#it's preserving the integrity of this ask by keeping your commentary

[owedfavors]

⤷ ✧ @starstcff said, ❝ if our love was just a circus,  you’d be a clown by now. ❞ ( regrettably, from pike )

they've said plenty that has been ridiculous to one another over the years, and she's scarcely paused to blink an eye. somehow, they understand each other, even at the worst of it, but this... una does not even know where to begin to unpack this metaphor.

for a moment, she can only stare at him, expression not blank but the nearest translation to what the hell are you on about?, before she gives up. ❛ a clown? ah, yes, because I do tend towards exaggeration and ostentation. ❜ rare sarcasm, uttered as straight-faced as ever. if he wishes to draw this analogy, then she belongs upon a high wire — balance impeccable. not that she wishes to make that argument and be forced to justify it. ❛ chris, did you hit your head without anyone noticing? because normally I can figure out what you're talking about, but I haven't a clue. ❜

[occasionaltouhou]

Touhou Fangame Concept:

Western Science Interrogating Wonder(title could be workshopped)

The bit is that a bunch of greek philosophers have washed up on this side of the Hakurei Barrier, after the Yama assigned to their collective case(which has gone on for thousands of years) decided that it wasn't worth trying to continue to argue with them kicked them out of the afterlife in frustration. And so you, local Hakurei Shrine Maiden, are set to clean up the mess. By Yukari.

Your first encounter is, after having been drawn to a ruckus going on in the Human Village, being interrogated by a short, grumpy woman in greek looking clothing, and a dunce cap with a sprig of hemlock pinned to it. After defeating her in a danmaku battle that mostly consists of her criticizing you and interrogating your faith, your justifications for your actions, your sense of personal morality, your fashion sense, and if you lose your skill in danmaku. After you beat her she then introduces herself as Socrates, clarifies she puts the dunce cap on herself, and follows Reimu around for the rest of the game to provide commentary.

Your next encounter is a slovenly doggirl with floppy ears in a dirty tunic, who gets out of her barrel to spit in your face after she identifies you as a local religious figure. Reimu then decides to beat the tar out of her. Her mid-battle dialogue consists of complaining about you in particular. After the fight, she gets stuffed back into her barrel and rolled out of town. You get her name from Socrates after the fact, that being Diogenes, who assures Reimu that she's always like this.

Interrogating a nearby villager points you in the direction of the next philosopher, Pythagoras. She's wearing a golden wreath, trousers, and the kind of smile that makes you want to wipe if off. She (flirtatiously)asks if Reimu wants to join her following, expounding upon both her own virtues and the virtue of her teachings. Her spell cards are themed around various legends from Pythagoras's life, like an arrow gifted by Apollo, a bear convinced to never again harm a living being, and that one time they supposedly descended to the underworld and came back. Her danmaku projectiles are specifically rotating triangles. Notably after you defeat her she's still trying to proposition Reimu, even if she's given up on recruitment.

Moving on you find a very tall, broad, woman with a great deal of jewelry(no idea on an appropriate hat) speaking with Keine, and then after having her identified as Plato(another philosopher) by Socrates Reimu proceeds to beat the tar out of her. Her Spell Cards are themed mostly around the Theory of Forms, and defeating her reveals that she was teaching Keine about platonic philosophy with the intent to integrate it into her school's curriculum.

There's this whole bit where Reimu explains how teaching humans to interrogate the world around them like that would just repeat the course of the outside world, and that that would lead to an escalation of conflict between humans and Yokai to maintain the existing balance and preserve Gensokyo. So, very dangerous and likely to lead to a lot of violence. Turning Keine away from all of Plato's ideas. Socrates is being her usual self during all of this and keeps interjecting with interrogative questions and asking why why why before getting a seal slapped over her mouth to shut her up. But not before mentioning that if you're trying to stop the spread of "logic" and "common sense" you should really be going after Aristotle.

So off the shrine maiden goes and indeed, she manages to track where her next target is by a seeming aura of sensibility and "reality". Reimu needs to float outside the boundaries of common sense to keep moving forward, and eventually she encounters a woman in noble ancient greek dress outside the village, talking to a crowd of villagers who were previously working the fields. After beating her in a fight and having it explained to them that they were being lied to by a malicious yokai, things start going back to normal and balance is preserved. Yukari pops in to scoop up the unconscious Aristotle and points you in the direction of the last remaining disruption, while Socrates laughs at and mocks her fellow philosopher for being so confident in her understanding of the world around her because of things like "logic" and "reasoning" and "observation".

The last boss of the Incident is a second fight with Diogenes, who's gotten group of villagers to listen to her about how being human is overrated, and that they'd do well to stop caring about pretense and belief and live like dogs. Effectively the opposite problem presented by Aristotle. It's shown that she originally wasn't even trying during the first fight, and now that Reimu is actually trying to stop her from speaking she actually fights back.

After the fight, you get an epilogue where Yukari asks Reimu about her impression of them all, and eventually decides that they can be permitted to stay now that they've all been shown to be mad, and Socrates' constant insistence that you truly know nothing is more helpful to the preservation of belief than it is harmful. So the lot of them are allowed to set up a school a ways outside the human village, which nobody seriously attends. Partly because of their bad reputation, partly because they're always arguing, and partly because none of them can deliver a straight answer to any question.

Mechanically it's part visual novel and part boss rush, as the setting of the human village doesn't really lend itself to stages full of mooks trying to stop you. And of course there are some design concepts that could be workshopped if this would ever be seriously made. As it stands it's just a fun idea to rotate in your head and laugh about.

really good idea but i especially love the idea that after you beat all these fucking transgenderised clowns they're allowed to stay because if there's two things that the ancient greek philosophers were it was completely wrong and completely deranged

[kaidanworkshop]

Kaidan Revoiced: Community Expansion Content Frequently Asked Questions

Looking for more information about the Kaidan Workshop as a whole? Check here first!

What will be included in the Kaidan Revoiced: Community Expansion mod?

To list every small addition and fix would make this FAQ unbearably long, but here are the key highlights:

Remastered and rebuilt from the ground up! Every single line of code, every asset, and every script has been overhauled – our new follower framework eliminates long-standing bugs and quality of life issues that plagued the original mod

All new voice acting of Kaidan by the talented Paul Warren

Many new QOL features for Kaidan such as:

Wardrobe management

Pronoun selection

Combat damage adjustment

Immersive settings system through dialogue

Audio restoration and engineering on supporting characters from Kaidan 1 sources

Reviewed and updated quest commentary conditions - you may hear lines from the original script that you’ve never had the chance to hear before!

Customize your playthrough by choosing a nickname that Kaidan can use for you - or ask to not be called by a nickname (ie. "Dragonborn")

Players can now obtain the custom home Autumnwatch without marrying Kaidan if they so choose, or via the original romance route

New high poly and HD assets while preserving LivTempleton’s original mod aesthetic

Do I need the original LivTempleton Kaidan 2 mod?

No, Kaidan Revoiced: Community Expansion mod is standalone, and has no other mod requirements. It is not compatible with the original Kaidan 2 mod.

Can I use KR:CE with [insert Kaidan replacer]/[insert Kaidan patch]?

KR:CE will not be compatible out of the box with ANY existing Kaidan replacers, patches, or extensions. KR:CE uses a new framework that current visual replacers and compatibility patches simply will not work with; however, converting existing replacers and creating new compatibility patches for other mods (such as Legacy of The Dragonborn) is a relatively easy process we are more than happy to assist in.

Besides that, we have incorporated many different Kaidan fixes that have made several of his old patches and mods obsolete. Below is a non-exhaustive list of the fixes and mods included in KR:CE.

Extensive dialogue tweaks & subtitle fixes

Stat & combat balancing

Follower distance adjustments

HD Armor Retexture

Shackles Fix

Select parts of Kaidan’s Armory and Kaidan’s Arsenal

Dwarven Mail CC conflict patch

Immersive Start (pending current Community Poll)

Kaidan Refreshed 

Additionally, Axarien’s Animations, as well as Kaidan Silvered, have been updated and will publish concurrently with KR:CE.

Patches and modules that will need to be converted &/or patched for compatibility include, but aren’t limited to:

All existing visual replacers 

All existing Autumnwatch replacers

Legacy of the Dragonborn followers patch

Hjertesten

Blackthorn

MCO animation folders

Custom DAR/OAR animations 

Can I use KR:CE with a follower manager mod, such as NFF or AFF?

No, KR:CE’s custom follower framework will break if you import Kaidan into any such mod. As we have rebuilt it from the ground up, any requested features that the community wishes to have implemented can be investigated and integrated relatively seamlessly; these can always be suggested via any of our socials for consideration.

Will Kaidan still have his interactions with Lucien?

Unfortunately, we are unable to coordinate the revoicing effort of the Lucien-Kaidan interactions for our initial 1.0 launch – it is something that we are very interested in pursuing once schedules permit.

Will Kaidan still curse/drink in KR:CE?

The short answer: Yes. Our design policy with regards to any changes we make to Kaidan is one that aims to be lore friendly, as well as keeping his characterization as close as possible to his original depiction. 

The long answer, as per our Writing Team: 

-- Please note the response below contains NSFW language -- 

"Kaidan's cursing and drinking is something our community has definitely weighed in on, spurring an entire section of exposition in our style guide to address it. Our main concern is that some of his language is anachronistic, and we want to address that. 

In the base Skyrim script, mild language such as damn, piss, and bastard are used throughout the world, while other words like bitch, whore, sex, and ass are used less frequently. It was clearly LivTempleton's intent to have Kaidan be someone who is unafraid to let a foul word slip here and there, but not so much that he's swearing like a sailor. Hell and fuck are both used by Kaidan, and despite not being strictly “lore friendly,” both swears are canonically used within The Elder Scrolls world. Similarly with regards to drinking, Kaidan’s base script contains several lines that clearly show he enjoys having a drink here and there, but not so much that he’s a drunken mess.

We are considering replacements for the anachronistic swears with something more lore friendly in future Workshop Original content, but we don't have any specific plans to expand the amount of swearing or drinking lines he has by any significant amount at this time. Ultimately, sometimes less is more."

Can I use KR:CE with Extended Edition?

No, KR:CE will not be compatible out of the box with ANY existing Kaidan replacers, patches, or extensions. Further, as Extended Edition has the original Kaidan 2 as a mod requirement, it is unfortunately incompatible with our expansion.

Will KR:CE be ported to Xbox/Playstation/Switch?

For Xbox - Yes, we have plans to do so (and have been building KR:CE with console compatibility in mind), but in the event that we are unable to do so in house, we would be more than happy to coordinate with a knowledgeable member of the community to port KR:CE.

For Playstation & Switch - Unfortunately due to the limitations of modding on this particular console, we cannot release KR:CE on either of these platforms.

Can I use KR:CE with Skyrim VR?

Yes, KR:CE should be compatible out of the box.

Will KR:CE be backported to Skyrim: Legendary Edition?

We currently have no plans to backport KR:CE to LE. However, we would be more than happy to coordinate with a knowledgeable member of the community to port KR:CE.

Is the Workshop planning on creating interactions with [insert your favorite custom voiced follower]?

Interactions with other custom voiced followers has always been a goal of ours! Right now we are focused primarily on releasing the 1.0 version of KR:CE, and creating an entirely new script with another content creator will add too much production time to our current workflow. However, once we begin transitioning towards Workshop Original Script production post-launch, we will be revisiting this topic in full force.

Can I make a compatibility patch for [insert your favorite mod]?

In general, yes! Link us to the content you wish to make a patch for, so we can ensure it does not violate our Terms of Use Policy (see below). Besides that, all we ask is that you please credit us as The Kaidan Workshop, as well as crediting LivTempleton for providing her assets to the community. 

Dragonborn Voice Over/AI Voice Generation Policy

The Kaidan Workshop, as well as our VA Paul Warren, have a strict policy against the utilization of AI Voice Generation. We do NOT consent to the use of Kaidan’s new lines by Mr. Warren in any mod &/or media content that uses AI Voice Generation as a permanent fixture of its content, nor do we consent to the utilization of any of our content in helping to train AI Voice Generators. Mods that use AI voices as placeholders while official lines are being recorded will be evaluated on a case by case basis. In the case of the popular Dragonborn Voice Over mod, only a voice from a human voice actor who has consented to their voice and its likeness being used for AI Voice Generation will be considered for a compatibility patch. Otherwise, the above no-tolerance policy stands.

NSFW Patch Policy

The Workshop, as well as our VA Paul Warren has a strict policy against the utilization of KR:CE in NSFW content. The only exception to this rule are nude body replacers for mods such as HIMBO or SOS.

Help! My question isn't on this FAQ page!

No problem! Come swing by our Discord, or leave a message in our inbox.

[emersonfreepress]

okay so is there content that you had planned for the ROs and story in general but then scrapped cause there wasn’t a good place in the story to stick it in? and if so, can you share what it was? 👀 👀 👀

yes, definitely. *rubs hands together* oh man, you done asked THE question today xD I can't wait to get into this 😁

Academics. I almost decided to have classes and grades be a minor part of gameplay, but the more time I spent designing it the more I realized I wanted nothing to do with it 😂 I haven’t really enjoyed academic gameplay in other interactive fiction because I 1) hate having to choose between studying and interacting with awesome characters, 2) have terrible short term memory, and 3) hate school in general!! So instead I just opted to have the MC be really good at school, point blank period so I could focus on social drama and relationships instead! 😆

Physical skills. I spent literal months crafting the catering scene around setting up stats for stamina/endurance, dexterity, and strength instead of just magnetism, confidence, and persuasion. They had their own backstories with the MC’s parents being overly invested sports parents instead and I think the background choices were like... martial arts, gymnastics, and track? But yeah, I ended up scrapping it all because I was spending hours on research about those individual sports so I could integrate them into the MC’s narrative organically but like... when I tried to think of what use they would be in the actual story, I came up blank. Best decision yet, esp since it means a lot less coding!

Skin tone customization. For one, I noticed that a lot of my favorite IFs don’t offer that customization and it hasn’t impacted my experience at all. For two, I originally realized I might as well not implement it since I am striving real hard not to introduce any customization that won’t actually be mentioned in interesting or meaningful ways in-story. I don’t think it’s really all that common for real life friends (esp in high school?) to comment or compliment each other’s skin and like... when it comes from someone who doesn’t share a similar complexion or ethnic background, that type of commentary gets... d i c e y. So then I wanted to be sensitive to that but what’s the pay-off? An RO mentioning how they love your skin tone once? Awkward sentences with the MC referring to their own skin color? Idk, just wasn’t vibing with it. I’m open to revisiting it in beta or something but for now it’s scrapped.

