#global defense strategy

[latestnews-now]

The head of Britain’s armed forces, Admiral Tony Radakin, has warned that the world is entering a "third nuclear age," characterized by complex challenges and weakened safeguards. In this report, we explore his concerns about threats from Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, as well as the UK’s strategic response to these global dangers.

[trendtracker360writer]

National security isn't just about military defense anymore; it’s evolved to tackle a range of issues from cyber threats to climate change. Once seen as a simplistic concept, today it spans economic stability and food security, requiring a comprehensive strategy that involves government, international cooperation, and citizen engagement.

As our global landscape shifts, understanding these complexities is key for all of us. We need to stay informed and ready to discuss vital security challenges that impact our lives directly. Building a secure future means being proactive and collaborative.

Want to dive deeper into investment strategies amidst all this nuance? Sign Up to the free newsletter here www.investmentrarities.com.

[myberndpulch]

✌Detailed Analysis of "The Army Operating Concept: Win in a Complex World"

“Strategizing for a Complex World: A depiction of modern military forces engaging in multi-domain operations, navigating hybrid threats, and leveraging advanced technology for global stability.” Read the Original Document at https://t.me/ABOVETOPSECRETXXL/45945 The U.S. Army’s “The Army Operating Concept: Win in a Complex World (TRADOC Pamphlet 525-3-1)” outlines the framework for how the Army…

[futurefatum]

NATO PREPARES FOR NUCLEAR STRIKE (Tone: 175)

NATO's nuclear drills near Russia and Russia's oil-for-gold shift could ignite major global conflict. Prepare for the fallout. #NuclearWar #GlobalTension

Posted September 7th, 2024 by @CanadianPrepper NATO PREPARES FOR NUCLEAR STRIKE RIGHT ON RUSSIAS BORDER! UKRAINE PREPS FOR D-DAY ABOUT THIS VIDEO: This video explores the escalating tensions between NATO and Russia, focusing on the potential for nuclear conflict. It argues that NATO is preparing for nuclear strikes near Russia’s borders, with a nuclear exercise involving Finland scheduled for…

[kesarijournal]

Europe on the Brink: Geopolitical Tensions and Strategic Shifts

Orbán Warns of Impending War Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has issued a dire warning, comparing Europe’s current trajectory towards war to a “train with a mad driver.” He stressed the need to prevent the EU and NATO from expanding the conflict in Ukraine and urged voters to support peace-advocating parties in the upcoming European Parliament elections.China-Russia Alliance In a bold…

[whats-in-a-sentence]

Every two years, the Department of Defense reviews its grand strategy in a report called the Defense Planning Guidance. The first draft of the report due in March 1992, just three months after the fall of the Soviet Union, laid out a bold new vision:

Our first objective is to prevent the reemergence of a new rival, either on the territory of the former Soviet Union or elsewhere, that poses a threat on the order of that posed formerly by the Soviet Union. This . . . requires that we endeavor to prevent any hostile power from dominating a region whose resources would, under consolidated control, be sufficient to generate global power. These regions include Western Europe, East Asia, the territory of the former Soviet Union, and Southwest Asia.

"Why the West Rules – For Now: The patterns of history and what they reveal about the future" - Ian Morris

[faultfalha]

The fog of digital warfare in China is thick and mysterious. Monitors like guardian dragons watch silently from the shadows as data flows through dark networks, controlling the tempo of the cyberbattle. Its web of deception grows ever more intricate as the boundaries of the conflict itself become blurred. The lines between nations sharpen as its impact is felt in the global arena. It's a world where the winners and losers will be determined not in the battlefield, but in the virtual landscape.

[sudensk-the-stallionist]

Although i certainly find universal nuclear disarmament to be a morally correct and honourable goal, it's also very clear that a reasonable part of those campaigning for it are very entrenched in anti-communist views - focusing with much strictness on the development of nuclear warheads by the DPRK, China and Russia (which isn't socialist, but nevertheless). At best they criticize the gigantic war industry of the US, but only by liberal metrics of "we should only have the necessary" and stuff like that. However, it is also clear that the development of nuclear armament - although not the main priority - should, very clearly, be something that socialist states now and in the future must consider. Even if not full blown nuclear armament - at least ICBMs and others like it. For it is not a mistake or an insanity that the DPRK, for example, has developed nuclear warheads; it knows that it is the subject of constant international harassment and it is prepared to have what is, for now, the most powerful rhetorical weapon against this. Future socialist countries should, yes, follow this! And, you see, a big number of communists mainly in the West (and to great extents elsewhere) do not see military strategy and development post-revolution as important. And this is stupid! Foolish! Russia was the subject of an inter-imperialist gangbang from all sides, and it only survived to form the Soviet Union with the development of a strong, renewed Red Army, big in bulk and in equipment. And socialist revolutions in the future will also need to have this: they'll need a Red Army, Red Navy and Red Air Force. And communists NOW should think about how this needs to be developed and need to learn strategy and need to be active within military circles (although, of course, in the imperial core the military is a much clearer peon of international capital than in the global south, so things are harder in this stance). Socialism here, now and in the future will certainly be striked with the combined forces of capital tumbling down on any form of organized proletariat. This happens to countries contrary to the imperialist USAmerican order, socialist or not: it imposed a military dictatorship in Cambodia in 1970, it couped Chile in 1973, it annihilated Grenada in 1983, it helped oust Aristide in Haiti in 2004, it destroyed Libya in 2011 - not counting many others. This means that developing a strong, truly proletarian armed force and developing means to defend it long term beyond that - ICBMs, and, of course, following the correct Korean path, even nuclear missiles - are crucial for the establishment of socialist states. And only when socialism is triumphant or on its way to triumph may these rhetorical and physical defenses of socialism be dismantled. Or only if the capitalist world surrenders all of it at the same time. However, believe me: they won't. As such, i'd say that in the 21st century, Lenin's little formula can be adapted to: Communism is Soviet power + electrification + ballistic missiles, in a gross simplification. The basis, the development and the defense.

[latestnews-now]

NATO’s Admiral Pierre Vandier issues a wake-up call for Europe to reform its defense strategies and ramp up military readiness. Highlighting weaknesses in space tech, IT systems, and logistics, Vandier warns that Europe risks falling behind in the global arms race. Learn how increased defense spending and strategic reforms can shape Europe’s future.

