#judgment day 2022 recap

[zhindian]

You know what? Fuck it. I’m going to do my own Judgment Day recap.

For brevity sake, I’m not going to cover Edge founding Judgment Day and him being kicked out. Mostly because Rhea was out after this for a spell and I feel JD didn’t pick up steam until they started trying to recruit Dominik. Edge being kicked out was also apart of the official recap on Raw, so going over that again is redundant. I’ll probably break this down into parts to keep it tight.

Ready? Let’s go!

To begin, let’s start a little before Rey’s 20th anniversary. JD and the Mysterios have been fighting each other for awhile at this point.

July 11th Raw:

Notes: I love Damian speaking Spanish here to Dominik and Rey being unnerved by it.

Dom seems to be seriously considering Priest’s offer here, or at least putting some thought to it. Remember, he’s heard the stories 🤣

Finn says the prophetic words to Rey, “Not only are you a bad leader, but you’re a bad father!”

July 18th Raw: Dominik joins the Judgment Day, but…

Note: I like to think Dominik DID join the Judgment Day here and the rest of July/August was his jump in/initiation, if that makes sense.

Dom was expecting the Finn/Priest beat down, but Rhea showing up later and wrecking him was the cherry on top that got him to fully commit. And that he likes Rhea wrecking him just a little too much llol

Part 2 of the JD recap later!

[siriusist]

In any event, the Tuskegee Airmen certainly warrant a fancy $250 million-ish streaming miniseries of their own. What they do not deserve is to be shoehorned as an afterthought into the eighth episode of a nine-episode series ostensibly based on a celebrated history text — Donald L. Miller’s Masters of the Air, lest you forget — that mentions the Tuskegee Airmen on exactly one of its 670 pages. It’s like that episode of The Book of Boba Fett that was actually an episode of The Mandalorian; only the book, in this case, is a real book. And the characters were real people whose descendants are still around to recognize what a slight this lip-service-bordering-on-tokensim is.

As near as I can tell, the Tuskegee material here comes from oral histories given by several of those pilots and from Red Tail Captured, Red Tail Free: Memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman and POW — the 2005 memoir from one of this episode’s new faces, Second Lieutenant Alexander Jefferson, who was 100 years old at the time of his death in 2022! (Technically, the face belongs to actor Branden Cook.) Jefferson was one of the “Red Tails” who found himself interred at Stalag Luft III in August 1944, ten months after Buck, Bucky, Crank, and some of the other airmen we’ve been following since Chapter One got there. I get that bringing the Tuskegees into the story with their arrival at the POW camp would present its own problems. But whoever it was at Amblin, Playtone, or Apple who decided to throw the venerated all-Black fighter squadron — one that operated out of Ramitelli Air Field in Italy, more than a thousand miles away from the England-based 100th Bomb Group whose high-mortality adventures we’ve been following up till now — a few hackneyed-as-hell scenes in the next-to-last episode would strike a blow for representation has judgment so questionable I don’t even want to express my rebuke as a joke.

Masters of the Air Recap: Sleeping Through D-Day By Chris Klimek

[thecpdiary]

More Quick 'n' Easy Mindful Exercises

To recap, mindfulness is the practice of being present and aware. It means acknowledging what you’re thinking and feeling. For those who practice mindfulness they will know being mindful brings their attention into focus, into the present moment.

The following examples are simple mindfulness exercises you can easily fit into your day.

A 2019 Study: Frontiers in Psychology

A 2019 study in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, found that mindfulness meditation helped improve depression and anxiety symptoms partly by reducing worry. In a 2021 study published in the same journal people who participated in a six-week mindfulness course reported lower stress levels and most recently, a 2022 clinical trial published in JAMA Psychiatry found mindfulness-based stress reduction to be just as effective as prescription medication for anxiety and depression.

For many people, stress comes from thoughts about the past and worries about the future; it rarely originates from things that are happening in the present moment, so why not try these every day simple mindfulness exercises next time you need to relax.

Three-minute breathing

This quick exercise takes just three minutes to do.

Set a timer for three minutes.

Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Notice what’s happening in your mind and body right now. Are you worrying about a problem or mistake? Do you feel warm or cold? Is there a distracting sound in your environment? Simply notice whatever you’re experiencing,

Here’s how to turn dishwashing into a quick mindfulness workout

As you wash the dishes, ask yourself: How warm or cold is the water? How does the sponge feel in my hand? What smells am I experiencing? What’s the texture of the dishes I’m touching?

Body scan

To try this easy mindfulness exercise:

Close your eyes

Bring your attention to the bottom of your feet, followed by your toes, the tops of your feet, your heels, and your ankles. Notice what you’re sensing in each area; think tightness, coldness, a tingling sensation, or nothing at all

Move deliberately up your body to your calves, knees, thighs, hips, etc. and do the same thing: Notice the physical sensations in each part of your body.

When you come to the top of your head, you can either stop or travel back down to your feet again.

People-watching

You can turn your commute or walk into a mindfulness session by noticing strangers around you. When you notice people, it creates an opportunity to detach from your own mental clutter, allowing you to practice awareness without meditating.

Take a moment to notice the people around you.

As you observe, try not to form judgments or stories about them, simply observe whoever is currently around you. (Source: selfcom)

For more inspirational, lifestyle blogs, please check out my site https://www.thecpdiary.com

[ultrajustjo]

Week 5: Visio divina

Spanish Paschal Candlestick Contemplation

The sun is finally out, but Greek class beckons, which means I'm stuck indoors for a few more hours. Before I idoú the logos, let me offer this contemplation on the candlestick and Matthew 8.

15th-Century Spanish Paschal Candlestick at The Cloisters, New York City. Photo taken Autumn 2022.

Recap

Our reading is from Matthew 8 where Jesus encounters demons and sends them into nearby pigs, who run and drown themselves. What happens when demons speak to you, you Ghostbuster them, and they run away and die thereby causing damage to the local economy? You get asked to leave. It's tough being God. Any parent who's ever cared for a beloved but immature and ungrateful child can relate to this story. Here it is in proper form using the NIV:

28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.

Observations

Jesus was just traveling, but he couldn't get past the two tortured men who were violent. The demons engaged with him; they were not sought out by Jesus. Without any action on Jesus's part (as relayed in Matthew), the miserable spirits begged Jesus for mercy and Jesus obliged. The demons used their inherent violence once within the pigs. No humans were physically harmed, while two were released from bondage -- all with Jesus's one word, "Go."

