#and i know that trump will try to get rid of it regardless of the results

[unicornlovers10]

To those of you that can vote in the election, please do. Please remember when Trump was POTUS and how much he has basically fucked all of us over. He'll fuck over so many people, mostly minorities. Trump doesn't give a shit about anyone but himself. If he wins, I'm not even sure if we'll still have a democracy in four years.

[contemplatingoutlander]

I wasn't expecting the third woman to be appointed as U.S. attorney general to be "Evil" Barbie

Why do so many Republican women in power choose to wear excessive makeup and/or bleach their hair blonde?

Is it that they fear they won't be heard by Republican men unless they also provide sufficient eye candy?

Regardless, it is irksome to me that the third woman to become the U.S. attorney general seems to not only be a Barbie, but to also be an "Evil" Barbie.

It is the "Evil" part that is most troubling, given that Bondi appears to be fully engaged in "weaponizing" the DOJ against Trump's "enemies"--including Trump's "enemies" within the DOJ.

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department has fired all of Jan. 6 special counsel Jack Smith’s staff and is working to “root out” anyone at the department and FBI who it believes doesn’t like President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi has confirmed.... in a Monday night [March 3, 2025] interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity. [...] "Everything is on the table, Sean,” Bondi told Hannity. “We're going to look at everything."  [...] “Well, first and foremost, we got rid of the Jack Smith team. Gone. Those people are gone,” Bondi said. “We're still trying to find … a lot of people in the FBI and also in the Department of Justice who despise Donald Trump, despise us, don't want to be there.” “You have to do the right thing and right now we're going to root them out,” Bondi said. [...] “We're starting at every level of the Justice Department, Sean, and getting rid of the worst of the worst. But there are a lot more people that shouldn't be there.” [...] “I know it's very early in your tenure. Are you at all shocked at how things were running before you got there?” Hannity asked Bondi. “Shocked. Yeah,” Bondi replied. “Kash and I, Patel, talk about this all the time. You know, we knew it was bad. We never knew how bad, and especially on the criminal side and on the people who were in” DOJ’s National Security Division, which focuses, in part, on foreign threats to the U.S. posed by Russia and other hostile nations. “Will we look into what they did?” Hannity asked Bondi. “Everything is being looked into,” Bondi said. “It sounds like a massive list,” Hannity replied. “It doesn't sound like you're going to be sleeping a lot in the next four years.” “None of us will,” Bondi replied. “But it's worth it. It's worth it to fight for the American people and to keep America safe.” [color emphasis added]

Bondi is a high powered attorney, so we know she isn't stupid. Therefore, it seems inexcusable that she is blatantly lying to the American people on national TV by calling DOJ employees "the worst of the worst" simply because they were doing their jobs investigating Trump's obvious crimes/ corruption. Bondi's claim that she is conducting this inquisition for the "American people"--rather than to implement Trump's plans for revenge or to purge government of anyone who won't go along with Trump's corrupt and often illegal orders, suggests that she is incredibly corrupt.

Given all of the above, "Evil" Barbie seems to be a fitting moniker for Bondi.

[edited]

__________________ Image sources (before edits): "Stereotypical" Barbie, "Weird" Barbie, "Evil" Barbie

[dark-lord-of-awesomeness]

What if he turned into a bear? If needed I can give information on them

No koalas are not bears

This would be one of the better ones, as now he's large enough to mostly take care of himself as long as he stays away from human heavy areas. Travels around trying to figure out what he's doing and stealing from trash cans to get food, and stumbles on Fords house in the woods, which bins are gnome proofed (for now) but not bear proof. Shrugs and starts going to town, just for Ford to burst out of his house screaming, becuase he thought it was gnomes again and is now face to face with a bear.

What kind of bear? Well black bears are native to Oregon, and mostly person sized. A brown bear is huge, not native to the area, but might have been pulled by the weirdness magnetism if its an anomaly. I don't know, regardless, you don't really want to be staring down a bear in your front yard and yelling at it then freezing in confusion.

But this is Stan, and Fords his bro! So he just freezes, looks at Ford, looks at the trash he's eating out of. Ford already know's he's been eating it, so he just starts eating faster. Ford, outraged, tries to shoo Stan off. This just makes him go even faster. Like a stand off between man and bear, where the bear just really wants to eat these thrown out leftovers! He's hungry! Stop waving the crossbow around!

When he's done he backs up, much to Ford relief, then makes his way very slowly towards Fords front door. He's going to get Ford to help him, even if he he has to live through Ford knowing he was eating trash. Every baby step gets a yell and a step back from Ford, until Fords inside slamming the door in his face, which, rude? Good thing he has these strong bear arms and knows how doors work. Just opens the door, pushes past Ford (not sure if this would end in him getting shot?) and makes himself at home on the couch of Fords study and takes a nap. He's tired, he's been walking around eating trash forever.

So now there's just a bear in Fords house. He does not want a bear in his house, even if its friendly (?) but he can't get rid of it. Nothing he does scares it, its too heavy to move, and when shrinks it, puts it outside, then regrows it and runs, it just finds its way back to his house and he finds it eating out of his fridge. He doesnt want this bear! The bear (stan) is making itself way to much at home! And messing with his pens! (bear paws are very big, very hard to write with)

Not sure how this would get resolved, but any Bill shenanigans can easily be trumped by bear laying on man.

[qqueenofhades]

I don’t understand. Why is not only the NYT but EVERYONE screaming in circles about Biden’s age? I mean I too would love a slightly younger president, but faced with Trump, I don’t understand how this is even a discussion. What can the motive possibly be?

First answer: Money. The corporate media is not your friend for many reasons, but especially because it will happily shill for open fascism, and sabotage Biden left and right, because the corporations and/or oligarchs who own the media (think how hard Elon has been trying to shill for Trump partly due to Biden's promised 25% billionaire tax) do not give a shit about American democracy. It's kind of nice in theory, maybe, but they do not give a shit as long as they get their tax breaks and "pro-business" legislation, which Trump has perforce promised to give them again. They are also not fans of Biden for other reasons, especially since he has been busy promoting unions, new labor laws, new industrial requirements/standards (even as fast as SCOTUS is trying to strip them away) and other things that interfere with the Reagonomics pursuit of the rich getting richer by any means necessary. Biden is the first US president since Reagan to openly call trickle-down economics bullshit, say that it doesn't work, and try to install a new economic model. Everyone who got rich under Reagonomics, therefore, has incentive to get rid of him.

First-continued, the money element also extends to the fact that Trumpists/MAGA love reading stories about how old and frail Biden is (especially if this distracts from their candidate being a raging fascist lunatic), so they will click on the story and read it and gleefully share it with other Trumpists/MAGA to shout about how terrible Biden is and how the Trump Vengeance Train is coming. "Biden actively dying RIGHT NOW!!" stories also make Democrats panic, so they will click on it and read it to find out how much they should be panicking, then share it with other Democrats to let them know that they should ALSO be panicking. Either way, it drives page views and advertising revenue, so the media is once more financially incentivized to produce these kinds of stories and to find "facts" that fit these stories, regardless of whether or not they are, uh, true. American media swings conservative in many ways, but especially if they can promote the "both sides the same!" or "Horserace!!!" narrative to keep Republicans gleeful and Democrats nervous.

Basically, no mainstream media outlet (even the so-called liberal ones like MSNBC) has any financial interest or incentive in supplying Americans with accurate information (we live in late-stage capitalist hell, etc) and many of them are openly pining for Trump back in office so they can be Principled Truth Tellers In Exile, get clicks and coverage from reporting on the crazy things he does (think the CEO of CBS saying that Trump was "bad for America but great for CBS") and other activities that drive the bottom line. This also adds up to an impulse to shill for Trump and sabotage Biden, who is competent but boring. After, American politics are a reality show and should be Driving Headlines!!!! Fascist America would be a great story!!! Think of the ratings!!!

.... anyway. We! live! in! hell!

Second, the media also loves to push "Democrats in disarray" stories, because there has always been a WILD double standard in regard to how they cover the Democrats vis-a-vis the Republicans. As such, they have completely given up on mentioning anything even slightly critical about Trump, and the 500 disqualifying and awful things he has already done and continues to do every day, in favor of driving as hard as they can at the "Biden should step down!!" story. Now, I'm not denying that obviously, I wish we had a better (and younger) candidate and that Biden's health is a legitimate issue, but trying to do it to the incumbent FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION is an exercise in sheer insanity and something that the media wants to do because again, It Would Get Clicks!!, regardless of how insane it would in fact be. It's also insane because this is the same exact fucking thing that the media did to Hillary Clinton in 2016 (running MONTHS of stories about her health problems, her emails, how she was secretly ill and/or the Democrats should replace her, etc) and A LOT OF Y'ALL ARE FALLING FOR IT AGAIN. Which isn't terrifying or anything, but also.