[aeth-eris]

★  majors/higher  education  |  signs  in  the  9th  house  ★ 

★   book   a   reading   ★   ★   masterlist   1   ★   ★   masterlist   2   ★

★  aries  in  the  9th  house  ★ 

majors  tied  to  action,  leadership,  and  bold  thinking—aries  energy  thrives  in  fields  that  require  initiative  and  innovation.  think  degrees  in  law  (debate,  litigation),  sports  science  (coaching,  performance  training),  or  military  science  (strategy,  defense).  you  might  also  pursue  something  competitive  like  entrepreneurship  or  pre-med,  where  you’re  constantly  challenged  to  stay  ahead.  aries’  restless  energy  makes  hands-on,  fast-paced  majors  appealing,  so  engineering  or  mechanics  could  also  fit.  their  love  of  adventure  means  international  relations  or  global  studies  might  appeal,  especially  if  you  want  to  explore  different  cultures  or  engage  in  diplomatic  work.  creative  fields  like  film  production  or  performing  arts  (theater,  dance)  might  call  to  you,  as  aries  loves  self-expression  and  commanding  attention.  expect  a  major  that  keeps  you  moving  and  doesn’t  confine  you  to  routine;  aries  doesn’t  do  well  in  stagnant  or  overly  theoretical  environments.  you  might  also  gravitate  toward  activism-based  studies,  like  political  science  or  criminal  justice,  where  you  can  champion  causes  and  fight  for  change.  your  education  could  take  unexpected  turns,  as  aries  energy  often  thrives  in  challenges  and  chaos—possibly  leading  you  to  switch  majors  mid-way  when  something  more  exciting  catches  your  attention.

★  taurus  in  the  9th  house  ★ 

majors  rooted  in  stability,  beauty,  and  value-driven  work.  taurus  energy  is  practical  yet  artistic,  so  degrees  in  interior  design,  architecture,  or  fine  arts  (sculpture,  painting)  align  well  with  their  aesthetic  sensibilities.  you  might  also  find  satisfaction  in  agricultural  sciences  or  environmental  studies,  connecting  with  the  earth  and  sustainable  practices.  taurus’  practical  mindset  leans  toward  finance,  economics,  or  business—majors  that  ensure  long-term  security  and  tangible  rewards.  culinary  arts  or  nutrition  could  appeal,  especially  if  you  enjoy  creating  or  nurturing  through  food.  degrees  in  real  estate  or  hospitality  management  might  align  with  taurus’  love  of  comfort  and  luxury,  allowing  you  to  curate  beautiful  spaces  or  experiences  for  others.  taurus  in  the  9th  craves  knowledge  they  can  use  practically,  so  hands-on  fields  with  clear  career  paths  are  key.  psychology  or  social  work  might  also  resonate,  especially  if  you’re  drawn  to  steady,  nurturing  roles  that  help  others  build  better  lives.  you  could  lean  toward  something  like  cultural  studies  or  anthropology  if  there’s  a  focus  on  the  sensory  aspects  of  different  traditions  (food,  art,  craftsmanship).  whatever  you  choose,  it’ll  likely  be  a  slow,  deliberate  decision,  as  taurus  takes  their  time  to  find  what  truly  aligns  with  their  values.

 ★  gemini  in  the  9th  house  ★ 

majors  focused  on  communication,  ideas,  and  variety—gemini  thrives  in  fields  that  stimulate  the  mind  and  offer  flexibility.  journalism,  creative  writing,  or  media  studies  are  strong  fits,  as  gemini  excels  in  storytelling  and  connecting  with  others.  degrees  in  education  (teaching,  curriculum  development)  might  appeal,  especially  if  you’re  drawn  to  sharing  knowledge  in  dynamic  environments.  gemini’s  curiosity  could  also  pull  you  toward  marketing,  public  relations,  or  advertising—majors  that  let  you  craft  messages  and  explore  trends.  linguistics,  foreign  languages,  or  international  studies  might  resonate,  allowing  you  to  learn  and  communicate  across  cultures.  gemini’s  love  of  tech  and  information  could  lead  to  fields  like  computer  science,  digital  media,  or  data  analysis.  their  versatility  means  you  might  combine  seemingly  unrelated  interests,  like  a  double  major  in  psychology  and  graphic  design  or  sociology  and  creative  writing.  gemini  doesn’t  thrive  in  rigid  or  overly  specialized  fields;  they  need  variety,  collaboration,  and  intellectual  stimulation.  philosophy  or  political  science  could  also  align,  especially  if  you  enjoy  debating  and  exploring  complex  ideas.  gemini  in  the  9th  house  often  means  your  education  will  involve  constant  learning  and  adapting—expect  internships,  networking,  and  possibly  changing  majors  to  keep  things  fresh.

 ★  cancer  in  the  9th  house  ★ 

majors  that  center  around  nurturing,  emotional  connection,  and  building  safe  spaces  for  others.  cancer  energy  thrives  in  fields  like  psychology,  counseling,  or  social  work—anything  where  you  can  provide  care  and  emotional  support.  education  might  also  appeal,  particularly  in  early  childhood  development  or  special  education,  as  cancer  loves  nurturing  young  minds.  degrees  in  nursing,  midwifery,  or  healthcare  align  with  cancer’s  caregiving  nature,  especially  if  you’re  drawn  to  maternal  health  or  pediatrics.  cancer’s  connection  to  home  and  history  could  lead  to  majors  like  interior  design  (creating  comforting  spaces)  or  history  and  anthropology,  focusing  on  family  lineage  or  cultural  traditions.  culinary  arts  or  hospitality  management  could  also  resonate,  especially  if  you  love  bringing  people  together  through  food  or  creating  warm,  inviting  environments.  cancer  in  the  9th  might  draw  you  toward  majors  that  focus  on  healing  or  personal  growth,  like  alternative  medicine,  holistic  therapy,  or  even  spiritual  studies.  film  and  media  studies  could  appeal  if  you’re  interested  in  storytelling  with  emotional  depth.  whatever  you  choose,  it’s  likely  tied  to  themes  of  care,  protection,  and  emotional  resonance.  you  might  also  feel  pulled  toward  studying  abroad  in  places  that  feel  familiar  or  tied  to  ancestral  roots,  seeking  deeper  connections  with  your  personal  history.

 ★  leo  in  the  9th  house  ★ 

majors  centered  around  creativity,  leadership,  and  self-expression.  leo  thrives  in  fields  where  they  can  shine,  so  performing  arts  (theater,  dance,  or  music)  might  be  at  the  top  of  your  list.  film  studies  or  directing  could  appeal  if  you  want  to  create  bold,  visual  stories  that  captivate  an  audience.  degrees  in  business,  entrepreneurship,  or  leadership  studies  might  also  resonate,  as  leo  loves  being  in  charge  and  inspiring  others.  if  you’re  drawn  to  communication,  public  relations  or  marketing  with  a  focus  on  branding  and  storytelling  could  fit.  leo’s  dramatic  flair  might  pull  you  toward  law—especially  areas  like  courtroom  litigation  where  your  charisma  and  presence  can  shine.  education,  particularly  as  a  professor  or  in  roles  that  allow  for  mentorship,  could  also  appeal,  as  leo  loves  to  teach  and  lead.  graphic  design  or  fashion  might  be  your  calling  if  you’re  drawn  to  creating  visually  impactful  work.  majors  involving  performance,  creativity,  or  roles  where  you  can  stand  out  will  feel  most  fulfilling.  study  abroad  programs  in  culturally  vibrant  or  artistic  cities  might  inspire  your  studies.  whatever  you  choose,  it’ll  likely  be  something  where  your  natural  talent  for  commanding  attention  and  creating  joy  takes  center  stage.