How is it that demons recognized the nature of Jesus but his friends, family, and disciples did not?

The town's rejection of Jesus foreshadows humanity's rejection of Jesus on the cross.

How does this story of God's power exhibited through Christ influence your observations of the Spanish Paschal Candlestick?

Consider the tiers of the candlestick: The largest, lower tier features panels of disciples; the second tier, smaller in diameter with fewer panels, features a handful of saints who were probably significant to that Spanish population; the smallest, top tier features humanity and God's creation in depictions of the Garden of Eden, Adam, and Eve. Looming tall above the tiers is an incense-filled candlestick that will support a lit Christ candle at Easter.

As noted in the audio description of the candle (linked in the initial post), congregants could move entirely around the candlestick and view it from all sides. The incense and flickering candlelight draw the body into a sensation-filled experience -- this art, while functional, was intended to engage its audience.

The candlestick is 77 x 17 1/4 in. (195.6 x 43.8 cm). For those of you who don't "math," that's as tall as a basketball player at 6'5".

Today, the phrase "appointed time" in verse 29 stands out to me. There is an implicit understanding in these words of an expectation of future action (judgment day?), which also seems to imply understanding of past actions (Creation?). Maybe this spatial interpretation is farcical, but the demons' recognition of Jesus does suggest previous familiarity and enforces an idea of continuous, uninterrupted existence on the part of Jesus (and the demons). This is not a new interpretation, but sometimes it's good to stop and state the obvious.

The Spanish paschal candlestick can be seen to reflect a continuous, uninterrupted existence of the faith on the part of humans, once introduced to Christ Jesus. With the Christ candle above, the piece also reflects the continuity of Christ, himself, as recognized by the demons. The tiers on the candle place all of Creation beneath the representation of Christ via the Easter candle. From the Garden of Eden and representations of the beginning of humanity in the persons of Adam and Eve, to the saints below them, and the foundational disciples of the Church in the lowest tier, the panels show an understanding of Jesus's continuous and eternal nature.

In its functional use, the Candlestick was to be elevated above the people to represent Christ's resurrection and ascension to Heaven. Unlike the townspeople in Matthew 8 who met Jesus and asked him to leave, the Spanish parishioners gathered near the paschal candle and revered the Host (Jesus) housed within the altar.

Final thoughts

I like to think I'm insightful, but that's probably inaccurate. However, this meme came across my phone today and it is scarily accurate.

In the initial post for Week 5, I mentioned my love for The Cloisters. My family first went to The Cloisters to seek the unicorn tapestries after reading about them in The Magic Treehouse books. When I found that the pop culture portion of the tapestries' wiki page did not include local author Mary Pope Osborne, a legend in her own time, I added the reference. How many wiki pages have you altered? I can only remember doing this one.

The Cloisters is a castle fortress that overlooks the Hudson River in Upper Manhattan. It's worth a visit. My daughter posed me here after we dined in the magnificent, central courtyard.

Humans are still responding to the paschal mystery 500 years after the Spanish produced a gilded and paneled larger-than-life candlestick. Here are two different, modern, musical, and Spirit-filled responses to the resurrection. First is Karen Clark Sheard, a lifelong performer and First Lady of the Church of God in Christ.

And, in a different but related style, here is Contemporary Christian pioneer Matthew Ward singing a song by his late sister, Annie Herring.

See you next week in this crazy life.

[dispatchdcu]

A.X.E.: Judgment Day #5 Review

.X.E.: Judgment Day #5 Review #axejudgmentday #axe #MARVEL #marvelcomics #comics #comicbooks #news #mcu #art #info #NCBD #previews #reviews #xmen #hoxpox #wolverine #reignofx

Writer: Kieron Gillen Art: Valerio Schiti, Mark Brooks, Marte Garcia, VC’s Clayton Cowles, and Jay Bowen Publisher: Marvel Comics Price: 5.99 Release Date: September 13th, 2022 Let’s quickly recap! Druig discerned that mutants must be eradicated and declared an all-out war. Meanwhile, a secret alliance of Eternals, Avengers, and Mr. Sinister schemed to resurrect Avengers Mountain in hopes to stop…

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Sunday, June 5

Xander: This is the invisible man syndrome. A blessing in Cordelia's case. A curse in Buffy's. Willow: You're not invisible to Buffy. Xander: It's worse! I'm just like a part of the scenery, like an old shoe. Or a rug that you walk on every day but don't even really see it. Willow: Like a pen that's all chewed up, and you know you should throw it away, but you don't, not 'cause you like it so much, more 'cause you're just used to... Xander: Will, yeah, that is the point, you don't have to drive it through my head like a railroad spike. I'm gonna take your advice and not beat around the bush.

~~Witch~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Надо что-то делать! (Russian language, T) by B_E_S

Рассвет (Russian language, G) by B_E_S

Welding a Family (Crossover with Iron Man, FR13) by Buffyworldbuilder

Punctuation Saves Lives (Crossover with Wizard of Oz, FR13) by phouka

Episode 134- Potential (G) by Buffyverse Poetry

[Chaptered Fiction]

And the Devil Will Drag You Under, Chapter 21 (Crossover with Dexter, M) by frogfarm

The Truth Impales, Chapter 1 (Giles/Jenny, T) by napoleonscomet

Like Life, Chapter 1 (Buffy/Angel, T) by momentofbored

Thinking Out Loud, Chapter 1 (Buffy/Giles, M) by lightshinesthru

Mortal Allies Series, Episode 5: War and Roses, Chapter 28 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Passion4Spike

Inhuman Behavior, Chapter 3 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by violettathepiratequeen

Finding Her, Chapter 15 (Buffy/Spike, R) by scratchmeout

Deadly Denial, Chapter 12 (Buffy/Spike, AO) by Jws1993

Ritual or Not, Chapter 3 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Ifeelittoo21

Unforgiveable, Chapter 13 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Jws1993

Consequences, Chapter 8 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Jws1993

Talkative Minds, Chapter 4 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Jws1993

House Keeping, Chapter 1 (Buffy/Spike, PG) by CosmicTuesdays

He used to be Mine, Chapter 5 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by DeamonQueen

Out of Time: 1942, Chapter 28 (Crossover with Harry Potter, FR18) by Jonayla

Always and Forever Yours, Chapter 16 (Crossover with The Originals, FR7) by Buffyworldbuilder

Adventures of a Super Family, Chapter 100 (Crossover with Supergirl, FR13) by Phillster

