#isis current household

[isissimss]

yesterday's pregnancy update | "I am not ready to share my birth story yet. But Both of my girls are really tiny! I was barely in my third trimester when a big kick caused my water to break. I was rushed to the hospital and the doctors had to act fast. Both babies were distressed, and I was rushed in for an epidural and then rushed back for a C-section. Both girls were born but were quickly taken to the NICU. We have a long road ahead of us. Thankfully, my birthing center allows us to stay as long as we want right now. Gianna is bigger, and Ellie is extremely small. We aren't sure what the next steps are, but we are taking it one day at a time.

today's update | Both babies have improved overnight. Last night was the hardest night of our lives, Gage's and mine. We sat in the room hoping for good news. It's so scary seeing our sweet girls wrapped in all those cords and fussing because they're uncomfortable and possibly just wanting me. I can't do anything! Gage was able to go to the NICU and bond with the girls for a little while this morning. Yesterday, we were unable to hold, touch, or feed our newborn girls. I keep asking the doctors for updates, but there hasn't been much change. We're unexpectedly being sent home today, and I'm dreading it. I just wish someone could pinch me and tell me that our girls are 9 lbs. and thriving. This isn't how I envisioned my first birth. I'm feeling frustrated and joyful all at once.

home | being home without my bump without my girls without everything I thought I would have feels empty also my postpartum body feels so different and I have to learn to deeply embrace it

[tamamita]

What's the difference between a Shia & Sunni? And why do they hate each others? (I'm an atheist so I don't know shit about religions)

Keep in mind that this is no way trying to shame or denounce my Sunni siblings, but I do believe it's important to highlight a historical fact and how it's detrimental to the current geopolitical situation, since we're embittered by historical events, while at the face of imperalism and colonialism.

Shi'as are a political group of people who iunitially held that Ali (a), the cousin of Muhammed (pbuh&hf) was the successor of the Prophet. This is evident in numerous hadiths, such as Hadith Ghadeer Khumm, the Hadith of Mubahila and the Hadith at Thaqalayn. Nevertheless, the issue steems from the incident at Saqifa, which was a council met by some companions by the Prophet, who held an abrupt meeting, discussing who'd lead the Muslim nation following the Prophet's death. The meeting was held without consulting Ali (a) and they chose Abu Bakr to become the caliph. As a result, Ali (a) did nor approve of the selection and did not pledge his allegience to Abu Bakr. the incident at Saqifa serves as a catalyst to the incidents that would befall the Muslim community, such as Fatimah's (a) miscarriage and the subsequent wars against Ali (a) by some of the Prophet's companions, Ali (a) and his sons Hassan (a) and Hussain's (a) martyrdom.

This caused the rift in the nascent Islamic community, the Shi'as were any Muslim who held that Ali (a) was the successor by divine right, and swore their allegience to Ali (a), while the rest of the Muslims were nonpartisans. Sunni Islam is the standardization of Islamic scholastic and jurisdictional opinions which were formed in the Abbasid caliph. So it's errounous to assume that there was a split between Sunnis and Shi'as, when Sunni Islam was formed a few centuries later.

The reason for the hate is because of fundamentalist attitudes toward Shi'as. Some Sunnis and Salafis believe that Shi'a Muslims are heretics, because of their veneration of saints and the importance of Shrine visitations, the other reason is because Shi'a Muslims practice the doctrine of dissociation, which is the belief that any of the enemies of the Prophet's household should be cursed, thus some of the personalites of the Sunnis are cursed by Shi'as. Ancient scholars, suchs as Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Qayyim placed some fatwas declaring Shi'a Muslims to be heretics. These scholars' opinions are still popular today and used as pretext for prejudice against Shi'as.

In a geopolitical context, Iran is often considered to be rivaling power to Saudi Arabia's Wahhabism, and have often threatened the Saudi hegemony. Because of the Axis of resistance and their growing influence in the SWANA region, the Gulf States have attempted at all cost to undermine the growing sympathy for Shi'as. Bahrain is upholding an apartheid against it's Shi'i majority, The Saudi refuses to ackowledge the Shi'i Houthis in Yemen, but supported the Hadi government, thus imposing a devastating blockade. The Iraqi war saw the Shi'as gain power, while the Sunnis were often a disenfranchised group following the Blackwater massacre, which contributed the rise of various militias and terrorist groups, such as ISIS. While in the Syrian Civil War, Shi'as mostly made up the bulk of resistance fighters that sided with Assad against the Free Syrian army and Salafi Islamist groups, such as, Tahrir al-Sham, Jaysh al-Sunnah, Islamic front, Ahrar al-Sham and etc. These have contributed to the increase of tension between Sunnis and Shi'as. However, the fight against Israel have united Muslims, but the biggest obstacle the Muslim community must get through are the Salafist and Wahhabi clerics, espousing tayyafiyah (sectarianism)

[isefyres-archive]

𝕻𝖗𝖊𝖘𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖒𝖚𝖘𝖊𝖘;

Lady Samantha Tarly. known as Lady Sam, was a member of House Tarly who wed first Lord Ormund Hightower and later his son, Lord Lyonel Hightower. She was the founder of the Bank of Oldtown. Lord Lyonel initially reacted angrily to the Sea Snake's offer, but Samantha allegedly persuaded her step-son to agree to the Corlys's terms by allowing Lyonel to seduce her and promising to marry him if he made peace. Dance Era. Canon.

Lady Liane Vance. is a noblewoman of House Vance of Wayfarer's Rest. She is the eldest daughter of the heir of Wayfarer's Rest, Ser Karyl Vance. Liane's grandfather, Lord Vance, dies at the battle below the Golden Tooth. As the new heir of the House, Liane searches for alliances against the Westerland forces. Song Era. Semi Canon.

Lady Isis Dalt. Isis is the brother of both the current Lord of Lemonwood and Andrey Dalt, his heir. Isis is a dedicated dancer and has created hier own company of dance to entertain at Sunspear to the emboys as well during parties. Isis unlike many Dornish women, claims to still be a maiden. Song Era. OC.

Lord Andrey Dalt. called Drey by his friends, is a knight of House Dalt. He is the brother and heir of Ser Deziel Dalt, the Knight of Lemonwood. Andrey has been a close friend of Princess Arianne Martell, daughter of Doran, Prince of Dorne, since childhood. Andrey is part of Princess Arianne Martell's conspiracy aiming to crown Princess Myrcella Baratheon as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Song Era, Canon.

Lady Dalia Vaith. Only daughter of Lord Daeron Vaith, the Lord of the Red Dunes, she is the current heir to the Dunes. Close to House Allyrion, Dalia's father wants to marry her to one of the Allyrion sons to join the ehouses and create a stronghold. Lady Dalia does not like the idea and spends her days flirting with other men. Her first kiss as she claims, ws with the much older Oberyn Martell as a birthday request. Song Era OC.

