#colin midland

[feral-mouse]

I was going through a bunch of old notes to figure out what to keep and throw away, and I ran into a bunch of doodles I drew and never posted here (I think anyways) so here's an art dump lol. I honestly forgot I drew some of these

And there's a surprise Colin! 👀

[derekgoffard]

He's trying to look cute but its not quite working out for him 👐

[mallows-marsh]

POV: You just called your kidnapper a cutie pie ♡

AHHH so like I drew this almost two years ago??? And I meant to send it to the lovely @derekgoffard I did I really did I just got nervous rip

But I love Colin! One of the first OCs I fell in love with and all the effort you've put into him is such an inspiration to me when I'm making OCs myself!

I don't even know if my art looks like this anymore, I haven't drawn in this style in so long dhskdh

[derekgoffard]

GH5546545445565654!!!!!!!!!! YOU HEAR THAT COLIN- YOU GOT A BINGO, YOU GOT A BINGO BOY!!!!!! 🤸🤸🤸🤸😭😭😭😭😭😭😭🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

* TEARS IN MY EYES * I HUMBLY REQUEST MY RAT, COLIN, FOR THAT OC BINGO 🤲🤲🥺 THANK YOU VM, AND NO PRESSURE OFC !! 🙏

GIRTH!!!! I don't think you're aware of just how much I love Colin 😳😳 I WAS THERE WHEN HE FIRST APPEARED ON THE SCENE IN HIS BELL EARING ERA that's been a few years so idk how much has changed, but Colin was the first ever fan art I did of someone's oc. Colin has my whole heart, but when he was working at the POST OFFICE?? I love him, I love him and his crowded teeth and his painted nails and his fuck ass cardigan ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😤😤😤😤

WE EVEN GOT BINGOOOO

I am the number one Colin defender. Like yeah he did that shit and he looked good while doing it. I DON'T CARE. Nothing could make me dislike Colin 🤞🤞🤞 if Colin has ZERO fans I must be dead 🤷‍♀️

I am kissing him on the MOUF 👏

Not just me all my ocs would love him too not a doubt in my mind. I could go into detail and I WILL, I WILL GO INTO DETAIL-

Reasons why My (Hurrl's) oc's would like Colin

Hugo- The social awkwardness Colin has would enchant him.

Kalani- She adores the way he dresses and I think she'd really love his smile.

Squirrel- Thinks he's a little weirdo but in a fun way!

Wolfgang- They both enjoy anime and I feel like they could fangirl over their faves together.

Lilith- He looks bite-able.

Chrysalis- He seems very easy to make fun of. She would bully him but in a fun and hot way, promise! (I need 10 more of these lil pink bitches)

[smallmegapixel]

Imma just gonna leave this here. Just because you have a minute to sit and watch some wordless wonderful Sheen.

[thecrimecrypt]

Crimes That Shook Britain (East Midlands)

Murder of Kayleigh Haywood Kayleigh Haywood, 15, met Luke Harlow, 28, online in 2015. For two weeks, with over 2,600 texts, he groomed her. Said she was beautiful, declared his love, persuaded her to visit.

On Friday 15 November, Kayleigh’s dad dropped her at Ibstock Community College, Leicestershire, believing she was staying with a friend. At Harlow’s flat, Kayleigh met his neighbour Stephen Beadman, 29, and she was abused, plied with alcohol.

Her worried parents reported her missing. At 3am Sunday morning, a neighbour saw Kayleigh flee Harlow’s flat, naked from the waist down. Beadman chased her, raped her and killed her with a brick. Harlow was jailed 12 years for sexual activity, grooming and falsely imprisoning a child.

Beadman was jailed for life for rape, murder and false imprisonment of a child.

Colin Pitchfork November 1983 - Lynda Mann, 15, was found raped and strangled in Narborough.

The case went cold until July 1986, when Dawn Ashworth, 15, was raped and strangled less than a mile away. The year before, Alec Jeffreys, a British genetics researcher, had discovered DNA profiling.

Testing semen samples found at both crime scenes, Jeffreys linked the cases. Police asked local men aged 17 to 34 to submit blood. Jeffreys tested the DNA samples.

After being overheard admitting he paid a colleague to provide blood on his behalf, local man Colin Pitchfork, then 25, was arrested. His DNA matched both samples, and he was jailed for life.

Susan and Christopher Edwards In October 2013, police dug up a garden in Mansfield and found the remains of former residents Patricia and William Wycherley, 63 and 85.

The pairs daughter Susan Edwards, 56, and husband Christopher, 57, were arrested - turned out they’d shot and buried them in May 1998. For 15 years, Susan said her parents were travelling, but after living off their benefits, a letter to William from the Department For Work and Pensions scared them to confess.

They were convicted of murder and given life.

The Philpotts At 4am on 11 May 2012, Mick and Mairead Philpott’s home, 18 Victory Road, Derby, went up in flames. Despite Mick’s apparently valiant efforts to save their kids, Duwayne, 13, Jade, 10, John, 9, Jack, 7, Jesse, 6, and Jayden, 5, all died.

Detectives found petrol inside the letterbox, and suspected arson. But while Mick and Mairead sobbed during a TV press conference, police already considered them suspects. A tangled love triangle emerged. Mick’s mistress, who’d lived with the Philpotts, had walked out with her five kids- a custody hearing loomed.

Mick planned to torch the family home, frame his ex love, and win custody. But a horrific fireball engulfed the house, trapping his and Mairead’s children upstairs.

In April 2013, Mick and Mairead Philpott were found guilty of six counts of manslaughter. Mick was jailed for life, Mairead for 17 years. A friend involved in the plot - Paul Mosley, 47 - also got a 17 year sentence for manslaughter.

Murder of Danielle Beccan On her way home from the Nottingham Goose Fair in October 2004, Danielle Beccan, 14, was shot in the stomach and killed in a drive-by.

Junior Andrews, then 24, and Mark Kelly, then 20, part of the Waterfront gang, were charged. They hated the St Ann’s area where Danielle lived and they’d wanted to ‘shoot up’ people.

When they saw Danielle, Kelly pulled up next to her and Andrews opened fire. Andrews and Kelly were jailed for life.

Beverley Allitt Liam Taylor, 7 months, was the first victim of serial killer nurse Beverley Allitt, then 22, in February 1991 at Grantham and Kesteven Hospital, Lincolnshire.

Within 59 days she’d killed Timothy Hardwick, 11, Becky Phillips, 2 months, and Claire Peck, 15 months, and tried to kill or harm nine more children. Staff became suspicious of the number of heart attacks on the ward.