 ★  virgo  in  the  9th  house  ★ 

majors  grounded  in  precision,  practicality,  and  service.  virgo  excels  in  detail-oriented  fields,  so  degrees  in  healthcare  (nursing,  medical  technology,  public  health)  or  environmental  science  could  be  strong  fits.  you  might  also  thrive  in  majors  like  biology,  chemistry,  or  nutrition,  especially  if  you’re  drawn  to  solving  real-world  problems.  virgo’s  analytical  nature  makes  them  well-suited  to  data-heavy  fields  like  statistics,  economics,  or  information  systems.  education  is  another  natural  fit,  particularly  in  curriculum  design  or  teaching  science  and  math  subjects.  virgo’s  focus  on  improvement  could  lead  to  degrees  in  psychology,  especially  counseling  or  behavioral  analysis,  where  you  help  others  refine  and  improve  their  lives.  technical  writing,  editing,  or  publishing  might  appeal  if  you’re  drawn  to  language  and  its  meticulous  application.  environmental  studies,  agricultural  science,  or  urban  planning  align  with  virgo’s  interest  in  sustainable  systems.  virgo  in  the  9th  house  often  seeks  practical  applications  for  higher  learning,  so  your  education  might  focus  on  how  to  create  order  and  efficiency  in  the  world.  internships  or  research  opportunities  are  likely  to  play  a  key  role,  as  virgo  thrives  on  hands-on  experience.  you’re  also  likely  to  be  drawn  to  majors  where  you  can  serve  others  and  create  meaningful,  measurable  change.

 ★  libra  in  the  9th  house  ★ 

majors  tied  to  beauty,  harmony,  and  interpersonal  connection.  libra  thrives  in  fields  like  art  history,  design,  or  fashion,  where  aesthetics  and  balance  play  a  central  role.  degrees  in  law,  especially  focused  on  mediation  or  human  rights,  align  with  libra’s  natural  sense  of  fairness  and  justice.  if  you’re  drawn  to  communication,  public  relations  or  marketing  might  appeal,  particularly  in  industries  like  luxury  goods  or  entertainment.  libra’s  love  of  people  and  relationships  could  also  pull  you  toward  psychology  or  sociology,  exploring  how  humans  connect  and  interact.  education,  especially  in  arts  or  humanities,  is  another  natural  fit—teaching  subjects  like  literature,  philosophy,  or  visual  arts  could  fulfill  your  love  for  beauty  and  intellectual  stimulation.  majors  like  international  relations  or  cultural  studies  align  with  libra’s  global  perspective  and  interest  in  diplomacy.  libra  in  the  9th  house  also  points  to  a  strong  desire  for  study  abroad  experiences,  especially  in  culturally  refined  cities  like  paris,  florence,  or  tokyo.  you  might  also  be  drawn  to  interior  design,  event  planning,  or  hospitality  management—fields  where  you  create  harmonious  and  beautiful  spaces.  whatever  you  choose,  it  will  likely  involve  collaboration,  creativity,  and  a  focus  on  creating  balance  in  the  world  around  you.

 ★  scorpio  in  the  9th  house  ★ 

majors  steeped  in  intensity,  mystery,  and  transformation.  scorpio’s  fascination  with  the  unseen  might  lead  you  toward  psychology,  especially  fields  like  forensic  psychology,  trauma  therapy,  or  psychoanalysis.  criminology,  law  enforcement,  or  investigative  journalism  are  also  natural  fits,  as  scorpio  thrives  in  uncovering  hidden  truths.  degrees  in  medicine  or  research,  particularly  in  areas  like  oncology,  genetics,  or  pathology,  align  with  scorpio’s  need  to  transform  and  heal.  scorpio’s  deep,  transformative  energy  might  also  pull  you  toward  majors  like  philosophy,  theology,  or  occult  studies,  where  you  explore  life’s  profound  questions.  anthropology,  archaeology,  or  history  with  a  focus  on  ancient  civilizations  could  appeal  if  you’re  drawn  to  uncovering  buried  secrets.  scorpio’s  intensity  lends  itself  to  creative  fields  as  well—screenwriting,  film  directing,  or  novel  writing  in  genres  like  horror,  thriller,  or  fantasy  might  resonate.  scorpio  in  the  9th  house  might  also  gravitate  toward  environmental  studies  or  activism,  especially  if  there’s  a  focus  on  regeneration  or  fighting  for  underrepresented  causes.  your  educational  journey  may  feel  transformative  and  even  karmic,  with  pivotal  experiences  that  challenge  your  worldview  and  deepen  your  understanding  of  life’s  complexities.  you’re  drawn  to  majors  that  let  you  explore  the  depths  and  create  profound  change.

 ★  sagittarius  in  the  9th  house  ★ 

majors  focused  on  exploration,  freedom,  and  the  pursuit  of  knowledge.  sagittarius  in  the  9th  house  practically  screams  for  degrees  in  international  relations,  global  studies,  or  cultural  anthropology—anything  that  allows  you  to  explore  different  cultures  and  philosophies.  you  might  also  be  drawn  to  majors  in  philosophy,  religious  studies,  or  political  science,  as  sagittarius  loves  diving  into  big-picture  questions  about  morality  and  society.  education  is  another  natural  fit,  particularly  higher  education,  where  you  could  thrive  as  a  professor  or  academic  researcher.  travel  and  adventure  are  key  themes,  so  tourism  management,  hospitality,  or  even  adventure  filmmaking  could  appeal  if  you  want  to  combine  movement  and  creativity.  sagittarius’  connection  to  optimism  and  growth  might  also  lead  you  to  fields  like  motivational  speaking,  public  relations,  or  even  sports  management.  if  you’re  drawn  to  physicality,  degrees  in  physical  education,  sports  science,  or  outdoor  recreation  could  align  with  your  adventurous  spirit.  study  abroad  programs  or  internships  in  foreign  countries  might  feel  essential  to  your  academic  journey.  whatever  you  choose,  it’ll  likely  involve  expanding  your  horizons,  chasing  new  experiences,  and  finding  ways  to  bring  a  sense  of  inspiration  and  adventure  to  your  studies  and  career.