Lord Tremond Gargalen. is the Lord of Salt Shore and the head of House Gargalen. Lord Tremond is among the Dornish nobles who accompany Prince Oberyn Martell to King's Landing for the wedding of Joffrey I Baratheon. With no living heirs as they died during the Rebellion, Tremond travels to King's Landing to get his niece Elinor Tyrell to become his new heir apparent causing trouble among House Tyrell.

Ser Hallis Mollen. called Hal, is a member of the household guard of Lord Eddard Stark at Winterfell. During the battle in the Whispering Wood, Hallis personally commands the guards protecting Catelyn, after asking for the honor. He travels North now through side walks with the remains of Ned Stark bones and whatever remains of his belongings, he goes to pledge himself to Jon Snow. Song Era. Canon.

Lord Erren Florent. is knight of House Florent, the son of Ser Ryam Florent and brother to Selyse and Imry. Erren is brother-in-law to Stannis Baratheon. After the death of Renly Baratheon beneath Storm's End, Ser Erren and Ser Parmen Crane were sent by Stannis Baratheon to Bitterbridge to retrieve the better part of Renly's army, made up of foot soldiers. Ser Erren and Ser Parmen were captured by the Tyrells at Bitterbridge. He remains captured in Highgarden. Song Era. Canon.

Raynald Westerling is a knight from House Westerling, the eldest son and heir of Lord Gawen Westerling and Lady Sybell Spicer. Raynald is part of the entourage of Robb Stark, King in the North, when he returns to Riverrun from the westerlands, having married Raynald's sister, Jeyne. Raynald grew close to Robb and regarded him as a brother. Raynald tried to free Grey Wind during the Red Wedding, Raynald's body was not identified among the thousand corpses afterward, but his trail of blood led to the river's steps. Song Era. Canon.

Queen Doweger Jeyne Westerling. is the eldest daughter of Lord Gawen Westerling and Lady Sybell Spicer. During the westerlands expedition of Robb, now the King in the North, his army storms the Crag, the ancestral keep of House Westerling. Since Robb is wounded by an arrow, Jeyne's mother, Sybell, and uncle, Ser Rolph Spicer, encourage the girl to nurse the Young Wolf. Comforting the young man, the two have a night together and marry due to her honor. Jeyne was unaware of her mother's complot to kill Robb but was aware of her giving her moontea, due to stop drinking it, Jeyne is now pregnant. Song Era. Canon.

[resuri-art]

Do the naga bois have family / are there more out there than the four of them?

Actually yes!

Marik has Isis and Rishid as his sibling, but they are living in Egypt. However Rishid is human. He was abandoned as a baby and Marik's mother found him. She raised him as her own despite their differences. He is the reason Marik is so chill with befriending humans. However, while Marik loves his siblings, his dad is an asshole and none of them speak to him anymore.

Atem has his father and his cousin (Seth). His father is the current leader (they still use the term Pharaoh) of the naga community in Egypt. Atem is the Prince and will have to take over after his father, but honestly he would rather just be a normal guy (and leave the responsibility to his cousin who is way more hyped about it than him). But since the right to the crown come with their bloodline, Atem doesn't think he has a choice.

Bakura is on his own. His family was killed when he was a kid by creature hunters.

Kek isn't related to Marik in this AU. He has a family back in Egypt but he cut ties with them. He was in an abusive household and left them as a young teen with the help of Bakura.

Bonus : Rishid with baby naga Marik

[islerouxsims]

I just wanted to send a BIG OL HUUUGE thank you to your hard work on the save files. You've literally saved thousands of us so many countless hours trying to craft a half-decent world to play in, instead you've given us this beautiful intimately crafted game save that feels so lived in and real and welcoming and exciting to experience and discover! So yeah thank you, your saves are literally top notch and like no other

Aww thank you so much @zelthane. This means so much honestly. When I started making saves, I really just wanted simmers to have a nice starter save to play out their households in whatever style they wish.

I actually didn’t plan on releasing my first save...but after 6 months of work I felt I had to share just in case there was another player out there with a similar desire to have a more alive starter save out there.

I am currently striving to create more unique and interesting little “easter eggs” to find in Dizzy Isy just so a player can smile upon a “find” in game.

Huge hugs to you my lovely!

[blitzkingdom]

HOUSE SOLUS “IRON AND FURY”

The formation of House Solus dates back to Eger Solus who was a simple farmer in the north. During the time of conquest and The Dagar War, Eger Solus was critical in the turning of the tide. He was the first to align with the king in this conquest and turn against the other opposing the crown. It was this alliance that granted him regal standing and the foundation upon which the household would be formed. Eger would be promised a daughter from the House of Gathje. Afterwhich, he would inherit the lands of Gaethje and become their Head of household, bestowing the Solus name upon the north. 

The Solus household is proud and burly. Their sons are typically big in statue and have aggressive tendencies. This household has always had a healthy relationship with the crown. Since Eger Solus’s founding of the household, a boy from House Solus has always served as a member of Crest for the past two-hundred years. Their affinity tends to lean toward elemental abilities. The majority of their children born under Goi. Current history has House Solus all but wiped out due to the reign of the current king. Nils Solus is the last heir of the once proud family who reigns in the north as the North’s Word. A position enlisted by the crown to be the eyes and ears of the crown in the north. Notable traits are as follows: Confident, Prideful, Joyous, Quick Tempered, Aggressive, Loyal, Honest, Honorable. Physical traits: Dark hair, Purple eyes, Square facial features. Name trait: Play-on gestures. ( Bow, Kneel, Curtsy, Nod, etc. )

HOUSE SEVIN “SING OF WAR”

The name “Sevin” is actually derived from the surname “Blitzsevin” which was the original name of the founding household. Founded by brothers Echorus Blitzsevin and Luscius Blitzsevin, who would later be the first kings of the first major kingdom, the Blitz Kingdom. Echorus and his brother Luscius led a vast conquest across the continents of Planet Blitz and against the hundred kingdoms in a time when there were several and not just one.  Upon claiming victory and forcing the hundred kingdoms to kneel to them, recognizing them as the true kings of Blitz, they founded a kingdom in the center of the continent of Baz. This kingdom would become known as the capitol of the crown, and be the throne of all Blitz. Echorus was coronated as the first Blitz king and his children who followed would adopt the name “Sevin” and not “Blitzsevin” as the birth of a new household. It would be Luscius who would continue the line of Blitzsevin with his own children before some time later his entire household would become notably extinct, leaving only the Sevins to survive the brothers. The last Sevin king, Terrorix Sevin was married to Poema of House Meteora and had four children: Dysax, Raega, Droga and Sicks being the youngest.

