#direct admission 2022

[mimisempai]

I'll find you at the end of the road - Chap 6/8

Chapter summary - Loss and gain

Aziraphale receives shocking news and realizes he doesn't want to wait any longer.

On Ao3

Rating G -  2508 words

Chap 1 - Chap 2 - Chap 3 - Chap 4 - Chap 5 - Chap 6 - Chap 7 - Last chapter

Lake House - 2022

Aziraphale spent the entire day immersed in his work, as he had for the past few days, keeping the shop closed because he didn't want to see anyone. That evening, as every evening, he returned to the lake house, patiently awaited by Harry. 

While he was feeding the rabbit, he noticed a message on his answering machine and pressed the button, surprised to hear Muriel's voice, "Aziraphale, pick up the phone, I've got something urgent to tell you. It's about your mother."

There was another message, this time from the Royal Hospital in London.

An hour and a half after hearing the two messages, Aziraphale ran into the Royal Hospital and went to the Admissions Office to speak to the first person he saw.

"Hello, I'm looking for my mother. Mrs. Fell. I'm Mr. Fell Aziraphale."

"Please wait a moment." 

The young woman consulted her computer and raised her head a few seconds later before replying gently, "Yes. Mr. Fell. You're expected in Dr. Martin's general ward."

She pointed him in the right direction.

When he reached the ward, he asked for Dr. Martin and had to wait only a few minutes before a woman came up to him and said, extending her hand, "Hello, Mr. Fell, I'm Dr. Martin, the doctor in charge of your mother. Since you were the person to be contacted in case of an emergency, we sent for you."

"What happened? Is she all right?"

Dr. Martin motioned for him to follow her and continued, "She's doing relatively well. She had a fairly minor collapse, but we'll have to keep her for a day or two, waiting for the results of the tests we've run. Since you're her only family according to her file, even for something as minor as this, we had to call you. I'll take you to her room."

Muriel was waiting outside his mother's room when Aziraphale arrived with Dr. Martin. They rushed to him and pulled him into a hug.

Then keeping their hand in his, Aziraphale asked, “How is she?” 

Muriel shook their head, a half smile on their lips, “You know her... I had to bring her some work, the latest reports from the finance department." 

Aziraphale couldn't help but chuckle softly before replying, "Of course. The last thing we'd want to do is let a little meltdown jeopardize the company."

Somewhat reassured, Aziraphale quietly entered the room and saw his mother lying on her bed, connected to monitoring equipment, reading her reports and making annotations, papers scattered about her bed. She didn't hear him right away, and when she raised her head, she lowered the report but didn't put it down.

Aziraphale said quietly, "Hello, Mother."

His mother didn't smile, just nodded and continued working on her files as if Aziraphale wasn't there.

After a while, however, she said, "I don't need you. "

Aziraphale simply replied, "I know. I'll just stay until your test results come in."

"That won't be until tomorrow morning."

Undeterred by her cold tone, he replied, "I'm not going home that late. I'm staying." 

"Suit yourself."

She shrugged and went back to her reading. 

The silence was deafening.

After a moment, Aziraphale picked up one of the fancy furniture magazines on the table and asked, "Do you mind if I..."

His mother waved her hand and replied, "Go ahead. If you're still interested in that sort of thing."

Aziraphale didn't look up and began flipping through the magazine.

When he lifted his head about ten minutes later, his mother was asleep. Aziraphale watched her breathe in the dimly lit room, the monitors flashing silently. He picked up the papers scattered on the bed and piled them neatly on the nightstand.

Then he sat up, trying to find a comfortable sleeping position in the hospital chair. Finding that impossible, he picked up a sheet of paper and began writing to Crowley. 

I know we haven't written in a while. 

But I need to. I wanted to talk to you about someone very close to me. It's... my mother.

We used to be very close.

She's very famous. You probably know her work... M. Fell, the CEO of Heavenly Home, the famous furniture brand. 

I've always loved making furniture with my hands, like my father. And my mother was good at putting things together.

We decided to start Heavenly Home some time after my father passed away after a long illness. We wanted to fulfill his dream. Basically, to sell beautiful, quality furniture that anyone could afford. 

A way to deal with our deep sadness.

The lake house belonged to our family.

When I was ten, my parents took us there, and I remember promising my parents that when I grew up, I'd make furniture for the house and we'd live there happily.

But my mother lost sight of my father's dream and our dreams and always wanted more. 

Probably her own way of copying.

Mass production, overpriced furniture, I no longer had any joy in creating.

Every meeting turned into a war zone.  

Someone had to surrender. And so I did.  I resigned. I left without notice.

That's when I opened my little shop and went back to my roots. To what I loved.

Aziraphale must have fallen asleep while writing, because when he opened his eyes, he was in pain from his position in the chair.

So, seeing that his mother was still asleep, he went to the hospital cafeteria for a cup of coffee, and when he returned fifteen minutes later, he saw Dr. Martin.

"Ah, Mr. Fell, we were just going over the results with your mother. Unfortunately, she's forbidden me to talk to you about it and doesn't want you to visit her anymore."

Aziraphale gasped slightly at his mother's rejection, once again. But what could he expect?

Dr. Martin, however, seeing his distress, seemed to take pity on him and said gently, "I'm not at liberty to go into details, but unfortunately you'll have to prepare for the worst."

Aziraphale's heart leapt in his chest, and with a tight throat he asked, "How long?"

Dr. Martin put a hand on his shoulder and said quietly, "Any time. I'm sorry." 

Aziraphale left the hospital dazed and returned to the lake house. 

As soon as he arrived, he fed Harry, sat down in his chair, and continued the letter to Crowley. 

It was his only source of comfort at the moment. 

The only way he could find to ease his pain.

Crowley's apartment - 2024

Crowley, dressed casually with Harry by his side, sat on his sofa reading Aziraphale's letter. He was deeply moved by the way Aziraphale had opened up to him. 

His heart wept at the sadness he felt through the other man's words. He clearly loved his mother deeply, despite their differences. 

Once again, Crowley was frustrated by the barrier of years that separated them. He wanted so much to be with Aziraphale, to support him. He sighed as he continued to read the letter.

I don't know what I was expecting.

Part of me thought that given her condition I would get more than a "she doesn't want to see you anymore".

But of course it doesn't work that way. When I left HH, I was rejecting everything she stood for. 

That's how she saw it. 

She had put the house up for sale to reject everything that connected her to my father, I think, or rather to the pain of his loss. 

I think the fact that I bought the house cemented our disagreement for her, and it's too late to change things now.

One thing's for sure, if I was really hoping for a tearful little bedside chat, I'm as stupid as she thinks I am.

I can't change it, even if it hurts.

I feel like I've poured my little heart out here. I apologize for that. 

Thank you for reading.

I want to tell you things I've never told anyone before. 

Things I didn't know myself until I wrote them down. 

Maybe that's the strangest part of all this. I feel deep down that you're the only person in the world who can understand me and accept what I'm feeling.

Thank you for being here. 

Love, Aziraphale.

Crowley lingered over the letter, rereading it several times, especially the last word, Love. 

He patted Harry's head thoughtfully.

He had so many questions.

Love, Aziraphale.

Was it superficial? Just a formula at the end of a letter? An affectionate word. Yet Crowley had the impression that the word was quite deliberate.

Aziraphale seemed to be the kind of person who knew exactly what he was saying. 

For whom every single word was important. 

The next question was if Crowley felt the same way. 

Crowley didn't have to think; he knew what he felt.

The question that remained was, did they have a future?

Lake House - 2022

Harry trotted over to Aziraphale's bed. 

Aziraphale was lying there, unable to sleep, but it was too early to get up. He wanted to pick up the phone, but he resisted.

Crowley's apartment - 2024

Crowley couldn't sleep, something had been bothering him since he'd read Aziraphale's letter.

He got up and went to his computer to look up something about the antiquarian's mother.

Two minutes later, he stormed out of his apartment and headed for the lake house.

Lake House - 2022

After getting ready for work, Aziraphale left his house and went to the Beetle. 

Lake House - 2024

Crowley slammed on the brakes and ran to the mailbox. He slipped a piece of paper into it and raised the flag with a sharp motion.

Lake House - 2022

Aziraphale drove away from the house, unaware of the flag going up behind him. A few minutes later, his phone on the passenger seat began to ring.

He looked down and saw that it was Dr. Martin.

He pulled over to the side of the road and answered the call with a lump in his throat.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Fell, this is Dr. Martin. I'm afraid I have some difficult news."

A few minutes later, dazed, he pulled up in front of his house. As he got out of the car, he saw that the flag had been raised. 

He opened it, picked up the note, read it, then let his arm fall back, the paper flying off before landing farther away.

You must return to the hospital immediately! 

Your mother died on XX/XX/22

A few days later, Aziraphale stood in the back of the church as the pastor preached to a crowd that Aziraphale knew was there more for his mother's fame than their connection to her.