 ★  capricorn  in  the  9th  house  ★ 

majors  rooted  in  structure,  ambition,  and  long-term  success.  capricorn  in  the  9th  house  suggests  a  preference  for  fields  that  offer  tangible  career  paths  and  clear  rewards,  such  as  law,  business  administration,  or  economics.  you  might  also  excel  in  architecture,  engineering,  or  urban  planning,  as  capricorn  thrives  on  building  systems  and  structures  that  last.  degrees  in  political  science,  public  policy,  or  governance  could  appeal  if  you’re  drawn  to  leadership  roles  and  creating  societal  impact.  capricorn’s  disciplined  energy  might  also  lead  you  toward  accounting,  finance,  or  real  estate—fields  that  align  with  your  pragmatic  mindset  and  interest  in  material  security.  academia  or  teaching  might  also  appeal,  especially  if  you’re  focused  on  rising  to  leadership  positions,  like  becoming  a  dean  or  head  of  a  department.  capricorn  in  the  9th  values  practicality,  so  you  may  prioritize  internships,  certifications,  or  degrees  with  clear  professional  applications.  environmental  science  or  sustainability  studies  could  resonate,  especially  if  you’re  drawn  to  creating  lasting  change  in  ecological  systems.  your  educational  journey  will  likely  be  marked  by  hard  work,  steady  progress,  and  a  focus  on  achieving  long-term  goals,  with  a  major  that  reflects  your  ambition  and  desire  for  mastery.

 ★  aquarius  in  the  9th  house  ★ 

majors  centered  around  innovation,  social  change,  and  intellectual  freedom.  aquarius  thrives  in  unconventional  fields,  so  degrees  in  computer  science,  information  technology,  or  artificial  intelligence  are  natural  fits.  if  you’re  drawn  to  the  social  sciences,  majors  like  sociology,  political  science,  or  human  rights  might  appeal,  especially  if  there’s  a  focus  on  progressive  or  revolutionary  ideas.  aquarius’  love  of  innovation  might  also  lead  to  engineering,  especially  aerospace  or  renewable  energy,  where  you  can  create  futuristic  solutions.  degrees  in  environmental  studies  or  urban  planning  could  resonate  if  you’re  interested  in  designing  sustainable  communities.  aquarius  in  the  9th  house  suggests  a  fascination  with  global  movements  and  humanitarian  efforts,  so  international  relations  or  global  health  might  align  with  your  vision  for  creating  change.  you  might  also  be  drawn  to  fields  like  psychology  or  neuroscience,  exploring  how  the  mind  works  and  how  it  shapes  behavior.  aquarius  values  intellectual  freedom,  so  you  could  pursue  interdisciplinary  studies  that  allow  you  to  combine  multiple  interests,  like  technology  and  ethics  or  science  and  art.  your  educational  journey  might  involve  unconventional  paths,  like  online  programs,  self-directed  learning,  or  studying  abroad  in  innovative  or  forward-thinking  countries.

 ★  pisces  in  the  9th  house  ★ 

majors  infused  with  imagination,  spirituality,  and  emotional  depth.  pisces  in  the  9th  house  suggests  a  pull  toward  fields  like  creative  writing,  fine  arts,  or  film  studies,  where  you  can  channel  your  dreams  into  storytelling  or  visual  expression.  degrees  in  psychology  or  counseling  might  appeal,  especially  if  you’re  drawn  to  helping  others  navigate  their  emotions  or  uncover  deeper  truths.  pisces’  spiritual  energy  might  also  lead  you  toward  religious  studies,  theology,  or  even  alternative  medicine,  focusing  on  healing  and  connection  to  the  divine.  majors  in  marine  biology  or  environmental  sciences  might  resonate,  especially  if  you  feel  called  to  protect  and  explore  the  natural  world.  pisces  also  thrives  in  fields  like  music,  dance,  or  acting,  where  emotional  expression  takes  center  stage.  humanitarian  studies  or  social  work  could  be  a  fit,  particularly  if  you  want  to  help  underserved  populations  or  work  for  global  peace.  pisces  in  the  9th  house  also  points  to  a  love  for  escapism  and  exploration,  so  degrees  in  tourism,  hospitality,  or  cultural  studies  might  align  with  your  wanderlust.  your  educational  journey  may  feel  fluid  and  intuitive,  with  shifts  in  direction  driven  by  inner  callings  rather  than  external  expectations.

 ★   book   a   reading   ★   ★   masterlist   1   ★   ★   masterlist   2   ★

[mostlysignssomeportents]

FCC strikes a blow against prison profiteering

TOMORROW NIGHT (July 20), I'm appearing in CHICAGO at Exile in Bookville.

Here's a tip for policymakers hoping to improve the lives of the most Americans with the least effort: help prisoners.

After all, America is the most prolific imprisoner of its own people of any country in world history. We lock up more people than Stalin, than Mao, more than Botha, de Klerk or any other Apartheid-era South African president. And it's not just America's vast army of the incarcerated who are afflicted by our passion for imprisonment: their families and friends suffer, too.

That familial suffering isn't merely the constant pain of life without a loved one, either. America's prison profiteers treat prisoners' families as ATMs who can be made to pay and pay and pay.

This may seem like a losing strategy. After all, prison sentences are strongly correlated with poverty, and even if your family wasn't desperate before the state kidnapped one of its number and locked them behind bars, that loved one's legal defense and the loss of their income is a reliable predictor of downward social mobility.

Decent people don't view poor people as a source of riches. But for a certain kind of depraved sadist, the poor are an irresistible target. Sure, poor people don't have much money, but what they lack even more is protection under the law ("conservativism consists of the principle that there is an in-group whom the law protects but does not bind, and an out-group whom the law binds but does not protect" -Wilhoit). You can enjoy total impunity as you torment poor people, make them so miserable and afraid for their lives and safety that they will find some money, somewhere, and give it to you.

Mexican cartels understand this. They do a brisk trade in kidnapping asylum seekers whom the US has illegally forced to wait in Mexico to have their claims processed. The families of refugees – either in their home countries or in the USA – are typically badly off but they understand that Mexico will not lift a finger to protect a kidnapped refugee, and so when the kidnappers threaten the most grisly tortures as a means of extracting ransom, those desperate family members do whatever it takes to scrape up the blood-money.

What's more, the families of asylum seekers are not much better off than their kidnapped loved ones when it comes to seeking official protection. Family members who stayed behind in human rights hellholes like Bukele's El Salvador can't get their government to lodge official complaints with the Mexican ambassador, and family members who made it to the USA are in no position to get their Congressjerk to intercede with ICE or the Mexican consulate. This gives Mexico's crime syndicates total latitude to kidnap, torture, and grow rich by targeting the poorest, most desperate people in the world.

The private contractors that supply services to America's prisons are basically Mexican refugee-kidnappers with pretensions and shares listed on the NYSE. After decades of consolidation, the prison contracting sector has shrunk to two gigantic companies: Securus and Viapath (formerly Global Tellink). These private-equity backed behemoths dominate their sector, and have diversified, providing all kinds of services, from prison cafeteria meals to commissary, the prison stores where prisoners can buy food and other items.

If you're following closely, this is one of those places where the hair on the back of your neck starts to rise. These companies make money when prisoners buy food from the commissary, and they're also in charge of the quality of the food in the mess hall. If the food in the mess hall is adequate and nutritious, there's no reason to buy food from the commissary.

