#hollen

[pinkhallaclub]

If this world was mine, I'd take your enemies in front of God 🩷

[diioonysus]

symbols in art: fruit

[booasaur]

Doctors, nurses, and patients:

Meanwhile, the senate votes on a resolution for the US to follow its own laws today:

The White House is actively lobbying against it.

Yes, Democrat senators are supporting Hamas.

Only history knows what the Biden-Harris administration's devotion to the Palestinian genocide will cost us all.

[captain-casual]

Source

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Joseph Gedeon at The Guardian:

Donald Trump’s nominee for US ambassador to the United Nations has endorsed Israeli claims of biblical rights to the entire West Bank during a Senate confirmation hearing, aligning herself with positions that could complicate diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. The New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a Republican, was confronted on Tuesday over her backing of a position that aligns her with the Israeli far right, including Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and former national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. “You told me that, yes, you shared that view,” the Democratic Maryland senator Chris Van Hollen said during questioning. “Is that your view today?” “Yes,” Stefanik said. Stefanik’s confirmation hearing highlighted the rifts between the US and UN over Israel policy – of which the US is the UN’s single largest funder. The US – which houses the secretariat in midtown New York City – pays about $3.6bn, or 22%, of the UN’s regular budget, with China second at 15.25% and Japan roughly at 8%. And while the position puts Stefanik at odds with longstanding international consensus and multiple UN security council resolutions regarding Israeli settlements in occupied territories, it remains sharply in line with widespread Trump administration posturing. Mike Huckabee, Trump’s ambassador to Israel, echoed similar sentiments over Israel’s sovereignty, declaring “there’s no such thing as a West Bank” during a 2017 visit to Israel. Huckabee has also dismissed Palestinian identity entirely, once claiming “there’s no such thing as a Palestinian”. Critics such as Van Hollen also argue that endorsing biblical claims to disputed territories could undermine US credibility as a mediator in the region and complicate efforts to advance a two-state solution, which has been the cornerstone of American Middle East policy for decades. “It’s going to be very difficult to achieve peace if you continue to hold the view that you just expressed,” Van Hollen said. The US has historically been Israel’s strongest and most consistent diplomatic backer across Democratic and Republican administrations, alongside a string of smaller island nations.

Elise Stefanik, who is tapped to be the US’s UN Ambassador, defended Israel Apartheid State’s claims of “biblical rights” to the entirety of the occupied West Bank at her confirmation hearing.

[thekeypa]

“Kids in Gaza are now dying from the deliberate withholding of food. In addition to the horror of that news, one other thing is true: That is a war crime. It is a textbook war crime, and that makes those who orchestrate it war criminals.”

[radiokathryn-if]

How would the ROs react if in relationship stage MC accidentally introduced them as their husband/wife while talking to someone?

Nate, unsurprisingly, corrects you in the next breath. Not only is his image of being engaged to Eva in jeopardy with that statement but it makes your 'relationship' waaaaay too serious for him. He does it harshly too and if you take offence there will be an argument and shouting match subsequently.

The smile on Eva's face would start small and keep growing all day! She gets a warm feeling in her tummy and gazes at you softly, which does nothing to deter the other person from the truth. She takes it in her stride and goes with it, letting herself imagine that it was true, just for a moment──that the ring on her finger from Nate had actually been from you.

Mica doesn't react, in fact adds to your slip up casually. They step closer to you (if they weren't already right next to you) and take your hand in theirs. Or maybe they'd silently take the thing you were holding or slip your bag off your shoulder and over theirs. They give the other person a wide and kind smile and say nothing.

Detective Han freezes up, poor thing. Their face doesn't change but it looks like their chest has stopped moving, stopped breathing. And they have──they're holding their breath for your next words so that they don't have to stumble over theirs. They wait for you to correct yourself, slowly relaxing if you do. And if you don't you might have to get them out of there quickly or they might actually pass out. Intimidating my ass.

José will grin cheekily and wink at the other person. They'll very obviously over exaggerate the connection between the two of you, spinning a tall tale about your star crossed romance and how you gave up a life of money and stability just for them and their love. Will not let you live it down. If you actually get married they'll bring it up in their vows or the speeches.

Ji Han goes with it for your sake. He doesn't want to embarrass you if he doesn't have to. He introduces himself afterwards with a subtle nod to his new title and takes charge of the conversation to steer it elsewhere as soon as possible. Will use it against you when you least expect it. Whispers his new title in your ear during sex to catch you off guard during a climax kind of tease.

