#insight: alvin

[batfambrainrotbeloved]

Hey, just wondering if you could give us some insight into how the sleepy kitten cafe staff met Alan/got close to him/what they think of him. Also curious to see what all the bats think about cardinal. Did they ever meet in costume?

P.S: Keep up the good work!!

Of course!! I touched a little bit in "Jerry the Raccoon" but that was mostly Tim & Zeek (and it was not my best chapter- but I refuse to edit it for my own sanity)

Also so far? No. Cardinal manages to maintain a distance 24/7 with bats (almost as if hes tracking them during patrol- wild right??) But overall

Bruce is tearing his hair out, but admits they are useful and more effort than they're worth.

Babs adores them, and is on a mission to find them out and take them under her wing

Dick finds Bruce plight funny- but is kinda unnerved how similar Cardinal is to a talon in some ways. (also just creepy in general)

Jason "Game recognizes game" but wishes Cardinal would stop running so he could ask him more questions

Cass never gets close. But not bothered by them.

Steph thinks Cardinal is badass but keeps her distance, doesnt trust the vibes

Damien acts like he doesn't care about Cardinal (He so does, hes obsessed- lowkey fanboy behavior)

Alfred thinks its nice Bruce has someone else willing to deal with Gotham, who ISN'T under his nagging control. Theres some respect there.

NOW Sleepy Kitten fam backstory (as of rn, subject to change as lore provides)

Well Alan Draper (Originally Alvin) was a normal civillian persona Tim had- but in order to MAKE a persona, people need to know you. Otherwise it takes a quick asking around to realize you aren't who you say you are.

So when Tim was Fifteen or so Alan "moved to Gotham" from Chicago and started taking classes at Gotham University. He started showing up at the cafe out of pure convinence before Obi and Gwen worked there (officially)

Obi's dad had a run in with a rouge, got injured, and couldn't work both shifts. So they turned to part time student and began running the store. They'd gotten used to Alan hanging around and they talked on ocassion but mostly enjoyed silence when the other was working. Slowly but surely Tim grew to love being Alan- one of the few times he could be stress free anymore and yet not be so alone. And Obi dealing with the stress of taking over family buisness had one customer whose ever presence was comforting.

A few months pass and they consider each other pretty close friends to the point Alan had a spare key to the cafe in case of emergencies. Soon after some of the other staff quit and Obi opened applications- Gwen showed up, nervous as hell having never worked a day in her life and already applying to like ten other positions.

But Obi was desperate and soon enough Gwen was at the cafe just about every hour of the day and night. It got to the point where she would hang out even after her shift.

Then by pure forced proximity, Alan grew to love her company just as much as Obi- though in a way that forced him out of his shell just a bit.

It was clockwork of Alan, Gwen, and Obi all at the Sleepy Kitten on random day hours chatting away while working.

Events of the chapter transpire, with Alan showing up with this guy who 100% belongs in a gang, but Obi takes "minding their own buisness" HARD and trusts both Alan and Gwens opinions (Gwen who just saw sad guy and forced to help)

Now Obi has basically permenantly taken over the cafe, but still takes some art school classes on the side with some of the profits that don't go back into the cafe.

Gwen and Zeek have an apartment together in the far narrows since Gwen was desperate to move out, and Zeek was company and free security, who also needed a place. Apartment is just a block or so from the cafe too

Alan lives outside downtown but commutes often, works odd hours but whenever he is free, will set up in the cafe and enjoy the peace for a bit with his friends.

Long story short- they were coworker friends, except Alan refused to take a job literally ever.

[savingsallow]

— Random Facts About Ale

[get to know this resident lover boy be why tf not]

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(1) Adept Duellist

Alejandro possesses a genuine passion for dueling, viewing it not just as a competition but as an elegant dance of strategy, timing, and skill. His dedication has earned him a reputation as one of the finest duellists at Hogwarts, where the thrill of the match pulses through his veins.

Professor Hecat, with her rigorous training and insightful teachings, is his favorite mentor, inspiring him to refine his craft and embrace the nuances of each duel.

—

(2) Nature Enthusiast

There’s a unique joy Alejandro finds in tending to plants, as it reflects a blend of patience, nurturing, and growth. His fascination began in childhood, where he would assist his mother in cultivating her garden of vegetables and herbs, learning from her both the joy and teachings that come from nature. This bond offered him an appreciation for the slow unfolding of life and the quiet lessons it holds.

In addition to his love for plants, Alejandro has an unwavering affection for animals of all kinds. His 'toxic trait' is his resolute determination to pet any creature he encounters, regardless of how friendly or fearsome it may be. This endearing quality often surprises others, as animals seem instinctively drawn to him, responding to his gentle demeanor and warm presence.

—

(3) Proud Muggle Heritage

Yes, Alejandro proudly identifies as a Muggle-born.

Coming from a religious family that viewed witchcraft with skepticism, Ale's journey into the magical world was complex and fraught with challenges. When his family discovered his powers, instead of rejecting him, they chose to embrace and protect him. They kept his magical abilities confidential from the outside world to shield him from the scrutiny and potential ostracism associated with their religious beliefs.

Once sorted into Slytherin, Alejandro faced the harsh realities of fitting into a house with a reputation for elitism. Enduring taunts of being called a "Mudblood," he worked tirelessly to prove himself in this new environment. His background instilled in him a strong sense of justice; he became a vocal advocate for those who faced discrimination, particularly his fellow Muggles. This commitment often put him at odds with the more traditional values of his peers, showcasing his bravery and integrity.

—

(4) Aspiring Poet

When he finds a moment of solitude, Ale often turns to his journal to express his thoughts and feelings through poetry. This creative outlet serves as a refuge, allowing him to unwind and examine the intricate tapestry of emotions swirling within him. Each poem becomes a reflection of his experiences, from the beauty of nature to the complexities of his relationships. This artistic side not only enriches his character but also offers glimpses into his inner life—revealing the layers beneath his charming exterior.

—

(5) Unreturned Affection

(shot by: @acslytherpuff ❤️‍🔥)

Alejandro's heart has long belonged to Val, a deep and unrequited love that shapes much of his emotional landscape.

His infatuation ignited during their fifth-year DADA class when Val triumphantly defeated Sebastian in a duel, a moment that left an indelible mark on him. From that point on, Alejandro yearned to be closer to her, and remarkably, they developed a close friendship that he cherished deeply.

(shot by and mc, alvin, on the left belongs to: @acslytherpuff )

In his quest to spend more time with Val, Alejandro enrolled in flying classes despite his lack of enthusiasm for the subject. His willingness to step out of his comfort zone speaks volumes about his dedication to her—he even joined the Quidditch team, knowing it was close to her heart. Through both joyous times and challenging moments, Alejandro has stood by Val’s side as a steadfast friend, offering support and encouragement, even as his heart ached with unspoken feelings.

Despite the clarity of his emotions, he has refrained from explicitly confessing his love for Val; instead, his actions often speak louder than words. Whenever she’s near, Alejandro is transformed from a suave, flirtatious charmer into a clumsy, endearing mess, making it clear how smitten he is.

His chance at romance nearly materialized during their sixth year, but Garreth's unexpected arrival complicated matters and ignited jealousy in Alejandro, whom he secretly despises. Nevertheless, Alejandro’s selflessness shines through—his newfound angst is tempered by the knowledge that if Val is happy and safe, that’s all that truly matters to him, even if he isn’t the one who makes her feel that way.

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[simply-ivanka]

In December 2022, Colangelo, the high-flying third most senior official in President Joe Biden's Justice Department, astonished colleagues by packing his bags and leaving for the Big Apple to take a less senior role working for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Colangelo's 'unusual' move was technically a demotion, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Yoo told DailyMail.com.

'Moving from [The Justice Department] to the Manhattan DA’s office must mean that someone is a true believer,' said Yoo, who served in the George W. Bush administration and now teaches law at the University of California at Berkeley.

‘It suggests that the prosecutor here is after the man, Trump, and not the crime,’ said Yoo.

[hyohaehyuk]

Attitude u.k.- Interview With the Vampire, literally: Meet the stars of the BBC’s most homoerotic show ever

Here, Reid and Anderson speak to Attitude about the challenges of making monsters human, and embracing the queerness of these creatures of the night.

What was your first encounter with the story of Interview with the Vampire? 