Singing, Rapping, and Gaming as Hobbies/Talents. I feel bad about scrapping these, honestly 😂 They’re great and I really wanted to incorporate them but it just came down to already having a lot of stuff to code. Plus, I know I can write the Hobbies/Talents I stuck with far better. And for Book 2 purposes, as well!

Leo. as @sourandflightypeaches ​​ asked me about a long while ago, I had to scrap an entire RO 😢 His name is Leo, he was the nephew of wealthy west African diplomats residing in Emerson, and I love him dearly! His backstory was largely based on my mother’s childhood and the circumstances she lived through after immigrating to America. and... ok, i’m about to go on one hell of a tangent so buckle up and bear with me if you can 😅

my intention with this story, aside from writing things that I personally enjoy (graphic violence, spooky woods, social drama, romance, conspiracies 😚), is to explore greed, wealth, and how the ways people and families interact with those two things influence young people and who they grow up to be. here i go sounding pretentious af 😝 and here’s where I apply a cut for those who want to preserve a little mystery to the main characters!

With Gabe, we’ve got someone who grew up with very little stability or financial security but who has found unscrupulous methods to gain status and money, with both noble and selfish motivations.

Kile has some of that childhood experience in common with Gabe, having been in the foster care system since infancy, but they lucked out when they were adopted into massive wealth by a caring, loving couple—a couple that uses their wealth and privilege to be far more lenient and protective of Kile than is actually reasonable or responsible.

Jack comes from a prestigious wealthy family on his dad’s side who he loves dearly but there’s no getting around the fact that they love him back as much as they despise his working class mom.

Jessie is a spoiled sweet heiress (being the baby of her family and the only girl) and while she lives blissfully ignorant of the harmful source and impact of her father's income and career, she bears the weight of the expectation to fulfill very traditional gender roles, including her behavior and appearance, but also extending to her career and life plans.

Rain's wealth led to them growing up sheltered and isolated but also extremely accommodated, giving them maximum freedom and opportunity to discover and develop their personal talents and interests. However, they have almost no positive relationship with their parents who have essentially decided to give up on a kid that couldn't be exactly the accessory they tried to mold them to be—both in terms of their identity and personality.

Rupan/Rohan, at their very core, rejects everything about conformity, self-importance, and excessive luxury—which means they have never, ever truly fit in with their peers. Going full non-conformist, however, has resulted in them becoming alienated from much of their family, as well, despite them all loving each other very much. Their history with false friends and betrayals has led them to over-indulge in their vices and reckless behavior to compensate for that isolation. Sometimes, they just get in over their head and many times, they know better. Every time, it's just that the feeling of finally belonging is utterly intoxicating.

Vivian/Vincent has two extremely successful parents who didn't inherit but instead built up their wealth and they aspire to be just like them, to a degree that is well and truly unhealthy. Their mother specifically is an over-achiever and applies mountainous pressure for them to follow in her footsteps, especially academically. Vi is completely capable of achieving what their mom expects of them, but they were already an extremely sensitive perfectionist so this has made them intensely critical of themself. This is a large part of why they are such a rigid, no-nonsense person and that in turn has made them one of the most disliked people among their peers—which is a huge personal failure to them since their father is a very well-liked and socially successful person in town.

And the Emersons are peak privilege: inherent high social status, brains, looks, charisma, athleticism, and massive wealth. They could never have been anything less than extremely popular, just by virtue of their last name and the nature of the town's social dynamics and politics. And they do enjoy that privilege (esp Curt lol). However, it should go without saying that being so high profile, even (or maybe especially) just in the isolated scope of your hometown, isn't always a boon. Their family's and their own perceived failings are widely discussed and privately mocked and/or celebrated. Real friends are scarce while fake ones and snakes are plentiful. Plus their dad is a gigantic dickhead who sees his kids as extensions of his own status and reputation and not much else. Public shortcomings make for an unbearable time at home and the world outside the estate is at once overly accommodating, full of assumptions, and even subtly hostile at times—all unrelated to their own actions or character.

And with the MC, I think the narrative will make it clear there are several ways that story can go. You start off with irresponsible parents that have lost their wealth due to their own mismanagement and material ambitions—how that affects any individual MC should differ based on choices and consequences!

So why bring any of that up when I was supposed to be talking about my cut OC? 😂😂

Leo was going to be the unwelcome recent addition to his uncle’s household, the son of a brother his aunt hates for (petty af) Reasons, and she took that resentment out on him directly by restricting his access to nearly every aspect of the family's wealth. Especially material goods and living conditions. He was basically treated like the help, tasked with playing nanny for his many younger cousins and burdened with doing the homework and providing academic cover for his dumb as rocks cousin in the same grade as you all. To sum it up, he was basically a victim of trafficking at the hands of his own family with his uncle out of town enough to feign ignorance to how bad his wife was treating his nephew and his aunt going out of her way to keep him busy, at home, and isolated. This is sadly a super common form of trafficking in Francophone African cultures (although I don't think most people view it as trafficking. and I’m sure the same is true of other cultures but I don’t want to speak outside of my purview). And like I mentioned above, it’s how my own mom's (and idek how many cousins') child/teenhood went.

It’s a perspective on modern wealth, privilege and greed that I really, really wanted to tell. I am confident in saying it hasn't been explored in interactive fiction yet (though correct me—and direct me 👀—if I'm wrong) and out of all the wealth/greed explorations I came up with, it's the one I have the closest personal ties to and the strongest feelings about. The characters and plans I had for it were detailed and I'm proud of them but at the end of the day... I just couldn't find a place for Leo in the story at large.

Leo was, in fact, the last main character I came up with, when I had already designed and fleshed out the larger story and started crafting the timeline of major events. I think the worst thing I could have done for a story and perspective that I care about this much is shove it into a plot that didn't have room for it at the very base level, regardless of how well the character or his story is written. Shoe-horned characters always stick out. I didn’t want to disservice Leo by having him be the character that did nothing or could be removed from the main plot without affecting it at all, y’know? That’s so much worse than just forgoing the indulgence, imo :((

ugh.... Leooooo 😭 I'm so sorry bb, I failed youuu 😥

[skyfallofcybertron-blog]

Transformers: Skyfall. Like Real People Do

((Mun Note: So I wrote this forever ago for @light-edge-with-a-blog​. Before the boy got himself a blog. I still REALLY proud of it and thought I would share it with everyone else too.))

The time got away from me. I don’t know how. Normally, I was pretty good at keeping track of my day. However, when I was with the Autobots, on their base, with Light-Edge and his adopted family; I don’t know… Something about them eased me. Team Prime eased me. Unbelievable. I had read Decepticon intel upon Decepticon intel on how ruthless and traitorous they where. Yet, they were so close. All of them. They where a family.

The Decepticons were never that close. We were comrades, partners, brothers-in-arms and team mates; never anything that could be considered a risk. Yes, there was pairing offs. Pits, Night Glide and I got bonded during the War. However, we were the odd balls. Most of the time, it was aggressive bots just trying to...blow off steam.

The Great War molded Team Prime into something greater than anything the Decepticons could have imagined. And slowly, I was being integrated into it. ‘Slowly’ was the key word here. It was still pretty split when I would show up. The younger members; Bumblebee, Smokescreen and Light-Edge (along with Optimus Prime) had pretty much welcomed me since day one. The others not so much. I was still very much a Decepticon to them.

Maybe this was part of Optimus Prime’s grandmaster plan. To show his team that the War was really over. I thought that at first. I thought that the Prime was just using me to get the closeted and shy Light-Edge out more.

Poor kid. He was from Earth, supposedly in status throughout the whole war. Of course, the ‘Cons had no documentation of the mech. Something to do with the human military force finding him first. I’m not to sure. I was never got much on Light-Edge’s backstory. It was clear that he was hurting though. Ratchet and Arcee followed him around like a pair of hawks. He was sick or something to the like. I was never told what it was. It wasn’t my business to know.

Light-Edge was so dissociated when I first met him, all those months ago.

Yet, upon Prime’s secret orders, I started coming to the base. I started to get to know Light-Edge. I started to get to know the members of Team Prime. Everyone began to open up and enjoy my company. And I was enjoying theirs.

To the point where I was steadily powering down on Light-Edge’s shoulder one late and stormy night. The solar winds had brought the summer heat from the Sea of Rust over Metroplex like a blanket; making everyone hazy in function. The first really muggy summer since we all returned. Most of the bots where readjusting. Expect for Light-Edge. The humans pulled him out of a desert on their planet. The mechling was used to it.

I felt my helm dip one last time. It clinked off of Light-Edge’s shoulder plating with a quiet ‘tink’. I finally gave up and yawned. The mechling I was sitting on chuckled in amusement as I lifted my arms over my head to stretch.

“What?” He asked, smirking softly, “Earth cinema not good enough for your Cybertronian palette?”

“It’s not that.” I yawned once again, “Gamera: Guardian of the Universe is clearly a masterpiece that needs to be preserved for generations to come.”

I slowly slid down his outstretched arm to look at him face to face. I smiled wearily and added, “It’s late, kiddo. I don’t know what you do all day, but I have work in the morning.”

There was a crack of lighting outside the base. I could hear the rain pounding off the roof. I didn’t need to look out the mechling’s cramped room window to know that the rain was pouring down in sheets. He looked at me with great disapproval.

“You’re going home? In this?” Light-Edge said dryly. He gestured to the downpour blowing pass his window.

“That? You?” He continued, “You’d get blown away.”

“I can walk.”

“You’ll get swept up in the streets.”

“Then I’ll call for a pick up.”

“Night Glide will get hit by lightning.”

I smirked. “You have an answer for everything, don’t you?”

The blue mechling huffed. He crossed his arms and tried to give me a tough face. However, the mechling was still a mechling. It came out more like a pout then anything resembling a threat.

“I just don’t want you to go home in this. It’s too dangerous, Sky.”

“I agree with Light-Edge.”

My helm swiveled to the door where Ratchet, the Autobots head medic, was making his way into the room. Medical kit in hand.

Light-Edge’s nightly diagnostic. I scampered to Light-Edge’s other arm as Ratchet didn’t skip a beat and began to set up for the mechling’s tests.

“I haven’t seen winds like this in eons. You’re too small to make the journey across the city on your own.”

“Jeez, thanks for the vote of confidence, Ratchet.”

Ratchet didn’t even look at me as he lifted a digit to silence me. “I’ve repaired enough Minicons before the war to know what their physical limitations are.”

The old bot took Light-Edge wrist and plugged in one of his scanners. Ratchet paused for a moment before added briefly, “As Light-Edge said; we don’t want to see you get hurt, Skyfall.”

I smiled softly upon hearing that. Ratchet was a bit of a hard bot. Four million years of war made his bedside manners less than to be desired, but underneath all that flaking plating was a spark of gold. Even when he didn’t want to admit it.

Ratchet waved me off; trying to shoo me off of Light-Edge’s shoulder. I took to the air to avoid his servos.

“You two sparklings can finish your movie once I finish here.” Ratchet said, “Now, shoo. You’re a distraction.”

“Sparkling? I’m only 400,000 years younger then Arcee.”

“Well, you’re a sparkling compared to me. Shoo, will you?”

Ratchet continued to bat the air in front of me. Light-Edge was finding this very amusing. He was laughing by the time I retreated to the doorway. Light-Edge waved at me. I waved back. Ratchet grumbled as he returned back to the blue mechling’s side.  

“Really now. Minicons.”

Outside Light-Edge’s dorm, I stretched out my arms and wings. I turned on my peds, walking towards the common area of the base. The large hanger was filled to the brim with the rest of the other Autobots; lounging around to avoid the summer storm outside.

Bumblebee and Smokescreen where sparring while the rest of Team Prime watched and chatted among themselves. The clashing of fists was almost as loud as their trash talk. I couldn't help, but chuckle. Mechs would be mechs. The two rounded pass me as I entered the room.

“Hey, Sky!” Smokescreen said cheerfully, pinning Bee’s arm painfully by sitting on the poor mechling, “Not going home in this, are you?”

The bots started tumbling once more. I sidestepped out of the way. Bee gave his partner a swift kick. Smoke fell like a bundle of bricks.

Bumblebee added, “Need a ride home?”

“I'm staying here for the night. Doctor’s and Light-Edge’s orders.”

The sure fire sound of Optimus Prime’s peds came echoing throughout the chamber. The roughhousing nearly stopped when he came into the room. Almost. Prime looked fondly at his team, then his optics fell onto me.

“Both Ratchet and Light-Edge are wise to think that.” Optimus said, “We have plenty of space for you to stay until the storm passes, Skyfall.”

“Oh, hell yeah,” Smokescreen remarked. The mechling’s doorwings were bouncing with excitement. “I always wanted to do a sleepover ever since the kids ever talked about!”

Bumblebee’s servo shot up straight into the air, “I call first pick for movies!”

Somewhere down the hallway, Light-Edge retorted. His answer echoing off the metal walls.

“We’re still watching Gamera!”

Ratchet also sighed. Seemed like wrangling three energetic young mechs was a full time job. My spark swelled up, once again amazed by the seamless family they had all became. I giggled, but it quickly because loud and clear with delight.

I had not felt a something like this since I was with Jetstream and her trine.

A wave of bittersweet washed over my spark; making it heavy with the memory. Sure, I was bonded. And yes, Glide and I were a family. However, it was just the two of us against the world for such a long time. Something deep in my coding always longed for more though.

Night Glide was raised a Vosian Seeker. He was cool and distant. Affectionate, but never openly showed it. Ever since we came home, he worked long days. He was a cop, after all. Even with the battles over, there was still grudges that would arise.

I was working a lot myself. Immigration and all that. A lot of my free time, I was responding to emails from off world colonies or here. Helping with Light-Edge’s reintegration into our society.

Our schedules never quite lined up anymore.

I don’t know. Maybe I was overthinking this. Maybe I was lonely. Or maybe I was greedy and wanted more. Whatever it was; I pushed it down and enjoyed the rest of my evening.