He didn't listen to the sermon and, clutching Crowley's last letter in his pocket, reflected on what he had written, taking comfort in the other man's words.

Aziraphale, I'm so sorry about your mom. 

Though every pain is different, I know what it's like to lose the little family we have left.

I knew I had to at least try to warn you. 

I thought I could do it in time. 

I hoped we could change what's happened. 

I was wrong. 

I guess these things can't be changed.

What I do know is that the shock is still fresh for me, even though it happened two years ago, so I can't imagine what it must be like for you.

These things happen... sometimes. I know all about it. 

I was sitting on a bench at noon in Saint James Park, near the intersection of Spur Road and Birdcage Walk.

And something happened. I won't bore you with the details, but it was hard. Not like what you're going through, but it upset me a lot. 

And that day a friend of mine gave me some good advice. 

She told me to go somewhere that would bring me peace.

And that's what I did. 

I went to the lake house.

And that was the day I got your first letter.

It's a place we both love, a place that means so much to both of us, I hope you can find some comfort in it.

And I hope that whatever kept you and your mother apart will eventually seem less important and perhaps, in time, disappear.

Yours, Crowley.

With Crowley's words echoing in his head, Aziraphale was eager to get to the house, to seek and perhaps find the comfort Crowley spoke of.

When he arrived, he saw the flag raised. He opened the mailbox and took out not a note, but a book.

As he turned it over and read the title, his heart skipped a beat. 

The past shapes the present 

by Mr Fell, CEO of Heavenly Home

He returned to the house and, sitting in his chair, opened the book and first saw a small note in Crowley's hand.

The book won't be out for another year. I mean in your time. Or two, so don't show it to anyone. But I thought you should see it. 

Aziraphale turned the first page and couldn't stop the tears flowing from the very first words.

To my son, Aziraphale. 

This is the story of a dream.

The story of a mother and a son bound by an ideal.

But like all true stories, it doesn't always end well.

They chose different paths.

They drifted apart and never found each other again. 

But without the presence of one in the life of the other, neither would have become what they are.

The story of two lives, the story of two successes, the story of two paths.

Below the text was a photo of him and his parents in front of the lake house, which had not yet been built.

He continued to flip through the book, his eyes blurred with tears, and felt like he was looking through pieces of his life.

Photos of HH's creation, of Aziraphale's workshop, of their first offices. 

The day they opened.

Then the various collections of furniture over the years, from the first designed by Aziraphale to the latest, so different. Created after his departure.

Photos of the rise of HH.

Photos taken after Aziraphale's time.

Until the last photo that made him gasp when he saw it.

It was the front of his shop.

A single sentence below. 

We've taken different paths, our views have diverged, but you'll always be my son. The one I'm proud of. 

Aziraphale cried for a long time for his mother, for the lost years, for what might have been. Then, when the tears had dried, he closed the book and placed it carefully on the shelf. His hand lingered on the title for a moment. 

The past shapes the present 

Then, with a determined look, he picked up his old sketchbook, sat down in front of the house, and began to draw.

Crowley's apartment - 2024

Crowley, looking puzzled, looked at a sketch of the lake house.

At the bottom of the house, written in charcoal, could be read:

I WANT TO MEET YOU! 

FOR REAL THIS TIME!

_________

Still not beta'd

Still not my native language

Still hoping you'll enjoy this story  🥰

Still thanking you for bearing with me 😝

Ineffable Husbands masterlist : here

[mariacallous]

If Donald Trump returns to the White House, close allies want to dramatically change the government's interpretation of Civil Rights-era laws to focus on "anti-white racism" rather than discrimination against people of color.

Why it matters: Trump's Justice Department would push to eliminate or upend programs in government and corporate America that are designed to counter racism that has favored whites.

Targets would range from decades-old policies aimed at giving minorities economic opportunities, to more recent programs that began in response to the pandemic and the killing of George Floyd.

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung told Axios: "As President Trump has said, all staff, offices, and initiatives connected to Biden's un-American policy will be immediately terminated."

Driving the news: Longtime aides and allies preparing for a potential second Trump administration have been laying legal groundwork with a flurry of lawsuits and legal complaints — some of which have been successful.

A central vehicle for the effort has been America First Legal, founded by former Trump aide Stephen Miller, who has called the group conservatives' "long-awaited answer to the ACLU."

America First cited the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in February in a lawsuit against CBS and Paramount Global for what the group argued was discrimination against a white, straight man who was a writer for the show "Seal Team" in 2017.

In February, the group filed a civil rights complaint against the NFL over its "Rooney Rule."

The rule — named for Dan Rooney, late owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers — was instituted in 2003 and expanded in 2022. It requires NFL teams to interview at least two minority candidates for vacant general manager, head coach and coordinator positions.

American First argued that "given the limited time frame to hire executives and coaches after the season, this results in fewer opportunities for similarly situated, well-qualified candidates who are not minorities."

In 2021, Miller's group successfully sued to block the implementation of a $29 billion pandemic-era program for women- and minority-owned restaurants, saying it discriminated against white-owned businesses.

"This ruling is the first, but crucial, step towards ending government-sponsored racial discrimination," Miller said then.

Zoom in: Other Trump-aligned groups are preparing for a future Trump Justice Department to implement — or challenge — policies on a broader scale.

The Heritage Foundation's well-funded "Project 2025" envisions a second Trump administration ending what it calls "affirmative discrimination."

Part of the plan, written by former Trump Justice Department official Gene Hamilton, argues that "advancing the interests of certain segments of American society ... comes at the expense of other Americans — and in nearly all cases violates longstanding federal law."

Hamilton is America First Legal's general counsel.

Such groups have gained momentum with the Supreme Court's turn to the right — most notably its recent rejection of affirmative action in college admissions. The court ruled that programs designed to benefit people of color and address past injustices discriminate against white and Asian Americans.

In 2021, a federal judge blocked a $4 billion program to help Black farmers.

Earlier this month, another federal judge ruled that the Commerce Department's Minority Business Development Agency was discriminating against white people and that the program had to be open to everyone.

What they're saying: The Trump campaign directed Axios to the candidate's already stated positions bashing Biden's policies promoting equity.

"Every institution in America is under attack from this Marxist concept of 'equity,' " Trump said in 2023. "I will get this extremism out of the White House, out of the military, out of the Justice Department, and out of our government."

The Trump campaign's Steven Cheung added: "President Trump is committed to weeding out discriminatory programs and racist ideology across the federal government."

The NFL and Miller declined to comment. CBS didn't respond to a request for comment.

Between the lines: A CBS poll last November found that 58% of Trump voters believe that people of color were advantaged over white people — just 9% of Biden voters said the same.

Polls also show, however, that Trump is gaining support among Black and Latino voters.

Zoom out: Trump has portrayed himself as the victim of racism amid his legal troubles.

He repeatedly has said Black women prosecutors in Georgia and New York are "racist."

His political career really began in 2011 as the chief Birther-agitator, questioning Barack Obama's eligibility to be president.

When Trump jumped into the presidential race in 2015, he accused Mexico of dumping criminals and rapists into the U.S.

[writinglittlemagics]

Another Will Wood analysis while I edit a load of personal pieces and try to find an internship! I have a few ideas for this account >:]

The Impact of Masculinism on “Willard!”

“Willard!” is a unique song on an already wildly diverse album. This song, the only one that draws inspiration from a separate piece of media, tells the story of Willard Stiles, a lonely man who befriends rats to cope. The song offers an introspective view of Stiles’s view of humanity and how distanced he views himself. Stiles is affected by the masculinist people around him, which causes him to regard his sensitivities as something that makes him “other.” In the movie, Willard’s boss, Martin, constantly cites his masculinity as his reason for tormenting Stiles. In the song, Willard uses traditional male expectations self-deprecatingly.

Stiles opens the song like an admission of guilt, “You know I couldn’t hurt a fly, my friend / I’m not the type to step on ants” (Line 1). Being insecure about being non-violent is a common trait among men who are in highly masculine environments. Typical gender norms insist that men are to be the aggressors or unafraid of bloodshed. This machismo bloodlust is the foundation of masculinist ideals. A “good” man should strive for dominance over everything: the workplace, the home, and public spaces. Willard is not a man who strives for anything. He knows he can not fit in with the aggressive men at his office, stating, “I've failed to fit in into those nests that scrape the sky / Is there room for me in your cage?” (Line 6) He is also embarrassed about his emotional displays, namely, “I've nearly cried for moths that die at porchlight lamps,” and “Just seem haunted by my stupid urge to protect” (Lines 3 and 22). His sympathetic nature is a target for most of the people in Stiles’s life: his mother, who insists he kills his rats; his coworkers, who mock him; and his boss, who disparages him.