Allitt was the only nurse on duty when the children were attacked. She’d given at least two of them large doses of insulin. In May 1993, Allitt was given 13 life sentences.

[thetreetopinn]

Sources for Somerton's Plagiarism from Hbomberguy's Video (as much as I could get)

I went back through Harry's video, focused entirely on the sources James Somerton pulled from in the hopes of creating as much of a comprehensive list as I could--though my Google-Fu is not very strong. I did however find something I thought was forever lost and that made me very happy--specifically the magazine Midlands Zone containing the column by Steven Spinks that Harry poignantly used as an illustration of gay erasure... while Somerton uses it to sound like HE is waxing remorseful about the very subject.

This is not a complete list, I'm sure. For one thing, I was only able to attempt to pull sources that Harry himself mentioned in the video. Surely there's so very much more out there. I expect there to be a great deal more internet archeology to unearth just how much writing and culture Somerton has stolen like he's the British Museum of Natural History but for gay people.

- - - - -

Harry's list of mentioned youtubers:

Alexander Avila - https://www.youtube.com/@alexander_avila Matt Baume - https://www.youtube.com/@MattBaume Khadija Mbowe - https://www.youtube.com/@KhadijaMbowe Lady Emily - https://www.youtube.com/@LadyEmilyPresents Shanspeare - https://www.youtube.com/@Shanspeare RickiHirsch - https://www.youtube.com/@RickiHirsch VerilyBitchie - https://www.youtube.com/@verilybitchie

Harry created a convenient playlist of videos by these and other people he wants to bring to everyone's attention.

Please give them your support.

- - - - -

Midlands Zone Magazine - Column by Steven Spinks

After a great deal of searching, I found an archive of the "Midlands Zone" magazine, where you can read through past issues dating all the way back to February 2014. I have also found the issue from which Somerton took Spinks' poignant discussion of gay erasure: Overall archive Specific Issue - Pages 16-17

It will not allow you to download it, but you can read it exactly as it appeared in print form.

- - - - -

My best effort to find the exact book or article Somerton lifted from to be able to get attention to the original writers

Tinker Bells and Evil Queens By Sean Griffin

The Celluloid Closet By Vito Russo Wikipedia article about the book Wikipedia article about the documentary My weak google-fu could not find where you can access the book or documentary. Check your local municipal or university library for book or documentary, or if you know a good source for one or both, please reblog with it added

Camp and the Gay Sensibility By Jack Babuscio

The Groundbreaking Queerness of Disney's Mulan By Jes Tom Personal site with links to social media accounts

Why Rebel Without a Cause was a milestone for gay rights By Peter Howell

Why "The Craft" is still the best Halloween coming out movie By Andrew Park

Opinion: From facehuggers to phallic tails, is 'Alien' one of the queerest films ever? By Dani Leever

Women and Queerness in Horror: Jennifer's Body By Zoe Fortier

[Pride 2019] We Have Such Sights to Show You: Hellraiser and the Spectrum of Queerness By Alejandra Gonzalez

Revealing the Hellbound Heart of Clive Barker's 'Hellraiser' By Colin Arason

Queering James Cameron's Aliens (1986) By Bart Bishop

Demeter and Persephone in space: transformation, femininity, and myth in the 'Alien' films By David Greven

Fears of a millennial masculinity: Scream's queer killers By David Greven (Scholarly site, unable to access original work, offers a way to request a full copy of the text in PDF)

Queer Subtext in Stephen King's It - Part 1: 'Reddie' Character Analysis By Rachel Brands Rachel is the very unfortunate lady who found out she was being stolen from because she supported Somerton through Patreon and saw one of his videos early with her writing--lacking any form of citation or credit

How 'It: Chapter Two' Leaves Richie Tozier Behind By Joelle Monique

When Horror Becomes Strength: Queer Armor in Stephen King's 'IT' By Alex London

Why Queer People Love Witchcraft By Amanda Kohr

'The Favourite' Queers The Past And The Present By Giorgi Plys-Garzotto

(Wuko) Crush (Mako x Wu) By MoonFlower on YouTube

5 Terrible Movies With Awesome Hidden Meanings By J.F. Sargent

The Radicalization of Sexuality: The Queer Casae of Jeffrey Dahmer By Ian Barnard

Netflix's 'Dahmer' backlash highlights ethical issues in the platform's obsession with true crime By Shivani Dubey

The Possible Disturbing Dissonance Between Hajime Isayama's Beliefs and Attack on Titan's Themes Original Article by "Seldom Musings" (Author has made all posts not related to Attack On Titan private and has retired from the blog)

Everyone Loves Attack on Titan. So Why Does Everyone Hate Attack on Titan? By Gita Jackson

- - - - -

The following people are otherwise named in the video. There are no direct citations of articles or books by them in said video. I am unable to guarantee that I have identified the correct individual.

Darren Elliott-Smith Michaela Barton David Church Claire Sisco King Amanda Howell Jessica Roy

- - - - -

Telos announced and cancelled a film likely based on this book: The Final Girl Support Group - By Grady Hendrix

- - - - -

I refrained from including certain sources.

First off only focusing on Somerton's work.

Secondly not including anything that might be visible enough to not require amplifying their voice (I cannot speak for all of those I have found links to, but journalism is frequently a thankless job).

Thirdly any source that is of a nature that is antithetical to the very existence of the queer community, such as the right-leaning source that didn't make it into Somerton's video, but Harry was able to identify as a source he had considered using.

If you feel I have missed a mentioned source--or you know of a source from material that was not covered in Harry's video--please do not hesitate to reblog with added details.

- - - - -

Please share this information far and wide, and please add to it if you find more material that can be positively identified and linked to the creator/writer.

[justforbooks]

The much-quoted phrase “Grief is the price we pay for love” reached a global audience in 2001 when Queen Elizabeth II used it in her message of condolence to those affected by the 9/11 attacks in the US.

But it was the psychiatrist Colin Murray Parkes, who has died aged 95, who first came up with the words that have given solace to so many. In his 1972 book Bereavement: Studies of Grief in Adult Life, he wrote: “The pain of grief is just as much a part of life as the joy of love; it is, perhaps, the price we pay for love.”

When Parkes first proposed a research project on bereavement while working as a psychiatrist at the Maudsley hospital in south London in the 1960s, a professor responded: “What you have described isn’t a project, it’s a life’s work.” And so it proved.

Having noted that grief rarely featured in the indexes of the best-known psychiatry textbooks, he went on to write and co-author hundreds of research papers, and further books including Facing Death (1981); Death and Bereavement Across Cultures (1997); and Love and Loss: The Roots of Grief and Its Complications (2006). A selection of his works was published in 2015 as The Price of Love.