It went as well I one would expect what three mechs would think would be entertaining. It was a B-movie marathon. I was introduced to a wide array of Earth films; ranging from slashers to spaghetti westerns. All of them equally trouble in their own unique ways. I don’t think I’ve laughed as hard in a long time then listening to Smokescreen’s and Light-Edge’s constant commentary.

At some point, Knock Out came and joined us as well. Another follow fan of the art form. The medic would regal about his time sneaking into the parking lots of Earth’s drive-in theaters with his partner, Breakdown; watching the local picture show. The former ‘Con seemed a little down over the memory. He was hiding it though through wit. I knew that he and Breakdown where close, but I guess the scars of war hadn’t healed just yet for the red sportscar.

Slowly, as the night and storm dragged on, one by one; the mechs turned in for the night. I was set up in a spare dormitory next to Light-Edge’s room. That’s where I found myself just unable to sleep. Not for the reason I thought I would either. I thought I wouldn’t sleep being so close to the Autobots, but in reality, I couldn’t sleep without my carrier.

I was just used to being held in my carrier’s deployer compartment. I had not (or at least very rarely) ever just recharged on my own. I was used to the warmth and feeling of safety that being in my carrier provided. It also was a good way to mentally unwind too. Hooking up to my carrier provided me a safe way to ‘unload’ my emotional stress as well. It was easier to share the anxiety between two, then to suffer alone.

As another hour clocked by, I finally gave up. I shifted from my alt. mode (my prefered charging state) and sat up in the massive berth I was provided. I looked towards the wall where I could hear Light-Edge sleep peacefully. I groaned in embarrassment. I had two options:

Ask for help with this predicament.

Or risk not getting any charge and crashing at work.

Ask for help with this predicament.

Or risk not getting any charge and crashing at work.

I swallowed my pride. I hopped out of berth, crept into the hallway and peeked into the blue mechling’s room.

The kid was powered down, breathing softly as I tip toed closer to his berth. On cue, like he knew I needed something, his optics dimmed online. Light-Edge yawned and lazily stretched. My wings hung close to the floor. I immediately fault stupid over this and regretted my actions.

“Hey…” He mumbled, “What’s up, Sky…?”

It took me a moment to answer. My mouth suddenly went dry. I also felt so much smaller. Light-Edge tilted his helm in concern when I didn’t say anything right away. Though, he waited until I was able to piece my words together.

“I have the dumbest question...”

“It’s not a stupid question if you were willing to wake me up in the middle of the night to get an answer.” The mechling gave me a haft smile. He lowered his servo to allow me to hop up onto his berth and sit next to him. “What’s wrong? You seem upset.”

“Not upset. Just...embarrassed.” I looked up at him. I smiled weakly. “I can’t sleep.”

Light-Edge chuckled, “That all?”

“Yeah. Normally have Night Glide around.”

“Used to having another person to share the berth or something?”

“More like used to sleeping in the other person.”

Light-Edge raised a puzzled eyebrow. A tired chuckle escaped me. I leaned back. I rested my helm against the larger bot’s shoulder plate. Light-Edge shifted and curled an arm around me. I smiled weakly. That helped a bit.

“It’s a Minicon thing.” I explained, “I link up with my carrier every night and power down with them. I’ve been doing it for so long that it just feels...weird not charging like that.”

“So, you just need a box or space like that to sleep in?” Light-Edge said.

“Something like that. Yeah.”

“What about my trunk?”

I blinked. Wait? He was going for it? Actually?

He chuckled. My confusion must have been plain to see. He pointed over his shoulder with his spare arm.

“My trunk.” He repeated, “It’s on my back. Do you just want to charge in there? You’re not going to bother me. I’ve slept through much worst.”

It took me a moment for his words to actually sink into my mind. Slowly, I felt a chuckle creep up my throat. My turbines whirled to life as Light-Edge sat up. He offered me a servo to land on while he smiled. With a click, the hatch between his shoulder blades opened. Light-Edge rested his forehead against mine.

“Night, Skyfall.”

“Night, Light-Edge.”

He pulled away as I took off from his servo; transforming into my jet mode. I rounded his shoulder and landed squarely in the back of his trunk. It closed behind me. I settled in the darkness; feeling a hundred times better. Comforted in the metallic blanket I was wrapped in. Soothed by internal hums and machinery.

I found myself listening to the consistency of Light-Edge’s sparkbeat. Every spark had a different rhythm then the one next to it. Every bot was it’s own little song. It’s own little record spinning through the cosmos. Light-Edge’s spark was no different. His spark steady and calming. Melodic. Much like the bot it belong to.

It ended being my own personal lullaby. I was asleep before I knew it.

***

I missed my home. The one that was thousands of millions of light years away.

On a blue, glassy planet was my home. The only one that I had known in my short life. The sand and rock of Jasper. The vistas and the nearly endless expanse of the desert skies. How quiet and peaceful it all was.

I missed my family. My mom and my friends; Raf and Miko. I hadn’t seen them since I came here. I missed watching movies, playing video games, working on my bike in the garage...the warmth of my mother’s hug.

I missed so much of my homeworld. So, so, much.

I wasn’t this. What I become. I was a monster now; a mess of wires and metal and energon. Ratchet made me like this to keep me alive. Yet now I had to keep up a living lie. I couldn't become what Optimus wanted me to. Now I'm stuck. In between something I am and something alien.

My name was Light-Edge.

I am Jack Darby.

We were Skyfall.

I gasped for air as if I was drowning in mercury. No. It was Ratchet’s cybermatter. Or at least the memories of it. I floundered. My frame felt slow and sluggish; my processors trying to catch up with the rest of me. My interfacing cables unplugged themselves as I began to realize what was happening. I had plugged myself into-

“JACK!”

The kid was screaming. I knew why. Oh Primus, I knew why. From the bottom of my spark, all the way through my wiring; I realized with crystal clarity was if I felt every fiber he was feeling that he felt every inch of mine. And I had four million years of wars, surgery and abuse on top of his meager nineteen.

“JACK!” I yelled once more, but the bot- boy- kid, was still screaming.

He probably couldn’t hear me under all the plating. I went to eject. Yet, the way was firmly locked. Jack was on his back. He probably woke up from a dead charge like this and didn’t understand what was happening.

Against better judgement, I did the only thing I could do while trapped within my carrier. I plugged myself back in.

Somewhere between our two minds was the meeting point. Every carrier/deployer had one. It was the space where our two hafts became one; where the passing of knowledge was seamless. I knew he was there. What I didn’t expect was to find the human; not the mech, doubled over in pain and sobbing.

“Sweet Solus Prime...”

I came over to him; finally eye to eye with each other. I set a servo on his back and traced it along his spine. Jack sputtered out a gasp. Wild blue eyes looked up at me with both confusion and relief. I smiled weakly; pulling him into a hug. Jack grabbed onto my back plates like it was the last things on Cybertron. In our combine minds, they might as well be. I continued to rub his back to calm him.

“I know…” I cooed softly, “I’m so sorry… You’re ok now, kiddo. It was just a bad dream-”

“No, that wasn’t.” I heard muffled against my plating, “That was real. That happened. To you.”

Slowly, his shaky hands wrapped themselves around my helm’s filigree. I had thought I was used to Jack’s striking eyes by this point. Yet, his steel blue eyes looked so heartbroken. So, concerned for me. Let alone his own well being.

I think that hurt more than the fact I just traumatized him with eons of my memories.

“Why didn’t you tell me about any of this?” He asked.

My breathing hitched. I tilted my helm to nuzzle into his palm. I gave Jack the only answer I had.

“Cause I’m still working through it.” It wasn’t a lie. “It hurts, but not as much as it used to.”

My servos brought him closer in the hug, “I’m sorry that I dragged you into all of this, Jack. It’s-”

A pop up window flashed before me. I felt my face scrunch up as I pulled myself away from Jack to read it. Jack swiveled his head to see it as well; looking as completely lost as I was feeling. His eyes flickered as he tried to read what I had already finished.

Primus, no.

“Sky?” He questioned, “I’m not up to date on my Cybertronian. What is that?”

I let the boy go quickly. A hissed slipped through my teeth. I closed the window. Then opened one of my own. Jack finally got to his feet as I began to furiously type on a holoboard.

“Sky?” Jack’s fear was starting to creep back into his voice.

My screen crashed. The keyboard disappeared. I looked quickly at the boy before Ratchet forcefully ejected me from my current carrier. Both carrier and deployer where screaming with my removal.

Ratchet should have known better. With our two minds linked like that; it was similar to a psychic patch. It was mutual. A symbiotic process. A respectful partnership.

It wasn’t as abrasive as the patch. However, a forced deployer ejection was just as dangerous. Luckily, (or out of the medic’s skill) it didn’t outright kill the both of us. It just felt like our bodies where being ripped in half.

Though, I have a feeling that the old medic was pressured into it.

I could barely figure out what was happening before I was unceremoniously dumped onto the main hanger’s floor. Ratchet’s voice was coming down the hallway; trying to calm down Jack. I was caught under the seething gaze of Jack’s guardian, Acree.

“What the frag where you thinking?!” The blue femme screamed at me.

Terror ripped through my body. My intakes hitched as I backed off from the femme. Arcee closed the gap between us. My mouth hung agape. I was shaking; from my helm to my wings. A crossed Arcee was a dangerous one. I had read about it in Decepticon reports. She was quick; precise and more often than not, vindictive when concerning her partners. I think out of all of Team Prime’s warriors, besides Prime himself, I feared her the most.

“Are you going to say anything, ‘Con?”

The two-wheeler was looking for answers. Ones that I didn’t have. My mind was blank. My mouth was as dry as those solar winds that brought us this horrible summer storm. I couldn’t even breathe. I was just staring up at Arcee. Like an complete idiot.

Maybe I was just a dumb Decepticon.

“Arcee, leave her alone!”

Thunderous peds falls came crashing down the hallway. I couldn’t figure out who it was at first until they were right on top of us; wedged between me and Arcee. The bot did cause Acree to back off slightly.

Light-Edge was standing over me. The mechling had his shielding on and firmly pointing it towards his partner. He was glaring. I had never seen him like that. Arcee had a look of surprise. So, it must have been a rarity. I, on the other hand, felt tears roll down my cheeks. It was as if an invisible servo was squeezing my spark.

...What was I doing here?

“Arcee, I know that you’re scared.” Light-Edge said calmly. Yet, firmly. He was making a point to her. “Hell, I’m weirded out too. I’m still getting used to all of this Cybertronian head probing stuff, but I don’t think Skyfall intended this to happen. It was a mistake.”

Light-Edge looked down towards me. His face softened once he noticed I was crying.

“Isn’t that right, Sky?” He said gently.

I nodded. Slowly, at first. My processor unable to anything more than that. I croaked on a sob. My helm nodded faster. Oh Primus, if I could speak, it would have been a long string of apologizes. Instead, I just pulled up my knees to sob into them. The only thing I could do. My spark ached. I couldn’t tell from what anymore. Fear, guilt, the reopening of old scars. All things where equal in my mind.

Arcee seemed to understand my complete lack of vocal communication. The femme’s stance shifted. Her shoulders sank. Her optics went distant with thought. After a moment, she vented out a sigh. Light-Edge straightened out; putting his shield generators away. Carefully, the mechling lifted me off the floor. And in an ironic twist of fate; it was now my turn to cling to him for dear life.

The stalemate between Light-Edge and Arcee only lasted a moment. Ratchet came stomping towards us. The older mech simply glared all three of down in complete disappointment. Like a sire scolding his sparklings. That made me feel even smaller in Light-Edge’s grasp.

“That’s enough from the three of you.” He hissed lowly, “You’re going to wake up the whole base if you keep this up. The heat is getting to you.”

He jabbed an accusing digit at Arcee first. “You know better. Skyfall has been coming here for months. Optimus even approved it himself.” The old mech flattered for a moment as he glanced at Jack, “She was bound to find out about all of this. Sooner or later.”

Ratchet’s optics fell on me briefly. He opened his arms towards Light-Edge and gestured, “Give her to me. I need to look her over. And go back to bed.” He eyed Acree again, “Both of you.”

“But Ratchet-” Light-Edge started to protest as the medic plucked me from his hold. Ratchet shot him another glare.

“That’s enough.” Ratchet retorted.

With a defeated sigh, Light-Edge nodded. He made his way back towards his room; disappearing into the dark corridor. Arcee didn’t leave right away. She was simply staring at where Jack had ventured. Ratchet shifted me in his arms.

“He’s fine, Arcee.”

She hummed softly in thought. Finally, Acree broke rank. She walked passed us; patting Ratchet’s shoulder plating as she did. Perhaps as a way to either thank him or apologize. The femme went down another hallway. Ratchet huffed a sigh out of his vents.

The old medic walked over and set me on to a table to properly examine me. I was surprised how careful Ratchet was in doing so. Even to a Minicon like myself. After taking my vitals and running a few tests, Ratchet sighed quietly in what I would like to believe was relief.

“Everything checks out. Would you like some help getting back into bed?”

There was a beat of silence between us. I looked back up at the old medic and whispered, “You saved his life...”

Ratchet was caught off guard by my comment. He hid it well. He ignored me at first; choosing to pack his equipment. Though, it slowed until he sighed heavily. There was regret in his eyes when he looked over his shoulder to see me.

“...Did I?” Ratchet mused, “You would know better then I would. You were the one that was linked to him, after all.”

I hummed. Newly adopted memories of Earth flooded my mind. That feeling of loneliness. The feeling of homesickness. That feeling of being trapped on a completely alien world in all sense of the word.

That feeling of being loved by a family. Both biological. And found.

I smiled weakly.

“You did, but he needs an outlet.” I looked up at the big mech, “He needs something to do. You can’t keep him locked up in here. He’s a good kid, Ratchet. If you were worried about him not fitting in, keeping him sheltered from Cybertron isn’t going to help. Let him help us. Let him help us rebuild. And let him go back to Earth and see his family.”

I chuckled softly and added, “Though… I have a feeling that I didn’t need to tell you any of that…”

Ratchet’s big shoulders sagged slowly. The silence fell between us once again. The rain outside was not as vicious. The winds not so harsh. Ratchet turned on his ped and offered a servo to climb onto. It was a moment before he spoke again.