This is what economists call a "moral hazard." You can think of it as the reason that prison ramen costs 300% more than ramen in the free world:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/20/captive-market/#locked-in

(Not just ramen: in America's sweltering prisons, an 8" fan costs $40, and the price of water went up in Texas prisons by 50% during last summer's heatwave.)

It's actually worse than that: if you get sick from eating bad prison food, the same company that poisoned you gets paid to operate the infirmary where you're treated:

https://theappeal.org/massachusetts-prisons-wellpath-dentures-teeth/

Now, the scam of abusing prisoners to extract desperate pennies from their families is hardly new. There's written records of this stretching back to the middle ages. Nor is this pattern a unique one: making an unavoidable situation as miserable as possible and then upcharging people who have the ability to pay to get free of the torture is basically how the airlines work. Making coach as miserable as possible isn't merely about shaving pennies by shaving inches off your legroom: it's a way to "incentivize" anyone who can afford it to pay for an upgrade to business-class. The worse coach is, the more people you can convince to dip into their savings or fight with their boss to move classes. The torments visited upon everyone else in coach are economically valuable to the airlines: their groans and miseries translate directly into windfall profits, by convincing better-off passengers to pay not to have the same thing done to them.

Of course, with rare exceptions (flying to get an organ transplant, say) plane tickets are typically discretionary. Housing, on the other hand, is a human right and a prerequisite for human thriving. The worse things are for tenants, the more debt and privation people will endure to become home-owners, so it follows that making renters worse off makes homeowners richer:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/06/06/the-rents-too-damned-high/

For Securus and Viapath, the path to profitability is to lobby for mandatory, long prison sentences and then make things inside the prison as miserable as possible. Any prisoner whose family can find the funds can escape the worst of it, and all the prisoners who can't afford it serve the economically important function of showing the prisoners whose families can afford it how bad things will be if they don't pay.

If you're thinking that prisoners might pay Securus, Viapath and their competitors out of their own prison earnings, forget it. These companies have decided that the can make more by pocketing the difference between the vast sums paid by third parties for prisoners' labor and the pennies the prisoners get from their work. Remember, the 13th Amendment specifically allows for the enslavement of incarcerated people! Six states ban paying prisoners at all. North Carolina caps prisoners' wages at one dollar per day. The national average prison wage is $0.52/hour. Prisoners' labor produces $11b/year in goods and services:

https://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2024/0324bowman.html

Forced labor and extortion are a long and dishonorable tradition in incarceration, but this century saw the introduction of a novel, exciting way of extracting wealth from prisoners and their families. It started when private telcos took over prison telephones and raised the price of a prison phone call. These phone companies found willing collaborators in local jail and prison systems: all they had to do was offer to split the take with the jailers.

With the advent of the internet, things got far worse. Digitalization meant that prisons could replace the library, adult educations, commissary accounts, letter-mail, parcels, in-person visits and phone calls with a single tablet. These cheaply made tablets were offered for free to prisoners, who lost access to everything from their kids' handmade birthday cards to in-person visits with those kids.

In their place, prisoners' families had to pay huge premiums to have their letters scanned so that prisoners could pay (again) to view those scans on their tablets. Instead of in-person visits, prisoners families had to pay $3-10/minute for a janky, postage-stamp sized video. Perversely, jails and prisons replaced their in-person visitation rooms with rooms filled with shitty tablets where family members could sit and videoconference with their incarcerated loved ones who were just a few feet away:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/14/minnesota-nice/#shitty-technology-adoption-curve

Capitalists hate capitalism. The capital classes are on a relentless search for markets with captive customers and no competitors. The prison-tech industry was catnip for private equity funds, who bought and "rolled" up prison contractors, concentrating the sector into a duopoly of debt-laden companies whose ability to pay off their leveraged buyouts was contingent on their ability to terrorize prisoners' families into paying for their overpriced, low-quality products and services.

One particularly awful consequence of these rollups was the way that prisoners could lose access to their data when their prison's service-provider was merged with a rival. When that happened, the IT systems would be consolidated, with the frequent outcome that all prisoners' data was lost. Imagine working for two weeks to pay for a song or a book, or a scan of your child's handmade Father's Day card, only to have the file deleted in an IT merger. Now imagine that you're stuck inside for another 20 years.

This is a subject I've followed off and on for years. It's such a perfect bit of end-stage capitalist cruelty, combining mass incarceration with monopolies. Even if you're not imprisoned, this story is haunting, because on the one hand, America keeps thinking of new reasons to put more people behind bars, and on the other hand, every technological nightmare we dream up for prisoners eventually works its way out to the rest of us in a process I call the "shitty technology adoption curve." As William Gibson says, "The future is here, it's just not evenly distributed" – but the future sure pools up thick and dystopian around America's prisoners:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/02/24/gwb-rumsfeld-monsters/#bossware

My background interest in the subject got sharper a few years ago when I started working on The Bezzle, my 2023 high-tech crime thriller about prison-tech grifters:

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865878/thebezzle

One of the things that was on my mind when I got to work on that book was the 2017 court-case that killed the FCC's rules limit interstate prison-call gouging. The FCC could have won that case, but Trump's FCC chairman, Ajit Pai, dropped it:

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/06/prisoners-lose-again-as-court-wipes-out-inmate-calling-price-caps/

With that bad precedent on the books, the only hope prisoners had for relief from the FCC was for Congress to enact legislation specifically granting the agency the power to regulate prison telephony. Incredibly, Congress did just that, with Biden signing the "Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act" in early 2023:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1541/text

With the new law in place, it fell to the FCC use those newfound powers. Compared to agencies like the FTC and the NLRB, Biden's FCC has been relatively weak, thanks in large part to the Biden administration's refusal to defend its FCC nomination for Gigi Sohn, a brilliant and accomplished telecoms expert. You can tell that Sohn would have been a brilliant FCC commissioner because of the way that America's telco monopolists and their allies in the senate (mostly Republicans, but some Democrats, too) went on an all-out offensive against her, using the fact that she is gay to smear her and ultimately defeat her nomination:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/19/culture-war-bullshit-stole-your-broadband/

But even without Sohn, the FCC has managed to do something genuinely great for America's army of the imprisoned. This week, the FCC voted in price-caps on prison calls, so that call rates will drop from $11.35 for 15 minutes to just $0.90. Both interstate and intrastate calls will be capped at $0.06-0.12/minute, with a phased rollout starting in January:

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/07/fcc-closes-final-loopholes-that-keep-prison-phone-prices-exorbitantly-high/

It's hard to imagine a policy that will get more bang for a regulator's buck than this one. Not only does this represent a huge savings for prisoners and their families, those savings are even larger in proportion to their desperate, meager finances.