Current history has this once proud household as borderline extinct with the only known surviving members being Saosyn, Sicks and a mysterious offspring of Droga. Under the reign of the current king this House is dissolved. Notable traits are as follows: Prideful, Cocky, Enigmatic, Beautiful, Barbaric, Wise, Skillful, Aggressive. Physical traits: White hair, Blue eyes, Narrow facial features. Name trait: Play-on feelings. ( Terror, Fear, Sickness, Death, Rage, etc. )  

HOUSE METEORA “WITH THE WINDS”

House Meteora was founded on their relation to the king. The third king’s wife was of House Meteora, tying their blood to the crown. Some stories in history tell of Meteora lords plotting to overthrow Sevins and claim their place on the throne but having never been successful in their attempt. The Throne Seekers is how history remembers them. House Meteora will likely go down in history as the secondary reigning regal family. Echorus’ first wife hailed from House Meteora. Their blood is indefinitely mixed with the Sevins. Terrorix Sevin as well took a wife from House Meteora, Poema Meteora. He fathered four children from her. She was the eldest daughter of the Head of household. 

Her brother would become a member of Crest and her two sisters would marry into Houses Solus and Pelela. House Meteora resides in the western lands where a meteorite once crashed in a valley near their villages and nearly wiped out thirty-percent of the planet. Their surname derives from this site in fact, dubbing the first regal household from the Valley of the Sun, ��House Meteora.” Current history has this household being led by a female who is very close to the current crown. Recent history showed this household having served up a number of warriors to fight in the games during their time as slaves to Parim, leaving them nearly barren of male figures. Notable traits are as follows: Passionate, Intelligent, Compassionate, Tactful, Elegant, Prideful, Dutiful. Physical traits: Blonde hair, Silver eyes, Thin features. Name trait: Play-on literature. ( Poem, Text, Prose, Comma, Period, Letter, etc. )

HOUSE PELELA “INTO THE SUN”

House Pelela is one of the more infamous names among the House banners. This family was founded on the blood of the hundred kingdoms. Most notably, Owa Pelela a tyrant and beast of a man led the charge against the Traede  (a barbaric race) in the fork at the river in the conquest of Echorus. It was said to be an unwinnable battle, but the miracle was achieved through the resilience of Owa and his men who had a willingness to die in order to win. It’s said that at an early age the people born under this household are taught to embrace death as if some glorifying achievement. 

To die on the battlefield is the greatest honor of this family.  They are stone-melders by trade. The bulk of the architecture prescribed within the capitol was crafted by or overseen by members of House Pelela. They reside in the eastern lands where the iron-oak is grown. Wood so strong it resembles the strongest of steel. Recent history has this household as very much dissolved. With only a handful alive in the east thirty-years ago during Terrorix Sevin’s reign and in current history a mere census of one. Only one survivor is listed. 

Notable traits are as follows: Quiet, Enigmatic, Resourceful, Resilient, Handy, Intelligent, Radical. Physical traits: Dark Complexion, Light Hair, Golden eyes. Name trait: Play-on animals. ( Owl, Eel, Snake, Bear, etc. )

HOUSE DETHSTORM “THOSE WITHOUT DEATH”

The Devils of Blitz. House Dethstorm was very close to the crown, but was exiled during the reign of Gannus Sevin the third removed king of Terrorix, for cult-like practices. The history of this household is a dark and mysterious one. Daestres Dethstorm was brother of Terrorix who would take the name from his wife would lead this household into their most successful generation spawning several who would serve in the off-world conquests led by Terrorix. 

The lands of Dethstorm are riddled with volcanic ash forever bearing down upon their villages from the nearby mountains and active volcano. It’s here that stones and monuments have been built by their ancestors to honor the fallen. Every generation the Head of household must sacrifice two-cups of blood to the stones in order to protect their family. House Dethstorm is tightly knitted to House Sevin by blood, but to House Astrae due to their cultural and religious beliefs. Believing that House Astrae and their born oracles are destined to guide the people of Blitz into prosperity and utopia. Notable traits are as follows: Adaptable, Clever, Courageous, Faithful, Ruthless. Physical traits: Dark complexion, White hair, Red eyes, Narrow features. Name trait: Play-on weather. ( Windy, Rainy, Storm, Thunder, Cloudy, etc. )

HOUSE ASTRAE “ALWAYS OURS”

Practically married to the House of Dethstorm by fate or destiny, House Astrae’s history is nearly directly linked to House Dethstorm’s for the majority of documented history. Although House Astrae has also been tied to the crown. This household was formed sometime around the seventh removed king from Terrorix. A band of merchants traveling aided in the protection of the king and halted an assassination attempt, after which the king dubbed the savior Isis Astrae, Head of House Astrae. A position was then offered to sit the council of the crown upon finding that the Astrae man and his wife had clairvoyant abilities and were able to perceive the future. 

Its here that ancient scripts found by the ancestors of House Dethstorm linked Astrae to the family, and an arrangement was made for a member of House Dethstorm and House Astrae to marry forever tying their families. Members under House Dethstorm would continue this relationship to their benefit, utilizing the high probability of clairvoyant born children under the House of Astrae to enrich their own blood. House Astrae has had one notably powerful warrior Kandess Astrae, the oracle. She served Terrorix Sevin on the off-world conquest against multiple planets forseeing his future victories time and again, even going so far as to warn him of oncoming dangerous and a foggy outcome, to which he ignored and ultimately led to the enslavement of Blitz. Current history has this household strong and full, serving the current king. Notable traits are as follows: Enchanting, Charismatic, Capable, High-minded, Honest, Loyal, Discreet. Physical traits: Brown Hair, Blue eyes, Thin features. Name trait: Play-on stars. ( Vega, Andromeda, Rigel, Sirius, etc. )

[militant-holy-knight]

Tom Kratman’s Caliphate Review: Disturbingly Prophetic

Its easy to forget that outright right-winged/conservative literature actually exists though admittedly it’s hard to find those with actual merit nor enjoy the same popularity as other types of works. I’ve came across one example written by retired US Army soldier Tom Kratman whom you may or may have not heard about if you are familiar with the Sad Puppies incident from 2015, where the Hugo Awards were biased against writers with conservative leanings. Kratman is someone who delights in offending left-wing sensibilities by his own admission and it’s reflected in his works that often deal with themes like fighting Muslim terrorists in sci-fi settings. One such of these works is Caliphate, written in 2008 and it struck me how... prescient this book was about the contemporary times and may well still be for the future.

The premise is as follows: Islamic terrorists seize nuclear weapons and use it to nuke three American cities during September 11 (as well as London and Israel). The American outrage against Muslims spirals into the election of a third-party populist candidate who promises vengeance against this attack, which he does by simultaneously nuking all Islamic countries in the world (and North Korea for good measure). This disaster leads to an massive exodus of Muslims into Europe who migrate there and thanks to their massive birthrates, they are able to hijack countries by voting for hardcore Islamist parties (as democracy must abide by the majority). They transform Europe - or at least Western Europe or the countries associated with the EU - into a Islamic empire, the titular Caliphate which functions like a hybrid of the modern day Islamist regime like the Taliban, ISIS and Boko Haram (public executions, lashings, women can’t be seen outside without being covered), and the Ottoman Empire (conscription and brainwashing of dhimmis into military service).