Sam: There were two things I wanted to be as a child: an actor and a vampire. These interests culminated in my excitement to discover that they were shooting Queen of the Damned in Australia. That began my voyage through the works of Anne Rice: the novels, the movie…

Jacob: I remember seeing that film when I was a teenager and I thought it was fun. It wasn’t until I read the script that I got that excited, nervous feeling in my stomach that you get when you fall in love. I felt an immediate connection with Louis and now I’m as submerged in the world of Rice as Sam.

How does it feel taking on that mantle of such an iconic franchise? 

Jacob: It’s a huge responsibility. You want to be respectful to the source material, but not so beholden to it that you’re not able to bring anything new to it. I felt responsible to both the fans and to Louis as a character. I wanted him to be loved by long-term fans despite being a different interpretation; I wanted him to be understood and relatable to newcomers.

Of course. There are some twists in this retelling. Louis is reimagined as Black, and there’s a definitive queerness introduced…

Jacob: I think that the books were always very queer, but that was lost in the movie. It was a film of the 90s – it featured two movie stars (Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise) who were known for reflecting very heteronormative hypermasculine standards and reaching a mainstream audience required interrupting the queerness of the novels. But when you revisit the original story, it’s clear that Louis is somebody hugely angry with a man he loved deeply and now presents them as a monster…

Why do you think vampires have this fan appeal specific to LGBT people?

Sam: It’s sexy otherness, isn’t it? Vampires are creatures of the night, but they’re also terribly misunderstood. Anne Rice is really responsible for our perception of the modern vampire. Before, it was Nosferatu, Dracula: mythic, horrific and predatory figures. Rice used psychology to give us insight into the mind of the monster. She makes you relate to them. Besides the point that vampires are just pretty cool, right?

What is the joy of playing a vampire?

In terms of being an actor and having the opportunity to dramatize a vampire, it’s incredibly fun because you get to be playful. You’re operating on a supernatural level, playing these crazy, wild characters. And then they are constantly reinvented, over and over again, becoming metaphors for different things at different times. It’s exciting. 

And what’s the biggest challenge of taking on the vampire role?

Jacob: My biggest challenge is quite specific to Louis. He is human to a fault and his humanity constantly rubs up against his vampiric nature. He’s so connected to his past where the vampire is a character of the present, of the moment, always on the hunt. Louis is incapable of ever being in the present moment. He’s a monster trapped in his humanity. 

And Lestat is a very different beast…

Sam: I love Lestat. He’s the biggest hot mess in the world, but equally, he’s embraced his intense power. He never wanted to be a vampire. But in the face of adversity, he’ll be damned if he’s going to wallow about it. He embraces it instead and makes the most of the situation. He’s very admirable in that rather than suffering through life, he’s going to laugh through it, even though he might be laughing maniacally and with a sense of sadism. 

Who are your favourite pop culture vampires outside of the world of Anne Rice

Jacob: Mine’s The Count from Sesame Street. A fundamental part of everybody’s childhood!

Sam: I love Gary Alvin’s interpretation of Dracula, and that movie especially. I love the way they made that film because it’s so practically made and yet creates such an extraordinary world. Alvin himself, he’s like a warrior, wearing an insane meat suit and covered in prosthetics, with his long nails and his moving shadow. It’s joyful filmmaking.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Ben Appel

Published: Jan 20, 2025

In March 2024, the Community Education Council for District 2—the largest school district in Manhattan—passed a resolution to review the NYC Department of Education’s 2019 Gender Guidelines, which had replaced the category of sex with “gender identity” in all areas, including school restrooms, locker rooms, and athletics.

“Resolution #248” authorized a review committee to “propose amendments, changes and additions” to the guidelines once “an inclusive, evidence-based process” had determined their impact on female athletes. The resolution specified that the review committee must include those who were excluded from the process in 2019, such as female athletes, parents, coaches, relevant medical professionals, and evolutionary biology experts.

On the day of the vote, eight voted in favor of the resolution and three voted against it. One member was absent.

After the resolution passed, backlash was swift. Trans activists and their allies began showing up in droves at school board meetings to protest. They shouted down council members, screamed obscenities, and, if anyone dared to speak favorably about the resolution, stood up, turned their backs to the council, and hummed loudly in unison. In May, eighteen New York Democrats, including Rep. Jerry Nadler, called on the council to rescind the “hateful, discriminatory, and actively harmful” resolution, alleging in their public letter that it could lead to an increase in suicide attempts among transgender youth.

And all of this because a school committee council had voted to merely conduct a review of the existing guidelines.

Maud Maron, one of the four council members who sponsored the legislation (and who is now challenging Alvin Bragg in the 2025 Manhattan District Attorney race), contacted me in December, inviting me to speak on a panel about this topic at an official council meeting. The other panelists would be my friends (and Informed Dissent cohosts), Cori Cohn (who also cohosts the Heterodorx podcast) and the journalist Lisa Selin Davis. We set the date for Monday, January 13.

In the days leading up to the event, Maud texted the three of us with details. She said that the audience might be hostile, adding that some parents had emailed the superintendent, demanding that the meeting be shut down for promoting “hate speech.”

Maud also alerted us to a list of instructions trans activists had posted online for fellow protesters. The list, titled “This Week’s Jazzy Tactics,” advised comrades to enter the room “with pizzazz,” “wear white and/or keffiyeh,” and, “during transphobic testimony,” “take care of ourselves and one another” with things like “headphones, fidgets, coloring books, bubbles, snacks, treats.”

Oh, and “Macarena.”

The meeting, live streamed on YouTube, was held in a school auditorium on the Lower East Side. In the end, only about 20 people showed up. I assume this is because the activists knew they’d be confronted with logic and reason, and, as we all know, even the slightest bit of scrutiny causes their entire house of cards to tumble down. Thus, I only got a small taste of the hostility that Maud, her fellow council members, and other people who care about women and girls and the wellbeing of gender-nonconforming kids have had to endure over the last year.

When Maud opened the meeting around 6:45, she asked each of the panelists to share a little bit about ourselves and why we agreed to come here.

Cori suggested that, before we begin, we should probably clarify what we mean by “gender ideology,” since it’s become such a loaded term. He proposed a definition. “I would say that gender ideology is the idea that we can self-identify our sex based on our internal insights instead of relying on material indicators of sex, like what gametes your body produces or what your genital configuration is. So, it’s the idea that you can substitute gender identity for sex.”

No one objected, so Cori continued with his story.

In the eighties, as a young kid, Cori was relentlessly bullied for being different. He prayed to be a girl, thinking that would solve a lot of his troubles. When he was 15, his parents took him to a psychologist, who suggested he was transexual. At 18, Cori socially transitioned and started cross-sex hormones, and at 19, he underwent vaginoplasty. The surgery left him sexually dysfunctional.

Around 2010, the radical trans movement really began to kick off. Whereas previously, a male had to medicalize with cross-sex hormones and undergo castration surgery to enter female spaces, now activists were demanding that any male, no matter his medical history or appearance, be able to claim a female identity. Even worse, policymakers and legislators were obliging them. This, Cori noticed, was seriously compromising women’s rights and privileges.

After a lot of reflection, Cori eventually concluded that, if we think there’s a need for sex-segregated spaces—and Cori believes there are many reasons why we need them, particularly for women and girls—then that separation must be based solely on sex. Further, by demanding that one take hormones, have surgery, and become infertile in order to access a space, the state is creating a mandate for people to surgically and medically modify themselves.

“That’s not fair,” he said. “So, the conclusion is that, one, these spaces have to be sex-segregated, and two, they have to be safe for all users. Boys who want to present in a feminine way, have long hair, take a feminine name—they have to be safe in male spaces. There cannot be any tolerance at all for any abuse of somebody based on their gender presentation. That has to be protected. But you cannot substitute gender identity for sex and at the same time have safe, single-sex spaces.”

Cori then passed the mic to Lisa.

Lisa’s kids attend District 2 schools. One of those kids is a masculine daughter. When her daughter was little, Lisa noticed people responding very oddly to her daughter’s gender-nonconformity. They would ask what her pronouns were, and if she was a “trans boy.” Lisa was mystified. Since when did it become unacceptable for girls to be tomboys? Why were people (liberal people) suggesting her daughter needed to identify as male in order to be herself?