Fauve's eyes will go wide and she'll turn to stare at you in shock. She's actually speechless for once. The other person takes this shock and misreads it as you accidentally proposed right in front of them. They're cheering and drawing a crowd. Fauve is still staring at you, jaw hanging slightly as she tries to reboot her brain. Her heart leaps at the thought, and once it's registered she's all smirks and playful winks complaining about where her ring is. Get to it MC!

Jackson takes it in his stride. You'd have talked about marriage with him before, mainly what it was like for him and what he thought of it after going through a divorce. He settles on thinking that conversation was still fresh in your mind for some reason and that's why you introduced him as you did. He politely corrects you with a kind smile but his hand on your back as you walk away from the other person doesn't go unnoticed!

??? will straight up blush! They become a flustered mess making the two of you look like a freshly married couple who's still in the frustratingly adorable stage. They don't bring it up after you leave, or like ever again, but it's a staple memory in your relationship now.

[djdejong]

Na een dagje dutten even hollen in het bos, dag 1203

En natuurlijk lekker pootjebaden en een ontspannen zandbad nemen.

[mindovermuses]

Just gonna leave this one here to go with that one scene...

[originalleftist]

Blocking US weapons to Israel "on the table".

Now, this is a statement from a Senator, not the White House, and Biden has recently made clear that a total ban on arms shipments is not on the table (he specified maintaining the Iron Dome, which is a defensive system).

But this does underscore that America's support for Israel is NOT a blank check for Benjamin Netanyahu to do whatever he wants.

[agentfascinateur]

Apply the Leahy Act to Israel, say US senators

"The Leahy Law holds all countries to the same standard, yet it appears that the IDF, by far the largest recipient of US military assistance may be held to a different standard.”

[vyorei]

[jules-has-notes]

collaboration spotlight — Epic Christmas Movie Medley by Peter Hollens

Music is a big part of Christmas season festivities, and holiday movies are no exception. Some existing songs have inspired the creation of films. Others have been written specifically for the movies they're in. Either way, a catchy tune has the power to bring a smile to your face and maybe even sing along. For this feel-good medley, Peter got his family and a couple new friends in on the act.

Details:

title: Epic Christmas Movie Medley (feat. Brian Hull & Geoff Castellucci)

performers: Peter Hollens, Evynne Hollens, Ashland Hollens, Brian Hull, & Geoff Castellucci

original songs / performers: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by Burl Ives in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964); [0:33] "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby & Marjorie Reynolds in Holiday Inn (1942); [1:08] "Frosty the Snowman" by Jimmy Durante in Frosty the Snowman (1969); [1:48] "Baby It's Cold Outside" by Esther Williams, Ricardo Montalbán, Betty Garrett, & Red Skelton in Neptune's Daughter (1949); [2:20] "Christmas Time Is Here" by the cast of A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965); [2:45] "The Snow Miser Song" by Dick Shawn & [3:13] "The Heat Miser Song" by George S. Irving in The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974); [3:36] "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" by Thurl Ravenscroft in How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966); [4:29] "Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town" by Fred Astaire in Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (1970)

written by: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by John David Marks; "White Christmas" by Irving Berlin; "Frosty the Snowman" by Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson; "Baby It's Cold Outside" by Frank Loesser; "Christmas Time Is Here" by Vince Guaraldi & Lee Mendelson; "The Snow Miser Song" & "The Heat Miser Song" by Maury Laws & Jules Bass; "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel & Albert Hague; "Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town" by J. Fred Coots & Haven Gillespie

arranged by: Peter Hollens

release date: 18 December 2020

My favorite bits:

introducing all the characters they're playing so folks can identify the movies, even the ones without songs in the medley

Ashland's sweet, clear tone in "Frosty" ⛄

Evynne's lovely crooning on "Baby It's Cold Outside" and her reactions as Peter shoves more and more food into his mouth

Snow Miser Peter and Heat Miser Brian messing with the characters in other sections of the screen ❄🔥

Geoff's luscious bass and Peter's semi-operatic tone in "Grinch"

their bouncy, syncopated take on "Santa Claus"

following ♫ "You better not pout" ♫ with "You'll shoot your eye out!" from A Christmas Story 🤭

reprising all the songs in the build-up to the ending

Peter's adorable fatherly pride in the outro

Trivia:

Because the video title is fairly long, many first-time viewers were surprised by Brian and Geoff's cameos since their names got cut off on the main YouTube page.