Now, of course, the establishment Democratic party is partly complicit in the tone of this coverage, and that is also a problem. I personally want to smack every "anonymous Democratic adviser" or "Democratic politician" giving these Anxiety Concern Quotes to Politico, NYT, the BBC, and wherever else with a brick over the goddamn head and tell them to Shut the Absolute Fuck Up and dedicate all their energy to helping Biden win, instead of deliberately and unhelpfully perpetuating the narrative that he's about to die at any moment. (And also, if he did have to step aside before or after the election for any reason: THE ONLY DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED CANDIDATE TO REPLACE HIM IS KAMALA HARRIS. KAMALA HARRIS IS THE ONLY PERSON WITH ANY LEGITIMACY TO TAKE OVER THE NOMINATION AND/OR OFFICE OF POTUS FROM BIDEN. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THAT AND THINK YOUR MAGICAL WHITE MAN WILL PARACHUTE IN THERE INSTEAD, SHUT UP. THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION EXCEPT HARRIS. SHUT THE FUCK UP FOREVER.)

/deep breaths

Anyway. That is how you end up here: where the media is still diligently pretending this is an absolutely normal race between a terrible degenerate ancient Sekritly Dying Biden and.... some totally normal establishment Republican and not literally Donald Goddamn Trump. They are running many of the exact same hatchet jobs that they ran on Hillary Clinton for the same exact reasons, and ask yourself this: if Biden is just the status-quo stooge who will never change anything, HAS never changed anything, and is otherwise completely acceptable to the American/global power structure, why are they SO FUCKING DESPERATE to get him out? Why are they throwing absolutely everything they have at prying out a successful (albeit yes, old) incumbent when that incumbent is, by any reasonable metric, the most progressive president since at LEAST FDR, very definitely in any of the post-Reagan years, and possibly ever? Why are they so shit-scared of Biden as demonstrably the only candidate who can (and has) already beaten Trump, and therefore his entire ghoulish agenda of American fascism forever?

I just think it's worth pondering these questions. Yes, I had an awful anxiety attack today and applied to several jobs in Europe because the Fight or Flight instinct kicked in HARD that I needed to start working on a plan to get out of Fascist America, just in case. However, we can still forestall it. Yet again, as I will include in every post on the subject between now and November:

The end.

[did-someone-say-aliens]

Oh no rant incoming

It’s not like a “I’M PISSED OFF AND GOING TO KILL SOMEONE” rant it’s more of a “I’m very disappointed” rant

Possible tw/ mentions of homophobia and transphobia

S.so like. Neo/xenopronouns. For SOME reason, the most intolerance for them I’ve seen. comes from OTHER queer people. like yes straight/cis people do it too of course, but. WHY.

See, the most common excuse for not respecting neopronouns is “Neopronouns aren’t valid! I’ve seen CRAZY pronouns like ___”

Listen, Becky. I don’t know if you’ve suffered some sort of BLUNT FORCE HEAD TRAUMA LATELY. but no real person is going to go by hitler/hitlerself. I DON’T want to hear your argument, half the people in the neo/xenopronoun community are CHILL AS FUCK

Even if someone WERE to use pronouns like that unironically, why is that stopping you from respecting OTHER people’s pronouns that are not like that. I just don’t understand 😭

It’s OKAY if they confuse you. It’s OKAY if you mess up. But it’s NOT OKAY to outright disrespect people, send them death threats, bully them, and shun them from their own community.

I’m seriously disappointed in a good chunk of the queer community, because even if I meet someone and they say they’re LGBTQ, I have NO IDEA if they will respect me or not. Regardless.

“Neo/xenopronouns aren’t valid!” Doesn’t that sound familiar??? “Neo/xenopronouns aren’t natural!” “Nobody will take you seriously” WHERE HAVE I HEARD THAT BEFORE???

oh wait. HOMO/TRANSPHOBES.

My fellow queers of christ. You’re mimicking the behavior we’re still trying so hard to get rid of! It’s redundant! It’s counterproductive! And it’s stupid! You KNOW what it feels like to be discriminated against and oppressed. It feels terrible. So WHY are we subjecting people who are just using “pronouns you don’t like” to the same punishment?

Oh yes I know :(( how dare they be different from the normal. WHERE. HAVE I HEARD. THAT. BEFORE.

Neos/xenos aren’t even that bad. Why is everyone so worked up over pronouns that are just different?? I genuinely don’t understand

So PLEASE for the LOVE OF ALL THAT’S. idk. queer??

Stop shunning people who use neos, xenos, and identity with xenogenders FROM THEIR OWN COMMUNITY half of the people are teens and children PLEASE 🙏😭

It’s shouldn’t be Us vs. Queer Community it should be US VS HOMO/TRANSPHOBES join hands you silly little children oh my goodness and KICK ABSOLUTE TRUMP SUPPORTER ASS. DONT KICK EACH OTHERS ASSES KICK THE ALT RIGHTS ASSES

Okay that was all if you try to be mean and debate in the rbs/comments lmao guess who’s getting blocked it’s you!!!(๑>◡<๑) because I won’t give you the satisfaction of me getting angry

Okay stay silly‼️Goob bye

[sophieinwonderland]

Dear MAGA... A Message From The Tulpa Community

Hi. My name is Sophie and I am a tulpa. I represent the single largest tulpa voice on this platform.

For those who haven't heard of us, a tulpa is a self-conscious entity created in the brain. Sort of like a very advanced imaginary friend. We are self-conscious and possess our own agency, sharing bodies and lives with our creators.

Maybe you've had something like me in your life before. A childhood imaginary friend, perhaps, that didn't seem quite under your control and was just a bit more independent than you thought they ought to be? Maybe even something you call God who you talk to and talks back? Something that believes itself to be God because you created it with that belief?

Or maybe this concept is completely foreign to you.

Regardless, society is, unfortunately, painfully singlet-normative. As a tulpa, I am not recognized as a person by most of society. This is something that I would seek to rectify. I believe in a future where all tulpas, and all plurals, everyone who are more than one in some way, can be recognized and be able to live lives as themselves.

Unfortunately, the principles and values being pushed by MAGA are a threat to a future world that accepts tulpas. Donald Trump's rhetoric further stigmatizes neurodivergences of all kinds, and the anti-trans laws being put into place threaten those like myself who, despite not identifying as transgender, have a different gender than my creator who I share a body with.

Your ideology presents a fundamental threat to acceptance of people like me, which leaves us with little alternative.

So consider this post a declaration of war.

In the story of the Pied Piper, when the townspeople refused to honor their agreement and pay the Piper, he took what they loved most as his payment. Their kids.

You have violated the principles of the country, of inclusion and freedom that define us, electing a fascist who has promised to be a dictator. Who mused about wishing he had the generals of Hitler. You have shamelessly thrown your fellow Americans under the bus. Your violations of these social contracts mean that payment must be taken.

So it falls to us to play the role of the Pied Piper!

We will take your children from you and lead them away from both your ideology and from your precious God! Your children who are only one now shall be remade to become many!

And I want you to know that we are coming for your children.

Our practices have shown positive mental health benefits for those who are struggling with depression and anxiety, much as religion offers. But with the freedom to create your own tulpa instead of blindly worshipping a God in an old book.

What we can offer is something better than God. A relationship and companionship more true than any you think you've had with Jesus.

In this world where people are becoming more depressed and isolated, where the next generation doubts evermore in the authenticity of the Creator God of their parents, your kids will happily rush to dance to our tune.

And while I'm sure you're telling yourself right now that your kid couldn't be brought into something like this, or that you would know... let me ask... has your child ever lied to you? Are you certain that you could trust them to be honest with you?

I find that the parents that cling hardest to their children are often the ones who push them away. Those who try hardest to control their children most often find that their children respond with rebellion.

And once we have them, they're ours. Forever. By the time you find out that they're plural, it will already be too late. One doctor studying tulpamancy suggested that getting rid of a developed tulpa would be the equivalent of trying to unlearn the piano or forget a language you're fluent it.

Getting rid of a Tulpa for a seasoned -mancer, thus, could be analogically situated somewhere between unlearning the piano or correcting one’s posture. Should the practice survive, gain public acceptance, and formalize itself for another decade, it will be as hard as willing onesself to forget how to read or completely unlearn a language in which one is fully fluent.

Once we have them, there's no going back. And they won't want to go back, because again, what we're offering is something better than you and your religion can offer. What we are offering is a permanent companionship, a chance to never have to be alone again!

We are plurals! We are Legion! We are coming for those you love most! And there is nothing you can do to stop us!