He was regularly called upon to provide assistance in the aftermath of large-scale disasters and admitted to finding this harrowing. Recalling his visit to Aberfan, the Welsh village near Merthyr Tydfil where a colliery waste tip collapsed on 21 October 1966, killing 116 children and 28 adults, he said: “The first time I drove away from the village I felt utterly helpless. Everyone I talked to had been desperate. I had to stop the car three times because I couldn’t carry on. I just needed to stop and cry.”

In April 1995 he was in Rwanda at the invitation of Unicef, who asked for his help in setting up a recovery programme following the previous year’s genocide there. He attended the reburial of 10,000 bodies that had been dug up from mass graves and felt haunted by his experiences in the country for the rest of his life.

After the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in September 2001, in which 2,977 people died, Cruse – the bereavement charity of which Parkes was life president – was asked to send a team to New York to support the families of British victims. The biggest problem, he recalled, was making real to those families the unimaginable horror that their loved one was never going to come back. “Bereaved people can make it real, but it does take a long time. They have to go over it again and again, and think their way through it,” he said in an interview in the Independent shortly afterwards.

He also worked with those affected by the 1973 air crash near Basel, Switzerland, in which 108 died, mainly women from Axbridge, Somerset; the Bradford City stadium fire in 1985, in which 56 lost their lives; the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster in which 193 died after the ferry capsized near Zeebrugge, Belgium, in 1987; and the bomb explosion in a flight over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988 that killed 243 passengers, 16 crew and 11 residents. Parkes also travelled to India to assess the psychological needs of people bereaved by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

He said: “One of the most awful things about bereavement is that the world goes on as if nothing had happened. For bereaved people the world is never going to be the same again.”

Born in London, Colin was the son of Gwen (nee Roberts), and Eric Parkes, a solicitor. After attending Epsom college, in Surrey, he went to Westminster hospital medical school (now part of Imperial College London), qualifying as a doctor in 1951.

He worked for two years as a junior house physician at Westminster, then at Kettering general hospital in the Midlands. After two years’ national service with the RAF medical corps, he joined the Institute of Psychiatry, based at the Maudsley.

Following the publication of his research into bereavement in 1962, he joined the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations. There he worked with the psychologist John Bowlby for 13 years, disseminating the model of grief as consisting of four stages: numbness; pining; disorganisation and despair; and recovery.

Parkes was also instrumental in the introduction of bereavement services in hospices from the 1960s. He worked closely with Cicely Saunders – “the single-minded mother of palliative care with whom I shared angst at the scandalous ways our fellow doctors were treating patients faced with death and their families” – on the planning and launch of St Christopher’s hospice, Sydenham, in south London, in 1967.

Both were convinced that good care must involve families as well as patients. Parkes set up a bereavement service of trained volunteers who went into families’ homes and organised support groups, including some for staff, in the hospice. He remained involved with St Christopher’s until 2014, active as a consultant psychiatrist until 2007. He also performed this role at St Joseph’s hospice in Hackney, east London (1993-2007).

“He was a towering intellectual and hugely influential, but never took himself too seriously,” said the former chief executive of St Christopher’s Barbara Monroe. “He always remained a great clinician – very good at talking to patients and staff. And listening.”

In 1975 Parkes left the Tavistock to take up a senior lecturer role in psychiatry at Royal London hospital medical school, retiring from that post in 1993. His association with Cruse began in 1964, as a member of the council. He became chairman in 1972, and was made life president in 1992. Four years later he was appointed OBE.

Parkes edited the journal Bereavement from its launch in 1982 until 2019. Given the Times/Sternberg award – which celebrates the achievements of those over 70 – in 2012, when he was 84, he urged people to spend the last part of their lives in worthwhile work. “I was basically forced to retire at 65 and I got lots of cards with old men fishing on the front. But life is too short for retirement and the time has given me the opportunity to do things I would not otherwise have done,” he said.

In 1957 he married Patricia Ainsworth. She and their daughters, Liz, Jenny and Caz, survive him.

🔔 Colin Murray Parkes, psychiatrist and author, born 28 March 1928; died 13 January 2024

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[icarus-suraki]

If you're interested in this idea of the "nations of the United States," I highly recommend American Nations: a History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures in North America by Colin Woodard.

n.b.: This book doesn't really discuss Native or Indigenous or First Nations cultures at any length. This book is really about the modern cultures that have arisen out of different colonial cultures in different regions of what is now the United States and, to some degree, Canada and Mexico.

Here's how the author breaks it down:

Of the nations, Woodard explains, "It isn’t that residents of one or another nation all think the same, but rather that they are all embedded within a cultural framework of deep-seated preferences and attitudes – each of which a person may like or hate, but has to deal with nonetheless."

Yankeedom began with the Puritans (Calvinist English settlers) in New England and spread across upper New York, the northern parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa, into the eastern Dakotas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Canadian Maritime. The area values education, communal decision-making and aims at creating a religious utopian communal society to be spread over other regions.

Deep South was settled by former Anglo-American West Indies plantation owners in Charleston, and spread to encompass South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, western Tennessee, and the southeastern parts of North Carolina, Arkansas, and Texas. It values old Greco-Roman enlightened, civilized, idle slave society, free-markets and individual freedoms. It has fought centuries with Yankeedom over the dominance of North America, such as in the Civil War and the "culture wars" started by the civil rights movement since the 1960s.

New Netherland, established by Dutch colonists in the 17th century, is now Greater New York City, as well as the lower Hudson Valley, northern New Jersey, western Long Island, and southwestern Connecticut. The area promotes liberal, multicultural values, capitalism and the freedom of the press.

Tidewater was founded by Cavaliers (Royalists during the era of the English Civil War and Stuart Restoration), and consists of Virginia, Maryland, southern Delaware, and northeastern North Carolina. Has cooperated often with Deep South and Greater Appalachia. Together with George Washington, many of the Founding Fathers came from here. Appalachian mountains cut its expansion westwards, and the region is now being overrun by the Midlands.

Greater Appalachia was populated by waves of immigrants that Woodard calls Borderlanders, from the borders of Northern Ireland, northern England, and the Scottish lowlands. Greater Appalachia covers the highlands in the south United States, the southern parts of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, the Ozarks of Arkansas and Missouri, most of Oklahoma, and Texas Hill Country. Its fighting spirit is embodied by figures such as Davy Crockett, Andrew Jackson and Douglas MacArthur.