Geoff pops up in costume as Max the dog, who the Grinch conscripts into being his reindeer. VoicePlay's jazzier version of "You're A Mean One, Mister Grinch" (in which Layne briefly wore the antler headband) was released a few weeks earlier.

Brian first collaborated with Peter for his "Epic Disney Sidekicks Medley" the year before, and they have made occasional appearances in each other's projects over the years since.

Geoff and Brian both returned the following year to get spooky in Peter's cover of "This Is Halloween" from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

This video was the opening segment in a 25-minute compilation of Peter's holiday songs four years later.

Although they didn't include the song — because it's not from a movie, and also Ashland didn't want to — a commenter did note that it was fortuitous timing that the kiddo had lost his two front teeth before they filmed this.

[bismuthbookshelf]

My 10 favourite Christmas music videos that I watch every year*

*that aren't from VoicePlay or Geoff Castellucci

I've never been much a fan of most "traditional" carols (with only a few exceptions for certain covers), and I guess you could say my tastes are somewhat eclectic, so I thought I might as well share my recommendations here! They range from more 'standard' Christmas music to stuff that's just a silly good time, but they're all stuff that I watch at least once a year every Christmas season. I don't wanna give these any sort of proper ranking, and so I'm just gonna list them from oldest release date to most recent release date. Enjoy!

(Everything below cut!)

Straight No Chaser - The 12 Days Of Christmas

The video was uploaded to YouTube in 2006, but it's actually from the first time the group ever did this performance, back in 1998, and let me tell you that it's AMAZING. I don't wanna spoil it, but basically this is not your standard Twelve Days Of Christmas. It's hilarious while still being fantastically well done, and if you love the "VoicePlay brand of dumb" especially, you will love this!

Straight No Chaser - The Christmas Can-Can

Yeah Straight No Chaser is getting a double recommendation on this list, but man they deserve it!

This is basically what you think it is - a song about Christmas to the tune of can-can music (but acapella, as SNC is an acapella group), and it is hilarious and SUCH a mood. Lyrics like "Thoughts of joy and hope and cheer/But mostly shopping, shopping, shopping" and "Christmas season/Starting sooner every year/It's October/Stores with plastic Christmas trees". But honestly it's just so fun.

Peter Hollens (& Friends) - Carol Of The Bells

Unless VoicePlay ever decide to do a cover of Carol Of The Bells (not counting the bit of it in their old Santa And I Know It song), then this is the only acapella cover of it that I need in my life!

Peter Hollens collaborated with BYU's Vocal Point (an acapella group who were also on The Sing Off, but the 2011 season), as well as BYU's men's choir, and the One Voice Children's Choir, and the result is epic! I get chills even watching it now!

AsapSCIENCE (ft Jon Cozart) - Science Christmas Carols

And now for something completely different! (Told ya my tastes were eclectic)

It's a mini medley of science-y Christmas carol parodies! The first song bit, "It's Beginning To Not Look A Lot Like Christmas" sadly still hits hard, or perhaps rather hits hard again, because, well, you'll see, but otherwise it's pretty fun

(Still never buying a real Christmas tree though, because I'm Australian and that's basically impossible for us, let alone maintaining one)

I also wanna give a mini shoutout to Jon Cozart's "Progressive Christmas Carols" video, over on his solo channel, Paint. I'm not giving it an official recommendation because the humour maybe might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's another traditional video for me and I basically know it off by heart.

Lindsey Stirling (ft. Sabrina Carpenter) - You're A Mean One, Mr Grinch

It's rare that I can love two covers of the same song just as much as each other, but this is one of those times, because I love the VoicePlay version (of course), but I also really love this version! (It helps that I found this version first because it's older but anyway).

The video gives the song a completely different vibe and it's honestly great. Just read the comments - it makes it seem like "The Grinch" is a mobster, or a mafia boss, or a slimy yet suave casino owner, or an "evil James Bond"! And both Lindsey and Sabrina killed it of course, both violin-playing (Lindsey) and vocals (Sabrina) on point!

Idina Menzel (ft Billy Porter) - I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

Apparently this song was first composed in 1937 by Irving Berlin, and it's been covered by a fair few notable artists over the past decades, but I never heard it until this cover, and I love it so much! It's so fun and jazzy!

I was already a fan of Billy Porter for his fashion alone, but he can definitely sing as well! And Idina can of course do no wrong <3

Idina Menzel (ft Josh Gad) - We Wish You The Merriest

Speaking of doing no wrong, I just had to give Idina a double recommendation, because I also really love this cover! And it's an animated music video that's just a silly light-hearted good time, what's not to love!