It shows you how important a competent, qualified regulator is. When it comes to political differences between Republicans and Democrats, regulatory competence is a grossly underrated trait. Trump's FCC Chair Ajit Pai handed out tens of billions of dollars in public money to monopoly carriers to improve telephone networks in underserved areas, but did so without first making accurate maps to tell him where the carriers should invest. As a result, that money was devoured by executive bonuses and publicly financed dividends and millions of Americans entered the pandemic lockdowns with broadband that couldn't support work-from-home or Zoom school. When Biden's FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel took over, one of her first official acts was to commission a national study and survey of broadband quality. Republicans howled in outrage:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/10/digital-redlining/#stop-confusing-the-issue-with-relevant-facts

The telecoms sector has been a rent-seeking, monopolizing monster since the days of Samuel Morse:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/07/18/the-bell-system/#were-the-phone-company-we-dont-have-to-care

Combine telecoms and prisons, and you get a kind of supermonster, the meth-gator of American neofeudalism:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tennessee-police-warn-locals-not-flush-drugs-fear-meth-gators-n1030291

The sector is dirty beyond words, and it corrupts everything it touches – bribing prison officials to throw out all the books in the prison library and replace them with DRM-locked, high-priced ebooks that prisoners must toil for weeks to afford, and that vanish from their devices whenever a prison-tech company merges with a rival:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/02/captive-customers/#guillotine-watch

The Biden presidency has been fatally marred by the president's avid support of genocide, and nothing will change that. But for millions of Americans, the Biden administration's policies on telecoms, monopoly, and corporate crime have been a source of profound, lasting improvements.

It's not just presidents who can make this difference. Millions of America's prisoners are rotting in state and county jails, and as California has shown, state governments have broad latitude to kick out prison profiteers:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/05/08/captive-audience/#good-at-their-jobs

Support me this summer on the Clarion Write-A-Thon and help raise money for the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop!

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/07/19/martha-wright-reed/#capitalists-hate-capitalism

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[apas-95]

could you explain why, if china is communist/trying to become communists, it still has a lot of sweat shops and relies on that kind of exploitative production? I'm just curious because this never made much sense to me

China at the time of revolution was one of the poorest countries on the Earth, only ten countries had a lower GDP per capita. A century of humiliation, colonial occupation, and genocide had destroyed the nation.

Until the recent eradication of absolute poverty, many Chinese people still lived in sparse mountainous regions with little access to infrastructure, healthcare, or education, and subsisted off absolutely brutal dependence on local resources. Much of the countryside is still under the process of modernisation. China's current GDP per capita is equivalent to that of Mexico. China is not a rich country. In as much as China interacts with the global economy, it does so as a global south nation, a target of exploitation by the imperial powers.

The benefits of interacting with the global economy - technology transfer, trade, outside capital - have been significant, and worth the negatives. Don't be confused, China's worker protections are strict, and its defense of its people absolute - but it is true that foreign corporations operating in China absolutely exploited Chinese workers and subjected them to bad conditions. To a large degree, straightforwardly *because this strategy has worked*, China has developed significantly, and now relies significantly less on foreign capital, and has a much greater focus on its own domestic market.

Foreign exploitation of Chinese workers is, really, a characteristic much more of the '90s-'00s period than modern China, which has developed, and now demands better wages and conditions from foreign prospects (who largely outsource their sweatshop work to, for example, Bangladesh, now).

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Zack Beauchamp at Vox:

When I was researching my book on anti-democratic politics, I found a striking pattern in modern incarnations of it — that these movements, almost uniformly, claim their most aggressive anti-democratic policies are actually defenses of democracy. While Donald Trump worked to overturn the 2020 election, for example, he insisted that he wasn’t trying to steal an election — but rather to “stop the steal” Joe Biden had already pulled off. When Trump returned to power this year, I expected to see the same rhetorical maneuver deployed to justify his inevitable power grabs. And indeed, many of Trump’s Day 1 executive orders did exactly this. Take, for example, Trump’s revival of Schedule F — a move that, in theory, could allow Trump to fire tens of thousands of nonpartisan civil servants and replace them with MAGA cronies. Such a move would be a serious threat to democracy, in that it would consolidate key powers of state in the executive’s hands in a manner that proved crucial to the rise of elected authoritarians like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán. Yet in the text of the order, Trump sells the move as a vindication of democratic principles. Because the president and vice president are the only executive branch members “elected and directly accountable to the people,” they must be able to assert greater control over civil servants “to restore accountability to the career civil service.” The same is true of other executive orders that might aid in Trump’s efforts to consolidate power. An executive order on “restoring freedom of speech and ending federal censorship” does not provide any concrete protections against abusive surveillance or internet control practices. It does, however, order the attorney general to set up an inquiry into Biden administration policies that could serve as a pretext to harass and dismiss federal employees who don’t share Trump politics. An order claiming to combat the “weaponization” of the federal government similarly does very little to prevent Trump from, for example, ordering the attorney general to investigate his political enemies or the IRS to audit them. In fact, it lays the groundwork for two separate probes into Biden administration policies that could end up targeting both federal employees and private citizens.

[...] Going forward, Trump will almost assuredly not do anything as blatant as abolishing elections. Instead, every move will be given a democratic defense, every power grab described as a victory for the American people against the “deep state.” The aim is to make the reality of the situation into just another partisan debate, where Trump says one thing while Democrats (and the media) say another. The erosion of core democratic principles, like separation of powers and political noninterference with government functions, will appear to many like a perfectly normal part of democracy. [...]

The global spread of American-style authoritarianism

As democracy became ideologically dominant around the world, similar practices became popular globally. Today, its most sophisticated practitioners are elected executives who have worked to take down democracy from within — people such as Orbán, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Narendra Modi. Orbán describes his political project, which in reality is the construction of an authoritarian kleptocracy, as an attempt to wrest back control of Hungarian democracy from Eurocrats in Brussels — with specific tactics, like restricting LGBT speech on television, being sold as an extension of the Hungarian people’s will. When Netanyahu attempted to impose political controls on Israel’s judiciary in 2023, removing the sole formally independent check on his majority’s power, he argued that he was merely reasserting the people’s control over unelected branches.

Fascist-in-Chief’s democracy-eroding EOs serve a purpose: baselessly claim to protect democracy while simultaneously undercut democracy.

[aettuddae]

business matter — chapter 125.

↳ synopsis: two of the most important kpop companies covet a partnership with a huge global brand, only to be surprised when the deal is extended to both labels. fearing potential sabotage and cynical strategies to secure exclusivity for just one of them, both CEOs resort to desperate measures. in a bid to maintain trust and prevent betrayal before the signing, they come up with a pact: forcing a fake relationship between the leaders of their star girlgroups. if one side attempted to fail the other, they threaten to expose it all to the conservative south korea.

masterlist | prev | next

[written chapter]

ryujin and serim were lying on the older woman's bed, both at extremely opposite ends, as far apart as possible. ryujin had half her body slumped towards the floor, but she would never have moved an inch closer to her best friend's woman. both pairs of eyes staring at the ceiling, in a room in almost total darkness if it weren't for a colored light that serim turned on for her phobia, and not a word filling the air. serim's foot kept tapping the air repeatedly because of the discomfort and anxiety of the situation.

the hours passed and they tried to sleep, but there was such tension and thoughts flitting around in their heads that they were not allowed to. something about the situation was not right, and no one can sleep when something is not right.