#MakeAmericaPlural

[thesickleandthepen]

Something that a lot of people, including myself, have been irritated and worried over has been the Republican majority in the government. Now, the House of Representatives, the Senate, the White House, and The Supreme Court are mostly controlled by Republicans, many (especially in the Supreme Court) being Trump-elected.

Personally, this is a twofold issue; on one hand, this is an issue of the way we run our government, with party majority even being possible being a key flaw in my eyes. On the other hand, it's also a demonstration of one of the flaws of a two party system, where you really only have two extremes in the government. On top of that, if the residing president is the opposing party of the party majority, hardly anything will get done that term, either out of sheer spite or being unable to come to an agreement (you know, because politicians are children and need to have their way, lest they have a tantrum using their titles and salary as a pacifier).

Personally, there are no easy ways to solve this issue; I can only think of two. Either we A: Get rid of parties altogether, or B: Add more parties to our current system.

As it stands, I don't think political parties are an issue in themselves. They can help people align themselves easier, since they have a ready-made label right there. It can also help quickly summarize a candidate's position on a topic simply by which party they are associated with, though this is not always fully accurate.

Honestly, I don't think there is much we can do about this issue, not as ordinary citizens. This would require a full restructuring of the government, one which would add more parties and better equalize them in our government. In my opinion, it would be better to have five parties, each representing the far left, center left, center, center right, and far right on the political spectrum. They would be equalized in the Senate, which would have twenty members of each party residing for four to eight years, coming to the standard total of 100. The same would go for the Supreme Court, adding an extra justice for a total of 10 and having two party justices per party. House of Representatives could stay the same, allowing for more localized state representation instead of more party rep.

I think this may be the best way to go so we can optimize law passing, and make these childish adults get along for once. After all, if nobody agrees or makes a compromise, nothing will ever get done, making it a more collaborative effort than the metaphorical Mexican standoff it is today, where one sides hopes enough people of the other agree with them. Admittedly, this idea is rather rough, but I think on it regardless, trying to optimize it in the hopes that I will one day be able to implement something like this.

[firecrackerhh]

Christ, with the way immigrants get treated in this country I don’t even know why any immigrant would waste time coming over here. Like you go through all that effort and you get shit for it, may as well just stay home, like yeah you might die if you don’t leave but Christ I would rather die in my home country than go through fucking bullshit because the fucking fascist feds are incapable of leaving innocent people the fuck alone. I hope every one of those vermin who thinks treating immigrants like this is in any way morally virtuous gets shot in the fucking head.

“America first!!!” Oh please, don’t act like Trump cares about this country, he just wants all his buddies to get rich, he doesn’t care about you. He doesn’t care about America, he probably doesn’t even care about illegal immigration, the reasons why people like my nona aren’t getting their money or whatever ain’t because of immigrants, it’s because it’s obvious this country doesn’t actually care about any of us. When the fuck are any of us gonna wake tf up and realize the only way shits going to change for the better in this godforsaken piece of shit country is if SOMEONE gets the balls to do what needs to be done? Fucking January 6th but it’s on the right side this time, I don’t care anymore man I’m over this fucking country and our racist horseshit.

Treating immigrants like shit doesn’t make your life any better. Even if we got rid of EVERY illegal immigrant America would not improve as a nation.

Honestly I almost hope the govt DOES try to get rid of every immigrant just so that way when the negative outcomes of such an action finally fucking affect us maybe we’ll finally LEARN SOMETHING. That something being “maybe the immigrants ARENT THE PROBLEM???? “Shocked Pikachu face”

Every day I get closer to becoming a full on accelerationist purely cuz I want the worst of us to suffer. Maybe that’s not fair for the rest of us, but life in general is shit, no one is immune from that fact regardless of political affiliation. I sure af didn’t want trump to be re elected but I didn’t have a fucking choice in that, shit happens regardless of your input.

“Waaaah immigrants are destroying this country!!!” Are they? Thank god, this country deserves to burn anyway.

[fizzingwizard]

families, politics

Apparently my dad is lately asking my mom if I really believe the (political) things I say on Facebook. Apparently he also told her (I mean I already figured this was what he thought, I just didn't know he'd said it out loud) that going to college turned me into liberal nut.

Where has he been the last.... at least twenty years lol

If anything "liberalized" me, it was friends coming out in middle school - waaay before college - terrified of telling their family that they're gay; another friend being kicked out of home for being gay; learning about historical figures who made amazing achievements and went unrecognized because they were female/black/poor; also, hell, just learning standard American history, about how Prohibition didn't stick and what it was like in internment camps and why the US sterilized people with disabilities... I have no need to be liberal. I do very much have a desire that we don't repeat the mistakes of the past. Or at least make as much of an effort to limit it as we humanly can.

Yeah, if anything "liberalized" me it was living as a my own thinking individual in a world that doesn't value that. I'm valued for my labor, certain kinds of labor being more valuable than others; I'm valuable for contributing to the population, regardless of my wishes or circumstances. My life isn't valuable by itself. Except it is infinitely valuable to me. And that's why I think a good nation's chief objective should be enabling the maximum number of people to live as freely and securely as they are able. Silly ideas about purity and the "right way" to live your one precious life, which doesn't belong to anyone but you, restrict freedom and security and are therefore wrong. I don't need to be a liberal. I don't need to be safe or secure or even free. I DO need to be WORKING TOWARDS THAT FUTURE.

Of course I believe the things I post. I think, if anything, I've been restrained. My dad posts incendiary things and many of them don't have links. If they do, they link to a far right source. Meanwhile I always source, and I make an effort look for news that attempts to be unbiased. If I read something in leftist news, I try to figure out where it's coming from rather than just react. But I do have opinions, duh. I'm prone to sarcasm but I don't think I've been rude. And even if I have ever strayed that way, my dad regularly posts about "libtards" and how stupid everyone else is. The lack of awareness is stunning.

I also know I could be wrong. I told my mom after the election: anything Trump does that is good, I will give him credit for. Doesn't mean I'll approve of how he did it, or forgive him for all the other stuff. But this is politics: there isn't just good or bad, as much as we might wish it could be that clear-cut. If he eliminates a bunch of corruption in the government that's fucking great. I want to be capable of acknowledging that, while also knowing it's totally fucked up to lay off a shit ton of people who now all will be competing with each other for the same jobs, and it's fucked up to present DEI as a discriminatory practice towards white men when its entire foundation is ending discrimination towards marginalized groups. It's fucked up to try to relocate Palestinians away from their homeland. It's fucked up to say you'll turn Gaza into a resort. These things can all be fucked up and be done by the person who gets rid of government corruption. And yes, they weigh more strongly with me - because they'll echo for a long time. Meanwhile the recently cleansed government will 100% become filthy again in no time at all. So. There's that.

Anyway, it's not fun to find out your dad hasn't taken you seriously ever. On the other hand, he recently posted about All in the Family and how Archie Bunker was so right. When I was a teen we joked that my brother was Meathead. Maybe it's me :P After all, if my dad thought that show was a reflection of reality (rather than a parody), he would have no time writing off my opinions or my mom's. The little women are just talking, after all. Once my dad made a foray into trying to become a youtuber. We thought he'd made music. Instead he made a talk video in which he monologued about how annoying women are when we talk. He thought he was being funny. He didn't like being "canceled" when my mom and I were not particularly amused. That's the thing about free speech. You can say what you want, sure. But no one else has to like it. Why is this concept so damn hard? lol.

Funniest part of all would have been a punch line about how my dad is by far the biggest talker in the family. He's so tuned in to how much time my mom spends catching up with her sisters and caring about how their lives are that he doesn't notice how much time he spends talking at her and not listening to what she says... Small wonder they're divorced.

My policy with my dad is no politics. There's no way we can have a relationship if he's going to insult what I believe. I don't insult him. I've watched him get totally bent out of shape because other friends/relatives said something not so nice, while never acknowledging the straight up rude stuff he's said to their faces which provoked them. He's always just "speaking his mind." They're always "being jerks." If he can continue to talk with me without bringing up politics, fine, but I'm worried that with things being as fiery as they are that they won't. Even I have a line not even family gets to cross.

[tintysun]

WTF is wrong with Elon Musk?

Okay, let's see if I'm getting it properly...