Midlands, founded by English Quakers followed by the Pennsylvania Dutch, consists of southeast Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, northern Delaware and Maryland, north central Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, northern Missouri, most of Iowa, and the eastern halves of South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas, as well has southern Ontario. The border city of Chicago is shared with Yankeedom and St. Louis with Greater Appalachia. Midlands promotes peaceful values and has often been in several elections the great swing-region between Yankeedom and the Southern Nations. According to Woodard it is culturally the most "American" of the nations.

New France began in 1604 with an expedition from France led by Pierre Dugua. It grew to encompass the lower third of Quebec, north and northeast New Brunswick, and southern Louisiana.

El Norte is where the oldest European subculture in the United States is found, from the early Catholic Spanish settlers in the 16th century. Later augmented by Anglo-Americans from Deep South and Greater Appalachia, it includes south and west Texas, southern California and its Imperial Valley, southern Arizona, New Mexico, parts of Colorado, and the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, Chihuahua, Sonora, and Baja California.

Far West is the interior of the United States and Canada west of the 100th meridian between El Norte and First Nation. It includes the interiors of California, Oregon, and Washington, much of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alaska, part of Yukon and Northwest Territories, the west halves of the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas, as well as Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. The region has been "imperialized" by other nations, such as Yankeedom and Deep South with large mining and infrastructure projects. The Mormon Enclave has been its politically most influential group.

Left Coast was predominantly settled by Yankees from New England, with a huge influx from Greater Appalachia and countries around the world when gold was discovered. It encompasses the land between the Pacific Ocean and the Pacific Coast Ranges from Monterey, California to Juneau, Alaska, containing parts of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. It is an ideological ally with Yankeedom and El Norte.

First Nation, founded by the predominant indigenous peoples in Canada south of the Arctic Circle, consists of much of Yukon, Northwest Territories, Labrador, Nunavut, Greenland, the northern tier of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, northwestern British Columbia, and the northern two-thirds of Quebec. It has preserved much better its culture and customs than the Native Americans in the United States.

As a North Carolinian myself, I've found that Woodard's "borders" make more sense of the local culture here than throwing NC in with the "deep south" because NC both does and doesn't fit. So I can so, for my part, the Tidewater designation makes sense. YMMV.

Map of broad U.S regions

[dankusner]

Cruz, Allred face off in tonight’s debate

ELECTIONS ’24 SENATE

WFAA will stream one-hour live event across apps, some radio and TV stations

Three weeks before the Nov. 5 election, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, will face off Tuesday night in their only planned debate.

Here’s what to know:

How to watch or listen to the debate

The one-hour debate will begin at 7 p.m. Central time. WFAA will broadcast the event live, and it will also be streamed across TEGNA apps, including WFAA+.

Other TEGNA stations throughout the state will carry the debate live, including KHOU in Houston, KVUE in Austin, KENS in San Antonio, KCEN in Waco, KAGS in College Station, KYTX in Tyler, KIII in Corpus Christi, KBMT-KJAC in Beaumont, KXVA in Abilene, KIDY in San Angelo and KWES in Midland and Odessa. A free debate feed also will be provided to radio and TV stations in Texas with certain market restrictions.

Where is the debate?

WFAA will host the debate inside its studio in downtown Dallas. Jason Whitely, WFAA’s senior political reporter, and Gromer Jeffers Jr., The Dallas Morning News ’ political writer, are co-moderators.

There will be no audience present.

What are the debate rules? Each candidate will have 60 seconds to introduce themselves and 90 seconds to answer questions. Their opponent has 90 seconds to respond, and the first candidate gets 60 seconds for a rebuttal. An additional 60 seconds for follow-up could be granted at the discretion of the moderators. Candidates will get one minute each for closing remarks.

Who speaks first, who speaks last?

Allred won two coin tosses last week and opted to go first in the opening and closing statements, giving Cruz the last word to end the debate.

Colin Allred and Ted Cruz trade attacks in air war

WASHINGTON — Texans have little escape from the growing waves of attack ads in the state’s hottest race Nov. 5, the U.S. Senate contest pitting Republican incumbent Ted Cruz against U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas.

As both the national parties and outside groups have trained their focus on the race, money is pouring in to fuel ad blitzes, including a barrage of negative spots.

Allred has substantially narrowed the gap with Cruz in recent weeks, according to polls and election handicappers. The two are scheduled to face off in a much-anticipated Tuesday night debate during which viewers can expect to hear many of the themes reflected in the ads.

Here are the main issues in the attacks.

Abortion and reproductive rights

Allred has hit Cruz early and often on abortion, describing the senator as responsible for the state’s near-total abortion ban. He points to Cruz’s support for state lawmakers who back tight abortion restrictions and his promotion of conservative nominees to the federal bench, from the Supreme Court down to the district level.

One ad, supercharged with money from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, features women saying they were denied emergency medical care because of the state’s abortion ban.

“If you’re experiencing pregnancy complications in Texas, you’re in danger,” one of them says, looking into the camera.

“It’s that simple, and it’s Ted Cruz and the anti-abortion extremists’ fault.”

Before the Supreme Court struck down Roe vs. Wade, Cruz had supported a national ban on abortions after 20 weeks’ gestation.

He welcomed Roe’s fall in 2022 by describing it as “nothing short of a massive victory for life” and said the ruling in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization properly gave states the power to regulate abortion.

“This is a momentous day, and yet the fight for life doesn’t end with the Dobbs decision,” Cruz said then.

“It simply begins a new chapter. I’ve been proud to stand for life in the U.S. Senate, and I will continue to do so as we navigate the path ahead.”

The senator has been quieter on the issue during the campaign. When pressed, Cruz has emphasized the role of the states and said Democrats are out of touch by not supporting any limits on abortion.

Democrats have said codifying the framework of Roe into federal law would still allow states to adopt the kinds of post-viability restrictions in place before the 2022 ruling.

Border security and illegal immigration

Cruz has been an outspoken critic of Democrats on border security and illegal immigration.

During his speech at the Republican National Convention, Cruz focused on Americans killed by people who entered the country illegally and said Democrats’ policies are endangering people.

In the campaign, Cruz has attempted to tie Allred to the policies of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

He says the Dallas lawmaker has stood by party leaders such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in opposing GOP proposals to address the issue.

“Colin Allred consistently votes for open borders, including voting against deporting illegal aliens who assault police officers,” the narrator of one Cruz ad says.

The spot concludes with a clip of Allred saying, “If they build that racist wall, my generation is the one that will tear it down.”

Democrats have knocked Cruz and other Republicans for opposing a bipartisan bill negotiated with Republican Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla.

Cruz says he voted against the bill because it would have normalized thousands entering the country illegally every day and would have handed billions to nongovernmental organizations helping the migrants.