Next Year's Girl, Chapter 2 (Non-crossover, FR18) by KyliaQuilor

False Starts, Chapter 17 (Multiple crossovers, FR15) by DireSquirrel

The Ring Talks, Chapter 22 (Spike/Buffy, 18+) by Myrabeth

() by

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork:BTVS “Every Outfit” “the Prom” part 1 Xx by whatshisfaceblogs

Meme:"Me if I was different from how I am" trifecta by stvivi

Manip gifset:When She Was Bad by usermaxie

Video: 99 Problems | Faith and Buffy by IncognitoDuck

Video: Angel (Angelus) Statue - May 2022! ADULT VIEWERS ONLY!! (nsfw) by Buffy's Cave

[Reviews & Recaps]

VOICE of an ANGEL - Angel Reaction - 2x1 - Judgment by The Lexi Crowd

Ranking Buffyverse Characters - Part 3/3 by Liam Duke

DON'T TOUCH BUFFY'S STUFF! Buffy, the Vampire Slayer 4x1 'The Freshman' Reaction! by Elie Moses

[Fandom Discussions]

Spike and Buffy with their own side of the bed (commentary in tags) by silvermars

Buffy in S3 by bleedingastigmatism

2001 "lesbian decoration" by doublemeatpalace

Giles is good by casual-crispy

Thoughts on Cordelia Chase by juniperhillpatient

Angel staking Darla by charismascarpenter

California and coats by moistvonlipwig

Exhibit B - Your honor they love each other (fuffy) by juanabaloo

Into Every Generation... by Evan Ross Katz by Stake fodder

unpopular/controversial opinions (continued) by multiple authors

Dawn deserves more credit (continued) by multiple authors

Angel Season 5 Rewatch – #1 Conviction (SPOILERS) by LWP

Poll: What is your perspective on Buffy's fashion for fighting? by Excellent-Durain509

I wish we saw more interaction between Andrew and Giles by Nuthetes

Is "demon" just another name for an otherworldly creature? by multiple authors

Season 1 by multiple authors

Xander being considered a loser is the least believable thing in Buffy by Nuthetes and multiple authors

Can someone explain the subtext of buffy's questionable fashion choices in season 3? by multiple authors

Saddest scenes for characters IMO. Share yours by multiple authors

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

[hattalom]

January 17, 2022 / morning

Ok, I need to be better at documenting my time here, but I won’t place any judgment. I can feel that in my body right now, like why aren’t you better at remembering. Also think that I wrote a post and it didn’t save, so I am learning to understand my need for control and then let it go. Let it go. Your expectations for yourself, just let it go. I can feel the anxiety right now in my body, but I just have to feel it.

So a quick recap of this weekend, before I forget:

January 15, 2022 / Friday

This was my first full day here, and I think I felt a little unsure. I had a lot of energy pulling me in different places, like I wanted to head to the studio but I also wanted to stay in and be warm, or just to head outside and walk. I think that is just my excitement in being here.

But Hannah came and showed me around, we drove the golf cart and told me of the various areas here. We drove to the water and she showed me the canoes and the lake - it wasn’t misty yet but I knew that I wanted to go in the water sometime.

She then showed me the ceramics studio, and some of her work. She is creating three vessels based on her body, which I thought was cool - the idea of modeling clay to your skin in this very visceral moment- she said that she hasn’t been dancing since the pandemic - and connected over the feeling of public performance - so this clay work is a way to get back into herself. I think my time here is kinda of exploring that too - to be in my body and present moment.

Then she let me loose. I think I ended up taking a little nap, but then I headed to the water. It was also sundown and I wanted to catch a bit of that light before I couldn’t, so I got on the canoe and made my way out there. It was nice and somber, and I took some video of the most that was coming it. It was peaceful, but a bit anxious, because I couldn’t help but wonder what was underneath. Would something tip me over, would I be able to make it back to shore…but I tried to remain present and just sit there in the middle of the lake. I think I want to do that again before I leave.

When I got back, I settled in before dinner. Dinners here have been amazing. Look at this:

I got to meet some of the folks here, which I will be doing a more in-depth post on later in the week, but it’s been inspiring to here everyone and their process. Like Bailey and Asian eroticism. Or Adrienne and the matriarchs in her family. Or George and his building creativity. A lot of amazing folks doing some rad things. What can I learn from everyone?

[kakahut]

2022 is here, and I am watching Bridget Jone’s Diary

Jan 2nd, 2022, I just got a bit awake from my 2 day booze consumption with Bridget Jone’s Diary as background sound. I just realized that I am turning into 32, same age with BJ in the movie. 

I haven’t written a lot in 2021 because I was having a quite good time. I got new friends, adopted 2 lovely cats,  had a summer fling, travled a bit in China, and felt comfortable about what I do. Occasionally I would talk about my love story in 2016 in order to feel the sense of sadness  so I could assure I am alive. 

I appreciated what life had brought to me. 

OK, recap is over. Here is the drama. I spent 10 hours talking to a guy on New Year Day alone in his apartment without doing anything physically intimate and I am fucking scard and unsettled. I had a bit of crush on him on and off for a year and we never had a chance to know each other as we were more like drinking and partying friend. I have not had such intense conversation with anyone for a very long time, even with Min, I didn’t intend to share that much of information in such an insense period of time. It defnitely meant something to me but I don’t know what it should be. I am a bit overwhelmed and scared. I like being so close with someone, and some moment, I wanted to signal him a bit more so he might take some action but I also didn’t want to ruin the connection then turn it instantly into something sexual. I felt a bit of tension when we were watching that taylor swift video as I could heart his breath, but I was a coward and from my previous experience, it might not be a good start ( yup, PTSD)

I want a friend first. But I am also scared if I didn’t signal, it would turn into the friend zone. While touching upon some similar topics I had with Min, I was scard that he could have the similar judgetment like Min who didn’t even show any sign of judgment which I also ignored like I used to and fall into the wrong guy because I had an unhealthy illusion about who he is.

As I was telling him my entire story, he also shared many perspective and ideas about who he is. It was a lot information. Something sexual, something about dating, something about relationship and sometimes I almost burst out: “well, mayb we should date ” and I swallowed the words before because I am scared of the risk of ruining the “connection”. I think I am a love coward. I am too comfortable in my comfort zone, and I want to accumlate that feeling for art creation. I am scard of rejection and awkwardness. 

I have no idea what this becomes so complicated. It was much easier in life before. 

My logic is telling me, calm down, and my emotion is telling me, I am fucking confused.

OK, time will give you an answer, just relax.