Like most men who struggle to fit into the masculine mold, Stiles feels an undue amount of shame. Feminism is for Everybody explains this reaction. It states, “These men identified themselves as victims of sexism, working to liberate men. They identified rigid sex roles as the primary source of their victimization…” (Hooks). As the song continues, Stiles starts to reject his role as a masculine man before extracting himself from humanity altogether. He ostracizes himself, hiding in closets with his rats and becoming a recluse. He states, “They'll call me crazy, but their words all seem made up to me / Maybe they just need more friendship like yours” (Line 24) and then regresses further into, “You might seem behind bars, but friend, this cage is inside out” (Line 35). The song concludes with a nod to the source material, quoting the climactic scene in which Willard uses his rats to murder Martin. This final scene solidifies the impact masculinity has had on Willard. He devolves from a man too timid to step on an ant to a man capable of premeditated murder. Willard is unfulfilled by his revenge and driven to madness, as Hooks predicts, claiming, “Many men are anguished because they do not engage the liberating critiques that could enable them to face that these promises were rooted in injustice and domination and even when fulfilled have never led men to glory” (Hooks).

(537 words)

Works Cited

hooks, bell. “FEMINIST MASCULINITY.” Feminism Is for Everybody: Passionate Politics, South End Press, Cambridge, MA, 2000, pp. 67–71.

“Will Wood – Willard!” Genius, 29 July 2022, genius.com/Will-wood-willard-lyrics.

Willard. Directed by Daniel Mann, Performances by Bruce Davison, Elsa Lanchester, and Ernest Borgnine, Bing Crosby Productions, 1971

Wood, Will. “Willard!” “In Case I Make It”, Will Wood, 2022, track 15. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/1eZQFmVxyAeE3SHppgMxce?si=517f42b8c2e04c80

[beardedmrbean]

Anthony Fauci has sparked a backlash from politicians and commentators after saying that wearing face masks protects individuals from spreading coronavirus, but that there was inconclusive evidence to suggest it prevented a pandemic spiraling at a whole population level.

The former chief medical adviser to the president, who was regularly the face of the government's response to the pandemic, told CNN on Saturday that "an individual protecting themselves or protecting them from spreading it, there is no doubt that masks work," amid a spike in infections of the virus and speculation that fresh COVID restrictions could be on the horizon.

"Fauci admits that masks don't work for the public at large but still absurdly claims masks work on an individual basis," Rand Paul, a Republican senator for Kentucky who was suspended from YouTube in 2021 for questioning mask wearing, wrote on Sunday in one of many critical responses to the interview. "More subterfuge."

Some private institutions, hospital operators and colleges have reintroduced the requirements for staff or visitors to wear masks while at their sites to limit the spread of the new variants—EG.5 and BA.2.86—which have recently emerged. The moves sparked concerns that nationwide restrictions could be set to return.

In the week to August 19, there were more than 15,000 hospitalizations due to COVID-19 infections across the U.S., the most recent monitoring figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show—a rise of nearly 19 percent on the week prior.

Admissions have been steadily rising since July, but are far below the highest peaks of the pandemic and appear to be localized into hotspots. The highest number of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in any week since the virus first emerged was over 150,000 in January 2022, and the highest weekly total this year was over 44,000 in the first week of January.

"We're starting to see a surge of cases...about an 18 percent or 19 percent increase in hospitalizations, certainly going in the wrong direction," Fauci told CNN host Michael Smerconish on Saturday.

While he noted that "we're not talking about mandates or forcing anybody," he said he hoped that if cases were to grow to a "reasonably high level" that the CDC recommended mask wearing again, that individuals "abide by the recommendation and take into account the risk to themselves and to their families."

A CDC spokesperson told Newsweek on Thursday it currently has no intention to call for a return of mandated mask-wearing, but didn't deny that this might change if cases of the new variants were to rise significantly. Fauci previously said he thought there was "not going to be the tsunami of cases that we've seen" before.

Despite his advocacy of mask wearing, Fauci was questioned about the diverging views on the effectiveness of face masks at limiting the spread of COVID-19.

There are differing opinions among the scientific community as to the efficacy of mask wearing, though many agree that when used in tandem with other measures—such as washing hands, social distancing and vaccination—they help stop the virus spreading.

"When you're talking about at the population level, ... the data are less strong than knowing that if you look on a situation as an individual protecting themselves or protecting them from spreading it, there is no doubt that masks work," the leading immunologist said.

"Different studies give different percentages of advantage of wearing it," he added. "But there's no doubt that the weight of the studies, and there have been many studies, indicate the benefit of wearing masks."

However, he was probed on one particular study, first published by the Cochrane Library in 2020 and updated this year, which found that wearing even medical-grade face masks "makes little or no difference" to infection rates. Smerconish cited an interview with The New York Times in which the study's lead author, Tom Jefferson, an epidemiologist at the University of Oxford, said: "There is just no evidence that they make any difference."

Fauci responded that "there's no doubt that there are many studies that show that there is an advantage" at the level of individual infections, but "when you're talking about the effect on the epidemic or the pandemic as a whole, the data are less strong."

He added: "But we're not talking about that, we're talking about an individual's effect on their own safety."

"Even the [mainstream media] (CNN) are rowing back on the effectiveness of mask wearing mandates," Andrew Bridgen, a British member of parliament who was suspended in January for spreading coronavirus misinformation, wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "Unscientific and harmful."

"We know he lied back in 2020," Chad Prather, a host on right-wing outlet Blaze TV, alleged. "Guess what. He's lying NOW. Anything to stay relevant." Meanwhile, doctors who had previously opposed mask mandates expressed vindication at Fauci's concession.

Fauci told Newsweek that he was "not interested" in responding to the critics, but noted: "Even Cochrane itself put out a statement that the study referred to by Smerconish on CNN that masks do not work was 'widely misinterpreted.'" _______________________

[coochiequeens]

“Is it safe for one violent perpetrator, who is biologically male, to disrupt the lives of hundreds of incarcerated women for up to 14 years?"

By Genevieve Gluck December 4, 2023

A trans-identified male in the Netherlands charged with committing a brutal murder has been placed in a women’s prison ahead of his final hearings. Known only as “Daniela D.,” the 32-year-old Chilean national is accused of having stabbed a man 214 times, targeting his eyes, ears, and genitals.

The incident is said to have occurred on December 23 of 2022 during an altercation that took place at the home of Danny Roth. Daniela was reportedly working as a prostitute at the time in the Rotterdam region, with Roth being an occasional client.

Details of the moments leading up to the killing are unclear, though Daniela’s lawyer has attempted to forward “a case of self-defense excess.” with Daniela testifying that Roth had taken drugs which caused him to hallucinate.

“Danny took a hallucinogenic pill, a coffee-colored capsule. He dragged me by the hair to the kitchen. He threw a knife at me and I deflected it with my hand. He shouted ‘fucking whore’ and proceeded to punch me in the face and it really hurt. I have silicone all over my body and it was causing injuries,” Daniela said. He stated that he repelled the attack with his hand, sustaining an injury, and during the struggle Roth dropped the knife. Grabbing it from the floor, Daniela then began stabbing the man.

However, a forensic expert argued that Daniela’s claims do not align with the blood patterns spattered across the wall. According to an analysis of the crime scene, the victim’s blood was dusted high up across the walls. In Daniela’s version of events, the expert said, the blood would have mainly been on the ground and not “in an upward direction all around.”

An autopsy also showed that while there was alcohol and cocaine in Roth’s body, there were no traces of other substances, such as the purported “hallucinogenic pill” his system.

Additionally, Daniela made a disturbing admission in a recorded phone call shortly after the assault.

“I stabbed both eyes, so that he cannot recognize me when the police show him a photo. I stabbed his ears, so that he cannot hear questions from the police,” Daniela told a friend. “And I broke the bottle on his head. I didn’t want to stop hitting him.”

The Public Prosecution Service presented a different scenario from the story told by Daniela and pointed to the significant amount of cuts all over Roth’s body as an important indication of anger.

“The stabbing was deliberate and targeted. That is not fear, but anger and revenge. It is not self-defense but an attack.” A coroner determined that Roth’s penis was slashed with a knife after he was already dead.

Roth’s body was found on December 26, three days after the fatal attack, by a friend and a neighbor who stopped by wondering where he was. Roth had not shown up for appointments, and his family had become concerned when they could not contact him over the holidays. Roth’s body was discovered lying on the floor, surrounded by a pool of blood.

The victim’s sister testified in court and strongly condemned Daniela while requesting the maximum possible sentence.

“I hope your hand still hurts every day. When you go to sleep, I hope you see his face. You had an overwhelming anger, from the top of your head to your toes. So bad that the most gruesome horror film is nothing like it,” Roth’s sister told the accused.

Daniela D. has been residing illegally in the Netherlands since February 2022, where he has been involved in the sex industry. The court heard that he came from a broken home and that he had been “bullied” as a youth by peers who did not accept his gender identity.

The Public Prosecution Service is seeking a sentence of fourteen years in prison. The court in Dordrecht will announce its final verdict on December 5.

Despite being fully intact, Daniela is being detained in Ter Peel women’s prison, and it is anticipated that should he be convicted, he will serve his sentence in a women’s institution.