In his Senate campaign, Allred has described himself as resisting the extremes of both parties on the issue while seeking bipartisan compromises.

Cruz, he says, tries to exploit illegal immigration for political gain.

The future of Social Security

One of Allred’s ads includes clips of Cruz talking about the need to “gradually increase the retirement age” while also getting in a shot about the Republican’s travel to Mexico during the deadly 2021 winter storm blackout.

“With Ted Cruz, we work longer, pay more and get less,” the narrator says. “Listen Ted, running to Cancun was bad, but you hurt us more when you’re here.”

In a statement, Cruz noted a tiny dip in projected Social Security revenue in the Biden administration’s budget proposal.

He also pointed to two pieces of legislation he has introduced, the first requiring the federal government to prioritize Social Security benefits, military pay and other items if the national debt hits the debt ceiling.

The second aims to ensure public employees such as police, firefighters and teachers get full Social Security benefits when they retire.

“I’ve spent my whole career in the Senate fighting for seniors’ Social Security and long-term benefits, and that includes looking for ways to keep this program solvent,” Cruz said.

LGBTQ issues

Republicans in competitive races across the country have seized on transgender issues to attack Democratic opponents on matters such as taxpayer-funded gender-affirming care and transgender women and girls in sports.

Cruz has leaned heavily into the issue.

One Cruz ad cites a letter Allred and other lawmakers signed urging the removal of transgender-related provisions from a defense bill, such as restrictions on “medically necessary care for transgender servicemembers or their family members” and a statutory ban on drag shows.

“Allred’s radical ideas already divide America,” the narrator says. “Now he wants to divide our military?”

The ad also criticizes Allred for voting against House Resolution 734, the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act,” which would bar school athletic programs from allowing individuals whose biological sex at birth was male to participate in programs for women or girls.

Allred last week released an ad responding to the attacks by saying Cruz is “full of it” and trying to distract from his record, which includes support for raising the retirement age for Social Security.

“I’m a dad. I’m also a Christian. My faith has taught me that all kids are God’s kids,” Allred says in the ad. “So let me be clear. I don’t want boys playing girls’ sports or any of this ridiculous stuff that Ted Cruz is saying.”

In response to that ad, the Cruz campaign said Allred is the one trying to mislead voters given his opposition to HR 734.

[feral-mouse]

OH MY GOD SO MANY PEOPLE DIED OSJPAJFJKS. I'M SO SORRY RANDY IS SUCH A HARD BITCH TO SURVIVE 😭😭😭. But anyways, let's get into the statistics 👀

I sadly won't be going through every character, but I'll try to explain my rankings

You can find the template here

First I'm gonna provide some color coding assignments, so if you wanna look for a specific oc, it'll be easier to do so lol

RED: Squirrel, Skull, Eugene

ORANGE: Tantrum, Clove, Fester, Elowyn

YELLOW: Cyrus

GREEN: Davis

BLUE: Dan, Bo, Oenis

PURPLE: Conrad, Ronny

PINK: Kalani, Colin, Vesper, Theo, Sable

Most/Least Likely to get Kidnapped

Dan is at the number one slot. SOMEONE HELP HIM. RANDY HAS BEEN MEANING TO EAT HIM FOR MONTHS NOW PSJFJSKA. THE SECOND DAVIS IS OUT OF THE PICTURE, DAN IS A DEAD MAN

Squirrel is next. Since she loves climbing trees, this means she's always out in the woods, and has a high likelihood of bumping into Randy lol

Then I have Conrad in third place because honestly, I feel like she's a danger magnet pajjcjs. Maybe she's seen way too many people bring Randy back to their hotel rooms, only for them to be found dead the next night. She made the mistake to confront him about it 😤

I've placed the people in the middle because I feel like they wouldn't be as likely to run into Randy, whether it's because they hang out in the wrong crowds, or because they won't venture the woods at night lol. It is leading with Vesper and Bo because they would smell delicious. Randy would approach them first 😔 pshjcksl

The last five starts with Fester. He might be too intimidating for Randy to try to eat lol. Randy does not want to get into a losing fight 😤. Next is Cyrus, who is only placed so low because he is VERY CAUTIOUS. He is making sure not to run into ANYONE. He wants to stay hidden. Davis is after him because if Randy goes after him, Dan might start to get suspicious. And he does honestly get the vibes that Davis wants to kill him too (he does lol). Oenis is there because he honestly does not look appetizing at all 😭. He looks so dirty and like he'd taste gross 😭

Then in the very last place is Skull. RANDY DOES NOT WANNA GET INTO A FIGHT WITH THIS GUY. HE COULD VERY CLEARLY OVERPOWER RANDY, AND HE DOES NOT WANNA TAKE THE RISK PSJFJKSL

Favorite/Horrendous Victim

Davis 👏 is 👏 number 👏 one 👏 👁👁. HUNT THAT BITCH DOOOOWN. Randy would honestly love to hunt Davis. Give him a taste of his own medicine. He'd love to put him in his place. Randy is actually stronger than Davis. Davis would put up a good fight, and it'd definitely be very fun for Randy to watch him struggle, but unfortunately, he is going to end up dead. Randy has a vendetta against Davis. Not only is Davis preventing him from kidnapping Dan, but he's also just so passively aggressive in general. He gets bad vibes from Davis, and feels like Davis is constantly judging him (which he is). Randy hates those types of people

Squirrel and Colin are next because Randy would have a blast hunting them down. I feel like Squirrel's not the type to go down without a fight. You know she's gonna be climbing up trees and using that to her advantage. It's gonna be something that Randy's never seen before. Sure, people have climbed the trees to get away from him, but Squirrel is different, she's experienced, she knows what she's doing and she's swift with it. For Colin, Randy would be mesmerized by his outfit, and also he'd love watching Colin squirm and freak out lol. He's such a cutie that you could gobble right up! 😋

Starting from Theo, Randy starts to have less of an enjoyable time because these people are fighting back lol. He does love a good chase, but also he does NOT like dying. If you're fighting him with the intent to kill, he's putting a stop to that immediately. That being said, I do still think Randy would have a good time interacting with some of them. Theo seems super nice, and Tantrum would honestly be a blast to fight, he would love her spirit >:). Clove would be very fascinating as well, considering he's a fox beastkin. After the initial awe though, Randy is going to have to adjust to fighting him. I'd imagine Clove is very nimble, so that would really catch Randy off guard

Eugene's right in the middle because he would be too boring, he's too passive 😔 pzjfks. Ronny and Sable would be too eager to kill Randy, so he doesn't like them either lol. Same with Skull, Cyrus, and Fester, except they'd REALLY wanna kill Randy osjfkl