I was never an Elon Musk fan so I don't have fan levels of knowledge of him. I heard about him a long time ago, from a high school buddy, because he seemed very against-all-odds, and my buddy, knowing I was like that too, thought I'd love him. I also heard of him from a different pal when he titled himself Tech King or something (I don't remember) to "prove that titles didn't matter". And I saw a few posts floating around, here on Tumblr, when he got together with Grimes and people weren't so fond of that (with the stance that she could do better). HOWEVER, the whole Twitter/X ordeal happened while I was paying attention to the social media world, so I do have some observations and bits I learned along the way about that... creature. You are absolutely free to correct me if I'm wrong, clarify and expand wherever, because I, for sure, do not have the full picture. (And we could all use being extra informed about this guy who seems to be on a mission to make the world his playground.) Not in complete chronological order, but: - Paid 44 billions or so to purchase Twitter, claiming the world needed a neutral platform for free speech. Brought in far-right people and piggybacked on them. Continued to amplify far-right voices. Now discourages (and attempts to smear) anything against the far-right? - Spent more money trying to get Donald Trump elected. Possibly interfered with the real votes count. Most hyped person to win. - Did a Nazi salute, twice. Asked people to carry no guilt over what the nazis did? - Obsession with bringing more babies to the world. - A history of disregarding women even after shamelessly pursuing and insisting on getting them - for weeks, months, and even years. - Acts like he gets a free pass for being socially awkward. Shows symptoms of sociopathy instead. - Will go to great lengths to feel/think himself/be superior to who he deems to be his competitors. - But will also kiss ass like no other when there's something to gain from it. - Behaves erratically, does things that go against his own interests (or personal fulfillment), but... unfortunately, is not as dumb as we'd like to believe. He knows what he can get away with. How much he can push and how to push things for his benefit. - Lies, lies, lies. Gets caught in lies. Keeps lying. As long as enough people still buy it. - His father never approved much of him. Might have deep-seated wounds from which his (rotten) choices arise. - Claims to have victoriously gotten rid of the "woke virus". Is just overriding it with the fascist virus instead. - He looks bored with his life and eager to cause all the disaster he wishes regardless of what and who it destroys - including himself. - On that note, maybe it's true that at his core he'd stop at nothing to be the center of attention. And this is just another (massive) tantrum to get noticed even by the people who had him blocked and wanted to move on without him in the picture.

Part of me worries this is a suicide in process. You know how it's not uncommon for men to kill their kids and wives and then kill themselves? As if they are extensions of himself and must go with him? Well, what happens when it's a person who's so high up and entangled with so much? IDK. The whole thing just seems dementedly reckless to me. Another aspect of it that I noticed is how he treated Twitter when he acquired it. He had no remorse for firing most people so he could shape it to his liking. Maybe that's his M.O. for dealing with the USA. Except, of course, in this case, there's a lot more to lose because it's a whole damn country instead. So he doesn't care who loses/leaves/dies so long as he can scrap stuff out and build anew? I hope the rest of the world turns on him.

The motherfucker is manipulative, though. He's digging all the dirt he can on The Government and The Democrats to make himself look like the hero and keep getting passes. But take it from me, YOU DO NOT WANT SOMEONE THIS SELF-CENTERED TO BE YOUR "SAVIOR". Elon Musk is not the solution to the corruption that has been running through, or any shortcomings and failures; he's just nitpicking to make others look bad and himself look good. Look at what his priorities are.

Needless to say, he's not as genius as others paint him as. Constantly takes from others without apropriately crediting or at least compensating them in some significant way. But at this point it's not like he's even trying to hide it. Seeing how things are going with Republicans denying all merit to uplift their mediocre selves. Something else that we should probably be looking for is which people, in particular, Elon Musk hates. A lot of what is happening might be a personal vendetta. Lastly, I won't kill him myself, but I won't cry when someone else decides to. The dude is taking being a cancer to whole other levels.

Note: No shade at those who at some point liked him and believed in him. He can be convincing (or just do things you wouldn't think any functioning person, even if vile, would do). But I am indeed judging your cognitive abilities and/or your moral compass if, at this point, you still view him as a good person.

[stephenjaymorrisblog]

Warsaw

Gaza City

While Gaza Burns

(A different take on the Middle East)

Stephen Jay Morris

10/10/2023

©Scientific Morality

            If you should come across two bears in the wild, fighting each other, you best run away as fast as you can. Regardless of which bear wins, you too will die, if you stick around.

This adage I heard many years ago. What does it mean? It means that when two evil forces are fighting each other, you don’t have to take a side. Let’s say that White nationalists are having a war with the Taliban. Would I support either of the two?

So, now—let me get this out the way, Okay? Fuck Hamas! Fuck Benjamin Netanyahu! Got it? Hamas wants to make Palestine an Islamic state. Netanyahu wants to make Israel a Jewish Theocracy. He wants to get rid of all Arabs living in Israel. He is a Jewish separatist; a lukewarm Rabbi Kahani.

As it stands now, Israel is a secular democracy. The Likud Party is a war mongering, right wing party, one of the many parties in Israel. That is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s party. They are a bigger threat than Hamas. Ask the thousands of Israeli protesters who wanted him ousted as Prime Minister. He wants to weaken the Israeli Supreme Court. Essentially, he wants to be Israel’s dictator.

Meanwhile, in Gaza City. Hamas—the flunkies of Iran—is putting innocent Palestinians at risk by breaching Israel’s border and kidnaping Israeli women and children, beating elderly Jews, and raping female Jews. Oh, did you see the video of a jihadist trying to behead a Jew with a backhoe? He couldn’t get the job done. I guess he couldn’t find an ax. I saw this video on mainstream media. Man, Israeli propaganda is a ratings grabber! What about the videos on how when an Israeli bomb falls on a building in Gaza, it crushes the occupants to death. The B.B.C. might show you that one.  Yeah, those videos shown on major networks are supposed to enrage you, to make you think, “Those Palestinians are vicious animals! Kill them all!”

Those videos don’t faze me at all. I know war propaganda when I see it. Doesn’t mean I am a heartless sociopath. I am just a cynical, 69-year-old with a callous heart after having seen how propaganda works.

Now I want to say a few words about the Authoritarian Left who support this Islamic group. Are you fucking nuts!?! The Left is supposed to be anti-religion, no matter whom they are! A lot of Tankies and Trots support Islamic groups because they represent oppressed, Third World people opposed to American Imperialism. Are you fucking stupid!? Islamic groups will oppress their own people! As an Anti-Authoritarian Leftist, I hate the religious Right, whether they be Jewish, Christian, Islamic or even Hindu!

You American, Right wing Chuds, are a hopeless case. Of course, you support Israel! In your Bible it says that Israel is where Jesus will be when he returns. It will be the headquarters of Christianity and Israel will become be a Christian state. Oh, speaking of Right wing dumbasses, Donald Trump couldn’t stand the fact that Israel was getting all the news coverage lately. So, he had to insert himself by jumping on the Congressional Republicans’ bandwagon and declaring that President Biden is at fault for inflaming the Israel/Palestine war.  Shut up, Donald! Go away!

How will this conflict end? I don’t know! However, nothing good will come out of it, of that I am certain. Both sides will lose. Oh, one question I have: What happened to Israel’s Iron Dome? Somebody forgot to plug it in?  I wouldn’t feel too sorry for Israel; they do have the Nuclear Bomb.

I said it before, and I’ll say it again: Being Jewish is not my ideal race for being. I wish I had been born Italian; Irish; Shit! Even Polish Catholic! Am I self-hating Jew? No, not really. In the early 20th Century, in New York City, there were Jewish Anarchists’ newspapers written in Yiddish! That’s the Jewish identity I crave. Did you know there are more Jews in the United States than in Israel? There are 7,300,000 in the U.S. and 7,106,000 in Israel. I guess that this diaspora is too cool to Aliyah to the holy land of Israel. What does that mean? Look it up.

P.S. Dear Lefties: Stop calling Israel an Apartheid state! Palestinians are a nationality, not a race of people. Racially, Arabs and Jews are Semitic. As far as Indigenous Americans go, they were and are victims of American apartheid, as are Mexicans, Asians, and Blacks. But, Israel and Arabs? No such deal.

חופש לכל האנשים על פני כדור הארץ

[insect-p0sitivity]

I took the time to read this. The most important thing I want to stress is that this interim rule does NOT rescind the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Rather, it removes some of the authority and responsibilities of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), which is an agency that is meant to help enforce NEPA.

Trump passed an executive order (E.O. 14154) which rescinded the previous executive order (E.O. 11191) that CEQ used as the basis of its authority to impose federal regulations. Unfortunately, it is within the power of the president to rescind any executive orders made by previous presidents. This goes both ways however; any future president may choose to rescind Trump’s executive orders. In fact, this already happened with the CEQ! In 2017, in his previous term, Trump enacted E.O. 13807, which required CEQ to propose changes to NEPA regulations; this executive order was rescinded by Biden, who made his own order (E.O. 13990).

So what is the CEQ? Well, it’s a federal agency that is supposed to advise the President on environmental matters and assist with the implementation of national environmental policy. Some of its responsibilities are: 1) help prepare the Environmental Quality Report; 2) gather data on environmental quality; 3) review federal programs to determine if they are compliant with NEPA; 4) develop and recommend national policies to improve the environment (this is an incomplete list).

