#called (ambitiously) Founding The Just Regime

[thebaldergatescandal]

I excuse the morally grey blorbos crimes not because theyre fine but because in the fantasy setting most people with any power at all have done some murders

[eevees-hobbies]

Call me 'Kyojuro': Female Reader X Kyojuro Rengoku Smut

Author note:  I didn’t expect my first story to be so tame!  I wanted to make something dirty featuring my anime husband, but I think because this is my first, I held back. Raunchy, steamy, inappropriate shit will definitely be written in the future!

Content warning: smut, oral performed on female character, touching of breasts, mentions of bodily fluids (nothing extreme), you also are very forward in your relationship with Rengoku. I don’t really align with self-inserts that make you shy or soft-spoken (depends on the character)…it’s just not my thing!

Word count: 3.2k

--------------

Rengoku was by no means a prude, but his Hashira lifestyle—which consisted of demon-slaying and training on constant repeat—left little time for relationships.

But it was no surprise that he quickly became infatuated with you when you were introduced as the newest Hashira. Yes, you were cute, no, you were beautiful, but that wasn’t the only characteristic that drew him in. It was also the way you were so committed to improving your skills. You were clearly ambitious – working tirelessly day and night to be a better you than the version you were yesterday. 

Rengoku recalled waking up early not long after you began your Hashira tenure, excited to start his usual training regime before the morning sun rose above the mountains and before the other Hashira started to stir. But when he approached the training grounds, he saw you practicing your movements with a sword in hand. 

You were mouthing commands to yourself, “breathe, follow through, expect a parry.” 

Rengoku watched you, quickly forgetting that he had his own training to begin. He was too engrossed by your commitment and passion to interrupt.

“I’m not one for an audience, ya know,” you shoot him a half-smile. You had noticed his presence but allowed the Flame Hashira to study you. As the newest Hashira, you hadn’t spoken up much. You simply observed during Hashira meetings, but you always found yourself interested in whatever Rengoku added to the conversation. Whenever he spoke up, his voice boomed over the others—and they listened. His points always centered on justice and protecting those who couldn’t defend themselves.

You were smitten on day one.

Rengoku’s body stiffened by your call out. He didn’t want you to feel like he was studying you, even if that was exactly what he was doing.

“Sorry! I was simply admiring your technique. And I must admit, I was surprised to find someone out here so early.”

You tilted your head to the side, the sweat that collected on your forehead from the exertion making its way down your cheek. “But you’re out here?”

Rengoku smiled softly as he acknowledged your quick rebuttal.

“Well, there’s more than enough space for us to both get our training in. Care to join me? I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t interested in seeing what the Flame Hashira is capable of.” You palm the hilt of your blade nervously, hoping he would accept your offer not only because you were putting yourself out there but also because you wanted him to say yes.

Rengoku shoots you with a dazzling smile that makes your heart stutter.

“Let us get started then.”

In a matter of minutes, you and Kyojuro stared at each other from a respectful distance away, waiting for the other to make the first move—not wanting to be caught off guard, you strike first.

The Flame Hashira dodges you easily, but he doesn’t parry or clip you with his blunted weapon. In fact, many of his movements are a response to your attacks with no attempt at fighting back. You quickly grow frustrated. You had earned your place in the Hashira ranks. You slayed just as many demons as him and had plenty of the scars and trauma to prove it.

More of the same continues, with you stringing together elaborate attacks and him dodging.

You feel the vein in your temple begin to switch, your anger reaching a boiling point. “Demons go out of their way to target women, and you dare hold back against me?!” Your body goes slack as you turn your back towards him, sending a physical sign that you were concluding the training session.

Kyojuro flinches at your sudden emotional outburst, and because he hadn’t realized he was on the defensive with you—he certainly never held back with Shinobu or Mitsuri. For some reason, a reason deeper than he could comprehend at that moment, he didn’t want to hurt you.

“Wait!” Kyojuro takes a step towards you. “You are right to be upset with me, but I assure you that I mean no disrespect.”

You barely turn your head to look over your shoulder, “then fight me, Rengoku! Give me the chance to kick your ass, and if you pull that shit again, I’ll never speak to you again.”

Kyojuro contemplates your words and gives a curt nod. He gets into a battle pose and shoots a dazzling smile at you, “Very well! But please, call me Kyojuro.”

Your heart skips a beat. The sun still hasn’t begun to rise but his smile provides you all the light and warmth you could ever need. 

“S-sure thing, Kyojuro.”

--------------

It didn’t take long until you and Kyojuro had a consistent training ritual together. With the Flam Hashira’s approval of your presence and his bragging about your abilities, the other Hashira began to accept you, too. Your nights, previously spent in your room in alone, were now occupied around a large dinner table where you all shared your meals.

“So, I’m just going to come out and say it as it wouldn’t be very flashy of me to keep my mouth shut,” Uzui begins as he sets his cup down.

Your eyes narrow at him as he turns his hulking body to face you. You like Uzui, but everyone at the dinner table quiets and stares at you—you don’t appreciate the extra attention.

“You and Rengoku are a thing, right?” You shoot him a horrified look as he brings his two pointer fingers together and touches them tip-to-tip.

Sanemi chortles at the ridiculous gesture.

You look at Rengoku, hoping that he’ll interject, but he’s quiet, observing you as a shade of pink quickly rises from his neck to his cheeks. 

Sensing the awkwardness between you and Kyojuro, Shinobu interjects—to your relief.

“Leave them be. Mitsuri, tell us more about that salmon dish you spoke about earlier.”

With that, Mitsuri launches into an animated story about the new restaurant she had discovered. The other Hashira quickly lose interest in you and divert their attention to the Love Hashira. You look up at Kyojuro, fully prepared to see him also engrossed in Mitsuri’s story. Instead, he’s looking down at his half-eaten meal with a pensive look on his face.

Your heart aches as you watch him eventually rise, excuse himself from the table, and exit the dining room. 

Before you can talk yourself out of it, you follow. And before you know it, you’re pushing his bedroom door open and closing it quietly behind you.

Kyojuro’s bright eyes look at you in surprise. “Oh, did I leave something at the table?”

You chew your bottom lip in frustration, your heart pounds in your ears, and anxiety begins to make your fingers twitch. You were uncharacteristically nervous being in front of him in his room. But you couldn’t help it because, in a matter of months, your feelings for Kyojuro had blossomed into intense feelings of wanting more from your friendship.

Kyojuro, sensing your inability to speak, rises slowly and approaches you. He takes your hands into his and stares into your own bright eyes. 

“Please….say something. I know you were uncomfortable at dinner when Tengen spoke about our…friendship.” He paused slightly over the word friendship, letting it hang between you both as if it were heavy and wrong.

Fuck it

In a moment of bravery, you tilt your head up and press your lips against Kyojuro’s. You feel his muscles tense slightly at your unexpected advancement, but he doesn’t push you away, and for that, you are beyond thankful.

It isn’t long before he moves his hands up to cup your face, his lips, initially unmoving, now pressing firmly against your own. His longing for you is conveyed as his soft lips dance slowly with yours, his fingers gently stroking the soft skin of your cheek in small circles.

A moan escapes your lips. He’s such a fucking gentleman, you think to yourself. 

When his lips part, you take the opportunity to slide your tongue in his mouth. Your eagerness makes Kyojuro’s head swirl, and his pants tighten in the crotch area. The room fills with the lewd sounds of your wet tongues mingling together as both of your arousal grows. There’s no space between your bodies as you press against one another, his solid chest pressing against your soft breasts and crotches grinding into one another, desperately trying to feel the friction despite the clothes you’re wearing.

You eventually break away from the kiss, both of your lidded eyes staring hungrily at each other and chests heaving rapidly.

Kyojuro speaks first, “Wow. Have you always felt this way about me?” 

You roll your eyes in amusement at the innocent inflection in his tone. Your hands roam over his chest, “what do you think?”

Kyojuro beams at you, “then it is official—we are a couple!”

And true to his word, Kyojuro began to court you. You assumed little would change, and in a way, you were right. You and Kyojuro still trained with each other and accompanied each other on missions, but there were other instances where your relationship was different. If Rengoku went on a mission without you, he’d bring something back that caught his eye and reminded him of you. Soon, you had to purchase a small jewelry box to hold all the beautiful adornments he had gifted you. When it was time for meals—Kyojuro would offer you his lunch and swoon when you ate from his utensils.

“Eat up, my love! We must maintain the fire in your soul; the best way to do that is with a quality meal!”

You appreciated the sentiment—even if your meals were far more flavorful than his. Your heart warmed at how much and how deeply he cared for you.

--------------

During a rare training break, Kyojuro perched under a large tree and watched you spar with Sanemi. He felt uneasy as Sanemi fought you aggressively and without holding himself back. You had requested him to give his all as you did with every Hashira, but it still made Kyojuro nervous about the possibility of you getting hurt.

“When were you planning on thanking me?”

Kyojuro looked up to find his colleague Tengen gloating—an arrogant smirk gracing his features. Kyojuro gave him a quizzical look, unsure how to respond to a question he didn’t quite understand.

Tengen let an exasperated—and characteristically dramatic—sigh escape his lips. He crouched and rested a hand on Kyojuro’s shoulder, “Tell me, my fiery friend. Have you both consummated the relationship?”

Kyojuro’s body stiffened at the question. He felt it to be intrusive—even by Tengen’s standards.

Sensing his friend's tight-lipped demeanor and tense body language, Tengen lowered his voice. 

"Fair. I never took you as one to kiss and tell. But let me leave you with sage advice as someone with his fair share of experience with women.”

Kyojuro looked at his friend expectantly. He wanted to seem uninterested, but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t curious. You both had shared many nights cuddling and kissing had become increasingly more intense. It was becoming more challenging for Kyojuro to control himself as his hands explored your clothed body, his cock growing—almost painfully—in his pants. Some nights when you were away from each other, he’d imagine himself gingerly taking your clothes off, drinking in your body and curves like a man desperate for a taste. He’d imagine settling himself between your plush thighs and pushing his throbbing cock into your warm and welcoming mess of a cunt. On those lonely nights, Kyojuro would touch himself to the thought of you, his large hand sliding into his pants and stroking himself. His eyes would roll back as he tugged at himself with pitiful desperation at the idea of having you.

But while Kyojuro was satisfied with making love with you in the way that he knew how, he wasn’t sure if you’d be fully satisfied. So he looked at his friend, ready to accept his perverse advice.

--------------

Your muscles ached as you dragged yourself to Kyojuro’s room. You had almost fallen asleep during your bath—Sanemi’s training session with you was intense, and you had quite a bit of bruises to show for it. You were looking forward to attaching your body to Kyo’s and drifting off, but you soon forgot about any semblance of sleep as you entered the room.

Kyojuro was sifting his hands through his barely dry hair as he had also recently returned from his bath. His bare, muscular chest still had a few droplets of water that would more than likely evaporate soon. A towel loosely hung around his waist, and a noticeable bulge strained against the white fabric in a way that made you blush. Kyojuro looked over his shoulder at you and beamed. “My love, you are right on time. There is something I wanted to speak to you about!”

Your eyes stay glued to the bulge now pointing, no, beckoning aggressively at you. Please let there be a sudden gust—give me a peak.

Kyojuro continues, “I want you to be satisfied with me, so I received advice today on how to—.” You interrupt Kyojuro with a sharp glance, your own intense eyes meeting his. 

“Kyo, no offense, but we haven't even done anything yet. You don’t really need to worry about that right now, and honestly, I’m a bit scared to ask who you received advice from.”

Kyojuro approaches you, his previously tense shoulders now relaxed at the sound of your shorthand version of his name. He cups your cheeks and looks at you with soft eyes, “You’re right. I was getting ahead of myself.”

You smile sweetly up at him; one of your fingers finds the hem of his towel and pulls. Kyojuro gasps as he’s now fully unclothed in front of you. His cock bobs up and down at the lack of fabric holding it back. You purr and grasp him in your palm, feeling the taut muscle throb excitedly.

Kyojuro licks his lips as his half-lidded eyes look down at you—his breath noticeably harsher and quicker as you stroke him. “You sure?”

You snort—not very ladylike—but a response to an obvious question nonetheless. 

Kyojuro peels your clothes off your freshly cleaned body. He groans as his eyes take in all of your curves—they’re somehow even better than what he imagined. He raises a hand to palm your breast in his hand, his fingers gently pinching and tugging at your hardening nipple. Your mouths find each other again, with an intense hunger, each of your tongues battling for dominance.

Kyojuro pulls away, “I must taste you.”

You give him a quick nod, wondering what he means as you both were doing just that, weren’t you? But you quickly understand what he meant when he picks you up, his strong arms lifting you on his shoulders.

You let out a slight squeal as you feel the floor beneath your feet disappear, and your thighs become Kyo’s new earmuffs. He takes a long sniff of your cunt, breathing in your distinct smell, his mouth watering with excitement. He licks your sensitive folds, a shiver shooting up and down your spine, as the Flame Hashira suckles at your southern lips. 

“Mmm, she’s so pretty.” Slurp  “so wet” Slurp “so tasty.” Slurp

Soon, the room fills with the sounds of his suckling and your gasps. You want to roll your hips against his mouth desperately, but the position he has you in has you pressed against the wall, and any attempt to buck your hips may result in your ass hitting the floor.

Kyojuro slides his tongue past your folds, his mouth now making out with your clit. Your juices and Kyojuro’s saliva drip down his chin. He moans into your pussy, the taste of you making him stroke his pulsing cock with one hand. Your thighs begin to squeeze around his head as you feel warmth spread in your lower stomach. “Baby, I’m going to cum,” your eyes roll back as you release your sweetness down his throat. Kyojuro shudders at how good you taste and how good he makes you feel. 

“Put me down,” you order as you briefly regain your senses. Kyojuro obliges, eyeing you hungrily, his hand still stroking himself with his precum, lubricating the now sensitive skin.

“I want you to ruin me,” you say as you stumble to the middle of the room where the bed is. As you turn to face him, Kyojuro is already on you; he eagerly pushes you down and spreads your thighs. He grunts at the sign of your messy and hungry pussy, the sign of his worshipping tongue still evident on your moist folds. 

You gasp as he’s pushing the fat head of his cock inside of you. 

“Mmmm, she’s so hungry and eager, love.” Kyojuro pushes his full girth inside of you, letting out a groan and collapsing on top of you.

You moan and wrap your legs around his toned waist as he rolls his hips slowly into you. Kyojuro is sensual and careful with his movements despite you being able to tell that it’s taking quite a bit of self-control for him not to pound you mercilessly. As he dives into you, your senses are suddenly overwhelmed with the sound of your pussy squelching as his cock fills you up, the smell of your sex, and the sight of Kyojuro’s pleasure-filled expression gracing his features. He leans down and takes your nipple into his mouth, biting gently at your sensitive skin. It stings in a way that makes your pussy clench around his cock.

Kyojuro groans, “Please forgive me. You feel too good.”

You drag your hands through his hair as you buck your hips against his, trying to match his movements. You want every inch of him to touch every inch of you.

“Don’t be gentle, Kyo. I can handle it.”

Kyojuro shudders at your invitation to ruin you. His pace quickens, now hard, and loud slapping sounds fill every corner of the room, his heavy and full balls smacking against your ass. You desperately want to open up and close yourself all at once—everything you’re feeling intense and overstimulating. 

Kyojuro is being vocal with his approval of you and how you’re taking him in, “O-oh my god, you’re pussy feels like it was m-made for me…!” He grips your thighs with his strong hands, the tips of his fingers turning white as he digs his nails into your flesh. In a quick movement, he pushes your legs further back until he’s squatting on top of you, your thighs pressed against his as he pounds his cock into your needy cunt.

You—no longer caring about how loud you are—let out deep guttural moans. You desperately reach for something to grab, and your hands find Kyojuro’s hair. You grip his thick mane at his scalp and pull. You’re not sure if the position is impeding your breathing or if it’s your moans not allowing you time to suck in adequate air; regardless, you feel as though you might pass out. 

“You take my dick so well,” Kyojuro compliments as his hand finds your clit and rubs it in circular motions with his thumb.

Drool drips out of the corners of your mouth as Kyojuro’s thrusts only get harder and more animalistic.

Kyojuro grunts, feeling himself getting close as the intense fire in his abdomen burns more and more, “stick out your tongue, my flame!”

Your tongue lolls out your mouth for him, and your eyes roll back as he sucks your tongue into his mouth; you moan in adoration as he sucks and bites on your tongue, wanting to taste every bit of you. 

Your pussy clenches and grasps at his cock as you release against him. The death grip of your cunt begging, pleading, and welcoming every drop of inevitable seed that he can give you.

Kyojuro groans loudly as he erupts, shooting hot seed inside of you, “A-ah, here it comes, ohhhhh.”

Kyojuro rests his forehead against your shoulder, the intense wave of your and his pleasure rolling through you both. You plant a kiss against his lips.

“Was that…good?” He mumbles against you.

“So good,” you whisper as you grip him tightly. You can feel his heart beating quickly against your chest. As his love oozes out of you and onto your sheets, you both drift off, gripping one another.

[awesome-casuallyfamouscollector]

The Baltic Way is not just a very personal, emotional watershed moment for many of people in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, but also for at least one person from Germany. The then 19-year-old Frank Drauschke happened to be in Latvia on 23 August 1989 and experienced the peaceful demonstration against the Soviet Union live on the ground.

"I was standing in the middle of the centre of Riga, behind the Freedom Monument, and there was part of this human chain," recalls the historian from East Berlin who eye-witnessed and joined the historic event. "It was incredibly impressive to be there. For me as a GDR citizen, it was the first free demonstration ever."

The Baltic Way was one of the most ambitious, non-violent resistance actions in the history of the 20th century. Around two million people were joining hands and demonstrated for their freedom by forming a 600-kilometre-long human chain across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, showing to the world their determination to regain their independence. The peaceful mass protest was specifically planned on 23 August to mark a painful date in Baltic history. On the same day in 1939, the notorious Molotov-Ribbentrop pact was signed between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, which effectively leading to the Soviet occupation of the Baltics.

Despite initial calls for freedom and democracy in the German Democratic Republic (GDR), such a huge demonstration was still unthinkable at that time in Drauschke's home country that four decades after its foundation found itself amidst a severe political and economic crisis. Dissatisfaction with the East Germany's governing socialist power was growing by the day, but the non-violent anti-regime protests that ultimately led to the fall of the Berlin Wall would start only later in autumn 1989.