"are there any habits you have when sleeping that you want to do to make yourself more comfortable?" dared jang to vocalize from her extreme.

"i usually have a stuffed animal to cuddle with." commented ryujin with a thread of a voice. "but the truth is that today i was hoping to sleep cuddling a beautiful woman." honesty charged her words, making what she was referring to very clear.

"but i am a beautiful woman." for a moment she completely forgot about the previous situation, offense clear in her tone.

"yes, you are a beautiful woman, serim." she admitted defeatedly, bringing her hand up to her forehead to squeeze between her brows. "but i want to sleep cuddling with yeji." she admitted.

"you can sleep with yeji every day, but you can only sleep with me this one time." she pointed defensively.

"since when do you want to sleep holding me?" she questioned quickly, tired.

"i don't want us to sleep cuddled, but i can't believe someone has the chance to sleep with me and doesn't take it." she explained haughtily, arranging her hair even when she could barely be seen by the girl.

"serim, focus." she threw her body more towards the center of the bed to manage to reach the opposite one and tap her on the shoulder.

"i'm sorry." she spoke regretfully. "it's hard for me to think of only one thing at a time."

"listen." she ordered decisively. "you have to sleep with jimin."

as hard as it seemed to believe, ryujin wasn't thinking about her manhwa. even her manhwa wasn't as important as yeji at that moment.

"don't even think about it." she flatly refused, raising her upper body quickly, erect, giving the younger girl a mortifying look.

"please." she got down on her knees over the bed. "this is my chance to sleep with the girl i like." she grabbed the older one by her t-shirt, shaking her lightly. "i know you and jimin are going through a marriage crisis-"

"marriage?" she exclaimed.

"basically." she confirmed. "but i need you to stand her for just one night and let me sleep in the arms of a beautiful cat-eyed gemini."

she threw herself forward, leaning her forehead on jang's shoulder and pretending to cry from despair as she continued to mumble pleas.

serim had been a queer girl for as long as she could remember, and even though she had a hard time dealing with her feelings, she was a romantic. many times she would have begged for the chance to sleep next to someone she was attracted to, or just to be alone with her. she was moved, she felt as part of the situation, she might have to deal with her greatest nemesis and yet she couldn't refuse to help a woman be happy with another one.

fucking sagittarian victim of the sense of community and the need to fight for a movement,

or fucking hopeless romantic.

"go." she averted her gaze to the floor of her room, dejected.

"what?" ryujin raised her head with speed to look at her expectantly to see if she had heard correctly.

"go." she reiterated louder. "but tell jimin to get lost on the way." she joked, though not quite as much.

"i can't tell her that." she warned as she got out of bed. "it's because of plot issues."

"of what?" she looked at her in confusion as ryujin walked away.

"it's for the plot." she repeated walking out of the room almost running.

after a couple of minutes the door opened with strength and from behind it jumped jimin who came almost striding towards serim's room, to lash this one behind her back once inside.

"ryujin said you wanted me to come sleep with you!" she made an almost olympic leap towards the mattress, remaining kneeling next to serim, looking at her with eyes full of illusion waiting for her to confirm ryujin's side.

"i never said that." confessed serim, causing jimin's expression to drop to one of disbelief.

"disappointed, but not surprised." she said.

"she must have said it so yeji wouldn't suspect she begged me so she could go sleep with her." the oldest added.

"oh, so i'm here just for ryujin?" she asked in a low volume as she tucked in the sheets.

"what can i say?" she said seriously, confirming the girl's doubt.

now the taste in their mouths was sour. when ryujin told her to go sleep with serim, jimin already knew not to expect anything since the woman was still angry, but she couldn't help it. the thought that maybe she couldn't resist having her so close and not being right next to her invaded her brain and wouldn't let her find clarity until serim reminded her that it wasn't so. in fact, jang was in a bad mood since she didn't want to share a bed with her.

they both had the realization that it would be best to pretend the other wasn't there and sleep, hoping that time and grief would fly away without them noticing, thus waking up in the morning with no more pain to bear or resolve.

but if it had been difficult to fall asleep next to ryujin, for serim it would be even more complex having a few centimeters away a woman who usually without even being there already kept her awake during the nights. she could feel her perfume from her place.

no one talks about the willpower you need to resist the perfume of the one you love.

serim was losing her patience and composure, if she got into a certain position she could feel her there, her presence, her scent and the pungent idea that if she stretched out her arm she could touch her soft porcelain skin. if she settled on the other side she would become impatient thinking that maybe she was looking at her and longing for her in the same way, only to immediately block it out by telling herself that this was impossible, and the doubt kept her brain active. she couldn't stop moving around trying to find a place on the mattress where she could lose consciousness in peace without feeling intoxicated by yu jimin.

"namu." called the younger girl gently, but only got as an answer another abrupt rotation of serim's body still searching for comfort. "namu." she said again louder.

"what?" her voice sounded bitter, because of the bad taste in her mouth from not being able to sleep and having the dancer next to her.

"are you okay?" she inquired with concern.

serim gave a long sigh, closing her eyes in an attempt to calm down a bit all the negative emotions she was feeling. "yes, i'm fine." she assured, but she sounded stressed.

"you can't sleep?" she turned her head to look at what was visible of jang's profile in the dim light.

"no, i can't."

"do you want me to help you?" she offered.

"what could you help me with?" she asked wryly, assuming it was an idea with no possible outcome.

"i don't know." she said, her voice weak. "i know you like me to play with your hair until you fall asleep, i could do that." she proposed, in her voice you could hear she was smiling slightly.

"no." she coldly declined.

"anything else?" sounding vulnerable again.

"jimin." she took a breath. "you can't help me solve the problem because the problem is you." admitted.

there was a silence that took over the room, but it didn't become uncomfortable. they could have tried to sleep in that silence and it would have been fine, but they both had a bad habit of not knowing when to let things go.

"i know that." commented the younger one. "but maybe i can still do something for you." she thought. "would you be better off if i lay down in the sleeping bag?" she suggested.

"as mad as i am at you i wouldn't let you sleep on the floor." she refused. "i can use it."

"you're crazy if you think i would let you sleep on the bag." jimin held serim by her arm in case she thought about standing up.

"just forget it." she removed her limp from the girl's grip. "the problem is that you're here and i don't want you to be here." she acknowledged sullenly. "i couldn't sleep when ryujin was around, less i'll be able to with you." she complied.

"but you've shared a bed with me before." she reminisced.

"that was before you screwed things up." jang scorned.