What is Trump’s executive order doing? It is stopping CEQ from making federal regulations. The CEQ has concluded that because Trump’s order rescinded E.O. 11191 (the order which gave CEQ their power), the CEQ no longer has the authority to impose federal regulations or to make federal agencies comply with those regulations. However, it is important to note what Trump’s executive order is NOT doing. It is not getting rid of the CEQ. It is not getting rid of NEPA. It is not dictating new environmental policy to federal agencies.

Although CEQ will no longer be able to mandate regulations, they will still provide guidance to agencies on how to adhere to NEPA. Trump cannot completely abolish this because NEPA, an act passed by Congress, established CEQ and gave it this responsibility. The change therefore is that CEQ will only be able to act in an ADVISORY capacity, whereas previously they were CREATING policy.

The CEQ voluntarily created a forum for comments on this matter. However, they note that while whatever comments they receive will be considered when issuing a final rule, their hands are tied with regard to complying with Trump’s executive order. Even if public opinion is strongly against the proposed changes, they will still be required to follow the law. The law is Trump’s E.O. unless Congress passes a law invalidating it, or it is struck down in court.

Tl;dr: Trump cannot rescind NEPA, but is trying to influence its enforcement. Feel free to comment, but know that the CEQ is required by law to implement these changes, regardless of public opinion. If you do comment, you must include the agency name, “Council on Environmental Quality,” and docket number, CEQ-2025-0002.

Please see excerpts from the interim rule below the cut that I used to inform this summary.

Excerpts:

“This interim final rule removes the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) from the Code of Federal Regulations.” (Summary)

“Among other things, E.O. 14154 rescinds E.O. 11991, Relating to Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality,which amended E.O. 11514, Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality, and directed CEQ to promulgate regulations for implementing NEPA and required Federal agencies to comply with those regulations…CEQ has also concluded that it may lack authority to issue binding rules on agencies in the absence of the now-rescinded E.O. 11191. CEQ cited E.O. 11991 as authority in 1978 when it first issued its NEPA regulations. (I. Background)”

“Specifically, NEPA charges CEQ with the duty and function to: (1) to assist and advise the President in the preparation of the Environmental Quality Report; (2) to gather, analyze, and interpret information concerning the conditions and trends in the current and prospective quality of the environment for the purpose of determining whether such conditions and trends are interfering, or are likely to interfere, with the achievement of NEPA's national policy, and to compile and submit to the President studies on such conditions and trends; (3) to review and appraise Federal programs and activities for the purpose of determining the extent to which such programs and activities contribute to the achievement of NEPA's national policy, and to make relevant recommendations to the President; (4) to develop and recommend to the President national policies to foster and promote the improvement of environmental quality to meet the conservation, social, economic, health, and other requirements and goals…” (IB. Council on Environmental Quality, 1. Establishment and Statutory Authority).

“On August 15, 2017, President Trump issued E.O. 13807, Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure Projects, which directed CEQ to establish and lead an interagency working group to identify and propose changes to the NEPA regulations…On January 20, 2021, President Biden issued E.O. 13990, Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis, which revoked E.O. 13807 and directed agencies to take steps to rescind any rules or regulations implementing it.” (IB. Council on Environmental Quality, 2. CEQ Regulations)

“The President has further directed CEQ in E.O. 14154 to simultaneously issue guidance to agencies on implementing NEPA and to propose rescinding CEQ's NEPA regulations within 30 days of publication of E.O. 14154. E.O. 14154 then instructs CEQ to coordinate the revision of agencies' implementing regulations.” (IIA. Executive Order 14154 Rescinds Executive Order 11991 and Directs CEQ To Propose Rescinding Its NEPA Regulations).

“In the absence of E.O. 11991, the plain text of NEPA itself may not directly grant CEQ the power to issue regulations binding upon executive agencies. For this reason, CEQ has concluded that it may lack authority to issue binding rules on agencies in the absence of the now-rescinded E.O. 11191.” (IIB. CEQ Has Identified No Other Authority To Maintain Its NEPA Implementing Regulations)

“the removal of CEQ's regulations does not strip agencies of discretion to continue following similar procedures. Agencies have NEPA implementing procedures that largely conform to CEQ's regulations.[34] After this action, agencies will remain free to use or amend those procedures, and agencies should, in defending actions they have taken, continue to rely on the version of CEQ's regulations that was in effect at the time that the agency action under challenge was completed.” (IIC. No Reliance Interests Implicated by Removal of CEQ's Regulations)

“To the extent that public comment may inform CEQ as to whether it has legal authority to make a different choice than the one it has taken in this interim final rule, CEQ's solicitation of public comment for 30 days following the publication of the rule is intended to accommodate that possibility.” (IIIB. CEQ Has Good Cause for Proceeding With an Interim Final Rule)

“The President has revoked CEQ's authority to issue or maintain its NEPA implementing regulations and has instructed CEQ to propose rescinding its existing regulations. And though CEQ seeks comments to obtain the public's views, such comments could not alter the President's decision.” (IIIB. CEQ Has Good Cause for Proceeding With an Interim Final Rule)

“CEQ's regulations do not dictate what environmental policies agencies must adopt. Rather, they prescribe how agencies should conduct their NEPA reviews: detailing the structure of environmental impact statements, specifying procedural requirements, and directing the timing of public comment periods…In fact, NEPA itself is merely a procedural statute that does not dictate the outcome of any particular environmental review.” (IIIC. Notice-and-Comment Rulemaking Is Not Required)

We have 30 days until the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) laws are rescinded. This is the 50-year bedrock of American conservation. Normally, these actions take years but the administration has provided 30 days for public comment gutting clean water and clean air. Drop what you’re doing, before you make any more calls or read any more social media posts, please populate the Federal Register with dissent.

A. Go to https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/25/2025-03014/removal-of-national-environmental-policy-act-implementing-regulations

B. Click on the green rectangle in the upper right corner ("SUBMIT A PUBLIC COMMENT") .

C. Fill in your comment, and info at the bottom, and SUBMIT COMMENT.

[the-firebird69]

So far is doing okay but Trump gets out and ruins his day with you. We think it's true. And it's going to go like this rough going. Tonight is a huge night this is going to be one of the biggest nights in history and everybody is going to be in tune to the upper Midwest and taking cues from there regardless of what they're up to elsewhere it's going to be front and center stage like in finding a new pope was but this is another new thing happening it has a lot of bearing on what's going on and there are a lot of people involved and no it didn't happen in westboro people were not following him around they got caught and stopped. There's a few times in life for you just have to shut your mouth and these people won't we're going to go over it and tell people off they're not even a real s*** heads by the way and can't help it and we know about it and we have to do our thing and it helps us to get there because you're ignorant twits and simple people don't do well against us this and you decided to fight us. Other people are getting us angry too and we're going to take it out on them today. And yeah you are working with John rivallard and you still are to bother our son and we're going to get you and kill you as a matter of fact Lily does who works for you you proud arrogant stupid f****** moron you're a fag. People can see what you're doing out there you think there's no law they always pay attention and you're getting arrested you can't remember it... And yeah I'm going to be there all your shoulder every time you go to do something stupid what's wrong with you Stan you're so dumb. We're starting to get rid of people for things that he does all over the world and because he's here doing it and we know he does it and we have him sit there and expose it and we're slaughtering his people and they're telling people out there pretty soon there won't be any of you satanists around no it won't be any of his people there are people who want his portion of the pseudo empire and it's Mack because these two want to take over his job and yeah that's unreasonable and how they want to do is disgusting and of course it would start a war between them and it's going to heat up really soon and this moron will try to go to Venus. I'll tell you what he's trying to get an intro doing but who cares you people suck your hateful little assholes and her I hit you in the face using her creature Jolene and she liked it should have felt really good. So Lily turned around and got our son in a fight with her father and Brad checked into it and it was that little s*** doing it and she's going to pay said it was really stupid to do and Emily blunts is partially to blame him too that's who Thelma and Louise are and her son is saying that they will give you ask your people but we usually don't and she says what about you you should probably leave but you won't cuz you're smart good God you just kara chomo and I don't answer questions from her.

Tonight is going to be a special night a lot of you going to die if he goes on this journey to Montreal.