Meanwhile in the Baltics the people had already assembled in masses for the Baltic Way, stood closely packed together, were holding hands and sang national songs, in Riga sometimes even in rows of two or three – with Drauschke right in the middle of it(..)

[ktf1official]

After a challenging and injury-plagued 2023 season, Formula 1 driver Lance Stroll has revealed significant changes to his training program as he sets his sights on a successful and injury-free season ahead.

Stroll, who endured a series of unfortunate injuries throughout the 2023 season, has been hard at work revamping his training regime in order to avoid a repeat of last year's setbacks. The Canadian driver suffered from a variety of injuries in 2023, including a shoulder injury and a knee injury, which significantly impacted his performance on the track.

In an exclusive interview, Stroll revealed the extent of his new training program, which includes a focus on injury prevention and strength training. After the challenges I faced last year, I knew that I needed to make some significant changes to my training program in order to compete at the highest level in the upcoming season, Stroll stated. I've been working closely with my team of trainers and physiotherapists to develop a new program that will not only help me avoid injuries, but also improve my overall fitness and performance on the track.

Stroll's new training program incorporates a variety of strength and conditioning exercises, as well as a renewed focus on recovery and injury prevention. I've been spending a lot of time in the gym, working on building strength and stability in key areas of my body, Stroll explained. I've also been dedicating more time to recovery and injury prevention, including regular physiotherapy and massage sessions to keep my body in top condition.

In addition to his revamped training program, Stroll has set ambitious targets for the upcoming season, with his sights set on achieving podium finishes and challenging for race victories. I'm more determined than ever to achieve success in the upcoming season, Stroll declared. I've set myself some ambitious goals, and I'm fully committed to doing whatever it takes to reach them.

Stroll's renewed focus and determination have not gone unnoticed by his team and fans alike. Lance has shown incredible resilience and determination in the face of adversity, commented his team principal. We have full confidence in his ability to bounce back from last year's setbacks and deliver strong performances in the upcoming season.

As the new Formula 1 season approaches, all eyes will be on Lance Stroll as he looks to put his injury-plagued 2023 season behind him and make a successful comeback. With his revamped training program and ambitious targets, Stroll is poised to be a force to be reckoned with on the track in the coming season.

It was an unforeseen setback that left Lance Stroll reeling in disappointment. Just months before the 2023 Formula 1 season was set to begin, Stroll found himself sidelined by a cycling accident. The incident had left him unable to participate in pre-season testing and had forced him to sit out the first few races of the season. It was a difficult time for the young driver, but it was also a period of introspection and growth.

As he looks forward to the 2024 season, Stroll has not only recovered from his injuries but has also made significant changes to his approach to training and preparation. In a recent interview, he opened up about the ways in which the accident had prompted him to reevaluate his training programme and adopt a new mindset.

Missing pre-season testing and the first few races of the season was a wake-up call for me," Stroll admitted. "I realized that I needed to make some changes to how I was approaching my training and overall preparation for the races.

One of the major adjustments Stroll has made is in his approach to fitness and conditioning. Recognizing the importance of maintaining peak physical fitness, Stroll has incorporated new training techniques and regimens into his routine. He has sought out the expertise of top trainers and sports scientists to develop a programme tailored to his needs as a professional racing driver.

I've always been dedicated to my fitness, but the accident made me reevaluate my training methods," Stroll explained. "I've been working on improving my strength, endurance, and flexibility to ensure that I'm in the best possible shape for the challenges of the upcoming season.

In addition to focusing on physical conditioning, Stroll has also made changes to his mental preparation. The accident and subsequent recovery period gave him the opportunity to reflect on his mindset and approach to racing.

"I've taken a more holistic approach to my preparation," Stroll shared. "I've been working with sports psychologists to develop mental strategies to cope with the pressures and demands of racing at the highest level. It's important to have a strong mental game, and I'm confident that these changes will help me perform at my best."

As Stroll looks ahead to the 2024 season, he is eager to put the lessons he has learned into practice. He is determined to make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead and to show that he has not only recovered from his setback but has emerged stronger and more resilient.

"The accident was a setback, but it also gave me a new perspective and a renewed determination," Stroll asserted. "I'm ready to take on the challenges of the upcoming season, and I'm confident that the changes I've made will put me in the best position to succeed."

With a renewed focus on fitness, mental preparation, and overall readiness, Lance Stroll is poised to make a strong comeback in the 2024 Formula 1 season. His commitment to growth and improvement is sure to make him a force to be reckoned with on the racing circuit.

[shelterpark]

Welcome Marjorine Stotch!

𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 : Marjorine Stotch 𝙖𝙜𝙚 : 24 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 : Transwoman 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙨 : She/Her 𝙨𝙚𝙭𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 : Bisexual 𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 : 5'10" 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 : Denver QZ 𝙤𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 : Preschool Teacher [10:04 PM]

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

[10:05 PM] 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 : (For the sake of backstory, I’ll use the name Butters and he/him pronouns up until Marjorine’s official transition.)

When he was younger, Butters considered the notion of complete autonomy to be a fate entirely out of the question. He stayed inside more often than not in high school, in fear of getting in trouble for matters outside of his control; in his partially self-inflicted reclusivity, the four walls of his bedroom became the scale of the entire Earth, with South Park as the solar system, and anything outside of it harboring an unpredictability and vastness akin to the entire universe. The only places he could be found were school and work, which may have sparked his uninhibited work ethic, but simultaneously made him more dependent on the structure that had been curated for him at home. His parents dutifully upheld this standard, expecting exceptional grades and perfect obedience from their son.

Butters may have maintained his gullible and innocent nature, allowing for his parents to take full advantage of his incapability to take control over his own life, if not for his access to the internet. While perusing potential life paths during his senior year, the quality of his life came under necessary scrutiny; his potential was being diluted, both at work and at home, by people desperate to hold power over him. The slow realization sparked justified indignation in his heart, and after reflecting on the idea of taking on a role of leadership later in life, he decided to pursue a degree in business.

Following eighteen long years of being confined to his home as the rest of the world passed him by, he was more than eager to leave South Park behind the moment he graduated high school. [10:05 PM] An ambitious attempt to prove his capabilities (to his parents, and to himself), he got a job as a live-in nanny up in Denver that began in the summer before her freshman year of college, freeing him from the restraints of his overbearing parents, and shedding the stress of dorming for the duration of his college career. Without any sort of parental involvement, by the time the first semester began, she had started presenting femininely and going by Marjorine, but would put on a more masculine front when going down to visit over holidays. However, thanks to her job that required her to be around a majority of the time, she had a good excuse to limit her visits home, and keep her family at bay. During her college years, the mother Marjorine worked for taught her a multitude of lessons; the importance and necessity of financial and social independence, how to navigate and excel in a male dominated field, how to be her own source of empowerment, and of course, offered her some much needed fashion advice.

Upon the outbreak, Marjorine was a year shy of earning her degree, and was promptly left to her own devices upon the respective infections of those she shared a home with. As the world began to decay around her, she discovered an oddly comforting sense of familiarity in being confined to the city, punished for something entirely outside of her control (much like being grounded in her youth). Well-versed in finding ways to flourish under an oppressive, domineering regime, she felt safer within the barriers of the QZ than she could have anywhere else, even back home in her appointed solar system of South Park. Or, at least, it helped to convince herself it was partially her choice.

By the time society was revived and the cogs of the working machine began to turn again, Marjorine promptly realized just how useless her field of study had become. [10:05 PM] With such little experience in other necessary roles, she called upon her recently acquired skill of childcare, and was employed as a teacher’s aid for preschool, and eventually promoted as a preschool teacher herself due to insufficient staff. Though she demonstrated an inherent empathy for the kids, a part of her still felt entirely dissatisfied with her job; she had been prepared for board meetings and spreadsheets, not issuing nap times or reading storybooks from the dreary selection of approved literature. It was an unfulfilling line of work without the consequences, but allowing innocent children to slip through her fingers, marching in single file into kindergarten with the phantoms of rifles on their backs and helmets on their heads, made Marjorine sick to her stomach. She’d often walked past schools on her way to work with glassy eyes.

However, in the wake of a new career, courses from college had not been completely discarded from Marjorine’s judgment; though the economy had been gutted and turned inside out, she could vaguely identify the direction in which it was mutating, the new means of currency only amplifying the inherent flaws in the market before society’s downfall. With any fresh advancements came blatant loopholes that were protected by majorly unqualified oversight, making discrepancies ripe for extortion. Over the past year or so of Marjorine’s life, she’d been desperately trying to get her foot in the door of the operation, hoping that any day now, she could exploit the corrupted economy to provide not only for the children coming from less fortunate families, but herself as well. [10:05 PM]

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

[10:05 PM] 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙣𝙨 : ・.・★ Butters? I hardly know ‘er! If someone from South Park tries to confront her about knowing her from childhood, she will ardently deny ever knowing them at all (think the attitude of Victor Chaos). This reaction partially comes from wanting to leave her old identity behind for good, afraid of how she may be perceived if the information ever came out, but it also stems from the fear of her parents finding out about her transition. Basically: gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss. ・.・★ Wink! Monocular vision; has to wear eyeglasses with a balance lens, and has a scar over her right eye. ・.・★ Proverbs 23:81. Despite the obvious, glaring issues with organized religion, ever since the outbreak, Marjorine has partially turned back to her Catholic roots, seeking comfort in scripture to guide her through such tumultuous times. She doesn’t speak much about her religion to anyone, but does wear a cross necklace wherever she goes. ・.・★ What, these old things? Speaking of jewelry, in college, she liked to make her own earrings. Silly ones that dangle. The children she worked with liked them a lot, but the younger ones would incessantly reach to tug on them, so she had to start wearing studs to work instead. ・.・★ Whistle a happy tune! Still carries the habit from childhood of singing to herself at any given opportunity, either song she makes up to fit the situation she’s wound up in, or whatever pops into her head. One her way to and from work, when she is unaccompanied, she will hum to herself as a means of asserting confidence and comfort in an otherwise dangerous journey. However, if silence is safer, she will instead nod her head to a tune better kept in her mind. In my brain she sounds like a young Dolly Parton, with the use of head voice, slight nasal quality, squashed S’s, etc. Definitely not as good of a singer as Dolly, just similar in tonality.

[romanceboys]

(interview) vogue korea april issue 2020 - perfect taemin

1. superm was another chance for taemin’s ever-evolving performance to be showcased. i thought a lot about how to create synergy with these exceptional performers. to put it simply, i wanted us to come off as energetic. but these days i’ve had a change of heart. our identity is definitely important. rather than just working hard, for superm to show off their colours well we need to show our personalities; we should be seen as one team. to be able to formulate a solid and clear colour is our homework. that’s why it’s regrettable. we couldn’t come up with a novel choreography to carry our new identity. we tried a lot in the practice room. superm seems to have found its musical identity but hasn’t gotten a hold of its performance character yet. the stages are too vague. 2. now that you are finally promoting with your best friend kai in one group, you two must’ve shared your concerns. since this friend is someone who has a lot of passion and ambition, he talks about various things. for instance, this style is pretty good, this choreography is quite trendy. thanks to him i’ve learned a lot. he is also very knowledgeable about the latest ‘hottest’ genres. we talk about these things often and even watch videos together. kai gives off ‘popular’ vibes. compared to him, my interests are quite unusual. nowadays kai is interested in music while i am into science. 3. is it science fiction? these days we’ve been watching videos on the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics together. 4. what aspect of it interested you? originally i was very curious, after seeing a recommended video on youtube i learned about quantum mechanics for the first time. i couldn’t understand the explanation, even those who were explaining it said it was a difficult concept. that was very fascinating to me. kind of like magic.  5. are you reading books on the subject too? the subjects of the books i read are different (laughs). there’s a book that was published long ago called ‘regarding the pain of others.’ it is a pessimistic book that gathers contradictory opinions of people for instance ‘people find joy in the pain of others, it is instinctual.’ as a celebrity, there are times when you are criticized but there are also times when you receive comfort from people. rather than blaming others, while reading this book, i began to think ‘people are like that, at most i shouldn’t behave like them.’ my interests are all over the place. 6. what makes you and kai click? we converse well. our opinions almost never clash and we respect each other. moreover, we fully understand our own roles in superm. 7. what position do you hold in superm? since i can’t ask if it’s the main dancer. in pictures and interviews, i’m the center. baekhyun hyung is the leader (laughs). 8. when the conversation wasn’t flowing well during the talkshow interview, i saw you neatly concluding it.  that does happen. nct and wayv are still in the learning phase. that’s why i first listen to all of their thoughts during interviews then flesh it out with details later. 9. compared to when you set out abroad as shinee then promoting overseas as superm now, the status of k-pop has changed. looking at how superm was able to start off with an arena tour in the us and europe made me feel that k-pop is a ‘hot’ topic. in the past, we’d use venues of this scale for smtown concerts. even if you promote mainly in asia, seeing the audience section will make you realise the perception of k-pop has changed. 10. though k-pop’s scope has expanded and diversified, its definition has become simple. what are your concerns? my first concern is language. after i was able to communicate via language during my japanese activities, there were so many advantages. though each country overseas has its own language, i felt that i needed to learn english first. there are many international fans who want to experience the chemistry between our members, they’d feel much closer to us if we communicated using (a common) language. k-pop isn’t one dimensional. it’s not only about the music, there is music video, style, etc. included. people would make dance covers in the past, now they even emulate the styling. all of this is korean pop culture. 11. superm were on the ellen degeneres show and jimmy kimmel live. before we went on the ellen show we really rehearsed the interview a lot. america’s atmosphere is different so you receive questions that are never asked in korea. they don’t disclose the questions in advance either. we were also worried because the emcee could ad-lib. we came up with the most probable questions and practiced, we also received lessons from american comedians. compared to that, we went on jimmy kimmel live without any prep. 12. what went according to plan and what didn’t? the questions were not as intense as expected, ellen was well aware about k-pop culture so it went smoothly. 13. is there a dance genre you’re into these days? contemporary, lyrical hiphop, in the future as superm i think i’ll be able to show more, not the kind of dancing that you do after learning a given choreography but the kind that is full of emotions. it’s about giving meaning to your gestures. it isn’t out yet but my concert vcr features lyrical hiphop. in it i think i’m dancing alone with a giant full moon as my backdrop but get confused when there are two of us, either it’s another person or a shadow. a choreographer with a body type similar to mine had to dress in all black to come across as my shadow. i wore an oriental outfit with smokey makeup. 14. how do you usually come up with your ideas? i get inspired by the choreographers and creative directors. i imagine it as we converse then the idea develops. 15. was there a time you were inspired by fashion? of course. art begins with the five senses. what you see with your eyes, the things you can feel, clothes, food, perfume, music that you listen to are all sources of inspiration. i create private accounts to follow fashion brands. 16. having debuted at the age of 16, you are still young but your work experience has been long. i was in certain situations because of this. it doesn’t happen as often now but even in my early 20s, i completely belonged to the senior category at broadcasting stations. they are my juniors but many of them are also hyungs, i’m their senior but i’m also the youngest. now there are even staff members who are younger than me. they’re too formal with me (laughs). 17. are there juniors that ask you for advice or help? the superm members! especially ten, he is very curious. when we come out of a company meeting, he’ll get surprised and say “wow, hyung everything you said was right.” i even hear things like ‘veteran’ and ‘seer.’ apparently my predictions come true. but i try not to advise them as much. taking the initiative to say something feels overwhelming. 18. born in 1993 between millennials and gen z, do you share any characteristics with those in your age bracket? we’ve picked out a few of their traits. the first one is ‘they don’t eat fast food.’ me too! i took care of my health well ever since i started out with shinee. i was brainwashed from home to avoid foods that harmed the body. not even ramyeon, snacks were also banned. and just like that in my 20s i started carrying out the regime on my own. it’s become a habit to look after my health ever since i moved out. i always eat things that are good for my body, if the hyungs are taking vitamins, i’d ask for one too. 19. i suddenly recall a variety show where you were the only one who skipped the sauce and ate the meat on its own! one should not eat irritable foods. my mother’s words. 20. how about ‘they watch videos on youtube rather than tv. even the ads don’t particularly bother them.’ that’s right. i watch youtube more often than tv, while watching the ads i'd even marvel at their production quality. i’ve signed up for the premium package now so i don’t see the ads anymore. 21. ‘marrying or wanting to buy their own house.’ i currently live alone and i have no interest in decking out my house. at first, i didn’t think like that but a month later my interest dissipated. i’m lazy. it’s not like my house is for others to see, i’m fine with the incomplete feeling for now. 22. and finally ‘they avoid investing in financial companies.’ i don’t do that. my parents manage that, if there’s a good tip i’ll just let them know.  23. hiphop musicians tend to express their success through music. as an idol musician how have you been using the wealth you accumulated all these years? i invest in food instead of saving up (laughs). honestly, i don’t spend much. i don’t have anything i want. though i do spend on others a lot. 24. what kind of household did you grow up in? what gifts did you inherit from your family as a musician? i inherited my body type. all of my cousins have model-like physiques, they’re taller and slimmer than me. my mother sings well. my father plays instruments as a hobby. oh, and my paternal aunt used to be a ballerina. so perhaps i inherited such genes? 25. you’ve been doing the same thing for more than 10 years. what is the purpose behind creating music and showcasing it? in the past, i would think i should do well, i need to be number one, these days i’ve become ambitious for other aspects. i take pride in the fact that my work supplies others with positive energy. i feel a sense of accomplishment when fans like my music, i want to make them as happy as i am. everyone’s profession is different but i hope this synergy gained from mutual dependence leaves a good impression. 26. are you still composing songs? i used to but now i only participate in lyric writing. it differs with each song, at times the lyrics are emotional or talk about abstract love. it seems like my next solo album will include a song i wrote the lyrics to. sometimes songs composed by overseas composers might prove too difficult for the general public to understand. so i participate a lot in the arrangement or mixing phase. i point out the parts that should be added to the composition and those that are unneeded. teacher lee soo man does give advice but it often feels like i do the producing of my own solo album. 27. taemin’s originality is the clearest when he promotes as a solo artist. which song has best represented your identity? i worked hard on all of them but there was a turning point. at first there was ‘danger’ then ‘press your number’ was a conceptual performance, the transition to ‘move’ turned out well. i wanted to break out from the typical choreography routine and create my own identity, the resulting performances were ‘move’ and ‘want.’ my next solo album is again different. i’ve been making a lot of changes these days. 28. you seem to have high standards when it comes to composing music. was there ever an occasion where you absolutely refused to compromise and gave others a hard time? everyone is used to it (laughs). it’s something i learned from the head manager hyung who’s been with me since debut. the belief that ‘there is nothing that can’t be done. there is no such thing as impossible.’ another team manager hyung would tell me ‘you remind me of our head’ (laughs). honestly, the staff around me work beyond their given roles and with affection. normally work timings are from 9 to 7, they stay back till 10-11 pm for me. they don’t hold it against me, and when things do well, they too feel a sense of fulfillment together with me. 29. the new unreleased song must be quite different from the original then.  there are already 12 versions of the song. when i thought we were somewhat done, we recently started arranging it again (laughs). 30. you hold your body to specific standards for the best performance outcome. i don’t ‘bulk up.’ previously, i used to work out when i ate a lot but my body would feel weighed down, it wasn’t what i wanted. if i gain a lot of muscles or become thick, it hampers my dancing form. that’s why i don’t put on weight. i train my stamina and strength and avoid bulking up my shoulders and arms. 31. by the way, do you do neck exercises as well? i was touched looking at your long neck in the vogue photoshoot. i had been noticing this too, now i know the reason! i think it’s because i dance. a lot of resistance goes into the neck when you dance. our head is the heaviest and it’s the neck that supports it. it goes away when i rest for a few days. we’re shooting amidst the superm tour maybe that’s why it looks thicker now.  32. an editor who has been watching you closely for a long time said that you’ve become extroverted. could it be that experience and relationships have made you comfortable and secure? i’ve lowered my guard. i couldn’t reveal my current self to others before. as a child i used to be so introverted that i’d hide behind my mother when strangers would get into the elevator. i changed with time.  33. is your ever-present smile a product of your personality or just business decorum? i’m always smiling. i even laugh at things other people don’t find funny (laughs). 34. shinee members are currently serving in the army. when they’re on break what kind of advice or nagging do they subject you to? i wish they would do that. we have a group chat on kakaotalk and i always revive it by asking “what’s up” “happy new year.” but as soon as the conversation picks up they only talk about the army. when i inform them about an issue at the company they say “really?” then it’s military talk again. when i feel left out and tell them to stop, they reply with “you’ll understand when you get here.” 35. in your career as a musician, when do you feel the best? when it’s time to reveal all that i’ve been preparing for so long! it feels different from finishing it. the first stage after debuting, shinee’s first concert, performing at tokyo dome, receiving the award... these are the moments that come to mind. 36. watching taemin grow for the past decade has been a huge source of strength. what are your dreams now? there are many. first of all, once shinee comes back again, i want the entire group to give off a feeling of revival. usually after getting discharged, it’s hard to keep up with the next generation, i want to avoid that. i’ve imagined it all when the shinee members return. second, i want to perform a lot on various stages as a solo artist. superm topped the billboard 200 album chart, it’d be nice to enter the top 10 on the hot 100 digital chart as well.  37. you are really talented at setting goals. i’ve gotten greedier. it’s just not for myself but i want to do it for the fans and members, even the staff. they become my driving force. i really am lucky. everybody works hard but i even get the recognition for it. come to think of it, i was given many opportunities and i worked hard to make the most of them, i’m really happy my efforts paid off in the end. i’m surrounded by good people. shinee, superm, many people fill in the gaps for me that i can’t solve on my own. 38. superm’s concert title is ‘we are the future.’ when you hear the word ‘future’ what are you reminded of? first, it’s h.o.t. (laughs). future-oriented things come to mind like artificial intelligence, drones, 3d hologram concerts. then again, in the future, though people might be able to watch concerts through holograms, i think humans will not give up on the tasks they themselves can do. my work will still be the same in the future. 39. the reason you don’t write anything on instagram. i don’t have anything to say yet (laughs). i don’t know if i should make my instagram cool or approachable. when fretting between writing a caption or using an emoticon, i just end up leaving it blank. actually i signed up after my manager hyung suggested that instagram would be good. so i’ve made one but i still don’t know what to upload. i get teased by the people around me for putting up selfies. i even took lots of pictures especially for instagram but... 40. did you not post the pictures? the point of instagram is real-time communication. is that so! i didn’t know (laughs).