In 2017, Lisa wrote an op-ed about this issue for The New York Times. Soon came the vitriol. People threatened to kidnap her daughter for not “affirming” her as trans. Before long, most of the news outlets to which Lisa had contributed for years deplatformed her.

Since then, not much has changed about Lisa’s perspective, other than that she’s collected a heck of a lot more information (she’s currently working on a book about what she’s learned). For her, the desistance literature was particularly enlightening. This consists of a series of studies on gender dysphoric young children, which all came to the same conclusion: if not socially transitioned, the bulk of the children desisted in their distress and grew up to be gay.

Lisa accepts that some people have a belief system she doesn’t share, and she recognizes their right to live according to that belief system. But she objects to the idea that we all must accept the idea of gender identity as fact, and she worries about the imposition of this idea on gender-nonconforming children.

“Education can’t be, ‘There is one way to think about this and if you don’t think this way, you’re a bad person,’” said Lisa. “It has to be, ‘There are a lot of ways to think about this, and let’s try to create an environment in which multiple viewpoints and understandings can be heard.”

In a normal world, a statement like that might draw at least a smattering of applause from an audience of supposedly liberal New Yorkers. But no one made a sound.

Then the mic came to me.

I started by speaking about my own gender-nonconformity in childhood—the lessons I was taught by my religious teachers about homosexuality, and being relentlessly bullied by my peers. I told the audience about how I coped, which was to “defeminize” myself in order to become what a boy is “supposed to be.” I spoke about my battles with anxiety, depression, drugs and alcohol, my eventual recovery, and my foray into activism.

“This was very grandiose of me,” I said, “but I wanted to create a world where there’s more space for gender-nonconforming boys and girls. Where little boys and little girls who are really different—yes, they might not be the norm, and the majority of young kids might act like your typical boys and girls—but there are going to be gender-nonconforming kids that are inherently that way. And rather than saying, ‘There’s something wrong with you,’ we protect them from the bullies. We safeguard them. We tell them, “Yes, you are different, and that’s perfectly OK.”

That vision, I found, was not very popular in the world of “LGBTQ” activism. Gender-nonconforming kids were not natural variations of their own sex. Instead, they were “trans” and therefore “born in the wrong bodies.” Thus, in order for feminine boys to behave the way they wanted—in order for them to openly like pink and wear dresses and grow their hair long—they needed to identify out of their sex category, and then medically and surgically modify their bodies to fit properly into society.

Soon, like Lisa, I became really hungry for knowledge about this issue. After I learned that youth transition began not so long ago, with the medicalization of a small cohort of young people, nearly all of whom were homosexual, I became really concerned. And then I started meeting gay people who had been harmed by these treatment protocols.

Maud asked me if, at age 12, I may have thought transition was an option if I had been exposed to the idea that I was perhaps born in the wrong body and actually a girl.

I said, “If the adults I trusted—the guidance counselors, teachers, whoever—had intervened and stopped the bullying and then told me, ‘This is not a spiritual malady. This is not something evil about you. This is a medical defect that can be fixed.’ My god, would I have thought, ‘Hallelujah, I’m saved. Sign me up.’ I would have finally fit in. I would have been allowed to express myself in the way that I wanted to—to be gender-nonconforming, so long as I identified as a girl. But that would mean that there would also be folks saying, ‘There’s a medical protocol that you follow.’”

So, there you have it. There’s our “hate speech.” Our “transphobic” screeds.

Pretty reasonable, right?

Apparently not. After that, things got spicy. Maud asked each of us to speculate about how we had gotten to a place where the only way to “protect kids”—something we all want—is to silence whoever disagrees with you.

Lisa took this one. She explained how our understanding of the concepts of “harm” and “safety” have changed over time. When anti-bullying measures were first developed in the 90s, they were a response to the extreme violence that gender-nonconforming kids endured. “How did we get from that to, ‘If you don’t use the pronoun I want, I’m in danger of suicide’?” Lisa said.

Which was a great segue into a very important point.

“The bottom line is,” continued Lisa, “as Chase Strangio admitted to the Supreme Court, the suicide statistics you’re hearing are not true. There are not increased suicides among unaffirmed trans youth. There is nothing in the history of this research that suggests that we need to only treat people in a specific way or they are in imminent risk of harm.”

A woman sitting near the back of the audience interjected. “Why would you not treat someone the way they want to be treated?!” she yelled. “It doesn’t make sense!”

“Well, we can talk about compelled speech,” said Lisa. “We did try to explain that there is a belief system around gender identity that we do not share. And I respect your right to believe in it, but I don’t. The curriculum requires us to bow to a belief system we don’t share, and it includes lessons that we have concerns about, as former gender-nonconforming children and as a parent of a gender-nonconforming child.”

“What curriculum are you referring to?” yelled an audience member.

“We’re gonna take questions,” Maud reminded the audience. In the meantime, she asked them not to shout out questions.

A woman in the audience became irate. “This was publicized as a parent-led discussion, and this is not….!”

Maud put her foot down, saying she would close the meeting down if people don’t follow the rules.

The woman continued yelling. “This was falsely advertised!”

“I’ve raised four kids and I know how to shut down temper tantrums,” said Maud. “You guys have five more seconds to stop interrupting me and then the meetings over.”

“Heads down! Heads down!” a man in the audience shouted. He put his head in his arms and leaned against the chair in front of him. This, apparently, is one of the “jazzy tactics” the activists use to signal their collective disapproval of whatever is being said. This time, though, none of the other audience members put their heads down.

By now, my heart was about to pound out of my chest. I just don’t fare all that well when adults are yelling at each other. Not to mention that Cori, Lisa, and I had just shared some really vulnerable stuff with a bunch of strangers, so to quickly be met with hostility was disorienting, to say the least.

“There are people in the audience who have been really respectful, and I want to acknowledge you,” said Maud. “Also, I’ve had 10 months of rude protesters at our general calendar meetings, so my fuse is a little shorter than it usually is.”

Two audience members yelled something I didn’t make out.

Soon after that, the question-and-answer portion officially began. The first person to speak was named August. She appeared to be a female who had masculinized with testosterone. August introduced herself as a trans person, a Trevor Project representative, a crisis counselor, and “someone whose life was saved by my community.” She said she was saddened that we would come there and “smear” kids “who were so vulnerable and so sad.” She accused Lisa of misquoting Chase Strangio (Lisa did not misquote Strangio), then said, “There are so many people who are dead. Who are dead!”

Finally, August got to her question. She asked Cori to define what a woman is.

“Can we talk about female, or do you want woman?” Cori said.

“You were like, ‘There needs to be women’s spaces,’” said August.

“I think I said ‘sex-segregated,’” Cori responded. “What do I mean by sex-segregated? It’s your biological plan. So, if your body was developed to produce eggs, you’re female.”

August proceeded to interject with an activist talking point so clichéd, any of us could have predicted it.

“So, it’s just if you have eggs,” August gibed. “So, people who are infertile…”

“No,” Cori said. Clearly, he too was expecting this exact response. “If your body’s development plan is to produce eggs, you’re female. If your body’s development plan is to produce sperm, you’re male.”

August called this “hypothetical.”

“It’s not hypothetical,” said Cori. “It’s observable. If you believe in science, then you know that there’s instruments that can be used to determine which body plan…” He paused, frustrated that he needed to explain the birds and the bees to an adult. Or maybe I was just projecting. “Even in the extremely odd case where the chromosomes are XY, that female development pattern is still female. So, we have these really weird corner cases…”

“Those people are intersex, they’re not really weird,” sniped August.

“I'm gonna ignore you for a minute,” said Cori, “because that's really rude to twist…”

“Well, you said ‘really weird.’”

“I didn't say individuals were weird.”

“Can you have a seat?” Maud asked August.

“I thought this was a dialogue,” August said.

So, Cori dialogued. “It's sort of dirty to say that a difference of sexual development is unusual or weird, and then for somebody to say you're saying the people are weird. No, it's an unusual condition. So, you are a woman if you are an adult and your body follows the female development, and you're a man, like I am, like some other people in the audience are. Some people are male but look more feminine, some people are female but look more masculine. But you're a man if you're an adult human male and you're a woman if you're an adult human female. There's nothing wrong with that, there's nothing shameful about that. And if you're like me, and you've done something unusual with your body so that you've modified your sex traits, your sex characteristics, you may have some of the outward appearances of the opposite sex, but that doesn't make me not a man and it wouldn't make somebody like Buck Angel not a woman.”