The story follows two parallel narratives: one in the distant future over a century after the terrorist attack where America has transformed into a totalitarian empire know as ISA (Imperial States of America) which is in cold war against the Caliphate in Europe and a second one set in “present days” when things are relatively normal but then we witness the events quickly fall apart. The first one follows John Hamilton, an disillusioned American soldier who is recruited by the CIA to infiltrate the Caliphate and investigate a trio of Canadian scientists who are working in a virus to destroy America. The second one follows Gabrielle, a liberal German woman that sees the collapse of Europe up close and tying them together is that she is the ancestor of one of the main characters. These narratives are told simultaneously and are always accompanied by critical quotes of Islam in their opening.

You’d think a work like this would be simply “AMERICA FUCK YEAH” and “FUCK ISLAM” over and over, but Kratman actually does a surprising amount of nuance. For one, it’s made clear that this America is really a dystopia and not an ideal place to live, reflected by its actions and Hamilton’s thoughts about it - at one point, US soldiers carry out ethnic cleansing against Moros in the Philippines and Hamilton is disturbed even after someone close to him died because of them. And while the book doesn’t hold back in bashing Islam, not all of them are portrayed as intolerant religious fanatics - there are genuinely good characters and even some grey ones with complexity added to them. For that matter, even non-Muslims can be villains too so it isn’t a black and white kind of work.

A surprising amount of world-building was put in place to make this world interesting: it’s established that the USA has occupied Canada and the Philippines, England has turned into an absolute monarchy, China has become some kind of transhuman empire, only a portion of Europe is actually under the Caliphate control with most of Eastern Europe under Russia control (because of course) and it’s heavily implied Israel has carried out a final solution against Palestinians. This can however can be a detriment because all these interesting paths are presented but never truly explored. We never see how the UK is under the absolute monarchy, nor this Russian tsardom and we only hear whispers about how bad China is in the distant future (which is implied to be worse than the Caliphate). The one that truly does get any exposure is the Neo-Boer State which was established in the southern half of the African continent by European refugees fleeing from Muslims in their own country and has a section of the story taking place there.

Besides Hamilton, there are other viewpoints in the story with the ones after his following German brothers Hans and Petra, two Christian siblings that live in the Caliphate and are taken apart by the devishrme-like system. He becomes a janissary soldier, while she becomes a servant in a Muslim household. Their stories are actually far more compelling than Hamilton since their struggles are more personal while Hamilton wouldn’t be out of place in a video game where he starred as it’s generic Space Marine protagonist. Hans remains a Christian despite his outward conversion to Islam and actively rebels against Caliphate culture which leads to him adopting a crusader identity, while Petra’s storyline explores the woes faced by women under a fundamentalist Islamic regime i.e. not unlike what those who endured Taliban or ISIS regime.

And make no mistake: the story never holds back on the graphic content. There is plenty of violence including impalement, crucifixions, sexual attacks and etc, which may be a turn off for many readers, and it doesn’t help they have to drive home how dystopian this setting is. It may come across as over-the-top as it made me wonder how plausible this Caliphate could even function (it’s established that the Caliphate can only function in a slave-based economy or taxing the dhimmis, which they can’t afford to abuse or exile since they’d collapse). The Arab Peninsula was once unified under Muhammad and his four successors who drove out all Christians, Jews and polytheists from their lands, but then fell into tribalism and stayed that way for centuries with only Mecca and Medina (the only relevant sites of Islam) being controlled by outsider Muslims.

I know I make the story sound unrealistic and fantastical, but the main takeway from this book I had was how prophetic the story was in regards to the current and political atmosphere. Keep in mind that what I am about to write was published in April 2008, in a completely different scenario than the one we live:

The insane American president who nukes the Islamic world is very Trumpesque and shares similar slogans (”WE WILL MAKE THOSE MOTHERFUCKERS PAY”). He is basically what leftists believed Trump would actually do if he was elected like put Muslims in internment camps like the Japanese-Americans in WW2.

Great Britain actually breaks out from the European Union, except under much different circumstances: rather than voting themselves out like Brexit, they turn into an absolute monarchy once again and become completely isolationist.

The rise of an brutal, terrorist regime mirrors the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria that rose to prominence during the Arab Spring in 2011.

A large-scale migration of Middle-Easterns into the West triggered by some kind of disaster, only it was an genocidal attack in the book rather than the consequences of a regional movement that led to the collapse of MENA states with the Arab Spring.

The “present day” narrative also presents scenarios no different than the current reality of Europe with no-go zones where migrants of Muslim background are involved in criminal activity and target the native population as seen in France, Germany and Sweden.

Islamists infiltrating democratic institutions in order to impose their values as seen with many neighbors in Belgium and the Netherlands where Muslims are the majority to the native population.

Russia expanding their control over Eastern Europe mirroring their foreign policy to consolidate their regional superpower status.

China being up to no good with technology.

And of course a deadly virus engineered to destroy political rivals, though this time by rogue scientists working for Muslim terrorists rather than China.

It’s possible that some of Kratman wrote was already true of his time which served as basis for the present day narrative. But reality was much different back then: Obama was yet to become President and Bush was still in office (and nobody had an idea how the former would turn out), China was less despotic then than it’s now under Xi Jinping, the Russo-Georgian War was still to take place and migration to the West was relatively low compared to after the 2015′s refugee crisis, the UKIP was considered a fringe party and the UK leaving the European Union was a distant dream. Nobody was talking about no-go zones, but then again the Internet wasn’t as big back then as it’s now. Rather than writing about the modern political atmosphere of his time, Kratman envisioned a possible future which he predicted fairly closely and at the same time, it spoke about issues that are relevant to anyone who isn’t afraid to speak about the problems regarding Islamic ideology or integration of migrants into their host countries.

What depressed me the most about the book is that it’s dystopian reality may be our own future. It’s an common concern for conservatives and right-wingers that Muslims become a majority in the West - a boast that they never cease making - soon which might lead to an eventual clash of civilizations. A quarter of Belgium might be Islamic and this is possible because of enabling from leftist politicians that flirt with radicals for convenience and consider the values they promote like women and LGBT rights to be an acceptable sacrifice to overthrow conservative capitalism. This kind of behavior is actually acknowledged and mocked by Kratman, as Gabrielle is an radical SJW that hates Western conservatives more than Islamists to the point this leads to the breakdown with her relationship with an Egyptian migrant that converts to Christianity and ends up moving to the USA before becoming a authoritarian regime.