translated by romanceboys — take out with full credit (source)

[foxrp]

member groups

our site’s member groups include seven character groups that are based on goals, allegiances, and where the character best fits in the political grand scheme of our plot. this is what they support, what they think, where their thoughts lie. they do not have to be members of that group - which is to say, they can be a coalition supporter and not be in the coalition, and same goes for death eaters and the order and every where else. or, they could be a civilian. where they fall, it's all based on the political grand scheme. please keep this in mind!

( under the cut, all of our information is laid out as needed. but... want a sneak peek of our guidebook? check out this screenshot of our groups page! )

additional notes

please remember our member groups are what their political alignment is. our member groups are based on the political grand scheme, with the different sects pulling the world in all different directions. where your character aligns, and why, is entirely up to you.

maybe they just support the coalition's efforts to fix the ministry after watching them struggle to keep control for so long, or maybe your character is a full blown high ranking member of the order, or maybe they just agree with the movement the rebellion is starting - whatever that may be, that is your choice. and that is where they would fall, member group wise. they do not have to fully be a member to be included, we leave this decision up to you as you know your character best, and we trust you to choose the best route.

now, for characters that may be playing the role of spy within groups, we do ask that you keep in mind that the chosen group should show as what they would appear most as in an outward fashion, i.e. peter pettigrew as order of the phoenix or severus snape as a death eater in canon. thank you!

Nº1 CIVILIAN

the civilians, caught between each of these groups and being pulled this way, that, the other until surely they just might rip apart, until surely they will be forced to pick a side, pick a side and pray you made the right choice.

the civilians member group works as a catch all - those who haven't yet aligned themselves, or who haven't yet fully aligned themselves. they are sure to lean in different directions, have pulls in different directions, but they haven't formally joined the fight just yet. our civilians are those in the in between, those caught between all the lines in the web that has been woven, and those who have not quite yet for whatever reason chosen a side to truly stand on. be that because they are waiting to see where pieces fall or just unsure they want to be involved or any other reason, they're caught dead in the middle and the clock is ticking as it begs the question 'if you stand for nothing, what will you fall for?'.

Nº2 COALITION

the coalition, an international group put in place to watch and to rectify and to ultimately do what the ministry cannot and finding that list to grow each day as what they deem as anarchy and other deem as revolution grows in numbers, all while their need to take control matches that growth over and over.

they waited and watched as people died, as the dark lord grew in power, as a rebellion was started that threatened to shake the way of the outreaching world as they knew it, and the ineffective ministry did nothing. eventually, the world could watch no more and the coalition stepped in. the coalition are an international body who have been tasked with restoring peace, headed up in britain by their liaison, robards, they are working to mediate, provide safety, and restore infrastructure to the ailing country. but at what point does assistance become a takeover? the stubborn british ministry is almost as much of a problem as the squabbling factions and anarchists, revolutionaries and monsters run rampant in the streets. sometimes tact and diplomacy is no longer enough, and there are those who see this and support their appointment readily, so long as something is finally done.

Nº3 DEATH EATER

the order of the phoenix and the death eaters, facing off in a war that is about to come to a head as the world around them grows ever darker, ready to descend fully into the madness they had all begun to unravel, to dip their toes into the insanity like a tidepool, unknowing the tidal wave that awaited them.

led by lord voldemort, the death eaters (and those who align with them, who could be found here as unmarked death eaters or simply death eater aligned characters) have a focus on blood purity and/or the dark arts. a mixture of the weak, the ambitious, and those who simply enjoy inflicting hurt and causing suffering, they are radicals with no regard for the law, order, or morals that tie wizarding society together. they are the disillusioned aristocracy, the fearful scared of their tenuous grip on power, those who wreak violence in your community, the ambitious lesser clutching at strength, respect, fear by any means, romanticizing their ‘clean’ bloodlines and ardent in their belief that magic is might and anything muggle is mud.

Nº4 ETHER

the ether, printing hard truths that no one wants uncovered and calling out any that stands in their way, a media insurrection that is asking for transparency the likes of which their world has never known.

the world has been murky for so long, the water constantly stirred up by those factions hiding in the shadows, afraid to come out and be seen in the light of the day. the ether advocates for transparency, tired of how groups like the order and the death eaters have been allowed to run amuck seemingly without any kind of resistance. they are those working to uncover the truth, no matter its ugliness. they are the radio hosts sorting out facts from fiction, they are the brave sources risking all to expose the ministry’s corruption, they are in and out of the media themselves but using that resource to tell stories that need to be told. they’ve had enough of the years of no accountability, of the people suffering for the egos of a few. war is not only fought on battlegrounds. it’s fought in the pages and on the airwaves too.

Nº5 MINISTRY OF MAGIC

the ministry of magic, faking control over a situation that has long since gotten out of hand and grappling with how to take the power back now that so many eyes are upon them.

for as long as anyone can remember, the ministry has been there. people come and go and times change, but the foundations endure. except what happens when there are cracks in those foundations? when papering over them no longer hides the problems and the situation is spiraling? the ministry is the government and all the employees and supporters that fall under its shadow, the all-powerful authority, and what they say goes… right? except the coalition is here now, undermining the little power the british ministry has managed to hold onto. and every day it seems there’s a new faction complicating matters. and how long, really, can they retain support and the waning semblance of control? and what happens should they lose it?

Nº6 ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

the order of the phoenix and the death eaters, facing off in a war that is about to come to a head as the world around them grows ever darker, ready to descend fully into the madness they had all begun to unravel, to dip their toes into the insanity like a tidepool, unknowing the tidal wave that awaited them.

led by albus dumbledore, the order of the phoenix was formed to directly oppose the death eaters. they are the tragic heroes, the light in the dark that can’t be snuffed out. they’ve lost so much, so many, and still they refuse to be moved. how much can you lose before it changes you irreparably? before it makes you into something worse? the order are our ragtag lovable group of do-gooders, or so they believe themselves. at times, they are all that stands between life as you know it and the death eaters gaining control. vigilantes to some, rebels to others, they are your teachers, your daughters, your sons, the people you pass in the street and think nothing of. all walks of life and all fighting for the greater good as they believe it. but who is to say they are right? and with secrets being uncovered and new groups making waves, how long will that belief remain unshaken?

Nº7 REBELLION

the rebellion, an uprising some would call it, a godsend others would cry, making waves even as they just begin and calling for change in the treatment of those seen less than human.

kindness is not something often shown when you’re different. whether you be a werewolf or a vampire, a half-creature, anything less than human - you are seen as lacking, as lesser. and some have had enough of being belittled, being treated so poorly by the society that shuns them, of being persecuted for things they cannot help and cannot change. maybe they’re wizards themselves, who’ve grown weary of watching creatures suffer under the current regime, of watching people who mostly look like them be treated with disdain and prejudices they know they did not earn. they want more, want rights, want safety, and they are angry that they’ve yet to get it. they're angry that they have to fight for it at all, that at every turn they’ve been told no. it’s burnt for so long in their chests and now they howl for change, baying for a revolt, an insurrection. a rebellion. there is no clear hierarchy. yet. only whispers and ripples and more and more realizing that if they want change, they’ll have to take it. by force, if necessary.

[ryanmeft]

Ryan’s Favorite Films of 2019

A stuttering detective,

A top hat-wearing vamp

A forced-perspective war,

A bit of Blaxploitation camp

Prisoners on a space ship

Having sex with bears

A writer goes remembering

Whenever his pain flares

  A prancing, dancing Hitler

A gambler high on strife

Here will go cavorting with

A mom who becomes a wife

A family plot with many threads

Three men against their own

A stuntman and his actor

A mobster now quite alone

Doubles under the earth

Two men in a tall house

Are here to watch a woman who

Is battling with her spouse

A family’s plans for their strong son

Go awry one night

A man rejects his country

Which is spoiling for a fight

 A house built by his grandpa

(Maybe; we’re not sure)

Looks out upon three prisoners

Whose passions are a lure

  All these are on my list this year

It’s longer than before

Because picking only ten this time

Was too great of a chore

  What are limits anyway?

They’re just things we invented

I don’t really find them useful

So, this year, I’ve dissented

  You may have noticed this time out

That numbers, I did grant

Promise they’ll stay in this order, though?

Now that, I just can’t

  I’m always changing my mind

Because, after all, you see

Good film is about the heart

And mine’s rather finicky

  There are a lot more I could name

(And I’ll change my mind at any time)

For now, though, consider these

The ones I found sublime

 20. Motherless Brooklyn

I’ve got a (hard-boiled) soft spot for 90’s neo-noirs like L.A. Confidential, Red Rock West and Seven, and Edward Norton’s ‘50’s take on Jonathan Lethem’s 90’s -set novel can stand firmly in that company.

19. Doctor Sleep

There’s something about Stephen King’s best writing that transcends mere popularity; his work may not be fine literature, but it is immune to the fads of the moment. So, too, are the best movies based on that work. This one, an engaging adventure-horror, deserved better than it got from audiences.

18. Jojo Rabbit

There was a time when the anything-goes satire of Mel Brooks could produce a major box office hit.  Disney’s prudish refusal to market the film coupled with the dominance of franchises means that’s no longer the case. If you bothered to give Jojo a shot, though, you got the strange-but-rewarding experience of guffawing one moment and being horrified the next.

17. By The Grace of God

I’d venture this is the least-seen film on my list; even among us brie-eating, wine-sniffing art house snobs, I rarely hear it mentioned. Focusing on the perspectives of three men dealing with a particularly heinous and unrepentant abusive priest and the hierarchy that protects him, it’s every bit as disquieting and infuriating as 2015’s Oscar-winning Spotlight.

16. Waves

You think Trey Edward Shultz’s Waves will be one thing---a domestic drama about an affluent African-American family (and that in and of itself is a rarity). Then it becomes something else entirely. It addresses something movies often avoid: that as life goes on, the person telling the story will always change.

15. Transit

You’re better off not questioning exactly where and when the film is set (it is based on a book about Nazi Germany but has been changed to be a more generalized Fascist state). The central theme here is identity, as three people change theirs back and forth based on need and desire.

14. American Woman

Movies about regular, working class, small-town American usually focus on men. This one is about a much-too-young mother and grandmother, played brilliantly by Sierra Miller, dealing with unexpected loss and the attendant responsibilities she isn’t ready for. 

13. Marriage Story

There is an argument between a married couple in here that is as true a human moment as ever was on screen---free of trumped-up screenplay drama and accurate to how angry people really argue. The entire movie strives to be about the kind of realistic divorce you don’t see on-screen. It is oddly refreshing.

12. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Quentin Tarantino’s love letter to 70’s Tinseltown is essentially a question: What if the murder that changed the industry forever had gone down differently? Along the way, it also manages to be a clever and insightful study of fame and fulfillment, or lack thereof.

11. High Life

Claire Denis is damned determined not to be boring. Your reaction to her latest film will probably depend on how receptive you are to that as the driving force of a film. Myself, I’m very receptive. I want to see the personal struggles of convicts unwittingly shipped into space, told without Action-Adventure tropes, in a movie that sometimes misfires but is never dull.

 10. Dolemite Is My Name

And fuckin’ up motherfuckers is my game! Look, if you don’t like naughty words, you probably shouldn’t be reading my columns---and you definitely shouldn’t be watching this movie. Eddie Murphy plays Rudy Ray Moore, the ambitious, irrepressible and endlessly optimistic creator of Blaxpoitation character Dolemite. Have you seen the 1975 film? It’s either terrible and wonderful, or wonderful and terrible, and the jury’s still out. Either way, Moore in the film is a self-made comic who establishes himself by talking in a unique rhyming style that speaks to black Americans at a time when black pop culture (and not just the white rendition of it) was finally beginning to pierce the American consciousness. What The Disaster Artist did for The Room, this movie does for Dolemite---with the difference being I felt like I learned something I didn’t know here.

 9. 1917

Breathless, nerve-wracking and somehow intensely personal even though it almost never takes time to slow down, it is fair to call Sam Mendes’s film a thrill ride---but it’s one that enlightens us on a fading historical time, rather than simply being empty calories. Filmed in such a way as to make it seem like one continuous, two-hour take, for which some critics dismissed it as a gimmick, the technique is used to lock us in with the soldiers whose mission it is to save an entire division from disaster. We are given no information or perspective that the two central soldiers---merely two, in a countless multitude---do not have, and so we are with them at every moment, deprived of the relief of omniscience. I freely admit I tend to give anything about World War I the benefit of the doubt, but there’s no doubt that the movie earns my trust.

8. Ash Is Purest White

Known by the much less cool-sounding name Sons and Daughters of Jianghu in China, here is a story that starts off ostensibly about crime---a young woman and her boyfriend are powerful in the small-potatoes mob scene of a dying industrial town---but after the surprising first act becomes a meditation on life, perseverance and exactly how much power is worth, anyway, when it is so fleeting and so easily lost. What do you do when everything that defined you is gone? You go on living. This is my first exposure to writer-director Jia Zhangke, an oversight I must strive hard to correct in future.

7. Knives Out

The whodunit is a lost art, a standard genre belonging to a time when mass audiences could appreciate a picture even if someone didn’t run, yell or explode while running and yelling every ten minutes. Rian Johnson and an all-star cast rescued it from the brink of cinematic extinction and gave it just enough of a modern injection to keep it relevant. Every second of the film is engaging; Johnson even manages to have a character whose central trait is throwing up when asked to lie, and he makes it seem sympathetic rather than juvenile. The fantastic cast of characters is backed up with all the qualities of “true” cinema: perfect camerawork, an effective score, mesmerizing production design. As someone who didn’t much care for Johnson’s Star Wars outing, I’m honestly put out this didn’t do better at the box office than it did.

6. A Hidden Life

After a few questionable efforts and completely losing the thread with the execrable vanity project Song to Song, Terence Malick returns to his bread and butter: meditative dramas on the nature of faith, family, and being on the outside looking in, which encompass a healthy dose of nature, philosophy and people talking without moving their lips. That last is a little dig, but it’s true: Malick does Malick, and if you don’t like his thing, this true story about a German dissenter in World War II will not change your mind. For me, what Malick has done is that rarest of things: he had made a movie about faith, and about a character who is faithful, without proselytizing. That the closeness and repressiveness of the Nazi regime is characterized against Malick’s typical soaring backdrops is a masterstroke, and the best-ever use of his visual style.