Elowyn is in last place because Randy would honestly just find her annoying psjfksk. She would be going into this too tactically. She is coming up with plans and backup plans, trying to figure out how to use the woods to her advantage, coming up with ways to manipulate Randy. But all of that shit would fly over his head. Nothing she says is gonna land with him. He's just gonna be like "she talks way too much and I don't get any of it 🙄" before stabbing her in the stomach lol

DEAD

For the last section, I'm gonna start by talking about the people who die lol

Unfortunately, Vesper, Bo, Dan, Conrad, Elowyn, Eugene, Colin, Cyrus, and Tantrum getting EATEN PAJFKSKA. The others are getting eaten too, but they're dying in a scuffle. I'm sure everyone is fighting back, but these guys are fighting back. Tantrum and Cyrus are too, but I feel like they're easier to take down than the last three

Survivors who KILLED

Theo, Skull, and Clove are killing Randy. Of course, Theo is immortal lol. So even if Randy somehow kills him, Theo is getting back up when Randy least expects it and is stabbing him in the back

Skull's massive size and wolf strength is easily overpowering Randy

I feel like Clove would also get the upper hand on Randy because he's not used to hunting people who are so quick. Clove is dodging all of his swings and it would honestly freak him out lol. Randy wouldn't be thinking straight in his panic 😔

FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HE SPARES

He is vibing. He is chilling. They are all having a good time

Once Randy learns that Sable has been the one who's dumping bodies in the middle of the woods, they are immediately becoming best friends pekfkw. Killer solidarity. Sable needs a way to get rid of the bodies, and Randy needs to eat

I think Kalani would know exactly what to say to win Randy over and spare her, whether they end up as friends or lovers 😌

Squirrel is also just so cool. I could see them getting along really quickly lol. Randy might stop hunting her in the middle of it because her vibes are fantastic

Oenis is also surviving because the two of them would also get along lol. They have the same type of humor, and honestly I can imagine the both of them hunting people down together lol. Also, since Oenis is a shapeshifter, it would be an instant party trick between the two of them lol. Randy would love watching him turn into different people lol. (Also Oenis would NOT be pleasant to eat osjfjks. Man is too dense and chewy, he's grooosssss 😭)

Characters belong to...

@hurrl: Conrad, Kalani, Squirrel

@derekgoffard: Colin, Tantrum

@dread0narrival: Clove, Vesper

@weirdo-canniboy: Theo, Skull, Fester

@the-bees-knives: Oenis

The rest belong to me lol

[derekgoffard]

Colin's older sister is a very small part of his background, however Ive had some characterization down for a while now so I thought I'd make a little post about her 🤲.

Her name is Claire Midland! She has virtually no relationship with Colin and probably does not ever wish to see him again yayyay 👐. She also has those mother issues that make you a bit mean and desperate for comfort all the time but that's okay 👍.

Some extra trivia under the cut 🕊️

( THESE ARE ALL WRITTEN VERY MESSY + INCOHERENT. IM SORRY IF U ATCUALLY TRY READING THIS 😭😭😭😭😭 )

- she went into nursing because she wanted to give others the kind of care and attention she herself craved - however she eventually realized that was not at all the reality of nursing. She kind of hates her job 👹.

- her life revolves around this funny little cycle of her feeling this constant sense that she is unloved, which leads her to constantly be seeking comfort ( physical and emotional ). However she never feels comforted for long, hence the cycle continuessss la la la🤸.

- her favorite thing ever is being coddled, she's a hard worker but she wishes she wasn't.

- She loves flowersss, but she can never keep them alive. Despite this she continues to buy them, only to have them die in days. Her favorite flowers are sun flowers 😊.

- her necklace has her and her mother's birthstones ( emerald and topaz ).

- she's never held a steady relationship for over a year but she has alot of positive one night stands. Not necessarily sex either - usually she just wants to be cuddled and coddled over for a night, y'know how it is ☹️..... Let me tell you what tho her aftercare game is unbeatable LOLLLLLLLL.

- she was a very clingy and emotionally demanding child. ( example; Claire would absolutely NOT enter school without her mother, and so her mom had to sit next to her desk in school for most of her early education ). This was okay for a little while, but when Colin was born, their parents got a divorce, and their already mentally ill mother could not really cope with two children.

- Since Claire was the oldest ( still very very little, like 7 years old )- it fell on her to help her mother, while Colin would bounce between their father and mother. Claire has never had a relationship with Colin, but she secretly blames and resents him for their parents divorce, and their mothers declining mental health. While ofc Colin resents her for basically gatekeeping his own mom LOL.

- Her relationship with her mother is surface level and distant. No matter how hard she may want to- she just can't connect to her mother. Claire is too emotionally taxing and her mother is pretty much unwilling to deal with it at this point. Claire reminds her of the lowest times in her life, and she sees Claire's attachment to her as a failure in how she raised her. She thinks Claire needs to grow out of it by herself. I think her mother does feel guilty about how Claire's childhood turned out- and so she really does think trying to let Claire find her own way is what's best for her.

- oh and also Claire is pretty much the reason Colin received so little attention from her as a child LOL- she would get HIDEOUSLY jealous of baby Colin taking attention from her mother and throw really intense fits about it 👤 I'm thinking she even went as far as trying to hurt Colin in some way. Sorry Colin, no healthy relationship with mom for you. your sister is too emotionally demanding.

- I think she's doing okay now. She's a little unhinged but I'm thinking she has a steady job and nice girlfriend now. I kinda want her to be happy y'know. 🕊️

- unrelated but Claire has not seen Colin since they were young teenagers so she has no idea about his dyed hair or fashion sense. I don't think she'd be able to recognize him to be honest LOL.

[theboysfromaustin]

Jeremy had an older brother named Colin, who would screw with Jeremy and his friends, as older brothers do.

He convinced them there was Nazi gold from a sunken submarine in the River Irwell. Ian was the most skeptical 7-year-old, "I don't think a submarine could get this far inland..." But Henry pulled his shirt over his head and told Jeremy they'd all go TREASURE HUNTING.

Of course there was nothing, and Colin and his delinquent friends rained horse chestnuts down on them, focing them to swim the river.

Rinse, repeat. Jeremy loved his brother and wanted to hang out with him. He mellowed out a lot and died in the British Midlands disaster.

