#and it might be! and that would be totally on brand for brennan! and it also might not be!

[nearisqueer]

i just remembered dimension 20 has a dedicated lore keeper. For me, this is the final nail in the coffin and I do think I'm a quanglican now

[auburnfamilynews]

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Down go the champs

SEC football is back in all it’s glory. For some schools, football being back was awesome as they watched their teams start the 2020 campaign with a W. For some, it was fun to see their favorite programs play but disappointing to start the year off with an L. Then there were LSU fans....

The Bayou Bengals became the first defending champs to lose their season opener since 1998 when Notre Dame fell to Michigan. Turns out replacing a Heisman winner, both coordinators, most of the offensive line, top three wide receivers, top running back and the majority of defensive starters is kind of a big deal.

Also, it turns out Mike Leach and his Mississippi State Bulldogs are ready for SEC defenses.

With one data point now available there were some shakeups to this week’s rankings. Let’s take a look. Also a quick note, I decided to drop FEI because it doesn’t appear those rankings are being updated on a weekly basis.

#1.) Alabama 1-0 (—)

SP+: 3 | FPI: 2

Last Game: 38-19 W @ Missouri

I admit that I watched exactly 2 snaps of this game so I don’t have much to offer in the form of analysis. It appears the Crimson Tide took care of business and then cruised to the finish line. Najee Harris scored three touchdowns, Mac Jones was efficient and Jaylen Waddle is still impossible to cover. Not sure there’s a ton to takeaway from this game for either team except that the Tide aren’t going to be surprisingly bad. We will learn more this weekend when the Aggies come to town.

Next Game: vs Texas A&M

#2.) Georgia 1-0 (—)

SP+: 4 | FPI: 6

Last Game: 37-10 W @ Arkansas

Per 247 Composite, there are sixteen former 5-star recruits on Georgia’s 2020 football roster. That’s the most of any program. More than Alabama, Ohio State and Clemson. It’s more than Auburn, Florida, Texas A&M and Tennessee combined. They opened the season with a road trip to Fayetteville to take on a Hog program stuck in the mud. A program with only four more 4-star players than UGA 5-stars.

And yet...

Hilariously, Arkansas took a 7-5 lead into halftime. Redshirt D’Wan Mathis did not look ready for collegiate football and it took the insertion of walk-on Stetson Bennett for the Dawgs to finally take care of business. The offensive line did not look it’s former dominant self either. The biggest question facing UGA heading into 2020 was whether or not this offense could take the next step. So far, it ain’t looking good....

But it might not matter. After allowing a 7 play 91 yard touchdown drive, UGA’s defense allowed only a field goal while picking off Franks three times including taking one back for six points. That’s why I still have them in the #2 spot over the Gators. This offense might not be great again but this defense is good enough to prevent a total meltdown. This weekend will tell us a lot about what this Dawg team is capable of accomplishing this fall.

Next Game: vs Auburn

#3.) Florida 1-0 (—)

SP+: 8 | FPI: 9

Last Game: 51-35 W @ Ole Miss

The University of Florida Fighting Kyles lit up the scoreboard in Oxford over the weekend. Kyle Trask threw for 416 yds and SIX touchdowns Saturday. WR/TE/Freak Kyle Pitts caught 8 of those passes for 170 yards and 4 touchdowns. Needless to say, Ole Miss fans won’t be naming any kids Kyle in the near future.

But while the offense was spectacular, that Gator defense had some serious struggles. I expected Ole Miss to put some points on the board but I didn’t see 600+ yards coming. The main concern I had about this UF team heading into 2020 was whether or not this defense was good enough to slow folks down. As of now, that question remains unanswered. It will be interesting to see how they look against an ok South Carolina team this weekend.

Next Game: vs South Carolina

#4.) Auburn 1-0 (+1)

SP+: 6 | FPI: 7

Last Game 29-13 W vs Kentucky

Auburn had the 2nd best win of the weekend taking down a veteran, physical Kentucky squad. The Wildcats controlled the first half for the most part but the Tigers dominated the 2nd half and were able to come away with a somewhat comfortable win.

Bo Nix looked good in his 2020 debut and Seth Williams is gonna be a problem for a lot of defenses this fall. Defensively, Auburn got knocked around early but settled down in the 2nd half. The big question is still the offensive line which performed admirably in their season debut but must improve if the Tigers are going to end that awful drought in Athens on Saturday.

Next Game: @ Georgia

#5.) Mississippi State 1-0 (+7)

SP+: 38 | FPI: 35

Last Game: 44-34 W @ LSU

Ok so I got a lot of apologizing to do to State fans. I thought this State team would be pretty bad this year. Sure Leach added an outstanding grad transfer at QB in K.J. Costello over the off-season but cmon... This Mississippi State team isn’t exactly overflowing with talent especially at the skill position (sans Kylin Hill). And that defense lost some major contributors and are switching to a brand new scheme. They will be luck to win 3 games I thought...

Welp....

Turns out this team is ready to create mayhem in the SEC. Costello carved up that vaunted DBU secondary and if he hadn’t kept turning the ball over this game might have been a legit blowout. Costello set the single game SEC passing record throwing for 623 yards and 5 touchdowns. Three State players crossed the century mark including star tailback Kylin Hill.

I don’t know how this season goes for Mississippi State but it’s definitely going to go much better than I expected. Gotta give an immense amount of credit to Leach and his coaching staff. They came out ready to go and made a massive statement this past weekend.

Next Game: vs Arkansas

#6.) Tennessee 1-0 (+1)

SP+: 24 | FPI: 30

Last Game: 31-27 W @ South Carolina

I picked Tennessee to lose this game but the Vols were able to make less mistakes than the Cocks and a few more big plays to escape with the W. It wasn’t necessarily an impressive performance but it was effective. The Dawgs look vulnerable and Tennessee has more talent than Kentucky. Can Jeremy Pruitt capitalize and make that final game of the year against UF the de facto SEC East championship?

Next Game: vs Missouri

#7.) Texas A&M 1-0 (-1)

SP+: 19 | FPI: 19

Last Game: 17-12 W vs Vanderbilt

Technically, Texas A&M won Saturday. But if anyone ventured over to the SEC Alternate channel to watch this cluster of a game, you probably didn’t come away super impressed with the supposed top challenger to the Tide in the West.

Turns out Kellen Mond is still Kellen Mond. That offensive line is still pretty bad and losing all that WR production is not easily replaced. I don’t think things are going to go well in Tuscaloosa this weekend....

Next Game: @ Alabama

#8.) Kentucky 0-1 (—)

SP+: 43 | FPI: 27

Last Game: 13-29 L @ Auburn

For one half of football, it looked like the Wildcats had a shot at living up to the preseason hype. Maybe this is the year they could go on the road into an SEC West venue against a ranked opponent and get the W. Then the 2nd half kicked off...

A disastrous 4th quarter resulted in a frustrating L for Big Blue Nation and they don’t get to lick their wounds. An explosive Rebel attack is set to visit Lexington and if Terry Wilson doesn’t get those turnovers cleaned up they could very well be 0-2 this time next week. I still think though this is top 3 team in the SEC East. We will see if they can get right against the Lane Train.

Next Game: vs Ole Miss

#9.) LSU 0-1 (-5)

SP+: 25 | FPI: 13

Last Game: 34-44 L vs Mississippi State

Turns out you can’t just easily replace literally your whole organization following a national championship. Weird huh?

It didn’t take long for LSU fans to learn that the Myles Brennan and Bo Pelini hype ain’t for real. The Tigers new QB struggled much of the day and wasn’t helped by drops and a porous offensive line. Pelini refused to switch out of his man defense and allowed Mike Leach to put on a clinic on how to beat it over and over again. There are some serious problems on this LSU team and I don’t know if they can all get fixed in the coming weeks.

Fortunately, a trip to play a not very good Vanderbilt team should get Ed O back to .500. However, if LSU wants any shot at a repeat they gotta find a way to adjust to this new world.

Next Game: @ Vanderbilt

#10.) Ole Miss 0-1 (-1)

SP+: 44 | FPI: 37

Last Game: 35-51 L vs Florida

I honestly didn’t wanna move Ole Miss down a spot it just kinda happened. The Rebels showed they are exactly who I thought they were over the weekend. An explosive but inconsistent offense paired with a very bad defense. The Rebels are going to give DCs around the SEC headaches but they are going to need some stops on the other side of the ball if they wanna string together any Ws. Big opportunity to make a statement this weekend against a frustrated Kentucky team.

Next Game: @ Kentucky

#11.) South Carolina 0-1 (—)

SP+: 34 | FPI: 40

Last Game: 27-31 L vs Tennessee

South Carolina has mastered losing to Tennessee in frustrating fashion. They fought to the bitter end but a punt off the backside of a blocker ended any opportunity of a dramatic finish. Offensively, South Carolina looked ok. It’s clear outside of Shi Smith this team is lacking in terms of play makers. This Saturday is a must win for Coach Boom.

Next Game: @ Missouri

#12.) Missouri 0-1 (-2)

SP+: 48 | FPI: 42

Last Game: 19-38 L vs Alabama

As I said above, I didn’t really watch this game so I got nothing really to say about this Mizzou squad other than they covered and that’s all that really mattered.

Next Game: @ Tennessee

#13.) Vanderbilt 0-1 (+1)

SP+: 110 | FPI: 68

Last Game: 12-17 L @ Texas A&M

They did their darndest to pull the stunner but then they are also Vanderbilt so of course it didn’t happen. I was impressed overall with the Dores performance though and rewarded them with what will likely be their highest ranking of the season. No way LSU loses this game too right?

Next Game: vs LSU

#14.) Arkansas 0-1 (-1)

SP+: 75 | FPI: 59

Last Game: 10-37 L vs Georgia

For one half of football, Arkansas stood toe to toe with one of the giants of the SEC. Hog fans rejoiced that maybe just maybe Sam Pittman was going to do the impossible. Then reality hit like a train in the 2nd half...

Outside of a few skill players on offense and the best named linebacker in the country in Bumper Pool, this program is devoid of SEC caliber talent. Feleipe Franks is still not a great quarterback. With Mississippi State not being the dumpser fire as hoped, I am not sure there’s a W on this schedule for the Hogs....

Next Game: @ Mississippi State

War Eagle!

from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2020/9/28/21458459/sec-power-rankings-week-2

[jq37]

**spoilers for sophomores and stagecraft the NYC Fantasy High Live Show**

I never actually got an ask explicitly asking for this recap so I didn’t do one because I’ve been super busy but I wanted to do a quick post on it before I go fully in The Unsleeping City mode. This is all off the top of my head.

I know we kinda knew the gang went back to school after S1 because of the little epilogue they had but that's still so wild. Imagine getting arrested and slaying a dragon and almost dying (and *actually* dying in some cases) and then having to go back and be a Sophomore with a bunch of kids who, as far as we know, have little to no practical experience (except the 7 Maidens who kick ass and not only slayed a dragon but did it for no reason except they felt like it, which is metal as hell).

Sidenote: I was gonna say "a bunch of kids who might as well go to Mumple," and as I was considering it, I realized that it's never actually explained what exactly that school's deal is. But it's such an unpleasantly named school that you're immediately like, "No thanks. Hard pass."

IDK if BDG watched the full FH season before he played or if Brennan just briefed him really well but he matched the tone and the setting from the first word out of his mouth. Him going up to the gang and being like, “You’ve done murder, right?” was just like an instant hall of fame line for me.

And all the regular cast slipped right back into their roles so well. They may not have remembered all of their spells and attacks but they remembered all the character stuff 100%

Possibly my fave line of the night was when Aguefort bamfed out of the room and Siobahn did a little leaning on the fourth wall, “He just did a teleport spell. The rest was flavor.” It was so smooth. 

My headcanon of Adaine’s life being mildly inconvenienced by random visions when she’s trying to, like, have her damn breakfast is validated. 

Oh, the other great Adaine line in this ep was when Falinel was trying to get her back and was like, “I get that you’re a teenager,” and she was like, “Do you?”

Also, I think it’s funny that Brennan didn’t expect Adaine to use the identification spell, even though the whole story hinges on the the gang fighting a monster using a powerful magical item that none of them recognize. 

“Don’t Emily Axford me on the live show.” She’s a verb. I love her so much.

Brennan explains that Fig and Riz are touring and “in deep cover” respectively and, hilariously, no one is very curious about the second thing at all. It’s like, “Same shit as usual.”

So Kristen’s highlights. Because I think doing this person is easiest for my memory.

Kristen is having ANOTHER crisis of faith and, this time, her tentative solution is to change Yes! to Yes? Which doesn’t help at all and arguably makes things worse because now her spirit guardians are a bunch of annoying philosophy majors (because Brennan loves dunking on himself as much as I love dunking on him).

Tracker MVP Line: I feel like if you don’t want to join a cult, Crossfit is a bad call.

Kristen playing the gay card to get Adaine to walk into her room (“Come in and be an ally. Are you an ally?”) and then Ally announcing that she and Tracker are both naked has equivalent energy to that scene in Critical Role where Percy knocks on Vex’s door and Laura gleefully announces that she opens the door buck naked.  

Gorgug is the most naive of the Bad Kids and also most likely has the most comprehensive knowledge of sex stuff which is hilarious to me. The duality of man.

Toss-up favorite Gorgug moments were his constant, “He’s doing it!” to Hargis’s awful acting and him grabbing the wig from Iris and turning into a cloud of gnats wearing tiny wigs (which Brennan allowed at the audiences).  That second thing was such an off the wall bonkers choice. That was like an Emily choice. 

Oh, there was a moment when he got hit by a charm ray and everyone went, “Awwww” and then Zac went, “I’m immune,” and everyone went bonkers. I cannot stress how wild the energy in the room was. 

Also, during Gorgug’s intro when his parents are like, “We’re just super happy you haven’t died and gone to hell yet so far.”

Fabian’s whole conversation with Cathilda about his mom attempting to use the kitchen was gold. 

Likewise, the whole interaction between him and Gilear was AMAZING. Fabian and I had the exact same reaction to hearing his engine was full of bees.

Sidenote, I love that he hates that Gilear is dating his mom and has zero self awareness that he’s doing the exact same thing with Adaine’s sister.

Lou/Fabian wasting good rolls on pure flavor is very on brand. 

The best thing about Fabian is he’s entertaining when he’s succeeding big and he’s entertaining when he’s failing big. 

Oh, my fave Fabian line I think is when Hargis comes in and is like, “You’ve murdered, yes?” and everyone is like yeah except for Kristen and he’s like, “OK but you’ve facilitated a lot of murder. You’ve blessed me to commit murders several times.”

Aguefort totally DESTROYS Gorgug when he tries to point out that maybe the school isn’t being run in the safest way and it’s amazing. 

Also, Brennan as Aguefort prompting everyone to yell, “Chronomancy!” was very fun. 

Truly, the most iconic moments of the session were BDG’s nat 20 roll to fool Iris as Professor Bargis (I can’t believe we got truly the only scenario where that worked because I thought he was doomed), Gorgug making his dex save for petrification (s/o to riz-gukgak) and then throwing out that “to be or not to be”, and Brennan grinning and slowly lowering his laptop screen because Hargis just did a one liner and killed the boss. 

This is really far down for this comment but I really didn’t expect Adaine to pull the wig right when she did and trigger the combat. I mean, if she hadn’t, it would have run even later and I got home pretty late as is, but I really thought there was gonna be at least one conversation between the Id-ing the wig and the fight.

Sidenote: My fave Bad Kid dynamic is that everyone is constantly ganging up on everyone. It’s exactly how I remember all my friend groups in high school being. 

Adaine makes very good use of spells like Tasha’s Hideous Laughter and Ray of Sickness. They’re like her go-to’s and they’re really low level. 

Did Brennan write this villain just the make fellow teen jokes and to have a valid reason to say, “You snatched my wig?” Discuss.

This is way longer than I intended. 

Anyway, as good as it the show was (and it was amazing) the wildest part for me is always gonna be that, after the show, I met Brennan and got confirmation that he has a tumblr, that was his account on that one post, and he is aware that I dunk on him on the regular. Truly not information I thought I was going to get when I started doing these and yet here we are. The internet is wild y’all. 