“Sometimes I need a reminder…”

I smiled a little bit more and stepped into his hand.

[headspace-hotel]

The gross, Malthusian, doomsday-prepper-esque fantasy of Harshness, Toughness and Individualistic Toxic-Masculinity-Oozing Intolerance Of Compassion And Sympathy being All That Will Remain After The Apocalypse is annoying, anthropologically and evolutionarily unlikely, and born of assumptions about human nature that are neither correct nor good for us, sure.

but I don’t think this trope must communicate that, nor do I think it necessarily does.

“Softness” may create conflicts with no easy answers in extreme circumstances, “softness” may be hard or impossible to keep viable in extreme circumstances, “softness” may even be incompatible with survival, but none of these things = “softness is evil/bad/wrong,” and in general looking for any variation on “X is evil/bad/wrong” as The message of a work will miss a lot of nuance.

What I mean is. Your loved one has been bitten. They are still your loved one, and still loved, and yet not. What is good in you, what is human in you, demands that you save them, but you will endanger everyone else. To what does your human nature make you loyal?

You see, zombie fiction is a good genre because humans survive through social cohesion. They protect their own. They cherish their disabled and tend to their wounded. Writers who lean into an individualistic interpretation on surviving the zombie apocalypse are taking the comfortable route.

It’s because you are human and you cannot make it alone. Even if you could, what kind of life would that be? You are driven to be with and defend the lives of others. In the zombie apocalypse, this nature is an existential threat. At what point do you finish killing that which makes you soft, and what is left? Perhaps you learn not to hesitate, to take deadly aim at faces which are still human and still beg for your mercy, and you survive.

And just as there’s a poetic inevitability to seagull chicks perishing with their stomachs full of plastic and sea turtles mistaking the glare of city lights for moonlight on waves, there is a poetic inevitability to a human hesitating to kill the loved one that has been bitten, because that is our nature. You did your best, seagull, you could not have done any better. You had to care for your chick. You simply were given a rotten set of options.

You are human. You have to defend the people you love, even when it is a liability, even when it is certain death. You are human. You have to feel compassion when you look into a human face that asks for mercy. You have to hesitate. You are human. You have to be soft, even when it will kill you, unless you excise that part of you completely, but you can’t. You can only start a process of tearing it out, of tearing out things that are fundamental to your survival in order to survive, and one day you will either heal or you will find that nothing you have preserved is what you wanted to preserve in saving your own life.

It’s a rotten set of options, it is the point at which the human spirit loses structural integrity, and this isn’t necessarily a criticism of that; perhaps it honors the human spirit, because if we were infinitely willing to sacrifice what we hold sacred, it wouldn’t be sacred anymore.

In moral conflicts, sometimes there is an option that “makes sense” mathematically, but would we be better if we possessed the capacity for that kind of efficient moral reasoning? “Would you rather kill your own child or cause 10 innocent strangers to die” is a question with a clear mathematical answer, but what kind of person would find themselves capable of immediately giving that answer? You are human. You cannot answer the question. You cannot answer the question not because you are broken, but because the universe that asks it of you is broken.

This is, of course, a statement it takes titanic balls to assert, and yet we, as a species, assert it. Suck our titanic balls, universe.

How is that not an affirmative commentary on human nature?

The zombie genre is like “nice moment of human connection you’ve got there. It’d be a shame if someone came along and secretly bit one of you forcing one of you to conceal your injury and dread and forcing someone else to shoot and kill their loved one”

[flightyrock]

Ectober Day 6: Ghost Hunger

I owe everyone a bit of an explanation before we dive into this fever dream.  Yes, I know exactly what ghost hunger refers to, but it just isn’t my thing.  It’s a neat concept, but I don’t really find it fun to write for, or even read, except in the rarest of cases.  I can stand it if it advances an innovative plotline, but just for its own sake…meh.

So I didn’t have any idea what I was going to do for day 6.  I considered skipping it, but that felt like admitting defeat.  With this in the back of my mind, I was scrolling through tumblr, as one does, and found this lovely piece by @schnivel.

One of my favorite things about schnivel’s style is the dynamic quality all of his characters have. I don’t know how to explain it, but it draws the viewer in, and sells that these characters are real.  Complex emotions are portrayed and conveyed with such ease, I get that creative itch every time.  I love everything in your art tag, it makes me so happy.  Thank you for sharing!

But anyway.  In this particular piece, I love the angle of the external light and the ambient light radiating from the suspiciously viscous fluid clinging to his hands.  I think it was the combination of the fluid consistency, color choice, and blood connection that did it.

So as my mind tends to do when I’m tired and see something emotionally charged, it took a running nosedive off the deep end into absurdist territory.

So here is a fic inspired by color choice, texture, and my traumatic experiences with product promotion as a child of the 90s and early 2000s.  I am so sorry but also kind of not.  Please forgive me, schnivel.  Thank you so much for letting me ruin the mood.  And seriously, check out schnivel’s blog!

 (Sorry for all the notes.  Commentary at the end.)

Summary:  When a popular variety of novelty ketchup is discontinued, the ghost population of Amity Park clashes over who will claim the last box.

Warnings:  Customer service feels, light innuendo

Word Count: ~1700

“You do realize that’s disgusting,” Sam deadpanned, looking on with a mixture of mild horror and disgust as Danny smothered his hotdog in a quantity of green slime that could only be defined as excessive.  Somehow it was impossible to turn away.  Tucker didn’t seem to share the sentiment, busying himself with his PDA.

Spurred on by the attention, Danny looked Sam dead in the eyes, staring unflinchingly into their icy, amethyst depths while cramming as much of the sandwich into his mouth as possible.

Only to aim a tad low, bumping into his lower lip.  Time seemed to slow down as blue eyes widened comically in surprise, hand contracting around the bun reflexively, coaxing gobs of the novelty ketchup to ooze out the back and coat the front of his favorite t-shirt, soaking into white fabric with karmatic vengeance.

Sam and Tucker witnessed the following shift from shock to sudden horror at the state of his shirt became clear.  They glanced at each other, unprompted, then lost it completely, howling with laughter as Danny dropped his ‘dog to scrub frantically at his chest with a wad of the worse-than-useless paper napkins the school provided that screamed government subsidy. His response time was impressive, but the damage was done: a prominent, verdant dribble trail clearly illustrated the tragedy that unfolded at lunch that day.

“Are you kidding me? I still have half the day to go,” Danny moaned, hands running anxiously through already messy hair.

“Just phase it off!” Tucker pointed out helpfully, returning to his PDA as chuckles died down into amused sympathy.

“Tuck, intangibility doesn’t remove stains.  It’s set too far in the fabric.  Otherwise laundry would be so much easier.  Hmm.” Danny took a moment to consider the potential, wondering if that was how Vlad managed to keep his ghostwear so pristine. Maybe if he could concentrate his focus…

“You had it coming.  I don’t understand why you insist on consuming that promotional garbage.” Sam rolled her eyes derisively.

“Because it’s the best!” Danny insisted.  Sam and Tucker shared a look, resigned to their friend’s strange obsession.

Danny didn’t know what it was, but ever since that popular condiment brand out of Pittsburgh developed a line of novelty ketchup, he was hooked.  It came in all sorts of unappetizing colors, like green and purple, and the cringe-worthy ad campaign made Danny wonder if the whole thing was an elaborate prank.  But it eventually showed up at the discount food distributer his family frequented, and he bought it himself, despite Jazz’s teasing.  Funny.  He swears he’s caught her using it more than once when she thought he wasn’t around.

While Jazz was exasperated by the blatant exploitation of the mindset of the lower middle working class, Sam objected to the artificial dyes and preservatives, and Tucker insisted it was nothing less than an insult to the integrity of meat, whatever that was supposed to mean. Maybe the dye makes it taste a bit different.  Maybe he just gets a kick out of eating food in weird colors and watching his friends squirm.  Heck, maybe he’s just been desensitized by enough mutant, home-cooked meals that something so harmless but strange fills him with nostalgia.  Whatever the case, Danny couldn’t seem to get enough of the stuff.  He even started taking it to school with him as a fun way to avoid looking too closely at what was on his tray.  

“Uh oh, dude,” Tucker chuckled, bringing up a specific news article on his PDA.  “Looks like your days of ruining hot dogs are numbered.”

“You’re kidding. Please tell me you’re kidding,” Danny begged.

“Afraid not,” Tucker grinned, sliding his tech across the table to deliver the news firsthand.

Blue eyes widened in horror, before the teenager collapsed onto the table dramatically with a moan. “Why is it that as soon as I discover something awesome, it’s gone?”

“Honestly, that’s probably why it appeared on the shelves at Hubert’s in the first place,” Sam remarked flippantly, preferring to pick at chipping nail polish than acknowledge the lump of pouting teenager currently occupying half the table.

“Yeah, brand names are always too good to be true in places like that,” Tucker nodded sagely, patting Danny on the shoulder in mock sympathy.

Danny hauled himself upright with a sigh.  “Nothing else for it.  I’ll just have to go after school and stockpile all the bottles I can.  They can’t be out yet.”

“How are you out?!  It was just here less than a week ago!”

But the dramatics of a ketchup-crazed teenager were no match for the practiced apathy projected by the young but seasoned customer service guru manning the register, six hours into a ten hour shift.  

“Look, man, I just work here.  There’s plenty of purple,” she sighed, glazed eyes carelessly roaming to glace at the condiments section, poking at her monitor screen.

“It doesn’t taste the same,” Danny moaned, prompting a significant look to pass between the duo accompanying him. They had no idea why they thought it would be a good to tag along on this juvenile side quest.  This was just embarrassing.

“Huh,” the cashier remarked offhandedly.  “Looks like we might have one more box in the back.  I’ll go check, if you want…” she trailed off unenthusiastically, distracted by the hopefully bobbing shock of black hair that wouldn’t leave her alone unless she made a show of effort.  With a long-suffering sigh, the underpaid civil servant shuffled off to the back, teenagers at her heels until she ducked behind a wildly swinging door, a scuffed sheet of plastic shoved haphazardly into the gateway in a pathetic effort to separate customer-friendly space from the chaos of the warehouse.

The friends waited attentively, then with growing annoyance, Sam scuffing the chipping tile with heavy boots as the minutes ticked by.  Around fifteen minutes in, Tucker decided to call it.

“I think she just blew you off, dude.”

“No way,” Danny insisted. “She’s just being thorough.”

At that moment, a familiar figure slouched out from behind the off-white mockery of a barrier. Danny drooped visibly at the lack of bottles in her arms.

“Welp, I found it.”  Danny perked up.  “Where is it?”

“In the back.”  She continued to amble through the aisles, not even bothering to glance at the irritating customer as she returned to the front.  Danny followed her, confused.

“And?” he ventured.

“What?” she asked, uncapping a company pen to doodle on a scrap of receipt paper, pointedly ignoring the nuisance in the vain hope it would leave her in peace.

Danny barely restrained himself in time to prevent throwing his arms up in exasperation.  “Can I have some?” he dared to ask.  The girl acted like she didn’t hear him, outlining a cartoonish face with care, allowing him to stew for a while.

She finally raised hazel orbs full of resignation to meet his.  “You somehow manage to get it down, you can just have it.”  The just leave me alone was implied.  Heavily.

Danny lit up.  “Really?”

“Yeah, yeah,” she waved him away, returning to her receipt sketch.

“Thanks!” Danny called over his shoulder, already on his way to claim his prize.

“That was kind of weird,” Sam observed.

“Oh, come on Sam, why do you have to be so pessimistic all the time?  She probably couldn’t reach it.  All Danny has to do is float up to the shelf, and we’re out of here,” Tucker said, confidently leading the way into the dark space, the main light coming from a desk equipped with a dated microwave and littered with the remains of hurried lunches.

It was kind of weird being behind the scenes.  The air felt heavy, stale.  It was difficult to shake the uneasy feeling that they dismissed, at first, with being in a restricted area, but that quickly faded into the background.

A puff of cold air suddenly expanded, forcing its way up a certain ghostly throat and expelling in a bluish cloud as it forced vapor in the surrounding air to condense.

“Nice going, Tuck,” Sam punched him lightly in the shoulder.

Danny ignored the exchange, quickly “going ghost” and floating up to investigate.  And was not at all surprised to find the Lunch Lady and the Box Ghost playing a less-than-friendly game of tug-of-war with the box of sauce.  Okay, maybe he was surprised; he didn’t know either of them had a subtle bone in their bodies…if they had bones.  Or bodies. Gah.

He was honestly kind of impressed that they had avoided detection for so long, and wondered if the cashier’s composure spoke to her merit, or to the horrors of customer service. Danny resolved to be nicer to customer service associates.

From there, it was “doom” this and “beware” that.  Danny threw some ectoblasts, repelled some processed meat products, brushed off some boxes.  It was amazing how much more annoying the two of them were working together.  But, still, not even really a challenge, so the half ghost made short work of the duo, while trying not to think too hard about the implications of this team up.  A certain young ghost from an alternate future came to mind…

Danny chased the pair off, trying not to think about the two of them sharing a thermos.  He was all too glad to claim his prize and head home. It had been an interesting afternoon.

Despite the strange start, the pair of friends thought that the day was pretty successful.  As a result, neither Tucker nor Sam were expecting the caricature of despair that greeted them on the front steps of Fenton Works come morning.  

“Dare we ask?” Sam muttered.

Tucker sighed, shaking his head.  “He’ll let us know soon enough.”

Somewhere in Wisconsin, a certain blue-skinned half ghost emerged from his portal, shiftily checking the entrance before ducking through with his prize.

What am I doing?  I live alone.

Still, one could never be too careful.  It wouldn’t do to have Daniel catch wind of this.  He certainly would never admit it, but he couldn’t help the strange nostalgia it inspired; the off-putting color instilled him with a strange longing for cheap meals of questionable quality cooked with a certain pair of paranormal science students.  He still had his dignity after all.

A/N:  Anyone who’s ever worked retail knows the best way to get rid of a persistent customer and score an extra break in the process is to “check” the back.  Seriously, most places know what they have in the back due to the magic of inventory, but for some reason, that middle-aged woman with too much makeup will not leave us alone, insisting we check the back because she thinks we’re idiots (you know the type). And how dare we come back without checking thoroughly.  The cashier probably found the ketchup in less than a minute, determined retrieval was impossible, then spent the rest of the time on her phone.  Of course, like 10% of the time, there really is extra in the back so I can’t exactly fault them, but we could do without the condescension.

