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls for the appropriate duration.

While normally Boons are built to be taken advantage of by any class within the margins of those who can enter the Prestige Classes in the first place, sometimes you get one that forces you into a specific path. This one highly, highly rewards having both a high Strength and a high (or at least neutral) Charisma, and focusing a feat or two into making your Intimidate as high as possible can see you sending squadrons of enemy combatants scattering and trampling one another to get away from you. I love, love, LOVE that there’s no per-day use restriction on this power, only that it can be used once per minute, meaning you can bring it out in more or less every fight you encounter.

Exceeding the victim’s Intimidation DC by 10 or more causes them to cower, a status affliction barely above paralysis in how terrible it is to be suffering, opening them up to a whole round of being beat on without any ability to retaliate. Even if they survive the round of helplessness, they’re forced to run from you and use whatever resources they have available to get as far away from you as possible... which can be a blessing or a curse depending on what they were carrying and how badly you wanted it.

Being able to Intimidate a single foe as a swift action or a whole crowd surrounding you as a move action is strong, especially if you can bolster your prowess enough to always score 10 higher than their DC (a challenge, but not an insurmountable one)... And even if your enemies are immune to being intimidated either because they’re mindless, starved, or immune to fear, you can use this ability to give your whole team +2 to attack rolls for 4+ rounds. It’s more of a consolation prize than anything else, but note that the final sentence does not say “in this way,” meaning you can use Intimidate normally without needing the 1/minute bolstering to give your allies a bit more accuracy! Wasteful, but viable!

Boon 3: Unchallenged Tyrant. When you perform your Obedience, designate a number of present and willing creatures equal to your Charisma modifier; these are your Thralls. This designation lasts for 24 hours or until you next perform your Obedience. 3/day, you can infuse all Thralls within 50 feet of you as a swift action, granting them a +4 bonus to their Strength and Constitution scores and a +2 bonus on initiative checks, and granting any teamwork feats you have as bonus feats *for an number of rounds equal to your hit dice. If a Thrall dies within 50 feet of you at any time, you gain the effects of Death Ward (CL = half the Thrall’s Hit Dice, to a maximum of CL 20th).

*this ability originally had no listed duration, making it quite awkward and insanely powerful. I’ve added one that makes sense.

Oh, not bad! Another reward for buffing up your Charisma! Even if it’s just to a +2 bonus! And it’s a fine one, too, letting you enchant your allies with a discounted Barbarian Rage, including a bonus to initiative checks to help them move before your enemies even know what’s happening! THREE TIMES a day!!! And--wait, wait, there’s more? You also transfer ALL your teamwork feats to your Thralls? Teamwork feats are pretty powerful but wholly rely on your allies being willing to give up their own feat slots for them, and they utterly fail to work if you aren’t working together or become separated by enemy shenanigans. This ability (along with the Inquisitor’s Solo Tactics) turns those empty feat slots into something truly game-changing due to applying them to all of your Thralls at once. This means that, even if you don’t or cannot join in the fight, they can still use teamwork with each other, and all you need is one of them to be nearby to make use of feats like Lookout (if one of you can act during the surprise round, all of you can), Precise Strikes (+1d6 damage if you’re flanking an enemy)... or, perhaps the most useful of them, Coordinated Charge, allowing you and your allies to all charge the same target.

It doesn’t take a genius to see why Coordinated Charge is one of the best you can use with this ability, as the +Strength and Con bonus means you can turn even the weakest member of the party into another source of damage however small. It also means all of your melee battlers can get into the fray immediately, and if used in combination with Lookout, it can turn an enemy ambush into a pile of severed limbs and broken armor before they even realize what they’re up against.

I also like that if any of your Thralls die, you get a free Death Ward. If you know you’re going up against a necromancer or an Undead with Energy Drain, making an incredibly weak but tasty-looking creature one of your Thralls and sending them in to die is one less spell slot your Divine caster needs to use on you. I’m amused by the idea of blessing one member of your Sack Of Rats and just crushing it in your hand if you ever need a ward. If you have the Charisma for it, definitely try it out!

You can enter Monkis World here.