[orbemnews]

Lastly in 3-D: A Dinosaur’s All-Goal Orifice The world’s oldest identified all-purpose orifice sits in a fossil show case within the Senckenberg Pure Historical past Museum in Frankfurt, Germany, so near the glass that enshrines it you can “put your withstand it, like this,” mentioned Jakob Vinther, a paleontologist on the College of Bristol in England, holding his hand a pair inches from his nostril. It belongs to a Psittacosaurus, a beaked, dog-size, leaf-munching dinosaur that lived greater than 100 million years in the past. And it’s not technically an anus, despite the fact that it generally functioned like one. It’s a cloaca: a multifunctional outlet named for the Latin phrase for “sewer,” by means of which some animals — together with a menagerie of recent birds, reptiles, amphibians and even just a few mammals — can defecate, urinate, copulate and/or extrude their offspring or eggs. Now, that orifice’s opening, which was flattened throughout its fossilization, has been reconstructed right into a three-dimensional mannequin and revealed Tuesday within the journal Present Biology. Shut examination of the Psittacosaurus’s prehistoric privates recommend that the cloaca is considerably crocodilian, however continues to be distinct amongst identified nether areas. “It’s at all times sort of a uncommon present after we get smooth tissues like this preserved,” mentioned Armita Manafzadeh, a vertebrate paleontologist at Brown College who was not concerned within the research. The pristine Psittacosaurus fossil that served as the idea for the brand new 3-D mannequin was unearthed in China a long time in the past. The animal’s physique remained astoundingly intact by means of the eons, retaining even shreds of delicate, scale-studded pores and skin and a freckling of pigment. Whereas inspecting it for an additional research, Dr. Vinther was struck by its cloaca — an anatomical space shrouded in thriller amongst dinosaurs due to a scarcity of viable tissue. The Psittacosaurus’s posterior physique, Dr. Vinther realized, was simply intact sufficient to piece collectively a three-dimensional illustration of the cloaca’s opening, or vent. He recruited the assistance of Robert Nicholls, a paleoartist, to aim the reconstruction. He additionally reached out to Diane Kelly, a biologist on the College of Massachusetts Amherst who specializes within the evolution of genitalia, to parse the purposeful implications of their discover. Dr. Kelly spent an extended afternoon in her establishment’s pure historical past collections photographing preserved animal rear ends, from amphibians to reptiles to birds, then turned her lens on the again ends of a buddy’s stay chickens. What she couldn’t discover in particular person, she and her colleagues scavenged on-line, till the staff had amassed a hefty survey of the identified cloacal panorama. (Conspicuously absent from the roster are the vast majority of mammals, together with people. “We’re the odd ones out right here,” Ms. Manafzadeh mentioned. “We have now bizarre further holes.”) Most vents appear to be nondescript slits — some horizontal, others vertical — or rounded holes, generally shrouded by a wrinkly wreath of pores and skin or a smattering of scales, Dr. Kelly mentioned. The Psittacosaurus selection may need been a bit extra adorned. The staff’s reconstruction confirmed that the vent was possible flanked by a pair of dark-colored lips, pinched on one finish and flared on the different, making a type of drawn-curtain look. “In some ways, I might say it’s distinctive,” Dr. Vinther mentioned of the reconstructed vent. “Having a cloaca isn’t just, ‘Gee whiz, right here’s a cloaca.’ It’s totally different from any dwelling group we all know of.” Maybe the closest analog is that of the crocodile, whose vent is ornamented with lips that pinch collectively at each ends, as an alternative of fanning out tailward, Dr. Kelly mentioned. The similarities have been hanging sufficient that the researchers proposed that, like crocodiles, the Psittacosaurus may need sported odor-rich musk glands on both aspect of its vent, wafting out a pungent fragrance to draw mates. The darkish coloring of the lips, set in opposition to the backdrop of the animal’s pale underbelly, may need additionally served as a sexual beacon for different Psittacosauruses. The researchers couldn’t draw agency conclusions concerning the cloaca’s inside. But when Psittacosaurus plumbing was extra crocodilian than not, it could be affordable to assume that the animal’s cloaca additionally harbored a penis or clitoris, as most up to date cloacas do. Amongst fashionable animals with a cloaca, solely birds have jettisoned the phallus as a sperm supply system, opting as an alternative for a type of fornication referred to as a cloacal kiss, wherein the male swipes his vent in opposition to the feminine’s whereas vigorously ejaculating. Dr. Kelly mentioned she strongly suspected that the majority dinosaurs would have been of the penis-toting selection: “For probably the most half, you probably have inside fertilization, you’ve some technique of sticking it in.” However the Psittacosaurus penis, if it existed, is lengthy gone, leaving little clue to the organic intercourse of the creature, or the way it may need copulated. Patricia Brennan, an professional in animal genitalia at Mt. Holyoke School in Massachusetts who was not concerned within the research, mentioned a penis-bearing cloaca was very possible. However she additionally identified {that a} bulging lobe, located between the lips of the Psittacosaurus’s vent, bore some resemblance to a construction that helps phallus-free male birds exuberantly expel massive volumes of sperm. “I’m 100% sure that not less than some dinosaurs had penises,” Dr. Brennan mentioned. But it surely’s potential Psittacosaurus was one which did away with the appendage. The researchers additionally discovered a fossilized lump of feces fastened within the Psittacosaurus’s fanny, a gratifying reminder of the cloaca’s versatility, Dr. Vinther mentioned: “It’s fairly good to seek out it, proper close to the place it’s supposed to return out.” Supply hyperlink #AllPurpose #dinosaurs #FINALLY #Orifice

[dailynewswebsite]

Partisan Supreme Court battles are as old as the United States itself

Because the nation mourns Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a partisan combat over her alternative begins. AP Photograph/Andrew Harnik

The framers of the Structure envisioned a Supreme Courtroom that might be largely outdoors politics, defending Individuals’ liberties. Alexander Hamilton, as an illustration, declared that “a restricted Structure … could be preserved in follow no different method than via the … courts of justice.”

Hamilton went on to clarify that the courts should “declare all acts opposite to … the Structure void. With out this, all of the reservations of explicit rights or privileges would quantity to nothing.” That was why the framers created the judiciary – particularly, the Supreme Courtroom – as a part of the Structure: so its authority would have the identical origin as the chief and legislative branches of presidency.

But battles over Supreme Courtroom nominations started not lengthy after the Structure took impact in 1789 and proceed to the current day. Most of them weren’t over beliefs or constitutional rules like these Hamilton set out, and even considerations about nominees’ potential involvement in corruption. As an alternative, they have been about partisan politics.

The statistical evaluation my undergraduate college students and I carried out at LaGrange Faculty reveals that many Supreme Courtroom nomination battles have been political – and sometimes trusted whether or not the president’s social gathering additionally had management of the U.S. Senate.

Again to the early days of america

Even George Washington – the very first president of america – confronted a political battle over a Supreme Courtroom nominee.

In 1795, Washington nominated South Carolina choose John Rutledge to be the chief justice. Rutledge had really been an affiliate justice of the Supreme Courtroom from 1789 to 1791, when he resigned to take a number one function within the courts of his dwelling state, that means he had already been Senate-confirmed.

However when it got here time for the Senate to vote on Rutledge’s reappointment to the courtroom’s most senior place, senators rejected him. After his nomination – however earlier than their vote – Rutledge had spoken out towards a treaty with Nice Britain, which Washington had supported and the Senate had simply ratified.

The Senate’s personal historical past experiences, “In turning down Rutledge, the Senate made it clear that an examination of a nominee’s {qualifications} would come with his political beliefs.”

Typically, battle was excessive: From 1844 via 1861, as an illustration, twice as many nominees have been denied the upper courtroom than have been confirmed.

Within the trendy period, a 1968 filibuster blocked Abe Fortas from changing into the nation’s first Jewish chief justice; Ronald Reagan’s nomination of Robert Bork was rejected in 1987; and Senate Majority Chief Mitch McConnell blocked Barack Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland in 2016.

Donald Trump’s nominations of Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh have been additionally politically charged – as will likely be that of his latest nominee, Amy Coney Barrett.

[Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.]

Most nominees are accredited

In a take a look at the Supreme Courtroom nomination votes via historical past, my scholar researchers and I discovered that 22.2% of the 153 nominations weren’t confirmed.

From 1987 to the current, 21.4% of nominees have been voted down, denied a vote or a listening to, compelled to withdraw below strain, filibustered or in any other case denied a spot on the Supreme Courtroom. That’s not a lot larger than the typical price of Supreme Courtroom rejections throughout the nation’s historical past.

From 1968 to 2019, 26.9% have been rejected or in any other case forged out, together with Fortas’ 1968 failed promotion. There’s nothing unusually partisan in regards to the present period. It’s typically enterprise as traditional for each events.

A key issue is politics

Our evaluation included 119 confirmations of a Supreme Courtroom nomination: 114 justices have served, and 4 affiliate justices – Edward White, Harlan Stone, Charles Hughes and William Rehnquist – accepted nominations to be chief justice, requiring a brand new listening to. One justice, Edwin Stanton, was confirmed in 1869 however died earlier than taking workplace.

Of those profitable nominations, 85.7% occurred when the presidency and the Senate have been managed by the identical political social gathering.

When totally different events management the White Home and the Senate, it’s a lot more durable to verify a nominee, regardless of how certified or sincere she or he could also be. Lower than half of all nominees to the best courtroom survive the partisan affirmation battles when the president’s social gathering didn’t management the U.S. Senate.

That matches with analysis executed by political scientists Charles R. Shipan and Megan L. Shannon, who discovered that “the length of the affirmation course of will increase because the ideological distance between the president and the Senate will increase.”

Most just lately, this occurred in 2016, when Democratic President Barack Obama nominated appellate choose Merrick Garland to the Supreme Courtroom. Republicans like Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch even cited Garland as a good selection who may get confirmed. However Republicans managed the Senate and refused to provide him a listening to. Senate Majority Chief Mitch McConnell claimed that the American folks – via their approaching presidential vote – ought to have a say within the Supreme Courtroom nomination.

However when Ginsburg’s dying created the very same state of affairs in 2020, McConnell promised a swift vote for any nominee the Republican president may current.

In overtly politicizing the Supreme Courtroom, McConnell defies the Founding Fathers however matches neatly into the historic pattern. A certified nominee from a president of an opposing social gathering struggles to make headway, however anybody proposed by a president of the identical social gathering can anticipate a speedy vote.

Editor’s word: The analysis described on this article was carried out with the help of LaGrange Faculty undergraduate college students Tamino Schoeffer, Yasmin Roper, Jaydon Parrish, Brennan Oates, Nia Johnson, Olivia Hanners, Hannah Godfrey, Natalie Glass, DeQueze Fryer, Madison Demkowski and Maalik Baisden.

John A. Tures ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de elements, ne reçoit pas de fonds d'une organisation qui pourrait tirer revenue de cet article, et n'a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

from Growth News https://growthnews.in/partisan-supreme-court-battles-are-as-old-as-the-united-states-itself/ via https://growthnews.in

[jasmineholiday]

Of course, in some states, and certainly at the federal level, granting clemency is a cumbersome process rather than a rapid response to an emergency. But most governors do have the power to release people without involving members of a parole board, and legal experts told HuffPost their biggest hesitation to do so involves electability. “You don’t need legislation. You don’t need a commission. You don’t need a parole board,” said Zeimer about the clemency procedure in New York state, where Cuomo has yet to grant any prisoners clemency during the coronavirus. “To me, it’s all about optics.” He said politicians don’t want to be seen as soft on crime, or risk the possibility of granting someone clemency who might reoffend despite that being very unlikely.“They’re more afraid of the one case where someone will go out and do something wrong than the people who will die in prison,” said Brand. “We may have one store broken into, but we might have hundreds of people who die.” Clemency is not only a way to curb the coronavirus outbreak in prisons, it’s an opportunity to reduce America’s mass incarceration system that keeps 2.3 million people a day behind bars to the tune of $182 billion dollars each year. It’s a chance to send a message that most people stuck behind bars are nonthreatening humans who have served more than enough time and don’t deserve to be held in prisons so packed that they can’t protect themselves from a global pandemic. Every day, Richard Lee Chalk prays that he’ll be let out of prison. He applied for clemency five months ago and now that there’s a coronavirus outbreak, going home is even more urgent. The 61-year-old has a heart condition and Type 2 diabetes, which means catching COVID-19 could be deadly. But even apart from his health and age, Chalk is the perfect candidate for clemency.

He’s spent more than three decades behind bars for a felony murder charge, even though he didn’t pull the trigger. Since then, Chalk’s become a mentor, taken courses on law and conflict resolution, and worked as a cook in the prison kitchen, making big meals for family visitation days.

“I have done everything possible during this incarceration to change from the person who I was when I came to prison to the person who I am today,” Chalk wrote in a message from prison.

He’s hoping New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) will release prisoners like him with health issues. But Chalk’s sister, Linda Luciano, worries about what could happen if he isn’t allowed to go home.

“Not my brother, or nobody else, deserves to die from this virus in prison,” she said.

Granting clemency to people like Chalk should be a no-brainer. Prisons are highly susceptible to an outbreak, and releasing people is the only surefire option to slow the coronavirus’ spread. And yet governors around the U.S. are not using their power to release people in any meaningful way, despite the fact that more than 40 staff and detainees in state and federal facilities have already been killed by the coronavirus, according to data compiled by UCLA School of Law.

While multiple lawsuits have called for the release of sick and elderly incarcerated people, legal experts say it wouldn’t be enough to stave off the public health crisis in prisons. Governors could use clemency to dramatically reduce prison populations — by letting out those who are imprisoned for minor violations, close to the end of their sentences, or who have pending applications that just need to be signed. But only nine have taken advantage of this power, albeit in minor ways.

Governors have the power to save lives. Instead, they’re showing political cowardice.

“If you don’t have the will to release people when literal lives are at stake, what does that say?” said Rachel Barkow, a faculty director at NYU School of Law. “I will blame the governor of my state when people die in prisons here. I will blame him because he had the power to do something.”

Public health experts have called prisons tinderboxes for outbreaks since people sleep mere feet apart and don’t have ready access to cleaning supplies, masks or soap. If prisons release more people, they’ll have more space and supplies to keep those still incarcerated safer ― ideally, enough to maintain social distancing and remain clean.

There’s already a legal mechanism to make this happen. In every state, incarcerated people can apply for clemency to be released or have their sentences reduced. In some cases, applicants have serious health issues and are looking for compassionate release. But in many instances, they are seeking clemency because their sentences are wildly disportationate to the crime they committed and they’ve shown growth and remorse behind bars.

In the majority of states, the governor has the sole discretion to approve applications, while in others, applications first go through a parole board that makes a recommendation.

Clemency is an act of mercy, but it’s also an important antidote to a criminal justice system that doles out harsh sentences for low-level offenses, particularly to men of color, and forces people to spend their lives behind bars for mistakes they made in their youth. Roughly one-quarter of prisoners nationwide are incarcerated for nonviolent offenses, some for minor parole violations, and 14% have served long enough sentences that they can no longer be considered a public safety risk, according to a report from the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law.

Yet despite all these compelling cases, and the fact that many governors have “almost unfettered power to grant clemency with the stroke of a pen,” according to Steve Zeidman, a professor at CUNY School of Law, they rarely do. And not even a global pandemic has changed that reality.

With the exception of Oklahoma’s governor, who released more than 500 people last year after the state downgraded certain nonviolent felonies to misdemeanors, politicians usually commute a small fraction of sentences relative to their state’s prison population. In Louisiana, the state with the highest incarceration rate in the U.S., the governor has only reduced 34 sentences throughout his four years in office — a step up from his predecessor, who only granted three during his term. In Arizona, which has the fourth-highest incarceration rate, the governor reduced only five people’s sentences in three years, and in 2019, New York’s governor granted zero commutations. Zero.

The situation is no better on the federal level, where President Donald Trump only reduced two people’s sentences in 2019.

Now, even as the pandemic spreads, governors from some states, like Arizona, have explicitly said they refuse to release any nonviolent offenders.

Even states that have let people go, such as California or Kentucky, have only released less than 4% of the total prison populations ― far from enough to stave off the spread of COVID-19.

Governors “are chipping at a margin in a way that just seems like it’s designed to say, ‘Look, I’ve done something,’ but not designed to protect public health or safety,” said Jessica Brand, the founder of a social justice consulting firm, the Wren Collective, and a former public defender. “It’s like patting yourself on the back for doing what you should have done a long time ago.”

She said if governors wanted to use their clemency power to save lives, they could halve their states’ prison populations without endangering the public.

It’s a given that governors should start by releasing the most vulnerable people from prison, said Brand, but there are other groups they could be let go as well, such as prisoners whose sentences are almost up and older people who have already served lengthy sentences.

In Florida, for example, almost 50,000 people are scheduled to be released in the next three years. In North Carolina, there are more than 3,000 people over the age of 55 who still have more than three years left on their sentences, though on average they’ve been incarcerated for close to two decades, according to data crunched by Brand and her colleagues.

“The 75-year-old asthmatic coming out of prison is not coming to attack you and your family,” said Barkow of NYU School of Law. “They are going to be peacefully resting somewhere.”

Governors could also grant people reprieves, which would pause their sentences, if they aren’t willing to commute sentences, Barkow noted. And especially from people who are close to their parole or release dates, they could fast-track existing applications that can often languish for years on a governor’s desk.

Of course, in some states, and certainly at the federal level, granting clemency is a cumbersome process rather than a rapid response to an emergency. But most governors do have the power to release people without involving members of a parole board, and legal experts told HuffPost their biggest hesitation to do so involves electability.

“You don’t need legislation. You don’t need a commission. You don’t need a parole board,” said Zeimer about the clemency procedure in New York state, where Cuomo has yet to grant any prisoners clemency during the coronavirus. “To me, it’s all about optics.”

He said politicians don’t want to be seen as soft on crime, or risk the possibility of granting someone clemency who might reoffend despite that being very unlikely.

“They’re more afraid of the one case where someone will go out and do something wrong than the people who will die in prison,” said Brand. “We may have one store broken into, but we might have hundreds of people who die.”

Clemency is not only a way to curb the coronavirus outbreak in prisons, it’s an opportunity to reduce America’s mass incarceration system that keeps 2.3 million people a day behind bars to the tune of $182 billion dollars each year. It’s a chance to send a message that most people stuck behind bars are nonthreatening humans who have served more than enough time and don’t deserve to be held in prisons so packed that they can’t protect themselves from a global pandemic.

But instead of seizing on this moment to reform a broken system through clemency, governors are cowering behind the shattered pieces.

If that doesn’t change, Chalk and others like him could pay a fatal price instead of spending their golden years with family.

“He deserves to come home,” said another sister, Geannie Chalk. “He’s been punished enough.”

[oscopelabs]

Lie To Me: The Multiple Personalities of Tom Waits’ Acting Career by Chris Evangelista

“I ain’t no extra baby, I'm a leading man.”

— Tom Waits, Goin’ Out West

Tom Waits lights up the screen. The minute the singer appears in a film, he brings with him a sort of atmospheric baggage—we may not know what character he’s playing, but we know him. We know that no matter what the film is, Waits will lend his own distinct, off-kilter brand of weirdness to it. Waits has been playing characters all through his musical career, the boozy troubadours and raspy-voiced noir loners who populate his songs are all engaging Waits creations.

Using his distinct, gravel-caked voice, Tom Waits conjures up boozy ballads designed to be played low at 3 a.m. and melodies that might echo off the broken-down rides of an abandoned, haunted carnival. His is an eclectic style, combining blues, jazz, cabaret, Spooky Sounds of Halloween sound effects tapes, and more. This distinct, unmistakable style goes beyond Waits’ musical accomplishments, finding its way into his acting in the two dozen or so film appearances the singer has made.

Waits doesn’t consider himself foremost an actor. “I do some acting,” Waits tells Pitchfork. “And there’s a difference between ‘I do some acting’ and ‘I'm an actor.’ People don’t really trust people to do two things well. If they’re going to spend money, they want to get the guy who’s the best at what he does. Otherwise, it’s like getting one of those business cards that says about eight things on it. I do aromatherapy, yard work, hauling, acupressure. With acting, I usually get people who want to put me in for a short time. Or they have a really odd part that only has two pages of dialogue, if that.”