So…yeah.  I think my mind kind of mashed together the fact that the show took place in the 2000s with the fact that ketchup looks vaguely like blood, and the drawing used the two major colors of Heinz’s horrendous EZ Squirt line.  As a child who begged for this ketchup, then refused to eat it, I can understand the initial appeal, but it got gross fast, and I didn’t finish the bottle. What can I say, it tasted off to me. I feel like I read about some human instinct regarding food safety contributing to that at some point.  But I still remember this product, especially the commercials, with horror.

Thank you so much to @schnivel for the inspiration!  Hope everyone enjoyed it!

[lovehaswonangelnumbers]

New Post has been published on https://lovehaswonangelnumbers.org/daily-astrologyjuly-30th-2019-personal-and-sacred/

Daily Astrology~July 30th, 2019: Personal and Sacred

Daily Astrology~July 30th, 2019: Personal and Sacred

By Nadia Gilchrist

Mars in Leo inconjunct Neptune Rx in Pisces (18 deg)

Neptune Rx in Pisces sextile Vesta in Taurus (18 deg)

Mars/Neptune shows the incompatibility between actions motivated by pride versus selfless impulses. You may be torn between wanting to push for attention when there’s a niggling suspicion that this isn’t quite enough. This can result in actions that are weakened or based in fantasy (you achieve recognition in your dreams but do nothing in the real world).

As with all inconjuncts, adjustment is key – act in the real world (in a passionate, public way) but don’t ignore the whisper of spirituality/belief. Channeled correctly, this energy is extremely creative, leading to some beautiful efforts that can trigger admiration for you, but also resonate on a purely artistic or spiritual level.

Vesta’s sextile to Neptune can help with the above, as Neptune’s impossible dream is grounded by focus (Vesta) on immediate realities: money, security, preservation. This is about reaching towards the fantasy and integrating it into your life. Vesta is the sacred flame, and Neptune elevates this – basic, physical issues (the body, your money) can become matters of divine focus (your temple) if you sanctify them with your devotion. This will require a willingness to believe that you are not trapped, that you can have more, that your dream can be made real. But also, that your security (and comfort) is pure and non-negotiable. Taurus reminds us that physical pleasure is essential, and there’s no reason why this can’t be sacred.

Both these aspects ask you to consider how you can combine the mundane with the elevated, and the highly subjective with the transpersonal.

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[christbeallaroundme]

FOR THE HEALING OF OUR UNHAPPY DIVISIONS AND THE MAKING UP OF OUR BREACHES.

· For our struggle to be resolved with discernment and clarity. That in whatever is wrong, that the solution be Christ centred and bring glory to God. A.M. Jan. 23/2018

· For the divisions that are among us, there are great searchings of heart; (Jud. 5:16) for there are three against two and two against three in a family. (Luke 12:52) But is our wound as wide as the sea, which cannot be healed? (Lam. 2:13) Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of our people? (Jer. 8:22)

· LORD, MEND THE FRACTURES of our land, for it is quaking. (Psalm 60:2)

· WE BEG IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST THAT THERE MAY BE NO DIVISIONS AMONG US, BUT THAT WE MAY BE PERFECTLY UNITED IN MIND AND THOUGHT. (1 Corinthians 1:10)


· May the God who gives endurance and encouragement GIVE US A SPIRIT OF UNITY AMONG OURSELVES as we follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth we may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Rom. 15:5-6) and promote the salvation we share. (Jude 1:3)


· Lord, keep us from judging one another and looking down on one another, (Rom. 14:10) and enable us to make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification; (Rom. 14:19) that living in love and peace, the God of love and peace may be with us. (2 Cor. 13:11)


· Let nothing be done out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but everything in humility; (Phil. 2:3) and grant that our gentleness may be evident to all, because the Lord is near. (Phil. 4:5)

http://www.matthewhenry.org


· The gospel expressly teaches us ���to love our enemies, bless them that curse us, do good to them that hate us, and pray for them that despitefully use us and persecute us.” Matt. 5 44.

· “We know not what to pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered.” Rom. 8. 26

· Mary & Joseph fled with baby Jesus. When they persecute you in one city, flee to another. Self-preservation. A TRIAL OF FAITH. Their faith, being tried, was found firm. Honour has trouble attending it, as all honours have. God foresees his people’s distresses and provides against them beforehand. God intimates the continuance of his care and guidance where says, BE THOU THERE UNTIL I BRING THEE WORD, SO THAT HE MUST NOT STIR WITHOUT FRESH ORDERS. Thus God will keep his people still in dependence upon him. ~ Mathew Henry’s Commentary on Matthew 2:13-15.


· “BUT WHAT DOES IT MATTER? THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT CHRIST IS PREACHED..” “I…hope that…Christ will be exalted in my body…For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me.” Philippians 1:18


·O that we may ALWAYS CONDUCT OURSELVES in the world IN the HOLINESS and sincerity that are from God, not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace. 2 Corinthians 1:12(NIV)

· LORD, UPHOLD US IN OUR INTEGRITY, and set us in your presence forever; Psalm 41:12(NIV) may integrity and uprightness protect us, because our hope is in you. Psalm 25:21(NIV)

· May our hearts be blameless toward your decrees, THAT WE MAY NOT BE PUT TO SHAME; Psalm 119:80(NIV) and let our eyes be good, that our whole body may be full of light. Matthew 6:22(NIV)


ENCOURAGEMENT FROM JAMES

· IF ANY OF YOU LACKS WISDOM, HE SHOULD ASK GOD, WHO GIVES GENEROUSLY TO ALL WITHOUT FINDING FAULT, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO HIM.“ James 1:5

· “Everyone should be quick to listen, SLOW TO SPEAK and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19,20

· “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS.” James 1:22

· “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not KEEP A TIGHT REIN ON HIS TONGUE, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” James 1:26

· “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, THIS SHOULD NOT BE. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” James 3:8-11

· “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged.” James 2:12

· “Religion…is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27

· “What causes fights and quarrels among you? YOU WANT SOMETHING BUT DON’T GET IT. YOU DO NOT HAVE, BECAUSE YOU DO NOT ASK GOD. ” James 4:1-3

· LET OUR “WISDOM” NOT BE THAT FROM BELOW, which is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil; (James 3:15) INSTEAD, LET IT BE WISDOM THAT COMES FROM HEAVEN, which is first of all pure, then PEACE-LOVING, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17)


PRAYING IN TIMES OF TROUBLE

"Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD.” Isaiah 37: 14–15

"This chapter of Isaiah contains an interesting story about King Hezekiah. The Assyrians were attacking Jerusalem with a large army and beginning to overpower it. The situation looked hopeless. King Sennacherib ridiculed Hezekiah mercilessly. Sennacherib made fun of Hezekiah’s misfortune by writing him a letter filled with insults about God in order to make the devout king lose all hope. Instead of losing hope, Hezekiah went into the temple, spread out the letter in front of God, bowed down with his face touching the ground, and prayed a heartfelt prayer.

Learning to pray when there’s an emergency or when something is frightening us requires a lot of discipline. Instead of praying, we tend to torture ourselves with anxiety and worry. All we can think about is trying to get rid of the problem. The devil often tricks us when temptation or suffering first begins, whether we are dealing with spiritual or physical matters. He immediately barges in and makes us so upset about the problem that we become consumed by it. In this way, he tears us away from praying. He makes us so confused that we don’t even think about praying. When we finally begin to pray, we have already tortured ourselves half to death. The devil knows what prayer can accomplish. That’s why he creates so many obstacles and makes it so inconvenient for us that we never get around to prayer.

On the basis of this story in Isaiah, WE SHOULD GET INTO THE HABIT OF FALLING ON OUR KNEES AND SPREADING OUT OUR NEEDS IN FRONT OF GOD THE MOMENT WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY OR BECOME FRIGHTENED. PRAYER IS THE BEST MEDICINE THERE IS. It always works and never fails—if we would just use it!“

from Faith Alone Daily Devotional by Martin Luther

Give us to order all our affairs with discretion and to be careful to lead a blameless life, in a blameless way, with a blameless heart. Psalm 101:2(NIV)


TRUSTING GOD IN TIMES OF NEED

"Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah." Deuteronomy 6: 16

"Deuteronomy 6 teaches us to trust that God will take care of us in good and bad times. We shouldn’t become overconfident in times of plenty, but we also need to patiently endure times of adversity. God will never leave us. He will be near us in our troubles. Unbelievers don’t have this confidence in God, because they put their trust in earthly things.

If what we need isn’t available to us, we have to rely on God’s promises. If we don’t rely on God, we are testing him. This is what Moses was writing about when he said, “as you did at Massah.” At Massah, Israel complained and asked, “Is the LORD among us or not?” (Exodus 17: 7). The people didn’t trust God’s promises because he didn’t fulfill them in the time, place, or manner they expected. Therefore, they gave up and stopped believing. When we try to dictate to God the time, place, and manner for him to act, we are testing him. At the same time, we’re trying to see if he is really there. When we do this we are putting limits on God and trying to make him do what we want. It’s nothing less than trying to deprive God of his divinity. But we must realize that God is free—not subject to any limitations. He must dictate to us the place, manner, and time that he will act."

from Faith Alone Daily Devotional by Martin Luther

CALL ON THE LORD

In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. Psalm 118: 5

You must learn to call on the Lord. Don’t sit all alone or lie on the couch, shaking your head and letting your thoughts torture you. Don’t worry about how to get out of your situation or brood about your terrible life, how miserable you feel, and what a bad person you are. Instead, say, “Get a grip on yourself, you lazy bum! Fall on your knees, and raise your hands and eyes toward heaven. Read a psalm. Say the Lord’s Prayer, and tearfully tell God what you need.” This passage teaches us to call on him. Similarly, David said, “I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble” (Psalm 142: 2). God wants you to tell him your troubles. He doesn’t want you to keep them to yourself. He doesn’t want you to struggle with them all alone and torture yourself. Doing this will only multiply your troubles.

God knows you will be too weak to overcome your troubles by yourself. He wants you to grow strong in him. Then he will be the one who receives the glory. Out of difficult experiences emerge true Christians. Without troubles, people talk a lot about faith and the Spirit but don’t really know what these things are or what they’re saying.

You must never doubt that God knows your troubles and hears your prayers. You must not pray haphazardly or pray as if you’re shouting into the wind. This mocks prayer and tests God. In this case, it would be better not to pray at all. You must learn to appreciate the part of the passage that says, “He answered by setting me free.” The psalmist acknowledged that the Lord heard him and released him from his troubles."

from Faith Alone Daily Devotional by Martin Luther

COMFORT FOR TROUBLING TIMES

"'Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.' John 14: 1

Whenever we feel distressed and anxious, let us trust Christ and strengthen ourselves with his words. We should receive the comfort Christ offers in this passage. It’s as if Christ is saying to us, “What are you doing? Why are you cringing? Are you scared to death? Be encouraged and take heart. All is not lost, even if the devil, the world, or your conscience plagues and terrifies you. You’re not ruined if you don’t feel my presence. Don’t you remember that I told you about this long ago and left these comforting words to strengthen and preserve you?”

From these and other words of Christ, we should begin to know the Lord Christ in the right way. We should develop a more loving confidence in him. And we should pay more attention to his words than to anything that may come before our eyes, ears, and senses. For if we are Christians and stay close to him, we know that he speaks to us. We learn in this passage and elsewhere that he wants to comfort us with his words. Everything he says or does is nothing but friendly and comforting words and actions.

We can be sure of this: a sorrowful, timid, and frightened heart doesn’t come from Christ. Christ doesn’t frighten hearts or make them depressed. He came to this earth, fulfilled his mission, and ascended into heaven to take away sorrow and fearfulness from our hearts and replace them with cheerful hearts, consciences, and minds. That’s why he promises to send the Holy Spirit to his followers. Through the Spirit, he wants to strengthen and preserve his followers after he has left. Whoever can trust in what Christ says in this passage will be in good shape and will have won more than half the battle."

So good! 🙂

from Faith Alone Daily Devotional by Martin Luther

ACCEPTING WHAT CAN'T BE CHANGED

As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind? All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger. Ecclesiastes 5: 16–17

“Eating in darkness” is a Hebrew expression for “living in sadness.” The phrase is derived from the way people look when they’re feeling sad. When people’s hearts are sad, their eyes almost look as though they are covered by a cloud. But when people’s hearts are happy, their faces light up and shine. Light represents happiness, and darkness represents sadness. For example, we read in the Psalms, “The LORD is my light and my salvation” (27: 1), and “Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes” (13: 3). To eat in darkness, therefore, means to lead a harsh life of sadness.

The only cases that come before judges are bad ones. A judge who is unwise will torture himself and wear himself out with worry because he doesn’t think he’s making any difference. But someone who is wise will say, “I plan and do everything that I can. But what I can’t change, I’ll accept. I have to endure it. In the meantime, I WILL COMMIT EVERYTHING TO GOD. HE ALONE KNOWS HOW TO MAKE THINGS BETTER ACCORDING TO HIS WILL. He is the only one who can make my efforts succeed.”

Therefore, just like a judge, our eyes and ears must get used to seeing and hearing bad things, even if this isn’t what we want. We shouldn’t think we’ll see and hear only good things that please us. That’s not what the world offers. So we should prepare ourselves for bad things, for we know that this is the way life goes. Those who don’t want to have any trouble will find more things that trouble them than others will."

from Faith Alone Daily Devotional by Martin Luther

TRUSTING CHRIST INSTEAD OF PEOPLE

"But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men." John 2: 24

"No one understands how difficult it was when I first realized that I had to believe and teach an idea that was contrary to the teachings of the church fathers. This was especially shocking to me when many outstanding, reasonable, and educated people shared their views. The church fathers include many holy people, such as Ambrose, Jerome, and Augustine. Despite that, my dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ must be worth more to me than all the holy people on earth—yes, even more than all the angels in heaven. When I read Augustine’s books and discovered that he also had been in error, I was greatly troubled. Whenever this happens, it’s very difficult for me to calm my own heart and differ with people who are so greatly respected.