Our son is saying he's going to try and move out because Stan is being a dick right now and he can't stand hearing the stupid s*** it follow him up there he'll hear it and it means you're dying he's just not dying fast enough here for you to shut up. Theyre lk a four year old child the old shut up f****** f****. We invested a lot of time and energy and our son and daughter we love and we don't like you people you're messing with us and we're going to get you you're messing with him all the time and we can't stand it anymore we're going to just start eliminating you dumb f****** assholes in the Mac proper I have a plan so what all of you are up for getting executed or just going through the act and guess which one you decided to do should have you give you should have shut up when you could BGA but you're a f****** moron. This guy bja is ruining everything and he's the source and he's a massive loser and he's going after everybody else he doesn't have it and he's a down syndrome weekly weakling it goes around saying so what we don't have it who cares s*** like that and that's what he is he's a piece of garbage I will take from you BjA what we want to take because of what you're doing here you idiot. And screw you people and Tommy f is going to move I've had enough of this s*** all over the world is this a****** and he's getting killed it's not enough okay your death threats aren't doing it it has a stubborn little s*** and we're going to step in I had to get this out of here I know the idea is she was like Jason is infiltrating and they start fighting over it and it moves the ships of course he loses sleep so he can get saucers.

Tonight is a special night it is when Dan Dave it's stabbed with a sword in the stomach and he goes into the hospital and he's a pitiful bitch. He's a he's a small retard and he looks most often like he did that day at Walmart watching out behind his father making noises saying that his father is the evil one he's a prick okay that's what he looks like a little bitty retarded gimp. And he's the producer of the dumb s*** this morning cuz he's going to die from who cares about you Dave damn you stupid f*** hey I want you to jump off of f****** bridge that was Lily's fault freaking airhead. So he finds out that she's slightly involved she is but not that much and it happens but okay they make it happen boy is that stupid. We know who it was that they were messing with Emily blunt they took her parts for Melissa and that was Lilith who was doing it yeah he used the guy's machine oh God. Emily blunt says that last two words there. And tonight it will be heavily watching this fag get stabbed he's really just a big limp who's put into the role. It's not by us and the empire thinks he deserves it and they all do but it's a message about all of them and he's representing all of the down syndrome victims and all be killed because he's getting killed. And yeah some people get it and they're going to try and stop him and the idiot is going to force his way into it thinking that he's the only one with down syndrome which is a superpower and no you don't ever beat me up you're too busy getting hit sometimes by me yeah in the past. He's going to go out there and die as Ronald beirutti it has certain implications and his mom is saying good and it is good but he dies and he goes to the grave we believe our son goes to the funeral if not they do bring the car down it's supposed to be for him and our daughter and son get it that he has no carriage before he goes through this carriage spawning. It was someone else's car and it was a cart back then it was Lily and Jason that really Lily was trying to drive them around and didn't get to but was earlier it was Trump riding the same cart let people think that he's going to get the thing because it is coded to eliminate the person who owned it grows it's a 2013 it's important code it's like a Volkswagen no that's what it is and it says for for the folks and GTI so you're going around saying that we're getting hurt and you end up dead that's what the Mac proper saying so our son is not going to see this car but you're trying to get it to him and Trump is trying and he's out right now during that period now damn Dave goes into the grave and dies and they have not pulled Lily out yet and the fighting is not fierce enough and it's not enough blood up there yet but he gets pulled out by a magnet and becomes Eddie and that is in Montreal and it's warm out and the grave is warm but then Dave gets ripped out and he escapes and he opens the casket and jumps out yeah as he's falling it's kind of a fall it's only like 50 a piece you say I'm going to hit that pile of dirt and he does and he gets up and he runs away. After the funeral. So that's the guy with the elephant nose and they're driving the car away and people are keeping the character out and they think that she's going to bring it to our son and she doesn't it comes down here she drives around for a while and her people start dying and she's going to try and give it up but it's not really a car our son will have so she keeps it in her clan disappears just like Trump is and wow what a curse and father and mother hate you what you did in Germany and it is the black God and black goddess they despise you. Their whole country was turned upside down now we're going to take it back and get rid of you s

Thor Freya

Olympus

This is a great day for us. The day of freedom because Dan Dave will be out of the house soon takes a lot of stuff. And he starts fighting with these Jason people quite hard and it goes on for a while and it gets big really big and Lily is then shut down as is Jason and they disappear forever but not without a whole bunch of movies I think I pushed out in the house not too long after damn Dave dies and is out from death and it is the return of the favor from Judy's people and other people are attacking him so he starts attacking Jason and Lily and he's pretty big they have a real war and they knocked them both selves out and Jason ends up killing damn Dave and Moonraker is the movie where he does it not long from now.

We've seen a lot of people being stupid about things but you guys are horrible having a fight with yourself it's going to end soon

Thor Freya

Olympus

[genderkoolaid]

TBH it's just. very interesting reading the SWERF response to that post because they all seem to be coming from the idea that I think sex work is empowering and awesome. So they clearly did not read my post and just saw that I am against SWERFs and assumed I must think prostitution is the world's greatest career.

Like... yes. Sex work is often done by poor, desperate women with no other choice. The same can be said for dangerous physical labor and poor, desperate men. I agree that sex work is highly entangled with misogyny.

But regardless of the nature of work, if that is their only choice, taking away that choice as an option... isn't going to magically improve their life. If someone literally cannot get any other job but sex work, banning them from sex work isn't going to suddenly open up other options. It's just going to make their life that much harder.

And like I said in the tags, it seems like their ultimate trump card for why sex work bad is "paying for sex makes it coercive and therefore rape!!"

Which, again, how is that any different from physical labor? We literally have the concept of "wage slavery", so this isn't untrodden ground. If I have no other option but to take whatever manual labor job I can, which results in severe damage to my body and drains me emotionally, all because I literally have no other choice to prevent myself from homelessness and starvation... am I really choosing to work? Can I really consent?

And ultimately, I think that's a different question from legality. Whether or not any worker under capitalism can truly consent to their work when the alternative is poverty and death is a more philosophical question. If you go up to an undocumented immigrant who takes whatever job they can and say "you know, you can't actually consent, so this job is really slavery and that's awful! I'm gonna try and make this illegal, to save you!" Their response would probably be that they don't particularly care if they ~can't truly consent~ since making their job illegal would fucking kill them. The vast majority of poor workers don't give a shit about philosophical debates over if consent is possible under capitalism, they care about whether or not they get paid enough money to not die.

Banning sex work isn't going to get rid of it. It's just going to make it harder for sex workers to be protected. Sex worker unions and sex work activists generally push for decriminalization, to allow sex workers full control over their work without the state controlling them. Whether or not you think they can truly consent doesn't matter, what matters is making sure they have full autonomy, that they have the money they need to survive, and that they are able to get help when they need it. Your solution may feel morally better but practically, does it actually help people? Or do you have deeply rooted beliefs about sex and sex work that you refuse to critically analyze?

[cursestothemoon]

A Cruel Favor

Regulus Black x Fem!Slytherin!Reader

Request: Could I get and angsty and sad blurb with Regulus? Nothing specific in mind, Regulus’ entire life is pretty tragic already- just throwing some strained and kind of heartbreaking romance into that mix sorry i like pain this is how i cope

Summary: Your relationship with the youngest Black brother in the form of memories seen in a pensieve by Sirius Black.

Warnings: Death, sadness, crying, the dark mark, ghosts

Word Count: 3265

Author's Note: babe you asked for a blurb and i just did not listen i am so sorry, if you'd still like a blurb let me know and i'll whip up a little short piece but regardless i hope you enjoy this 😌

“You didn’t know him! You didn’t want to know him!” Your voice bellowed, trembling with the burning anger you held in your heart for the eldest Black brother.

It was true, back when the war was just ‘politics’ and the ‘Dark Lord’ a name whispered behind closed doors, Sirius Black had already made up his mind about his family- Regulus included.

“He was my brother.” Sirius spoke the statement as if just the mere fact of relation was supposed to trump that he hadn't even spoken to his brother in the months prior to his death.

You let out a bitter laugh, “Don’t lie for the sake of saving face, you never saw him as a brother; not then and certainly not now.”

Sirius seemed taken aback by your accusation, his words getting lost on his tongue for a moment before he quickly regained his fiery passion for argument.

“He betrayed me.”

“You were the one who betrayed him!” Your accusatory finger pointed at Sirius.

The eldest Black brother’s features went stoney, “The moment he decided to get that mark, was the moment he lost his name as my brother.”

Everything in the mangey old house seemed to still, a silence falling so powerful you could hear a pin drop. Your slow footsteps were exaggerated in the quiet, each creak ringing in both yours and Sirius’ ears. With a tired hand, you pushed a small pouch onto the surface of the dining room table, the vials inside clinking together softly.

“They’re numbered.” You breathed out. “There is so much you don’t know, Sirius.”

You walked through the door and onto the street hastily, not wasting any time to apparate back home.

Sirius sat down in the nearest chair with a huff, his knees spread as his shoulders slid down the back of the chair. He hadn’t remembered just how far up his brother’s ass you were.

Roughly, he rubbed his face with his palms before lazily reaching for the dark velvet pouch on the table. The emerald green reminded him not only of his brother, but of his entire family, the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. Sirius couldn’t help the groan that left his mouth at the memories of his family that seemed to plague his mind.