Journalist Sybilla Claus, writing for Brabants Dagblad, called the situation “unacceptable” for female inmates.

“Is it safe for one violent perpetrator, who is biologically male, to disrupt the lives of hundreds of incarcerated women for up to 14 years? The director of the largest women’s prison, Ter Peel, between Venlo and Helmond, thinks it’s fine. He had the extremely violent Chilean suspect, with male genitalia, placed there among the 226 women,” Claus wrote.

“They have the right to their own protection, privacy and dignity… Research shows that a large proportion of imprisoned women have been victims of physical and/or sexual violence as children and afterwards, and end up in an abusive relationship.”

Claus emphasized that “there are few female criminals in the Netherlands. There are three women’s prisons … which house around 3,000 women annually. Most are released within three months, because they commit lighter crimes,” she wrote. “Behavioral scientist Katharina Joosen interviewed about four hundred former women inmates. She described in 2015 that half have a criminal or addicted partner and have been treated for serious psychological problems due to trauma.”

[bestreviewguy]

The Marvels proves that the world isn’t tired of super hero movies. It’s tired of mediocre repetitive stories that cannot be taken seriously and are horridly repetitive. This is the last MCU film released in 2023 and I can positively say it is miles better than the 2022 Quantumania, and even better than Thor Love and Thunder. This being said, both of those films attribute to a road being paved of superhero fatigue that this film lays another brick in that road. The film stars 3 characters which you must be very knowledgeable in the side projects MCU has made to even pay this the light of day. Carol Danvers played by Brie Larson, Kamala Kahn played by Iman Vellani, and Lashana Lynch playing Maria Rambeu. The hard to follow plot follows a fresh new face “Miss Marvel” learning to work with her newfound powers as a team with two former Captain Marvels in a somewhat mentor-like relationship. Iman Vellani is the best cast in this film playing an almost fan girl like character who can finally work with her hero, Captain Marvel. The chemistry between Brie Larson and her character are the most humor filled moments in this film. It’s no secret Marvel packs these movies with jokes and as Ant Man and Thor were not funny, this film is a nice change of pace to see the humor work. Another really good thing about this film is the action pieces. The cinematography is superb and if anything else, I can absolutely say I enjoyed the visuals above everything else in this film. However, this film doesn’t quite know what it wants to be, half way in we have this unusual song and dance set piece out of no where that throws off any momentum the film had going for it self. You somewhat enjoy the action scenes and than their immediately followed by cheesy acting, one-liners that make no sense, and a boring and unnecessary plot that is hard to follow. The visuals cannot make up for the lack of entertaining material in this hour and 40 minute run time. It is not an unwatchable film and would be a fantastic rental or wait til on Disney Plus, but it is not worth the price of admission. For a great MCU film post: Endgame, I highly suggest you check out Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3. This film will not be remembered after a few days for the majority of viewers. I will say stick around for the after credits scene in this one, really good direction their heading with what I saw there by the way. I’m going to give The Marvels, a 3 out of 10.

3/10

+Entertaining visuals.

+Iman Vellani has a great performance.

-Forgettable and hard to follow plot.

-Uncertain what direction the film wants to take.

-No relatability in the characters

-Pointless cameos and scenes.

[mightyflamethrower]

 group of senior clinical psychologists have apologised for the role their profession played in the promotion of transgender ‘medical’ treatments to children in the UK following a damning report which found that such interventions were done on “shaky foundations”.

In a joint letter published by the left-wing Guardian’s sister paper The Observer, 16 unnamed “senior clinical psychologists”, including some who actually worked in the now-discredited Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) clinics that prescribed hundreds of children life-altering puberty-blocking drugs, said that their profession led the way in pushing children into such a direction.

“These were psychology-led services. Whether intentionally or not, and many were doing their best in an impossible situation, it was clinical psychologists who promoted an ideology that was almost impossible to challenge,” they wrote.

“It is also our professional body, the British Psychological Society, that has failed (despite years of pressure) to produce guidelines for clinicians working with young people in this complex area; and that, forced into making an official response for the first time, now minimises its own role in events and calls for ‘more psychology’ as the answer. We are ashamed of the role psychology has played,” the group added.

They said that what occurred at GIDS clinics was a “multi-factorial systemic failure” but said that those within the psychology profession should be “fully examined” and held accountable for the role they played, noting that many “failed to carry out proper assessments of troubled young people, and thus put many on an ‘irreversible medical pathway’ that in most cases was inappropriate; and who failed in their most basic duty to keep proper records.”

The admission comes in the wake of a National Health Service-sponsored report from leading paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass, which argued that the NHS should no longer provide puberty-blocking drugs to children under the age of 18, given that many of that their prescription was “built on shaky foundations”.

The Cass report went on to say there is little evidence to support the so-called ‘gender affirming’ claim that hormone-altering treatments improved children’s mental health and that there has been little investigation into the potential ramifications such drugs have on the “cognitive and psychosexual development” of the children as they age.

Additionally, it argued that because many children will naturally grow past feelings of gender dysphoria “for most young people, a medical pathway will not be the best way to manage their gender-related distress”.

A preliminary version of the report forced the NHS to order the closure of the Tavistock Centre and its controversial Gender Identity Development Service clinic, which served as the nation’s top transgender clinic for children. Cass argued that the treatments offered by Tavistock were “not a safe or viable long-term option” for children.

The clinic has long faced criticism over the apparent lax standards used to determine if children were displaying signs of transgenderism, with former governor of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, Dr David Bell, whistleblowing in 2022 to reveal that that staff would make such decisions based on flimsy evidence, such as if young girls failed to show interest in “pink ribbons and dollies“.

Last year, a re-examination of a 2011 study from University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and the Tavistock Centre — which claimed that there were no negative impacts of puberty blockers on the psychological function of 12 to 15-year-olds — overturned the initial claims, with University of Essex Professor of Psychology Susan McPherson and social scientist David Freedman finding instead that 34 per cent of children placed on puberty-blocking drugs saw their mental health “reliably deteriorate”.

While many in the United States continue to advocate for medical interventions for allegedly transgender children, there is a growing consensus in Europe against the practice, with progressive countries such as Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the UK having all begun to restrict transgender treatments for children. Last month, a report commissioned by French senators asserted that providing children with life-altering transgender drugs will be remembered as one of the “greatest ethical scandals in medical history” and called for the practice to be restricted in France as well.

Don't expect to see anything like this in the US. American Leftist never admit being wrong. Never

[tomorrowusa]

Sandra Day O'Connor died Friday at the age of 93. She was the first woman to serve on the US Supreme Court. Although she was appointed by President Ronald Reagan, her approach was more centrist than his and she was often the swing vote on the court.

After her retirement from SCOTUS in 2006, President George W. Bush appointed the hard right Samuel Alito to replace O'Connor. In 2022 Alito was the driving force behind the dismantling of Roe v. Wade.

Justice O’Connor joined the controlling opinion in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the 1992 decision that, to the surprise of many, reaffirmed the core of the constitutional right to abortion established in 1973 in Roe v. Wade. To overrule Roe “under fire in the absence of the most compelling reason to re-examine a watershed decision,” she wrote in a joint opinion with Justices Anthony M. Kennedy and David H. Souter, “would subvert the court’s legitimacy beyond any serious question.” Last year, the court did overrule Roe, casting aside Justice O’Connor’s concern for precedent and the court’s public standing. In his majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Justice Alito wrote that Roe and Casey had “enflamed debate and deepened division.” Justice O’Connor also wrote the majority opinion in Grutter v. Bollinger, a 2003 decision upholding race-conscious admissions decisions at public universities, suggesting that they would not longer be needed in a quarter-century. In striking down affirmative action programs in higher education in June, the Supreme Court beat her deadline by five years. [ ... ] Justice O’Connor was also an author of a key campaign finance opinion, McConnell v. Federal Election Commission in 2003. A few years after Justice Alito replaced her, the Supreme Court, by a 5-to-4 vote in 2010, overruled a central portion of that decision in the Citizens United case.nge? A few days later, at a law school conference, Justice O’Connor reflected on the development. “Gosh,” she said, “I step away for a couple of years and there’s no telling what’s going to happen.” [ ... ] She held the crucial vote in many of the court’s most polarizing cases, and her vision shaped American life for her quarter century on the court. Political scientists stood in awe at the power she wielded. “On virtually all conceptual and empirical definitions, O’Connor is the court’s center — the median, the key, the critical and the swing justice,” Andrew D. Martin, Kevin M. Quinn and Lee Epstein and two colleagues wrote in a study published in 2005 in The North Carolina Law Review shortly before Justice O’Connor’s retirement.

Let this be a reminder that the direction of the Supreme Court depends on the President who appoints its members and the Senate which confirms them.

While we may not have warm and fuzzy feelings about Ronald Reagan, two of his three† appointments to SCOTUS were centrists. Of the six current justices appointed to the court by Republican presidents, one is a conservative and the other five are hardline reactionaries.