But I dare not accept something just because a respected person says it. A person can be holy and God-fearing and still be in error. That’s why I don’t want to rely on people. As this passage says, the Lord Christ didn’t rely on people either. Furthermore, in the book of Matthew, Jesus earnestly warns us to beware of false prophets, who will come and not only claim to be Christians, but also “perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible” (24: 24).

Rather than trusting the church fathers and their writings, we should crawl under the wings of our mother hen, the Lord Christ, and look to him alone. The heavenly Father said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17: 5). God wants us to listen to Christ alone.

from Faith Alone Daily Devotional by Martin Luther

PRAYING WITH CONFIDENCE

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Luke 11: 9 A good prayer that is heard by God has two prerequisites. First, we must consider God’s promise that he will hear us. By reminding him of his promise, we can dare to pray confidently. For if God hadn’t asked us to pray and hadn’t promised to hear us, then all people praying their requests together wouldn’t be able to receive even the smallest item.

So no one receives anything from God because of the quality of the prayer, but only because of God’s goodness. God anticipates all of our requests and desires. With his promise, he prompts us to pray and desire these things so that we will learn how much he cares for us. He cares for us so much that he is prepared to give us even more than we are ready to ask for or to receive. Because he is offering us so much, we can pray with confidence.

Second, we must not doubt what the true and faithful God promises to do. He promises to hear our prayers—yes, he even commands us to pray. He promises this so that we might firmly believe that our prayers will be answered. As Christ says, “Whatever “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11: 24; see also Matthew 21: 22). Christ also says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11: 9–10). By trusting in these promises and obeying these commands, we can pray with confidence.

from Faith Alone Daily Devotional by Martin Luther

10 PROMISES: Here are ten such promises to help you get started. Of these, the one I have used most often is Isaiah 41:10.

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

"My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

"God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."(2 Corinthians 9:8)

"I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5&6)

"The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly." (Psalms 84:11)

"He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." (Psalms 23:6)

"Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

"Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me." (Psalms 50:15)

"Never cease to ponder Paul's words, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20). Not I. Yet I. By faith.

Desiring God article by John Piper ~ How to Find Strength in the Strength of God ~ September 2, 2017

"If we are angry [with] God…we should be reminded that His love is much more sophisticated than we know. Our anger shows that we are small children who think we know what is best."

― Ed Welch

Give us grace to remain with you in the situation you called us to, 1 Corinthians 7:24(NIV) and in all our ways to acknowledge you; Proverbs 3:6(NIV) and be pleased to direct our paths. Proverbs 16:9(NIV)

Let those who were slaves when they were called be the Lord’s freemen; and those who were freemen when they were called, be Christ’s slaves. 1 Corinthians 7:22(NIV)

Let all in every relation live together in unity, Psalm 133:1(NIV) that it may be as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. Psalm 133:3(NIV) O that we may live together as joint-heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder our prayers. 1 Peter 3:7(NIV)

Give us grace to show proper respect to everyone, to love the brotherhood of believers, to fear God, 1 Peter 2:17(NIV) and to submit ourselves to the governing authorities, Romans 13:1(NIV) not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. Romans 13:5(NIV). Jan. 27, 2018

[newstfionline]

Headlines

Amid coronavirus news, many need to step away (AP) Heidi Van Roekel makes instructional art videos for YouTube when coronavirus news overwhelms her. Bill Webb takes his boat out. Stacy Mitchell searches her TV for something—anything—to make her laugh. It’s no surprise that news outlets are in demand with a story that directly affects so many people, whether they’ve gotten sick, lost jobs or are locked down at home. A Pew Research Center survey taken the third week of April found that 88 percent of Americans said they were following coronavirus news either very or fairly closely. Yet that takes a toll. Pew also found that 71 percent of Americans said that they need to take breaks from the news. To watch something else. To do something else. To breathe a little. Mitchell says she hit a wall after watching daily news briefings about the virus. “It was just COVID-19 overload,” Mitchell said. “I was very anxious. I had a full-blown anxiety attack and I decided that I was not going to watch more of that stuff.” Roxane Cohen Silver, Dana Rose Garfin and E. Alison Holman, researchers at the University of California at Irvine who have been studying the affect of prolonged media exposure to bad news following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, wrote an article for Health Psychology magazine in February—before coronavirus was even on the radar for many Americans—warning of this effect. People who watch too much can have nightmares, feelings of anxiety and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, Silver said. “People should make a conscious effort to monitor their exposure,” Silver said.

White-Collar Companies Race to Be Last to Return to the Office (NYT) Even as President Trump has said “we have to get our country open again,” much of corporate America is in no rush to return employees to their campuses and skyscrapers. The companies are racing not to be the first back, but the last. An increasing number of them, which mostly have white-collar employees, have recently extended work-from-home policies far beyond the shelter-in-place timelines mandated by state and local authorities. Google and Facebook employees were told Thursday that they could stay home until next year. Capital One informed 40,000 workers that they will be out through Labor Day and possibly longer. Amazon is saying October. Nationwide Insurance is moving more aggressively than other firms, shuttering five offices around the country and having its 4,000 employees telecommute permanently. Even after the coronavirus no longer requires it, working from home is likely to retain a significant presence in corporate life. It will affect the shape of cities and the commercial real-estate industry, and change the culture at companies that for years have been building elaborate temples for their workers.

The Airline Business Is Terrible. It Will Probably Get Even Worse. (NYT) Delta Air Lines started 2020 celebrating what it said was the most successful year in company history. Not long after, it shared a record $1.6 billion in profits with its 90,000 employees. But with air travel nearly shut down by the coronavirus, the airline is now bleeding money and will drop 10 more airports from its already skeletal network on Wednesday. Even as Delta and the other major airlines in the United States dramatically slash schedules, they are averaging an anemic 23 passengers on each domestic flight and losing $350 million to $400 million a day as expenses like payroll, rent and aircraft maintenance far exceed the money they are bringing in. Passenger traffic is down about 94 percent and half of the industry’s 6,215 planes are parked at major airports and desert airstrips, according to Airlines for America, a trade group. Yet, devastating as the downturn has been, the future is even more bleak. With much of the world closed for business, and no widely available vaccine in sight, it may be months, if not years, before airlines operate as many flights as they did before the crisis. Even when people start flying again, the industry could be transformed, much as it was after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. And airline executives need only look in the not-distant past to see how lesser crises sank carriers that were household names like Pan Am and Trans World Airlines.

Native American tribes erect checkpoints (Washington Post) Native American tribes have put up checkpoints to prevent the coronavirus from spreading across their reservations. Both the Oglala Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes have erected temporary checkpoints to monitor the flow of traffic through their reservations and alert visitors that both a curfew and stay-at-home order are in place. The Cheyenne River Sioux record some information for contact tracing purposes, but say that commercial drivers are allowed to pass through the reservation, according to the Rapid City Journal. The Oglala Sioux block nonresidents from visiting the Pine Ridge Reservation if they don’t have essential business there, but say that anyone is allowed to drive through. Many Native American tribes worry that preexisting health disparities could make them particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus. The death toll on the Navajo Nation, which has been devastated by the pandemic, reached 100 on Sunday.

Coronavirus and the White House (AP) The Trump administration’s leading health experts on safely dealing with the novel coronavirus will be testifying in a Senate hearing by a videoconference this week after three of them and the committee’s chairmen were exposed to people who tested positive for COVID-19. Adding to a string of potentially awkward moments for President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence himself self-isolated for the weekend after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. Pence leads Trump’s coronavirus task force. The White House has moved to shore up its protection protocols to protect the nation’s political leaders. Trump said that some staffers who interact with him closely would now be tested daily. Pence told reporters that both he and Trump would now be tested daily as well. Kevin Hassett, an adviser to Trump and the former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, acknowledged Sunday it’s “scary to go to work” in the White House, calling the West Wing a “small, crowded place. It’s, you know, a little bit risky.”

Liberté, égalité, hypocrisie (NYT) France, the originator of the burqa ban, has done more than any other Western nation over the past decade to resist face coverings in public. But as the country begins to emerge from its coronavirus lockdown on Monday, face masks are mandatory. People are required to wear masks in high schools and on public transportation—or risk being fined. Shopkeepers also have the right to ask customers to wear masks or to please leave. Artificial-intelligence-integrated video cameras will be monitoring overall compliance on the Paris Metro. All this has been accepted with little commentary or controversy. A recent BFMTV poll found that 94 percent of people in France supported wearing masks. That France has reported more than 26,000 coronavirus deaths no doubt contributes to that acceptance. But many Muslims, religious freedom advocates and scholars see a great deal of irony in a society that has made such a virtue of uncovered faces suddenly requiring faces to be covered. “If you are Muslim and you hide your face for religious reasons, you are liable to a fine and a citizenship course where you will be taught what it is to be ‘a good citizen,’ ” said Fatima Khemilat, a fellow at the Political Science Institute of Aix-en-Provence. “But if you are a non-Muslim citizen in the pandemic, you are encouraged and forced as a ‘good citizen’ to adopt ‘barrier gestures’ to protect the national community.”

Ukraine’s hospitals under strain, even with few virus cases (AP) Medical workers in homemade protective masks and suits, with plastic bags over their shoes. A hospital intended for 150 coronavirus patients now holding 250. A lack of filtration systems that forces autopsies to be done outside, under the trees, instead of in the hospital morgue. Ukraine’s troubled health care system has been overwhelmed by COVID-19, even though it has reported a relatively low number of cases—15,232 infections and 391 deaths as of Sunday. Thousands of Ukrainians who had temporary jobs in Europe have returned home amid the pandemic and some brought the virus back with them. As COVID-19 patients flood into the struggling hospitals, some doctors and nurses must buy their own protective gear or use improvised equipment. Many of them are getting sick: medical workers account for about a fifth of all coronavirus cases in Ukraine.

Russia’s Putin declares end to economic shutdown (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared an end to a nationwide partial economic shutdown but noted that some restrictions will remain. Putin, speaking in a televised address to the nation Monday, said that it will be up to regional governors in the far-flung Russian Federation to determine what industrial plants could reopen starting Tuesday. He emphasized that it’s essential to preserve jobs and keep the economy running provided that workers strictly observe sanitary norms. Putin ordered the economic shutdown in late March, although key industrial plants and some other sectors have been allowed to continue operating. Most Russians have been ordered to stay home, except for visits to nearby stores, pharmacies and visits to doctors. Moscow will allow all of its industrial plants and construction sites to resume work starting Tuesday, and Putin said other regions may follow the example. Non-food stores, hairdressers, car dealers and most other enterprises in the services sector remain shut.

India’s trains get ready to roll again (AP) India’s train network, one of the world’s largest, will gradually restart operations on Tuesday as the country eases its coronavirus lockdown amid a steep rise in infections. India’s train network, closed in late March when a strict nationwide lockdown was implemented, will be the first mode of transport to resume in the country of 1.3 billion people. Passengers would have to wear masks and undergo health screenings before being permitted to board, the railway ministry has said. Only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed on trains, which will make fewer stops than usual. The railway system is often described as India’s lifeline, transporting 23 million people across the vast subcontinent each day, some 8.4 billion passengers each year.

China refutes U.S. allegations (Foreign Policy) On Saturday night, China’s Foreign Ministry mounted a defense from repeated U.S. claims of a Chinese cover-up surrounding the origins of coronavirus by posting a 30,000 word rebuttal on its website. It begins by quoting a phrase often attributed to Abraham Lincoln: “As Lincoln said, you can fool some of the people all the time and fool all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.”

Iran navy hits own ship with missile, kills 19 near Persian Gulf waters (Washington Post) The incident occurred during a training exercise near the strategic Strait of Hormuz amid deep tensions with the United States.

Lebanon’s Economic Crisis Explodes, Threatening Decades of Prosperity (NYT) Flawed policies and sudden shocks have thrust Lebanon into its worst economic crisis in decades, with its currency collapsing, businesses shutting, prices for basic goods skyrocketing and the threat of hunger looming for its poorest people. Lebanese have long stood out in the Middle East for not letting political upheaval or civil violence get in the way of enjoying the finer things in life. Night clubs and hotels stayed open though wars, and while the tap water was undrinkable and the electric grid unreliable, even the middle class could afford nice clothes, low-paid maids from Ethiopia or the Philippines and occasional foreign vacations. Underlying that lifestyle was a longstanding government policy that kept the value of the Lebanese pound pegged to the U.S. dollar, allowing the Lebanese to interact seamlessly with the world economy. But that system has unraveled in recent months, fueling an economic collapse that has been exacerbated by a government-imposed lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus. Analysts warn that the downturn could pauperize the middle class, making it that much harder for the country to recover. “There are many sins and many sinners,” said Roy Badaro, a Lebanese economist. “The sins of the past have to be paid for today and in the future, so there is a distribution of pain to cover the costs.” The result will be, he said, “a serious downgrade in lifestyle.”

Saudi Arabia triples taxes, cuts $26B in costs amid pandemic (AP) Saudi Arabia has tripled taxes on basic goods, raising them to 15%, and has announced spending cuts of around $26 billion as it grapples with blows from the coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices on its economy.

Libya conflict escalates (Foreign Policy) Libya’s civil war intensified over the weekend as the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Khalifa Haftar, bombarded Tripoli with artillery fire. Haftar’s forces have been trying to wrest control of Tripoli away from the internationally backed Government of National Accord (GNA) for the past 13 months. Tripoli’s remaining airport was targeted on Saturday by rockets that destroyed fuel tanks and caused shrapnel to come close to a passenger jet preparing for takeoff. Writing in Foreign Policy in March, Jalel Harchaoui predicted such an escalation, warning that “Yet another clash between the two main Libya camps is now brewing, and events in recent weeks suggest that the fighting will be more devastating than at any time before.” In April, Emadeddin Badi pointed a finger at the UAE, arguing in FP that “Emirati support effectively affords Haftar complete impunity on the international stage.”

[lopezdorothy70-blog]

The Ease with which Government Kidnaps Children – A Review of Current Legislation and the Multi-Billion Dollar Child “Protection” Industry

Connie Reguli spoke out for families at a rally in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on September 10, 2018. Photo by Freedom Public Press.

Commentary by Terri LaPoint Health Impact News

Connie Reguli is one of the most prominent legal voices in the family rights movement. The Tennessee attorney is recognized for her tenacity in fighting for families whose children have been unjustly taken from them by Child Protective Services. She has represented several Tennessee Medical Kidnap families, including the Turner family, Whitney Manning's family, and Matthew Marble.