[zhindian]

Judgment Day 2022 Recap Part 9

Prison Dom’s heel turn continues on Monday Night Raw, where he faces Edge in the main event. This Raw had a bunch of stuff and started a lot of things we see now, like Rhea and Dom’s whisper in the ear bit.

This is a super heavy video link collection as well, so bear with me.

Monday Night Raw 9/12/22: Let me whisper in your ear

To start us of, Dominik has a promo regarding himself, Edge, and Rey. Rhea also makes an appearance at the end here as well.

Note: Fire quote from Dom here - “For such a tiny man, you cast a large shadow”

I thought this was was a good start, even though some people weren’t into at the time, which I get. But this promo establishes a bunch of stuff that we’re still seeing: Dom’s anger at his father and Edge, Dom wanting to be seen as a man, Dom not wanting to be in Rey’s shadow to do what he wants, and Rhea seemingly pulling the strings with Dom being under her control.

This also is the debut of the sweet bit of Rhea whispering in Dom’s ear. We don’t know what she says to him here, nor do we know what she says to him now. I love that what ever she says is up for interpretation.

Rhea’s smile here at the end is great because we don’t know exactly what she’s up to. Could be manipulation, could be she’s just enjoying her domme position, she could be leading Dom astray for nefarious reasons, or she just really wants what’s best for him.

Dom’s expressions and demeanor changes when Rhea touches him as well.

Meanwhile Finn and Priest are trying to recruit Riddle:

Notes: Finn kills me. “Whoa bro, chill!” He just loves dropping that bro line 🤣

Damien and Riddle go way back. Remember we’ve heard the stories.

Judgment Day recruitment is something else, as they try to bring Riddle into the fold using Dom as an example.

Finn saying Riddles head is a little cloudy 🤭

Riddle starts the fight, fighting both of them off, and setting up a match between him and Finn. Finn wins after a distraction from Seth, which sets up a tag match the following Raw.

Rey is also going around trying to get through to anyone regrading Dom. First trying with Edge, then with Dominik himself:

Notes: Come Dom - Rhea ma’am 🫠

Here Rey Rey is still trying to fight Dom’s battles for him, something Dom doesn’t want him to do. And he’s trying to reason with Edge? Edge might be considered family, but Dom is his son. Edge is trying to kick Dom’s ass when he’s done worse himself. If anything Rey should have separated from Edge at this point. He could understand why Edge wants his pound of flesh from Dom, but he can’t condone it either. No wonder Dom turned (though Rhea is a good reason why herself), and no wonder people like to see Rey getting his ass kicked.

Rey also tried to talk with Dom, who is not acknowledging or talking to him. Rhea appears later to chastise Rey and leads Dom away, further showing the hold she has on him.

Now onto the match!

Notes: “Whatever Rhea’s bring to the table, Dominik likes a lot!” - Corey Graves

This match debut a lot of things we still see, like Corey’s hilarious quotes regarding Dom and Rhea. 🤣

Dom gets his ass kicked here, which happens a lot in his matches. Rhea helping him out though also establishes that she will fight for Dom, showing her supportive domme side. Plus this is almost a reversal of a common wrestling trope. Usually a member of a faction like Dom would be hung out to dry, but JD fight for each, making them such a supportive polycule.

You can hear Edge mock Dom during the match, “You’re a man now, Dom!” We also get Dom’s Uncle Edge plea, showing those signs of a chickenshit heel taking shape.

Rhea starts shimmying here 🥰

Dom had a very slick counter to Edge’s spear, a roll through into a single leg crab submission.

I like they used that Edge’s leg wasn’t 100% since Finn Coupe De Grace him.

Edge ties up Dom in the ropes and begins wailing on him. I haven’t seen that kind of spot in a while.

Rey prevents Edge’s spear attempt by getting between Dom and Edge, still trying to fight Dom’s battles. He pays for it because he gets shoved away by Edge, then Priest grabs him and launches him to the announce table, almost ending up unseeing it. You’d think at this point he’d stop trying being around Edge, but again, this shows why Dom’s turn was justified in his eyes.

Using the Damian distraction, Finn hits the ring to go after Edge. Rhea still shows her willingness to go after guys by hitting Edge with a chair. She then orders Dom to attack Edge with the chair, further cementing his heel turn.

Edge is then coupe de grace by Finn once again, and Finn gets another chair for his extensive collection. I love how he just sits down on it afterwards 🤣

Then you see the first of many hugs an how they are a supportive family. You see Damian hugging both Dom and Rhea. You hear Finn read a broken Edge the riot act, listing Dom as a part of Judgment Day. And the final shot of the show is all of them with their hands raised in victory over the prone body of Edge.

Again, this is something Dom wanted. He wants to be acknowledged for his efforts, he gets supportive family instead of his dad plotting everything for him, and Rhea as well.

Phew! That was a lot. On to part 10 soon!

[patriotnewsdaily]

New Post has been published on PatriotNewsDaily.com

New Post has been published on https://patriotnewsdaily.com/pelosi-manipulates-police-testimony/

Pelosi Manipulates Police Testimony

The first meeting of Pelosi’s 100 percent hand-picked Select Committee began its first hearing this past Friday.  If one had harbored any hope that there would be a modicum of objectivity in the process, the introductory remarks by Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson dispelled it.

Thompson was not opening an inquiry, but rather an inquisition.  That was obvious when he leap-frogged to the findings of the Committee even before the first witnessed testified.  He engaged in a litany of “we know …” – as in we know what they did.  We know who did it.  We know why they came.  With all those “we knows,” one wonders what they intend to investigate.

Thompson used the most provocative language – prejudging the event as an insurrection.  Interestingly, in the video the Democrats showed, one of the Capitol Police officers is saying, “We have a riot.” 

Thompson was playing games with the truth – lying might be a more proper word – when he claimed that the riot had killed seven people – including police officers. 

According to the New York Times, there were only five people whose deaths were in some way attributable to the riot. And even that is a stretch.  They listed 55-year-old Kevin Greeson of Alabama – a Trump supporter who suffered a heart attack; Rosanne Boyland of Georgia – died in a crush of rioters pushing against a police line; Benjamin Philips of Pennsylvania – died of a stroke; and Ashli Babbitt of Texas – who was shot by a Capitol Hill police officer as she led a crowd attempting to enter the House chamber.