When voting for president or senator, we are indirectly also voting for SCOTUS justices who could be on the court for decades. We ought to keep that in mind when we hear people suggesting that we should cast "protest votes" for impotent third parties which have no chance of getting elected.

Remember that no 2024 Republican presidential candidate will nominate to the court somebody as relatively moderate as Sandra Day O'Connor.

† I count Rehnquist, who Reagan elevated from Associate to Chief Justice, as a Nixon appointee.

[schraubd]

DeSantis' "Asylum" Offer to Jewish College Students

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued an emergency order waiving various requirements for prospective transfer students into Florida public universities "who are seeking to transfer to a Florida university because of a well-founded fear of antisemitic or other religious discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or violence" at their current colleges.* The "well-founded fear" language is borrowed from asylum law, so if I were a Jewish student considering this offer I'd have to be concerned that DeSantis' next step would be to traffic me right back out of the state via a one-way to a New England island. In all seriousness, I have to give DeSantis a very faint tip of the cap here, if only because a few months ago I had a similar thought about whether colleges in blue states should offer a form of "asylum" running in the opposite direction -- assisting admissions or transfers of students leaving Florida public universities in the wake of DeSantis' assault on academic freedom and the rights of sexual minorities. I've certainly noticed an at least anecdotal uptick in "red state refugees" on the faculty side of academia, and it wouldn't surprise me to learn there's similar pressure on the student side. And on the other side of things, I actually wondered back in 2022 if DeSantis might seek to expressly differentiate himself from Trump on the subject of antisemitism. He hasn't really done so -- the seemingly obvious need of a GOP challenger to challenge Trump continuing to founder on the absolute inability of any Republican of substance to say a bad word about the Supreme Leader -- but he has tried to make "antisemitism" a relatively large part of his presidential narrative. And so as DeSantis' presidential campaign continues to flounder in the most pathetic fashion, this reads like a theatrical attempt to capture some of the Stefanik-magic from last month. Of course, DeSantis isn't alone here. For whatever reason, Republicans have learned that fake performative concern about antisemitism is the easiest route for craven gutless mediocrities to become media starlets, at least for a few days. That it keeps on filling this role is maybe something that the Jewish community needs to ponder -- while on the one hand I'm not convinced it's actually Jews who are most impressed by these stunts, there does seem to be a repeated gullibility on this front that deserves closer interrogation. How has the GOP become so convinced that this play, in particular, is a winning strategy for them?  * Nominally, "other religious discrimination" encompasses Muslim students as well -- an interesting prospect as various Muslim and pro-Palestinian groups have begun adopting the broad understandings of "antisemitism" vis-a-vis discourse about Israel and Zionism promoted by some Jewish groups and trying to cross-apply them to similar broad understandings of Islamophobia vis-a-vis how university actors talk about Palestine and anti-Zionism. In practice, it's hard to imagine that will amount to much -- in part because of the vagueness surrounding "well-founded fear" of persecution, and in part because the sort of person who is concerned about that sort of Islamophobia is perhaps unlikely to find Florida an attractive destination to flee to. via The Debate Link https://ift.tt/WbQVEK9

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Michael Mohr

Published: Apr 3, 2023

The Democratic Party has very slowly seen their grip on Asian, Hispanic and Black voters slipping as of late. There are many nuanced, complex reasons for this. Here’s some fascinating data from Pew Research:

66% of Black Democrats believe sex is immutable and assigned at birth.

62% of Black Americans believe race should NOT be a factor in college admissions.

38% of Black Americans believe police funding should be INCREASED; 38% believe funding should remain as is; only 23% want it decreased.

In 2021, 65% of Black Americans believed that increased attention given to inequality had NOT led to changes for the better for Black Americans.

64% of Black adults feel that the ‘racial reckoning’ and focus on identity has NOT led to positive changes.

Only 29% of Black Democrats identify as ‘liberal’ within the party. (Compared with 55% of Whites.)

Currently, there has been a roughly 11% drop in Black voter support of the Democratic Party, dropping from 90% to 79%.

55% of Black Americans believe Democrats should work hard to find common ground with Republicans, versus only 41% who feel Democrats should proceed with their agenda no matter what.

***All this data seems to make one thing clear: White lefties are turning Black voters off, big time. If white liberals keep being paternalistic and keep ignoring what Black voters actually want, and how these voters think and feel, Dems are going to be in trouble.

Of course what I’m presenting here is only one angle on a complicated story. 63% of Black adults, according to Pew (source #9 below) still feel that racism is a major problem, and 60% feel that police brutality is. And there’s more in this vein. I’m not trying to oversimplify the case or cherry-pick or be one-sided. In general, Black Americans still vastly favor the Democratic Party broadly (though they’re generally more moderate).

I’m simply pointing out that this demographic seems to clearly *not* like the direction the Democratic Party is moving. We should pay attention to this.

Resources:

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2023/01/04/black-democrats-differ-from-other-democrats-in-their-views-on-gender-identity-transgender-issues/

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/02/25/most-americans-say-colleges-should-not-consider-race-or-ethnicity-in-admissions/

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/10/26/growing-share-of-americans-say-they-want-more-spending-on-police-in-their-area/

https://www.pewresearch.org/race-ethnicity/2022/08/30/black-americans-are-pessimistic-about-their-position-in-u-s-society/

https://www.pewresearch.org/race-ethnicity/2022/08/30/black-americans-are-pessimistic-about-their-position-in-

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/02/27/5-facts-about-black-democrats/u-s-society/

https://www.newsweek.com/democrats-black-voter-problem-only-getting-worse-opinion-1749500?amp=1

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/02/27/5-facts-about-black-democrats/

https://www.pewresearch.org/race-ethnicity/2022/08/30/black-americans-are-pessimistic-about-their-position-in-u-s-society/

==

People forget that black Americans tend to be more conservative on average, slower to leave religion, less likely to subscribe to the fashionable, postmodern ramblings of the privileged, elite class.

[llewelynpritch]

'Putin's Angel' #DeepAIGeneratedImage #PoliticalSatire

Fishy Rishi Artwork Llewelyn Pritchard 15 July 2024 

 ‘Boris Johnson tried to discourage or limit discussion in Parliament about Evgeny Lebedev for the following reasons:

1 i)  Coordinated complaints: Johnson and Evgeny Lebedev reportedly made simultaneous complaints to the House of Commons Speaker about Labour MP Matt Western's questions regarding Johnson's attendance at parties at Lebedev's Italian villa [2]. This suggests an attempt to silence or discourage further questioning on the topic.

1 ii)  Dismissive responses: When asked about the parties in Parliament, Johnson responded by saying he "simply fail[ed] to detect any crouton of substance in the minestrone of nonsense" that was spoken [2]. This dismissive language appears aimed at delegitimizing the questions.

1 iii)  Refusal to release information: Johnson refused to release details of the security service advice he received about Lebedev's appointment to the House of Lords, despite a vote by MPs compelling him to do so. He cited "national security" concerns as the reason [2].

1 iv)  Accusations of xenophobia: Johnson's spokesman described coverage of Evgeny Lebedev's peerage as "a tiresome and xenophobic campaign" [3]. This framing attempts to portray scrutiny of the appointment as discriminatory rather than based on legitimate concerns.

1 v)  Claims of Russophobia: When the House of Lords Appointments Commission advised against Lebedev's nomination due to security concerns, Johnson reportedly reacted furiously, claiming their advice was "Russophobic" [3].

1 vi)  Vague answers: When questioned about his meeting with Alexander Lebedev, Johnson provided vague responses, stating that "as far as I am aware, no Government business was discussed" [4]. This phrasing avoids a direct denial and limits further inquiry.

1 vii)  These actions suggest Johnson sought to avoid detailed scrutiny or discussion of his relationship with the Lebedevs and the circumstances surrounding Evgeny Lebedev's appointment to the House of Lords.

Citations:

[1] https://bylinetimes.com/2022/03/07/government-didnt-record-minutes-of-meeting-between-lebedev-and-johnson/ 

[2] https://bylinetimes.com/2022/08/26/boris-johnson-is-trying-to-silence-questions-about-evgeny-lebedev/ 

[3] https://www.tortoisemedia.com/2023/06/26/mi5-visited-downing-street-to-warn-boris-johnson-against-evgeny-lebedevs-peerage/ 

[4] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62308217 

2)  ‘Based on the available information, here are the key details known about Boris Johnson's meeting with Alexander Lebedev in Italy:

2 i)  Timing: The meeting took place in April 2018, specifically around April 28-29, when Johnson was serving as the UK's Foreign Secretary [1] [2] [3].

2 ii)  Location: The meeting occurred at Palazzo Terranova, a luxury villa in Umbria, Italy, owned by the Lebedev family [1] [3].

2 iii)  Context: This meeting happened shortly after Johnson attended a NATO summit in Brussels where Russia and security issues were discussed, and about a month after the Salisbury nerve agent attack in the UK [2] [3].