The book presents Islam’s conquest of Europe as a complete surrender without a fight - the migrants just breed like rats and vote for Islamist parties to hijack the government through legitimate means and one American ambassador chides Gabrielle and her people for abandoning their own values and allowing this to happen. This probably speaks a lot to the more cynical among us who see our governments bending over to outsiders over their own people and see where it might be headed. Personally I don’t believe a caliphate is where the future is headed, as it provides no real attractive alternative that the West has presented, but it certainly won’t stop some people from trying and there will be certainly a fight.

Are we really going have to look forward for an revived Ottoman Empire in the heartland of Europe where Christian boys are whipped into slave-soldiers, girls are sold to harems like cheap prostitutes and non-Muslims live like second class citizens being forced to pay outrageous, humiliating taxes like the jizya? Hopefully not, but the possibility of terrorists acquiring nukes is an always constant one, and with the Iranian nuclear program will push it’s neighbors to do the same as form of deterrence if they feel threatened. Knowing how fragile Muslims states are and that if those nukes fell into the wrong hands, the events of the book could be precipitated but luckily for us, nuclear armament is expensive and takes a lot of work which not even the wealthiest countries like Saudi Arabia can afford to develop it themselves, let alone the poorest ones like Syria and Iraq so that might not be a reality just now.

Do I recommend this book? The world is very interesting, it’s actually a bit more complex and nuanced as both sides don’t come off as “bright” (albeit the Caliphate is presented as worse). If you want to see a book that talks about issues you find relevant like immigration and terrorism from a conservative perspective, this is a must-read. The main protagonist can be very dull whereas the secondary protagonists are more compelling - it depends on how much you like military heroes written by an American veteran I guess. While the ending to the main story was satisfying on itself (the present day ends on a sad foregone conclusion), it sets up a sequel with many plot threads going unresolved. It’s disappointing to me since this is a standalone book and Kratman hasn’t indicated any plans on writing a follow-up, though if he did it now I am sure he would have done so without a completely different perspective than the one he has in 2008 and he would have certainly got more material to work with. 

P.S. This book has a Skanderbeg reference, so it’s an instant win for me.

[hotgirlradio]

ON AIR | SPECIAL GUEST.

The following interview is previously recorded from: UCLA CAMPUS 4/24/19 -

“Wassup Hotties, it’s the original HOT GIRL Isis also known as Thee Stallion and it feels sooo good to be back behind the mic, I promise you.” She chuckled, looking around. “It’s hot as fuck in LA right now but that just means ASS is OUT, okay? I am currently on the campus of UCLA surrounded by some of the finest women I’ve ever seen in my life so if you ain’t hea, get hea! Today I'm sitting with up and coming rapper, like myself, Genevieve of The City Girls and the answer is YES, she is in fact fine as hell in person, no catfish here.” Ice laughed. “I’m not wasting noooo time we’re gonna jump riiiight into the interview. Me and my good sis BEEN chattin’ so I’ma get straight into the TEA.”

Isis: “What started you off rappin’? How’d you get started in the industry?”

G: It's a crazy story actually, my homegirl Jt started me off rapping it was never something i thought I'd want to pursue on a serious level but one night she pulled up on me and she was just so hyped about her verse she just wrote and I'll never forget she turned to me and said "Jénevieve hop on his track with me" I'm like gurl what?!” chuckling “Long story short I bust my verse out in under 20 minuets and the rest was history” smiles “I've always had a passion for music growing up in miami tho' I grew up in a household where we would just blast Trina and trick daddy 24/7 but Trina  definitely was inspiration! 

Isis: “Yasss Trina! So now I HAVE to ask, who are your top 5 inspirations in this rap shit?”

G: You already know I'm rocking with the diamond princess Trina, then Remy ma, Foxy Brown, and Charli Baltimore, Lil kim 

Isis: “I was boutta say, you can’t forget Kim when it comes to this female rap shit. On a different note tho` how do you balance working and being social in these streets?”

G: whew chile it's a struggle laughing forreal tho' it can get really hectic at times i feel so secluded but I make sure i catch up with my folks as much as possible when a bitch got some downtime and i rarely get any of that since i have to hold shit down for city girls #Freejt, Sometimes I even bring sum of my peoples with me when I'm on the road. 

Isis: “I feel that. Makin’ it work based on the circumstances. So while you out on the road, I know you ain’t just TALKIN’ talkin’ but are you dating?”

A: Naw, I ain't dating and I don't think I plan on it anytime soon I just want to make music and focus on city girls but it's a few LA niggas that can get it but ima' chill

Isis: “There’s PLENTYYYY, you hea me?” Isis chuckled to herself. “So many but I hear you. So lets into these lyrics, what’s one of your favorite lines that you’ve written?”

G: "Real ass bitch give a fuck bout a nigga big Birkin bag hold five six figures! Stripes on my ass so he call this pussy Tigger, Fuckin' on a scammin' ass, rich ass nigga!!"

Isis: “Wayment. I heard Yachty wrote those lyrics? Somebody’s lying. Yachty might have to cut you a check, sis. TEA. But lemme hush, I’m glad you’re out hea in LA doing your thing. How has LA been for you?”

G: Honestly? It's been amazing I've managed to meet some fire producers and tons of talent agents, songwriters, creative directors. Now, don't get me wrong LA surely does have it's con's but we ain't gon get into all that laughs

[davidmann95]

What do you consider an A-list character? (And a B-lister, Z-lister, etc...)

You’d think appearing in movies or TV would be an automatic kick into the A-list, but then Isis and Vibe would be in that bracket, and I think we can all agree that’s not how that works. Going by general cultural perception rather than shifting publishing prominence or in-universe significance, I’d say it representatively goes something like:

Household names: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Teen Titans, the Justice League, the Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and Hulk individually), Spider-Man, Black Panther, Deadpool, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Wolverine and I suppose still the X-Men as a whole.

A list, i.e. people not actively engaged with superhero media may well have heard of them by general cultural osmosis: The Fantastic Four, Green Lantern, the Flash, Green Arrow, Supergirl, Daredevil and that whole Marvel Netflix crew.

B list, i.e. not significant media presences but plenty of casual superhero fans care: Any of the JLIers, the current Blue Beetle, Firestorm, Ms. Marvel, the Inhumans, non-Darkseid New Gods, Zatanna, Swamp Thing.

C list, i.e. they have fans and notable runs and some general credibility but you ain’t gonna be seeing them in a fighting game roster: Shang-Chi, Tommy Monaghan, Metamorpho, Wonder Man, Starman.

D list, i.e. even superhero people might not have heard of ‘em beyond ‘oh yeah, I’ve heard that name’ unless they’ve gone digging: Amethyst, Blue Devil, Tigra, Jack of Hearts.

And then there’s your D-Man types who are actively treated as jokes. Those aren’t solid rankings, half of those household names would have been unimaginable as such a decade ago and it’s likely plenty will drop in and out.