Waits’ first film appearance was in Sylvester Stallone’s 1978 directorial debut Paradise Alley. It’s a small part, with Waits essentially playing a version of himself, or at least the self he presents in many of his songs. The character, Mumbles, shows up at a piano, twitching and crooning. “When was the last time you was with a woman?” Stallone’s character asks him. “Probably before the depression,” Mumbles says. “What are you saving it for?” Stallone shoots back in that garbled manner of speaking Stallone has perfected. “I dunno,” Waits replies. “Probably a big finish.”

In the grand scheme of things, this is a nothing part; it was intended to be a bigger role, but Stallone cut it down to little more than a cameo. Yet what made it to the screen is distinct because Waits makes it so. Stallone is very still in the scene, leaning on Waits’ piano like dead weight. Waits is a study in contrast, never sitting still, his eyes half open. It might even be considered too much acting. When asked if acting came naturally to him, Waits replied, “It’s a lot of work to try and be natural, like trying to catch a bullet in your teeth.”

Waits’ career was at an all-time-low following 1978. He had grown tired of the music industry in general, having released six albums with very little commercial success. Battling depression and alcoholism, Waits left Los Angeles for New York and began a period of reinvention. “I just got totally disenchanted with the music business,” he would say. “I moved to New York and was seriously considering other possible career alternatives...the whole Modus Operandi of sitting down and writing, and making an album, going out on the road with a band. Away for three months, come back with high blood pressure, a drinking problem, tuberculosis, a warped sense of humor. It just became predictable.”

Waits’ music became more avant-garde, more eclectic. And his film career and personal life took a distinct turn in the 1980s. In 1982, Francis Ford Coppola hired Waits to write the music for One From the Heart, a romantic fable that Coppola wanted to make as a sort of palate cleanser following the troubled production of Apocalypse Now.

“I looked forward to the challenge,” Waits said. “I needed something to stimulate my growth and development. The sole process of making music that would adhere to film was still something new to me. So it was a little terrifying. But working with Francis seemed like a good opportunity.”

It was on the set of One From the Heart that Waits would begin his relationship with future wife and musical collaborator Kathleen Brennan, who worked as a script analyst for the film. The two had previously met at a New Year’s Eve Party, but it was during One From the Heart that the relationship blossomed. “She was a story analyst. Somebody told her to go down and knock on my door and she did and I opened the door and there she was and that was it,” Waits said. “That was it for me. Love at first sight. Love at second sight."

One From the Heart would be a financial disaster for Coppola, but Waits and the filmmaker continued to collaborate. Coppola would cast Waits in small parts in his back-to-back S.E. Hinton adaptations The Outsiders (“I had one line: ‘What is it you boys want?’” Waits told Rolling Stone in 1988. “I still have it down if they need me to go back and re-create the scene for any reason.”) and Rumble Fish (“got a chance to pick out my own costume and write my own dialogue. Gotta nice scene with a clock.”)

Little by little, Waits was building a bit-part filmography, showing up in the background of films and stealing the show with little to no dialogue, catching the eye with his lanky frame and coiffed hair. Coppola would cast Waits again in 1984’s The Cotton Club. Waits plays the club’s MC, but most of his scenes were cut from a film that became more and more bloated during production.

Waits’ first big role would come courtesy of Jim Jarmusch’s 1986 Down by Law. Set in Louisiana, the film follows three convicts—John Lurie, Roberto Benigni and Waits—who escape into the bayou. Once again, Waits seems to be playing a variation of himself, or the self that he built through his musical career, although he insisted the character not be a musician. Instead, he’s a DJ. Waits’ inaugural scene kicks off with him creeping into his bedroom, trying hard not to wake up his sleeping girlfriend, played by Ellen Barkin. But Barkin’s character isn’t really asleep, and when we next see these two characters, she’s tossing Wait’s belongings out of their New Orleans apartment, disgusted with his philandering.

Waits spends the scene sitting on the bed, mostly silent as Barkin rages, tossing one vinyl record after another and hurling curses at Waits. Waits doesn’t fully spring into action until Barkin is about to toss his clunky, pointed, steel-tipped shoes. “Not the shoes!” he protests, sounding generally horrified. Later, he sits at the curb, his possessions scattered around him, slipping those shoes on. It is an overall commanding performance, illustrating that simple cameo appearances from the singer, while memorable, waste his natural hipster charisma. To put it simply, Waits is cool—the type of old-school cool that would likely come off as posturing if you caught someone trying it in public. Yet Waits makes it sing. His characters are perhaps never as cool as they think they are, yet the coolness is undeniable. These are the types of performances people want to emulate when young. You look at Waits’ ridiculous Frankenstein shoes in Down by Law and briefly think, “Where can I get a pair of those?”

In the somber, autumnal Ironweed, Waits plays Rudy, the physical embodiment of every boozy balladeer Waits has ever sung about, particularly in “The Piano Has Been Drinking.” (“And you can't find your waitress with a Geiger counter/ And she hates you and your friends and you just can't get served without her.”)

“I have a red nose, and I had a toothbrush in one pocket, a sandwich in the other. I don’t know why I got it, but I’m glad I did,” Waits said. The part found him playing alongside acting giants Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep. “Nicholson is really a diamond cutter,” Waits said. “He's a bank president and a bronc rider. He has a million stories; all of them are true. He’s a very generous actor, and he’s responsive, like a good musician.” The pair play off each other beautifully, with Waits not just holding his own alongside Nicholson but occasionally outshining him.

“At rehearsals, Tom Waits looked like any moment he might break at the waist or his head might fall off his shoulders onto the floor,” Nicholson said. “I once saw a small-town idiot walking across the park, totally drunk, but he was holding an ice cream, staggering, but also concentrating on not allowing the ice cream to fall. I felt there was something similar in Tom.”

Waits, who eventually would go to AA and get sober, likely was able to draw on his own alcoholism for the role. “[O]ne is never completely certain when you drink and do drugs whether the spirits that are moving through you are the spirits from the bottle or your own,” he told The Guardian. “And, at a certain point, you become afraid of the answer. That’s one of the biggest things that keeps people from getting sober, they’re afraid to find out that it was the liquor talking all along...I was trying to prove something to myself, too. It was like, ‘Am I genuinely eccentric? Or am I just wearing a funny hat?’”

At this point, Waits began to become highly sought after for film work. He would continue to take on eclectic, eccentric parts, like as a rough-and-tumble bush pilot in the 1991 drama At Play In the Fields of The Lord and an uncredited role as a disabled veteran in Terry Gilliam’s The Fisher King. “He was a friend of Jeff Bridges, basically,” Gilliam said. “[Bridges] said, ‘You ought to meet Tom.’ It’s funny because when I met him and even in the course of making the film, I’d never heard a Tom Waits record. I’d never listened to them at all. I just met him and liked him immediately. So into the film he went, and he was great. The studio was trying to cut him out. They felt it wasn’t advancing the narrative in any significant way so they thought that was things that could go. They were totally wrong.”

In 1992, Francis Ford Coppola made a play to save his struggling American Zoetrope studio with a lush adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The gothic costume drama gave Coppola and Waits an excuse to work together again, with Waits taking on the role of bug-eating madman Renfield. It was a distinctly un-cool part for Waits, yet he manages to steal almost every scene he’s in. He rants, he raves, he wears bizarre metal devices on his hands. Yet there’s a distinct humanity underneath the over-the-top madness, such as a scene where Waits’ Renfield disobeys his master Dracula to warn Winona Ryder’s Mina that she’s in danger. “Got to have a really meaningful scene with Winona Ryder. Not how I imagined it would be, though. Bug juice dripping from the corners of my mouth. Unshaven. Totally gray. Screaming behind bars. Not how I saw our scene together. But I tried to rise above it,” he told Image magazine.

At this point in his career, Waits was aging gracefully beyond his hipster youth into his 40s, in a sense turning into the older-seeming, more lived-in man his songs portrayed. In Robert Altman’s 1993 Short Cuts, adapted from the works of Raymond Carver, Waits plays a washed-up version of the younger, cooler individuals he had excelled at. He’s aging, alcoholic limo driver Earl, married to waitress Doreen (Lily Tomlin). “He seemed like someone I knew very well on a soul level,” Tomlin told The A.V. Club. “We did one thing I recall that would never read on camera: We ‘tattooed’ on our hands, at the base of the right thumb, the image of half a heart and when I’d pass him at the counter, we’d touch that part of each hand to the other and he’d say under his breath, ‘’Til the wheels come off.’” Waits also went method for the role, according to Tomlin: “Tom called me the first night after shooting, in his character of ‘Earl’ and spent maybe half an hour talking to me as ‘Doreen,’ as he supposedly drove around in the limo, which was Earl’s job. Tom did that for two or three more nights after work. Thinking he’d never do it again, I never was prepared to tape him and, each time he called, he was nothing if not filled with poetry as Earl.”

From there, Waits’ roles only grew more and more bizarre. He had wondered, “Am I genuinely eccentric? Or am I just wearing a funny hat?” around the time he quit drinking, but now he seemed to be firmly entering the “funny hat” zone of his acting career. In Mystery Men, he plays an inventor of non-lethal weapons who spends his free time trying to pick up women at nursing homes; in Domino, he appears as an exposition-dumping character known only as the Wanderer; Wristcutters: A Love Story finds him as commune leader in the afterlife; The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus reunited him with Terry Gilliam again to play the devil himself; and Seven Psychopaths had him playing a serial killer who loves rabbits.

The older Waits gets, the more he seems comfortable playing such wild weirdos. Perhaps he’s always been comfortable growing into that weirdness. Waits’ musical career was filled with sea change. He went from the lonely-heart, tears-in-my-beer crooning of his earlier albums to the banging-on-a-trashcan hullabaloo of 1983’s Swordfishtrombones. In 1999, Waits released Mule Variations, an album that, according to Rolling Stone, “rounded up his multiple personalities—barfly poet, avant-garde storyteller, family guy” into one place. Those multiple personalities spilled over into his acting career as well.

Waits is known for intriguing and eccentric choices as a musician —and that’s a recognition that should bleed over into his acting career. “I think most singers, when they start out, are doing really bad impersonations of other singers that they admire,” Waits once told NPR. “You kind of evolve into your voice. Or maybe your voice is out there, waiting for you to grow up.” For Waits, changing and evolving was like second nature. “The person that I saw changed every year,” said music producer and Waits friend Dayton “Bones” Howe. “His philosophy was, if I keep being a moving target, I can't get hit. He never wanted to be the same again in any way.”

[ive-always-been-a-pirate]

The Other Prince + A CS Modern Royalty AU [Chapter 5]

Modern Royalty AU: HRH Prince Killian has grown up in the shadow of the crown while enduring tragedy and the burdens of being the spare to the heir. With a desire to escape his past, he agrees to play host to the visiting general's daughter in exchange for an eventual life outside royal bounds. Moving on is never that easy though and he quickly learns that being the 'other' prince is even more difficult when you find yourself falling for the girl everyone wants your brother to marry.

Catch Up On Previous Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four Also on FF.net and AO3.

Word Count: 9,453

Okay, I'm sorry this took so long.  I got in that cycle of overthinking things and it ended up being much longer than anticipated! Future chapters won't be as long as this one, but I had lots of Killian feels in this one :) so hopefully you all enjoy it! Huge thank you to @optomisticgirl for her endless assistance and support on this story! As always, I own nothing. Happy reading!

The night had barely begun, but Killian finalized his decision with a fifth tug at his pressed sleeve - he hated this bloody suit. Truthfully, he'd never been particularly keen on being properly trimmed and tailored in general so the dismal conclusion wasn't really a wildly drawn one. Killian had spent his fair share of years finding ways around royal dress code, his preference of modern casual easily overlooked due to his charming smile and stellar sweet talking skills - or at least that's what he told himself. It was easy to see why looking so proper was important as a representative of his grandmother's monarchy, but still, that didn't mean he had to like it.

Perhaps it wasn't his current attire that was solely the source of his agitation he noted when the smooth traveling black BMW pulled up to the gates of Buckingham. He'd spent the few hours before sunset arguing with the brand new, trim-tailored, clean lined blue suit - an endeavor that earned a multitude of grumbles and a few countdown texts from his incessantly formal brother. Taking a final glance in the bathroom mirror, he smoothed the maroon and navy striped tie as he settled on what was really bothering him.

The event calling for his recently required clothes was one he'd been dreading for weeks now - a Royal Navy veterans' memorial ceremony where he'd most certainly spend the evening regaling his older brother's military heroism while squandering the need to sort out his own.

The idea that this was his fault on some level had crossed his mind once or twice since he'd returned home. He'd elected to take the route less selected by royals when he'd chosen the British Army instead of sailing the honorable seas. Breaking the tradition wasn't something he'd done by fear or a distaste for the open ocean, but rather a result of his stubborn need to move out from under his older sibling's shadow.

Of course, that was supposing that such a momentous feat was actually possible.

It wasn't that Liam's courageous dedication to the Navy was anything to balk at - his older brother had navigated the crown and their family through murky, troublesome waters several times. His victories were always discussed in bold terms, the admiration just about everyone seemed to have for the man just ahead of him in the succession line rarely something that wavered. Killian had always seen his big brother in that brilliant light, but as they grew older and Liam completed multiple seaworthy rescue missions, it became a lot more difficult to idolize rather than compare with him. The eventual king-to-be had a decent military based resume, but it didn't begin to compete with the near decade long career Killian had endured while flying through front lines of combat. There were certainly a few qualities and experiences that Killian could easily pull rank on, but it didn't really seem worth it to do so.

His brother would always have what he would never - and that plan had been put into place years before Killian was even born. Liam was the right sort of Captain through and through, a leader of the masses not just limited to the sea, but Killian - well, he had always been something a little more rogue.

"If I didn't know any better-" the familiar voice commented as it's owner approached Killian's side. "-I'd say you look mighty uncomfortable, brother. New suit not feeling as dapper as you'd hoped?"

Lifting his vexed eyes to address the man who owned those subtly chiding words and many others was probably overdue. He was, after all, almost a full hour into avoiding social obligation and the brother who so often reminded him about it. Killian knew that feigning surprise at Liam's approaching stance was futile - his only sibling was unusually adept at tracking him down.

"I'd beg to differ," Killian returned, mustering a bit of that second heir charm he reserved for bantering with his brother. "Just because I don't love wearing it doesn't mean I don't look dashing, your highness."

"Hey, don't start," Liam grumbled with a warning glare that slowly turned into knowing amusement, his hand lifting to adjust the collar of his own suit coat. "Besides, if you're looking that pretentious in this traditional get-up, it certainly means I am too, little brother."

Killian grimaced quickly, his agitated gaze narrowing as Liam's grin lit up. He couldn't help but bestow a light nudge to his brother's side and he tried not to grin too widely at the way Liam winced in dull pain. Victory swelled in the smirk Killian was holding back as he remembered their recent rugby scrimmage and recalling the way the high and mighty heir had taken hard hit to the ribs was almost enough to make him forget that they were currently matching in ways well beyond their stupid injuries.

Almost - but not quite.

The whole thing was merely another detail of these obligated events and one that he had lived to loathe since they were boys. Why two adult men needed to dress identically - everything from pressed slacks to the matching jacket with the two toned striped tie - just because they were royal was completely beyond him.

Wiggling his warm toes in his newly shined shoes, he knew it probably wasn't wise to mention to Liam that their attire wasn't totally the same. His older brother never possessed much patience for the subtle act of rebellion Killian insisted upon when it came to concealed footwear, but pulling on one of his many pairs of obnoxious socks was always a temptation not to be ignored. He'd settled on the blue ones with the little boats for this particular evening, knowing that they'd be at least somewhat relevant even if it wasn't completely proper.

"Glad you find my melancholy entertaining as always, Liam," he sighed with a defeated yet still small smirk. "But for the record, it's-"

"Younger brother - I know," Liam replied with a matching curve of his mouth, one that suggested they might be back on good terms. "It'd be a shame to spend the evening brooding in the corner though, Killian. It would probably be wise to hop to it before Cora says anything…."

Killian felt his shoulders straighten uncomfortably at the mention of the woman who'd just entered the large ballroom. The evening was tense and frustrating enough as it was without the presence of their arriving stepmother, but the deep breath he attempted to take seemed to insist that things were only about to get more difficult. Her entry into the esteemed venue commanded attention in a slightly admirable way that Killian still couldn't understand, but he couldn't help but take pride in the fact that she still didn't receive the pure adoration from the public that his mother always had. While she was respected in a specific manner, there always seemed to be an understanding hanging in the air - the quiet reminder that she wouldn't be there if the first wife of His Royal Highness Prince Brennan still was.

She was a replacement and Killian truly hoped she'd never forget that.

Killian held his ground as he watched her move toward them in a boldly red gown clad with a fake smile and jewels that were actually of her own procuring. Cora had come from her own line of distant royalty, a piece of information that Killian was grateful for ever since the first time he saw her sporting a modest diamond tiara. He had always believed his father wouldn't even consider offering her any of the beautiful jewelry that had been stored safely under lock and key since the day of his mother's funeral, but he also knew better than to not think twice about Cora's ability to manipulate. She'd used it to her advantage a few times since marrying into their family and he'd predicted it from the beginning. A tense fight with his father a few nights before the man wedded her was long standing proof of his distrust in the woman who didn't deserve to be any sort of Duchess.

"So that's it? You can just marry her without thought all while pretending that Mom….that she never even-"

"Killian, stop," he'd tried, his shoulders sagging in frustration. "That's not fair. That is not what this about and I think you know that, son."

"It doesn't make it right, not when you can just….forget-"

"I haven't, son," he told him, his voice cracking just enough. "I miss your mother and always will."

"Could have fooled me."

Killian knew he'd never forget the wide eyed reaction he'd earned from his father after uttering those four impulsive words. They'd been chosen angrily and had crossed a line never meant to be breached. He'd spend years trying to figure out how to redraw it, but the tense aftermath of that argument was proof that some things just couldn't be taken back.

Well, perhaps he'd known that for a while now.