5. The Lighthouse

Robert Eggers is a different kind of horror filmmaker. After redefining what was possible with traditional horror monsters in The Witch, he returned with something that couldn’t be more different: an exploration of madness more in the vein of European film than American. Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe are two men stranded in a lighthouse together slowly losing their minds, or what is left of them. The haunting score and stark, black-and-white photography evoke a nightmare caught on tape, something we’re not supposed to be seeing. It’s not satisfying in a traditional way, but for those craving something more cerebral from horror, Eggers has it covered.

4. Us

I have become slightly notorious in my own little circle for not thinking Get Out was the greatest film ever made, and now I’ve become rather known for thinking Us just might be. Ok, so that’s definite hyperbole: “greatest” is a tall claim for almost any horror movie. Yet here Jordan Peele shows that he can command an audience’s attention even when not benefiting from a popular cultural zeitgeist in terms of subject matter. It’s a movie with no easy or clear message, one that specializes in simply unsettling us with the idea that the world is fundamentally Not Right. I firmly believe that if Peele becomes a force in the genre, 50 years from now when he and all of us are gone, his first film will be remembered as a competent start, while this will be remembered as the beginning of his greatness.

3. The Last Black Man in San Francisco

Ostensibly about urban gentrification, this story of a young black man trying to save his ancestral home from the grasping reach of white encroachment is a flower with many petals to reveal. Don’t let my political-sounding description turn you off: the movie is not a polemic in the slightest, but rather a wry, sensitive look at people, their personalities and how those personalities are intertwined with the places they call home. Though the movie is the directorial debut of Joe Talbot, it is based loosely on the memories and feelings of his friend Jimmie Falls, who also plays one of the two central characters. If you’ve ever watched a place you love fall to the ravages of time and change, this movie may strike quite a chord with you.

2. Uncut Gems

When asked why this movie is great, I usually say that it was unbelievably stressful and caused me great anxiety. This description is not usually successful in selling it. The Safdie Brothers have essentially filmed chaos: a man self-destructing in slow-motion, if you can call it slow. Howard Ratner has probably been gradually exploding all his life; he strikes you as someone who came out of the womb throwing punches. He’s an addictive gambler who loves the risk much more than the reward, and can’t gain anything good in life without risking it on a proverbial roll of the dice. His behavior is destructive. His attitude is toxic. Why do we root for him? Perhaps because, as played by Adam Sandler, he never has any doubt as to who he is---something few of us can say. He’s an asshole, but he’s a genuine asshole, and somehow that’s appealing even when you’re in his line of fire.

1. Pain and Glory

When I realized I would, for the first time, have the chance to see a Pedro Almodovar film on the screen, I was overjoyed. His movies aren’t always great, but that was of little concern: he’s one of the handful of directors on the planet who can fairly call back to the avant-garde traditions of Bergman or Truffaut, making the movies he wants to make about the things he want to make them about, and I’d never seen one of his films when it was new and fresh, only months or years later on DVD.

It seems I picked right, as his latest has been almost universally hailed as one of the best of his long career. An aging, aching filmmaker spends his days in his apartment, ignoring the fans of his original hit film and most of his own acquaintances, alive or dead---he tries hard to put his memories away. Throughout the course of the movie, he re-engages with most of them in one way or another, coming to terms with who he is and where he’s been, though not in a Hallmark-movie-of-the-week way. Antonio Banderas plays him in the role that was always denied him by his stud status in Hollywood. It isn’t simply him, though: every person we meet is engaging and, we sense, has their own story outside of how they intersect with his. Most engaging is that of his deceased mother, who in her youth was played vivaciously by a sun-toughened Penelope Cruz. Perhaps Almodovar will tell us some of their stories some day. Perhaps not. I would read an entire book of short fiction all about them. This is the year’s best film.

[pierrotdameron]

Dafne Keen does not much look like Lyra Belacqua, at least not as Philip Pullman describes her in His Dark Materials. In Northern Lights, the first book of the trilogy, she is “like a half-wild cat”, with dirty fingernails, green eyes and grubby blond-ish hair. Keen, who is half British, half Spanish and lives in Madrid, is darker and is already the master of an intense glare, as anyone who saw her alongside Hugh Jackman in the Wolverine swansong Logan will know. When we meet, in a London hotel, she has the self-possessed cool of a total pro, even at 14. But there are plenty of Lyra-esque flourishes that make it obvious why she got the part.

She was almost 12 when she finished filming Logan. She had heard about the BBC/HBO adaptation of His Dark Materials, then in its early stages, and sent in an audition tape. But she didn’t hear back. “I thought, never mind, I’ll just carry on with my life,” she says. “Which is when I got stung by the jellyfish.”

The production team had finally replied, asking her to make another tape. Keen was on holiday in Puerto Rico. “I thought, right, I’m going to have a chilled-out swim and then I’m going to get ready. I suddenly felt this thing on my face and then it started stinging and then it expanded all over my face. I ran to my mum and I went, ‘Mum! Is it really red?’ My mum went, ‘No it’s fine.’ And then she went, ‘Oh no, it’s not fine.’” Her face was red and swollen but she had to do the tape. “So my audition is with a jelly-face,” she smiles.

The next step was to meet Ruth Wilson, who plays Mrs Coulter, one of the best evil characters in children’s literature. “I was sitting in the waiting room with 20 other girls,” Keen remembers. “I was thinking, oh god, they’re all blond. I don’t physically look like this character, and these girls all do. I went in, shook hands with Ruth, and five minutes later, she looked at me and said, ‘You know, you have the same eyebrows as me.’” Fans of the books will know that this is a big thumbs up. Days later, she began rehearsals, with Wilson and puppets. In Pullman’s books, people have daemons, an animal manifestation of their “inner self”, which lives alongside them. Because the daemons on screen are CGI, the actors shot their scenes with puppets to make their interactions as authentic as possible.

When Philip Pullman writes, he isn’t trying to bring down the church, he’s bringing down the system

Naturally, Keen is practised at describing what her own daemon would be, were this world to have daemons in it. “Mine is quite easy to figure out, because it’s what everyone called me on set. Everyone calls me Monkey.” In the books, daemons change form until their human reaches adulthood, when they settle as one fixed animal. Keen particularly liked hers as a pine marten.

We meet the morning after the world premiere of His Dark Materials, which was the first time Keen had watched it. “Everybody had seen it apart from me! I’m really busy filming season two, so I had no time to watch it. I had Philip Pullman right next to me, and I was like, oh god! But I think he liked it.” Did he offer his approval? “His wife came up to me and was really lovely and was saying I was the perfect Lyra. I was really happy to hear that.”

Keen had not read the trilogy before she auditioned. “Now I’m a massive, massive fan. As soon as I read the books, I knew this was a good message to the world, and it’s important that we have stories about young girls, because there aren’t many,” she says. At the premiere, Jack Thorne, who wrote the screenplay, likened Lyra to Greta Thunberg. Though she does not know it, the future of the world rests on Lyra’s shoulders, and she has to fight tooth and nail to defeat the forces that wish to suppress free will and independent thought. Keen approves of the Thunberg comparison. “I am genuinely in awe of that girl.”

There have been various adaptations of His Dark Materials over the years: a Radio 4 series, a play at the National Theatre and the 2007 Hollywood attempt, The Golden Compass, with Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. It was supposed to be a trilogy, but only the first was made – and Pullman’s theme of an abusive authoritarian religious body was watered down almost beyond recognition. The television series seems more comfortable with its source material, and its Magisterium, the governing body of the Church, is portrayed as a fascist regime.

In 2007, the Catholic League called for a boycott of The Golden Compass, despite the religious references being excised, and the Vatican also denounced the film and Pullman’s writing. Keen had seen it – was she aware that this new version might be controversial, given the backlash the movie attracted? “I thought that was sad, but I understand why they had to do it,” she reasons, diplomatically, of the decision to soften the book’s themes. “But I think people are reading too much into it. When Philip writes about the Magisterium, he’s not bringing down the church, he’s bringing down the system.”

Keen was born and raised in Spain and is bilingual. Her mother María is Spanish, and as well as being her acting coach is also an actor, as is Keen’s father Will. He has a part in His Dark Materials, as Father MacPhail, part of the Magisterium faithful. “He is terrifying,” says Keen. “He always plays bad people. I don’t know why because he’s so nice. I genuinely think it’s because he’s bald and has green eyes.” She practically grew up in a theatre rehearsal room, because of her parents, but she thought she would be a biologist, like David Attenborough. “Then I found out you have to study biology, and to do that you have to study maths, and I went, mmm no, I’m not doing that. I hate maths so much, you can’t even imagine.”

A friend of her mother’s was making a short film, and needed a child for it, so Keen gave acting a go. She loved it. She did a series in Spain, The Refugees, alongside her father. (“He was playing my evil father, yes. Always got to give it the psychopathic twist.”) She picked up an agent, who put her forward for Logan, and she got down to an audition with Jackman. “In the waiting room, once again, there was this perfect LA beautiful blond girl. I was just, like, a small, scrappy Latin girl. I always think it’s not going to work out for me, and then it went really great.” She auditioned with Jackman, then asked if she could try again, only this time she said she’d like to improvise the scene. She was 11. “My heart was beating big time,” she says. “I thought, I’m just going to dive in and ask them, and they loved it, so I was lucky.”

Jackman remembers the audition well. “[Director] Jim Mangold looked at a lot of actresses for Laura. When he told me about Daf, I was hopeful, but when we tested together, I was blown away,” he says over email. “She was every inch Laura. When Jim asked her if there was anything more she wanted to show us, she said, ‘Can I improvise?’ That’s the actor that got the part and who you see on screen.”

“Hugh is the nicest human being,” she grins. “I used to call him the human jukebox because he was always singing. Lin does the same thing.” Lin is Lin-Manuel Miranda, who plays Lee Scoresby in His Dark Materials. He got Keen tickets to see his smash-hit musical, Hamilton. “Two VIP Lin-Manuel Miranda guest tickets. I felt like such a diva.” On set, she would find herself singing the songs from it, but was too shy to sing when he was there. When Miranda had finished shooting, they all went for a meal to see him off. The bartender recognised him, and put My Shot on the stereo. “Me and Lewin [Lloyd, who plays Roger] were like, we’re not throwing away our shot, we’re singing this song.” They all joined in. “I’ve got videos of me and Lin singing it.”

Right now, Keen is preparing to go back to Wales to film season two, which loosely adapts The Subtle Knife, the second book in the trilogy. The third season, which will take on the astonishingly ambitious The Amber Spyglass, may take a little longer to pull together. Still, she is happy to live as Lyra for a while yet. She has taken plenty of her away from the experience already. “She taught me to speak up. Be bold, be brave, be yourself. Don’t follow rules, because rules can be useful, but they can be very stupid and pointless,” she says – sounding very much like her Lyra herself.

[the-archlich]

Interesting question I thought of but historically, what do you think Cao Cao and Cao pi would have done if they were Cao shaung? When sims yi revolted and the circumstances were the same.I guess we also include cao rui too.

The underlying assumption here is that Sima Yi’s power play was inevitable.

I don’t believe it was.

In part, this is because I don’t believe in the depiction of Sima Yi as some sort of sinister mastermind, carefully planning everything for decades so that his family could seize the throne. I think that’s a mostly fictional creation and one that only holds water if you choose to interpret all of his actions in the most sinister way possible.

I think the real Sima Yi was, like virtually everyone else who ever lived, much more complicated than that. He certainly sought power and he didn’t hesitate to claim it when it was at hand, but I also believe there was far more going on than just his ambitions.

This ended up rambling and I don’t know if it makes any sense. I’m tired. Might edit later. TL;DR: I don’t think it would have happened under a different ruler because the situation would have been different.

There was always a quiet sort of division in Wei. One the one hand, many of Cao Cao’s supporters came from the powerful clans of the north. These were families of long-serving officials, many of them eminent scholars. The most prominent of these old-school families can be classified as a traditionalist faction within Wei. They benefited from the old order and wanted to keep things as close to it as they could.

On the other hand, Cao Cao also gained a lot of support from people outside of this structure. He was a lenient man, especially with scholars, so people who had been disregarded or suppressed under the old regime found support from him. And many of his supporters were “new money”, men who became prominent through their service to him (primarily military). We can call these a reformist group. These weren’t strict party lines, of course, but broad strokes that help to contextualize some of Wei’s internal disputes.

These groups had their friction. Probably the most explosive episode under Cao Cao is the dispute between Kong Rong and Chi Lü, which ended in the former’s execution.

Cao Cao, Cao Pi, and Cao Rui were all very good at balancing these forces. They generally favored the reformists but didn’t antagonize the traditionalists needlessly. While the reformists usually prospered from the patronage of the Cao rulers, the traditionalists had deep roots, ancient alliances, and lots of prestige and power. And they did as much to help build Wei as the others. So even when the Cao favored their rivals, the traditionalists weren’t in any sort of danger.

And again, I’ll emphasize that I’m speaking in extremely broad terms.

The Cao emperors were good at managing these disputes, and they seldom became anything significant. But that tension was always there. Then Cao Rui died and Cao Fang was too young to rule.

Cao Shuang is someone we can very firmly place in the reformist camp. His closest friends were all the sort of new-age scholars and philosophers that the traditionalists despised and tried to run out of the government. On the other hand, Sima Yi was a traditionalist almost by default. His family had old Han roots, a history of Confucian scholarship, and their closest allies were similar traditionalist families. And instead of creating a balance between these groups, appointing members of each as regents only created conflict.

Now, I should also emphasize that this is all with the benefit of hind-sight. This is with 1800 years of time to observe and judge. It’s entirely possible that the people of the time didn’t even see these lines being drawn between traditionalists and reformists, since there was also plenty of cooperation between the two groups. They built Wei together, after all.

But while the earlier Cao rulers knew how to juggle their subordinates, Cao Fang was too young and Cao Shuang was too firmly in his own camp, even if he didn’t know it. As he and his fellows gained more power (and, of course, extended more power to those who supported and agreed with them as one does) the traditionalists became more and more alienated, and more eager to take any excuse to strike back.

Ultimately, there were forces behind both Sima Yi and Cao Shuang that were much bigger than the designs of either man.

This is, of course, not to say that Sima Yi’s own ambitions didn’t play a role. Maybe a less ambitions person would have chosen a different solution to the conflict. Or behaved differently after becoming the sole regent. Or maybe someone else would have been killed by Cao Shuang and friends instead. Sima Yi’s personality and his ambitions certainly shaped the path he chose, but there was much more going on.

I don’t think Sima Yi would have tried to seize power from Cao Cao, Cao Pi, or Cao Rui. He was ambitious, to be sure, but I think that with different societal forces at play those ambitions would have manifested differently.

[lukeskywaker4ever]

28th King of Portugal (8th of the Bragança Dynasty): King Pedro IV of Portugal, “The Liberator/The Soldier King”

Reign: 10 March 1826 – 2 May 1826 Predecessor: João VI

Pedro IV (12 October 1798 in Queluz, Portugal – 24 September 1834 in Queluz, Portugal), nicknamed "the Liberator", was the founder and first ruler of the Empire of Brazil. As King Dom Pedro IV, he reigned briefly over Portugal, where he also became known as "the Liberator" as well as "the Soldier King". Born in Lisbon, Pedro IV was the fourth child of King Dom João VI of Portugal and Queen Carlota Joaquina, and thus a member of the House of Bragança. When the country was invaded by French troops in 1807, he and his family fled to Portugal's largest and wealthiest colony, Brazil.

The outbreak of the Liberal Revolution of 1820 in Lisbon compelled Pedro IV's father to return to Portugal in April 1821, leaving him to rule Brazil as regent. He had to deal with threats from revolutionaries and insubordination by Portuguese troops, all of which he subdued. The Portuguese government's threat to revoke the political autonomy that Brazil had enjoyed since 1808 was met with widespread discontent in Brazil. Pedro IV chose the Brazilian side and declared Brazil's independence from Portugal on 7 September 1822. On 12 October, he was acclaimed Brazilian emperor and by March 1824 had defeated all armies loyal to Portugal. A few months later, Pedro IV crushed the short-lived Confederation of the Equator, a failed secession attempt by provincial rebels in Brazil's northeast.

A secessionist rebellion in the southern province of Cisplatina in early 1825, and the subsequent attempt by the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata to annex it, led the Empire into the Cisplatine War. In March 1826, Pedro IV briefly became king of Portugal before abdicating in favor of his eldest daughter, Dona Maria II. The situation worsened in 1828 when the war in the south resulted in Brazil's loss of Cisplatina. During the same year in Lisbon, Maria II's throne was usurped by Prince Dom Miguel, Pedro IV's younger brother. The Emperor's concurrent and scandalous sexual affair with a female courtier tarnished his reputation. Other difficulties arose in the Brazilian parliament, where a struggle over whether the government would be chosen by the monarch or by the legislature dominated political debates from 1826 to 1831. Unable to deal with problems in both Brazil and Portugal simultaneously, on 7 April 1831 Pedro IV abdicated in favor of his son Dom Pedro II, and sailed for Europe.

Pedro IV invaded Portugal at the head of an army in July 1832. Faced at first with what seemed a national civil war, he soon became involved in a wider conflict that enveloped the Iberian Peninsula in a struggle between proponents of liberalism and those seeking a return to absolutism. Pedro IV died of tuberculosis on 24 September 1834, just a few months after he and the liberals had emerged victorious. He was hailed by both contemporaries and posterity as a key figure who helped spread the liberal ideals that allowed Brazil and Portugal to move from absolutist regimes to representative forms of government.

Pedro was born at 08:00 on 12 October 1798 in the Queluz Royal Palace near Lisbon, Portugal. He was named after St. Pedro of Alcantara, and his full name was Pedro de Alcântara Francisco António João Carlos Xavier de Paula Miguel Rafael Joaquim José Gonzaga Pascoal Cipriano Serafim. He was referred to using the honorific "Dom" (Lord) from birth.

Through his father, Prince Dom João (later King Dom João VI), Pedro was a member of the House of Bragança and a grandson of King Dom Pedro III and Queen Dona (Lady) Maria I of Portugal, who were uncle and niece as well as husband and wife. His mother, Doña Carlota Joaquina, was the daughter of King Don Carlos IV of Spain. Pedro's parents had an unhappy marriage. Carlota Joaquina was an ambitious woman, who always sought to advance Spain's interests, even to the detriment of Portugal's. Reputedly unfaithful to her husband, she went as far as to plot his overthrow in league with dissatisfied Portuguese nobles.