[isissimss]

Today Big news! | I apologize for the late update. I have been feeling so happy! Even though the pictures make the girls look big, they are still so tiny! Both girls are still in the NICU, but since they are no longer on oxygen, they were able to bond for 30 minutes today. I didn't post earlier because every moment with them is well spent! They are going to be in the NICU until the 25th. I wasn't expecting that, but the doctor said I'm a bit further along than they thought, so I'm not in my second trimester but my third. The twins' weights were different, but it didn't change the fact that they were still early. However, it did give them better chances! Now we do have some bad news. Both girls have very high jaundice, and they are struggling to bring it down. It's scary because they have to be under the blue light most of the time, which cuts bonding time between the twins and bonding time between us. But it's for the best. But meet our sweet Gianna and Ellie! Gianna was approaching 5 lbs. while Ellie was at 4 lbs.; both girls still weighed the same.

Me today | I cry every time I have to leave the hospital! I just wish they were coming home with me ... but seeing them bond today was so special Gage was smiling all day and broke down in the car! I can't wait until we have our entire family home! But Its time to get some rest I will catch up with you all tomorrow!

[islerouxsims]

My Save File Update

Getting lots of messages about this, so thought it best to put here what has been diagnosed as broken and what can be fixed.

There are two main issues.

1) Unplayed NPC students that technically graduated but didn't attend the graduation ceremony are causing broken diplomas to be generated in other household inventories. Furthermore, there is an issue with broken/unassigned presentation boards inside the personal inventories of some of those sims.

These problems can all be fixed with current mods by either BrainBlasted or LittleMsSam. Yay! 2) The second (unfixable issue) comes from my use of university cheat codes. I thought these were safe to use. I stupidly used cheats to give certain sims I felt should have degrees without making them go through the laborious task of completing university the proper way. These hav been very destructive and have caused the entire save game file to become permanently corrupted.

I was told this by a trusted source and even though the errors may not appear straight away, they will over time. Therefore, I have had to come to the conclusion that without a miracle fix, my save file version 6 onwards is corrupted.

I would need to revert back to Version 5 although the thought of redoing everything I did from that point on fills me with sorrow. For me personally, my heart it just not in that place to do this yet. It wouldn't be enjoyable for me. I would just remember how I messed the save up so much.

What I have been doing in my limited time (yes even in lockdown) is creating a brand new save which will be entirely made up of my own sims and lots. Well a lot of lots will be revamped Maxis lots I think. This is giving me great joy.

It's possible I revert back to my other one, but not just now. I hope you all understand.

Thanks,

~isy~ ツ  

[karisrogers]

“Nazi Punks Fuck Off”: The Normalization of White Supremacy

[An essay for a punk-themed English course at Pasadena City College in 2019]

After the deadly clash between white supremacist protesters and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017, the U.S. debated how to respond to white nationalism, or more precisely white supremacy. Some suggested that ignoring neo-Nazis and the KKK, respecting their first amendment right to demonstrate, was the best way to avoid violence. Others let hate groups know, in no uncertain terms, that they are not wanted in American society. “Nazi Punks Fuck Off”, a 1981 song by San Franciscan punk band Dead Kennedys, is a direct criticism and rejection of white supremacists. While it was originally written in response to racist skinhead punks inciting violence at shows, its occasional use as an anti-fascist slogan in the wake of Charlottesville has given it new and broader relevance. The fight against racist troublemakers has expanded from mosh pits to society overall. While "fuck off" is a vulgar way to get one's message across, it highlights how easy it is to reject the surreal rise in white nationalism on an individual level. As a society, however, strong dissent against an obviously dangerous trend is mired in false equivalency and a misguided obsession with civility.

The fear at the center of all white supremacy must be understood to recognize its existence in mainstream media and society. The main tactic of white nationalists is to create a sense of white panic. Adam Serwer of The Atlantic defines the goal of white nationalists as "convincing [white people] that American politics is a zero-sum game in which white people only win when people of color lose". Throughout U.S. history, immigration surges have led to demographic shifts which have caused racists and xenophobes to suggest that the white race faces extinction. It is an urgent call to protect their own power in society. White supremacy is not simply believing non-whites to be inferior, it is believing they are a serious threat to the white race’s survival. Their solutions range from curbing immigration to outright genocide, both of which historically occur when white supremacy is left unchecked. At our current turning point in history, white panic is still alive and well in young American men.

The Nazi punks in the Dead Kennedys song, described as disaffected jock-minded youth who have misunderstood rebellion, are not all that different from the alt-right. The alt-right are a far-right political movement that blends white supremacy with toxic masculinity and internet culture. Though based on a rejection of mainstream conservatism, the alt-right now fuels it after helping elect President Trump. Since the alt-right exist mostly online, it can be hard to distinguish those truly in the grips of white panic from internet trolls who, as the song says, “think swastikas look cool.” This is partially why the movement grew under the radar until the 2016 election. Pockets of white supremacy have always existed online, so the alt-right was long dismissed as a powerless fringe group. Yet even now that the alt-right has been discovered, the social media platforms that allowed them to recruit and organize have been inept or unwilling to stamp white supremacy out. YouTube, a known hub for alt-right radicalization, has denied that its algorithm suggests increasingly far-right videos to its users. Both ISIS and the alt-right are radicalized online and carry out terrorist attacks, yet only one is considered an indisputable danger.

Mainstream media, cable news specifically, exposes the public to white supremacist ideas regularly. Fox News's near-constant coverage of migrant caravans pumps white panic into households daily. CNN, designed as a more centrist network, does not push this narrative. Instead, CNN condemns white supremacists by interviewing nearly every public figure whose values align with white supremacy. By hearing them out and having what they purport to be thoughtful political discourse, mainstream media makes hate digestible. This helps the alt-right convince people that their views are simply new conservatism and not advocating ethnic cleansing. It is one of many ways that power shows deference to power rather than morality.

Much like the song, in which Nazi punks “ape the cops” in their attempts at anarchy, far-right conservatives certainly have their moments of hypocrisy. Besides white supremacy, the alt-right prizes political incorrectness as if it could be a political movement all on its own. When it is convenient, however, the politically incorrect will become something they despise: offended. This undermines their ideology but successfully manipulates anyone on the fence about their rights. This prompts calls for civility, as was the case last June when several Trump officials encountered vocal resisters in Mexican restaurants. The media wasted no time engaging in tone policing when discussing any direct forms of resistance. They distract the public from the Nazis marching in the streets and their powerful sympathizers by pitting good antifascists against bad antifascists (Lennard). Protesters, especially those in marginalized groups, hear “civility” as a coded, disingenuous term. It is a warning to stay in their lane or their cause suffers a worse reputation.