Besides litigating cases involving family members seized by Child and Adult Protective Services, Connie travels around the country educating parents and activists on how to fight back when overzealous agencies seize their children. Her grassroots Family Forward Project Facebook group has over 11,000 members.

Connie Reguli was recently part of a team of activists and professionals who gathered in Washington DC on September 11, 2018, to participate in an Educational Panel put together by 4 the Children USA. The event was live-streamed to hundreds of thousands of viewers, including District Attorneys' offices from several states according to event founder Robert Slaven.

Kathleen Arthur, Connie Reguli, Terri LaPoint, and Jennifer Winn on the way to the Educational Panels in Washington D.C. September 11, 2018.

Connie Reguli was inspired to speak from the heart in the event, after passing out copies of her original speech to the audience. Connie has graciously given permission for Health Impact News to publish the written speech in its entirety.

She addresses the financial incentives for states to take children from their families, made possible by federal legislation. The Family First Act was passed as a part of President Trump's Omnibus Budget Act in February 2018 and is set to go into effect on October 1. Connie explains important issues that still must be addressed legislatively.

In her oral speech, she explains some of the difficulties that parents face when they go to family court, which is very different from criminal court. After equipping parents with vital information, she turns to advocates, discussing how to advocate effectively, pointing out areas that need to brought to the attention of legislators.

Here is the speech she gave at the event, followed by her written speech:

September 2018 – Operational Review Family First Preservation and Services Act in February 2018 (FFPSA) Adoption and Safe Families Act 1997 (ASFA)

by Connie Reguli

Our country is collapsing in on itself, in part because of the loss of family integrity and our inability to provide for child safety. The forty-year social experiment initiated by the Mondale Act [the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)] in 1974 has failed.

The layers of legislation cast on the American public in the name of the best interest of the child and promoted with the belief that every family needs a government (i.e. It Takes a Village) has backfired.

Family integrity is imploding at the hands of an overzealous government that chose to financially incentivize removing children from their less than perfect homes and placing them into the homes of strangers paid by federal and state tax dollars.

The aggressive legislation surrounding Title IV E and the Adoption and Safe Families Act has evolved into a government sanctioned social engineering project that has broken family ties.

The biological ties that are protected under the Fourteenth Amendment are forever broken with the swipe of a pen by a judge in a courtroom in a merciless act called “termination” of parental rights. It is nothing less than generational genocide.

The Ease with which Government Takes Children From Families

It is hard to imagine in a sophisticated first-world country like the United States that the government officials could walk into your child's public school, have them removed from their classroom, interviewed by government officials in private (without your knowledge), remove your child from the school, and place them in the home of a stranger all without your knowledge. The reason you ask, maybe you don't feed your child enough, maybe they missed a few days from school, maybe someone just lied and said you were a drug dealer, and your child could not answer the right questions to exonerate you.

It is hard to imagine in a sophisticated first-world country that a new born baby could be stripped from his mother's arms in a hospital because the Mother had one positive test for opiates during pregnancy, even though there was no showing of drugs in the Mother or the child at birth and there is no other evidence of child abuse or neglect.

It is hard to imagine in a sophisticated first-world country that a child could be locked in a hospital with a rare and untreated disease and separated from her entire family simply because her parents wanted to take her for a second medical opinion.

Little Grace Beabout was taken for her family when her parents simply wanted a second opinion before the hospital removed their baby's kidney. Photo provided by Beabout family. See their story here.

This is the state of our nation and the child welfare system in the United States.

It was shameful in the 1980s when state agencies could not keep track of children placed in state-operated foster homes and children lingered for years with no family and no finality. Several states were faced with class action lawsuits that placed the states under long term consent decrees.

Multi-Billion Dollar, For-Profit Industry

The privatization of government functions, i.e. the military and the prison system, soon expanded to foster care and child welfare.

Children removed from their parents are the commodity in this for-profit, $18 billion foster care industry.

In a blink of an eye, the states were swept with foster care private contractors, and the state all but relinquished direct state foster care programs. Now the Title IV E funds, intended to protect children, necessitate that the state maintain a quota of children under government control to satisfy their contractual relationships.

It was the perfect storm for a new provision in law to erupt.

Brilliant legislators in the Clinton era designed and passed the Adoption and Safe Families Act in 1997. The goal was to provide permanency for children.

To do so, the federal government decided that a financial incentive program to the states and the foster-to-adopt parents would move children out of the foster care system into permanent placement.

The states were provided a $6,000 bonus check for each child adopted to strangers. The foster parents who adopted were provided bonuses for clothing, tax incentives, and a monthly stipend on the children for the remainder of their minority. This was 1997.

Today, twenty years later, this financial program drives child welfare agencies to aggressively remove children from homes, place them into the homes of strangers, and adopt them out, changing their lives forever.

Robbing children of their heritage. Refusing to reunify the children with parents. Refusing to place the children with relatives.

The entitlement program under ASFA now exceeds the foster care maintenance programs. When you rob a child of their heritage, you have changed them forever.

Crimes Against Humanity

America has a dismal history of crimes against humanity and causing generational destruction.

Slave children were ripped from their families from the beginning of our nation until the civil war; children were picked up off the streets of New York and placed on trains to the Midwest where they were randomly taken in by strangers from 1850 to 1910; indigenous children were removed from their tribal homes and forced into the east coast boarding schools for fifty years; and children were stripped from unwed mothers at birth until 1950.

As many as a quarter of a million children were rounded up by Charles Loring Brace, founder of the NY Children's Aid Society. Brace “helped” the poor immigrant children by shipping them cross country on “orphan trains” to be given to strangers. Photo source.

See:

The U.S. Foster Care System: Modern Day Slavery and Child Trafficking

Persons considered “imbeciles” were subject to involuntary sterilization.

Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes stated in his 1927 opinion that these persons should not be allowed to sap the resources of society and the sterilization of an imbecile person was no greater a sacrifice for society than compelling a vaccine.

As an attorney working in criminal law and family courts for 24 years, I can tell you that parents have fewer rights than criminals.

Parents and children are denied due process, they are subjected to secret courts, non-disclosed reports, massive attack by government social workers, and loss of the constitutionally-protected right to parent.

Children are stripped of their freedom to associate with their family members and family integrity protected under the 14th Amendment.

Government Funding Puts a Price on Children's Heads

The state agencies operate with conflicting roles and financially incentivized motives. Every state agency was created under the public policy of providing services to families, providing safety for children, and reunifying families.

In addition, they serve to prosecute parents and sever their parental rights.

The funding is directed at foster care and rehoming children. There can be no argument that there is a price tag on the head of every child entering the child welfare system.

See:

Child Kidnapping and Trafficking: A Lucrative U.S. Business Funded by Taxpayers

The system has become so intent on creating cash flow on children through forced adoption that the agencies focus on “adoptable children,” and those in need of rescue from drug ridden homes or long-term abuse are overlooked as children too damaged for adoption.

You see, this system has been in place long enough now that they know that the “damaged” children cause too great a strain on the system. They require too many services; the parents are ill-equipped to deal with children with a history of trauma; and many end up back in state's care.

New Law: “Families First”

We now have the Families First Prevention and Services Act of 2018 which passed in the budget omnibus bill. Most legislators probably do not even know what is in it.

I have read it. It was intended to redirect funds from the federal government away from foster care and into programs to prevent removal from a family.

Here is the first problem. Number one, it is optional for the States. Legislators in Washington D.C. cannot be so blind to not understand that the private foster care industry will oppose any paradigm shift on how we handle reports of abuse and neglect.

There are after all, 114 registered lobbyists in D.C. for “foster care.”

The corporations are huge. Look up Providence, Omni, Eckerd, Youth Villages, and the multiple “church-based” foster care companies.

Not only do they contract to provide foster care, they are now contracting to provide the “services” for family reunification. This is a serious and intolerable conflict of interest.

Why would you seek to restore a family and return a child to his home, when it means you lose a stable monthly income while the child is in foster care?

The private agencies then contract with mental health contractors who provide substandard care and always report that the family is “not ready” for reunification for any number of reasons.

Not only is FFPSA optional, it provides little incentive to shift the focus to family stability. If you do not think that family stability is important in tackling a variety of other social issues, like substance abuse, poverty, and substandard education, you are wearing blinders.

Family stability has been the backbone of our Christian nation for years. Since the sixties, divorces, unwed mothers, teenage pregnancies, and opioid addiction have skyrocketed. If one were to truly assess the underlying factors in these crises, surely family disintegration would be at the top.

The current Achilles heel of the FFPSA is the continuation of ASFA, the Adoption and Safe Families Act. So long as the states can realize a bonus check for every child adopted through the forced-adoption agenda of the child welfare agencies, prevention services will be met with opposition. The bonus checks must stop NOW.

“Help” from the Predator no Help at All

The conflicts of interest in the agencies and with the state contractor must be prohibited. This will require restructuring the state agencies so that the prosecution of parents remains separate from the agency seeking to rehabilitate families. This is not unlike other government functions.

I served as a District Attorney in my legal career and we always served an antagonistic function to the public defender. We must separate the agencies such that the families can realize a real sense of support.

Now the parents shudder in dealing with the agency because at every stage of the case, they know that the same agency is gathering evidence against them. The same social worker who comes to their home to inspect for safety reasons is likely to be the person who gets on the stand and testifies that the laundry was not done and the home was cluttered, preventing the return of their children.

Connie Reguli speaks to Educational Panel in Washington D.C. Photo by Family Forward Project.

We must prohibit conflicts with the contractors.

Those providing foster care cannot be providing reunification services. There must be antagonism before there can be balance.

We must provide a forum for public comments and feedback on how the agency is doing.

Currently, the public does not participate in any of the reporting functions on the efficiency, competence, and goal achievement of the state workers.

So long as the state agencies are allowed to be their own oversight, the truth will be never be exposed. Although some states provided for the establishment of oversight committees in their formation, none of the states have maintained a true public liaison.

Anonymous reporting must be eliminated.

Sadly, parents are sometimes attacked by spiteful neighbors, ex-spouses, or other ill-intended persons.

Vexatious reports to CPS face no consequences, as opposed to penalties for filing false police reports.

A parent must have the ability to challenge the source of false reports of child abuse.

Finally, FFPSA must be mandatory.

The states must be required to engage in the 12-month program to prevent removal of children where there is no threat of immediate harm and no evidence of abuse. Children are currently removed from their families on mere allegations from anonymous referrals.

We thank you for having a listening ear and look forward to your continued attention on this social welfare crises.

Please follow up with us:

Family Forward Foundation Familyforwardfoundation.com

Find us on Facebook: Family Forward Project.

Connie Reguli Family Forward Foundation 1646 Westgate Circle Brentwood, TN 37027

Comment on this article at MedicalKidnap.com

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[battybat-boss]

The Ease with which Government Kidnaps Children – A Review of Current Legislation and the Multi-Billion Dollar Child “Protection” Industry

Connie Reguli spoke out for families at a rally in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on September 10, 2018. Photo by Freedom Public Press.

Commentary by Terri LaPoint Health Impact News

Connie Reguli is one of the most prominent legal voices in the family rights movement. The Tennessee attorney is recognized for her tenacity in fighting for families whose children have been unjustly taken from them by Child Protective Services. She has represented several Tennessee Medical Kidnap families, including the Turner family, Whitney Manning's family, and Matthew Marble.

Besides litigating cases involving family members seized by Child and Adult Protective Services, Connie travels around the country educating parents and activists on how to fight back when overzealous agencies seize their children. Her grassroots Family Forward Project Facebook group has over 11,000 members.

Connie Reguli was recently part of a team of activists and professionals who gathered in Washington DC on September 11, 2018, to participate in an Educational Panel put together by 4 the Children USA. The event was live-streamed to hundreds of thousands of viewers, including District Attorneys' offices from several states according to event founder Robert Slaven.

Kathleen Arthur, Connie Reguli, Terri LaPoint, and Jennifer Winn on the way to the Educational Panels in Washington D.C. September 11, 2018.

Connie Reguli was inspired to speak from the heart in the event, after passing out copies of her original speech to the audience. Connie has graciously given permission for Health Impact News to publish the written speech in its entirety.

She addresses the financial incentives for states to take children from their families, made possible by federal legislation. The Family First Act was passed as a part of President Trump's Omnibus Budget Act in February 2018 and is set to go into effect on October 1. Connie explains important issues that still must be addressed legislatively.

In her oral speech, she explains some of the difficulties that parents face when they go to family court, which is very different from criminal court. After equipping parents with vital information, she turns to advocates, discussing how to advocate effectively, pointing out areas that need to brought to the attention of legislators.

Here is the speech she gave at the event, followed by her written speech:

September 2018 – Operational Review Family First Preservation and Services Act in February 2018 (FFPSA) Adoption and Safe Families Act 1997 (ASFA)

by Connie Reguli

Our country is collapsing in on itself, in part because of the loss of family integrity and our inability to provide for child safety. The forty-year social experiment initiated by the Mondale Act [the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)] in 1974 has failed.

The layers of legislation cast on the American public in the name of the best interest of the child and promoted with the belief that every family needs a government (i.e. It Takes a Village) has backfired.

Family integrity is imploding at the hands of an overzealous government that chose to financially incentivize removing children from their less than perfect homes and placing them into the homes of strangers paid by federal and state tax dollars.

The aggressive legislation surrounding Title IV E and the Adoption and Safe Families Act has evolved into a government sanctioned social engineering project that has broken family ties.

The biological ties that are protected under the Fourteenth Amendment are forever broken with the swipe of a pen by a judge in a courtroom in a merciless act called “termination” of parental rights. It is nothing less than generational genocide.

The Ease with which Government Takes Children From Families

It is hard to imagine in a sophisticated first-world country like the United States that the government officials could walk into your child's public school, have them removed from their classroom, interviewed by government officials in private (without your knowledge), remove your child from the school, and place them in the home of a stranger all without your knowledge. The reason you ask, maybe you don't feed your child enough, maybe they missed a few days from school, maybe someone just lied and said you were a drug dealer, and your child could not answer the right questions to exonerate you.

It is hard to imagine in a sophisticated first-world country that a new born baby could be stripped from his mother's arms in a hospital because the Mother had one positive test for opiates during pregnancy, even though there was no showing of drugs in the Mother or the child at birth and there is no other evidence of child abuse or neglect.