2 iv)  Circumstances: Johnson attended a party hosted by Evgeny Lebedev, Alexander's son, at the villa. During this event, he met with Alexander Lebedev without any officials present [1] [3] [4].

2 v)  Admission: Johnson initially avoided confirming the meeting but later admitted to it during a session with the Commons liaison committee in July 2022 [3] [4].

2 vi)  Official oversight: No government officials were present during the meeting, and Johnson did not inform officials about it afterward [2] [4].

2 vii)  Content of discussion: Johnson stated that "as far as I am aware, no Government business was discussed," but this phrasing has been criticized as evasive and falling short of an outright denial [2] [4].

2 viii) Concerns: The meeting has raised security concerns due to Alexander Lebedev's background as a ‘former’ KGB agent and the sensitive timing following the Salisbury incident [2] [3].

2 ix)  Surveillance: According to a Channel 4 documentary, Italy's secret intelligence service was monitoring the Lebedev villa at the time of Johnson's visit due to suspicions of potential espionage activities [1].

2 x) Controversy: The meeting has become a subject of political scrutiny in the UK, with questions raised about potential security risks and the appropriateness of a senior government official meeting privately with a former KGB agent [2] [3] [4].’

Citations:

[1] https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jun/26/italy-was-monitoring-lebedev-villa-at-time-of-boris-johnson-visit-documentary-claim 

[2] https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/7/28/what-did-boris-johnson-discuss-with-alexander-lebedev 

[3] https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jul/06/johnson-admits-to-private-meeting-with-ex-kgb-agent 

[4] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62308217 

[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N__zgNR0g_Y 

3) https://bylinetimes.com/2020/07/21/the-russia-report-what-has-boris-johnson-got-to-hide-by-refusing-to-investigate-russian-interference-in-brexit/ THE RUSSIA REPORT Puts Johnson on the Spot

Extract

‘The Missing Brexit Threat Assessment It has taken Parliament more than 14 years to recognise the true nature of the Russian President’s regime.

With the KGB-trained Putin now ensconced for life, conducting wars in Ukraine and Syria, and funding far-right parties across Europe to destabilise any institutions that can challenge his interests, this is – as the report makes clear in its remarks on MI5, MI6 and GCHQ – a deadly oversight. The lethal nature of the threat from the Kremlin should have been obvious with the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006. A former colleague of Putin’s in the Russian security service, the FSB, Litvinenko had become a British citizen and was exposing Kremlin links to crime syndicates based in Spain when he was assassinated using a lethal and rare isotope of Polonium manufactured in a Russian state facility.

The attempted murder of the Skripals with the Novichok nerve agent two years ago was the culmination of a murderous campaign which led to up to 14 suspicious deaths in the UK, as reported by Heidi Blake and Buzzfeed News. The report contains a redacted comment on this.

But why has it taken so long? And why did Boris Johnson try to suppress this report? One can only conclude that, on several scores, it was embarrassing to him and those close to him.

Apart from the Lebedev and Temerko connections, Johnson had a wealth of other contacts with wealthy Russian oligarchs as Mayor of London. In the past few years, the Conservative Party has been a major beneficiary of donations from Russian expatriates. Meanwhile, several senior Brexit-supporting businessmen such as Jim Mellon and the Chandler brothers made extensive fortunes in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and some senior parliamentary figures, such as Jacob Rees-Mogg, still have major investments there now.’

Peter Jukes 21 July 2020

4)  ‘Johnson's actions and scandals during his time in office raise serious ethical concerns and potential violations of rules and norms. Here are the key points that can be substantiated from the given information:

4 i)  Johnson faced allegations of corruption and cronyism, particularly regarding COVID-19 procurement. There were claims of contracts being awarded to Conservative Party donors and those with links to the government, even when equipment delivered was unusable or of poor quality [5].

4 ii)  Johnson was found to have knowingly held illegal parties at Downing Street during COVID-19 lockdowns and repeatedly lied to Parliament about them. A House of Commons select committee report concluded that he misled Parliament multiple times regarding these events [4].

4 iii)  Johnson's government faced scrutiny over the refurbishment of his official residence, with allegations of seeking donations from a party donor to fund the renovations. The Conservative Party was fined for failing to properly report these donations [1].

4 iv) There were concerns about Johnson's appointments, including supporting MP Priti Patel despite findings that she breached the Ministerial Code through bullying behavior, and appointing Chris Pincher despite prior sexual misconduct allegations [1].

4 v) Johnson's tenure saw a decline in standards of public life, with two independent Ethics Advisers and even the Prime Minister's Anti-Corruption Champion resigning [5].

4 vi)  The "Partygate" scandal resulted in Johnson becoming the first UK prime minister found to have broken the law while in office [1].

4 vii)  Johnson's government was criticised for its handling of the Owen Paterson lobbying scandal, initially backing efforts to overturn the suspension of a Conservative MP accused of lobbying violations [1].

4 viii)  There were concerns about the abolition of DFID (Department for International Development) and subsequent de-prioritization of anti-corruption efforts in international development [5].

4 ix)  It's crucial to emphasize that in a democratic society, the principle that no one is above the law should be upheld. Any allegations of misconduct or corruption by public officials, including former prime ministers, should be thoroughly investigated through proper legal channels.’

Citations:

[1] https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/06/uk/boris-johnson-scandals-intl/index.html 

[2] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-07/boris-johnson-legacy-defined-by-brexit-and-scandal/100769902 

[3] https://www.politico.eu/article/great-britain-boris-johnson-lobby-rules-corruption/ 

[4] https://jacobin.com/2023/06/boris-johnson-tories-prime-minister-covid-lying-corruption-conservatives 

[5] https://blogs.sussex.ac.uk/centre-for-the-study-of-corruption/2022/09/21/johnsons-legacy-corruption-and-anti-corruption-under-boris-johnson/ 

Links

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/boris-johnson-nobody-above-law-must-never-allowed-had-pritchard-ma-ybr8e/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQ-zfae84s68jORKXFMd5hZEg07MSAR8uj4FRbVY4X6S9dprx4ZVvRDUI2EHlrA3GZaOpDu-NB_7Fcj/pub Boris Johnson: ‘Nobody is Above the Law’ This must never be allowed to happen again. ‘It had long been speculated that there was something so damaging in the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC)’s report into Russia's influence that Boris Johnson and his Vote Leave Conservative Government succeeded in suppressing it for nine months.

Now we know what that is and why the Prime Minister was trying to stop its publication right to the last minute by removing the whip from the newly-elected ISC chair Julian Lewis.’ Llewelyn Pritchard 15 July 2024 #JohnsonLies #PeopleDie #IgnoredIntelligenceAdvice #ActNow #TellTheTruth #BeTheChange #JohnsonsCoverUp #Conservatives #DemandPublicInquiry #CorruptToryGovernment #DefendDemocracy #UK

2.https://bylinetimes.com/2022/08/26/boris-johnson-is-trying-to-silence-questions-about-evgeny-lebedev/ 'Boris Johnson is Trying to ‘Silence’ Questions About Evgeny Lebedev. A Labour MP says the Prime Minister and his friend tried to stop him from asking questions about lavish parties held at the newspaper proprietor’s Italian villa. Adam Bienkov 26 August 2022  #Brexit #Trump #Russia #RussianInterference #DefendDemocracy

3.https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQWwuUCBi1ynN5Ld4Q55LY-O5IxFp3QWEVcgvDHM2_ctDO58U9CGIjvSlo0_16V6r0StB4wvQb-07gX/pub What did Boris Johnson discuss with Alexander Lebedev? How an answer to a parliamentary question may lead to an unfolding of a political scandal. David Allen Green Former central government lawyer and legal commentator 28 July 2022

4.https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vT9zi6-QRt4r_icw9o9fo8vEMjRLXsaoOrv5uenAaHmaxdX7ciuNtHw_p_LcbnQCOc0wgj0AwGeL9Nf/pub THE RUSSIA REPORT Puts Johnson on the Spot Peter Jukes 21 July 2020

5.https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/beyond-reasonable-doubt-boris-johnson-breached-evgeny-pritchard-ma-qs62e/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR_aNrigWYWvyJYoWjgEP6fo1MpN38OePuKSzPXcITokaLWjPvKp8oKgF4iXfl6RZVsMWl7kDUsjf_8/pub It is beyond reasonable doubt that Boris Johnson breached National Security at Evgeny Lebedev's villa Perugia Italy under Italian Intelligence surveillance by discussing UK government business with Alexander Lebedev. He made sure no UK government officials were present.