Democrats often list Capitol Hill Police Officer Brian Sicknick as having been a victim of the riot.  Initially, it was erroneously reported that he had been bludgeoned by a fire extinguisher.  When the medical examiner said Sicknick had no blunt trauma wounds, the reports falsely said he was sprayed by bear repellent.  The medical examiner’s final report stated that Sicknick had died of “natural causes” unrelated to his involvement in the riot.  Regardless, Democrats and the left-wing news media continue to dishonestly report Sicknick as a riot victim.

I did a little checking and still could not identify the seven people cited by Thompson.  Since only two rioters died violently in conjunction with the riot, the Committee chairman is being downright dishonest in his inflated death claims.  But that is part of the constant effort to make matters worse than they were. Even though they were bad enough.

Thompson’s remarks were not the opening of an inquiry. They were the brief of a prosecutor who is determined to prove the guilt of those he and Democrats have accused in the court-of-public-opinion.  In a sense, the jury should be the members of the Committee – including the two false-flag Republicans– but it is public opinion that Pelosi and the Democrats hope to influence in time for the 2022 election.  The Pelosi panel – or jury – have already been set on their mission.

One of the most significant question is how so many rioters were able to breach the Capitol, enter the Senate chamber, damage windows, doors and offices, carry off files and carry-on general vandalism.  Had there been adequate security, the breach may never have happened.  But Pelosi has declared that issue off limits – and you know that none of the members of the Committee – Democrat or Republican (of sorts) will raise the issue.

The Committee led off with members of the police forces that had to face the mob.  Some were injured.  Their testimony was going to be obvious.  They were the heroes of the day.  They confronted overwhelming numbers of enraged rioters. And they were assaulted and injured.  No good American would deny what they experienced from rioters — who should soon be going to jail thanks to the real non-political investigations by law enforcement.

In many ways, authorities who did not supply sufficient personnel and equipment – even though there were ample warnings of the potential of violence, let down the police on the scene.  The police on the ground were not part of the problem.  They were victims of the mob AND victims of those in charge of security – their bosses. 

But the police describing their experience was secondary to the reason they first called them there.  It was so that the members of the panel could spin their descriptions into larger anti-Republican narratives.  They brought them in to politicize their graphic – and at times horrific – testimony.  They bravely faced an ugly crowd. But they are in no position to know how that crowd was incited to riot – or by whom.  Still, that is what they were staged to do – to reinforce the exaggerated Democrat narrative.

Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn waded deeply into the political swamp by specifically praising the two Republicans on the panel — Congresswoman Liz Cheney and Congressman Adam Kinzinger — for the “bravery” in willing to serve on the Select Committee and – in his political judgment – tell the truth.  Dunn can certainly testify to the events as he experienced and witnessed them. But his testimony regarding the truth or causes was out of line.  The truth should be what the Committee is seeking.

When asked what impact the police officers’ testimony would have on the ultimate finding of the Committee, a former prosecutor appearing on CNN said that while the testimony was heart-wrenching, it did not have much value in any legal case that might be brought against individuals in the future.  THAT is the difference between a court-of-law and Pelosi’s kangaroo court-of-public-opinion.

As expected, the elitist east coast media cabal followed the Democrat script.  In covering the Capitol Hill riot, leftwing news services stated their biased opinion – and then restated, repeated, reiterated, recapped and summarized.  Petty much the same thing they have been doing since January 6th — and before.  Watching MSNBC is like being stuck on Disney’s It’s a Small World ride and hearing that repetitious refrain ad nauseum.

There were no surprises in the first day of testimony.  That seemed to be the consensus.  This was all dog-and-pony-show stuff.  If you watched the proceedings, you learned nothing new – nothing that “gets to the bottom of things” as Pelosi claims is her mission.  Uh huh.

Pelosi’s manipulation of the police testimony takes nothing away from the bravery and the emotional and physical suffering of the police.  They served beyond the call of duty against impossible odds.  Every one of them should be awarded a medal and a bonus.

So, there ‘tis.

[ashleydpalmerusa]

5 Weird Benefits of Ditching the Accounting Office and Working Remotely

Spend more time with family. Lose the commute. Work flexible hours. Wear what you want.

By now you’re more than familiar with the typically-cited benefits of working remotely. So we’re not gonna write that article, because you can read that anywhere.

Instead, we’re gonna grab our trusty football bat, gather up some three-dollar bills, and get weird. Here are some of the stranger reasons to ditch the office and work remotely:

1) Develop stronger relationships with your local food delivery people

Working from home affords you the schedule flexibility to go grocery shopping more often and prepare delicious, nutritious meals for the entire family every night. Or you can have a leisurely lunch at a nice restaurant, taking your time to enjoy yourself rather than grabbing a sandwich and rushing back to the office.

But if you’re like me, you won’t do either of those things. One of the greatest benefits of working remotely is not having to leave the house. And why would you ruin all of that nice-not-leaving-the-houseness by leaving the house to get food?

Instead, you’ll order delivery. A lot. And you won’t be alone. Some company called Cowen predicted a 79% surge in the total U.S. food delivery market by 2022, from $43 billion to $76 billion, for whatever that’s worth.

DoorDash, Grubhub, CitySpree, Eat24, Jimmy John’s, and whatever pizza and Chinese joints are close to your house–these are your new best friends. As you use them more often, you’ll begin to know the delivery drivers by name.

This can lead to new friendships or, if you’ve got game like Jesus Shuttlesworth, a blossoming romance. Just invite them in to play Xbox and see where it goes. Hopefully not toward a restraining order.

2) Work at whatever trendy nonsense desk configuration that is supposedly good for you without anyone laughing

First it was the bouncy ball seat, but we all know what happened to that.

Now there’s the standing desk which, according to the experts at Healthline, decreases your risk of weight gain, lowers your blood sugar (and that’s … good?), shrinks your risk of heart disease, prevents back pain, improves your mood and energy levels, boosts productivity, and even makes you live longer.

I mean, whatever. They could say standing at my desk all day would make 1,000 swimsuit models magically materialize in my room, and I’d still be too lazy to do it.

I’ve seen someone using a standing desk exactly once, and my reaction was, “What a courageous guy. Here’s a man who’s so dedicated to his health and virility, he’s taken the trouble to jack up his desk and is willing to stand all day no matter what his coworkers think.”

Just kidding. My first thought was, “This guy looks like an idiot.”

But when you work from home, you don’t have to worry about judgmental glares from jerks like me. You can work while standing up, doing the crab walk, or hanging from the ceiling like Tom Cruise in that one movie that was OK but really confusing, but at least it spawned a great series of sequels. And no one will ever know.