"Killian, I just-," he'd said softly with his eyes honest and a watery blue. "It's just….easier that way. It's easier to not let the hurt consume what's left of me. She's gone, son - and I will fight the agony that encompasses that fact until I can understand just why it's any sort of fair….but I can't just….I can't spend the rest of my life being angry about it. I really wish you wouldn't either."

"I can and I will," he'd told his father with a stubborn, emotional voice. "Because she deserves to be remembered and missed every single day - and I won't let her down like….you are."

The pain rushing back alongside Killian's silent reminiscing still cut deeply and he tried to squander the shame roaming through his mind. Though they'd found their way back to a mutual understanding of loving respect, the tension invoked between Killian and his father had never fully smoothed itself out. The reminder of that was immediately brought forth as he caught the sight of the eldest prince. Their glances locked for only a moment - a quick acknowledgement of one another that seemed to somehow mean everything - and Killian felt his body relax as he watched the ailing heir apparent move into the grand ballroom.

Perhaps it wasn't so easy to tell that his father was still endlessly fighting off the effects of his poor health. It was simple enough for Killian and a few other members of the family to see the decline, but they'd spent time with him frequently enough to note the changes each day brought. It wasn't as if the world was oblivious to the man's medical history - they hadn't exactly made it a point to hide much of what the prince's heart had been through in the past. The first heart attack had been so sudden and stressful as it struck in the aftermath of his mother's death and the one that followed had nearly ruined him. The saga continued when multiple attempts for transplants and treatments had been fraught by even more trifling circumstances, ones that still made Killian's head ache with the 'what if' tones of possibility. His father had ended up with an illness on several occasions that prevented operating and there had also been the morning one of the scheduled surgeries was halted as the passing of the beloved Duke of Edinburgh - an honorable icon of the free world but more importantly the queen's husband and the father of the ailing prince - was announced the night before. That had all been years ago and while their family had not denied much, little more was volunteered in addition to what the press concluded.

It didn't mean the questions didn't cross Killian's mind multiple times a day, much as they did with the thoughts of others he supposed. How much time was left? How long would they have to wonder in terms of years and months? Would he still be there to take the place of the Queen when the time came?

Everyone speculated things of that nature often, but the details were vague - and perhaps it was for the best. Strength and consistency were part of what had made his grandmother such a coveted, successful monarch and the last thing they needed was to ignite a concern that the man who was supposed to ascend the throne next wouldn't be well enough to carry a finely crafted legacy.

"He's been looking better lately," Liam commented as they watched their father shake several hands. "Though I doubt he'd miss this even if we insisted."

Always the optimist, Killian thought without retort to his older and much more hopeful brother. Perhaps it was good to have the encouragement of an idealist hanging in the regal air. Perhaps it wouldn't be wrong to allow them both a fraction of positivity despite what was surely a nearing end.

Killian didn't believe it, but Liam needed it - and maybe that was the least he could offer the brother who'd done so much more for him.

"Aye," Killian nodded softly. "He's always been quite the Navy man."

The quiet comment came without much thought and Liam's chuckle almost made Killian forget about the broken spirit possessed by the man they were analyzing. Their father had actually cleaned up well - his garb stitched in the blue threads of the full naval apparel and his beard neatly trimmed. The usually immaculately clean cut man's hair was a bit longer than was typical for approval, but Killian knew no one would dispute such a minor detail. His eyes were still subtly exhausted, but his calculated movements were proof that he was going to fight through the discomfort for at least this one evening. Watching the way his multiple service medals hung on the fabric covering the space just above his weak heart was definitely a sight that made both Killian and his brother nervous, but seeing him as a formal Admiral of the highest rank was unexpectedly reassuring. The pressed, pleated uniform was a huge shift from the knit sweaters and casual pants he wore regularly since his condition had worsened.

"Still is to some degree," Liam told him with a gentle nudge and a brotherly smirk. "I'm glad he felt up to attending. There's supposed to be a few men he served with here tonight I believe, especially since Admiral Nolan is returning to command soon."

Killian cocked his head sideways at his brother's words. He'd heard the name of the man just mentioned a few times over the years, but most recently he'd caught the sound of it in reference to a naval training mishap not long ago. He didn't know the extensive details - only that a storm just off the coast of Scotland one afternoon had nearly claimed the man's life along with several others. Killian had watched many fellow men face injuries and had even witnessed the sudden demise of a fallen few while on the front lines, each tragic instance just as painful as the one before. Watching a comrade meet that thin line between life and death wasn't something he'd ever gotten used to and he felt a small sweep of relief float over him when he was told that the case of a man his brother obviously held in high regard wasn't as bleak as it could have been.

He didn't know the admiral in question, but he knew those tales of tragedy and the opposite outcome made him glad to see a heroic military man escape a fate less than victory.

"Alright, I'm going to go touch base with a few people and I suggest you do the same, brother," Liam nudged him. "I'll catch up with you in an hour or so - don't wander off too far, alright?"

"Aye, aye, Captain."

A swift slap of his arm wasn't enough for Killian to regret his sarcastic quip of agreement. His smirk held steady as he watched his brother disappear into the growing crowd of honorable sailors, the charisma he possessed definitely not something they'd equally inherited. Turning toward the large clock on the wall across the room as it hit the top of the hour, Killian made a quick decision.

He had about forty minutes before anyone would truly be looking for him - and that was plenty of time to indulge in the liquid courage he was going to need to make it through the evening.

Killian had always been rather fond of this particular part of the palace, even though the entire building itself wasn't high on his list of personal sanctuaries. He'd always found some sense of peace on the central balcony of the Buckingham courtyard - well, as long as it was dark out and the majority of the palace was otherwise occupied.

The elaborate space was renowned and Killian had spent his fair share of time enjoying the prestigious view. Of course, he had done so under much more social and unified circumstances before - always alongside the close knit collection of royals while displaying pride and unwavering faith in the crown. He wondered if his love for such a location came from his memories of being there with his family still intact all those years ago - Liam pointing excitedly at the planes overhead while their father grinned and their mother laughing as she'd tried to hold onto her squirming youngest son. No matter the reason, it was easier to stand in such a noticeable place at night now. That was mostly because the elevated terrace was almost concealed in the darkness courtesy of the granite overhang and multiple columns keeping the architecture stable, creating a sense of off limits tranquility. The space below was well lit, keeping the courtyard easy to navigate, but the balcony above was dim enough to pass for a sufficient quiet place. He rested his grip on the smoothly constructed stone railing as he soaked up the irony of hiding in plain sight. It was almost certain nobody would stumble upon him here.

"Well, aren't you a predictable sight?"

Killian felt the pressed fabric of his suit bind a bit, the material stretched thickly as he turned to peer in the direction of the intruding voice. The quickly approaching dusk wasn't helpful and he squinted slightly while his posture straightened in realization of just who would know to find him out on such a specific balcony.

"Gran," he breathed with a hint of a smile, nodding as she came fully into view. "You're back."

Her returned grin was a bit goading yet adoring as ever as she moved to join him on the well known terrace, her stroll slowed and oddly casual. She was dressed with typical pomp in a cream colored gown emphasized by a series of elaborate jewels and he nearly laughed as he realized that such clothing would have been accompanied by a perfectly matching hat if it were daytime. Instead, her graying hair was topped by a pristinely jeweled sapphire tiara - merely one from her collection of so many others - and Killian recognized it instantly as her favorite.

Of course, she'd never admitted to such an opinion, but she'd wore it frequently enough over the years that he and Liam had labeled it as the trademark 'Granny's crown' from very young ages.

"You missed me I take it," she decided, gesturing around the secluded dim balcony of the grand estate. "If you being out here is any indication."

Her eyes were set in an expressive way he'd seen often but never totally been able to decipher, a mix of amusement and slight disappointment while still bearing an emotion that could only be defined as sympathy. He had fallen victim to such looks of pity many times over the course of his life and from a variety of people - citizens from all over, distant relatives, sometimes even Liam, but most often from the longtime monarch herself. It wasn't that she felt bad for him, but more that she shared an understanding of the workings regarding the emotional roller coaster he'd never bought the ticket for but still ended up riding anyway. She'd always been a perceptive observer of his hidden sadness and it was perhaps because she carried a wealth of it herself. His grandmother had dearly loved the tragically taken princess from the instant the pair were introduced and seeing the toll that loss took on the family as well as the country wasn't an easy sight to behold, even for a remarkable woman who was sixty years into her reign.

"Always," Killian answered earnestly, accepting her gentle embrace and offering his usual peck on her cheek. "Dare I believe the same?"

"That I missed you? Well, I was hardly given the opportunity to before I caught news of just what you've been up to in my absence," she replied with a firm yet curious tone. "I suppose we should discuss that."

She looked almost as uneasy as he felt, but only for a moment until she let out a receptive sigh. He'd been trying to muster an excuse or a deflection since he'd heard she was headed home via voicemail from Liam that morning. There didn't really seem to be a proper way to make himself out to be innocent in this particular situation, but he knew he had to say something.

"I guess….but, I do want you to know that I didn't….I just-" he attempted, eventually shaking his head with a frustrated breath. "-I didn't intend to bring poor attention to us, especially not while you weren't here to reprimand me instead of Liam doing so. Trust me, I would rather it was you. I know it was….wrong though….and I didn't mean for this to be what you came home to, your highness."

"Well, no need to get formal now, Killian - it's only us here," she countered with a gentle smile. "I'm just trying to gather the facts, unfortunate as they may be."

"I know, Gran, but I'm sorry-"

"My dear boy, I'm not here for your apology," she assured him. "If there's one thing I've grown to find endearing about you, it's that vivacious spirit you inherited from your mother. She was the same in a way, you know."

The comment brought a familiar smirk to his mouth as he recalled a few circumstances in which his mother had broken royal protocol in her own style - everything from refusing the regular palace schooling program for her sons to her inability to keep from hugging the abandoned orphans on her service trips to illness ravished countries. She'd never really been one to do things by the regal book and while it had infuriated many of the traditional members of their elaborate government, Killian believed that it was part of what made her so relatable and easy to love.

After all, there weren't many other princesses who secretly wore tennis shoes beneath the occasional ballgown.

"Yeah," he said with a weak smile. "She was."

"Well, we've got a bit of time before the evening commences," she decided, taking a seat on the granite bench close by and patting the empty spot at her side. "So why don't you come tell me what this whole thing was about?"

Killian hesitated a moment, scratching behind his ear anxiously as a soft breeze drifted briefly across the balcony. He'd been teetering on some form of pins and prodding needles since the morning Liam retrieved him from the police station. The possibility of having to face accountability for his impulsive actions a few nights earlier had caused him to dodge his older brother with a hope that his guilty conscience would eventually drop away. He'd settled with the knowledge that it might not and in that case, he'd be facing off with Liam in a bantering battle he'd fought a few times before. Having to explain himself to the queen though - or rather, the temper driven and very idiotic version of himself - was a little more intimidating and Killian struggled to summon the hazy, hangover inducing memory of that evening as he staggered toward the open seat.

He hadn't planned on elaborating, but this was his grandmother after all - and this woman was always one to do the unexpected.

"I don't suppose it would help if I admit that I don't exactly recall most of what happened that night."

"It definitely doesn't assist your case in a positive way," she agreed. "But I like to think I'm a fair judge when it comes to the mild transgressions of my grandson, even if they've been largely misguided in the past. So what happened? As much as I typically trust your brother, I'd be a downright fool to believe that happened at an afternoon rugby match."

Her sight gestured toward the slowly healing cut on his lower lip and Killian tested the tender wound with a slight scrape of his teeth. It didn't hurt much anymore, but the frustration he still felt regarding the whole ordeal made him wonder just what sort of scar might remain afterward.

He realized silently that it might not be the sort that would merely mar his dashing good looks.

"I guess the fight started with Will Scarlet's thoughtlessly intoxicated mouth and ended with me stepping in when I shouldn't have," Killian started, glancing out over the darkened palace grounds. "It all got out of hand quicker than I expected it to, but when the insults directed toward our lineage started getting tossed about, I guess I just….had to do something."

"Ah, defensive to a slightly reckless degree then," she smirked. "I'd ask what was said, but I'm sure it's not anything I haven't heard before. I appreciate you being protective, Killian, but would I be wrong to say that I don't think this whole thing is about last night?"

He scoffed quietly, shaking his head in a light fashion. The night was already quite lightless, but she'd still somehow picked up on the presence of some underlying cause. It didn't surprise him all that much - his grandmother was intuitive to an almost unfair degree.

"I don't know what else it could be about," he lied teasingly, lifting an eyebrow in deflection. "Just that Irish temper you know."

"It's hardly fair to blame your late grandfather's heritage for such an outlandish evening, but I can take a hint I guess," she told him in return. "So I'll just say this - we both know I appreciate you doing your royal duty of keeping things interesting around here, but I'm merely going to request that you do so when I'm in the country, dear. Observing from a distance isn't nearly as timely, even with the news circulating through social media so rapidly."

"Ah," Killian said, silently grateful for her mercy. "Does this mean you've gotten the hang of Twitter while overseas?"

"I'm afraid the feud between that bird and myself is ongoing and I'll likely end up hiring someone to sort it out for me soon enough," she sighed with a small smile. "But I'd appreciate it if you'd be willing to lighten the publicity workload for a bit. It would be nice not to have to issue a statement on anything for a little while."

Killian let out a light breath of respite as he watched her gaze soften. He knew he'd never fully understand just why the woman with an unmatched sovereignty always tended toward leniency with him, but the hint of sympathy in her expression reminded him that he didn't need to comprehend it - he needed to be thankful for it. His grandmother had every right to scold him above and beyond everyone else, but once again, she was choosing not to. The tender grace in the moment was comforting and he nodded firmly in agreement.

"That's more like it," she grinned, patting his leg. "I ought to get inside I suppose. Your father is probably about ready to send out the corgis in pursuit of me if Liam hasn't done so already. You'll be along soon I trust?"

"Aye," he promised, helping her to her feet and kissing her cheek. "Good to have you back, Gran."

"Yeah, yeah," she bantered with a wave of her hand. "We'll see if you still feel that way once I put you to work."

"Oh?"

"I'd say it's about time for something new," she replied, considering him quietly. "Stop by garden lake tomorrow morning around nine and for lord's sake, make sure you do something about that hair on your face. I'm quite sure your brother might know where to get it trimmed up - or removed entirely, if you're open to my preference."

"A trim it is then," Killian countered with a clever grin. "See you then, Gran."

A quick wink was her only reply as she moved toward the doorway. Killian decided he'd find clarification on just what that little taunt meant later before he checked the time on the shiny silver watch he'd recently acquired, noting that his little segment of solitude was likely nearing its end. He knew he'd be expected to be present for Liam's welcome speech and his grandmother's remarks, both of which would probably be underway in roughly twenty minutes or so. Reaching back into his jacket pocket, he fumbled around for the metal flask he'd stowed there earlier. Surely a quick dose of rum would make him more amenable in regards to playing spare for a few more hours.

"Ugh, damn shoes…."

He'd barely uncapped the metallic container when he realized he wasn't alone in a search for temporary solace. The not quite casual sentiment was voiced in a bit of a breathless tone from the courtyard. The soft gasp that followed made him almost sure it wasn't meant to be heard by anyone, but it had gathered his attention despite his previous determination to ignore anything but the concealed libation he was hoping to drink. Killian rocked on his heels a bit before he moved toward the railing with a careful stride, his neck craning to see what was causing the noise from the enclosed area below.

His eyes widened fast before squinting back into focus and his heart quickened, its gentle beat suddenly keeping time with the clicking of shoes that weren't his as he leaned on the engraved barricade in concentration. Killian shook his head once, checking for some sort of a daze as he reminded himself that his view wasn't the work of an alcohol addled brain. Pressing his lips together in a fine line, he stared ahead with little disappointment that his plan to hide out hadn't been foiled by the Queen alone.

No, there was someone else who was apparently looking for the same breath of fresh air he'd been in search of - and she was much more unanticipated than anyone else who could have found him stowing away outside.

Her slow moving and rather intriguing figure was unusually easy to spot despite the lack of daylight in the open space just one flight below where he was standing. Killian's free hand rested gently on the smooth stone balustrades he'd clung to many times over the course of his royal upbringing as he watched her. It should have been more difficult to see in such concealed circumstances, but his curious eyes endeavored to take in the details of the woman who was some sort of stranger to a place he knew far too well. She didn't appear lost but merely stranded in a way he immediately understood and his brow knit as he tried to figure out why he was so instantly labeling her as a kindred spirit. She didn't seem like a royal and he was somehow positive they hadn't met before.

No, he'd remember a girl like this one. The strangely hypnotic sight of her made him sure of that.

It didn't take a keen observer to realize she was completely captivating, but a man with a watchful eye is certainly what she tempted him to be. Her hair was blonde and it tumbled down her back in waves that told a story he didn't know but longed to hear while several strands framed the face he wished he had a better view of. Her dress wasn't over the top - a feat to be admired after the various fashions he'd seen at these events - and the white material clung delicately to her slender body from her shoulders down to the cobblestones and concrete. The pattern it created along her arms and around her collar was harder to decipher beneath the cover of night, but he knew it completed the simple gown elegantly. They didn't typically encourage event guests to explore the courtyard without proper security close by, but Killian was struggling to be annoyed by this particular breach of the rules.

He'd come to the balcony for a few moments of nothing before expectation pushed him back into his second place role. He'd been hoping for some of that rare silence he managed to attain once in awhile and perhaps a quick drink to soothe the demons deep in his soul, but here he was instead - a man with unknown company in the form of this girl and her sense of subtle rebellion.

It didn't take long for him to realize that he had questions - ones that might take more boldness than he'd find inside of his flask. The thought had barely prodded him when he suddenly lost his option of alcohol as the suddenly slippery container tipped off the railing and dropped to the solid ground below with a faint clang.

Dammit, he scolded himself silently as a rush of hot embarrassment filled his cheeks. So much for grace and good form.

"Son of a b-...I mean, uh," a quavering yet sweet voice started, the sound of pure curiosity meeting his ears. "Is….someone up there?"