[saturdaynightmatinee]

CALIFICACIÓN PERSONAL: 6 / 10

Título Original: Clubbed

Año: 2008

Duración: 95 min

País: Reino Unido

Dirección: Neil Thompson

Guion: Geoff Thompson

Música: Paul Heard

Fotografía: Kate Stark

Reparto: Mel Raido, Scot Williams, Maxine Peake, Ronnie Fox, Colin Salmon, Shaun Parkes, Dominic Coleman, Neil Morrissey, Katherine McGolpin, Nick Holder, Aicha McKenzie, Michelle Marsh, Charlie May-Clark, Naomi Millbank-Smith

Productora: Formosa Films, Screen West Midlands

Género: Action; Crime; Drama

TRAILER:

[thxnews]

National Nature Reserve Expansion Safeguards Trees

A major expansion of the Moccas Park and Gillian’s Wood National Nature Reserve in Herefordshire has been announced by the UK government. This initiative aims to protect ancient oaks and sweet chestnut trees that are hundreds of years old, ensuring their survival for future generations. The reserve's area will increase by 100 hectares, creating a sanctuary for diverse wildlife and preserving historical woodlands.  

Ancient Trees and New Beginnings

Moccas Park, already renowned for its ancient oaks, is now joined by Gillian’s Wood to form an expanded National Nature Reserve. This expansion is not just about enlarging the territory but also about restoring and preserving vital ecosystems. The newly named reserve combines the historic Moccas Park with Woodbury Hill Wood, now managed by the Woodland Trust, thanks to support from a Herefordshire family.  

Old Man of Moccas. Photo by the Ancient Tree Forum. Facebook.   Importance of the Reserve The reserve is home to some of the UK’s oldest trees, including the legendary “Old Man of Moccas,” an oak tree believed to be over 850 years old. These ancient trees are invaluable not only for their historical significance but also for the biodiversity they support. The restoration efforts will benefit various species, including bats, beetles, and dormice, making this reserve a crucial habitat for wildlife.  

Restoration Efforts

Natural England and the Woodland Trust are spearheading the restoration of the woodlands. The expansion includes the transformation of Moccas Hill Wood into wood pasture and the revival of Woodbury Hill Wood as ancient woodland. These efforts involve carefully removing conifer trees planted in the 1950s to give space for native species, thus allowing the ancient trees to thrive.  

Woodland & information board Woodbury Hill. Photo by Colin Park. Geograph.  

Actions and Outcomes

The restoration of these woodlands involves several critical actions aimed at enhancing the health of the ecosystem. These include increasing light to the forest floor, which will help native plants and trees re-establish themselves. Additionally, the removal of non-native conifers will create a more conducive environment for the ancient trees and the species that depend on them. Action Description Outcome Conifer Removal Gradual removal of 1950s conifer trees Space for native species and ancient trees to thrive Light Enhancement Increasing light penetration to the forest floor Growth of native flora Ancient Tree Survey Tagging and initial management of surviving ancient trees Ensured survival and proper care Wildlife Monitoring Continuous monitoring of local wildlife Improved habitat conditions   Quotes from Key Figures Emma Johnson, West Midlands Deputy Director for Natural England, highlighted the historical importance of the trees: “The amazing ancient trees in Moccas Park and Gillian’s Wood date back hundreds of years to medieval times and beyond and provide rich and varied spaces for many species, including the Moccas beetle found at only one other site in the UK.”   Richard Brown, Site Manager of the Woodland Trust, emphasized the significance of the restoration efforts: “Ancient Woods have been around since at least the 1600s and cannot be replaced. Gradually removing the conifer trees will allow light to reach the woodland floor and the plants, trees and associated wildlife found within an ancient woodland will start to establish themselves once more.”  

The Legacy of Gillian Bulmer

Gillian’s Wood is named in memory of Gillian Bulmer, a strong advocate for woodlands and trees. Her brother, John Bulmer, and the trustees of her will supported the Woodland Trust in acquiring and restoring Woodbury Hill Wood. This dedication ensures that her love for nature continues to inspire and protect these ancient landscapes. John Bulmer expressed his sentiments on the dedication: “Being able to support the Woodland Trust to buy and restore this ancient woodland in Gillian’s memory feels very fitting. She was a strong advocate for woods and trees throughout her life and the designation of the National Nature Reserve in the county where she loved feels very poignant.”  

Chicken of the woods. Photo by We Like Sharing. Flickr.   Enhancing Wildlife Habitat The expansion of Moccas Park and Gillian’s Wood National Nature Reserve is not only a victory for historical preservation but also a boon for wildlife. The reserve supports over 1,000 species of fly, 700 species of beetle, and 13 out of the 18 UK bat species. Birds, including all three types of woodpeckers and the nationally significant Pied Flycatchers, find sanctuary here.   Public Access and Engagement The reserve is largely open to the public, offering spectacular views of the Herefordshire landscape. Visitors can explore Gillian’s Wood and Moccas Hill Wood freely, while guided walks and open days at Moccas Park will enhance public engagement and appreciation of these ancient woodlands.  

In Conclusion

The expansion of the Moccas Park and Gillian’s Wood National Nature Reserve marks a significant step in preserving the UK's natural heritage. By safeguarding ancient trees and enhancing wildlife habitats, this initiative ensures that future generations can enjoy and learn from these remarkable landscapes. The combined efforts of Natural England and the Woodland Trust, supported by the local community, underscore the enduring value of conservation and historical preservation. For more information about the Moccas Park and Gillian’s Wood National Nature Reserve and upcoming events, visit the Natural England website or contact the Woodland Trust.   Sources: THX News, Natural England & Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Read the full article

[johnj57]