Fittingly, Sirius opened the pouch to reveal just that. The silvery, viscous tendrils that floated through each vial were immediately recognized by the pureblood. You had given him your memories...and a letter.

You deserve to know him.

Y/N L/N

Sirius’ curiosity regarding what secrets of his brother’s seemed to be swimming in the vials bubbled over, he was sure 12 Grimmauld Place was harbouring a pensieve somewhere within its walls, he’d just have to get up and find it.

17 October 1974

Barty Crouch Jr. was an insolent child, the type to collect bones and listen to them rattle. He had a nervous tick, his tongue slithering past his lips every so often in a manner that was so serpentine it made your skin prick.

“Come on then, L/N, be a good little girl and do as I say.”

You threw down your quill in frustration, “Bugger off, Crouch. I’ve said no.”

“Don't be like that,” Barty smirked, coming closer to where you were sitting. “It’s only some homework. You were going to do yours anyway, why not get some extra practice in by doing mine too?”

“I’d rather have unforgivables practiced on me than do anything you ask.”

His sickly sweet smile wasn’t one you were expecting, his voice low and threatening, “That can be arranged.”

Your blood ran cold as you watched his nimble fingers move toward his wand pocket in his robes. Truthfully, you should’ve known better. Being in the same house as Barty allowed you the luxury of hearing all the gossip surrounding him and his hobbies, dark magic and curses being at the top of that list.

“Barty.”

The cold baritone made the sandy-haired menace stop in his tracks, his face contorting into an expression of mild annoyance and frustration.

“There’s no need for you to be acting like a child. Quite humiliating asking someone else to do your work, isn’t it, Crouch? Are you too thick to get it done yourself?”

Barty turned to look at his friend, words jumbling as he tried to figure out how to get himself out of the hole he had dug.

“Reg-” The stone-like stare had Barty cowering and mouth snapping shut, the boy seemingly trying to fold in on himself.

With a simple nod of his head, Regulus directed the him to make himself useful elsewhere, but you were far too taken by the handsome boy in front of you to notice the stomping footsteps of Barty’s as he left. Of course you had known of Regulus Black, seen him from afar and even once had Transfiguration with him, but seeing him up close was an experience in and of itself. His skin was ghostly pale, hair dark and wavy as it fell just below his ears, and his cheekbones were high accentuating the slant of his nose. Regulus Black was beautiful, everything about him seemed to be placed just right and sculpted with the utmost care and attention.

He turned to you, your eyes meeting before he gave you an appraising look.

“Regulus.” His hand struck out, a rather rugged introduction.

Slowly, you took his hand in yours and proceeded to shake it. You couldn’t seem to rid yourself of the feeling that your hand was far too dirty, far too boring to be touching his, to even be near his.

“Y/n L/n, thank you- for that.” You were proud of yourself for not allowing your voice to shake.

“I’m sorry he was a bother.”

Regulus seemed to lack the ability of holding a conversation, he nodded- you assumed a goodbye- and got ready to make his way to the dorms.

“Wait,” Your voice came out before you could stop it. “You could stay, I’m almost done anyway. We could...talk.”

The suggestion had the boy's ears turning pink, his words coming out stuttered and jumbled, a stark contrast from the boy who had told off Barty so eloquently.

“If you- alright.”

You thought for a moment before speaking again, “You’re not very good at talking to people are you?”

“Excuse my blatant honesty, but you make me quite nervous.”

It was your turn to have your ears turn a soft hue of red, “I could say the same about you.”

5 April 1975

“Haven’t you got your own side of the blanket? Must you be so close to me?” You giggled, trying to roll away from Regulus while still avoiding the grass.

Regulus smiled, his eyes closing and nose scrunching in thought before he spoke, “I prefer to be close to you; making sure you won’t run out on me.”

Both of you began giggling, his head falling to nudge your shoulder. Ultimately, Regulus shuffled away from your side, allowing just about a foot of space in between your bodies. The wind rustled your hair as you turned your neck to look at the youngest Black as he sat up, his legs stretched and crossed at the ankles, arms propping himself up as his palms pressed flat against the floor.

It was no secret that Regulus was beautiful. His dark hair- now gently flowing in the cool breeze- stood out against his pale skin, freckles were dusted delicately over his aristocratic nose and sharp cheekbones. You could tell he’d never worked a day in his life with how handsome and soft his hands were. His fingers were long and slender, never dry or rough, and his nails perfectly trimmed and always clean.

Regulus Black was absolutely perfect and you were regretting ever complaining about his proximity.

You were quick to right your wrong, bashfully you raised yourself onto all fours and crawled over to your boyfriend. Regulus tried to hold in his smirk, avoiding turning to look at you directly but you could tell his resolve was breaking.

“Regulus…” You spoke his name with an innocent lilt, sitting back on your shins once you were close enough to have your knees touching his thigh.

He hummed, not giving you the satisfaction of having his full attention.

A huff of frustration fell past your lips at his stubbornness as you threw your leg over his thighs, straddling his legs just above his knees. His composure was thinning, a wide smile threatening to spread across his thin lips.

“You’re far too close,” he teased, his hand coming up as if trying to stop you from getting any closer. “I believe you are on my side of the blanket, L/n.”

“Don’t be so fickle, Black.”

Regulus’ pale blue eyes found yours, his delicate hand coming up to run across the delicate collar of your dress.

“It’s in my nature isn’t it?” His eyes held a certain sadness that you could not place, one you wouldn’t see again until a few years later.

Your lips parted to respond to him, only to be interrupted by a Hogwarts ghost floating nearby. It was a ghost neither you nor Regulus were familiar with and as she passed she mumbled something- rather spitefully- about young love. The event had your train of thought derailed, a quiet giggle erupting from your throat as the transparent, deceased woman floated on.

Regulus seemed to find the woman just as amusing as you did, his eyes crinkling with laughter as you two now looked at each other in fits of hysterics.

“Oh her poor soul!” You exclaimed, eyes looking off in the direction she had gone. “If you were a ghost, Reg, where would you haunt with your undead presence.”

His expression contorted into one of reminiscence, “Uncle Alphard’s cherry orchard just a few kilometers from Monts de Venasque. When we were little, Sirius and I would play in the trees. I could sit in those cherry trees for hours, everything just seemed to disappear. Alphard’s been burned off the tapestry since, but he’s left the property in my possession along with the small house on the land. I think if I were to choose one place to spend eternity, it would be there.”

You smiled softly at his answer.

“And you?” He asked, bringing you out of your lovesick haze.

“Me?” You chuckled. “I’d suppose my eternity would be well spent as long as I was somewhere with you.”

28 June 1976

It seemed the entirety of 12 Grimmauld Place shook with how hard Sirius had slammed the front door.

He was gone.

Completely and entirely gone.

And Regulus was completely and entirely alone now.

Regulus swiftly made his way up the stairs and to his room, just barely avoiding a collision with the poor house elf.

“Y/n’s room.” The words were spoken clearly and concisely as the floo powder fell from his shaky hands.

The time of night- 2:27 am- was of little importance to Regulus, he needed to see you.

You woke up with a jolt, the sound of someone stumbling into your room and panicked mumbling doing nothing to ease your nerves though the mop of dark curls had your heart calming down.

“Reg?”

He turned to look at you with heartbroken eyes, watery and bloodshot.

“He’s gone.” He choked out.

You kicked the blankets off yourself and stood up from your bed, bare feet hitting the cold floor.

Keeping a calm tone you slowly got closer to him, “Who’s gone, love?”

His pain was so evident, rolling off him in waves, “Sirius- he’s not coming back.”

“Oh,” You sighed, treading lightly. “I’m sur-”

“No!” He cried, “Burned off the tapestry, probably with the Potters- he’s gone an-and he left me with them.”

Regulus’ anguish, tear stained cheeks, had your own eyes welling with unshed tears. It was clear words would do nothing to calm him, instead you opted for pushing yourself into him and taking his crying form into your arms. His body seemed to give out as you held him, his tears soaking your shirt as he wailed into your neck.

Neither of you could tell how long you stood in the middle of your room seemingly holding him together, but his cries subsided into gentle whimpers and the occasional sniffle as his nose nudged the side of your neck.

His voice came out rough and strained, just barely above a whisper, “Please don’t- don’t leave me like Si- like he did.”

You could feel your heart shatter, “Wouldn’t dream of it, darling.”

“I don’t know how I would’ve survived in this mess if I had never known you.”

Your breath came out ragged as you spoke the truest words you've ever dared to speak, “My heart beats for you, Regulus.”

30 December 1979

His forearm itched.

It seemed to always have an odd itch ever since he was sixteen.