Killian slumped slightly, his posture pulling him back out of sight a moment as conflict filled his head. He knew she was looking for him - or well, someone - with what were surely very focused eyes. He could feel the silent burn of her searching as he took a slow breath and adjusted his hold on the firm stone barrier. His palms pressed flat against the granite as his eyebrows furrowed and the reminder of who he was sunk back in, putting a pause on the nervousness his clumsy move had created.

Nervous? Why was he nervous?

Sure, he'd made a slight fool of himself even if he did remain unseen and perhaps he'd been staring a bit too long. He wasn't exactly being the gentleman he knew he could be, but Killian soon recalled one fact that shoved him back into a realm of cocky confidence.

He was a prince - one with a respected connection to the building surrounding them - and she was the one who was very much out of bounds. He didn't exactly have to be a gentleman in this case.

"I, uh….sorry, lass," he said as he straightened himself and cleared his throat quietly. "I didn't mean to startle you."

She peered up at him with the most beautiful sense of bewilderment he'd ever seen, her lips quirking up into a stunned smirk that faded as fast as it had arrived and her eyes fell upon him cautiously. Killian didn't know a simple look like the one she was offering could make his pulse pound and his mind race chaotically, but as he looked down to where she was waiting, he found himself distracted by every detail she possessed.

She'd removed her shoes - well, one of them anyway - and the dark heel had been dangling from her fingers while she was walking. He wondered a moment if her uneven footwear was the cause of the annoyed exclamation that had first alerted him to her presence and he mused slightly at the idea of her being an actual Cinderella type.

He retracted the idea almost immediately however. She didn't really seem like a typical princess - or at least she definitely wasn't like the ones he'd met before.

"Oh, you….you didn't," she fibbed in a rather unconvincing fashion. "I just didn't think….anyone else would be out here."

"Oh - well, I'd dare say our state of surprise in that area is….equal," he returned, his shoulders relaxing as he slipped back into his charming routine. "With the exception of you being down there rather than up here, lass."

"Can't really blame me though," she told him with a gesture toward the platform he'd been using as a hideout. "Kind of a highlight of this place, isn't it?"

"I suppose it's somewhat of a sight to behold, though typically palace visitors aren't encouraged to be out here without staff - and almost never at night."

"Oh, I didn't….know," she stammered with a glance toward the glass covered entryway. "I guess I should have realized-"

"Oh - no, it's okay, lass," he cut in with a voice of understanding. "I….won't tell."

Killian felt his stomach flip flop the moment the reassurance left his lips. He wasn't sure where the need to keep some menial secret came from, but he couldn't deny that he liked the idea of the small connection it build between them. He knew he should prompt her to head inside - it may have even been his royal duty to do so. Yet as he watched her conflicted position, he decided that wasn't the route he was about to take.

He wanted to see just how this spontaneous encounter was about to play out, even if it meant bending the regal code just a bit.

"Something about that decision makes me think maybe you're not supposed to be out here either," she concluded with a tilt of her head, her words making him nearly drop his suave facade. "How'd you even get up there?"

He had managed his stealthy escape to the balcony by way of the knowledge he'd gathered over the years, his feet well aware of just which staircases to climb and what doors to slip through. He mulled her question over as he wondered if confessing his title and the information that came with it was wise.

Maybe not, he decided silently. As much as he wanted to know more about her, he knew putting himself on a pedestal probably wouldn't invite her to be honest. It wasn't that he planned on lying, but rather just….not offering her the whole truth. His teeth toyed with his tongue as he convinced himself that it was the fair road to take.

After all, he'd likely never see her again once they left this conversation behind.

"All about who you know I guess," he said vaguely, leaning forward a little. "So what brings you out here?"

"Oh, I….well, I just-" she tried with a soft exhale. "-I guess I'm not really fond of this sort of thing."

"The gala or your current chat with the stranger on the balcony?"

She laughed lightly, a sound that suddenly drew his mouth into an amused smile. He bit back the reaction almost instantly while hoping she hadn't noticed. The surrounding night plus his higher position had given Killian some kind of interesting upper hand and he decided it was best to hold onto it.

"Royal gatherings in general I guess," she explained. "I was just hoping to get some air before the formal stuff starts. I'm guessing you're doing the same?"

"Something like that," he chuckled as he tried to maintain his masquerade of mystery. "I'm not much for this stuff either."

"So you're not a Navy guy?"

"Can't say that I am," he divulged. "I'm afraid it does run in the family though."

"Mine too - well, at least with my dad. He kind of coerced me into attending the ceremony tonight."

Killian tilted his head a fraction, studying her slim outline in inquiry. He hadn't pondered the thought that she was there for such an rational reason. He knew it was mostly because he'd been so consumed with his own misery, but it seemed like she was very much in the same boat - pun not at all intended.

"I guess I just….have a hard time with this whole 'hanging out with royalty concept'," she continued with a sigh. "No offense to tradition, but the whole system of crowns and thrones just feels a bit archaic."

Killian felt his stance go rigid as he absorbed her slight accusation. It was quickly obvious that she didn't know who he was and he wondered what else he might tempt her to say - a chivalrous approach be damned. It wasn't fair to do what he was considering, but his curiosity was too strong to brush off.

"Aye, definitely can be it seems," he agreed with a bit of smugness. "Pretentious for sure - maybe even with a little entitlement. You've met them I take it? The Royal family?"

He waited anxiously for her answer, his wondering as to whether she'd crossed paths with his father or Cora or even Liam making him simmer with an underlying emotion he couldn't pinpoint. He couldn't explain why he cared about what she'd been up to, but his desire to hear about what she'd been immersed in while inside was tangled up in a need to know.

"Just briefly," she answered. "The older son of the heir only though. He's actually a genuinely nice guy from what I could gather - he knew my dad."

It was difficult to ignore that strange pang of something in his stomach, but Killian tried to do so as he tapped his fingers on the railing. He knew later he'd probably think more about just how this mystery girl and his brother had met, but for now, he had more inquiries to resolve.

"Ah, I'm sure he is," Killian countered with an evasive curiosity. "Didn't run into his brother though?"

"Prince….Killian or something, right? No, I didn't," she answered, her voice curling around his name in a way that fascinated him. "I'm not even sure if he even decided to attend this thing tonight."

Killian shifted on the heels of his new shoes as he mused at her conclusion. There was an impulse to react, but he fought back his instincts as he decided to prod her a little more. What she'd surely say was probably not anything he hadn't been labeled as before, but his defenses lifted while he found a response.

"Yeah, he doesn't really seem like the type for a formal affair like this," he fibbed. "What led you to that particular verdict though?"

"Well, you just hear things….and read things."

Of course she'd fallen victim to the somewhat true and false reports he'd stacked up in those several years between his gap year and Sandhurst - possibly even a few tales from his younger and very cavalier life as well. While she had every right to make the same assumptions others did, Killian found himself slightly irritated that she'd done so.

After all, she didn't know him - and they'd never even met as far as she knew.

"I suppose he's something of a wild card," he retorted evenly. "Kind of the black sheep from what one can tell. You've got to wonder what drives that rebellion of his."

"Can't say I know much about him, but I'd doubt it's rebellion as drastic as drinking on the Buckingham balcony," she teased as she leaned down to retrieve his dropped flask. "I don't think even a guy who kinda owns this place would be that bold. I'm surprised you are."

Killian smiled, trying to shove aside the slightly jabbing feel of that guilty thorn in his side. He briefly pondered the idea of calling her on her vague judgements, but she did know his name - and maybe there was a chance she would match his face to the moniker as well. He wasn't ready to risk that, but as he felt the air thicken, he summoned another idea.

Turnabout's fair play, he decided as his tongue lingered on his bottom lip.

"Maybe not," he started smoothly. "But I suppose it's only fair I get to know name of the woman who plans to turn me in?"

"It doesn't seem that fair actually," she replied, her hand still holding tight to the flask. "You haven't told me yours."

A couple of different possibilities - or rather, tiny lies - ran through his mind as tried to pick the path of least destruction. The truth wasn't an option and the ticking minutes weren't about to allot him much more time to entertain his anonymity. He couldn't leave her without an answer though.

The question of how he was supposed to go about telling this girl about his all too formal identity wasn't about to fade away, but an answer he could deem suitable wasn't within grasp. Killian pressed his lips together in consideration as frustration built a dilemma between them. How exactly do you go about casually divulging that you're one of the two princes the world knows rather well?

You don't, he thought in silent resolution - so he wasn't going to.

"I'm….nobody too important, love," he finally said, cowardice taking hold of his tone. "But you-"

His deflecting statement was suddenly cut short by the sound of distant applause, the sort that beckoned him back inside with a twinge of warning. Killian felt his nerves liven as he looked quickly at his watch only to find how late he was. Only about five minutes - but his brother was still definitely going to kill him.

"I guess that's a cue," she told him, a half smile tugging cleverly at her lips. "For me, at least."

"Aye, it seems so," he agreed as he tried to cling to a few more seconds of whatever this was. "Good luck in there - and sorry for….infringing on your escape. I suppose we can keep each other's secret, right?"

"I guess we should," she assured him as she battled with her shoe once more. "The company wasn't too bad actually though so….thanks for that."

He smirked quietly as he found he couldn't manage to disagree. He hadn't told her much of anything - not many of the actual facts, of course - but his side of the conversation wasn't full of complete dishonesty. He wasn't a man of great importance, especially in terms of this particular evening. She hadn't been wrong about him and his avoiding ways either. It hardly mattered though - this wasn't anything but two isolated ships passing on a rather dull night.

"Hey, umm," she said with a inquiry heavy on her breath. "This isn't the part where you kidnap me for ransom or something when I try to return to the palace, right? Because I don't really have much to offer in the way of royal riches."

He perked up slightly at the sound of good humored and possibly somewhat concerned question. His heart seemed quicken a bit as kept her stare trained on him. There was a cleverness to this girl he'd never planned on meeting and he let a smile slowly encompass his lips as they soaked in the last few moments of their bantering conversation.

"Wasn't planning on it," he laughed lightly. "I've got a few other things to attend to, fortunately for you."

"Okay, good….and in that case-" she replied with a small pause. "It's Emma. I'm Emma, I mean."

Blinking lazily, Killian gave the letters a second to rearrange themselves in his head. He watched the night carefully conceal the slender shape of the the girl who'd become a little less of an enigma with the breath of that single name.

"Emma," he repeated to himself with a surreal smirk.

For a night meant to be shrouded in defeated dread, it was sure shaping up to be strangely victorious.

Killian found himself immediately distracted as he moved through the grandiose doors and back into the packed ballroom. He wasn't totally sure how many attendees had been slated for the evening's festivities, but certainly hadn't prepared to see quite this many. The majority of the guests were men - both decorated sailors and other government officials alike - and the presence of heroic medals adorned with the utmost valor was staggering. It seemed that most of them had arrived alongside a companion and the mix of well dressed wives and dolled up girlfriends instantly made him wonder.

Where had she gone?

He'd been tempted to follow her inside the moment she left his sight and perhaps intercept her trek back toward the main stage, but retrieving his flask from the statue base where she'd left it was a more necessary task to undertake. He couldn't chance leaving unattended alcohol near such a popular point of the palace grounds, especially because he knew it might be traced back to him given his recent bout with the stuff. He'd ducked outside fast once more upon reaching the lower level, snatching the container and slipping it back into his jacket with haste. It was tempting to linger there in an effort to take in the same air she'd been breathing only moments earlier, but the vibration of his phone as it nearly fell out of his opposite pocket was a reminder that someone was surely irritated with his absence - and it didn't take a bloody scholar to figure out just who.

"Dammit, Killian," Liam hissed, grabbing his arm as they met to the side of the presentation platform. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

"Take it easy, Liam," he bit back, shaking off his sibling's hold. "I said I'd be here and I'm here. Right on time too so don't get your knickers in a bind."

The queen's opening words were well underway and Killian focused on her presence for a moment. She never failed to make leadership look so properly effortless, her etiquette perfect as ever as she vocalized her gratitude for the service of the Navy men and the sacrifices they made. He'd always loved watching his grandmother speak and the fact that Liam was so determined to interrupt his listening was annoying on a level only his older brother could manage.

"I am quite sure it's not me who's about to be a little frantic," Liam said in a hushed tone as he shoved a crisp note card toward him. "You've been recruited to help."

Killian narrowed his eyes in confusion before his sight fell to the thick paper he'd just been handed. The flawless speech his grandmother was delivering became a dull mumble in his ears as he processed what was scrawled in perfect penmanship his stare battled with.

No, he thought as his heartbeat faltered a bit. No, no, no.

"Hey, calm down," Liam said, clapping him on the shoulder as he sensed the multiplying waves of anxiety crashing into the room. "She just wants you to say a bit - welcome a few people is all. Then it's all me, brother."

The whole thing should be you, Killian thought with a hard swallow. He had barely been able to coax himself through the palace doors earlier and now it was being requested that he take the space behind the podium for a few simple lines.

Well, they'd be simple for anyone else - the Queen, his older brother, probably even his ill father - but the tension in his body and the numbness of his tongue told him this was not going to be any sort of easy. When it came to public speaking, 'simple' wasn't in the cards for him.

"Once again, we are elated to have each and every one of you here this evening to celebrate all you do in the service of our country," Gran said with a formal farewell tone before glancing toward the pair of them. "Before we continue celebrating our guests receiving high honors, my grandsons have a brief message they would like to share. I ask you to welcome them not only as wonderful representatives of the throne but also as fellow servicemen. I know their gratitude certainly ranks alongside my own. Without further ado, two of our royal Captains I'm delighted to have here tonight - Liam and Killian of Wales, representing the Royal Navy and the British Army respectively."

The applause in the large room was deafening enough to drown out the anxiousness flowing through Killian's veins as he followed his older brother up the few steps to where their quick speech would commence. He was loathe to look up over the seemingly endless crowd as Liam adjusted the microphone and put on his most charming smile. The heir in him was obvious as he vocalized his prepared words smoothly, his confidence never wavering as the blur of faces looked on. He'd always had a way with commanding attention while still inviting adoration.

That trait had skipped over Killian and replaced itself with the handsome but slight arrogance he was trying to muster as Liam nodded, beckoning him closer.

"We are, uh, beyond grateful to have such an esteemed audience here this evening. Each of you sacrifice and strive to….make our country a better, safer place," Killian started, hoping he wasn't mimicking his brother too obviously - it wasn't like he'd been paying attention. "We are thrilled to welcome back to service several men who've….who've risked more for our citizens and sovereign than could ever be expected."

Catching Gran's hopeful smile followed by Liam's steadying gaze nearly sent him into autopilot, his remaining speech hazy and his hands still trembling by the time his brother took over again. Liam's short biographies for the handful of honorable attendees the royal family was recognizing sounded faintly in his ears as he scanned the crowd. He was too busy trying to calm his shaken spirit to realize just what he was scouring the silent group of people for - until he found it.

Well, until he spotted her, of course - and lord, she was even more curiously captivating beneath the low lighting encircling them.

He nearly missed it - a fast flash of shock and knowing drifting over her features as their gazes fused quietly. It was a war he suddenly felt destined to lose so he could gain something even he didn't understand and his brain fought like mad to recall the name she'd left him with. It was a task of quick deduction, but not one that completely drowned out his brother's resumed introductory sentences.

"We feel especially advantageous on this particular evening to extend a hand to one of our most respected leaders of the armed forces - Admiral David Nolan, a man who had truly braved a variety of treacherous waters in order to be here with us now," Liam carried on as Killian held onto the stare of the graceful woman adorned in a pale lace dress. "We feel beyond fortunate for his presence and wish to offer a warm welcome to the supportive family he has joining him tonight-"

Killian took in the nervous sight of her as she glanced sideways, the breaking of their eye contact making his eyes follow hers. It wasn't difficult to piece it all together, even with the view of the woman he'd spent the evening fixated on. Killian's stomach sunk slowly as he watched the Admiral being recognized - pristine blue uniform, proud stance, an expression that seemed emotional as well as grateful all at once, and the accompanying grace of a dark haired woman at his side. There was another notable presence in close proximity to the honored couple - the one of the unknown girl who'd tilted his regal world slightly off its axis only a fraction of time ago.

Not possible, Killian told himself as realization slammed into him.

"-Mrs. Mary Margaret Nolan and their daughter, Emma."

Everything seemed to freeze in place as her wide eyes beamed with recognition, the moment of them placing one another much more intense than either could have planned on. Bloody hell, Killian thought as Liam's sudden elbow to his ribs pried his gaze away from hers. Of course this would happen to him. Of course he'd end up in such awkward circumstances.

The beautiful blonde from the courtyard was the Admiral's daughter - and her current embarrassed expression confirmed that she knew exactly who he was.

Tagging some lovely folks: @xpumpkindumplingx, @themmaswan, @harryandthecambridges, @spartanguard, @eala-captian, @allietumbles, @kmomof4, @laschatzi, @galadriel26, @timeless-love-story, @lifeinahole27, @kat2609, @msres, @captainswanismyendgame, @lovelycssefan, @hooksheroicheart, @captain-odonoghue, @gonzothegreat90, @cat-sophia, @rebelcxptain, @prairiepirate, @yesplskillianjones, @jennjenn615, @xhookswenchx, @heomomka, @fckyesroyals, @lenfazreads, @cherrywolf713, @lucasxdorothy, @hollyethecurious, @fairytalesandtimetravel, @lillyanjones, @pirateherokillian, @shipsxahoy, @phiralovesloki, @jscoutfinch *Just send me a message if you’d like a tag in future chapters :)

[mhsn033]

US Postal Service row: What is it about?

Image copyright Reuters

Image caption Mail containers had been gathered away for storage or locked up in contemporary days

Slower mail provide times in the US salvage raised issues about how one in all the oldest and most depended on establishments in the US – the Postal Carrier – can tackle an unprecedented influx of mail-in ballots in November’s election.

This twelve months fewer voters are anticipated to vote in-particular person amid the coronavirus pandemic, in which the US has seen the very most lively collection of deaths and infections on this planet.

That fall-off is anticipated to outcome in an unprecedented influx of voters submitting their pollby mail.

It’s as much as states to resolve how they arrange postal balloting and there are mounting fears that some must now not ready.

What are Democrats’ issues?

A political appointee recently employed by President Donald Trump to toddle the US Postal Carrier (USPS) has been accused by top Democrats of imposing adjustments to how mail is processed in a deliberate effort to “sabotage the election”.