Emboldened by a like-minded figure in the nation's highest office, white nationalists have seen their arguments become normalized through politics and media. They are feeding off each other and building our nation’s immunity to inhumane speech and acts. The overexposure and false equivalency have made many Americans apathetic or even accepting and it has far-reaching implications. The attention paid to far-right extremism has been telegraphed globally, with a Trump mention in the white supremacist manifesto of the recent New Zealand shooter. Though white supremacy should not be ignored, it should not be whitewashed either. It is not just another alternative ideology, it is an attack on peace and humanity. If white supremacy is not rejected in all its forms, American society could be steamrolled by fascism and the next generation might not defend themselves or protect one another. With this in mind, “Nazi Punks Fuck Off” is a visceral but deeply necessary reaction.

[deepinstitute]

INCLUSIVE OR EXCLUSIVE GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT? SCRUTINIZING FINANCIAL INCLUSION

Financial inclusion means that individuals and businesses have access to useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs – transactions, payments, savings, credit and insurance – delivered in a responsible and sustainable way. IGIDR entrance coaching at Deep School of Economics is an institute providing Economics education focusing on competitive exams in India. Courses are currently provided for  UGC NET- Economics and Masters entrance exams such as DSE, ISI, IGIDR, TISS, TERI.

Financial inclusion has been high on the agenda for policy-makers over the past decade, including the G20, international financial institutions, national governments and philanthropic foundations. According to Bateman and Chang, it’s the international development community’s most generously funded poverty reduction policy. But what lies behind the buzzword? How can the two quotes above portray such starkly opposing views?

Financial inclusion has been     identified as an enabler for 7 of the 17 Sustainable Development     Goals.  

The G20 committed to     advance financial inclusion worldwide and reaffirmed its commitment     to implement the G20 High-Level Principles for Digital Financial     Inclusion. 

The World Bank Group considers     financial inclusion a key enabler to reduce extreme poverty and boost     shared prosperity.

Why is Financial Inclusion Controversial?

Financial inclusion — or access to credit and financial services for non-banked communities — appears benign and straightforward at first sight, but there is much that needs to be unpacked. While the World Bank’s information page on financial inclusion presents the promotion of financial services for the poor as a technical and efficient solution to poverty, sceptics have pointed to a growing body of evidence that financial inclusion initiatives have, at best, failed to live up to their promises and diverted attention from more effective and comprehensive poverty reduction strategies, and at worst, resulted in dramatic explosions in predatory lending to low-income households, and in significant reductions in the welfare of borrowers and their communities.

In an overview piece, Phil Mader  has found that the case for financial inclusion as a pro-poor private-sector led development intervention lacks sufficient evidence and justification – and that the concept should be recognized as a contested and contestable enterprise. In that spirit, this blog aims to unpack what policies lie behind the concept, what effects such policies have had on the ground, and how the concept relates to other socio-economic issues such as inequality, poverty, financial citizenship, financial education, and other income flows such as remittances. It also includes wider perspectives on the context in which financial inclusion initiatives take place, such as an examination of the international financial architecture.

Being able to have access to a transaction account is a first step toward broader financial inclusion since a transaction account allows people to store money, and send and receive payments. A transaction account serves as a gateway to other financial services, which is why ensuring that people worldwide can have access to a transaction account continues to be an area of  focus for the World Bank Group (WBG). Most notably, it was the focus of the World Bank Group’s Universal Financial Access 2020 initiative, which concluded at the end of 2020. Though many gains were made through this initiative, it is an indicator of the scale of the challenge that still more work remains to be done.

Financial access facilitates day-to-day living, and helps families and businesses plan for everything from long-term goals to unexpected emergencies. As accountholders, people are more likely to use other financial services, such as credit and insurance, to start and expand businesses, invest in education or health, manage risk, and weather financial shocks, which can improve the overall quality of their lives.

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has also reinforced the need for increased digital financial inclusion. Digital financial inclusion involves the deployment of the cost-saving digital means to reach currently financially excluded and underserved populations with a range of formal financial services suited to their needs that are responsibly delivered at a cost affordable to customers and sustainable for providers.

Great strides have been made toward financial inclusion and 1.2 billion adults worldwide have gotten access to an account between 2011 and 2022. As of 2022, 69% of the world’s adults had an account. Digital financial services — including those involving the use of mobile phones — have now been launched in more than 80 countries, with some reaching significant scale. As a result, millions of formerly excluded and underserved poor customers are moving from exclusively cash-based transactions to formal financial services using a mobile phone or other digital technology to access these services.

Moving from access to usage of accounts is the next step for countries where 80% or more of the population have accounts (China, Kenya, India, Thailand). These countries relied on reforms, private sector innovation, and a push to open low-cost accounts, including mobile and digitally-enabled payments.

However, close to one-third of adults – 1.7 billion – were still unbanked in 2017, according to the latest Findex data (2021 data forthcoming). About half of unbanked people included women poor households in rural areas or out of the workforce.

Between 2011 and 2022 gender gap in account ownership remained stuck at 9 percentage points in developing countries, hindering women from being able to effectively control their financial lives. Countries with high mobile money account ownership had less gender inequality.

Since 2010, more than 55 countries have made commitments to financial inclusion, and more than 60 have either launched or are developing a national strategy. Countries that have achieved the most progress toward financial inclusion have: 

Policies     delivered at scale, such as universal digital ID - India and Aadhaar / JDY     accounts - more than 1.2 billion residents covered

Leveraged     government payments. (For example, 35% of adults in low income countries     receiving a government payment opened their first financial account for     this purpose.)

Allowed     mobile financial services to thrive. (For example, in Sub-Saharan Africa,     mobile money account ownership rose from 12% to 21%.) 

Welcomed     new business models, such as leveraging e-commerce data for financial     inclusion 

Taking     a strategic approach by developing a national financial inclusion strategy     (NFIS) which bring together diverse stakeholders including financial     regulators, telecommunications, competition and education ministries

Paying     attention to consumer protection and financial capability to promote     responsible, sustainable financial services

When countries take a strategic approach and develop national financial inclusion strategies which bring together financial regulators, telecommunications, competition and education ministries, our research indicates that when countries institute a national financial inclusion strategy, they increase the pace and impact of reforms.

[xtruss]

Biden’s Tax Plan Is a Middle-Class Death Tax Dressed as a Capital Gains Tax on the Rich

— James R. Harrigan & Antony Davies | September 27, 2021

— American Institute For Economic Research (AIER)

The federal government’s insatiable appetite for spending has left politicians casting about for untapped revenue sources. Enter President Biden’s tax plan, which contains a death tax on the middle class dressed up as a capital gains tax on the rich. Having squeezed from the rich about as much as they are likely to get, politicians are now gunning for the rest of us.

Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren get good headlines when they call for taxing billionaires’ wealth. But, even if a wealth tax were constitutional (it isn’t), and even if politicians taxed 100% of US billionaires’ wealth (they won’t), and even if the billionaires could sell trillions of dollars in assets for full market value (they can’t), politicians still wouldn’t collect enough to fund their profligate spending. US billionaires’ combined $4.2 trillion wealth would fund the federal government’s 2021 budget for less than eight months. And at the end of that eight months, there’d be no more US billionaires.