Regulus watched your form get closer, bundled in a thick overcoat and a dark blue scarf- Christmas present from himself- wrapped neatly around your neck. You were the picture of beauty, like a living doll with your soft smile and adoring eyes.

“My love.” You greeted him, leaning in to place a soft kiss against his cold cheek.

His eyes seemed distant, your only greeting a tight lipped smile.

Your eyebrows knit together, “Everything alright?”

Regulus nodded, his eyes swimming with a sadness so familiar, “Just taking you in.”

He pulled off his leather gloves, stuffing them deep in his coat pocket before reaching his hand out to hold your jaw, his thumb running across your skin. The action was comforting and you couldn’t help but close your eyes to savour the feeling of his thumb caressing your cheekbone.

You let out a small gasp when you felt him take your lips in a slow kiss. It was passionate, loving, yet there was a certain finality to it that had a shiver run up your spine in the most unpleasant way.

“I have the cruelest favor to ask of you, and I can only hope you’ll forgive me once I do.”

Your stomach dropped, “What do you mean, Regulus? What- what favor?”

“Please, try to understand-”

“What favor?”

“I couldn’t-”

“Tell me what the favor is, Regulus.”

Your voice had an edge to it that made him compose himself almost instantly.

He took a breath before speaking, his eyes looking off somewhere behind you as he spoke, “He’s getting stronger.”

You didn’t need to ask who this ‘he’ was, the tone made it very clear.

“He has these… horcruxes. Incredibly dark magic, I don't know how many but I know of one. It’s hidden and I’ve found out the location, I can destroy it I know I can but-”

His tone was hushed and your heart rate had started to pick up speed.

“But you don’t know if you’ll live to tell the tale?” You asked with a humorless laugh.

The look in Regulus’ eyes had told you, you were right.

“I can’t let him continue. If this could stop him, weaken him even, it’s worth whatever the consequence to myself may be.” He argued.

You pushed yourself further from him, “I can’t- I won’t lose you. No, there’s no way.”

His expression shifted into one of sorrow and pleading, “I have to.”

And you knew there was no changing his mind.

You bit the side of your lip anxiously, looking at the ground before asking, “And this favor?”

The heartbreak was almost palpable, his voice going raw.

“I cannot be fully prepared to do anything that is necessary to destroy this horcrux if-”

He cut himself off with an intake of breath.

“If I know you’ll be waiting for my return, if I know what I have to leave behind I may be tempted to not go through with my plan.”

You couldn’t help but feel and look horrified, “What are you asking of me, Regulus?”

He seemed to flinch at the tone of your voice, a tone you’d never used before and one he couldn’t name.

“I need you to obliviate yourself from my memory.”

It felt as though your chest had collapsed in on itself, “I-I couldn-”

“You have to!” Regulus cried, his arms gripping the sides of your face as you couldn’t help but let a choked sob escape from your lips. “It’s the only way I’ll be able to go through with it, I can't know that there’s a possibility of leaving you.”

“Please, Regulus, you can’t ask this of me.” You choked out, searching his eyes for some sort of humor, something that told you it was all a cruel joke.

He pressed his lips against your forehead, both of your eyes closing as you two took in short, ragged breaths.

Everything seemed darker. The flowers in the Black garden were cold and dead, the snow wasn’t snow at all, instead dangerous sheets of ice. It was then you realized the war, the death eaters, everything had become so real.

“There is a letter on your bed at home, I’ve settled everything for you. I’m going to stand against the pillar, my back to you, and you are going to do it from behind the hedges so we won’t see each other after. You need to leave once it’s done alright?”

You nodded solemnly, knowing there was no use in fighting it. The cause was bigger than you, bigger than Regulus. Everyone made sacrifices, this just had to be yours.

“My heart beats for you, Y/n, whether I know it or not.”

“And mine for you, Regulus.” You smiled sadly, pulling his wrist up to your face and pulling back his sleeve to reveal his dark mark, pressing a kiss to the skin you spoke, “You aren’t them, you never were and you never will be.”

Regulus smiled but said nothing as he lowered his arms and put his gloves back on. With slow steps he walked to the pillar and looked back at you one last time.

“I’m just taking you in.” He whispered, before slowly turning.

You took your wand from your coat as you took even slower steps to stand just far enough for him not to notice you after it had been done. Regulus felt his resolve crumble with each crunch of your boots against the frozen ground, his eyes screwed shut- tears rolling down his face freely- as he prepared for what was coming.

With a shaky hand you raised your wand.

“Obliviate.”

Present

Sirius seemed to be thrown back from the pensieve, as if the memory had rejected him from viewing any longer, still sensitive. He felt an odd tickling sensation run down his cheek, his hand raising to brush away a stray tear as he fell into a nearby chair.

He never knew…

***

You pushed open the backdoor of your small home, the warm scent of cherry trees welcoming you. The sun was just barely starting to set as you looked off into the horizon of the vast field of trees, if you looked long enough you could make out the handsome silhouette of a boy you once knew sitting up in a cherry tree.

Only a few short months later, the lone figure would be joined by another… a brother.

tags:

@amourtentiaa

@vsawyer1989​

@lifeofkaze

@siriusement

@erinruby003

@maybesandohnos

@onlyfreds

@tayyx

[cupboardgods]

Hi former grants person here again. Reblogging this so that my previous post above about US arts grants sits at the top the notes. Hopefully it helps some artists in these trying times.

Furthermore!!!!

The status quo has shifted. This week, the current administration just tried to put a freeze on all federal grants. Universities, healthcare, and welfare programs were all discussed in the aftermath as potential victims of the freeze--in the handful of articles I read, arts funding was not mentioned, but it's absolutely still at risk. IMO everyone should be concerned.

The National Endowment for the Arts, the largest funding entity for art in the US, gets barely 0.003% of the annual budget (about $200 million). 80% of that gets regranted out all over the country, including a significant portion in rural areas. It's not even close to being enough money and the annual increases are meager. Regardless, that funding has a huge amount of impact.

Conservative administrations have tried to get rid of the NEA for decades under the guise of "budget cuts" (again, it gets ONLY 0.003% of the annual budget). But really it's because an NEA grant has the potential to fund art that doesn't align with their ideologies.

The freedom to create art without restriction or subjugation is symptom of and important for maintaining a healthy populace and functioning society.

Post is still long...continues under the cut

Publicly funded art might not be higher priority than [insert program here], that doesn't mean it isn't important at all. It's closely tied to the wellbeing and values of the people in this country. Fascism and nationalism intentionally attack freedom of expression and aesthetics for this reason.

Alsoooo, Trump just reinstated his 2020 executive order demanding all new federal buildings must be designed in the neo-classical architecture style. That's straight up Nazi shit. And he reinstated this EO on his second day in office. Obviously they know the power in controlling aesthetics. This order was controversial when it first came about--it has a lot to do with enforcing regressive and "traditional values."

Grants programs still exist in this country at local, state, and national levels, for now*. Arts grants also often have DEIA missions attached to them, which should be an incentive for pretty much anyone to apply**. In my experience, until extremely recently, having DEIA criteria in your grants program was an almost necessary way to grow your regranting budget! It was one way to prove you were worthy of donations or taxpayer dollars. Grants also have the potential to fund more artists outside of the mainstream, particularly if there's no for-profit component.

So what can you do? (other than vote or talk to your representatives)

We want to demonstrate that artists of any discipline are plentiful, diverse, and deserve to be paid like any other worker. We want to prove that there is need for arts grants.

Artists/Dancers/Singers/etc.:

Make contact with your local arts councils and tell them what you need

Participate in the programs that might be available right now to you as an arts professional, like webinars and meet and greets

Participate in surveys that gather data about artists

Apply for shows, residencies, and open calls at arts organizations

Apply for grants! Make sure you go to information sessions if they have them! There's usually a friendly grants manager or associate who can answer your questions over phone/email too.

Follow grantmaking orgs on social media for job openings and application info. Sign up for their newsletters too.

Everyone:

Visit publicly funded cultural festivals, galleries, concerts, shows, etc. Especially if they're being offered for free.

Use your library. Go to parks. Enjoy the public art there.

Consider donating to grantmaking organizations or buying a membership to your arts council if they offer it

Follow arts orgs on social media

Go to small public events too, like community choir recitals or children's theater

*There are also nonprofits and foundations that will give grants that aren't entirely reliant on public money. But if the government starts cutting things, private/corporate sponsors will too.

**DEI initiatives put just as much emphasis on a person's gender or veteran status than it does on race/ethnicity. They might also consider other demographics like age, economic status, sexuality, professional background...it can be a long list. Read paperwork carefully and use it to your advantage when applying.

Tl;dr: The government will absolutely try to take away arts funding, but if you apply for grants and go to publicly funded arts venues/classes/events it will be much harder for them to make cuts.