As the second eldest son (though the fourth child), Pedro became his father's heir apparent and Prince of Beira upon the death of his elder brother Francisco António in 1801. Prince Dom João had been acting as regent on behalf of his mother, Queen Maria I, after she was declared incurably insane in 1792. By 1802, Pedro's parents were estranged; João lived in the Mafra National Palace and Carlota Joaquina in Ramalhão Palace. 

Pedro and his siblings resided in the Queluz Palace with their grandmother Maria I, far from their parents, whom they saw only during state occasions at Queluz.

In late November 1807, when Pedro was nine, the royal family escaped from Portugal as an invading French army sent by Napoleon approached Lisbon. Pedro and his family arrived in Rio de Janeiro, capital of Brazil, then Portugal's largest and wealthiest colony, in March 1808. During the voyage, Pedro read Virgil's Aeneid and conversed with the ship's crew, picking up navigational skills. In Brazil, after a brief stay in the City Palace, Pedro settled with his younger brother Miguel and their father in the Palace of São Cristóvão (Saint Christopher).  Although never on intimate terms with his father, Pedro loved him and resented the constant humiliation his father suffered at the hands of Carlota Joaquina due to her extramarital affairs.  As an adult, Pedro would openly call his mother, for whom he held only feelings of contempt, a "bitch". The early experiences of betrayal, coldness and neglect had a great impact on the formation of Pedro's character.

A modicum of stability during his childhood was provided by his aia (governess), Maria Genoveva do Rêgo e Matos, whom he loved as a mother, and by his aio (supervisor) friar António de Arrábida, who became his mentor. Both were in charge of Pedro's upbringing and attempted to furnish him with a suitable education. His instruction encompassed a broad array of subjects that included mathematics, political economy, logic, history and geography. He learned to speak and write not only in Portuguese, but also Latin and French. He could translate from English and understood German. Even later on, as an emperor, Pedro would devote at least two hours of each day to study and reading.

Despite the breadth of Pedro's instruction, his education proved lacking. Historian Otávio Tarquínio de Sousa said that Pedro "was without a shadow of doubt intelligent, quick-witted, [and] perspicacious." However, historian Roderick J. Barman relates that he was by nature "too ebullient, too erratic, and too emotional". He remained impulsive and never learned to exercise self-control or to assess the consequences of his decisions and adapt his outlook to changes in situations. His father never allowed anyone to discipline him.While Pedro's schedule dictated two hours of study each day, he sometimes circumvented the routine by dismissing his instructors in favor of activities that he found more interesting

The prince found fulfillment in activities that required physical skills, rather than in the classroom. At his father's Santa Cruz farm, Pedro trained unbroken horses, and became a fine horseman and an excellent farrier. He and his brother Miguel enjoyed mounted hunts over unfamiliar ground, through forests, and even at night or in inclement weather. He displayed a talent for drawing and handicrafts, applying himself to wood carving and furniture making. In addition, he had a taste for music, and under the guidance of Marcos Portugal 

the prince became an able composer. He had a good singing voice, and was proficient with several musical instruments (including piano, flute and guitar), playing popular songs and dances. Pedro was a simple man, both in habits and in dealing with others. Except on solemn occasions when he donned court dress, his daily attire consisted of white cotton trousers, striped cotton jacket and a broad-brimmed straw hat, or a frock coat and a top hat in more formal situations. He would frequently take time to engage in conversation with people on the street, noting their concerns.

Pedro's character was marked by an energetic drive that bordered on hyperactivity. He was impetuous with a tendency to be domineering and short-tempered. Easily bored or distracted, in his personal life he entertained himself with dalliances with women in addition to his hunting and equestrian activities. His restless spirit compelled him to search for adventure, and, sometimes in disguise as a traveler, he frequented taverns in Rio de Janeiro's disreputable districts. He rarely drank alcohol, but was an incorrigible womanizer. His earliest known lasting affair was with a French dancer called Noémi Thierry, who had a stillborn child by him. Pedro's father, who had ascended the throne as João VI, sent Thierry away to avoid jeopardizing the prince's betrothal to Archduchess Maria Leopoldina, daughter of Emperor Franz I of Austria (formerly Franz II, Holy Roman Emperor).

On 13 May 1817, Pedro was married by proxy to Maria Leopoldina. When she arrived in Rio de Janeiro on 5 November, she immediately fell in love with Pedro, who was far more charming and attractive than she had been led to expect. After "years under a tropical sun, his complexion was still light, his cheeks rosy." The 19-year-old prince was handsome and a little above average in height, with bright dark eyes and dark brown hair. "His good appearance", said historian Neill Macaulay, "owed much to his bearing, proud and erect even at an awkward age, and his grooming, which was impeccable. Habitually neat and clean, he had taken to the Brazilian custom of bathing often." The Nuptial Mass, with the ratification of the vows previously taken by proxy, occurred the following day. Seven children resulted from this marriage: Maria (later Queen Dona Maria II of Portugal), Miguel, João, Januária, Paula, Francisca and Pedro (later Emperor Dom Pedro II of Brazil)

On 17 October 1820, news arrived that the military garrisons in Portugal had mutinied, leading to what became known as the Liberal Revolution of 1820. The military formed a provisional government, supplanting the regency appointed by João VI, and summoned the Cortes—the centuries-old Portuguese parliament, this time democratically elected with the aim of creating a national Constitution. Pedro was surprised when his father not only asked for his advice, but also decided to send him to Portugal to rule as regent on his behalf and to placate the revolutionaries. The prince was never educated to rule and had previously been allowed no participation in state affairs. The role that was his by birthright was instead filled by his elder sister Dona Maria Teresa: João VI had relied on her for advice, and it was she who had been given membership in the Council of State.

Pedro was regarded with suspicion by his father and by the king's close advisers, all of whom clung to the principles of absolute monarchy. By contrast, the prince was a well-known, staunch supporter of liberalism and of constitutional representative monarchy. He had read the works of Voltaire, Benjamin Constant, Gaetano Filangieri and Edmund Burke. Even his wife Maria Leopoldina remarked, "My husband, God help us, loves the new ideas." João VI postponed Pedro's departure for as long as possible, fearing that once he was in Portugal, he would be acclaimed king by the revolutionaries.

On 26 February 1821, Portuguese troops stationed in Rio de Janeiro mutinied. Neither João VI nor his government made any move against the mutinous units. Pedro decided to act on his own and rode to meet the rebels. He negotiated with them and convinced his father to accept their demands, which included naming a new cabinet and making an oath of obedience to the forthcoming Portuguese Constitution. On 21 April, the parish electors of Rio de Janeiro met at the Merchants' Exchange to elect their representatives to the Cortes. A small group of agitators seized the meeting and formed a revolutionary government. Again, João VI and his ministers remained passive, and the monarch was about to accept the revolutionaries' demands when Pedro took the initiative and sent army troops to re-establish order. Under pressure from the Cortes, João VI and his family departed for Portugal on 26 April, leaving behind Pedro and Maria Leopoldina. Two days before he embarked, the King warned his son: "Pedro, if Brazil breaks away, let it rather do so for you, who will respect me, than for one of those adventurers."

At the outset of his regency, Pedro promulgated decrees that guaranteed personal and property rights. He also reduced government expenditure and taxes.Even the revolutionaries arrested in the Merchants' Exchange incident were set free.  On 5 June 1821, army troops under Portuguese lieutenant general Jorge Avilez (later Count of Avilez) 

mutinied, demanding that Pedro should take an oath to uphold the Portuguese Constitution after it was enacted. The prince rode out alone to intervene with the mutineers. He calmly and resourcefully negotiated, winning the respect of the troops and succeeding in reducing the impact of their more unacceptable demands. The mutiny was a thinly veiled military coup d'état that sought to turn Pedro into a mere figurehead and transfer power to Avilez. The prince accepted the unsatisfactory outcome, but he also warned that it was the last time he would yield under pressure.

The continuing crisis reached a point of no return when the Cortes dissolved the central government in Rio de Janeiro and ordered Pedro's return. This was perceived by Brazilians as an attempt to subordinate their country again to Portugal—Brazil had not been a colony since 1815 and had the status of a kingdom. On 9 January 1822, Pedro was presented with a petition containing 8,000 signatures that begged him not to leave. He replied, "Since it is for the good of all and the general happiness of the Nation, I am willing. Tell the people that I am staying." Avilez again mutinied and tried to force Pedro's return to Portugal. This time the prince fought back, rallying the Brazilian troops (which had not joined the Portuguese in previous mutinies), militia units and armed civilians. Outnumbered, Avilez surrendered and was expelled from Brazil along with his troops.

During the next few months, Pedro attempted to maintain a semblance of unity with Portugal, but the final rupture was impending. Aided by an able minister, José Bonifácio de Andrada, 

he searched for support outside Rio de Janeiro. The prince traveled to Minas Gerais in April and on to São Paulo in August. He was welcomed warmly in both Brazilian provinces, and the visits reinforced his authority. While returning from São Paulo, he received news sent on 7 September that the Cortes would not accept self-governance in Brazil and would punish all who disobeyed its orders. "Never one to eschew the most dramatic action on the immediate impulse", said Barman about the prince, he "required no more time for decision than the reading of the letters demanded." Pedro mounted his bay mare and, in front of his entourage and his Guard of Honor, said: "Friends, the Portuguese Cortes wished to enslave and persecute us. As of today our bonds are ended. By my blood, by my honor, by my God, I swear to bring about the independence of Brazil. Brazilians, let our watchword from this day forth be 'Independence or Death!'"

The prince was acclaimed Emperor Dom Pedro I on his 24th birthday, which coincided with the inauguration of the Empire of Brazil on 12 October. He was crowned on 1 December in what is today known as the Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro. His ascendancy did not immediately extend throughout Brazil's territories. He had to force the submission of several provinces in the northern, northeastern and southern regions, and the last Portuguese holdout units only surrendered in early 1824. Meanwhile, Pedro IV's relationship with Bonifácio deteriorated. The situation came to a head when Pedro IV, on the grounds of inappropriate conduct, dismissed Bonifácio. Bonifácio had used his position to harass, prosecute, arrest and even exile his political enemies. For months Bonifácio's enemies had worked to win over the Emperor. While Pedro IV was still Prince Regent, they had given him the title "Perpetual Defender of Brazil" on 13 May 1822. They also inducted him into Freemasonry on 2 August and later made him grand master on 7 October, replacing Bonifácio in that position.

The crisis between the monarch and his former minister was felt immediately within the Constituent and Legislative General Assembly, which had been elected for the purpose of drafting a Constitution.  A member of the Constituent Assembly, Bonifácio resorted to demagoguery, alleging the existence of a major Portuguese conspiracy against Brazilian interests—insinuating that Pedro IV, who had been born in Portugal, was implicated. The Emperor became outraged by the invective directed at the loyalty of citizens who were of Portuguese birth and the hints that he was himself conflicted in his allegiance to Brazil. On 12 November 1823, Pedro IV ordered the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly and called for new elections. On the following day, he placed a newly established native Council of State in charge of composing a constitutional draft. Copies of the draft were sent to all town councils, and the vast majority voted in favor of its instant adoption as the Constitution of the Empire.

As a result of the highly centralized State created by the Constitution, rebellious elements in Ceará, Paraíba and Pernambuco attempted to secede from Brazil and unite in what became known as the Confederation of the Equator. Pedro IV unsuccessfully sought to avoid bloodshed by offering to placate the rebels. Angry, he said: "What did the insults from Pernambuco require? Surely a punishment, and such a punishment that it will serve as an example for the future." The rebels were never able to secure control over their provinces, and were easily suppressed. By late 1824, the rebellion was over. Sixteen rebels were tried and executed, while all others were pardoned by the Emperor.

After long negotiations, Portugal signed a treaty with Brazil on 29 August 1825 in which it recognized Brazilian independence. Except for the recognition of independence, the treaty provisions were at Brazil's expense, including a demand for reparations to be paid to Portugal, with no other requirements of Portugal. Compensation was to be paid to all Portuguese citizens residing in Brazil for the losses they had experienced, such as properties which had been confiscated. João VI was also given the right to style himself emperor of Brazil. More humiliating was that the treaty implied that independence had been granted as a beneficent act of João VI, rather than having been compelled by the Brazilians through force of arms. Even worse, Great Britain was rewarded for its role in advancing the negotiations by the signing of a separate treaty in which its favorable commercial rights were renewed and by the signing of a convention in which Brazil agreed to abolish slave trade with Africa within four years. Both accords were severely harmful to Brazilian economic interests.

A few months later, the Emperor received word that his father had died on 10 March 1826, and that he had succeeded his father on the Portuguese throne as King Dom Pedro IV. Aware that a reunion of Brazil and Portugal would be unacceptable to the people of both nations, he hastily abdicated the crown of Portugal on 2 May in favor of his eldest daughter, who became Queen Dona Maria II. His abdication was conditional: Portugal was required to accept the Constitution which he had drafted and Maria II was to marry his brother Miguel. Regardless of the abdication, Pedro IV continued to act as an absentee king of Portugal and interceded in its diplomatic matters, as well as in internal affairs, such as making appointments. He found it difficult, at the very least, to keep his position as Brazilian emperor separate from his obligations to protect his daughter's interests in Portugal.

Miguel feigned compliance with Pedro IV's plans. As soon as he was declared regent in early 1828, and backed by Carlota Joaquina, he abrogated the Constitution and, supported by those Portuguese in favor of absolutism, was acclaimed King Dom Miguel I. As painful as was his beloved brother's betrayal, Pedro IV also endured the defection of his surviving sisters, Maria Teresa, Maria Francisca, Isabel Maria and Maria da Assunção, to Miguel I's faction. Only his youngest sister, Ana de Jesus, remained faithful to him, and she later traveled to Rio de Janeiro to be close to him. Consumed by hatred and beginning to believe rumors that Miguel I had murdered their father, Pedro IV turned his focus on Portugal and tried in vain to garner international support for Maria II's rights

Backed by the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata (present-day Argentina), a small band declared Brazil's southernmost province of Cisplatina to be independent in April 1825.The Brazilian government at first perceived the secession attempt as a minor uprising. It took months before a greater threat posed by the involvement of the United Provinces, which expected to annex Cisplatina, caused serious concern. In retaliation, the Empire declared war in December, triggering the Cisplatine War. The Emperor traveled to Bahia province (located in northeastern Brazil) in February 1826, taking along his wife and daughter Maria. The Emperor was warmly welcomed by the inhabitants of Bahia.The trip was planned to generate support for the war-effort.

The imperial entourage included Domitila de Castro (then-Viscountess and later Marchioness of Santos), 

who had been Pedro IV's mistress since their first meeting in 1822. Although he had never been faithful to Maria Leopoldina, he had previously been careful to conceal his sexual escapades with other women. However, his infatuation for his new lover "had become both blatant and limitless", while his wife endured slights and became the object of gossip. Pedro IV was increasingly rude and mean toward Maria Leopoldina, left her short of funds, prohibited her from leaving the palace and forced her to endure Domitila's presence as her lady-in-waiting. In the meantime, his lover took advantage by advancing her interests, as well as those of her family and friends. Those seeking favors or to promote projects increasingly sought her help, bypassing the normal, legal channels.

On 24 November 1826, Pedro IV sailed from Rio de Janeiro to São José in the province of Santa Catarina. From there he rode to Porto Alegre, capital of the province of Rio Grande do Sul, where the main army was stationed. Upon his arrival on 7 December, the Emperor found the military conditions to be much worse than previous reports had led him to expect. He "reacted with his customary energy: he passed a flurry of orders, fired reputed grafters and incompetents, fraternized with the troops, and generally shook up military and civilian administration." He was already on his way back to Rio de Janeiro when he was told that Maria Leopoldina had died following a miscarriage. Unfounded rumors soon spread that purported that she had died after being physically assaulted by Pedro IV. Meanwhile, the war continued on with no conclusion in sight. Pedro IV relinquished Cisplatina in August 1828, and the province became the independent nation of Uruguay.

After his wife's death, Pedro IV realized how miserably he had treated her, and his relationship with Domitila began to crumble. Maria Leopoldina, unlike his mistress, was popular, honest and loved him without expecting anything in return. The Emperor greatly missed her, and even his obsession with Domitila failed to overcome his sense of loss and regret. One day Domitila found him weeping on the floor and embracing a portrait of his deceased wife, whose sad-looking ghost Pedro IV claimed to have seen. Later on, the Emperor left the bed he shared with Domitila and shouted: "Get off of me! I know I live an unworthy life of a sovereign. The thought of the Empress does not leave me."He did not forget his children, orphaned of their mother, and was observed on more than one occasion holding his son, the young Pedro, in his arms and saying: "Poor boy, you are the most unhappy prince in the world."

At the insistence of Pedro IV, Domitila departed from Rio de Janeiro on 27 June 1828. He had resolved to marry again and to become a better person. He even tried to persuade his father-in-law of his sincerity, by claiming in a letter "that all my wickedness is over, that I shall not again fall into those errors into which I have fallen, which I regret and have asked God for forgiveness".Franz I was less than convinced. The Austrian emperor, deeply offended by the conduct his daughter endured, withdrew his support for Brazilian concerns and frustrated Pedro IV's Portuguese interests. Because of Pedro IV's bad reputation in Europe, owing to his past behavior, princesses from several nations declined his proposals of marriage one after another. His pride thus wounded, he allowed his mistress to return, which she did on 29 April 1829 after having been away nearly a year.

However, once he learned that a betrothal had finally been arranged, the Emperor ended his relationship to Domitila. She returned to her native province of São Paulo on 27 August, where she remained. Days earlier, on 2 August, the Emperor had been married by proxy to Amélie of Leuchtenberg. He was stunned by her beauty after meeting her in person. The vows previously made by proxy were ratified in a Nuptial Mass on 17 October. Amélie was kind and loving to his children and provided a much needed sense of normality to both his family and the general public. After Domitila's banishment from court, the vow the Emperor made to alter his behavior proved to be sincere. He had no more affairs and remained faithful to his spouse. In an attempt to mitigate and move beyond other past misdeeds, he made peace with José Bonifácio, his former minister and mentor.

Since the days of the Constituent Assembly in 1823, and with renewed vigor in 1826 with the opening of the General Assembly (the Brazilian parliament), there had been an ideological struggle over the balance of powers wielded by the emperor and legislature in governance. On one side were those who shared Pedro IV's views, politicians who believed that the monarch should be free to choose ministers, national policies and the direction of government. In opposition were those, then known as the Liberal Party, who believed that cabinets should have the power to set the government's course and should consist of deputies drawn from the majority party who were accountable to the parliament. Strictly speaking, both the party that supported Pedro IV's government and the Liberal Party advocated Liberalism, and thus constitutional monarchy.