What politicians know, but won’t say, is that the middle classes are the great untapped revenue source. What the middle classes lack in income, they more than make up for in numbers. Before taxes and transfers, the average household in the middle income quintile earned $77,000 and the average household in the upper middle quintile earned $117,000. Combined, those households earned $4.8 trillion in 2018. That’s twice what the top 1% earned. Meanwhile, the top 1% paid an average effective federal tax rate of 30.2 percent, versus 12.8 percent for middle income and 16.7 percent for upper middle income households.

The President emphasizes that his plan closes an arcane loophole, “stepped-up basis,” that has allowed billionaires to get away with paying less taxes. He and his supporters keep saying “capital gains,” and “billionaires,” but the fact is that the proposal for closing that loophole will hit middle class homes, farms, and businesses.

Under long-established law, an heir owes capital gains taxes when the heir sells, not inherits, assets. So, a family home, farm, or business, passed down from generation to generation, only creates a tax liability when the heir at the end of the line finally sells it. Even then, the heir pays tax on the increase in value from when the heir inherited the asset to when it was sold. This is “stepped-up basis,” and it partially compensates for the fact that capital gains taxes don’t adjust for inflation. For example, under current law, a home purchased for $50,000 in 1980 and sold for $150,000 in 2021 could be subject to more than $20,000 in capital gains taxes even though, adjusted for inflation, the home was sold at a loss. Stepped-up basis attempts to eliminate this inflation bias by resetting the clock on the asset’s value at inheritance.

Biden’s plan would remove the stepped-up basis, meaning that heirs would pay tax on the increase in value from when the ancestor purchased the asset to when the heir sold the asset. For businesses passed down through multiple generations, this can significantly magnify the tax bill. And in a one-two punch, Biden’s plan also requires that heirs pay the tax when they inherit assets, not when they sell them. So rather than the family home, farm, or business being taxed when the last heir finally sells it, it would be taxed each time it moved from one generation to the next.

The President insists on calling this a “capital gains tax,” but the combination of these two pieces – removal of stepped-up basis and pay-at-inheritance – causes the tax to behave exactly like a death tax. It is a death tax aimed squarely at the middle classes.

To mollify farmers, the President has said that heirs can delay paying the tax provided they continue to work the farm. This is scant help as the heirs will still be subject to the increased tax. The plan merely allows them to pay later. To throw a bone to family businesses and people who have lived frugally to save for their children, Biden’s plan offers a $1 million exemption.

But passing this new tax plan will be much harder than ratcheting that $1 million exemption down after the law is passed. Once the new plan is in place, expect that $1 million exemption to start shrinking until the new tax hits everyone. For evidence, look at the history of the federal income tax, which politicians at the time promised would apply only to “the rich.” Once instituted, it took less than a decade for politicians to extend the federal income tax all the way down to the poor.

The President’s tax plan is a death tax on the working class dressed up as a capital gains tax on the rich. Say what they will about using the tax code to reduce income inequality, the fact is that multi-trillion dollar deficits have made politicians desperate for new sources of tax revenue. And, having eaten the rich, they’re now turning their eyes to the middle class.

— James R. Harrigan is Senior Editor at AIER. He is also co-host of the Words & Numbers podcast. Dr. Harrigan was previously Dean of the American University of Iraq-Sulaimani, and later served as Director of Academic Programs at the Institute for Humane Studies and Strata, where he was also a Senior Research Fellow. He has written extensively for the popular press, with articles appearing in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, U.S. News and World Report, and a host of other outlets. He is also co-author of Cooperation & Coercion. His current work focuses on the intersections between political economy, public policy, and political philosophy.

— Antony Davies is the Milton Friedman Distinguished Fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education, and associate professor of economics at Duquesne University. He has authored Principles of Microeconomics (Cognella), Understanding Statistics (Cato Institute), and Cooperation and Coercion (ISI Books). He has written hundreds of op-eds appearing in, among others, the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, New York Post, Washington Post, New York Daily News, Newsday, US News, and the Houston Chronicle. He also co-hosts the weekly podcast Words & Numbers. Davies was Chief Financial Officer at Parabon Computation, and founded several technology companies.

[isissimss]

pregnancy update | After finishing setting up the nursery for the girls, I started experiencing contractions. When they became intense, I immediately called my doctor. As a first-time mom, everything felt alarming and scary, especially as I am expecting twins. I went for an emergency appointment, where we had an ultrasound, and the doctor checked my cervix. To our surprise, I was 2cm dilated. My doctor promptly gave me a shot to slow down the process and advised bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy. At only 30 weeks pregnant, she explained that if the girls arrived early, they would likely need Nicu time, which I'm really afraid of. My greatest wish is for both girls to arrive healthy and happy!

[bestelectriccableinindia]

Best Electric Wire Company In India - Plaza Cables

Quality is the hallmark of Plaza Cables. Beginning with the fledging organization 35 years ago, R K Cable, currently called PLAZA CABLES has come a long way in developing itself as a major gamer in the cord & cables sector. Given that creation, Plaza has been setting requirements in high quality & safety, and security with all its products. Plaza Cables is furnished with one of the most advanced manufacturing and also screening tools.

Power Cables being exponentially related to power generation, supplied natural development choice and thus the firm has a total and also a comprehensive range of wire items for meeting various demands of power generation. These consists of LT Power and Control Cable television with PVC insulation, XLPE Insulated Power Cables, Safest Electrical Wire India Railway Signaling Cables, Mining Cables, Aerial Bunched Cables, and Medium Voltage XLPE Insulated Cables, Now, Plaza wires have become part of the area of solar illumination systems, solar water heater which has been accepted by MNRE/SEC. Plaza is also producing CFLEB (Self Ballasted Lamps for General Illumination Provider) which is a power-saving light bulb and conforms to IS:15111 Part I as well as Part II as much as modification nos. 6 with ISI mark.

OUR VISION Past is commonly an audio sign of the future. From my experience of even more than half a century in the field of Wires & Cables, Electrical Products, and new Brand names have been added for other products, I can safely claim that top quality never heads out of style. It is one item characteristic that is timed evaluated, as well as has served "Plaza" well in the past.

Consequently, whatever the future undertakings of Plaza & its Allied Brands, the quality will constantly be an essential ingredient in all its items. Towards this end, Plaza has made fast progression in the past couple of years. From bringing the newest modern technology to the fore, establishing strict quality assurance standards, to taking regular customer responses, as well as more.

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We are certain that in years ahead, we will be also better to its clients Touching them Helping them Improve their lives as well as will be reputed International course maker as well as the leader in Wires & Cables, wow CFL and Solar Market with high quality, performance, productivity as well as customer fulfillment which will certainly likewise enhance our turnover in multiple folds up in years ahead because we in PLAZA feels SKY is the limit.

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