August returned to his seat.

Maud asked Lisa if she wanted to add anything to that. “Sure,” she said, adding how distracting it is to have to argue that a woman is an adult human female. She then spoke briefly about two very rare intersex conditions, which, when it came to sex-segregated spaces, would probably be the edge cases we need to consider.

“How does this show up in the curriculum?” came a question from the audience.

Lisa said, “On the first day of fourth grade, my daughter was asked to create an identity web and put whether she was cisgender, transgender, or nonbinary on it. So, there are lessons about gender identity, and they are, again, taught as fact. You can look up the New York City DoE regulations, they say exactly what you have to do. There’s a lot of compelled speech. I don’t know how that works with the First Amendment…”

“It doesn’t,” said Maud.

A man sitting in the front row spoke up. He introduced himself as a D2 parent and a father of two daughters, “one trans and one not.” He asked how he could keep his trans kid safe from experiencing gender dysphoria if everything is sex-segregated.

Cori thanked the man for coming and for sharing his story with us. He said he can imagine that, over the years, a lot of “good-hearted people” have given him “the worst possible advice at the worst possible time.” He told the father that a lot of doctors and therapists are not telling parents the real risks of these treatments. The surgeries aren’t great, and if his child was on puberty blockers, there’s a good chance he won’t be able to have a normal sex life. Earlier, Cori recounted for the audience an op-ed he had written for The Washington Post in 2022, in which he admitted that, as a result of his vaginoplasty at 19, he has never been able to orgasm with a partner.

“That’s crushing, actually,” said Cori. “Because in order to partner with people, a healthy sex life is really important.”

“I have made post-op girls cum, just for the record,” August shouted. “It’s not…”

“We’re gonna let them answer, please,” said Maud.

Cori continued. He advised the father to think about his child in the future, and that he will have to live for many years with the decisions that his parents made for him.

“I promise you they will come for answers,” said Cori. “They’ll say, ‘What was I really like? Was there anything else that I could have done, were there any other treatments?’ And you’ll be able to say, ‘No, the doctors didn’t give me any other options,’ because institutionally talk therapies and [cognitive-behavioral therapy] have been recategorized as conversion therapy.”

At some point, as Cori spoke, August stood up from his seat and walked to the front row. He had the father stand up so that he could give him a hug in front of everyone.

Next, it was a mother of a nonbinary child who has chronic health conditions. The mother is a volunteer facilitator for PFLAG. She called Cori arrogant for projecting his own experience onto everyone else’s. She said we’re facing “a tsunami of anti-LGBTQ policy coming our way.” She asked him if he supports Trump’s proposal of eliminating X gender makers for adults who identify as nonbinary.

“You’re so articulate, I appreciate the question,” Cori said. “PFLAG no longer stands for Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, right?”

The woman said no, it’s just the acronym.

Cori proceeded to answer her question. “If there’s a marker that’s supposed to list your sex, it should be male or female, and there’s no need at all for your gender marker to reflect your gender identity.”

Next came a question for me. A woman sitting in the back asked why I think there’s not a space for gender-nonconforming kids right now. She said she’s not understanding the debate.

I reiterated that I object to the reductive way that gender expression is talked about in schools, which I fear will lead gender-nonconforming children to think they might’ve been born in the wrong body simply because they behave more like the opposite sex. If, as a child, I had been asked which sex I “feel” like, I certainly would have said I “felt” like a girl. While I can acknowledge there are some people whose gender dysphoria will persist into adulthood, and that those adults might make decisions to modify their bodies in order to appear more like the opposite sex, I believe that every kid has a right to grow up with their bodies intact and healthy.

Lisa spoke next. She thanked the woman for her question and said she had one of her own. “Why are so many people here so hostile to incorporating our ideas?” She added that most of the questions have assumed that gender identity is a fact, while we see it as a kind of religious belief. She doesn’t believe that everyone has a separate gendered soul that can be “excavated and revealed.”

“It’s fine if you believe that,” she said. “What we are asking for people to consider is that some people don’t, and it doesn’t make them bigots.”

Lisa then mentioned a book often seen in schools, I Am Jazz, in which the protagonist says he has a girl’s brain in a boy’s body because he likes pink and mermaids, and that makes him transgender.

“Therefore, what many children learn, if they’re a boy who likes pink and mermaids, is that they’re in the wrong body,” said Lisa. “And it needs to be OK for us to raise our concerns about that.”

After that came a question from a woman wearing a mask, who identified herself as a “cis queer woman” with some kind of LGBTQ certificate from NYU. She said she’s gender-nonconforming because she has short hair and sometimes wears pants. She told Lisa that, actually yes, Lisa does have a gender identity.

When it appeared she was just going to keep rambling, Maud asked if she had a question.

“MAUD!” shouted the irate woman. “Can you actually show some respect for the people asking questions?!”

Maud gave the masked woman a few more chances. She continued to ramble, but never got to a question. Finally, she passed the mic to a very tall man wearing a blue cardigan. It was the same man who had ordered everyone to put their heads down.

The man stood up. Along with the blue cardigan, he wore a dress. His question was for Cori. “I’m a trans mom, I’m a transwoman,” he said. “I’ve got two kids, and I’m at the airport, and I’ve got ‘F’ on my passport. And I think, in the universe that you’re creating, that would not fly—excuse the pun. Then what happens? Like, what would happen to me and my family?”

“Well, depending on how you were presenting yourself…” Cori began to answer.

“I’m in a dress. I’m wearing a fucking dress.”

Maud asked him not to curse, since it was a school committee meeting.

“Oh, I can’t say ‘fuck?’ Fucking fuck fuck fuck,” he said.

Cori went on. “I use men’s spaces, and it’s OK. It’s a little uncomfortable. But you know what? Men just wanna pee.”

“What does that mean?” the man said.

“It means, if you use the men’s room, they’re not interested in what you’re doing, they’re just there to pee.”

“Are you calling her a man?” said August.

“I’m saying that, if you use the facility that accords to your sex, you don’t have to worry about the men that are in there mistreating you, because they’re just there to pee.”

“I think you are suggesting that I have to go to the men’s room,” the man said.

Cori replied, “You should use the sex space that’s accorded for your sex.”

Shortly thereafter, the man in the blue cardigan gathered his things and stomped out of the room. The mother of the nonbinary child with chronic health conditions followed him.

Finally, we made it to the last question. A person in the audience asked what kinds of policies we would propose to replace the existing ones.

Cori answered, “Sex should be treated as sex, and what we consider ‘gender’ should be protected as gender expression. Boys should be able to wear female-coded clothes, females should be able to wear masculine clothes, they should be able to adopt nicknames, they should be safe in school always and not targeted for violence or bullying because of their gender expression. If all of the energy that went into gender identity instead went into just how we express ourselves, I think that would be the best way to help these kids.”

I concurred. I said that there are males and females and rare intersex cases, and that people can express themselves however they want. I said that the way gender is currently being talked about in schools might actually be priming gender-nonconforming children to become gender dysphoric as they grow up. If a young boy says he “feels like a girl,” and all of the adults in his life affirm him as one, then, as his body matures, reality will betray what everyone has been telling him. He’ll become dysphoric, and medicalizing will seem like the most viable option.

After me, Lisa made a plug for viewpoint diversity when it comes to creating policy. She said we need to hear people who have been helped by existing policies, but we also need to hear from people who have been harmed.

“We cannot make good policy if we do not acknowledge the cost,” she said.

And with that, the meeting was adjourned.

Later that night, Maud realized she left behind some of the recording equipment. She emailed the school principal about it, and also thanked him for allowing us to use the space for our meeting. He responded by saying that his mother, who once represented the KKK when she worked for the ACLU, taught him that “suppressing hate speech is counterproductive, making martyrs of bigots.” He hadn’t watched the program, but he thinks he would have vehemently disagreed with a lot of it.

Maud responded, “You would likely learn a lot from, be impressed by, and find yourself agreeing with the panelists last night. Defending the 1st A and viewpoint diversity, as your mom did, is at its most robust when you do more than just begrudgingly allow speech but when you actually listen to other points of views. And here those points of view included multiple D2 parents.”