Except you. You’ll know. You’ll always know.

3) Play the afternoon game of HQ Trivia

I can’t find any current user stats about the smartphone app phenomenon HQ Trivia. Best I can do is this article from January 2018 about them breaking their record with 1.2 million users in a single game. I know from personal experience they’ve since shattered that number, with more than 2 million playing in some of the higher-dollar games.

While mostly known for its prime-time 8 p.m. show featuring the Quiz Daddy, the Trap Trebek, the Host Malone, the Quiz Khalifa, Scott Rogowsky, the service also runs a daily afternoon show at 3 p.m. ET. If thinking, “They used to have an afternoon show but they got rid of it,” you’ve just been eliminated–while HQ Trivia took its tea time game off the schedule for awhile, it’s back now (and dumber than ever, with easier questions and just eight answers required to win).

It’s safe to say that the greatest problem facing the American office worker over the last several months has been the inability to play the 3 p.m. HQ Trivia game, at least not without hiding in the bathroom for 15 minutes.

But when you work remotely, the trivia world is your oyster. You can play every day, racking up prizes of literally singles of dollars. Perhaps enough to tip your food delivery driver, if nothing else.

4) Avoid long lines at the movies

There’s a clip from “Seinfeld” where Jerry says this better than I can, but I can’t find it so here goes:

I hate saving movies for people.

The idea that you’re supposed to wait until a friend or loved one is available to go with you to see a movie is appalling to me. I just don’t have the patience for it. When I’m ready to see the movie, I’m ready to see the movie. If someone else is available to go with me, that’s great. But if not, I’ll happily go by myself.

I’m not totally without a sense of social shame, though. When I go to the movies by myself, I like to go in the afternoon. That way there’s less of a chance of being spotted by someone I know.

When you work from home, you can see movies during the day. You can avoid long lines and big crowds and truly enjoy the movie. And if you did promise to wait to see it with someone else, you can always lie to them and go see it again.

5) Abuse your home office privileges to avoid spending time with your family

Many remote workers with families set strict policies about their in-home working space. When Mommy or Daddy is in the office with the door shut, no one is to come in unless it’s an emergency. This allows you to concentrate on your work without the fear of constant interruption.

But there’s nothing in the rulebook that says you can’t go into the office, shut the door, and play Candy Crush for four hours. That’s mostly because a remote work rulebook doesn’t exist yet, but semantics.

The point is, having an in-home sanctuary from the rest of the family offers benefits outside of work. Whether you choose to take advantage of those benefits depends on your moral compass (or lack thereof.)

What are some weird reasons you enjoy working remotely? Sound off in the comments to let us know.

The Accounting News Roundup newsletter is back! Every Friday you’ll get a recap of recent content posted on Going Concern, On This Date in Going Concern History, list of hot remote and hybrid accounting jobs, and more. Sign up here today.

The post 5 Weird Benefits of Ditching the Accounting Office and Working Remotely appeared first on Going Concern.

from Accounting News https://goingconcern.com/5-weird-benefits-working-remotely-rem-emp/

[lisarprahl]

5 Weird Benefits of Ditching the Accounting Office and Working Remotely

Spend more time with family. Lose the commute. Work flexible hours. Wear what you want.

By now you’re more than familiar with the typically-cited benefits of working remotely. So we’re not gonna write that article, because you can read that anywhere.

Instead, we’re gonna grab our trusty football bat, gather up some three-dollar bills, and get weird. Here are some of the stranger reasons to ditch the office and work remotely:

1) Develop stronger relationships with your local food delivery people

Working from home affords you the schedule flexibility to go grocery shopping more often and prepare delicious, nutritious meals for the entire family every night. Or you can have a leisurely lunch at a nice restaurant, taking your time to enjoy yourself rather than grabbing a sandwich and rushing back to the office.

But if you’re like me, you won’t do either of those things. One of the greatest benefits of working remotely is not having to leave the house. And why would you ruin all of that nice-not-leaving-the-houseness by leaving the house to get food?

Instead, you’ll order delivery. A lot. And you won’t be alone. Some company called Cowen predicted a 79% surge in the total U.S. food delivery market by 2022, from $43 billion to $76 billion, for whatever that’s worth.

DoorDash, Grubhub, CitySpree, Eat24, Jimmy John’s, and whatever pizza and Chinese joints are close to your house–these are your new best friends. As you use them more often, you’ll begin to know the delivery drivers by name.

This can lead to new friendships or, if you’ve got game like Jesus Shuttlesworth, a blossoming romance. Just invite them in to play Xbox and see where it goes. Hopefully not toward a restraining order.

2) Work at whatever trendy nonsense desk configuration that is supposedly good for you without anyone laughing

First it was the bouncy ball seat, but we all know what happened to that.

Now there’s the standing desk which, according to the experts at Healthline, decreases your risk of weight gain, lowers your blood sugar (and that’s … good?), shrinks your risk of heart disease, prevents back pain, improves your mood and energy levels, boosts productivity, and even makes you live longer.

I mean, whatever. They could say standing at my desk all day would make 1,000 swimsuit models magically materialize in my room, and I’d still be too lazy to do it.

I’ve seen someone using a standing desk exactly once, and my reaction was, “What a courageous guy. Here’s a man who’s so dedicated to his health and virility, he’s taken the trouble to jack up his desk and is willing to stand all day no matter what his coworkers think.”

Just kidding. My first thought was, “This guy looks like an idiot.”

But when you work from home, you don’t have to worry about judgmental glares from jerks like me. You can work while standing up, doing the crab walk, or hanging from the ceiling like Tom Cruise in that one movie that was OK but really confusing, but at least it spawned a great series of sequels. And no one will ever know.

Except you. You’ll know. You’ll always know.

3) Play the afternoon game of HQ Trivia

I can’t find any current user stats about the smartphone app phenomenon HQ Trivia. Best I can do is this article from January 2018 about them breaking their record with 1.2 million users in a single game. I know from personal experience they’ve since shattered that number, with more than 2 million playing in some of the higher-dollar games.

While mostly known for its prime-time 8 p.m. show featuring the Quiz Daddy, the Trap Trebek, the Host Malone, the Quiz Khalifa, Scott Rogowsky, the service also runs a daily afternoon show at 3 p.m. ET. If thinking, “They used to have an afternoon show but they got rid of it,” you’ve just been eliminated–while HQ Trivia took its tea time game off the schedule for awhile, it’s back now (and dumber than ever, with easier questions and just eight answers required to win).