‘Boris Johnson's visit to Evgeny Lebedev's villa in Perugia, Italy, has raised concerns about national security due to the property being monitored by Italy's secret intelligence service, which believed it was being used for espionage purposes 1. 2 …’

6. https://youtu.be/OpEV9iILAv0 ‘Boris, the Lord and the Russian Spy: Dispatches’ will be broadcast on Tuesday 27 June at 10pm on Channel 4 and channel4.com' Pippa Crerar, Luke Harding 26 June 2023

7. https://lnkd.in/edGZBZw6 https://lnkd.in/eXbeVjys https://lnkd.in/exmujGj7 ‘Really historic step forward this afternoon as cross-party Senedd Committee (Local Govt and Housing) votes in favour of amendment that makes lying by politicians a criminal offence. This is incorporated in the Elections and Elected Bodies Bill and now goes on to next stage’ @Adamprice 16 May 2024 #ClimateJusticeValuations: #LeadersLie #PeopleDie #JailTime #ClimateCrisis

8. https://lnkd.in/edGZBZw6 https://lnkd.in/eXbeVjys https://lnkd.in/exmujGj7 A 'Truth Law' passed by The Senedd would make Wales the first parliament in the world to make lying by politicians a criminal offence. Eleanor Langford 29 April 2024

9. https://lnkd.in/eqGVxZux https://x.com/grantshapps/status/1783834086915834167 'The allegations of Russian malign activity in the UK are deeply concerning.  Anyone found guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service will be held to account, The UK will never be deterred from backing Ukraine by Russia’s futile attempts to shake our resolve.' Grant Shapps MP for Welwyn Hatfield & UK Secretary of State for Defence 26 April 2024

10. https://youtu.be/QkZzN3XHEPY  https://lnkd.in/e-cpmr6m https://lnkd.in/eux_nxvY  

'In a letter penned to the Commons Liaison Committee, Boris Johnson called the meeting in Perugia 'a social event', claiming , 'As far as I am aware, no government business was discussed.' BORIS JOHNSON'S KGB LINKS EXPOSED John Sweeney 29 June 2023

11.https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/boris-johnson-pressed-meeting-agent-while-foreign-pritchard-ma-znofe/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTsx5nwxUN-lQ7hBhRjSLBHAoVvf3vDZjJ-F3R0qtCdlrCQn_15lSMNqYwTx-wat6qVrlUqQZCynSJL/pub Boris Johnson pressed on meeting ex-KGB-no-such-such-thing agent while Foreign Secretary: Video, Transcript, Comments and Lord Geidt, Boris Johnson's 2nd Ethical Adviser clarified that he "could not be party to advising on potential law breaking" #AI #Perplexity Llewelyn Pritchard 15 January 2024 

12. https://lnkd.in/eRqvwxkZ  https://lnkd.in/e6gPkp5z  PREFACE Established facts by Independent Research 1969- with reference to: DAWN STURGESS PUBLIC INQUIRY formally established on 17 March 2022 Part 1/2 Llewelyn Pritchard MA

13. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/abuse-executive-power-uk-rus-shown-several-factors-pritchard-ma-u92xe/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSVEgtoJ_0xws-Z5VrdJ_x328-JZAPdV3FrSy0LTr9cX1EjVv2YQbGM1K3uDstyKCiM7Oj8IPdHHH04/pub Abuse of Executive Power by UK and RUS shown by several factors in Vladimir Putin's Russian interference supporting Traitor Johnson's Brexit Treason. For example, Traitor Johnson ignored intelligence advice on National Security; suppressed, delayed publication of the Russia Report; accepted Conservative Party donations from Putin’s ‘March of the Oligarchs’ @PeterJukes; held strategic meetings with Evgeny and Alexander Lebedev about his own and Putin’s ambitions and by his failed leadership that emboldened Putin to invade Ukraine with horrific consequences. #InvestigateRussianInterference #DeepAI #ChatGPT 3.5 #Perplexity #AI #ConstitutionalCorrosion #RUS #UK Llewelyn Pritchard MA 25 January 2024

NOTE ‘While Perplexity AI strives to provide accurate and reliable information, it is essential for users to critically evaluate the information obtained and verify it through additional sources when necessary.’ ‘It is always advisable to independently verify and cross-reference the information obtained from any AI system, including Deep AI, especially when dealing with critical or sensitive matters.’ ‘ChatGPT 3.5 is not a substitute for critical thinking or fact-checking, and information generated by the model should be verified using reliable sources, especially in situations where accuracy is crucial. It's a tool that can be useful for generating ideas, drafting content, or assisting with various tasks, but its responses should be treated as suggestions rather than definitive answers.’ 19 January 2024

[a-solitary-sea-rover-backup]

Okay, on the plus side I BOUGHT MY SAILGP NYC TICKETS!!! (Because they finally went on sale today.)

On the downside HOLY FRICK 200 DOLLARS FOR BOTH DAYS?!?! I really don’t like the way these prices are going when NYC 2019 was free, Chicago 2022 was 75 for the weekend, and now each individual day on Governors Island is 100 (it says 85 on the SailGP website but it was 100 on Eventbrite). Hopefully the normal 4 dollar ferry to the island will still run during the weekend so that people can still watch the racing from areas outside the Race Village without shelling out that much, but that means not having access to any of the exhibits and activities or having the opportunity to buy souvenirs. I like to say Race Villages are “like Comic-Con for Sailing”, but in 2023 New York Comic-Con was 80 dollars a day, or 233 dollars for four days. You could go to NYCC every day of the Con, visit every booth, attend panels, and have 15 dollars left to buy an autograph or toy for the price of two days basic admission at SailGP NYC and a base tour.

I do not feel this is the right direction for the SailGP league to be moving in.

[mariacallous]

Poland’s populist ruling party appeared to be on the brink of losing power, after an exit poll in a bitter and high-stakes national election predicted that the country’s opposition has the clearest path to forming its next government.

The poll projected that the Law and Justice party, known by its Polish acronym PiS, would win the most seats after Sunday’s vote.

But it would fall some way short of a parliamentary majority, and the opposition bloc – led by former Polish prime minister and European Council president Donald Tusk – appeared on course to gain control if it struck deals with smaller parties.

Both Tusk and Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the PiS chairman and Poland’s de facto leader, attempted to declare victory on Sunday night. In reality, however, days of negotiations may lie ahead until the make-up of the country’s new government becomes clear.

“The exit poll results give us the fourth victory in the history of our party in the parliamentary elections and the third victory in a row; this is a great success of our formation and our project for Poland,” Kaczynski told supporters.

But in an admission of the tall order facing his party, he added: “We still face the question of whether this success will be able to be transformed into another term of office of our government. And we don’t know that yet. But we must have hope and we must also know that regardless of whether we are in power or in the opposition, we will implement this project in various ways and we will not allow Poland to be betrayed.”

Tusk appeared buoyant, saying: “This is the end of bad times, this is the end of the rule of PiS.” He said his group’s supporters “have won freedom, we have won our Poland back.”

A smaller coalition called Third Way may end up as kingmakers. The centrist bloc has criticized both major parties, arguing that neither represents Poland’s best path forward. But its leader Szymon Hołownia has long lambasted the performance of PiS, and insisted he would not pursue a pact with the incumbent party.

The outcome of this election could have major ramifications for Poland’s future direction, the balance of power in the European Union and the future of the war in Ukraine.

PiS, which has been mired in bitter spats with the EU during its eight years in power, was seeking a third consecutive electoral success – an unprecedented feat since Poland regained its independence from the Soviet Union.

The party has been accused by the EU and Polish opposition figures of dismantling Poland’s democratic institutions during its time in power. PiS has brought the Polish judiciary, public media and cultural bodies under greater control, and has taken a hard line against abortion access and LGBTQ+ rights.

Tusk, by contrast, has presented himself as a leader who would restore and amplify Poland’s standing in Europe. Warsaw has earned goodwill in the West through its response to the Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and smoothing tensions with Brussels could position Poland as a major player in the EU.

During a bitter campaign, PiS shot back at Tusk’s opposition coalition, claiming the former leader would be subservient to Brussels and Berlin if he returned to power.

PiS has overhauled many of Poland’s institutions during its eight-year rule; the judiciary and public media have been brought under greater control, with state-run television outlets essentially becoming government mouthpieces.

Its critics had likened its agenda to that of Viktor Orban, the authoritarian leader of Hungary. Should the opposition oust the party, Warsaw would be expected to reorientate itself towards the United States and Western Europe in terms of foreign policy and reverse many of the domestic changes made by PiS.

But that could be a complicated mission for a coalition government encompassing various ideological groupings. The left-wing party Lewica may be required to prop up a minority Tusk-led government, along with centrists and center-right lawmakers.

High inflation and the security of Poland’s borders have been front of mind for voters during the campaign. Developments were also watched in Kyiv, after a tense period that saw relations between the two close allies sour.

Poland has been a crucial partner to Ukraine as it fights Russian forces in its east, but Warsaw was intensely critical of Ukraine’s government during a dispute over the imports of Ukrainian grain.

Voters were electing members of both houses of Poland’s parliament, with 231 seats in the Sejm – Warsaw’s lower house – needed for a party to clinch power outright.