Republicans and Mr Trump counter that the brand new measures are wanted to contend with the agency’s multi-million buck funds shortfall. Mr Trump has acknowledged the cost price for emergency funds requested by Congress to shore up mail-in balloting is too dear and could well outcome in voter fraud.

Closing week, he told Fox Data he became once blocking off $25bn in the most fresh draft coronavirus relief bill in dispute to prevent the growth of balloting by mail.

Meanwhile, provide times on all the things from postcards to medicines salvage already slowed and Congress has recalled lawmakers to Washington to contend with the rising crisis.

Is there evidence of an intentional slowdown?

Jake Horton, BBC Actuality Test

In Could maybe, Republican megadonor Louis DeJoy became once tapped by the White Home to be the first postmaster overall in extra than 20 years to now not come from at some level of the agency’s comprise ranks.

Looking out out to contend with the $160bn (£122bn) funds shortfall at the USPS, in July Mr Dejoy implemented a whole lot of new measures which salvage come below scrutiny.

US media file that more than 600 mail sorting machines are being decommissioned head of the presidential election this November.

This is in a position to characterize spherical 10% of the provider’s machines, however the Postal Carrier has acknowledged it “robotically moves equipment spherical its network as obligatory to check altering mail and equipment volumes”.

The amount of mail has been down to this level this twelve months, but there are issues the reduction in machines – which direction of hundreds and hundreds of gadgets of mail per hour – could well limit the dealing with skill of postal ballots in the plot-as much as the election.

Postal unions salvage confirmed some machines salvage already been eliminated, but President Trump’s chief of workers Impress Meadows says no more might be extracted from provider earlier than the election.

The likelihood of time beyond regulation for workers is additionally being restricted, and further journeys to ensure mail is delivered on time had been axed.

The Postal Carrier says that is to save costs and enhance efficiency, but workers remark the straggle has resulted in delays.

What are states doing?

Many polling stations in the US are usually staffed by aged volunteers who this twelve months are anticipated to discontinue dwelling as a outcome of their likelihood of falling unwell from Covid-19.

Other elections held for the length of the pandemic, equivalent to a noteworthy-criticised foremost toddle in Georgia, salvage seen a majority of polling areas closed as a outcome of an absence of workers and long queues extinguish at those that remain originate.

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption On the least 60 postal workers salvage died from coronavirus, in step with their union

Some states salvage chosen to acknowledge by posting a pollto every single registered voter in the instruct – a observe identified as in vogue mail-in balloting. Nevada and Novel Jersey salvage in the previous month change into the most fresh states to implement in vogue mail-in balloting.

Other states require voters to position a query to a pollbe sent to them, while some Republican-managed states equivalent to Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi – but additionally Democrat-managed Novel York – salvage acknowledged that a alarm of catching coronavirus is now not a correct sufficient justification to vote by mail.

Behind last month, the USPS wrote to states to expose them that their election laws could well mean that some ballots are returned too behind to be counted. Some states, equivalent to Pennsylvania, strive to alternate laws so that ballots that attain days after election day can calm qualify.

Is mail balloting more inclined to fraud?

Mr Trump has claimed that expanded mail-in balloting would outcome in the “essentially the most terrifying election” in US historical previous and even suggested delaying the election, which he does now not salvage the power to total, to live postal ballots leading to “improper and pretend” outcomes.

Critics remark folks could well vote more than once through absentee ballots and nonetheless in particular person.

Nonetheless there might be now not any evidence of contemporary fraud, in step with a whole lot of nationwide and instruct-level reports over time, other than about a cases.

Nonetheless these are rare incidents, and the toddle of balloting fraud overall in the US is between 0.00004% and nil.0009%, in step with a 2017 watch by the Brennan Middle for Justice.

Image copyright Reuters

Image caption Mail containers piled in storage in Connecticut

Why is the put up save of job in debt?

Unlike plenty of executive agencies, the USPS does now not toddle on taxpayer money and as a substitute relies on earnings from mail and functions, as effectively as plenty of companies.

Alternatively, mail quantity has dropped by 30% since 2006, in step with NBC Data. It comes amid the upward thrust of electronic mail and various computer-essentially based mostly messaging instruments.

A Could maybe diagnosis by the US Authorities Accountability Set of enterprise (GAO) stumbled on that $78bn had been lost in contemporary years as a outcome of the decline as effectively, as increased provide costs.

A law passed in 2006 required the USPS to pre-fund the pensions for all workers going 75 years into the long toddle, a straggle that experts remark worth spherical $72bn and is now not required by any plenty of federal agency or non-public firm.

Can they tackle an influx?

Specialists remark the put up save of job could well with out problems take in the anticipated influx of mail, although every single eligible American were to vote by mail in November.

In the week earlier than Christmas, the USPS usually delivers spherical 2.5bn letters, or about 500 million cards per day. And that’s the reason now not including functions.

Image copyright Authorities handout

Image caption Louis DeJoy is a top Republican donor

Basically based entirely on a Novel York Times diagnosis, about 80m ballots is seemingly to be sent during the mail this twelve months – more than double than were sent in the 2016 election.

What terminate People salvage?

The Postal Carrier is one in all the oldest and most depended on establishments in the US, with its historical previous usually given a major save in college textbooks. The first postmaster overall became once chosen by the 2nd Continental Congress to be US Founding Father Benjamin Franklin in 1775. Franklin’s comprise postal career had started in 1737 when Tall Britain selected him to be the postmaster of Philadelphia.

Absentee balloting, which President Trump himself on a conventional foundation makes exercise of, became once born on the battlefields of the Civil Warfare, in step with National Geographic, with hundreds of deployed troopers sending their performed ballots in the mail lend a hand to their dwelling states.

A peek in April by the Pew Compare Middle stumbled on that 91% of People salvage a in truth useful survey of it, making it the country’s well-liked executive agency. For comparability, People give Congress about an 18% approval ranking, in step with a Gallup ballot from July.

What’s next?

Loads of Democratic lawmakers salvage known as for an investigation into the brand new adjustments that salvage precipitated provide delays, and salvage asked Mr DeJoy to testify to Congress next Monday in an emergency listening to.

The grilling he’s anticipated to got might be held on the first day of the Republican National Convention, setting the stage for a bitter partisan battle.

“The American folks desire their mail, medicines, and mail-in ballots delivered in a timely procedure, and additionally they surely terminate now not desire drastic adjustments and delays in the center of a world pandemic dazzling months earlier than the election,” acknowledged Home Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, as she supplied Mr DeJoy’s resolution to voluntarily testify.

The committee’s top Republican welcomed the guidelines by attacking Democrats for pushing a “wild and baseless conspiracy theory about the US Postal Carrier”.

Meanwhile, a whole lot of instruct attorneys overall salvage acknowledged they are taking into consideration suing the Trump administration to dam the adjustments to the Postal Carrier.

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Why the USPS is in a financing crisis and what it suggests for the election

A USPS worker using a mask puts envelopes in a mailbox while driving past.

Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images.

The decline in Americans utilizing the Postal Service due to the pandemic sped up the years-long reductions in superior mail volume, and financial troubles which were produced in part by Congress.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is carrying out cost-cutting procedures including decreases in overtime and late trips that are triggering service disturbances and delays in mail shipment in parts of the United States.

Check out Service Insider’s homepage for more stories

The United States Postal Service, an important service millions of Americans use every day, is currently suffering a financial crunch worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding shortage has actually increased service interruptions and increased worries that voters’ ballots may not get delivered on time in November.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump triggered alarm by stating he would decline a $25 billion emergency financing grant to assist the USPS survive to deliberately screw up mail-in voting. He later walked back his remarks and stated he would accept sign a costs that consisted of immediate funds for the service.

In addition to election mail and tallies, the United States Postal Service likewise provides vital documents, medication, and is a key service for small companies to run and send plans.

As the carrier providing plans to the last mile where it isn’t profitable for other personal business to deliver, the post office is especially key in rural areas. The Postal Service is also among the most popular government companies, with an April Bench Proving ground study finding that 91%of Americans have a favorable view of it.

The US Constitution vested in the federal government the power to produce “to establish Post Offices and Post Roadways,” with Benjamin Franklin designated as the first-ever postmaster general in 1775.

While the Postal Service is a federal government agency, it does not run off of taxpayer money, and operates completely off of earnings from mail and bundle delivery as well as the other services it provides.

Plan delivery is a progressively important and economically successful part of its design, and it has contracts with online sellers and e-commerce business like Amazon to provide “last mile” shipping for its plans.

The service saw its yearly net losses double to $8.8 billion in 2019, and it currently has $160 billion in unfunded liabilities to those pre-paid pension and health plan commitments, according to the Washington Post.

United States Postal Service provider Henrietta Dixon delivers mail to Alvin Fields in Philadelphia. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Postal Service is urging citizens to request their tallies a minimum of two weeks prior to election day.

AP Photo/Matt Rourke.

How has the pandemic afflicted USPS?

The sharp reduction in mail shipment brought on by the pandemic initially threatened to plunge the company into a lot more alarming straits, with the Postal Service reporting $2.2 billion in bottom lines in 2020’s 3rd quarter.

Trump, who has been hostile to the concept of expanding vote by mail, is opposed to any measures to help the Post Office.

Picture by JASON REDMOND/AFP by means of Getty Images.

What are the recent policy changes affecting mail delivery and the election?

In June, former Postmaster General Megan Brennan retired and the Postal Service Board of Governors selected Louis DeJoy, a North Carolina-based shipping and logistics executive and Republican political donor, as the next postmaster general.

DeJoy’s absence of experience within the Postal Service itself, his profile as a Trump donor, and his significant holdings in the post office’s rivals instantly raised suspicion that his leadership might even more weaken the firm.

In remarks to the Postal Service Board of Governors, DeJoy has emphasized that he’s dedicated to keep supplying prompt mail shipment, including of election mail, while warning that “without timely legislative and regulatory reform, we will be forced to take aggressive procedures to cut expenses and bridge the divide.”

Still, congressional Democrats and some Republican Politicians are expressing issue to DeJoy about the sweeping changes and plain brand-new delays occurring ahead of the election.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on DeJoy to “quickly reverse his functional changes that have actually resulted in delays and service decreases for a lot of Americans and threaten to weaken our democracy” in a Friday statement.

On Friday, CNN reported that the Postal Service’s inspector general has actually opened investigations both into the brand-new modifications and DeJoy’s possible financial conflicts.

Here are some of the recent changes DeJoy has actually executed to the Postal Service’s operations to help the agency minimize expenses, a few of which are contributing to mail delays in numerous parts of the country. DeJoy and other top authorities have said the changes are not implied to undermine the service, however rather to reduce unnecessary transport expenses.

The USPS is limiting overtime hours for mail carriers, according to assistance reported on by the Associated Press and the Washington Post. The limit will reduce just how much mail providers can provide on a given day and will lead to undelivered mail being left at warehouse.

USPS is also reducing “late trips” after-hours to deliver the optimum quantity of mail every day and leave as little possible, the Post and Federal government Executive reported, which could further delay prompt delivery.

The Post Office is eliminating around 15%of its total high-speed processing letter devices from numerous areas, Motherboard reported.

The firm has said the reduction in sorting makers, a now long-term process which started years prior to DeJoy took over, remains in action to the total yearslong decrease in mail volume. But postal workers informed Vice that despite the fact that mail volume has actually fallen, the removal of such sorting makers might impede their ability to rapidly process ballots.

For many years, the Post Workplace enabled state and local election officials to pay a discounted bulk rate of 2o cents per envelope, rather of the usual cost of 55 cents per envelope, to have election mail be categorized as first-class mail, which is provided at a much faster rate than marketing mail. Now the firm is encouraging authorities to pay the full 55 cent rate to make sure mail is provided at a first-rate rate, which might put a stress on cash-strapped state and city governments.

DeJoy just recently significantly reshuffled the agency’s leading leadership, getting rid of or reassigning 23 magnates, carried out an employing freeze, and asking staff members to retire early if possible, the Post reported.

An employee processes mailed-in ballots from Tuesday’s primary election, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, at the King County Elections headquarters in Renton, Wash., south of Seattle.

Ted Warren/AP.

What does it suggest for my vote in November?

Lots of states have broadened the accessibility and ease of voting by mail in action to the COVID-19, however the recent cost-saving steps at the Postal Service and ensuing mail delays have actually triggered severe concerns that citizens may not get their tallies in time.

Officials at the top of the post office have actually ensured authorities and the public that the company is prepared to manage a substantial uptick in mail ballots, noting that it will still make up a total small part of their mail volume.

” On any given day, the Postal Service delivers more than 425 million pieces of mail, and our best quotes are that election mail will account for less than 2%of all mail volume from mid-September until Election Day,” USPS executives David Williams and Thomas Marshall composed in U.S.A. Today

On Friday, The Washington Post reported that the post workplace has cautioned 46 mentions that their tight due dates to request and return ballots increase the likelihood of voters not getting theirs back in time, a problem that election specialists have been alerting about for years

If you’re sending your tally back through the mail, the post workplace advises providing your tally at least a 15- day round journey to get from your local election offices to you and back.

All 50 states allow voters to return mail tallies in-person to their regional county elections workplace.

39 states have some form of early voting before election day, either in-person at a routine polling location, or by casting the equivalent of an absentee tally in-person at your regional elections office.

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Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes | Kaiser Health News

New Post has been published on https://currenthealthevents.net/trending/must-reads-of-the-week-from-brianna-labuskes-kaiser-health-news/

Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes | Kaiser Health News

Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes, who reads everything on health care to compile our daily Morning Briefing, offers the best and most provocative stories for the weekend.

Happy Friday! It seems we have a new example of just how broken the health system is every week, and here’s today’s: A school superintendent was arrested after allegedly using her insurance to cover a sick student. She took him to the clinic after noticing he had signs of strep throat, and then filled a prescription for him. The total cost of the claim? $233. Now she’s facing felony charges.

(It should be noted, though, that she is being put on a pretrial diversion program, so the charges may be expunged from her record.)

Here’s what else you might have missed this week:

While health care has been somewhat insulated from the shutdown, the industry hasn’t been immune — and insurers, providers and others are starting to fret. For one, the standoff could rock the (just-starting-to-stabilize) health law marketplace because IRS staffing shortages may jeopardize tax credits for people who rely on them to subsidize their care. On top of that, it could delay application reviews for people eligible to sign up for coverage outside of open enrollment. What’s more, we’re nearing the time when insurers need to make crucial decisions on participating in the exchanges next year, but rule-making delays leave them without any guidance.

The Friday Breeze

Want a roundup of the must-read stories this week chosen by KHN Newsletter Editor Brianna Labuskes? Sign up for The Friday Breeze today.

New polling shows the country’s uninsured rate has climbed to a four-year high, and, as you can probably imagine, both sides of the aisle were eager to point fingers at each other. The talking points were similar to the messaging we’ve heard for years: Republicans said it’s the fault of the health law being inherently unsustainable, while Democrats blamed the administration’s “sabotage” efforts.

The idiom “the devil’s in the details” was never more true than in this week’s poll gauging what Americans think of “Medicare-for-all.”

The majority of people support the idea in theory (56 percent, which shoots up higher when framing MFA as a guarantee of health insurance as a right). But when the cons were laid out (it could lead to delays in care and an increase in taxes, for example) that number plunged.

The results seem to reflect the core debate that’s been going on within the Democratic Party in general: Everyone deserves health care, progressives say. The moderates respond: Yes, but how do we pay for it?

Whatever the mixed messages from the public are, 2020 contenders certainly see it as a winning issue.

As you Breeze readers know, insulin has become the poster child for the outrage over high drug costs (it’s an old drug that shouldn’t be expensive, lots of people need it, patients can die if they have to ration it).

Well, a new study gives some hard numbers to back up that anger. The average cost per patient for insulin nearly doubled over a five-year span — even though there haven’t been improvements to justify that increase. In a quote that sums it up (from Stat’s coverage): “It must be nice to be part of the American economy where you can raise the price of your product almost 100 percent over five years,” said Niall Brennan, who heads the Health Care Cost Institute.

If consumers are dinged for buying a brand-name drug when a generic version is available, will it change their patterns of behavior? That’s what a new strategy from the Trump administration could be relying on. Under the new proposal, if a person filled a prescription for a brand-name drug with a $25 copayment, rather than using a generic medicine with a $5 copayment, the consumer might get credit for only $5 in out-of-pocket spending. That means they would have to pay more out-of-pocket before hitting their annual limits.

And in a sign that Big Pharma is reading the tea leaves and starting to sweat a bit, the industry’s big trade group, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, of PhRMA, disclosed that it spent a record amount in 2018.

How does a midlevel executive who’s never even met the CEO of a company spark a trade secrets lawsuit? By joining the health venture led by Dr. Atul Gawande and launched by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan. The lawsuit filed by Optum is a glimpse into how worried the health industry is about this new potential threat, which has been mostly shrouded in secrecy.

The Supreme Court lifted an injunction against the Trump administration’s restrictions on transgender troops as the case continues to work its way through the courts. Court watchers suggest that the conservative justices may have been swayed by the complaint that injunctions coming from lower courts (which, according to the solicitor general, were “previously rare”) have become a growing trend.

President Donald Trump plucked at some low-hanging fruit this week by announcing he wants to eliminate surprise medical billing. The topic has garnered a lot of attention lately with eye-popping personal stories about bills north of $100,000. The good news for Trump is that there’s already bipartisan legislation that’s been introduced in Congress.

Meanwhile, Vox’s Sarah Kliff has spent the past year investigating emergency room billing, and she breaks down why it can be such a nightmare.

(P.S. Make sure to check out KHN and NPR’s excellent “Bill of the Month” series on just this topic.)

In the miscellaneous file for the week:

• Have you ever gotten the flu shot, felt proud of yourself for being a responsible adult and then … gotten the flu anyway? It used to be that doctors said the vaccine must have been a bad match for the strain going around, but the problem really might be … you.

• The Los Angeles Times follows an abortion doctor in California who travels to Texas once a month to perform the procedure.