E Pluribus Unum by Jeff Blair, GreenPoint AG

I love the 4th of July. I’m a sucker for family gatherings, parades, and fireworks. I confess, however, as I look forward to celebrating our Independence Day tomorrow, I’m a little worried about the state of our great nation. Correction, I look at the state of our politics today and I am depressed. Our elections cycle has shifted from once every four years to a continual campaign of rhetorical hysteria and attacks on the patriotism of anyone who holds a different view. Our 24-hour news cycle amplified logarithmically by social media has focussed almost exclusively on our differences. It seems everyone is concerned that the upcoming presidential election will once again be The most important in our Nation’s history. And it’s 17 months away! The only prediction I can make with absolute certainty is that we’ll all be sick of it by election day. When I find myself anxious or frustrated, I often try to shift my perspective. In this case, as we celebrate our nation’s 247th birthday, it is worth gaining a little historical perspective. It is worth thinking about E Pluribus Unum. E Pluribus Unum. Out of many, one. It served our nation’s motto from 1782 until 1956 when we replaced it with In God We Trust. It has 13 letters, one for each of the original 13 colonies. We print it on every dollar bill. It is emblazoned across the scroll and clenched in the eagle's beak on the Great Seal of the United States. E Pluribus Unum is important because the Declaration of Independence was not only a claim of separation but commitment of unity. One cannot exist without the other. It sounds obvious today but it was not at the time. Before our nation was The* United States of America, it was 13 independent colonies. However, when I say “independent,” I don’t mean independent like our states are independent today; I mean independent, independent. As Colin Woodard points out in his absolutely amazing history American Nations, “The original North American colonies were settled by people from distinct regions of the British Island, and from France, the Netherlands, and Spain, each with their own religious, political and ethnographic characteristics.” Far from sharing a common set of cultural values and goals, they regarded each other as competitors – for land, settlers and capital. Occasionally, they were enemies as the wars of Europe spilled across the Atlantic. Writes Woodard, “For generations these distinct cultural hearths developed into remarkable isolation from one another, consolidating characteristic values, practices, dialects, and ideals. Some championed individualism, others utopian social reform. Some believed themselves divided by divine purpose, others championed freedom of conscience and inquiry. Some embraced Anglo-Saxon Protestant identity, others ethnic and religious pluralism. Some valued equality and democratic participation, others deference to a traditional aristocratic order.” Thus, when our forefathers met in Philadelphia for the first Continental Congress in September, 1774, they didn’t just represent separate political states, but several “Nations,” each with a distinct culture, ethnic origin, and historical experience. No alt text provided for this image Image taken from the front cover of American Nations , by Colin Woodard Today’s New England – Yankeedom “A culture that put great emphasis on education, local political control, and the pursuit of the ‘greater good’ of the community, even if it meant individual self-denial.” New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey – New Netherland. “A global commercial trading society: multi-ethnic, multi-religious, speculative, materialistic, mercantile and free traditions…[with] a profound tolerance of diversity and an unflinching commitment to freedom of inquiry.” Parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania made up the Midlands. “Founded by English Quakers, who welcomed people of many nations and creeds to their utopian colonies…pluralistic and organized around the middle class. Political opinion has been moderate, even apathetic.” Virginia and the areas surrounding it – Tidewater. “The most powerful nation during the colonial period and the Early Republic, has always been a fundamentally conservative region, with a high value placed on respect for authority and tradition and very little on equality or public participation in politics.” Deep South: “Founded by Barbados slave lords as a West Indies-style slave society…The Bastion of white supremacy, aristocratic privilege, and a version of classical Republicanism modeled on the slave states of the ancient world, where democracy was a privilege of the few and enslavement the natural lot of many.” Thus, when they came together, they had far less in common than you might imagine. Indeed, they also didn’t have an agenda, with the only real point of discussion being how they might respond to the actions of the British, which none of them liked. The only thing they could agree upon was to boycott British goods. But before they could meet again, the first shots of the American Revolution were fired at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. By then, they knew that if they didn’t unite, they would never be rid of British rule. No alt text provided for this image And when the war was over and it was time to forge a new nation, they knew they had to make room for very different ideas of what a society can and should be. They were very suspicious of a strong central government and hated the idea of a standing army. Each region wanted to maintain its independence while benefiting from their collective strength. Thus, they developed a system that balanced the needs of all states, regardless of their distinct cultures, values, economies and traditions. The result was a rebirth of republican democracy and the greatest, most powerful nation this world has ever seen. When the Revolutionary War ended and settlement spread across the country, the “nations” persisted and were joined by others. To the immediate west was Greater Appalachia: “Founded in the early eighteenth century by wave upon wave of rough, bellicose settles from the war-ravaged borderlands of Northern Ireland, northern England, and the Scottish lowlands…Intensely suspicious of aristocrats and social reformers alike…Combative culture.” West of the Deep South was New France (New Orleans/Quebec): “Down to earth, egalitarian and consensus-driven…the most liberal people on the continent” at the time. To the South was El Norte – Texas: “Oldest of the Euro-American nations…A place apart, where Hispanic language, culture, and societal norms dominate…Both sides of the United States-Mexico boundary are really part of the same norteno culture.” The Far West – hot, dry and remote: “The colonization of much of the region was facilitated and directed by large corporations headquartered in distant [cities] or by the federal government…The region remains in a state of semi-dependency. Its political class tends to revile the federal government for interfering in its affairs…while demanding it to continue to receive federal largess.” The Left Coast. “A Chile-shaped nation pinned between the Pacific and the Cascade and Coast mountain ranges…Combines Yankee faith in good government and social reform with a commitment to individual self-exploration and discovery.” Today, each region maintains its distinct identity and set of ideals and our country has prospered. My fear is that we’ve lost the lesson of our history. We became strong not because we forged a single national identity. We are strong because we learned to build a larger nation state while allowing for distinct regional identities. What’s changed is the way we’re fighting. We’re no longer fighting about policy but politics. We spend our days bashing whoever doesn’t agree with us. We label them “other” “liars,” and “traitors”. We demonize them as “unAmerican.” We defining ourselves less by what we stand for and more for who we stand against. Anyone who disagrees is a potential threat to our existence. Compromise is weakness. Our politics have shifted from trying to get along and build bridges between our distant views to gathering armies and trying to crush the other side. Both sides are guilty. We’re trying to impose our will on others as opposed to looking for ways that we can live, work and play alongside people who come from different American Nations. As Abraham Lincoln acknowledged, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Our founding fathers knew it and built an incredible system of government. It wasn’t perfect and there were enormous compromises that left women and blacks completely out of it. But it has endured for 247 years. We have endured because we allow for people to live the way they want to live. We share a defense, an economy, a language, and a belief in the American dream. We don’t necessarily have to share everything else to be successful as a nation. So on this 4th of July, I hope you will read the Declaration of Independence and spend a little time thinking about E Pluribus Unum. We are many. We became one. We are stronger together. We don’t have to agree on everything. We never have. We may never in the future. We’ve got 247 years of shared history together and — because of our differences — have built the strongest and wealthiest nation the world has ever seen. We have stood as a beacon of hope for countless other countries for democracy. We have been, as Ronald Reagan used to say, “That shining city upon a hill.” But the beacon of hope dims as we fight among ourselves, convinced that we must convince everyone of our position, our policy, our world view or it comes apart. I don’t buy it. We are 50 states. If the people of California want to live one way, Great! Let them. If those in Georgia, Florida, New York, or New Hampshire want to live other ways? Fantastic. If we don’t like the policies or culture where we are living, we can move! But that only works if we maintain our fundamental belief in E Pluribus Unum. Out of many, one. Happy Independence Day! Onward! Jeff *When people first referred to our country, they referred to it as, “These United States.” It was not until after the Civil War that Americans referred to our country as “The United States.” The difference is more than simple language – the former is a collection of states, the latter a single national unit.