It is hard to imagine in a sophisticated first-world country that a child could be locked in a hospital with a rare and untreated disease and separated from her entire family simply because her parents wanted to take her for a second medical opinion.

Little Grace Beabout was taken for her family when her parents simply wanted a second opinion before the hospital removed their baby's kidney. Photo provided by Beabout family. See their story here.

This is the state of our nation and the child welfare system in the United States.

It was shameful in the 1980s when state agencies could not keep track of children placed in state-operated foster homes and children lingered for years with no family and no finality. Several states were faced with class action lawsuits that placed the states under long term consent decrees.

Multi-Billion Dollar, For-Profit Industry

The privatization of government functions, i.e. the military and the prison system, soon expanded to foster care and child welfare.

Children removed from their parents are the commodity in this for-profit, $18 billion foster care industry.

In a blink of an eye, the states were swept with foster care private contractors, and the state all but relinquished direct state foster care programs. Now the Title IV E funds, intended to protect children, necessitate that the state maintain a quota of children under government control to satisfy their contractual relationships.

It was the perfect storm for a new provision in law to erupt.

Brilliant legislators in the Clinton era designed and passed the Adoption and Safe Families Act in 1997. The goal was to provide permanency for children.

To do so, the federal government decided that a financial incentive program to the states and the foster-to-adopt parents would move children out of the foster care system into permanent placement.

The states were provided a $6,000 bonus check for each child adopted to strangers. The foster parents who adopted were provided bonuses for clothing, tax incentives, and a monthly stipend on the children for the remainder of their minority. This was 1997.

Today, twenty years later, this financial program drives child welfare agencies to aggressively remove children from homes, place them into the homes of strangers, and adopt them out, changing their lives forever.

Robbing children of their heritage. Refusing to reunify the children with parents. Refusing to place the children with relatives.

The entitlement program under ASFA now exceeds the foster care maintenance programs. When you rob a child of their heritage, you have changed them forever.

Crimes Against Humanity

America has a dismal history of crimes against humanity and causing generational destruction.

Slave children were ripped from their families from the beginning of our nation until the civil war; children were picked up off the streets of New York and placed on trains to the Midwest where they were randomly taken in by strangers from 1850 to 1910; indigenous children were removed from their tribal homes and forced into the east coast boarding schools for fifty years; and children were stripped from unwed mothers at birth until 1950.

As many as a quarter of a million children were rounded up by Charles Loring Brace, founder of the NY Children's Aid Society. Brace “helped” the poor immigrant children by shipping them cross country on “orphan trains” to be given to strangers. Photo source.

See:

The U.S. Foster Care System: Modern Day Slavery and Child Trafficking

Persons considered “imbeciles” were subject to involuntary sterilization.

Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes stated in his 1927 opinion that these persons should not be allowed to sap the resources of society and the sterilization of an imbecile person was no greater a sacrifice for society than compelling a vaccine.

As an attorney working in criminal law and family courts for 24 years, I can tell you that parents have fewer rights than criminals.

Parents and children are denied due process, they are subjected to secret courts, non-disclosed reports, massive attack by government social workers, and loss of the constitutionally-protected right to parent.

Children are stripped of their freedom to associate with their family members and family integrity protected under the 14th Amendment.

Government Funding Puts a Price on Children's Heads

The state agencies operate with conflicting roles and financially incentivized motives. Every state agency was created under the public policy of providing services to families, providing safety for children, and reunifying families.

In addition, they serve to prosecute parents and sever their parental rights.

The funding is directed at foster care and rehoming children. There can be no argument that there is a price tag on the head of every child entering the child welfare system.

See:

Child Kidnapping and Trafficking: A Lucrative U.S. Business Funded by Taxpayers

The system has become so intent on creating cash flow on children through forced adoption that the agencies focus on “adoptable children,” and those in need of rescue from drug ridden homes or long-term abuse are overlooked as children too damaged for adoption.

You see, this system has been in place long enough now that they know that the “damaged” children cause too great a strain on the system. They require too many services; the parents are ill-equipped to deal with children with a history of trauma; and many end up back in state's care.

New Law: “Families First”

We now have the Families First Prevention and Services Act of 2018 which passed in the budget omnibus bill. Most legislators probably do not even know what is in it.

I have read it. It was intended to redirect funds from the federal government away from foster care and into programs to prevent removal from a family.

Here is the first problem. Number one, it is optional for the States. Legislators in Washington D.C. cannot be so blind to not understand that the private foster care industry will oppose any paradigm shift on how we handle reports of abuse and neglect.

There are after all, 114 registered lobbyists in D.C. for “foster care.”

The corporations are huge. Look up Providence, Omni, Eckerd, Youth Villages, and the multiple ���church-based” foster care companies.

Not only do they contract to provide foster care, they are now contracting to provide the “services” for family reunification. This is a serious and intolerable conflict of interest.

Why would you seek to restore a family and return a child to his home, when it means you lose a stable monthly income while the child is in foster care?

The private agencies then contract with mental health contractors who provide substandard care and always report that the family is “not ready” for reunification for any number of reasons.

Not only is FFPSA optional, it provides little incentive to shift the focus to family stability. If you do not think that family stability is important in tackling a variety of other social issues, like substance abuse, poverty, and substandard education, you are wearing blinders.

Family stability has been the backbone of our Christian nation for years. Since the sixties, divorces, unwed mothers, teenage pregnancies, and opioid addiction have skyrocketed. If one were to truly assess the underlying factors in these crises, surely family disintegration would be at the top.

The current Achilles heel of the FFPSA is the continuation of ASFA, the Adoption and Safe Families Act. So long as the states can realize a bonus check for every child adopted through the forced-adoption agenda of the child welfare agencies, prevention services will be met with opposition. The bonus checks must stop NOW.

“Help” from the Predator no Help at All

The conflicts of interest in the agencies and with the state contractor must be prohibited. This will require restructuring the state agencies so that the prosecution of parents remains separate from the agency seeking to rehabilitate families. This is not unlike other government functions.

I served as a District Attorney in my legal career and we always served an antagonistic function to the public defender. We must separate the agencies such that the families can realize a real sense of support.

Now the parents shudder in dealing with the agency because at every stage of the case, they know that the same agency is gathering evidence against them. The same social worker who comes to their home to inspect for safety reasons is likely to be the person who gets on the stand and testifies that the laundry was not done and the home was cluttered, preventing the return of their children.

Connie Reguli speaks to Educational Panel in Washington D.C. Photo by Family Forward Project.

We must prohibit conflicts with the contractors.

Those providing foster care cannot be providing reunification services. There must be antagonism before there can be balance.

We must provide a forum for public comments and feedback on how the agency is doing.

Currently, the public does not participate in any of the reporting functions on the efficiency, competence, and goal achievement of the state workers.

So long as the state agencies are allowed to be their own oversight, the truth will be never be exposed. Although some states provided for the establishment of oversight committees in their formation, none of the states have maintained a true public liaison.

Anonymous reporting must be eliminated.

Sadly, parents are sometimes attacked by spiteful neighbors, ex-spouses, or other ill-intended persons.

Vexatious reports to CPS face no consequences, as opposed to penalties for filing false police reports.

A parent must have the ability to challenge the source of false reports of child abuse.

Finally, FFPSA must be mandatory.

The states must be required to engage in the 12-month program to prevent removal of children where there is no threat of immediate harm and no evidence of abuse. Children are currently removed from their families on mere allegations from anonymous referrals.

We thank you for having a listening ear and look forward to your continued attention on this social welfare crises.

Please follow up with us:

Family Forward Foundation Familyforwardfoundation.com

Find us on Facebook: Family Forward Project.

Connie Reguli Family Forward Foundation 1646 Westgate Circle Brentwood, TN 37027

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[romancatholicreflections]

10th September >> Daily Reflection/Commentary on Today's Mass Readings (Ezekiel 33:7-9; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20) for Roman Catholics on the Twenty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Commentary on Ezekiel 33:7-9; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20

WE ARE REMINDED TODAY that to belong to the Church is to belong to a community of brothers and sisters in Christ. This means that being a Christian is not a private, purely personal affair, although that is the way some people seem to behave. When God asked Cain, “Where is your brother?”, Cain answered, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The teaching of the Gospel is that indeed I am responsible for my brothers and sisters.

Not only that, our relationship with Jesus, with God, depends intimately on how we relate with other people – be they members of our own family or complete strangers. “By this will all know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35) and “As often as you did/did not do it to the very least of my brothers and sisters, you did/did not do it to me” (Matthew 25:40,45).

Many of us are reluctant to involve ourselves in other people’s affairs. Sometimes that attitude is good and wholesome but sometimes it is not. Our government, for instance, now frequently asks us to report on instances of child abuse or spouse abuse of which we may be aware. Such behaviour against defenceless people is something about which we need to be really concerned, to the point of taking appropriate action to protect the victims. If such things happen within the family it can be even more difficult to take action. It is not easy to see one’s father or mother brought away by the police or investigated by a social worker, even though it may be in the best interests of all concerned.

Community relations

The Gospel passage of today deals with such situations within the Christian community. The whole of Matthew chapter 18 is a discourse on mutual relations within the Christian community and, especially, what to do when divisions arise, as must inevitably happen. We are communities of sinners trying to be saints and there are many pitfalls on the way. In today’s passage we see first of all a three-stage procedure for dealing with a community member who has done “something wrong”. Presumably, it is some form of external behaviour which is harmful to the quality of the community’s witnessing to the Gospel.

The whole thrust of the passage is that we should all work towards reconciliation rather than punishment. There will also be a desire to keep the issue at as low a profile as possible. (We read regularly in our newspapers what happens when people drag their mutual grievances against each other to the law courts.) So, the first stage is for the two people concerned to solve the issue among themselves. If it works out at that level, that is the ideal situation. “You have won back your brother.” “Won back” here is a Jewish technical term for conversion. For it is not enough that he merely stop his offensive behaviour, there also needs to be a genuine change of attitude and a genuine reconciliation with the offending person.

If the offender refuses to listen to his “brother”, then others should be brought in as confirming witnesses. And, if he refuses to listen to these, then “tell it to the church” (Greek, ekklesia, ekklhsia). ‘Church’ is here understood as the local community because, in the thinking of the Christian Testament, each self-contained community is a ‘church’ (cf. for example, Revelation 1:4-3:22, where letters are written to seven ‘churches’ or local communities).

Exclusion

In the last resort, if the offender still refuses to listen or to change, “treat him like a pagan or tax collector”. That is to say, let him be put out from the community and be regarded as an outsider. Obviously, this is a drastic and final step and to be taken not in a spirit of revenge or vindictiveness but out of real concern for the wellbeing of the whole community. It requires very sensitive discernment because it is easy to ‘get rid of’ someone who may in fact be telling the community some wholesome truths it needs to hear.

Many genuinely prophetic people have had this experience. It is easy to be too concerned about the “respectable image” of the community or being seen as in conflict with the established authorities. The only wellbeing that can justify such ‘ex-communication’ is behaviour that is totally at variance with the community’s mission to be the Body of Christ and to be the witness of the Gospel message.

How, someone may ask, can this be squared with Jesus’ openness to sinners, including corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes, or with the story of the Prodigal Son? But Jesus’ reception of these people was not unconditional. It depended on their change of heart and the abandonment of their sinful ways. Jesus sat down with sinners, not because he liked them more than good people but because he hoped to lead them back. When he forgave the woman taken in adultery, he told her to “sin no more”. The Prodigal Son was received with open arms after he had decided he no longer wanted to live his life of debauchery and, by his own decision, came back to his father.

The common good and the individual good

So, it is in the interests of both the community and of the individual that, if he/she persists in anti-Christian behaviour, that he/she be separated from the community. We practice this partly by not allowing a person in serious sin to communicate during the Eucharist. There is a serious contradiction between a person acting contrary to the Gospel and wanting to share in the Body of Christ, which has been wounded by his/her behaviour.

The situation, obviously, can be changed by a change in the attitude and behaviour of the wrongdoer. Once he repents and converts, he will be – indeed must be – received back with joy.

“Whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven…” These words indicate that the community has the power, given it by God, to make a judgement on who is fit to belong to the Body of Christ. It is a necessary power to preserve the integrity of the community as a witness to the Gospel. It is also a dangerous power which can be abused.

Again, “If two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where [even] two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.” Wherever Christians meet together in truth and love, whether it be for prayer, study, or decision-making, Jesus is present and Jesus speaks and acts. This is both a tremendous gift and also a great responsibility.

Centrality of love

And so it is that Paul in the Second Readings puts the emphasis on love. It contains all other Christian obligations. “Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments.” To keep the commandments without love – and it is possible – is to become not another Jesus but a Pharisee. If I really care in compassion for my neighbour then I know that I am keeping the commandments and that I also am loving God. I have to look carefully at the needs of my brothers and sisters. If I see them hurting themselves or someone else, that is my business.

So the First Reading says, “[If] you do not speak to warn the wicked man to renounce his ways, then he shall die for his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death.” I am my brother’s and my sister’s keeper. But not absolutely. “If, however, you do warn a wicked man to renounce his ways and repent, and he does not repent, then he shall die for his sin, but you yourself will have saved your life.” I have a responsibility to save my brother in sin, but I am not ultimately responsible for his salvation. The last choice will always be with him. There is no need, after one has done one’s best, to feel guilt over the evil behaviour of another.

Only path to salvation

It is easy to think that being a Catholic means being concerned with the relationship between God and me, that my duty is to “save my soul”. But, in fact, the only way to “save my soul” is by becoming a truly loving and caring person as part of a loving and caring community of people united in Christ. And sometimes that caring may involve bringing the brother/sister face to face with the loving demands of the Gospel. We do not help each other by turning a blind eye to behaviour which is clearly unchristian.

As a community we have a responsibility for each other’s wellbeing. We do not further the witness of a loving community when we, in false “charity”, ignore social problems such as drug-taking, alcoholism, compulsive gambling, violence in the home, discrimination against the physically and mentally handicapped, racial exploitation and the like taking place in our parish community. It is not enough just to deal with these things in the privacy of “Confession” for, ultimately, reconciliation must be at the community level. And, as such, this is the responsibility of the community exercising its calling as the Body of Christ.