"are you seriously telling me you're not comfortable sleeping next to the one you love?" she ignored her comment.

"i'm just saying that even ryujin i would trust more than you."

serim fixed her pillow, ending the conversation. even if she had implied that she couldn't give herself to morpheus, she still closed her eyes so as not to let jimin continue talking. but after a moment of being still her own body was bothering her again, and she tried to cover herself with the blanket, remove it, raise and lower her legs, tilt the pillow to different sides, but nothing was working.

her eyes remained sightless and with all the chaos she was generating, she hadn't heard when jimin slid across the bed until she reached her, it was only when she felt her hands holding her head that she realized she was there. her body rested against hers, while with one hand she made room to slip her full arm behind her neck and hold her in her embrace with it, while with the other she ran her fingers through her locks of hair.

serim over time had learned that jimin would never listen to her, but sometimes it didn't even bother her. it felt good, her body heat felt good. her cuddling, her touch, the feeling of her lips resting on her forehead, her breath crashing against her. jimin always felt too good. she didn't feel the need to seek comfort in any other way, perhaps because she couldn't think of anything else but the woman around her.

was she so pathetic? once she came into contact with jimin she couldn't push her away? was she all talk?

even more humiliating was when jimin began to leave kisses on her temple, gently, carefully as if she were made of glass. her lips leaving short caresses as they moved across her face, serim's forehead, cheeks, nose, even kissing her eyelids that lay closed still, no longer trying to sleep, but enjoying the contact.

at no time did they intend to approach her mouth, but it's not like serim had time to think anything about it, to complain or thank her, because something much more daring was happening on her neck that was being soaked by the saliva of the younger girl. the kisses were still subtle, but they were spreading naughtily from her collarbone to her jaw, who just responded by putting her hand on jimin's waist, squeezing it.

for a moment she had to force herself to wake up from the trance she had entered so she could use her head and remember why she was so angry at karina.

was there anything, really, that yu jimin had done right?

serim gathered strength and increased the force she had on her waist, pushing the girl away from her arms.

she rolled over on her body, lying on her stomach, her forearms pressed against the blanket and her face sunk into them to cover herself from the mixture of embarrassment and annoyance she felt, catching her breath, coming back to herself.

"i'm sorry." karina spoke first.

"do you just want me for sex?" she lifted her face, looking at her uneasily.

"no, my namu." she approached her gently. "i just don't know how to behave around you." she rested her palm on the back of serim's neck, as they looked into each other's eyes with a very short distance between them. "i like you too much." she put strength where she was holding, making serim, who didn't resist much, lean into her. "i don't get to be around you without wanting to kiss you." jimin laid on her back and guided jang to lie on top of her, the woman's head resting on yu's chest.

jimin was the oldest's achilles heel. when she found herself in these situations where she couldn't fight her desires, she wondered if she ever behaved this way for other people, but not even when she broke up with her ex-girlfriend yeeun, for whom she suffered deeply, did she allow herself to succumb to her in this way. which led her to think about what was so special about the person under her at that moment that made her so vital to her, and she would always bump into herself finding endless reasons why there was no other like karina.

serim left a few kisses on the youngest's skin, unable to hold back her need to adore her, but immediately being hit again by the wave of reality that had come to her earlier and was still lurking around them. "you can't do whatever you want with me." she flung herself to the side falling face up, right next to jimin, but not touching her.

"i know, it won't happen again." she flipped her body over, lying on her side, over her arm, facing serim. "i just want to show you how much i care for you." she whispered.

jimin molded herself to serim, closing the distance that kept their skins from touching. she brought her hand to her cheek to caress her there, her chin on her shoulder, her breath colliding with her neck, and to the surprise of neither, jang was unable to resist. as she did this, her leg snaked up the vocalist's, gently, until her knee dropped over her belly and the rest she wrapped around the woman.

she knew what she was doing.

serim's eyes fell to the intruding limb above her waist and she had to take in an embarrassing amount of air, she was moving without realizing it, out of complete inertia, and her palm wrapped around karina's thigh tightly, squeezing, clawing and considering forgetting all the reasons why she was angry, as the milky skin scraping so stubbornly over her stomach and the warm breathing on her neck seemed to be stronger than she was.

"you know, in situations like this..." began jang. "i have to think about my mom."

"what?" karina blurted out suddenly, stunned.

"i can't get engage in sexually implicit situations while thinking about my dear mother." she used the arm that was between them to pull her off.

well, that had really killed the mood.

"are you seriously thinking about your mom?" she wasn't able to believe her ears.

"i have to fight you somehow." she started to shift until she was far enough away from jimin.

"but why should you fight me?" she questioned in exasperation. "just accept that you need me as i need you." she pleaded.

"why do i have to avoid falling for you again?" she reiterated angrily. "why did you have to be a piece of shit to me?" she countered.

"god, serim." she rubbed her face uneasily. "you're complicated too." she pleaded.

"me? what did i do so wrong?" she pressed her index finger to her own chest. "i might have treated you badly before, but since i know i have feelings for you i've done nothing but let it be clear and long for you to feel the same." tiredly, she began to let the things she was thinking come out. "you knew that i love you and yet you play with my emotions, you wouldn't fight for me, you can't even admit that you feel the same and you even kissed another girl." she listed, absorbed in her emotions.

"i didn't kiss that girl!" she defended herself. "i already told you that i stopped before and only confessed it to you so you would realize that i can't and won't get you out of my head." she tried to keep her voice low so no one would hear them arguing, but she was too overcome by the chaos inside her. "and i'm trying to make it up to you for the rest." she dropped her head, defeated.

serim didn't answer anything, the words wouldn't come out nor could she find ones she wanted to say. the reality was that it wasn't the time to talk about the things that bothered them when all their friends were sleeping in the rooms next door, though they never seemed to find the time to properly communicate in other instances. she gave her one last annoyed look and turned her back to her, laying down on her side and covering herself up, ready to sleep.

jimin watched her for a moment, dumbfounded by the exchange they had and even more so by how serim had chosen to cut the conversation short to simply go to sleep. she thought about how she should act, but couldn't find it in herself to dispel the thought that invaded her mind. "can i hug you?"

"do whatever the fuck you want." she replied curtly.

karina moved to her, letting her body fall just behind, resting her front against her back, her face in the crook of her neck and with her arm around her torso. her hand groped the space where it fell until it found serim's, and then wrapped her palm around her thumb.

"rest well." she said low in her ear. "i adore you."

"oh, fuck you." she replied without moving.

"jimin." she called her.

"yes, my namu?" the younger gave her a look that mixed tenderness and heaviness because of what they had discussed the night before.

"you know you can't solve everything by bringing me breakfast and having your manager pick me up from work, right?" she asked sincerely.

"i'm trying." she said again for the thousandth time. "give me more time and opportunities, please, and i'll show you how much i care about you."

serim said nothing in response and just lowered her gaze to the food.