Regardless of Pedro IV's failures as a ruler, he respected the Constitution: he did not tamper with elections or countenance vote rigging, refuse to sign acts ratified by the government, or impose any restrictions on freedom of speech. Although within his prerogative, he did not dissolve the Chamber of Deputies and call for new elections when it disagreed with his aims or postpone seating the legislature. Liberal newspapers and pamphlets seized on Pedro IV's Portuguese birth in support of both valid accusations (e.g., that much of his energy was directed toward affairs concerning Portugal) and false charges (e.g., that he was involved in plots to suppress the Constitution and to reunite Brazil and Portugal).To the Liberals, the Emperor's Portuguese-born friends who were part of the Imperial court, including Francisco Gomes da Silva who was nicknamed "the Buffoon", were part of these conspiracies and formed a "secret cabinet". None of these figures exhibited interest in such issues, and whatever interests they may have shared, there was no palace cabal plotting to abrogate the Constitution or to bring Brazil back under Portugal's control.

Another source of criticism by the Liberals involved Pedro IV's abolitionist views. The Emperor had indeed conceived a gradual process for eliminating slavery. However, the constitutional power to enact legislation was in the hands of the Assembly, which was dominated by slave-owning landholders who could thus thwart any attempt at abolition.The Emperor opted to try persuasion by moral example, setting up his estate at Santa Cruz as a model by granting land to his freed slaves there. Pedro IV also professed other advanced ideas. When he declared his intention to remain in Brazil on 9 January 1822 and the populace sought to accord him the honor of unhitching the horses and pulling his carriage themselves, the then-Prince Regent refused. His reply was a simultaneous denunciation of the divine right of kings, of nobility's supposedly superior blood and of racism: "It grieves me to see my fellow humans giving a man tributes appropriate for the divinity, I know that my blood is the same color as that of the Negroes."

The Emperor's efforts to appease the Liberal Party resulted in very important changes. He supported an 1827 law that established ministerial responsibility. On 19 March 1831, he named a cabinet formed by politicians drawn from the opposition, allowing a greater role for the parliament in the government. Lastly, he offered positions in Europe to Francisco Gomes and another Portuguese-born friend to extinguish rumors of a "secret cabinet".To his dismay, his palliative measures did not stop the continuous attacks from the Liberal side upon his government and his foreign birth. Frustrated by their intransigence, he became unwilling to deal with his deteriorating political situation.

Meanwhile, Portuguese exiles campaigned to convince him to give up on Brazil and instead devote his energies to the fight for his daughter's claim to Portugal's crown. According to Roderick J. Barman, "[in] an emergency the Emperor's abilities shone forth—he became cool in nerve, resourceful and steadfast in action. Life as a constitutional monarch, full of tedium, caution, and conciliation, ran against the essence of his character." On the other hand, the historian remarked, he "found in his daughter's case everything that appealed most to his character. By going to Portugal he could champion the oppressed, display his chivalry and self-denial, uphold constitutional rule, and enjoy the freedom of action he craved."

The idea of abdicating and returning to Portugal took root in his mind, and, beginning in early 1829, he talked about it frequently. An opportunity soon appeared to act upon the notion. Radicals within the Liberal Party rallied street gangs to harass the Portuguese community in Rio de Janeiro. On 11 March 1831, in what became known as the "noite das garrafadas" (night of the broken bottles), the Portuguese retaliated and turmoil gripped the streets of the national capital. On 5 April, Pedro IV fired the Liberal cabinet, which had only been in power since 19 March, for its incompetence in restoring order. A large crowd, incited by the radicals, gathered in Rio de Janeiro downtown on the afternoon of 6 April and demanded the immediate restoration of the fallen cabinet. The Emperor's reply was: "I will do everything for the people and nothing [compelled] by the people." Sometime after nightfall, army troops, including his guard, deserted him and joined the protests. Only then did he realize how isolated and detached from Brazilian affairs he had become, and to everyone's surprise, he abdicated at approximately 03:00 on 7 April. Upon delivering the abdication document to a messenger, he said: "Here you have my act of abdication, I'm returning to Europe and leaving a country that I loved very much, and still love."

At dawn on the morning of 7 April, Pedro, his wife, and others, including his daughter Maria II and his sister Ana de Jesus, were taken on board the British warship HMS Warspite. 

The vessel remained at anchor off Rio de Janeiro, and, on 13 April, the former emperor transferred to and departed for Europe aboard HMS Volage. He arrived in Cherbourg-Octeville, France, on 10 June. During the next few months, he shuttled between France and Great Britain. He was warmly welcomed, but received no actual support from either government to restore his daughter's throne. Finding himself in an awkward situation because he held no official status in either the Brazilian Imperial House or in the Portuguese Royal House, Pedro assumed the title of Duke of Bragança on 15 June, a position that once had been his as heir to Portugal's crown. Although the title should have belonged to Maria II's heir, which he certainly was not, his claim was met with general recognition. On 1 December, his only daughter by Amélie, Maria Amélia, was born in Paris.

He did not forget his children left in Brazil. He wrote poignant letters to each of them, conveying how greatly he missed them and repeatedly asking them to seriously attend to their educations. Shortly before his abdication, Pedro had told his son and successor: "I intend that my brother Miguel and I will be the last badly educated of the Bragança family". Charles Napier, a naval commander who fought under Pedro's banner in the 1830′s, remarked that "his good qualities were his own; his bad owing to want of education; and no man was more sensible of that defect than himself." His letters to Pedro II were often couched in language beyond the boy's reading level, and historians have assumed such passages were chiefly intended as advice that the young monarch might eventually consult upon reaching adulthood.

While in Paris, the Duke of Bragança met and befriended Gilbert du Motier, Marquis of Lafayette, 

a veteran of the American Revolutionary War who became one of his staunchest supporters. With limited funds, Pedro organized a small army composed of Portuguese liberals, like Almeida Garrett 

and Alexandre Herculano, 

foreign mercenaries and volunteers such as Lafayette's grandson, Adrien Jules de Lasteyrie. On 25 January 1832, Pedro bade farewell to his family, Lafayette and around two hundred well-wishers. He knelt before Maria II and said: "My lady, here is a Portuguese general who will uphold your rights and restore your crown." In tears, his daughter embraced him. Pedro and his army sailed to the Atlantic archipelago of the Azores, the only Portuguese territory that had remained loyal to his daughter. After a few months of final preparations they embarked for mainland Portugal, entering the city of Porto unopposed on 9 July. His brother's troops moved to encircle the city, beginning a siege that lasted for more than a year.

In early 1833, while besieged in Porto, Pedro received news from Brazil of his daughter Paula's impending death. Months later, in September, he met with Antônio Carlos de Andrada, a brother of Bonifácio who had come from Brazil. As a representative of the Restorationist Party, Antônio Carlos asked the Duke of Bragança to return to Brazil and rule his former empire as regent during his son's minority. Pedro realized that the Restorationists wanted to use him as a tool to facilitate their own rise to power, and frustrated Antônio Carlos by making several demands, to ascertain whether the Brazilian people, and not merely a faction, truly wanted him back. He insisted that any request to return as regent be constitutionally valid. The people's will would have to be conveyed through their local representatives and his appointment approved by the General Assembly. Only then, and "upon the presentation of a petition to him in Portugal by an official delegation of the Brazilian parliament" would he consider accepting.

During the war, the Duke of Bragança mounted cannons, dug trenches, tended the wounded, ate among the rank and file and fought under heavy fire as men next to him were shot or blown to pieces. His cause was nearly lost until he took the risky step of dividing his forces and sending a portion to launch an amphibious attack on southern Portugal. The Algarve region fell to the expedition, which then marched north straight for Lisbon, which capitulated on 24 July. Pedro proceeded to subdue the remainder of the country, but just when the conflict looked to be winding down to a conclusion, his Spanish uncle Don Carlos, who was attempting to seize the crown of his niece Doña Isabel II, 

intervened. In this wider conflict that engulfed the entire Iberian Peninsula, the First Carlist War, the Duke of Bragança allied with liberal Spanish armies loyal to Isabel II and defeated both Miguel I and Carlos. A peace accord was reached on 26 May 1834.

Except for bouts of epilepsy that manifested in seizures every few years, Pedro had always enjoyed robust health. The war, however, undermined his constitution and by 1834 he was dying of tuberculosis. He was confined to his bed in Queluz Royal Palace from 10 September. Pedro dictated an open letter to the Brazilians, in which he begged that a gradual abolition of slavery be adopted. He warned them: "Slavery is an evil, and an attack against the rights and dignity of the human species, but its consequences are less harmful to those who suffer in captivity than to the Nation whose laws allow slavery. It is a cancer that devours its morality." After a long and painful illness, Pedro died at 14:30 on 24 September 1834.

 As he had requested, his heart was placed in Porto's Lapa Church and his body was interred in the Royal Pantheon of the House of Braganza. 

The news of his death arrived in Rio de Janeiro on 20 November, but his children were informed only after 2 December. Bonifácio, who had been removed from his position as their guardian, wrote to Pedro II and his sisters: "Dom Pedro did not die. Only ordinary men die, not heroes."

Upon the death of Pedro IV, the then-powerful Restorationist Party vanished overnight. A fair assessment of the former monarch became possible once the threat of his return to power was removed. Evaristo da Veiga, one of his worst critics as well as a leader in the Liberal Party, left a statement which, according to historian Otávio Tarquínio de Sousa, became the prevailing view thereafter: "the former emperor of Brazil was not a prince of ordinary measure ... and Providence has made him a powerful instrument of liberation, both in Brazil and in Portugal. If we [Brazilians] exist as a body in a free Nation, if our land was not ripped apart into small enemy republics, where only anarchy and military spirit predominated, we owe much to the resolution he took in remaining among us, in making the first shout for our Independence." He continued: "Portugal, if it was freed from the darkest and demeaning tyranny ... if it enjoys the benefits brought by representative government to learned peoples, it owes it to D[om]. Pedro de Alcântara, whose fatigues, sufferings and sacrifices for the Portuguese cause has earned him in high degree the tribute of national gratitude."

John Armitage, who lived in Brazil during the latter half of Pedro IV's reign, remarked that "even the errors of the Monarch have been attended with great benefit through their influence on the affairs of the mother country. Had he governed with more wisdom it would have been well for the land of his adoption, yet, perhaps, unfortunate for humanity." Armitage added that like "the late Emperor of the French, he was also a child of destiny, or rather, an instrument in the hands of an all-seeing and beneficent Providence for the furtherance of great and inscrutable ends. In the old as in the new world he was henceforth fated to become the instrument of further revolutions, and ere the close of his brilliant but ephemeral career in the land of his fathers, to atone amply for the errors and follies of his former life, by his chivalrous and heroic devotion in the cause of civil and religious freedom."

In 1972, on the 150th anniversary of Brazilian independence, Pedro IV's remains (though not his heart) were brought to Brazil—as he had requested in his will—accompanied by much fanfare and with honors due to a head of state. His remains were reinterred in the Monument to the Independence of Brazil, along with those of Maria Leopoldina and Amélie, in the city of São Paulo. 

Years later, Neill Macaulay said that "[c]riticism of Dom Pedro was freely expressed and often vehement; it prompted him to abdicate two thrones. His tolerance of public criticism and his willingness to relinquish power set Dom Pedro apart from his absolutist predecessors and from the rulers of today's coercive states, whose lifetime tenure is as secure as that of the kings of old." Macaulay affirmed that "[s]uccessful liberal leaders like Dom Pedro may be honored with an occasional stone or bronze monument, but their portraits, four stories high, do not shape public buildings; their pictures are not borne in parades of hundreds of thousands of uniformed marchers; no '-isms' attach to their names.”

King Pedro IV had several children:

By Maria Leopoldina of Austria (22 January 1797 – 11 December 1826; married by proxy on 13 May 1817):

 Maria II of Portugal (4 April 1819 –15 November 1853) Queen of Portugal from 1826 until 1853. Maria II's first husband, Auguste de Beauharnais, 2nd Duke of Leuchtenberg, died a few months after the marriage. Her second husband was Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, who became King Dom Fernando II after the birth of their first child. She had eleven children from this marriage. Maria II was heir to her brother Pedro II as Princess Imperial until her exclusion from the Brazilian line of succession by law no. 91 of 30 October 1835.

Miguel, Prince of Beira (26 April 1820) Prince of Beira from birth to his death.

João Carlos, Prince of Beira (6 March 1821 – 4 February 1822) Prince of Beira from birth to his death.

Princess Januária of Brazil (11 March 1822 – 13 March 1901) Married Prince Luigi, Count of Aquila, son of Don Francesco I, King of the Two Sicilies. She had four children from this marriage. Officially recognized as an Infanta of Portugal on 4 June 1822, she was later considered excluded from the Portuguese line of succession after Brazil became independent.

Princess Paula of Brazil (17 February 1823 – 16 January 1833) She died age 9, probably of meningitis. Born in Brazil after its independence, Paula was excluded from the Portuguese line of succession.

Princess Francisca of Brazil (2 August 1824 – 27 March 1898) Married Prince François, Prince of Joinville, son of Louis Philippe I, King of the French. She had three children from this marriage. Born in Brazil after its independence, Francisca was excluded from the Portuguese line of succession.

Pedro II of Brazil (2 December 1825 –5 December 1891) Emperor of Brazil from 1831 until 1889. He was married to Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies, daughter of Don Francesco I, King of the Two Sicilies. He had four children from this marriage. Born in Brazil after its independence, Pedro II was excluded from the Portuguese line of succession and did not become King Dom Pedro V of Portugal upon his father's abdication.

By Amélie of Leuchtenberg (31 July 1812 – 26 January 1873; married by proxy on 2 August 1829):

Princess Maria Amélia of Brazil (1 December 1831 – 4 February 1853) She lived her entire life in Europe and never visited Brazil. Maria Amélia was betrothed to Archduke Maximilian, later Emperor Don Maximiliano I of Mexico, but died before her marriage. Born years after her father abdicated the Portuguese crown, Maria Amélia was never in the line of succession to the Portuguese throne.

By Domitila de Castro, Marchioness of Santos (27 December 1797 – 3 November 1867):

Isabel Maria de Alcântara Brasileira (23 May 1824 – 3 November 1898) She was the only child of Pedro IV born out of wedlock who was officially legitimized by him. On 24 May 1826, Isabel Maria was given the title of "Duchess of Goiás", the style of Highness and the right to use the honorific "Dona" (Lady). She was the first person to hold the rank of duke in the Empire of Brazil. These honors did not confer on her the status of Brazilian princess or place her in the line of succession. In his will, Pedro IV gave her a share of his estate. She later lost her Brazilian title and honors upon her 17 April 1843 marriage to a foreigner, Ernst Fischler von Treuberg, Count of Treuberg.

Pedro de Alcântara Brasileiro (7 December 1825 – 27 December 1825) Pedro IV seems to have considered giving him the title of "Duke of São Paulo", which was never realized due to the child's early death.

Maria Isabel de Alcântara Brasileira (13 August 1827 – 25 October 1828) Pedro IV considered giving her the title of "Duchess of Ceará", the style of Highness and the right to use the honorific "Dona" (Lady). This was never put into effect due to her early death. Nonetheless, it is quite common to see many sources calling her "Duchess of Ceará", even though "there is no record of the registry of her title in official books, which is also not mentioned in papers related to her funeral".

Maria Isabel de Alcântara Brasileira (28 February 1830 – 13 September 1896) Countess of Iguaçu through marriage in 1848 to Pedro Caldeira Brant, son of Felisberto Caldeira Brant, Marquis of Barbacena. She was never given any titles by her father due to his marriage to Amélie. However, Pedro IV acknowledged her as his daughter in his will, but gave her no share of his estate, except for a request that his widow aid in her education and upbringing.

By Maria Benedita, Baroness of Sorocaba (18 December 1792 – 5 March 1857):

Rodrigo Delfim Pereira (4 November 1823 –31 January 1891) In his will, Pedro IV acknowledged him as his son and gave him a share of his estate. Rodrigo Delfim Pereira became a Brazilian diplomat and lived most of his life in Europe.

By Henriette Josephine Clemence Saisset:

Pedro de Alcântara Brasileiro born 28 August 1829. In his will, Pedro IV acknowledged him as his son and gave him a share of his estate. Pedro de Alcântara Brasileiro had a son, a French navy officer, among other descendants.