(Also I'll just slip in a mini-recommendation here for her cover of Sleigh Ride, which is also great)

Taylor Swift - Christmas Tree Farm

Yeah I'm a Swiftie, sue me :P

But like seriously, this song (written by Taylor herself) has extra value in the fact that her parents really did own a Christmas tree farm, which she spent a lot of time at growing up! Apparently one of her first ever 'jobs' when she was younger was helping to pick bugs out of the trees! And this video features a bunch of home video snippets from Taylor's childhood! (And a couple of clips from before she was even born!)

Peter Hollens (ft Brian Hull & Geoff Castellucci) - Epic Christmas Movie Medley

When I said "favourite Christmas videos that weren't from Geoff or VoicePlay", I meant not from their own channels - this one doesn't count! Anyway, Geoff only does one section in this (though he still does a great job, of course <3), and the video also features Peter's wife, Evynne (I think that's her name?) and their son, Ashland! (who is very cute)

Also I really love the Snow Miser/Heat Miser bit in this; it's such a tune, and the latter half is definitely relatable for me!

Darren Criss (ft Adam Lambert) - (Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With The Bag

I'm honestly not sure I ever heard this song (somehow) before this cover (which is only like 3 years old btw) but now I love it and can I get like half a dozen more Christmas songs with this same kinda jazzy swing-like vibe please?

The video is definitely a delight as well, just watch it and have a good time!

So yeah, there's my list of recommendations for the season! What are some of yours!

[thekeypa]

“unicef & who have called for an IMMEDIATE PAUSE in hostilities in G@za to vaccinate children against the further spread of the insidious poliovirus. POTUS should do the same. As we work toward a permanent ceasefire & return of hostages, we must stop the spread of polio NOW.”

[radiokathryn-if]

Hola amigo (amiga). It’s me again. I’m in class, slaving away my life and with my newfound brain juices, I decided to spend it on something worthwhile like expanding your own brain juices.

The ROs decided to play Monopoly (because that’s where brain power works more effectively). Who loves it, who hates it, how do they play, and who ultimately wins against one another? Also, have a good day (or night depending on when this is.)

Hello friend! Just for you and your slaving brain power, I shall gift you with a little bonus!──long answer! +I just finished cooking(&eating) supper so it has indeed been a good night lmao, I hope you have one too! ++I may have way too much fun trivia about monopoly just rattling around in my head, so I apologise if I start rambling! +++also! I'm acting as if they're all playing together... which would never happen but is still fun to think about!

Which little mascot token thing do they choose/get/fight for/end up with?──in 1972 there was only: the shoe, the hat, the dog, the iron, the car and the boat... so I've added more such as the thimble, the lantern (retired in 1950) and the rocking horse (retired 1950)

NATE──is picky and also very narcissistic, he has to pick first and he always gets the dog (a yorkshire terrier!) because it's "objectively the best one" no one really objects because they don't want to deal with his whining.

EVA──she always gets the lantern. when she's not at the table to claim it first, it's gets set aside for her. unlike with Nate, everyone else lets her have it because she simply asks nicely. Eva just thinks it's pretty─she calls it her good luck charm! (she has a nice winning streak!)

MICA──does not care for their token at all, and is usually the last to gain it, often getting the one no one went for or wanted... which mostly ends up being the iron... Mica thinks it's rad though so they don't mind!

DETECTIVE HAN──doesn't really play board games and is subsequently a bit slow to the battle royale of the token picking... they end up with the shoe because it's only of the only two left and they'd rather not pick the iron...

JOSÉ──they're not going down without a fight! they are pretty competitive, especially when it comes to board or card games─curtesy of their many siblings─and they will bargain for the token of their choosing... which is the the thimble... but they usually lose out to Ji Han, in which they fight Fauve for the boat!

JI HAN──he wins the thimble from José but he only goes for the thimble if the the plane is gone and considering its the one token lost to the void, well...

FAUVE──she watches José and Ji Han fight it out for the thimble with glee and then when José sets their sights on her and the boat its quickly wiped away... she knows when to take her losses and resigns the boat to them after she can feel a ten minute debate forming, leaving her with the car!

JACKSON──used to picking last when playing board games, though most times Cilly just gives him a token she seems fit... he'd end up with the hat (a top hat!) because even though he doesn't particularly care, he's still quicker than Mica or Detective Han to scoop up one of his favourites!