• Anti-rejection medicines have undoubtedly saved many lives — before the drugs, organ transplants were nearly impossible. But they do take an enormous toll on the body. Within 10 years of a liver transplant, 35 to 40 percent of patients will die, in part from the anti-rejection meds. Scientists are hoping there’s a better way.

• A Chinese scientist’s decision to edit human embryos’ genes may have sent shock waves through the research world, but the announcement didn’t come as a surprise to everyone. In fact, others knew about the work, warned him off of it and were left with nowhere to turn to stop the rogue scientist.

• Kalief Browder was a young man from the Bronx when he was arrested over accusations that he stole a backpack. He was detained on Rikers Island for three years without being tried or convicted of a crime — and spent two of those years in solitary confinement. Now his suicide is shining a light on the mental health crisis in prisons.

• A new study finds a link between gum disease and Alzheimer’s. Scientists have to dig deeper whether its correlation or causation, but it never hurts to floss in the meantime!

Source

Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes

[ronaldxjen82]

Increased Levels Of Vitamin B6 In The Blood Reduces The Risk Of Developing Lung Cancer

Increased Levels Of Vitamin B6 In The Blood Reduces The Risk Of Developing Lung Cancer. A brand-new memorize shows that kith and kin with high levels of a B vitamin are half as likely as others to develop lung cancer. But while the reduction in jeopardy is significant, this doesn't mean that smokers should hit the vitamin aisle a substitute of quitting. While the study links vitamin B6, as well as one amino acid, to fewer cases of lung cancer, it doesn't conclude that consuming the nutrients will slash the risk click here. Future explore is needed to confirm that there's a cause-and-effect relationship at work, not just an association. The research "may exceed to important new discoveries. But people should not think that they can pop a few vitamins and be shielded smoking," stressed Dr Norman Edelman, the American Lung Association's chief medical officer medicine. The findings appear in the June 16 children of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers examined a scan of almost 520000 Europeans who were recruited between 1992 and 2000. They compared 899 who developed lung cancer by 2006 to 1,770 similarly matched kinsfolk who hadn't developed the disease. The researchers found that those with the highest levels of vitamin B6 in their blood were 56 percent less indubitably to have developed lung cancer than those with the lowest levels hair loss. There was a equivalent character - a 48 percent decline - for those with the highest levels of methionine, an amino acid, compared to those with the lowest concentrations. The reductions in endanger held up for both smokers and non-smokers, said study co-author Paul Brennan, a researcher with the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France. Normally, as many as 15 percent of lifetime smokers will result lung cancer, but fewer than 1 percent of those who never smoke do. The reduction in danger is redoubtable and it could be a step help toward greater understanding of how food and medications may prevent lung cancer, said the ALA's Edelman. "That's a unhurt new field, and it's just beginning to become something that's actually being studied". Both vitamin B6 and methionine are eminent to good health and available in supplement form. Vitamin B6 helps the body guard itself against disease and process glucose (sugar) in the blood; it's found in foods such as bananas, fish, chicken, potatoes, peanut butter and fortified cereal. Methionine is found in foods such as red meat, fish and beans. People can decline from methionine deficiency, which can cause medical problems, including liver damage. However, the experts said that it's conceivable that some other aspect related to the vitamin and amino acid is affecting the lung cancer rate, such as a restricted food that they are found in. If vitamin B6 and methionine unqualifiedly do lower the risk of lung cancer, researchers aren't definite of the mechanism. However, both nutrients are linked to the body's construction of DNA, and lowered levels might possibility to errors, Brennan theorized. So should you take supplements to boost the levels of vitamin B6 and methionine, just in case? No. "There is no prove that vitamin supplements may reduce cancer risk and even some data that they may increase cancer risk". Instead, he made the usual recommendation: eat right. "At this stage, we would interesting that people stick with usual dietary recommendations for a healthy diet. This study does not difference that". In a related study, also published in the same issue of JAMA, researchers at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, examined the reasons why many lung cancer patients arbitrate against potentially life-extending surgeries. The rig surveyed 437 patients diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer, 386 of whom were fit for tumor-removing surgery. A total of 241 patients underwent the surgery within four months of their diagnosis. According to the study, patients were less bending to opt for surgery if they felt that their diagnosis was less than 90 percent certain; if they felt that their standing of life would be worse in one year because of the surgery; or because they felt there had been needy quality communication about their cancer care proextender4.men. Black patients who had two or more co-existing illnesses or who lacked a kosher source of care also tended to opt for surgery less often, as did lower-income milk-white patients compared to more affluent whites, the report said.

[garrettinvestclus813-blog]

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[rickhorrow]

15 to Watch, 5 Tech, Power of Sports 5 102317

1. A return to the World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers – their first Fall Classic appearance in 29 years – will likely "erase years of red ink." According to the New York Post, the Dodgers "might be close to break even” thanks to the increased number of MLB Postseason home games. The team had an Opening Day payroll of $242.2 million -- which increased to $265 million due to in-season trades. The Dodgers "posted an operating loss" of $20.5 million last year after an operating loss of $73.2 million in 2015. The team’s financial picture is "expected to improve next season -- with expected payroll cuts." And within a few seasons, the team "projects" making more than $50 million annually. The Dodgers’ World Series opponents, the Houston Astros, advanced to their second World Series in franchise history on Saturday with a shutout win over the Yankees in ALCS Game 7, a victory that, according to the Houston Chronicle, "lifted up a city that will long be recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey.” But don’t expect the massive economic impact from the World Series that Super Bowl host cities experience: in multiple studies, sports economists peg the impact per World Series home game at around $6.8 million, a far cry from the $300+ million a Super Bowl brings in.

2. In Northern California, Sonoma Raceway is ready to re-open in the wake of area wildfires. As firefighters appear to have devastating fires contained in Wine Country, Sonoma Raceway is ready to re-open. The track closed for more than a week after fires broke out in Sonoma and Napa Counties. The fires burned the hillside around the course, but raceway VP/Communications & Marketing Diana Brennan noted that structures came through unscathed, and fortunately so did the staff, none of whom lost their homes. The track will conduct a test day on Monday, with the first race to follow this weekend. Last week, Sonoma Raceway opened its 50-acre campgrounds as a stop-through shelter, offering three meals a day for evacuees. Brennan said at the peak, there were around 75 RVs and campers on the adjacent grounds. “This valley (Sonoma) and the community are amazing on a good day,” she noted, “and, it turns out, even better on a bad day. It’s a long haul, but we need to be a part of the restoration process.” From hurricane relief to wildfire shelter, this is just the latest example of American pro sports stepping up to aid disaster relief in 2017.

3. After a meeting between NFL union representatives and players, no changes have been made regarding rules on protesting the National Anthem. According to the New York Times, athletes will still be allowed to kneel or sit during the anthem in coming weeks without penalty. The NFL has flirted with the idea of changing the rules to require players to stand for the playing of the anthem, but no consensus has been reached. After the meeting, the NFL “did promise to help support some of the causes targeted by the protesting players, including reform of the criminal justice system.” Fans across the country have voiced their objections to the anthem protests, saying that they feel players are being “disrespectful to the flag and the military.” One of the chief critics of this movement has been President Trump. “The NFL has decided that it will not force players to stand for the playing of our National Anthem. Total disrespect for our great country,” he tweeted. The NFL and its players association continue to show unity and resolve in the face of political forces attempting to cast them as dividers, not unifiers. Moving forward, hopefully cool heads will prevail, and the league can identify more ways to affect positive social change.

4. The 2018 NFL Draft is heading to Dallas. According to SportsBusiness Journal, the event, scheduled for April 26-28, will be held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Philadelphia held last year’s draft and Chicago hosted the two preceding events. The NFL Draft has become more than just an isolated event – it is now a weekend-long celebration that goes beyond just picking players. Cowboys Executive Vice President & Chief Brand Officer Charlotte Jones Anderson tweeted that she is “so excited” to have won the rights to host the event. In terms of logistics at AT&T Stadium, the NFL plans to utilize the field, stands, and outdoor plazas, “where the NFL Draft Experience festival would take place.” The Cowboys’ state-of-the-art practice facility, The Star at Frisco, will be used in some capacity as well. It’s clear the NFL Draft has cemented itself as a must-attend event, and solidified the league’s quest to capture sports fans’ attention year-round.

5. The NBA season is underway, and a new report from Wasserman notes that jersey patch sponsorships are worth an average of $9.3 million across the league. According to SportsBusiness Journal, more than half of NBA teams signed jersey patch sponsors ahead of the new season, giving them additional revenue sources. The reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors lead the way with an NBA-best deal worth $20 million annually with Japanese tech company Rakuten. The $9.3 million marker is “slightly up from projections,” which were initially forecast at $9.0 million annually. The NBA jersey sponsorships are the first for any of the four major sports leagues in the U.S., so selling the “high-priced inventory was proven no easy task given it had never been done” before. The league gave teams an “18-month runway to sell the patches.” Look for the NHL to be the next domino to fall in the uniform patch revenue hunt – the league will test the scheme at hockey’s World Cup next December.

6. Nike was sent scrambling just a day into its tenure as the official jersey provider of the NBA after LeBron James’ jersey ripped down the middle on national TV. According to ESPN.com, Nike executives are “extensively reviewing” why James’ jersey split down the back middle on opening night. The James incident marked the second time a Nike NBA jersey was torn during a game; in a preseason game again the Timberwolves, Lakers guard Tyler Ennis’s jersey ripped between the 1 and 0 on his No. 10 uniform. Nike took over as the official outfitter of the NBA from adidas after signing an eight-year, $1 billion deal with the league. The Oregon-based sportswear company is debating whether or not it is at fault for the recent rips. While “Nike makes the materials and provides blank uniforms to the squads, it is often the team’s responsibility to find a vendor to custom-stitch the names and numbers on the official jerseys.” If Nike is smart, it will avoid the blame game, solve the problem, move on, and sell thousands of NBA replica jerseys to satisfied fans.

7. Not news to anyone, but LeBron James is the NBA’s most marketable player. According to a survey of sports business executives and reported by SportsBusiness Daily, James finished “comfortably ahead” of Stephen Curry for the top spot. King James received 38 of the possible 49 first place votes, while also appearing on 98% of the ballots. Rounding out the top five are Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and James Harden. Four members of the Warriors cracked the top 10 – more than any other team – while rookie Lonzo Ball finished tied for 10th with Draymond Green. The survey was distributed to marketing/branding executives, agencies, sports business professors, and basketball media across the country. “…When you have the NBA Finals and all the exposure of the last few years for the Warriors and Cavs, it’s hard not to have a list dominated by those teams’ players,” commented Bruin Sports Capital Partner David Abrutyn. As the NBA season gets underway for real, it will be interesting to see which new brand stars emerge over the next eight months.

8. The Target Center, home of the Minnesota Timberwolves, is now on par with other state-of-the-art arenas across the NBA. According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the facility’s $140 million facelift actually saw the total capacity reduced by 400 to 18,798, but the added features give it some flare. Extra windows were placed throughout the concourse, “making Target Center look bigger, even while staying in its same smallish footprint in the heart of downtown Minneapolis.” A new beer garden that overlooks the court was added, along with the new Lexus Club and a second arena entrance. The team’s new locker room is noted to be “spacious and clean, with a circular design that creates more open room.” “This place has actually some life in it,” noted forward Shabazz Muhammad. The Timberwolves have high expectations on the court this year, with the additions of Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson from Chicago.

9. The San Antonio Stars are officially set to become Las Vegas’s newest professional sports franchise. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the WNBA team has been purchased by MGM Resorts and will start playing in Las Vegas beginning with the 2018 season. The WNBA and NBA Board of Governors were quick to approve the relocation, as this transition “has been in the works for several months.” One of the biggest questions leading up to the move was where the team will play its home games; the Mandalay Bay Events Center has been chosen as the team’s arena. “Mandalay Bay is a smaller, more intimate arena with about 12,000 seats,” said MGM Resorts Chief Experience & Marketing Officer Lilian Tomovich. “We feel it’s the absolute right size arena for the fans to have that intimate experience to come watch basketball.” While unrelated, it’s also terrific that Mandalay Bay, currently associated with terror and tragedy, has something much more positive and uplifting in its near future. It’s good for the resort, and for the city.

10. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is toying with the idea of raising the city’s amusement tax on large concerts. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, if implemented, the new plan would “eliminate the 5% tax and charge a 9% tax on tickets at venues with a capacity over 1,500 people.” Small venues and concert halls would welcome this change, while larger ones – like the United Center and Wrigley Field – could expect to lose concerts due to the high tax rate. In a statement released by the United Center, venue management noted that “the plan would be the highest amusement tax for fans attending sports and concerts in the United States.” The Cubs issued a similar statement. “World class entertainers like Billy Joel and Lady Gaga who perform at Wrigley Field have their choice of venues and the new proposal puts Chicago venues at a disadvantage,” noted Cubs VP/Communications & Community Affairs Julian Green. As soon as Chicago loses a major concert tour stop to Milwaukee, Indianapolis, or Ann Arbor due to its high amusement tax, look for Mayor Emanuel to negotiate offsetting tax credits or incentives with Wrigley, the United Center, and the like.

11. The NHL expects facial recognition software to be implemented in arenas within the next two years. According to TSN.ca, the NHL and some of its 31 teams are now “fielding pitches from companies offering to install high-definition cameras and facial recognition software,” hoping to have the technology adopted in the near future. One of the reasons for this push is that professional sports leagues across the world have come to terms with the fact that they are targets for terrorists. The conversations around facial recognition software are part of league-wide security reviews that could potentially help limit “the league’s financial exposure if terrorists targeted an NHL game.” “They’re looking to keep out the really bad guy and the technology has improved dramatically in the past few years,” said FaceFirst CEO Peter Trepp, whose firm sell this type of software. “We can identify someone literally as they walk through the door.” While some fans might decry the lack of privacy that would accompany putting the software systems into place, in this day and age can we really afford to dismiss them?

12. The Las Vegas Knights are looking to provide fans with an unparalleled in-game experience. According to the Las Vegas Sun, the NHL expansion club is trying out different entertainment aspects in its first season. The team plays its games at the brand new, state-of-the-art T-Mobile Arena right off The Strip and is trying to use its location as a selling point for fans. “We are making adjustments with every game,” said Golden Knights VP/Events & Entertainment Jonny Greco. “We listened to what people like and what they don’t like.” One way the team has showed its willingness to try new tactics is when it chose its mascot. Instead of a “Golden Knight,” the team chose a Gila monster, an animal indigenous to the region. The Golden Knights are on their Vegas honeymoon at present, and currently sitting in second place in the NHL Western Conference. If they continue to win, it looks like this marriage will be a lasting one.

13. The Columbus Crew could be leaving town for Austin, Texas, as soon as 2019. According to SI.com, Owner Anthony Precourt recently announced that he would move the Ohio-based MLS franchise if a soccer stadium in downtown Columbus is not finalized within the next year. If prompted to move to Austin, the Crew would be forced to play in a “temporary facility in 2019 and 2020” before making the move into a soccer-specific stadium the year later. Mapfre Stadium, where the Crew currently play, became MLS’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium when it was built in 1999, but its amenities are now “far behind those of recently-built stadiums in the MLS.” Precourt bought the team in 2013 and has since rejected numerous offers from other suitors to purchase 100% or 50% of the team. If they move to Austin, the Crew would most likely play home games at the University of Texas in the interim – a move that could help them build a lasting millennial fan base.

14. U.S. soccer great Landon Donovan is contemplating running for U.S. Soccer President. According to SI.com, Donovan has been approached by “a number of respected figures in American soccer” to run for the position, citing his qualifications to better handle the soccer aspects of that job than current President Sunil Gulati. Gulati is expected to run for his fourth term, though the USSF presidential campaign seems up for grabs following the USMNT’s failure to quality for next summer’s World Cup in Russia. The election is set for February, and the American soccer governing body is concerned about Gulati “continuing to control decisions on the technical side – including hiring head coaches.” Donovan does lack experience in governing roles, however, which could pose a potential problem for his candidacy. One big difference between Gulati and Donovan is that the former tended to prioritize money, whereas Donovan is expected to prioritize youth reform and quality.

15. Political debates regarding Catalonia’s split from Spain have stalled media rights conversations for La Liga. According to Reuters, La Liga President Javier Tebas commented that the proposed secession has “held up negotiations” regarding the league’s international TV rights deals. The situation in Catalonia has been controversial in Spain, but the split could have severe consequences on La Liga, considering Barcelona is within the region. “La Liga would lose about 20% of its income if Real Madrid or Barcelona left,” said Tebas. “We’re talking about a problem that could have a huge impact on our competition, even though I don’t think [Catalonia splitting from Spain] will occur.” The TV rights are not only being sold in Spain and throughout the European Union, but in India, Singapore, Turkey, and beyond. Talks regarding new La Liga deals are being delayed a few weeks until a final political decision has been reached – the situation became more serious over the weekend, after Madrid announced drastic measures to stop the region from breaking away, and close to half a million people took to the streets in protest.

  Five Top Tech

1) MLB’s American League Championship Series was one of the first of its kind in terms of technology. Over 100 microphones were used during the ALCS to capture every sound, along with a high number of cameras. Further, MLB is increasing those numbers for the World Series. As a result, fans will have an unprecedented amount of access to player reactions and emotions after each play. FOX Sports Senior Vice President of Field and Technical Operations Michael Davies noted in a press release: “We will have eight Super Slow Motion and Hypermotion Cameras, including the FOX Phantom Cameras, at either side of the plate to capture at-bats and close plays at a blistering 1,500 frames per second. Quite simply, it’s more Motion Cameras in play than at any other baseball game on any network this season.” For MLB, this is a great way to capitalize on some of the biggest moments the World Series has to offer. Having players “mic’d up” has been a part of sports technology for the last decade, but now MLB has placed microphones along with high-speed cameras right on the field, to fans’ advantage and delight.