[alexsmitposts]

Why is this Ongoing American “Revolution” Bound to Fail? Observed from outer space, the United States is in a revolutionary turmoil. Fires are burning, thousands of people are confronting police and other security forces. There are barricades, banners, posters, and there is rage. Rage is well justified. Grievances run deep, through the veins of a confused and socially insecure population, in both cities and the countryside. Minorities feel and actually are oppressed. Indeed they have been disgracefully oppressed, since the birth of the country, over two centuries ago (see my latest report carried by this magazine). There are some correct words uttered and written; many appropriate sentiments are expressed. And yet, and yet… It looks like a revolution, it feels like a revolution, but it is not a revolution. It definitely is not! Why? *** An expert on Communist China, a man who spent many years living and writing books about the most populous country on Earth, Jeff Brown, recently voiced something that immediately caught my attention. He described, accurately, on his China Rising Radio Sinoland, what has been taking place in his native country, United States: “Protests in the USA, land of Marlboro Man will come to nothing because there is no solidarity, no vision, nor guiding ideology to unite the people in the common struggle against the 1%. Just ask the Black Panthers and Mao Zedong.” This is precisely when ‘guiding ideology’ is desperately needed! But it is nowhere to be found. For years and decades, the US (and European) elites and their mass media, as well as their educational plus ‘entertainment’ outlets, have been systematically de-politicizing the brains of their citizens. Pornography, consumerism, and sitcoms instead of deep, philosophical books and films. Massive – often booze and sex-oriented – travel, instead of roaming the world in search of knowledge, answers, while building bridges between different cultures (even between those of victims and victimizers). Results are increasingly evident. Citizens in the Western countries were told that the ideologies, particularly the left ones, became “something that belongs to the past,” “something heavy,” unattractive, and definitely not ‘cool.’ Western masses accepted it easily, without realizing that without the left-wing ideologies, there can be no change, no revolution, and no organized opposition to the regime, which has been plundering the world for several hundreds of years. They were told that Democrats are representing left-wing, and Republicans, right-wing. Deep inside, many felt it is rubbish. There is only one right-wing political party in the US – Democrat-Republican one. But it was better for the great majority just to ignore its own instincts and swim with the flow. *** It went so far that most of the people in North America and Europe reached the point when they were not even able to commit themselves to almost anything, anymore, from the Communist movements to marriages and relationships. I recently described this occurrence in my book “Revolutionary Optimism, Western Nihilism.” There are many explanations for this. One of them: regime created society built on extreme individualism, selfishness, and shallow perception of the world. To organize, to commit, actually requires at least some discipline, effort, and definitely great dedicated effort to learn (about the world, a person, or a movement) and to work hard for a better world. It is not easy to become a revolutionary when one is positioned on a couch, or a gym, or while banging for hours every day into a smartphone. The results are sad. Anarchism, consisting of countless fragmented approaches, is increasingly popular, but it will definitely not change the country. When leaders of the ‘revolutionary commune’ in Seattle were approached by sympathetic journalists and asked about their goals, they could not answer. These were, undoubtfully, people with good intentions, outraged by racism, and by the killing of innocent people. But do they have plans, strategy, an organization to overthrow the system which is literally choking billions of lives on all continents? Definitely not! On June 11, 2020, RT filed a report about the situation in Seattle: “A few different organizations have different demands, and no one speaks for everyone, but everyone’s trying to get together,” Simone clarified, implying that the much-discussed list of “demands” that have circulated for the past few days don’t represent the wishes of the entire community. However, there are a few lines of commonality running through the settlement. “Everyone’s upset. We all came here in unity, just over the fact that cops need accountability,” he said, declaring that his decision to join the demonstration was about “trying to send a message and get accountability held.” “Now we’re here – let’s get the dialogue going,” Simone continued, unwilling to commit to taking over other precincts, expanding the Zone, or any of the ambitious demands made by others in the group.” *** Russian Bolsheviks had it clear, and the same could be said about their followers. Before the 1917 Great October Socialist Revolution, they spent years and decades educating people all over their vast country. Some of the greatest thinkers and writers, including novelist Maxim Gorky and poet Vladimir Mayakovski, were participating in the “project.” Even simple peasants were easily grasping the reality of their dismal existence while getting inspired by some of the greatest minds of their nation. If not for the Cold War and West’s brutal interference, the Soviet Union would survive and thrive until this day. The same could be said about the great revolutionary struggles of China, Vietnam, Laos, Cuba, Venezuela, where hundreds of millions of tremendous works of philosophy, fiction and poetry have been distributed, for free, to both peasants and workers, who easily understood and got inspired by them. In China, in the 1930s, the entire so-called “Shanghai School of Cinema” was born, a true socialist-realism movement that helped to educate the Chinese public about the state in which it was forced to exist. Big and successful revolutions were constructed and then supported by the educated urban and rural poor, who were awaken and consequently outraged by their position in the society. *** The rebellion in the United States is strategically shallow. There are no great leaders, no cultural figures leading it, no extraordinary educators. Without any doubt, there are clear reasons for rage and resistance. Racism is one tremendous one. And, there are other ones: US society, in general, is tired as it is depressed. As it is confused. The country is robbing, literally looting the entire Planet. It tortures people in various countries. Rainforests are burning in Indonesia, Brazil, and Congo to satisfy demands for more palm oil and other raw materials. US citizens are consuming as no other nation under the sun does. They entertain themselves, often living frivolous, empty lives. And yet, almost no one seems to be happy there; no one satisfied. People know something went essentially wrong, but they are not sure precisely what it is. Or, who should really be blamed? There is an acute lack of solidarity. And everything is happening impromptu. Are the ‘members of the majority’ in the US truly kneeling because they are in unison with the oppressed minorities and the brutalized non-Western world? Or are they “trying to save their own skin,” and at the end, keep the status quo intact, as has happened in Australia and their basically insincere “We Are Sorry!” 2008 movement? There’s no strong “front,” there is no revolutionary program. It appears that the country is not ready, not prepared, for a huge job of re-defining itself. Insecurity is due to the lack of free medical care, education, and subsidized housing. Most of the people are in debt. Depression is, at least partially, due to overconsumption of intellectual and emotional junk. There is plenty of fundamentalist religions, but almost no discussion about how to improve life in this world. Segregated, atomized, and otherwise, fragmented society seems to be unable to give birth to a truly compassionate, egalitarian national project. Many US citizens see themselves as “victims.” Ethnic minorities definitely are. Are the others, too? Who is the victim, and who is the perpetrator? On which side of the scales sits a regular middle-class family, compliant and, by global comparison, heavily indulged in overconsumption? So far, there is no open discussion on this topic. In fact, it is being avoided by all means. There seems to be at least some consensus that 1% of the richest is to blame, as well as the entire corporate and political system, and also banks. But what about the majority; those individuals who keep voting the system, those who are making sure to ignore imperialism, racism, inequality? Many questions should be asked, particularly now, but they are not. The very uncomfortable questions they are. But without asking them, without searching for honest answers, there is no way forward, and no true revolution possible. The neo-liberal system created entire nations that cannot think independently and creatively. US is definitely one of them. People were bombarded with propaganda slogans that they are free, enjoying liberties. But when the day to act arrived, there has been nothing substantial in terms of new, revolutionary ideas. Just one enormous void. Nothing that could inspire the nation and the world. The outrage over the brutal police killing propelled millions of people to the streets. The mood has been truly rebellious, revolutionary, geared for big changes. But then, nothing! Revolution is being postponed. Postponed for how many years? The truth is – there are no shortcuts. Those who sincerely want to change the United States will have to follow the revolutionary formula from other countries. The formula is mainly based on education, knowledge, and determined, selfless work for the country and the world, called “internationalism.” Unless the US comes up with an absolutely new strategy, formula, but right now, frankly, it seems to be extremely far from coming up with it!

[maheshsomani]

Rajasthan Government Mandates Registration For Real Estate

The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) had come into action in May 1. As most of the states failed to meet the timeline, center gave a stretch period of another 3 months for the completion purpose of project registrations under the Regulatory Authority (RA). Now, the given buffer time is also about to subside and states are making tracks for finalizing their respective RERA rules. Now, Rajasthan government is made it compulsory for every builder, agent and respective projects to be registered on the official website of RERA within the due time.

The state RERA website was launched by Vasundhara Raje, the CM of the state on yesterday June 1. The website- www.rera-rajasthan.in will secure buyers’ rights and will display all the registered project details and past 5 years’ development records of the builders as well in order to deliver them a secured property investment. Without registering on this portal no new project development work can be commenced, confirmed Raje. Again, for the ready-to-move properties state will give 3 months’ additional time period to complete the legal formalities.

Rajasthan was the first state in the country in providing affordable housing approval for the unfamiliar investors of the society and bracing up the PM’s ambitious project’ Home for All by 2022’. The state government of Rajasthan also advised big market players of real estate to invest in this affordable housing sector in order to provide standard lifestyle to the economically weaker section (ECS) of the society. “The dilution of RERA and delay in proceedings is not acceptable when it’s subject to the buyers’ right protection and overall development in national real estate market. Real estate market in India have never been extraordinary, just because the malpractice of set of developers and realtors, RERA aims to reform the realty sector by bringing back the much-needed transparency in realty practice,-said Vice President - NAR India & Chairman : National RERA committee, NAR India Mr. Mahesh Somani.

Asking about the present status of Kolkata property market trends Mr. Mahesh Somani. also stated, “West Bengal is yet to notify the state RERA regime. Meanwhile, developers are in haste to complete their on-hand projects that are at advanced completion stage. These days, people perform their real estate deals mostly with the leading property portals in Kolkata. They have been delivering free property investment counsel from the very portal. It’s called ‘Post your property requirement in Kolkatawhich they are using to have a free, interactive session with the property experts related their investment and other RERA related queries. Naturally, people those are seeking for professional real estate help have become limited in number. Hence only fair practice will survive under stringent rules of RERA.”

Already 18 states and UTs notified their respective RERA rules; as many as 19 states are at advanced completion stage, as per the updated report card. States have been found diluted principle RERA rules and most of them even finalized their respective drafts without developing a Regulatory Authority (RA) and an official website. Only 6 states have set up an interim tribunals. –LNN (Liyans News Network)

[konohagakurekakashi]

[ Writing prompt: First interaction between Kakashi and Minato

It was exactly two weeks, four days and five hours since Hatake Kakashi graduated from the Konohagakure Shinobi Academy, having been enrolled for barely a year. It was exactly two weeks, four days, five hours and fifteen seconds since Hatake Kakashi received his shinobi registration number (009720- his mind snipped helpfully) yet somehow Kakashi felt even less like a Ninja than he did throwing wooden shuriken at crooked, straw dummies. In Kakashi’s ‘life plan’ he thought he would have already completed a bunch of D-ranked missions by now, slowly (But not too slowly! Kakashi could already do the Bunshin no Jutsu with his eyes closed, after all) working his way towards the more important B and C-ranked roster (he would be amazing at those, just like the Sannin and his Tou-san, he just knew it). Unfortunately Kakashi’s plans and childlike desires proved too ambitious, as the boy hasn’t received any additional training since graduating--none of the village Jōnin flocking to take on the responsibility of a five year old (prodigy or no). Without a Jōnin-sensei or senior officer to take accountability on Kakashi’s behalf, the boy found that he couldn’t even walk passed the mission request desk without having to duck from a bunch of Chakra-enhanced, paper airplanes; which left the Genin all but dead in the water.

With a bored huff; calloused fingers adjusted and readjusted his hitae-ate; while his sandals swayed and kicked at the wall beneath his feet. Still he refused to be deterred, pushing all the familiar remarks of Kodai-sensei and the other villagers to the back of his mind. He wasn’t too young! Being a loyal cog in the machine had nothing to do with age. Kakashi passed the graduation test (and then some) fair and square and he was used to staying at home by himself more often than not, so there really was no reason why Kakashi couldn’t be called away on missions of his own. He was ready, he really was! A firm nod of approval was given to his own inner-ramblings, before he shifted, fingers moving away from his forehead protector to wind around the carton of juice his father made him take that morning along with a banana. (Kakashi really didn’t like bananas, since they were difficult to sneak behind his mask, but every time he tried to chug it in a bin or underneath a pillow/bush/potted plant; he could almost hear the low, disapproving growl of his father's summons)

Taking a few measured sips of his juice, Kakashi continued to stare-down the clusters of Chūnin spread about Training Ground Three; the groups too focussed on each other and their respective training regimes to pay the child any mind, still the Genin continued to observe them, his eager mind trying to memorize each precise movement to later practice on his own. Kakashi was half-way through his drink when his vision was obscured by a towering, yellow dandelion, the suddenness of it all causing Kakashi to choke and splutter. A flustered ‘half-chuckle, half-apology’ followed in a mantra; with the dandelion trying and failing to pat Kakashi on his shoulders and back. Kakashi glowered at the contact, arms wind-milling to ward off any and all of the imposing garden weeds’ further advances. Eventually his attacker relented, choosing instead to sink down next to the Genin when it became apparent that he wasn’t about to just up and die courtesy of Asphyxia. With sun-spots no longer obscuring Kakashi’s vision, he noted that his assailant wasn’t a dandelion, but a Jōnin, which made the boy feel a little better about not sensing the man’s presence at all.

A silence settled over them then, with Kakashi subtly eyeing the blonde whenever he thought the other wasn’t looking. It was rare to actually see a high-ranking ninja, as they were almost always away on missions outside the village walls. Kakashi could quite literally count all of the Jōnin he’s ever interacted with on his fingertips and he has lived in a Shinobi village his entire life--which begged the question what said Jōnin was doing in Kakashi’s spot, sitting close enough that the five year old wanted to scowl and scoot away. Kakashi didn’t move however, even though his muscles strained with the need to. Shifting just seemed like something a kid would do and Kakashi was done with childish things after all. As an alternative he elected to burn a hole through the Jōnin’s spikey head with a glower, satisfied after a few breaths that it was the appropriate cause of action. The shinobi kept his gaze on the training Chūnin however, only the upturned edges of his mouth hinting at his expression.

It wasn’t until the mid-morning sun started to warm Kakashi’s back and redden the tips of his ears did the Jōnin start to speak, his voice a calm, calculated timbre whilst he started to point out the different kihon kata stances the Chūnin were using and how they could improve on their general execution. The testiness bled from the Genin’s visible features until only a slight frown remained; afore Kakashi was finally overcome with enough curiosity to peer back at the training field all together. The blonde continued to make small observations without missing a beat, Kakashi managing an assertive hum here and there and sometimes even slipped in a timid question or two. What surprised Kakashi the most was how the man would backtrack whenever Kakashi didn’t grasp a concept or understand the Jōnin’s reasoning. It made the Hatake very suspicious, seeing as not even his Academy teachers proved this patient and insightful. They sat like that until the balmy breeze brought with it the scents of Karashi and Tantanmen; the sharp spices doing a swell job of luring the Chūnin off of the training grounds and into the general direction of the market district, as if summoned by an oden soup deity.

To Kakashi’s (mild) disappointment, the Jōnin also straightened from his perch, but Kakashi didn’t get to dwell on the new, unexpected emotion for long as the man quickly held out a palm for Kakashi to take, a broad smile crinkling the corners of his eyes and an easy promise that he knew of a place that sold the best Taiyaki that Ryō could buy. Kakashi blinked at the man’s outstretched fingers, before his lip swelled into a pout he only felt comfortable making seeing as his mask hid the pout from view. “I’m not allowed to accept food from strangers…it could be poisoned…” His Tou-san said so once, so did Kodai-sensei. For a Jōnin the blonde didn’t seem to know a lot about everyday dangers...only Katas. The elder shinobi cocked his head to the side, eyebrows rising the more Kakashi pinned him with a look. Eventually assessing that the five year old was being serious, the man settled on a half-shrug, ever patient. “Ano…I could do that, but don’t you think if I wanted to poison you I could have already poisoned that banana over there? Plus I’m not a stranger Kakashi-kun, I’m Minato, your Jōnin-sensei. I thought that much was obvious seeing as you’ve already had your first lesson.”

Kakashi’s accusing stare turned into one of confusion, his facial muscles working double time around the blonde-haired man. Kakashi didn’t have a Jōnin-sensei; that was the dilemma he’s been facing for the past two weeks, four days and five hours! It was the reason why he was still stuck in the village and why he only learned new things by going to the library or shadowing other, less impressive shinobi. The Jōnin didn’t seem like he was lying however; his head still patiently angled to the side with his hand held out to help Kakashi from the wall and onto his feet, should he need it. Pondering his options with all the severity a new graduate could muster; Kakashi firmly exhaled and squared his shoulders. “I don’t like bananas, I was never going to eat it, your mission would have failed…Do you like dogs?” To his uttermost credit, the Jōnin, now known as Minato-sensei, recovered quickly, his bright grin waning into a perplexed, albeit equally indulgent smile (not at all like a grimace). “Well…sure?” Again the man didn’t seem to be lying so Kakashi nodded before concluding their awkward encounter by completely disregarding the Jōnin’s outstretched palm in favour of wriggling off of the wall on his own. “Okay... demo I don’t want Taiyaki, Sensei. Sweets are for children. Can we please have miso instead?”

[emblem-333]

Who’ll Be Bernie Sanders’ Running Mate?

If nominated Bernie Sanders would act as a pallet cleanser for the big tent Democratic Party currently made up of poor, middle, working, upper, and professional class. While their Republican counterparts since the 1960’s have relied on disaffected white voters in the south, obvious vitriol for POCs. Regardless of how vile the Southern Strategy is, you can not deny it’s been a winner for the GOP. Sanders, a Democratic Socialist senator from the state of Vermont, doesn’t appeal to the wealthier brackets of voters. His call for raising taxes to facilitate his tentpole policies, like Medicare-For-All, Free College, and the Green New Deal, make the professional class uneasy. For those wishing for moderate reform and not a revolution, they flock to Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren after all of the Joe Biden alternatives faded off into obscurity.

We are beyond the stage of the race where we can say “It’s early.” It is no longer early. Though not a single state has voted you can assume the three names that’ll cling to relevancy until the Democrats convene in Milwaukee in July of 2020 is Biden, Sanders, and Warren. Thought to be hopefuls like California senator Kamala Harris saw her campaign disintegrated after Hawaii’s representative Tulsi Gabbard shined a bright light on Harris’ dark history as attorney general.

"I'm concerned about this record of senator Harris. She put over 1,500 people in jail for marijuana violations and laughed about it when she was asked if she ever smoked marijuana," Gabbard said at the debate.

She continues, "She blocked evidence that would have freed an innocent man from death row. She kept people in prison beyond their sentences to use them as cheap labor for the state of California, and she fought to keep cash bail system in place that impacts poor people in the worst kind of way."

The attack came out of nowhere. Neither candidate appeared to have any crossover with one another. Gabbard supporters are few, mostly online. Harris’ base is made up of rich, white liberals left over from the previous election when they unilaterally supported Hillary Clinton. In the previous debate Harris appeared to have launched herself into the top tier of candidates after boldly going after Vice President Biden for his opposition to school integration via bussing. Now most of Harris supporters are in the pocket of Warren. Meanwhile, Gabbard’s campaign failed to qualify for the third debate and looks ready to saunter off and exit stage left. Gabbard is an interesting character, one with many flaws and also great convictions. It is unclear whether the future for her is bright, dark or merely dim like most failed presidential candidates.

Sanders recently enjoyed a quiet post debate bump in the polls currently he is tied for first with Biden in the crucial primary state of California (voting March 3rd) at 26 percent apiece — senator Harris sitting pathetically fourth with 6 percent. While Biden stumbles and speaks incoherently just about everything, Warren dithers on the core tenants of the progressive movement, Sanders stands strong as the flag bearer of the elixirs that might cure this decaying body of an empire we call the United States.

Of course, we’d be naive to believe Sanders merely winning the plurality of the pledged delegates warrants his nomination. If neither candidate crosses the 1,885 delegates voting goes to a second round where a plethora of unpledged delegates, dubbed “Superdelegets” get to play a key, if not the biggest role in naming a nominee. If Sanders manages to wrangle the nomination from the cold, near-dead hands of Neolibalism virtually nobody would want to be anywhere near his campaign either out of not agreeing on political ideology or the common consensus of the party insiders that his campaign his doomed for historic failure. The ghost of George McGovern still looms large inside the psyche of many Democrats while the losers who posed themselves as moderates (Carter, Dukakis, Mondale, Gore, Kerry, H. Clinton) rarely get mentioned.