???──they like most of the tokens and are usually the first to pick, in actuality, they're the one who set aside the lantern for Eva and make the dog easy to see for Nate to claim 'first' after which they swoop in and collect the rocking horse! much like Eva, the token is a bit of a good luck charm for them─the only time they've ever gone bankrupt was when they were playing with the boat instead!

actual game play! who loves it, who hates it, who's winner and who's a sore sore loser baby?

Nate says he likes monopoly but he is quick to change his mind as soon as he loses his money... honestly, if he didn't fixate on the money side of things and strategise like i know he can he'd probably give Eva, ??? and Ji Han a run for their money! (sore sore loser, losing loser baby, sore loser baby)

Like most things outside of her personal life, Eva stays winning. She loves strategy games and she's very good at interpersonal tactics (and she doesn't get greedy or blind sided by fake money.) She's on a winning streak... but there are a couple that give her a run for her money! (somehow she always manages to get one or both dark blue's on her first circle of the board...)

The ever unbothered Mica could honestly care less about monopoly──that is to say that they get surprisingly intense around two thirds in! Something about monopoly specifically ignites the competitive fire under them. They're strangely protective of the train stations and the utilities. They always somehow end up going bankrupt though, and sell out to Eva or Ji Han (or ???) depending on who can give them the most appealing sales pitch... Mica just likes hearing what they'll come up with!

Detective Han is a baby at playing board games... that aren't chess or checkers that is. The first time they play they're too caught up in the rules to realise all the spaces are slowly being taken up. The next time they buy every space they land on and were the first to go bankrupt so quickly in a while! They're a bit of a rules lawyer but have since mellowed out to enjoying the game without getting worked up about losing.

José is competitive and they love a classic board game. Playing with their siblings, they're known to be one of the winners more often than not... playing with the other ROs? That's a whole different ball park─a whole different weight category! Especially with brilliant players like Eva, Ji Han and ??? (when they're in the mood to win)! José can admit when they're out of their depth but that doesn't mean they aren't going to go down without a fight. They're the most... involved player, often propositioning places or money with literally anyone if they can see it coming out advantageous for them. (Not many of their propositions are accepted, though some are for the sheer audacity and the entertainment value they bring!)

As opposed to his older sibling, Ji Han is actully quite well versed in the ways of the game... Given that he's only played it while half drunk in university halls at 3 in the morning while they wait out for a 5am lecture... playing it with the rest of the ROs is only a little different. (that and he plays with a clear mind and thus remembers the rules and can get into the manipulation tactics!) He's won almost as many times as Eva has, and it's usually the two of them as the final two! He's a gracious loser, even if he's a bit of a show off winner (that's mainly spurned on by Eva's taunting and the final overcoming of her as an opponent.)

Fauve has a competitive streak in her, but it's mainly for bragging rights. She actively tries hard to beat at the very least José and then sets her sights on Ji Han. (The sexual tension between them when she does is quite, palpable... if the teasing barbs and lingering looks are anything to go by) She has yet to win over Eva though and is hedging her bets on a team up with The Trio as a means to an end. (She loves the bragging rights... is winning bragging rights over Eva in monopoly of all things super important? Yes. She already reigns supreme in Uno, this is the next step in her bragging rights empire!! She's up for the challenge!)

Jackson is an easygoing run of the mill average player. He's used to going easy at these kinds of games since most of his experience playing them is with his daughter and her friends... That being said, Jackson is an excellent banker! He's very strict about the money, especially after they found out that Nate was sneaking money when he would designate himself as banker! He bankrupts quite early, but his heart nor his pride is hurt by it, he takes losing like a winner!

Secret mastermind, ???. They're actively the best at playing the game however, they don't have the competitive flare or heart to actively secure more than third place. However, when ??? is in a competitive mood, or a mischievous mood (or just wanting to impress a certain MC or Eva) then all the cards are down and all the bets are off!

bonus round! common team ups!

Eva and ??? are unstoppable when they're both playing together and playing to win! Not that a team up trio of Ji Han, Fauve and José won't give them a run for their money. Nate refuses to team up with any of them, not like they're dropping everything to offer. Mica is a lone island of overconfidence and chilled cockyness... (MC over their shoulder like an angel(or devil) during a poker game...) In a shocking turn of events, Detective Han and Jackson team up as Rules Lawyer and Banker after they declare bankruptcy and are kind of terrorfying to defy... which leads to people trying to loophole their way through the game and providing many moments of laughter inducing entertainment!

lmao i started this at like 8pm... it's taken me like 8 hours to finish and if that doesn't tell you what my mental states been like then idk what will