She pasted a link to the live stream and thanked him again.

To the principle’s credit, he followed up with Maud after he watched the video. He thanked her for suggesting he watch it and was glad he did. He said he still disagreed with a lot of what was said, particularly the underlying assumption that schools are pushing a particular ideology. He wondered whether the “fear mongering and scapegoating of trans people during the election made people pay attention and think there is a crisis.”

Isn’t that always the way?

These people are bigots.

OK, they’re not necessarily bigots, but they’re overreacting. This stuff isn’t happening. Besides, it’s probably all because of Trump.

Eventually, down the road:

OK, this stuff is happening.

And finally:

It’s good that it’s happening…. Bigot!

As of now, Resolution #248 is dead in its tracks. The former schools chancellor, David Banks, who retired in December after having his house raided as part of the federal corruption investigation into Mayor Eric Adams’s administration, said last year, “We will not be entertaining changes to that [2019 gender] guidance.” To my knowledge, the new chancellor, Melissa Aviles-Ramos, has not commented on the resolution.

Regardless, it’s now very clear how deeply gender identity ideology has embedded itself within our schools and communities. As a result, we no longer speak the same language. Maud, Lisa, Cori, and I acknowledge the material reality of sex. We’re run-of-the-mill liberals who believe in things like free speech and viewpoint diversity. But not these folks.

In his final email to Maud, the principal did mention that he doesn’t see a lot of this occurring in his school. And that very well might be true, since his school has a lot of low-income and immigrant students, which are not the primary demographics in which gender ideology metastasizes. I only hope it stays true.

But what we all must realize is that this is occurring in schools. Widely occurring. Right now, in the most advanced nation in the world, kids are being taught that sex isn’t real. They’re being taught that they can choose their sex, and that that choice rests upon the most regressive ideas of what it means to be a boy and what it means to be a girl. Girls are being taught to simply accept the presence of boys in their sports and private spaces. They’re being told that it’s their problem and that they might be in trouble if they object to a boy who claims to be a girl coming into their locker room.

Right now, in America.

Perhaps that’s okay for some people. But I’m worried about the consequences of an entire generation being taught a pseudoscience. And I don’t think it’s wise for kids to be told to disregard their personal boundaries.

And I know I’m not alone. A New York Times poll has revealed that the majority of Americans disapprove of trans-identified males in women’s sports and do not believe that gender-distressed minors should have access to puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones.

The majority of Republicans and Democrats.

We must end it now.

--

Full video:

==

As always...

[theculturedmarxist]

[...]

By any reasonable measure, the jury of Manhattanites who yesterday found former president Donald Trump guilty on all 34 charges did its job, and did it well.

They took on a civic duty from which many others fled; during jury selection, when Judge Juan Merchan allowed potential jurors who did not want to serve essentially to walk out the door, over half the assembled pool headed straight for the exits. The jurors sat through six weeks of testimony, they were by all accounts attentive throughout the trial, and they asked precise, insightful questions of the judge during deliberations. Nobody’s truly in position to say if the jury got it right or wrong; they saw the evidence and we didn’t — most of us, that is, including those like me who followed every line of testimony as it happened; there’s no substitute for seeing it play out live. Reasonable minds could have come out either way, and this jury found that the prosecution carried its burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury’s work, and their verdict, deserve respect.

But that doesn’t mean that every structural infirmity around the Manhattan district attorney’s case has evaporated. Both of these things can be true at once: The jury did its job, and this case was an ill-conceived, unjustified mess. Sure, victory is the great deodorant, but a guilty verdict doesn’t make it all pure and right. Plenty of prosecutors have won plenty of convictions in cases that shouldn’t have been brought in the first place. “But they won” is no defense to a strained, convoluted reach unless the goal is to “win,” now, by any means necessary and worry about the credibility of the case and the fallout later.

The following are all undeniable facts.

The judge donated money — a tiny amount, $35, but in plain violation of a rule prohibiting New York judges from making political donations of any kind — to a pro-Biden, anti-Trump political operation, including funds that the judge earmarked for “resisting the Republican Party and Donald Trump’s radical right-wing legacy.” Would folks have been just fine with the judge staying on the case if he had donated a couple bucks to “Re-elect Donald Trump, MAGA forever!”? Absolutely not.

District Attorney Alvin Bragg ran for office in an overwhelmingly Democratic county by touting his Trump-hunting prowess. He bizarrely (and falsely) boasted on the campaign trail, “It is a fact that I have sued Trump over 100 times.” (Disclosure: Both Bragg and Trump’s lead counsel, Todd Blanche, are friends and former colleagues of mine at the Southern District of New York.)

Most importantly, the DA’s charges against Trump push the outer boundaries of the law and due process. That’s not on the jury. That’s on the prosecutors who chose to bring the case and the judge who let it play out as it did.

The district attorney’s press office and its flaks often proclaim that falsification of business records charges are “commonplace” and, indeed, the office’s “bread and butter.” That’s true only if you draw definitional lines so broad as to render them meaningless. Of course the DA charges falsification quite frequently; virtually any fraud case involves some sort of fake documentation.

But when you impose meaningful search parameters, the truth emerges: The charges against Trump are obscure, and nearly entirely unprecedented. In fact, no state prosecutor — in New York, or Wyoming, or anywhere — has ever charged federal election laws as a direct or predicate state crime, against anyone, for anything. None. Ever. Even putting aside the specifics of election law, the Manhattan DA itself almost never brings any case in which falsification of business records is the only charge.

Standing alone, falsification charges would have been mere misdemeanors under New York law, which posed two problems for the DA. First, nobody cares about a misdemeanor, and it would be laughable to bring the first-ever charge against a former president for a trifling offense that falls within the same technical criminal classification as shoplifting a Snapple and a bag of Cheetos from a bodega. Second, the statute of limitations on a misdemeanor — two years — likely has long expired on Trump’s conduct, which dates to 2016 and 2017.

So, to inflate the charges up to the lowest-level felony (Class E, on a scale of Class A through E) — and to electroshock them back to life within the longer felony statute of limitations — the DA alleged that the falsification of business records was committed “with intent to commit another crime.” Here, according to prosecutors, the “another crime” is a New York State election-law violation, which in turn incorporates three separate “unlawful means”: federal campaign crimes, tax crimes, and falsification of still more documents. Inexcusably, the DA refused to specify what those unlawful means actually were — and the judge declined to force them to pony up — until right before closing arguments. So much for the constitutional obligation to provide notice to the defendant of the accusations against him in advance of trial. (This, folks, is what indictments are for.)

In these key respects, the charges against Trump aren’t just unusual. They’re bespoke, seemingly crafted individually for the former president and nobody else.

The Manhattan DA’s employees reportedly have called this the “Zombie Case” because of various legal infirmities, including its bizarre charging mechanism. But it’s better characterized as the Frankenstein Case, cobbled together with ill-fitting parts into an ugly, awkward, but more-or-less functioning contraption that just might ultimately turn on its creator.

Trump will appeal, as is his right, and he’s certain to contest the inventive charges constructed by the DA. I won’t go so far as to say an appeals court is likely to overturn a conviction — New York law is broad and hazy enough to (potentially) allow such machinations — but he’s going to have a decent shot at a reversal.

“No man is above the law.” It’s become cliché, but it’s an important point, and it’s worth pausing to reflect on the importance of this core principle. But it’s also meaningless pablum if we unquestioningly tolerate (or worse, celebrate) deviations from ordinary process and principle to get there. The jury’s word is indeed sacrosanct, as I learned long ago. But it can’t fix everything that preceded it. Here, prosecutors got their man, for now at least — but they also contorted the law in an unprecedented manner in their quest to snare their prey.

This article originally appeared in the free CAFE Brief newsletter. You can find more analysis of law and politics from Elie Honig, Preet Bharara, Joyce Vance, and other CAFE contributors at CAFE.com

[darkmaga-returns]

By Douglas Schwartz

Without safe cities, including New York, the nation’s largest, America’s prospects are dim.  Cities house over 80% of Americans, a figure that has risen steadily over time.  The collective experiences of the 12 New York jurors selected to judge subway hero Daniel Penny provide insight regarding the city’s status.  Penny is charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide by one of your favorite president’s favorite prosecutors, New York City DA Alvin Bragg.  