Usually, a running mate is chosen as a political strategy. Sometimes the candidate is from a swing state. Tim Kaine was from Virginia and didn’t bring much to the table other than he could potentially deliver the state to Clinton. But seeing as political realignment is a certainty in a Sanders vs Trump general election, it’s safe to assume Bernie, given his advanced age, will pick someone who is ready to succeed his movement if tragedy were to befall him.

The question is who? Most Democrats are conservatives on many issues, and shamefully act as Warhawks when they believe it to be politically expedite. Youngsters like Beto O’Rourke and Pete Buttigieg are diametrically opposed to Sanders’ in ideology. So is Harris.

Many believe Sanders’ running mate is likely to be Warren. The 2nd most progressive member of the United States Senate. The problem using this label as a benchmark is it’s pretty low. Warren is a fine, upstanding senator of a state susceptible to turning red when a seat is open. Scott Brown upset Martha Coakley for the vacant Ted Kennedy senate seat in 2010. Governor Charlie Baker trounced challenger Jay Gonzalez in his re-election bid. Right now right-wing Democrat Joe Kennedy owns up to $1.75 million worth of stock in oil and gas companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron is challenging one of the Green New Deal’s strongest advocates in junior senator Ed Markey. Massachusetts is a relatively liberal state, but unknowingly flirts with neoliberalism daily. Warren needs to remain in the Senate not just to preserve the seat, but as a vote for Sanders’ agenda.

Warren is also problematic for her poor political instincts, her DNA fiasco and pledge to take corporate donor money once the primary is over.

Going down the list though you are hard pressed to find better alternatives.

Jim McGovern, 59 (MA-02, Worcester)

Rashida Tlaib,43 (MI-13, Detroit)

Tulsi Gabbard, 38 (HI-02, Honolulu)

Elizabeth Warren, 70 (MA senator)

Mike Capuano, 67 (MA-7, former)

Ed Markey, 73 (MA - State Senator)

Russ Feingold, 66 (WI - Senate)

Ben Jealous, 46 (Gub. Candidate Maryland)

Jamie Raskin, 56 (MD -8 rep.)

None of these names fuel the lust young people have for the complete upheaval of America’s capitalistic society. But the Democrats of the New Deal generation are either in their seventies or too young to run for President. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York is the only self-identifying socialist politician and she legally cannot run until 2028. If elected to serve two terms Sanders would only preside the Oval Office until 2025 leaving a gigantic window of opportunity for neoliberalism to shuffle back into the Democratic Party and retake it.

It is truly a fascinating quandary what the second era of “BernieCrats” would look like, if the first one is legitimized in Sanders ascension to the presidency. Perhaps Gabbard will have molded herself into the complete progressive package people want to see in a potential successor. As of now, Gabbard stands as one of the most dovish voices in a political system overwrought with bloodthirsty ghouls. That’s not to see she is always against military intervention. Gabbard’s language specifically states she is against “regime change war” not total American conquest to facilitate the empire. Her ties to the right-wing leader of India Narendra Modi, while a member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly he is thought to be complicit in the killing of nearly 2,000 people (790 Muslims) in the 2002 Gujarat riots. Gabbard’s remained silent on the issue and appears to have tied herself to Modi.

Other issues is her unwillingness to come out in favor of abolishing private insurance. In her defense, every candidate (including Warren) quiver at the idea of cutting the Goliath that is the healthcare industry down to size.

Massachusetts Representative Jim McGovern is a lot like Gabbard without the baggage. McGovern is also better on the issue of immigration. Gabbard says we need to have stricter border laws. McGovern voted against various legislative efforts to restrict immigration. A vocal critic of the Iraq War, McGovern was one of the few dissenting votes, and pushed then-president Obama to provide a draw-down plan in Afghanistan.

The issue with Gabbard is it is potentially too soon to anoint her the successor to Sanders’ movement. If fortunate to serve eight-years The reign of Sanders could reshape the image of how conservative Democrats present themselves to survive in the new political climate. Harry S. Truman was a conservative southern Democrats known for union-busting before the reign of Franklin Roosevelt forced him to pivot to a moderate New Dealer to secure re-election. Perhaps after some time has passed Gabbard will join AOC as a fellow crusader for the Green New Deal, legislation Gabbard hasn’t said she supports. On the other hand, Gabbard did propose the “Off Fossil Fuels Act” and stood with Water Protectors at Standing Rock. There’s an activist inside her at war with her inner conservatism.

Noticeable omissions are Massachusetts representative Ayanna Presley, and president of Our Revolution Nina Turner. Pressley, once a Clintonite who dismissed Sanders’ ambitious plans as unrealistic found herself in a primary with entrenched progressive incumbent Mike Capuano winning solely on the fact she was a fresh face in a time when people believed leadership was getting too stagnant. But Pressley is no friend to fellow Justice Democrat Ilhan Omar. Pressley cast her vote in favor of Resolution 246, which condemns the Palestinian call for global solidarity in the form of boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS).

Turner is a fire breathing progressive, a wonderful surrogate for Sanders and spokeswoman for his movement. Truly a fantastic organizer I don’t know if Sanders is smart to “promote” Turner to V.P when having her remain leader of Our Revolution or appointing her as his Chief of Staff would more than suffice.

Representative Rashida Tlaib is an under the radar candidate sure to galvanize an already energized base. Talib is an advocate for Medicare-For-All, the minimum wage to be raised to $18 to $20 an hour, and is for the complete abolishment of the Immigration Customs Enforcement agency. She is relatively young and inexperienced. I don’t know how’d she fare on the national stage.

Former president of the NAACP and previous Maryland Gubernatorial candidate Ben Jealous is widely known amongst progressive circles online and is highly regarded. As an organizer Jealous helped register over 370,000 voters to the polls for the 2012 presidential election.

In his bid for the governorship many labor and progressive groups issued early endorsements of Jealous, including the American Postal Workers Union (APWU-Maryland), Communications Workers of America (CWA), National Nurses United, the Maryland State Education Association, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), UNITE-HERE, Democracy for America, Friends of the Earth Action, the Maryland Working Families Party, Our Revolution and Progressive Maryland.

Jealous won his party’s nomination running on a platform that included free college tuition, legalized marijuana, universal health care, and a $15 minimum wage. A small caveat is Jealous shrunk when an analyst for Circa News described him as a democratic socialist, referring to himself as a “venture capitalist.” Many progressives are hung up on Warren describing herself as a “capitalist to her bones” is the initial source for many Berners reluctance to switch their support.

The drawback to picking Jealous is he potentially can win the governorship in 2022. Jealous came in a respectable second to popular incumbent Larry Hogan 55 to 43 percent. Hogan is ineligible to run for a third term leaving Jealous in prime position to win the next time. Progressives will need to infect the legislative body with as many antibodies possible to pass a progressive agenda. If the political landscape looks different in 2024 or 2028 then progressives can afford to pluck repression liable to Republicans or Neoliberals.

If Markey is defeated by Kennedy in his primary then Sanders might as well call the 73-year-old and see if he isn’t ready to retire. Markey is more progressive than Warren. Markey is the biggest cheerleader besides Sanders for AOC’s Green New Deal. He is possibly the best candidate to assume the role of president of Sanders is unable to complete his term for whatever reason.

Plus, you wouldn’t have to worry about losing a progressive vote with Markey as it is sadly likely Kennedy will unseat him. Kennedy is outspending him under the table and leads already by double-digits. Massachusetts Neoliberals are very good at their jobs: stopping progressives.

[enterinit]

New Xbox One Games for October 29 to November 1 2019

New Xbox One Games for October 29 to November 1 2019.

Afterparty (October 29, 2019)

In Afterparty, you are Milo and Lola, recently deceased best buds who suddenly find themselves staring down an eternity in Hell. But there’s a loophole: outdrink Satan and he’ll grant you re-entry to Earth. Control Milo and Lola with an intelligent conversation system that changes the story and your relationships based on every decision. Uncover their personality quirks and foggy history during the wild events of the night. Every step is up to you as you stumble through the underworld. Go on a hellish bender, uncover the mystery of your damnation, and drink Satan under the table. Starring: Janina Gavankar as LolaKhoi Dao as MiloAshly Burch as SamErin Yvette as WormhornDave Fennoy as Satan

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD (October 29, 2019)

Hold onto your bananas, because Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD is rolling your way! Experience the magic of one of the most beloved titles in the series, now remastered in HD! Head back into the fantastical world of Super Monkey Ball and take back your bananas from the space alien pirate king, Captain Crabuchin. Race through over 100 colorful stages and challenge your friends and family to 10 fan-favorite Party Games! Feeling like the fastest, most maneuverable monkey around? Try out Time Attack mode or the grueling Decathlon endurance run! Will you make it onto the scoreboard? Features: 100 stages to race through10 fan favorite mini-gamesTime attack mode & online scoreboardDecathlon endurance run

Xeno Crisis (October 30, 2019)

Xeno Crisis is an arena shooter in which one or two players take control of battle-hardened marines embarking on a deadly mission to confront an alien menace and get home alive! Run and gun your way through thousands of adversaries as you explore the devastated research outpost, searching for survivors, and ultimately facing the origin of the outpost's demise. Outpost 88 is divided into seven distinct areas, each being randomly generated with each play, meaning that your strategy must evolve on the fly if you're to succeed in your mission. Collect dog-tags from vanquished enemies to upgrade your equipment between areas and look out for special weapons which will give you a momentary advantage. Features: A faithful port of the hit 16 bit game with added extras.Incredible pixel art from the legendary pixel artist, Henk Nieborg.Intense FM chiptune soundtrack by Savaged Regime, originally created for the YM2612!Two difficulty levels and three modes of play.An arsenal of 10 weapons to master.Play solo or local co-op with a friend!

Police Chase (October 29, 2019)

In Police Chase thrilling missions, powerful cars and fighting crime will be your routine! Whether it’s issuing offenders with parking and speeding tickets or thwarting terrorist plots and other crimes — only one thing counts in your job: Guarantee safety in your beat! Meet with informers, shadow suspects, chase perps and handle time-critical missions. Superfast action, a captivating story and a big, open game world call for courage, skill and fast reflexes! In Police Chase it all depends on you! Features: Begin your police career in an absorbing campaign with 15 tense missions.Be ready for the speed and heart-pumping action that awaits on 15 dangerous routes!A wide range of detailed vehicles with varying HP await.Your beat is a large, open 3D world with highways, country roads, and industrial estates.In free-play mode, protect the streets from criminal masterminds and solve 80 different side quests to move up from beat cop to the chief of police.

Close to the Sun (October 29, 2019)

It’s 1897. Deep in international waters, the Helios stands still. Dark clouds loom overhead as unforgiving waves crash against the hull. Colossal effigies of gold, decorated with magnificent finery, stretch as far as the eye can see. Born of Nikola Tesla’s vision, the Helios serves as a haven for the greatest scientific minds. An unbound utopia for research, independent from state and isolated from the gaze of society. Free to push the boundaries of matter and time. Journalist Rose Archer steps aboard the Helios in search of her sister Ada. She quickly discovers not all is as it seems. Grand halls stand empty. The stench of rotting flesh lingers in the air. Silence. A single word is painted across the entrance… QUARANTINE!

Inferno 2+ (October 29, 2019)

The sequel to Inferno+, Radiangames' critically-acclaimed twin-stick action-RPG, Inferno 2 boasts even more devious levels, more weapons, more upgrades and powers, more enemies, and more customization, along with more insane explosions and particle effects. Blast through 80+ levels full of enemies and secrets while upgrading your ship the way you want. Features: Play through 80+ levels of atmospheric awesomenessCustomize your arsenal of upgradable weapons and ship powersSingle player and 2 player local co-op for the first time!New Game+ mode adds even more replayability3 difficulty levels (change it up at any time)All-new special level types and goals. Survival and boss fights!Dozens of enemy typesTons of secrets to discover

Delta Squad (October 30, 2019)

Just when you think the world is safe and it’s okay to take a break, a new threat emerges. Having already survived an alien invasion in FullBlast, the Delta Squad must now do battle against General Rumanovsky, a maniacal overlord who will stop at nothing to achieve global domination. To overcome every threat players will need to take full advantage of upgrading their skills in a bid to deal maximum damage. Features: Gorgeous 3D graphics50 missions across 5 levelsAmbient soundtrack Local co-op support for up to four playersThe option to play any of the 5 levels you want for a quick gaming session

Citadel: Forged with Fire (November 01, 2019)

Citadel: Forged with Fire is a massive online sandbox RPG with elements of magic, spellcasting and inter-kingdom conflict. As a newly minted apprentice of the magic arts, you will set off to investigate the dangerous world of Ignus. Your goal: create a name for yourself and achieve notoriety and power among the land's ruling Houses. You have complete freedom to pursue your own destiny; hatch plots of trickery and deceit to ascend the ranks among allies and enemies, become an infamous hunter of other players, build massive and unique castles, tame mighty beasts to do your bidding, and visit uncharted territories to unravel their rich and intriguing history. The path to ultimate power and influence is yours to choose. EXPLORE A MASSIVE FANTASY WORLD Welcome to the magical world of Ignus: a 36 square kilometer landmass of sweeping plains, dense forests, craggy mountains, festering swamps and frozen tundra. Leave no stone unturned as you explore dangerous caves and ancient ruins to recover powerful artifacts and uncover a rich history spanning thousands of years. Embark on a journey across the land to find the perfect place for you and your allies to call home. STUDY THE ARCANE ARTS Master a diverse range of powerful spells. Discover your conduit of choice among a huge selection of mystic wands and staves, magically imbued axes, swords, maces and hammers, and enchanted gauntlets. CREATE ALLIANCES AND FORGE AN EMPIRE Align your efforts with fellow Warlocks to create a mighty House. Create an internal hierarchy of power, design and plant your own House flag, share your resources to build huge castles and team up to hunt legendary creatures. Wage war with opposing Houses or hatch plans of deceit and trickery to cause internal chaos and ascend the ranks within your own. FIGHT, TAME AND RIDE LEGENDARY BEASTS Use the Pacify spell to tame ferocious creatures and amass an army of minions. Tamed companions will gain experience and grow with you as you travel the world and triumph in battle. Siege an enemy fortress with a horde of savage Orcs, ride Horses and Direwolves to quickly traverse the vast landscape, or rain fiery death upon your enemies from the back of a Dragon BUILD AND FORTIFY EPIC CASTLES Construct your Dream Castle using hundreds of structural pieces found within a flexible and easy-to-use building editor, or take advantage of the dynamic destruction engine and crush someone else's. Enhance your fortress with magical structures like defensive shields, attack towers, mana pools and respawn stones. Unlock new fortification materials and building features as you level up: with so many materials and pieces to work with the only limit is your imagination. FIND A NEAR LIMITLESS VARIETY OF LOOT Are you an old, bearded and wise Warlock or are you a young, ambitious and strong-willed Mage? Create your own style with a huge variety of clothing and weapon options. Discover a near limitless variety among these items' stats with Citadel's rich and deep loot generation system; every loot pull is different and ensures that fighting monsters and exploring dungeons is a constantly rewarding and memorable experience. ACHIEVE THE POWER OF FLIGHT Why walk when you can fly? Use your Wizardly prowess to take to the skies. Enjoy the convenience of a custom-crafted broomstick, tame and mount airborne companions like dragons and giant eagles, or use alchemy to concoct potent elixirs allowing flight without the aid of beast or broom.

Race with Ryan (November 01, 2019)

Ready, Set, Race With Ryan! Take the wheel as Ryan and all your favorite Ryan’s World friends! Ryan’s World has come to life, and it’s every bit as colorful, fun and fast as you imagined. So pick a racer, head to one of six magical locations, and step on the gas to show your friends and family who the fastest racer really is. This is no ordinary championship! Ryan’s famous Mystery Eggs are scattered across each track, and they’re full of surprises that help you power through the pack – like Burger Shields, Sticky Slime, Trick Surprise Eggs and many more. A huge cast of Ryan’s World characters are here to race, including Policeman Ryan in his Patrol Car, Red Titan, Gus the Gummy Gator, Pirate Combo Panda, plus many more you’ll unlock as you race your way to the top. From the miniature toy world of Fantasy Park, to the pirate kingdom of Treasure Island and beyond, each world is full of secret pathways, slippery slides and kids’ imagination! With simple controls, optional auto-acceleration and a tutorial to guide younger players through their first video game, drivers of all ages will love to Race with Ryan. Race your way to the top in Career Mode or speed past your friends in 2 - 4 players split-screen races, the fun keeps coming. Will you be first across the finish line? Features: Race for victory across the colorful world of YouTube sensation, RyanChallenge yourself in Career mode or race with friends in split-screen playSimple racing controls, auto-acceleration, auto-steering and tutorial mean everyone can playUnlock Ryan’s World toy characters and vehicles including Moe, Gus, Alpha Lexa, Peck and Ryan himself!Speed around 6 magical locations including The Toy Shop, Wild West and Spooky Land

Jalopy (November 01, 2019)

Navigate miles and miles of tyre changing, fuel burning, carburettor busting, mud clattering terrain, through night and day, rain and shine. Adapt to whatever the procedurally generated world of Jalopy can throw at you. Upgrade, maintain and care for your Laika 601 Deluxe motor vehicle. Keep close attention to everything from the state of your tyres, the condition of your engine and even the space in your trunk. Repair each aspect of your scrappy little car and install unique upgrades to deal with the changing world. Everything from cargo weight to the condition of your carburettor will determine how your car performs on the open road. The rise of capitalism brings an economical conundrum. Scavenge for scraps to make a small return of investment, or become a baron of the open road and smuggle contraband under the eyes of border patrols to make a sizable profit. Developer Greg Pryjmachuk worked on the Formula 1 franchise from 2009 through to 2014. In late 2014, Greg began work on this new driving simulation featuring the fictional Laika 601 Deluxe car; reminiscent of the East German “Trabbie”, it will need much love and care to keep it going on this memorable road trip! Features: Embark on a grand road trip through the former Eastern BlocDrive and take care of your Jalopy, the Laika 601 Deluxe by keeping an eye on fuel, tyre wear and moreGo under the hood to replace various car parts, from the ignition coil to the air filterExplore Germany, CSFR, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and TurkeyDiscover life in the former Eastern Bloc as you undertake a grand trip with your Uncle Read the full article