[mousieta]

Review: Love Between Fairy and Devil

Year: 2022 Country: China Platform: iQiyi; Viki

Love Between Fairy and Devil is right up there with Love and Redemption for xianxia dramas. It is literally everything I love about them coupled with gorgeous visuals that made my kid-raised-on-80s-fantasy heart soar. Admittedly, it took a handful of episodes for me to fall in love . But as The Untamed took me 14 eps – thank you Tortoise of Slaughter – I try to give C-Dramas a while before I pull the plug. Also, I turn a blind eye to how women lead’s characters are drawn early on because its often going to toe my line of too-gratingly hyper-feminined sexist. (If China could skip the innocent idiot trop at the beginning of every xianxia I would be eternally grateful)

Alright, caveats done, once we got over those hurdles, I fell hard and fast. Something about pained-stoic-overlord-of-evil having to submit to their thematic opposite is just catnip to me. So, by the time the Devil is bound and determined to secure the Fairy’s happiness For Reasons, I was hooked.

The story is fairly straight forward: imprisoned Devil and is tied to Fairy and together they have to save the world.

A lot of the show’s charm lays in its actors. I’ve had a soft spot for Dylan Wang since Meteor Garden. He is not the worlds best actor though he has definitely displayed some growth and more expressive range as the Devil, Dongfang Qing Cang. He also has that alchemical ‘it’ factor: an ability to render what should be, on paper, an unlikable character as sympathetic and a touch self-aware. There is a layer he adds to would could easily become a flat, uninteresting, and toxic character.

Esther Yu was good enough as the fairy though I feel she may have largely been constrained by the demands on women characters and I don’t think her voice actress did her any favors either. I did enjoy her eventual character growth, however.

As always, I am a sucker for equal and complimentary powerful OTPs, where each pushes the other and neither over-shadows the other. I also so much prefer a forthright admission of love and care to annoying love triangle shennanigans which I feel this drama delivered well. We can’t completely avoid a love-triangle and I recognize their purpose in storytelling, I just appreciate when the writers know their use and place within a story.

I think what sets this show apart is its handling of trauma and recovery, of how it shows the fallout of abuse, especially that taken from the hands of a mis-guided parent I love that while Fairy is obviously the catalyst for Devil’s healing, she is not his savior. Healing is something that generates from within him. Definitely check out @dangermousie​ who has written some great meta. (spoilers for the whole show obv but def check out their tag when you’re done)

Ultimately, this show is solidly one of my favorite of the year. The acting is captivating, the directing and cinematography beautiful and the writing thoughtful. It hits on all levels and overcomes its flaws with how well it gets right the important things. I suspect this show will wind up having a high rewatch value as well.

[petit-papillion]

Hi,

I’m sorry if this comes of as rude but as a Max fan (and a Charles fan too btw) the narrative that the car is built around him - often implying this is the only reason for his success - is irritating to me because it’s been debunked so many times. So, I’d like to add my knowledge and opinion to the mix.

First of, I agree that Ferrari developed the car away from the way Charles likes it - which is oversteery (same as Max btw) - and this definitely didn’t help him. He did an incredible job last year with a team that messed up so many times and were too stupid to prioritize their championship contender. On that we can agree.

Second, I will agree that Max has the role of first driver at RedBull now - which in my opinion makes sense because he’s their world champion and the better and faster driver. But, I will disagree on the notion that Max has always been the first driver. He came into RedBull at 18 with a prime Daniel Ricciardo as his teammate. For at least the first two years - one could debate 2018 - RedBull did their best to treat them equally. So, while he may not have been told he’d be second driver like Charles was, he also didn’t just get handed the role of first driver.

Which brings me to my next point - the car being made for Max and this being the only reason for his wins and championships.

Let’s look at some racing first: Max won on debut for RedBull at 18 years old in a car he hadn’t driven before. I seriously doubt the car was made for him then, he’s just adaptable.

Which actually correlates with something RedBull’s technical director said in 2020. “Max’s talent was a contributory cause to the problem we had.” Max was and still is able to handle an unstable car to the point where even his teammates (like Alex) who generally like unstable cars can’t.

Now, let’s just remind us that an oversteery & unstable car is (generally speaking) simply quicker. It is quicker which is of course why you’d develop it that way.

In 2020 Max was able to extract so much performance from the car that it blinded RedBull from some of the problems of the car and its full potential.

(https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/when-a-talent-like-max-verstappen-sends-f1-car-design-in-the-wrong-direction-mph/)

And let’s not forget that at the beginning of the 2022 season the RB18 suited Checo more than Max - by Checo’s own admission. Yet, Max beat Checo in all races he finished till Monaco (which I won’t get into) and was ahead of Checo both times he DNF’ed.

In a car that suited him less than his teammate, he was still beating said teammate!

Now onto your quote from Alex. I’d like to add the quote he added onto that clarifying what he meant:

"People misinterpreted my words, they think what I'm trying to say is the car is built around him. No, it's the fact that he can deal with it and he drives it in a certain way.

I think people get very confused with designing a car around a driver and a driver who's very very quick and wants a car a certain way. Of course, you're going to listen to the driver who's getting the performance in and getting a good job because the potential is more."

I’d also like to add to this an interview/talk with a former RedBull performance engineer.

He worked on the 2015-2021 RedBull cars and he said that they never developed the car for a certain driver. In fact they were actually working a lot with the drivers like Pierre/Alex to help them feel more comfortable in the car and extract more performance.

(https://twitter.com/skysportsf1/status/1653420772226891779?s=46&t=eXeNjJDjWfdNRq6Dlm4P6g)

Look, a team will always try to make their car faster (unless they’re Ferrari maybe). It is a fact that an oversteery car is simply faster - which is probably why Max and Charles both like oversteery cars.

Now, these very oversteery cars tend to be more unstable and harder to drive. It’s very likely why a lot of Max’s teammates struggled. He is able to handle an unstable car to the extent that most others simply can’t.

But this is also the reason why he’s so quick. So why would RedBull develop the car to maybe be easier to handle but also slower?

In conclusion, I believe that Max is an amazing driver who has a great and competent team around him that give him a competitive car and trust in him, just like he trusts in them.

(I hope Charles will get the same with Ferrari one day because he is a great driver as well and I’d like to see him fight for and win a championship.)

But I have to disagree with the notion that the car is built around him - especially when it tries to take away from his achievements!

Hello Anon! You're not rude at all and I appreciate the time you took to write this out. I know this is in response to this post which in itself was a follow-up to this post, in case someone is lost on what brought this on.

You are not the only one who has responded, so let me set the record straight on a couple of things, even if you did not bring up all of these yourself:

The original post was about how Max had more experience than Charles. Not at any point did I indicate that Max is not a talented driver. However, there is no doubt he was exposed to a lot of hours of karting with serious coaching from Jos at a very early age. Note how Frits van Amersfoort, who worked with both Max and Charles, talks about the differences between them, particularly after 0:07:30 in this video. And as pointed out in the post, Max has been in F1 three years longer than Charles. Not taking away from either's achievements, just a fact.

About Max being first driver at Red Bull: no one said Max didn't deserve this position at RB. It's more a matter of why is Ferrari not treating Charles the same way? And yes, Max did not start out as a first driver, but certainly has enjoyed that privilege for several years now, which in turn also builds confidence in a driver. As opposed to Charles regularly getting the short end of the team strategy stick, having led to him missing out on podiums and race wins.

Finally, the car. First off, I want to clarify I did not say the car was built around Max. I said, "developed for his driving style." Nothing was said about the car being the only reason for his success. The point I was trying to make is that RB appears to listen to Max's feedback more and allows him to have this oversteery car that you need to go faster, while at Ferrari the car seems to be developed away from that to accommodate Carlos.

Thank you for including that clarifying quote from Alex - I had not heard this before. And I watched the former RB racing engineer Blake Hinsey talk about working on different car setups for Albon and Gasly. Just wanted to point out that a racing engineer is involved with setups at the track, not the design of the car, updates, or any other development work done at the factory. And there's only so much you can change with setups on a car.

Which brings me to the reason we're having this discussion. In case it's not clear from the 100s of posts about Charles and handful of posts about Max, I'm not here to bash Max, but to defend Charles as an accomplished driver. Who with a few more years of F1 experience, full support from his team and an oversteery car the way he likes it, could truly blossom the same way Max has.

[wutbju]

Well, it is beginning.

It's unfortunate that both Steve Bradley and Shawn Goff believed BJU's hype that they would be safe if they had a "good year" in spite of the BJU Civil War 2022.

But as of last Friday, the Director of Admissions and the Assistant Direction of Admissions -- Steve Bradley and Shawn Goff -- both were fired from Bob Jones University.

The excuse was "restructuring." That's code for downsizing. Which is code for shrinking. Which is a hop-skip-and-a-jump from the inevitable closure.

Here are the details:

Steve responds:

"A lot of hurt."

Gentlemen, gentlemen, gentlemen. Don't get high on your own supply.

Shawn, honey, you should know how to discern good evidence from bad. You used to know.

When they are firing top people at the beginning of a semester in a way that feels out of the blue like this? That's bad.

Nobody's safe at BJU. Nobody.