Juror #1 “has seen outbursts on the subway before” and “feels apprehensive about being physically threatened.”

Juror #4 ”has witnessed subway outbursts and has felt personally targeted.”  

Juror #5 “has witnessed outbursts and has felt personally targeted.”

Juror #6’s “daughter was once assaulted in Times Square.”

Juror #7 “has seen outbursts.”

Juror #9’s husband “survived a street mugging . . . and said ‘Yes, of course’ she has witnessed subway outbursts.”

Juror #10 is a “woman who endured harassment on a near-empty subway car.”

Juror #11 “survived a robbery four years ago . . . he said he has witnessed outbursts.”

Juror #12 “has seen outbursts.”

Two jurors are attorneys, one female, one male.  Given the facts of the case and jurors' experiences, the likelihood of Penny’s conviction seems remote.  The Penny trial echoes 1987’s Bernhard Goetz trial.  Goetz was acquitted by a jury after having shot four black youths who allegedly attempted to rob him on a subway.  1980s subway robberies have largely been replaced by today’s mental health cases creating their own chaos.  In Goetz’s era, 38 subway crimes a day were reported and the city’s annual murder rate hovered around 2,000.  Those numbers are now down to 6 and 386, respectively.  Rudy Giuliani won his first mayoral election six years after Goetz’s trial, beginning the city’s crime turnaround.  The strength of the case against Goetz was orders of magnitude greater than the evidence against Penny, yet a New York jury refused to convict Goetz, victim of a previous mugging and beating, of attempted murder and first-degree assault.  Ironically, with the recent assassination of Peanut the squirrel, Goetz went on to become a squirrel rescuer.  One of his four shooting victims eventually committed suicide after serving 25 years for rape; another was in and out of prison.

[psychics4unet]

Hi! I have done as the instructions of the Egypt sand free tarot reading. Can you answer one question of mine? Thank you <3

If Alvin would be together with me, will he be a good partner for a long term commitment? (If you can please be detailed with the answer) <3.

Free Psychic Reading By Egyptian Sand! (PAID READINGS ARE ALSO OPENED!) 🏺🌟✨

Hello! Let’s dive into the sand to see what messages come forward about your connection with Alvin 🏜️✨

The first pattern emerging is two intertwined rings 💍, a symbol of unity, partnership, and commitment. This suggests that there is potential for a long-term relationship with Alvin. The rings intertwining shows that you both can complement each other’s strengths and support one another in a balanced way. It feels like there is a genuine bond and mutual respect between you two, which can grow into something lasting.

Next, I see a mountain 🏔️. While this can represent challenges, it also symbolizes strength, stability, and endurance. A relationship with Alvin might not always be smooth, but this symbol shows that he has the ability to weather difficulties and stick with you through hard times. The mountain suggests that if you face any obstacles together, they will make your connection stronger, not weaker. 💪🌟

Lastly, a heart ❤️ appears, but it’s not just any heart—it’s surrounded by waves 🌊. This tells me that Alvin might be someone who is emotionally deep but also requires patience to fully open up. The waves represent emotions flowing in and out, so there might be times where he needs space or time to process. However, once he’s emotionally committed, the heart shows he is caring and loving, providing the affection and attention needed in a long-term relationship. 💓

Summary: Alvin has the potential to be a good long-term partner, showing a mix of stability, loyalty, and emotional depth. While you may face some challenges together, they will strengthen your bond. His heart is in the right place, and he has what it takes to build a meaningful, lasting relationship with you. 🌹💍🏔️❤️

Got questions or need some insight into your life? I'm here to help with personal psychic readings! For just $7, you can get answers to up to 7 questions! More info at:

In case anyone else here on tumblr would like a free psychic reading, Click the link and follow the instructions (I answer only to those who follow the instructions, thank you):

[southeastasianists]

The Intan is a one-of-a-kind boutique museum with over 5,000 Peranakan artifacts, a unique culture that came to be in the 15th century in Southeast Asia. In a relatively young Singapore, which became an independent sovereign country in 1965, this is quite a rare treat.  The Intan is also nestled in the charming precinct of Joo Chiat which has been designated as Singapore's first Heritage Town by the government. 

The Intan's curator and owner, Alvin Yapp, lives in the museum. All the artifacts and antiques, including the exquisite material culture of the Peranakans like the beaded shoes and tiffin carriers, are part of Yapp's personal collection.

Unlike regular museums where visitors appreciate exhibits through audio guides or write-ups, and perhaps the occasional docents, all visitors to the Intan get personal tour from Yapp. An affable and interesting personality, he offers his guests quite a good dose of the Peranakan culture through his encounters and stories, often peppered with good humor and great insights. Every visit to the Intan comes with delightful Peranakan cakes and specially brewed tea. If you're lucky, and time allows, Yapp might play a song or two on the piano.

Visitors who want a more customized experience can arrange for hands-on learning of beading, coloring of tiles, appreciation of the beautiful Peranakan jewelry, or even a wellness program involving a sound bath.   

It is a highly immersive experience where you can learn about a unique culture and experience the charming hospitality of a local in his house.

[demigodsanswer]

So, just read all of Twice Upon a Pointe this evening. And it is one of the greatest things ever. I have many many questions, but let's start with this one: why did you decide to set the "roman's" company in Miami instead of San Francisco?

I love this question! Also thank you, I'm so glad you like the fic!

It mostly has to do with George Balanchine, his style, and his repertory.

The very first spark of inspiration I had for this story back in 2019 was Tarantella. I found this video of Edward Villela doing Tarantella in 2019, and said "That's Percy Jackson. If he was a ballet dancer, that would be his ballet." And the story really started to spin out from there, with the next major piece of inspiration being The Sleeping Beauty, which is my favorite ballet (besides Alvin Ailey's Revelations).

So it was immediately clear to me that Percy was a Balanchine dancer, with this very quick, very American style. And so when I was thinking of a ballet company that might tempt him, I new it needed to be one with a strong Balanchine rep. While SFB does do Balanchine ballets, Miami is the other major US company that does his rep, and it was actually founded by Edward Villela, who worked closely with Balanchine and had several ballets choreographed for him, including Tarantella, Rubies, Prodigal Son, and Apollo. (I decided not to bring in real dancers as much as possible, name dropping only Edward Villela and Patrica McBride in passing for authenticity sake. I didn't want the story to get too tied up with real dancers, particularly dancers with more recent careers like Daci Kistler and Wendy Whelan, who would 100% have been huge inspirations for Annabeth). So Miami CB seemed like the perfect fit. IRL, it's also a company that takes a lot of SAB dancers, which added authenticity to Percy and Rachel getting initial offers there.

I also like playing with weather motifs and the pathetic fallacy just a little. Making it Miami meant I got to contrast the cold of January and February in New York with the warmth and humidity of Miami in March. On a symbolic level, it raises the question: is it hot because of passion, hard work, and sweat? Or is there a tension under the surface? Or is it simply just hot? (Also my only other complete multi-chapter fic is a Star Wars fic called More Light Than Heat, so this is a repeat symbolic fixation of mine).

The other less story-relevant reason was that the major source of information for NYCB has been the ballerina Kathryn Morgan and her YouTube channel (I mean, she literally has a series on her channel called Once Upon a Pointe). When I was coming up with the story in 2019 and first writing it in 2020, she was a soloist with Miami CB. So, as I was drafting the story the first time around, I made it Miami because I thought I'd get some insights into their company from her channel, and thus could write with a certain insider knowledge and authenticity like I could with NYCB. Unfortunately, she left Miami CB after being mistreated. Thankfully, she's gone on to do many wonderful things since then (she recently danced Giselle, it's beautiful, it's on youtube go watch it), but that means I never got the insights into the company.

But it is still a top five company with a strong Balanchine base, and with connections to NYCB, so when I decided to rewrite the story, I just kept it as Miami.

[nijigasakilove]

Nanatsuma Fridays!

So we got the Carlos and Ophelia backstory that was cutout last episode. Brief, but gave some really sad insight into how the Salvadori family views sex and their bodies as just a tool to her access to stronger bloodlines. Carlos taught her that doesn’t have to be her only purpose.