2) Even though they failed to reach the World Series this year, the New York Yankees are moving forward in the esports arena. The team has entered into an investment partnership with Vision ESports, and will also invest in three other esports companies. The move is the latest example of professional sports franchises recognizing the legitimacy of esports and striking while the proverbial iron is hot. Yankees Co-Chairperson and Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner told Fortune, “The New York Yankees are thrilled to partner with Vision Esports and its diverse portfolio of esports companies. Guided by an impressively skilled and sports-savvy leadership team, Vision Esports is transcending the industry with a bold, innovative approach to their business, and we are excited to enter into this dynamic arena as their partner.” The Yankees continue to push the envelope of their global brand in new ways. By investing in esports, they also open the door for the industry to tap into the massive New York market. The impact of an open door into NYC could pay enormous dividends for the entire esports image and brand.

3) FIFA will implement Video Assistant Referees in an effort to better aid on-field referees in making crucial calls during the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The technology was used during the most recent Confederations Cup, and now FIFA is reaching out to technology companies in order to better prepare for the World Cup. A FIFA press release described their search for outside help: “It became clear how important it is to make correct decisions regarding the possible offside position of a player in one of the reviewable situations particularly when a goal is scored. Calibrated offside lines are requested to offer support in decision-making. FIFA calls for providers to offer a solution for a calibrated virtual offside line that will be made available to the VAR in order to assist with decision-making for possible offside positions.” If FIFA is able to increase its use of technology in the largest soccer tournament in the world, we could see VAR use expand faster than expected. With more teams and leagues in Europe seeing how the integrity of each game changes for the better, the quality of professional soccer globally could increase.

4) The Green Bay Packers and Microsoft are partnering to create a technology facility near Lambeau Field. According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, the facility, called “Titletown Tech,” is a tech accelerator created in an effort to boost the growth of startup companies and revitalize the local economy and beyond. The project is a significant financial commitment for the team, as they committed $5 million for the next five years to fund Titletown Tech. Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy had this to say about the Microsoft partnership: “Titletown has gained a tremendously impactful partner in Microsoft. Economic development is the key to our region’s future, and Microsoft, with its array of tools and expertise, will help grow new businesses as well as assist our existing companies to use technology to realize greater success.” The Packers are looking to boost their brand through this investment in technology along with aiding their fan base’s local economy. As a publicly-owned entity, the Packers famously have a very close relationship with their fans. As a result, this sort of investment perfectly fits their image and will only help them in the long run.

5) Kevin Durant grows his tech investment portfolio with his most recent support of autonomous drone startup Skydio. Skydio is believed to be one of the 30 or more tech investments Durant has made over his playing career. That number is not expected to decrease. Skydio describes their drone product as such: “At Skydio our fundamental goal is to deliver the power and magic of flying cameras without the complexity. Current drones are cool gadgets for enthusiasts but still a curiosity to mainstream consumers. Our belief is that advanced onboard computer vision and artificial intelligence, combined with world class hardware product design, will yield a breakthrough that makes drones a trusted part of our daily lives.” Durant is no stranger to the tech industry. A marquee NBA player who heavily invests in tech startups, Durant has always shown a willingness to try his hand at new ventures. Durant, Stephen Curry, and Andre Iguodala are notable NBA players that invest in tech companies, and not coincidentally they all play for the Bay Area Golden State Warriors. It’s inspiring to see pro athletes invest in ventures that represent the markets in which they play.

 

Power of Sports 5

1) Eagles DE Chris Long to donate year’s salary to education equality efforts. This week, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long announced that he will donate the remainder of his salary this year to help improve educational equality. Long had already donated his first six game checks from this season to provide scholarships for students in his hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia. Now, over the next ten weeks, each game check will go towards launching the Pledge 10 for Tomorrow campaign. The Pledge 10 for Tomorrow campaign aims to encourage people to make donations to help improve equal education opportunities. The foundation has selected four organizations that focus on making education easily accessible for underprivileged youth while providing the support and resources they need to help them develop a strong social identity. The four selected organizations are located in the three cities in which Long has spent time during his NFL career: St. Louis, Boston, and Philadelphia. Each foundation will receive donations throughout the season, and the organization that raises the most money by the end of the season will receive an additional $50,000 donation.

2) Premier League players pledge a share of their earnings toward Common Goal Foundation. Premier League footballers Charlie Daniels and Alfie Mawson have pledged a share of their earnings towards Juan Mata’s Common Goal charity, becoming the first English players to do so. Mata, the star midfielder for Manchester United, believes that the support from Daniels and Mawson will help the foundation take a step forward in its international growth, and could help the foundation attract support from athletes around the world. Common Goal was started by Mata less than three months ago, with the goal of uniting the football community behind a shared commitment to give back. The idea is that each player will pledge a minimum of 1% of their annual salary to a collective fund. From there, the money will be distributed to various football charities around the world that provide underprivileged children with the opportunity to play and learn the game. To date, 12 players from various European clubs have committed to participate with Common Goal.

3) NCAA schools scheduling exhibition games to raise money for hurricane victims. Several major college basketball programs have added exhibition games to their schedule in an attempt to raise money for the victims of the recent hurricanes that impacted Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean. The University of Oklahoma will host a charity scrimmage against UT Arlington on October 28 before their homecoming football game against Texas Tech. The basketball game will be free to attend and will have open seating, but fans will be encouraged to make a donation. All money raised at the game will go towards the United Way Harvey Relief Fund. Mississippi State University will also host a charity basketball game against the University of Nebraska next weekend. The game will be held on Sunday, October 22 at the Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Mississippi. Admission to the game will be free, but the schools will be partnering with the American Red Cross to collect monetary donations at the gates. All of the money collected will go towards helping the victims of Hurricane Irma throughout Florida and the Caribbean islands.

4) Saudi Arabia appoints first female head of sports. Last week, Saudi Arabia appointed the country’s first ever female president of the Saudi Federation for Community Sports. Princess Reema bint Bandar was named head of the organization, which manages sports and sports-related activities for both men and women throughout the country, after she led the effort to license female-only gyms and sports clubs in her previous role with the national General Sports Authority. In a country where women are not allowed to exercise or participate in sports with men, the hope is that the new appointment will create more opportunities for women to exercise and will help them gain access to proper health and wellness facilities. According to a recent study done by the country, only 13% of the population exercises weekly. The hope is that by changing the way people view fitness, the country will be able to raise this number to 40% by the year 2030.

5) U.S. women’s hockey team given Wilma Rudolph Courage Award. On Wednesday night, the U.S. women’s national hockey team received the Wilma Rudolph Courage Award. The team was presented with the award at the Salute to Women in Sports event in New York City, an annual event hosted by the Women's Sports Foundation. The players were given the award for their courage and leadership both on and off the ice. Earlier this year, the team announced it would boycott the upcoming International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship. The boycott was promoted as a way to advocate for equality in their sport. Just two weeks after the boycott was announced, the dispute was successfully resolved and the team was able to participate in the IIHF World Championship, in which they emerged victorious after beating Canada 3-2 in overtime during the championship game. Now ranked number one in the world, the U.S women are training for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games, where the team hopes to medal for the sixth time since the sport was introduced to the Olympics in 1998.

[vitalmindandbody]

Gridlock in West Africa: Accra’s troubled attempts to tackle its traffic crisis

In Ghanas capital, autoes, motorbikes and minibuses jostle for road opening during a daily descent on the city centre. With airborne pollutants killing thousands every year and Accras population set to double within 20 times, can the city find a solution?

Every morning before the sunbathe rises, Stella Ampofo, a 25 -year-old single baby of two sons, madly accumulates her belongings and situateds off for work to beat the morning trafficking in human Ghanas capital, Accra. If she doesnt leave before daybreak, congestion during traffic jam could extend her 40 -minute journey from Accras suburbs towards downtown to three or four hours.

Im in tribulation if I leave my house around 6 or 6.30 am, Ampofo tells. I then wont arrive at work until nine or 10 am, and that creates a lot of problems with my administrator because Im supposed to got to get by eight. If the government doesnt do anything about the traffic, its not going to get any easier

To ensure a punctual advent, Ampofo, a seamstress at a manufacturing centre that alters plastic waste into reusable produces, leaves her residence at 4am every day and inaugurates drive an hour afterwards just as the road traffic starts to build up, as approximately 2 million daily passengers converge on the center business district in downtown Accra.

Clouds of black exhaust fumes hover over the heads of impatient motorists. Cab operators blare their cornets, while pedestrians run on to rickety commercialised minibuses referred to as tro tros by locals that carry up to two-dozen fares crushed tightly together. Only motorcyclists who can skilfully exercise between lanes are able to bypass the congestion.

Rush-hour traffic jams on Accras outskirts. Photograph: Bloomberg via Getty Images

Although gridlock normally costs European economies billions of dollars annually, insufficient data in developing countries makes it difficult to assess the economic impact on metropolis such as Accra. A recent report by the World Bank setting the cost of air pollution globally, however, plies some insight into how congestion feigns public health. Gridlock induces longer expedition periods, which increases fuel use and emissions. In 2013, a total of 17,524 Ghanaians died from airborne pollutants, a 107% addition from 1990.

Accra has striven with the management of the mobility challenges and rising traffic congestion on almost all arterial directions to the center business district, Lawrence Kumi, director of studies, statistics and information management at Ghanas Ministry of Transport, acknowledges in an email. The implementation of various remedial appraises was on an ad-hoc basis and not well coordinated. There was the need for a holistic approach.

In 2014, the governmental forces of Ghana inaugurated developing a plan to reduce congestion and modernise the metropolitan transport system in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area( Gama ), which includes Accra and its outskirts. The plan was in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency( Koica ), and supported by a $1.5 m grant from the South Korean government.

Before the end of this year, the final transportation master plan( TMP) is due to be presented to Ghanas ministry of transport for implementation. The programme seeks to bring together all modes of transport is not simply by road and increase traffic congestion and logistic costs over the next 20 years.

The authorities commerce master plan aims to reduce traffic congestion and logistic rates over the next 20 years. Image: Thomas Imo/ Photothek via Getty Images

Greater Accras current population of around 4.3 million anticipated to virtually double by 2035 similarly the number of vehicles on the roads. While increased congestion can show a citys ripening economic verve, the potential negative effects low-spirited worker productivity, hours-long delays, even more dangerous superhighways, passenger stress, push on road infrastructure and an undesirable uptake of dirty fuel emissions will situate a serious strain on the city if it is not addressed soon.

Accra is not alone in facing transportation objections. Nearby Lagos, the economic capital of Nigeria, is notorious for represent one of the most gridlocked metropolitans in the world. But its population is around five times Accras, and its economy greater than the whole of Ghana so according to Kweku Amoasi, associate director for tote contrive at the London-based engineering consultancy RSK, Accra should have no excuse when it comes to severe congestion.

With a small person, Ghana should be able to manage transaction much better, Amoasi says. Theres only been a total lack of foresight. The planners should sit down and realise theyre not doing this for themselves; theyre doing it for the nation.

Bernard Abeiku Arthur, a senior city professional with Belgium-based Cities Alliance, suggests it is this kind of regulatory negligence that has led to todays unabating traffic bothers and dysfunctional transport system in Accra. We knew the population was growing, Arthur reads. We knew “were in” going urbanised, but we dismissed all the necessary parts and elements for planning our city cavity properly.

Stella Ampofo. Photo: Brennan Weiss

Arthur mentions the brand-new TMP is very fanciful on paper, but also too restriction geographically omitting neighborhoods beyond Greater Accra from which often of the traffic originates. The urban centres is impacted by the peripheries, Arthur remarked. So if youre doing your figuring and you cut out the peripheries, you might not be doing a very good calculation.

Francis Akakpo, programme officer at Koica in Ghana, suggests the planners were unable to conduct research on areas beyond the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area because of limited time and resources.

Ghanas first mass transit bus structure, Omnibus Services Authority, was established in 1927 during the British colonial period. After liberty, public transportation remained largely state-owned until the late 1980 s and early 90 s, when the government deprived itself of resources amid fiscal inefficiency. This was when the privately run buses appears to be replenish the spread: the tro tro , an important donor to congestion, has been the more common mode of mass transportation ever since.

In September, however, the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive launched a captain control of a new Bus Rapid Transport( BRT) organization, releasing metropolitan buses across various major routes throughout Greater Accra. In defiance of Ghana president John Mahamas claims that this marked the beginning of a brand-new modern modes of public transport networkfor the city, tro tro hustlers and other commercial-grade drivers threatened to impres over panics the brand-new bus would action them out of operation.

The final TMP proposes building on the citys brand-new bus network byreplacing thousands of tro tros with high-capacity bus that promise to be safer, faster and more comfy a move that searches set to increase frictions with the existing vehicle providers. These bus will only be liberated on a gradual, incremental basis, to make room with a view to its adoption and credence, suggests Koicas Francis Akakpo.

But according to Abeiku from Cities Alliance, even a successful implementation of the public bus method will merely provision minimal aid to congestion. For sustainable long-term progress, he replies, planners must commit to focusing on runway, tram and subway exploitations so passengers like Stella Ampofo arent was necessary to upend their daily lives just to get to work.

We have to visualize what kind of metropolitan we want Accra to be, Abeiku tells. Do we want a city that supports its economy, whose people seem free to move around? A metropoli where public transportation is properly regulated? That is the kind of metropoli I want.

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We Can Still Stop Russia From Hacking the Next Election

Scandals commonly have a life cycle. First happens the revelation, then the investigation, maybe some law causes. Then, after the spotlight dims, reforms to keep it all from were to happen. This time, amid the riotous probe of Russia’s interference in the 2016 referendum, we can’t wait for domestic remedies to take effect. For we know one thing for certain: the Russians are still succeeding.

Can we are in a position restrain Putin from upending the 2018 and 2020 referendums? Numerous alleviates, of course, are external. Sanctions, diplomatic berates, clutching safe house have all been tried. But there’s much to do here at home- concrete moves to secure America’s voting machines and databases. They’re not that hard to do. But they will take a bit of money, and a lot of bipartisan political tenacity.

Increasingly it is clear that Russian pleasures led much further than spoofed emails and counterfeit word legends. A leaked National Security Agency document, first said that he shared The Intercept, revealed that the Russians spent months trying to infiltrate the voter registration process. They targeted a manufacturer of designs that maintain the voter flattens, as well as local government officials and organizations that finagle voter registration organisations. Bloomberg reported that Russian hackers tried to delete or modify voter data regarding Illinois and hit systems in 38 other nations.

There’s no proof that the Russians manipulated with vote totals or voting machines. The final tally was legitimate, as much as is we know. Next epoch, nonetheless, we might not be so lucky.

In fact, Putin has been even more aggressive in Europe. Just epoches before the 2014 general elections in Ukraine, hackers paralyzed the country’s voting arrangement. Professionals scrambled and managed to restore the computers. When they did, they discovered a virus to take in order to falsely declare victory for the purposes of an ultra-nationalist defendant. Russian Channel One even hopped the handgun and accidentally reported the hoped-for fake story.

We are ominously susceptible here, more. So many of the shortcomings in the infrastructure of American republic offering opportunities for foreign adversaries to make trouble. Consider voting machines. After the 2000 Florida recount debacle, Congress required states to buy new electronic machines. But those machines are now old. In 42 districts, the machines were bought over a decade ago.( That prehistoric period was before the iPhone .) Many use outdated software too old to get protection spots. Even when they are not connected to the Internet, they are susceptible to malware that could tilt the results or alter vote totals. Even if the goal “re not supposed to” select a winner, these glitches could yield chaos and distrust.

Hackers could target not only the shed but the check of elects. States gather up results and compile them exploiting center tabulators and election nighttime reporting arrangements. These are often connected to the Internet.

Wonderful, you are able to guess, one more thing are concerned about, as if this badly scripted movie wasn’t dystopian enough. But even if we cannot fully deter Russia- or North koreans or other sophisticated and pernicious performers- we can do much more to stop them from being effective.

That’s where a brand-new report from all my fellow members at the Brennan Center, Larry Norden and Ian Vandewalker, comes in. For years they’ve been forewarning about our rickety referendum machinery. Now that knowledge turns out to be highly relevant as we try to respond to the gossip. They have some specific and abruptly related solutions.

Voting machines, for example, can be made much more secure if there is a physical evidence of each elect, such as when citizens throw their ballot on paper, which is then scanned. These acknowledgments make it possible to do an accurate recount. It also tells officials attend random examinations to make sure the electronic tally accords the voters’ planned. Physical records are useless, however, unless we are really look what i found. Currently, only 26 positions deport post-election examines of newspaper preserves. By the next election, we need that numeral to be 50. Some states- including Georgia and parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia- still have machines with no newspaper record at all. We estimate that it would cost between $130 and $400 million nationwide to supersede all the paperless voting machines with machines that speak paper ballots.

Voter registration rosters likewise can be made much more secure. Today 42 commonwealths use voter databases that were created at least ten years ago. Think of all the advances in cyber-security since then. Private companies and government agencies use an regalium of brand-new armours against data fraud and hacking that should be enrolled to protect voter flattens.

All this will cost some coin. But the biggest obstacle is not wallet–it’s will. Above all, we need to find a way to avoid the toxic partisanship that regularly paralyzes Congress.

So far, portends are not entirely encouraging. The little-known Election Assistance Commission( EAC) determines the rules for voting machines, among other things. It should get more funding. Instead, the House Republican are trying to eliminate it. When the Obama administration’s Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson considered labelling voting machines systems as” critical infrastructure” deserving additional shelter, akin to the electrical grid, local election officials balked. The Heritage Foundation called the idea” an electoral Trojan Horse .”

Yet we’ve spoken with lawmakers from both parties who are alarmed by the Russian assault on American democracy. They are well aware that, as Sen. Lindsey Graham has observed, foreign affairs may have helped the GOP last-place era- but could tip the scale of assessments for the Democrats another time. Lawmakers may holler about Trump and crusaded about health care, but there are some encouraging signs that they will actually direct quietly to come up with safeties for our ballots.

After all, this is more than a gossip. A unfriendly foreign dominance aggression our election system. Former CIA director James Woolsey kept it with emphatic oratory in his foreword to the Brennan Center report.” The autobiography of national defense would point out that threats are constantly evolving ,” he wrote.” When the United States was affected at Pearl Harbor, we took action to protect our sail. When we were attacked on 9/11, we took action to upgrade transportation its safety and protect our ports and other vulnerable targets. We were attacked in 2016. The target was not ships or aircrafts or buildings, but the machinery of our republic. We will be attacked again. We must act again — or leave our republic at risk .”

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