Lol, Guy is mean for teasing Katie about Oliver getting horny in the labyrinth. He’s right though. Even the sight of Nanao sweat getting Oliver all hot and bothered. He so real 😂

Still don’t get how Cyrus isn’t a 45 year old man. No way bro is a Kimberly student lol. All the playing with the dead has really aged him.

Really goes to show you how strong a guy Alvin is to use Dolor on himself every time he saw Ophelia. Someone with that level of commitment and determination to his friends is the perfect fit for a leadership position at this academy. But more importantly, he and his friends totally changed Ophelia’s outlook on life which can’t be understated

Fuck the kids who bullied her because she was close to Alvin. I just hate Ophelia didn’t talk to her friends before totally changing her personality all because of those idiots. The only people who matter are those who actually know you.

A solid episode, but I wish they’d have spent more time on this volume. This is supposed to be a very powerful emotional climax but the pacing.. they removed a lot of stuff between Carlos and Ophelia, stuff with Alvin, etc. For example how Ophelia has been getting pregnant by make students at school since day 1. I wish they’d have given this the time they gave volume 1.

Please be a good finale next week 🙏🏾

[batmannotes]

ALL-STAR SUPERMAN 

BRUCE TIMM & DWAYNE MCDUFFIE’S DC ANIMATED MASTERPIECE COMES TO 4K ULTRA HDTM 

FOR THE FIRST TIME ON APRIL 18, 2023

BURBANK, CA (February 15, 2023) – One of the Man of Steel’s most personal tales in DC history – from the mind of comics icon Grant Morrison, and produced under the expert oversight of animation legends Bruce Timm and Dwayne McDuffie – All-Star Superman will be available to own on 4K Ultra HD for the very first time on April 18, 2023 from Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment.

Grant Morrison's beloved, Eisner Award-winning vision of Superman's heroic final days on Earth is brought to exquisite, animated life in All-Star Superman. The film begins as the Man of Steel rescues an ill-fated mission to the Sun (sabotaged by Lex Luthor) but, in the process, is oversaturated by radiation - which accelerates his cell degeneration. Sensing even he will be unable to cheat death, Superman ventures into new realms - finally revealing his secret to Lois, confronting Lex Luthor's perspective of humanity, and attempting to ensure Earth's safety before his own impending end with one final, selfless act.

Twelve years after its initial release, All-Star Superman holds a “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.  The film was the 10th in the ongoing series of DC Universe Movies and DC Animated Movies that now number more than 50 films across 17 years.

The star-studded voice cast is headed by James Denton (Good Witch, Desperate Housewives), Christina Hendricks (Mad Men, Good Girls) and Anthony LaPaglia (Without A Trace) as Superman, Lois Lane and Lex Luthor, respectively. Other noteworthy cast members are seven-time Emmy Award winner Ed Asner (Up, Elf, The Mary Tyler Moore Show) as Perry White, Golden Globe winner Frances Conroy (American Horror Story, Joker, Six Feet Under) as Ma Kent, Matthew Gray Gubler (Criminal Minds, Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise) as Jimmy Olsen and Linda Cardellini (Avengers: Endgame, Dead to Me, ER) as Nasty. 

Rounding out the impressive cast are Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy), Steve Blum (Star Wars: Rebels, Cowboy Bebop, Naruto), Catherine Cavadini (Elvis, Soul, The Powerpuff Girls), Finola Hughes (General Hospital, Staying Alive), Alexis Denisof (Guardians of the Galaxy, Angel), Obba Babatunde (S.W.A.T., That Thing You Do!), John DiMaggio (Futurama, Interview with the Vampire), Chris Cox (Family Guy), Robin Atkin Downes (The Strain, Batman: The Long Halloween), Kevin Michael Richardson (Mortal Kombat, The Simpsons), Fred Tatasciore (Star Trek: Lower Decks, American Dad!) and Michael Gough (Overwatch, Batman: Arkham Origins).

All-Star Superman is executive produced by animation guru Bruce Timm (Batman: The Animated Series) and directed by Sam Liu (Batman: The Killing Joke, The Death and Return of Superman) from a script by acclaimed animation/comics writer Dwayne McDuffie (Static Shock, Justice League/Justice League Unlimited).

McDuffie, an incomparable force in the comics and animation realm, was a co-founder of Milestone Media, the industry’s most successful minority-owned-and-operated comic company. His creations are headlined by Static Shock, for which he won a Humanitas Prize in 2003, and he served as producer in helping guide the beloved Justice League/Justice League Unlimited animated series. McDuffie passed away in 2011 at the age of 49.

All-Star Superman will be available to purchase April 18, 2023 on 4K Ultra HD both online and in-store at major retailers.

SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:

The Art of the All-star Adaptation (New Featurette) – Go behind the scenes and inside the process of screenwriting, character designing and scoring the animated adaptation of the quintessential Superman comic series, All-Star Superman. This fascinating featurette includes insight from executive producer Bruce Timm, director Sam Liu, character designer Dusty Abell and composer Christopher Drake.

An All-Star Salute to the Silver Age Superman (New Featurette) – Explore DC’s historical inspirations in Grant Morrison’s love letter to the wildly fantastic Silver Age of Superman in comics.

Superman Now (Featurette) – In a moment of inspiration, Grant Morrison was provided an opportunity to revamp the Man of Steel into something modern, something more relevant for today's audience. This is the story of All-Star Superman - where it all started, and what it came to be.

The Creative Flow: Incubating the Idea with Grant Morrison (Featurette) – A detailed look at Grant Morrison’s original sketches and ideas.

Audio Commentary – Featuring the thoughts of Bruce Timm and Grant Morrison.

Digital Comic Book – All-Star Superman

Languages: English, French, and Spanish

Running Time: 76 minutes

Rated PG for some violence

Preorder at Amazon. Direct link here.

Running Time: 76 minutes

Rated PG for some violence

[braveryhearted]

More obscure muses ( Introduction ) series.

Fandom: Tales of Xillia.

Muse- Jude Mathis

Age 15-16 ( games )

Jude Mathis is one of the two main characters in Tales of Xillia. He is a medical student training in the royal city when he is engulfed into Milla Maxwell's adventures.

Jude is described by his mother, Ellen, as "too quick to help others." He is always concerned about the well-being of those around him, even at the cost of his own. When Milla explains to Ellen the story of how they met, she says that it sounds exactly like something he would do, since he's been like this ever since he was a young child, and he was teased and even bullied for it. Yet, even when he came home all beaten up, he would still be smiling underneath.

It is later revealed by Leia that the reason why he is so helpful is because of a desire to feel wanted, due to being home alone more often than not when he was a kid. Jude is also shown to be very curious, often getting concerned with things that have nothing to do with the situation at hand, such as when he noticed a strange girl with a doll running around near Hamil and a group of shady men chasing her and couldn't stop thinking about it. However, this way of thinking, along with his impulsive inclination to help others, earns him criticism from Alvin, who claims he has "a nasty habit of poking [his] nose where it doesn't belong," since his curiosity and decision to help Milla is exactly what made all three of them wanted criminals. Milla, on the other hand, admires him for this trait, affectionately calling him a do-gooder on several occasions.

Despite this impulsive nature, Jude is usually calm and composed, which only increases as he spends more time with Milla and the others. According to Leia, he's always been like this, and Alvin suspects that he's been "freakishly level-headed since he was born". Although he comes off as stupid and reckless at times, he is simply naive when it comes to the ways of the world. In reality, Jude is very intelligent, as not only is he an honor student in Fennmont, but he's able to come up with highly effective strategies very quickly. His tactical brilliance is enough to impress both Alvin and Milla, with the latter noting that few people can think as fast as he can. He is a very diligent student in Fennmont, and was offered an opportunity to become an apprentice medical doctor after graduation by Professor Haus.

Jude is also shown to be a pacifist, as he frequently makes remarks after or outside of battle that suggest he is against fighting, which makes sense given that he's been trained as a doctor. He also starts off frightened every time he gets into a fight, something he admits to Milla and Alvin, but puts aside that fear since he knows that it's either him or his enemies. By the time the group reaches Kanabalar, however, Jude's gotten so used to fighting that it feels almost like second nature, and Alvin even claims that he'd do well as a mercenary, to the objections of everyone else in the party.

Jude is also shown to be a good judge of character, as he is easily able to pick up on the hints to Alvin's shady nature and guessed correctly that he isn't the kind of person to help people without expecting anything in return, like he and Milla are.

Jude is also a very dedicated person; despite his young age, he follows Milla in the hopes that he may be of some use to her. He seems to have gotten braver since he met her, as he gained the courage to stand up to his father Derrick, something he was never able to do when he was younger. He is also a great friend to all his companions, being both insightful and forgiving, especially to Alvin.

[livioacerbo]

Honda & Nissan Merger: The Dawn of a New Automotive Superpower! #Honda, #Nissan by Livio Andrea Acerbo (lacer2k) Honda & Nissan Merger: The Dawn of a New Automotive Superpower! #Honda, #Nissan, #AutomotiveInnovation, #ElectricVehicles, #CarIndustryNews, #HondaNissanMerger, #FutureOfMobility, #GreenGround, #SustainableCars, #TechInnovation Buckle up as we dive into the groundbreaking Honda and Nissan merger that’s set to revolutionize the automotive world! In this episode, Alvin from GreenGround unpacks how these two automotive giants are joining forces to create the world’s third-largest carmaker. Discover why this merger matters, what it means for electric vehicles and future technologies, and how it could change the way we drive forever. Will Honda and Nissan take the lead in the race for sustainability and innovation, or will this bold move face unforeseen challenges? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more insights into the fast-paced world of cars, tech, and innovation. More details and sources in the description below. Let us know your questions in the comments—Alvin’s got you covered! Let’s push the boundaries of imagination together! 🚀 and Remember, if you want to stay updated with the latest trends, news, and tech reviews, don’t forget to like and subscribe to GreengroundIT! Follow up on our website https://ift.tt/gK3mO1V or follow up on our social #fyp, #foryou, #love, #explorepage, #trending, #reviews, #news YouTube: https://youtube.com/@LivioAcerbo TikTok: https://ift.tt/ozhWYNe Facebook: https://ift.tt/uierqjQ Instagram: https://ift.tt/NeKCcHP Podcast: https://ift.tt/pwyWGEP Medium: https://ift.tt/eAO8UWT Telegram: https://ift.tt/pE3wb0q Reddit: https://ift.tt/XdOR0g9 Rumble: https://ift.tt/vQPBFA9 Soundcloud: https://ift.tt/djeHtqS Suno: https://ift.tt/XRLTYZd via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERbJBRONx_U

[eastbridgeunivercity]

A Professional Doctorate in Human Resource Management is an advanced, research-based degree designed for experienced HR professionals and leaders who seek to deepen their expertise and enhance their strategic impact in the field of human resources. The Doctorate Degree in Human Resource Management combines rigorous academic coursework with applied research projects, allowing candidates to explore contemporary HR issues such as talent management, organizational behavior, employee engagement, and strategic HR leadership. By integrating cutting-edge theories with hands-on practice, the Professional Doctorate in Human Resource Management equips professionals with the skills and insights needed to drive organizational performance, manage complex human capital dynamics, and foster an inclusive and innovative workplace culture. This degree is particularly valuable for those looking to advance to senior executive roles, become industry thought leaders, or contribute meaningfully to the development of HR strategies and policies within their organizations.

[cnacertificationprogram]

Leading CNA Classes in Houston: Your Path to a Rewarding Healthcare Career

Top CNA Classes ⁢in Houston: Your Path⁢ to​ a Rewarding Healthcare Career

If you’re looking to start a fulfilling career in healthcare, becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is an excellent choice. With ​a high⁣ demand for CNAs in⁢ Houston, this profession offers​ numerous⁢ opportunities for growth and advancement. In this article, we will explore the⁣ top CNA‌ classes available in Houston, the benefits of becoming a CNA, practical tips for success, and real-world ⁢insights ‌from​ professionals in the ⁤field.

Why Choose a⁢ Career as⁣ a CNA?

Before diving into the ⁤top CNA classes in Houston, let’s identify why‌ this profession is an‍ ideal choice for many aspiring ⁣healthcare‌ professionals:

High Demand: The ‍healthcare industry consistently seeks qualified nursing assistants to support patient care.

Fast Track Entry: CNA programs ‍are typically shorter than other healthcare training, allowing for quicker entry into the field.

Variety of Work Settings: ⁤ CNAs work in diverse environments including hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics.

Fulfillment: ⁤ Helping others provides a deep sense of satisfaction and personal fulfillment.

Top CNA Classes in Houston

When choosing a CNA program, it’s​ essential ⁣to find one that fits your needs, offers comprehensive training, and is accredited. ⁢Here, we ⁣present some of the top CNA classes in Houston:

School/Program ⁤Name

Location

Duration

Tuition ⁣Fee

Houston Community College

Houston, TX

4-8 Weeks

$1,250

Alvin Community College

Houston,⁣ TX

6 Weeks

$800

Career​ Team

Multiple ⁢Campuses

4 Weeks

$1,150

CNA ⁢Classes Houston

Houston,⁤ TX

6 Weeks

$850

1. Houston Community College

Houston Community College⁤ offers a⁤ robust CNA ⁢program that includes classroom instruction and extensive hands-on training. ⁢Their experienced instructors guide students through both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

2. Alvin Community College

Located ⁢in the heart of⁤ Houston, Alvin‍ Community College provides a ​straightforward and affordable CNA program. Their six-week course is designed to ⁣prepare students⁣ quickly and effectively for the state examination.

3. Career Team

Career Team is known for its flexible schedule and fast-paced CNA training. With multiple‌ campuses, this program caters to various needs and offers both daytime and evening classes suitable for working students.

4. CNA ‍Classes Houston

This program is recognized for its personalized ‍approach to healthcare ​training. With a smaller class size, students benefit from⁣ individualized attention from instructors while mastering essential​ CNA skills.

Benefits ​of Attending CNA Classes​ in Houston

Enrolling in ‍CNA classes in Houston comes with numerous advantages:

Job Placement Assistance: Many programs offer job placement services, ⁤helping⁤ graduates find‍ employment quickly.

Networking Opportunities: ⁤Students can connect with⁤ healthcare professionals and fellow ‍learners, expanding⁢ their job prospects.

Hands-On Experience: Students gain⁢ real-world experience through clinical ‍rotations, which‍ are essential for skill‌ development.

State Certification Preparation: Programs⁢ ensure ⁢that​ students are well-prepared for the state CNA ‌certification exam.

Practical Tips for Success ⁤in CNA ⁤Classes

Here are ⁣some practical tips​ for ⁣succeeding ‍in your CNA program:

Stay Organized: Keep track of assignments and important​ deadlines.

Engage Actively: Participate in discussions​ and practice sessions to ⁣reinforce your ‍learning.

Develop ‍Time Management ⁤Skills: Balance your study time with other commitments to⁢ ensure a⁤ healthy lifestyle.

Seek Help: Don’t hesitate to ask instructors for clarification or assistance ​when needed.

Real-World Insights: CNA Experiences

To give ⁢you a better understanding of⁣ what it’s like to be‌ a​ CNA, here are some firsthand experiences shared by graduates:

“The CNA program at HCC prepared me for real-life‌ challenges in patient care. The instructors ⁣were knowledgeable, and I felt⁣ confident after‌ completing my‍ training.” -​ Maria G.

“I ⁤appreciated the hands-on training I received at Alvin Community ��College. ⁢It​ made the⁢ transition to working in‌ a‍ nursing home ​much easier.” -⁤ John R.

“Career Team’s flexible⁢ scheduling allowed me to keep my job while getting my CNA certification. I’m now working⁤ full-time in a hospital.” ​- Lydia T.

Conclusion

Choosing ⁤to ​become a Certified ‌Nursing Assistant is a ⁤smart move toward⁤ a ⁢stable and rewarding career in healthcare. With a variety of top-quality CNA classes available in​ Houston, ⁢you have ‍the ⁤opportunity⁣ to get the training you need ‌to ​succeed.⁢ By enrolling⁤ in a program that fits your needs, engaging actively, and applying practical tips, you ⁢can ​excel in your studies and start your healthcare journey. Whether you dream of working in⁣ a⁤ hospital or a nursing home, the⁣ possibilities are endless for dedicated CNAs. Take‌ the first step today and embark on a ‌fulfilling career path in the ‍healthcare industry!

https://cnacertificationprogram.net/leading-cna-classes-in-houston-your-path-to-a-rewarding-healthcare-career/