It’s safe to say that the greatest problem facing the American office worker over the last several months has been the inability to play the 3 p.m. HQ Trivia game, at least not without hiding in the bathroom for 15 minutes.

But when you work remotely, the trivia world is your oyster. You can play every day, racking up prizes of literally singles of dollars. Perhaps enough to tip your food delivery driver, if nothing else.

4) Avoid long lines at the movies

There’s a clip from “Seinfeld” where Jerry says this better than I can, but I can’t find it so here goes:

I hate saving movies for people.

The idea that you’re supposed to wait until a friend or loved one is available to go with you to see a movie is appalling to me. I just don’t have the patience for it. When I’m ready to see the movie, I’m ready to see the movie. If someone else is available to go with me, that’s great. But if not, I’ll happily go by myself.

I’m not totally without a sense of social shame, though. When I go to the movies by myself, I like to go in the afternoon. That way there’s less of a chance of being spotted by someone I know.

When you work from home, you can see movies during the day. You can avoid long lines and big crowds and truly enjoy the movie. And if you did promise to wait to see it with someone else, you can always lie to them and go see it again.

5) Abuse your home office privileges to avoid spending time with your family

Many remote workers with families set strict policies about their in-home working space. When Mommy or Daddy is in the office with the door shut, no one is to come in unless it’s an emergency. This allows you to concentrate on your work without the fear of constant interruption.

But there’s nothing in the rulebook that says you can’t go into the office, shut the door, and play Candy Crush for four hours. That’s mostly because a remote work rulebook doesn’t exist yet, but semantics.

The point is, having an in-home sanctuary from the rest of the family offers benefits outside of work. Whether you choose to take advantage of those benefits depends on your moral compass (or lack thereof.)

What are some weird reasons you enjoy working remotely? Sound off in the comments to let us know.

The Accounting News Roundup newsletter is back! Every Friday you’ll get a recap of recent content posted on Going Concern, On This Date in Going Concern History, list of hot remote and hybrid accounting jobs, and more. Sign up here today.

The post 5 Weird Benefits of Ditching the Accounting Office and Working Remotely appeared first on Going Concern.

from Accounting News https://goingconcern.com/5-weird-benefits-working-remotely-rem-emp/

[accountancyandtaxupdate-blog]

IFS says budget shows UK 'in danger of losing two decades of earnings growth' - Politics live

Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, including reaction to the budget, Philip Hammond’s morning interviews and the Institute for Fiscal Studies’ post-budget briefing.Philip Hammond’s morning interviews - SummaryLunchtime summary 2.08pm GMTHere is the IFS presentation on “Consequences of the economic downgrade” (pdf).Here is the presentation on “Public spending: Delaying the squeeze” (pdf). 2.01pm GMTHere are the key points from Paul Johnson’s presentation at the IFS.[The forecasts] now suggest that GDP per capita will be 3.5% smaller in 2021 than forecast less than two years ago in March 2016. That’s a loss of £65 billion to the economy. Average earnings look like they will be nearly £1,400 a year lower than forecast back then, still below their 2008 level. We are in danger of losing not just one but getting on for two decades of earnings growth.Yet this is not the end of “austerity”. Not by a long chalk. There are still nearly £12 billion of welfare cuts to work through the system, while day-to-day public service spending is still due to be 3.6% lower in 2022–23 than it is today. Excluding health the cut for the rest of public services is over 6% - to keep this spending constant in per capita terms spending would need to be £13 billion higher in 2022-23 than currently planned. Day to day spending on public services outside of the NHS is due to fall by yet another 7% over the next five years. In truth I would be amazed if that actually happened. The last few years have been marked by constant (small) upgrades to implausibly tight spending plans to avoid problems in prisons, social care and now health. There will almost inevitably be more such top ups in the years ahead.While the public pay cap has been lifted no additional money has yet been allocated and the Treasury is committed to providing extra money only for nurses. Given the spending constraints, other public sector workers should not be holding their breath in anticipation of an inflation busting, or perhaps even 1% busting, pay rise.The trouble with lower projected growth rates though is that they imply debt being higher over time for any given level of borrowing. Debt fell rapidly after the second world war whilst we still ran modest deficits because nominal growth was strong. The sorts of modest growth rates currently expected imply that, if we were to maintain the deficit at the just over 1% of national income projected for the early 2020s, it would take us until well past 2060s for debt to fall to its pre-crisis levels of 40% of national income. That assumes no recessions for the next half century.Suppose we do get 300,000 new homes a year. Might that reverse the fall in home ownership among the younger generation? It’s important to think clearly here. That fall up to now is not because young people are living nowhere, it’s because they are renting from older people who have bought properties to rent out because that provides a good return. Older, richer people might continue to buy these new properties. They will stop doing so only when they take the view that the return in terms of rent and capital gain is not worth their while – the consumption value of housing needs to rise relative to its investment value. That’s how the actuality and promise of more house building can tip the scales in favour of younger buyers.It’s also important to think clearly about the impact of stamp duty. The OBR has said that the price faced by first time buyers might rise twice as much as the saving in stamp duty. Stamp duty cuts do lead to price rises. The price rise can be bigger than the duty cut in part because properties are transacted multiple times and in part because of the leverage effect – if I pay £1 less in stamp duty I can put down £1 more deposit, meaning I can obtain a larger mortgage. So the £1 cut allows me to spend more than £1 more on a house.But this does not mean first time buyers are worse off as a result. They are in general better off. Instead of paying, say, £100,000 for £98,000 worth of house plus £2,000 of tax they might be paying £102,000 for £102,000 worth of house. That’s a better outcome for them.The economic impact wrapped up in [the OBR] forecasts is the same as they made a year ago based on what they describe as some fairly “broad brush” assumptions. Just to recap on what the OBR said a year ago. Their view then, accepted by government, was that the Brexit vote would result in a £15 billion a year deterioration in the public finances. They have not changed that judgment. The additional slow down in this year’s forecasts are not put down to Brexit. 1.22pm GMTIFS #Budget2017 analysis. Yesterday’s Budget was more about the OBR’s forecasts than it was the Chancellor’s policy decisions. The forecasts for productivity, earnings and economic growth make pretty grim reading. https://t.co/ifNr9iQbv8 pic.twitter.com/8mgCi2n3yWIFS #Budget2017 analysis. Before any policy changes, borrowing is now forecast to be £12 billion higher in 2021–22 than was forecast in March. The Chancellor’s response was not to turn the fiscal screws even tighter. https://t.co/ifNr9iQbv8 pic.twitter.com/ManfgrecVzIFS #Budget2017 analysis. This is not the end of “austerity”. There are still nearly £12 billion of welfare cuts to work through the system, while day-to-day public service spending is still due to be 3.6% lower in 2022–23 than it is today. https://t.co/ifNr9iQbv8 pic.twitter.com/05eWvZ9LFGThe UK is currently growing more slowly than other advanced economies. The immediate effects on households are already being felt. IFS #Budget2017 analysis - read more here https://t.co/ifNr9iQbv8 pic.twitter.com/f95qU8uhVY 1.19pm GMTThe Institute for Fiscal Studies post-budget briefing has started.Here is the text of the opening remarks from Paul Johnson, the director. 1.17pm GMTIn the Commons John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, has just finished his speech opening today’s debate on the budget. He ended by saying that the government was so chaotic that it would be better for ministers to “go with dignity” than carry on like this. Sajid Javid, the communities secretary, is responding now, and doesn’t seem inclined to take up McDonnell’s proposal. 1.09pm GMTThe Labour MP Ivan Lewis has been suspended from the party while sexual harassment allegations are being investigated, ITV’s Amber de Botton reports. Labour spox: “The Labour Party takes all allegations of sexual harassment extremely seriously. Ivan Lewis is currently suspended from the Labour Party pending an investigation.” 12.55pm GMTYes. The chancellor did a very good job yesterday ...What the chancellor was doing was setting out how we will ensure we have an economy fit for the future. Both the chancellor and I agree that what the Budget was about was about jobs for people up and down the country. It’s about ensuring that people are in work. 12.44pm GMTAsked about the leaked Irish government document saying EU ministers and officials aren’t impressed by the government’s handling of the Brexit talks (see 10.31am), a Downing Street spokesman said: “I don’t comment on leaked documents. The government is working hard on preparations for Brexit.” 12.28pm GMT 12.16pm GMTDavid Gauke, the work and pensions secretary, is making a statement to MPs giving more details of the changes to universal credit announced in the budget yesterday. My colleague Peter Walker has the key points.Small print of universal credit changes in budget being explained to Commons by David Gauke:• end of 7-day waiting period won't happen till February• 2-week extension of housing benefit to reduce rent arrears won't happen till April. 12.03pm GMTLast week, when MPs were debating the EU withdrawal bill, they voted down an amendment tabled by the Green MP Caroline Lucas that would have transferred the EU protocol on animal sentience set into UK law, thereby guaranteeing that animals would continue to be recognised as sentient beings under UK law. It was defeated by 313 votes to 295.The government said it was opposed to the amendment because it was unnecessary and potentially confusing. Dominic Raab, the justice minister, told MPs that animal sentience was “already recognised as a matter of domestic law, primarily in the Animal Welfare Act 2006”.It has been suggested that the vote last week on new clause 30 of the EU withdrawal bill somehow signalled a weakening in the protection of animals - that is wrong. Voting against the amendment was not a vote against the idea that animals are sentient and feel pain - that is a misconception.Ministers explained on the floor of the house that this government���s policies on animal welfare are driven by our recognition that animals are indeed sentient beings and we are acting energetically to reduce the risk of harm to animals – whether on farms or in the wild. The vote against new clause 30 was the rejection of a faulty amendment, which would not have achieved its stated aims of providing appropriate protection for animals.Once we have left the EU there is even more we could do. EU rules prevent us from restricting or banning the live export of animals for slaughter. EU rules also restrict us from cracking down on puppy smuggling or banning the import of puppies under 6 months. Article 13 [the relevant EU law] has not stopped any of these practices – but leaving the EU gives us the chance to do much better. We hope to say more in these areas next year. 11.31am GMTIn the Commons just now the Lib Dem MP Tom Brake asked about the leaked Irish government document saying EU ministers and officials are unimpressed by Britain’s handling of Brexit. (See 10.31am.) Brake said the report painted a “rather unflattering picture of the UK government’s negotiating skills” and he asked for a debate on the government’s incompetence.Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the Commons, urged Brake “to stop talking the country down”. She went on:We are extremely optimistic about the prospects for the UK as we leave the EU and his constant pessimism is not helping. 11.11am GMTDonations to the Conservatives in three months to the end of September outstripped those to all the other political parties, according to the latest official figures. As the Press Association reports, the Electoral Commission said the Tories reported receiving donations of £3,701,470 in the third quarter of 2017, despite having lost their Commons majority in the general election earlier in the year. Labour declared donations of £1,739,580 over the same period with the Co-operative Party receiving a further £30,000. Despite their disappointing showing in the election, the Liberal Democrats received £610,444 while the SNP was given £44,039, Ukip £35,640 and the Green party £26,550, PA reports. 11.08am GMTThe Conservatives have also criticised John McDonnell for not being able to say how much Labour’s borrowing plans would add to the annual debt repayment bill. (See 10.07am.) They put out this statement from Steve Barclay, the economic secretary to the Treasury.Labour refuse to come clean on how much taxpayers would have to pay for their borrowing binge. Labour would add hundreds of billions more to the country’s debt, meaning higher taxes on workers and less money for our schools and hospitals. 11.05am GMTIn the Commons Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the Commons, has just announced the dates for the final five days of debate on the EU withdrawal bill’s committee stage. They are all in December, with last one on Wednesday 20 December, the day before the Commons rises for the Christmas recess.Leader of the House announces we’ll basically being doing the #EUWithdrawalBill all day everyday to Christmas :Day 4 – Mon 4Day 5 – Weds 6Day 6 – Tues 12Day 7 – Weds 13Day 8 – Weds 20 (Final of Committee)Remaining Stages in the New Year 10.31am GMTThe Irish broadcast RTE has got hold of an internal report written by the Irish foreign ministry summing up what EU ministers and officials have been telling its diplomats about Britain’s handling of the Brexit negotiations. Europe is not impressed, the RTE report says. It says the report paints “a negative and deeply unflattering picture of Britain’s performance in the Brexit negotiations”. Here’s an excerpt.The opinions voiced by EU ministers and senior officials to Irish diplomats reflect widespread pessimism and even scorn about the British government’s negotiating position.Some EU figures talk of “chaos” in the British government. 10.15am GMTSir Vince Cable, the Lib Dem leader, has criticised John McDonnell for not being able to say how much Labour’s borrowing plans would add to annual debt repayments. (See 10.07am.) Cable said:It’s worrying that the shadow chancellor hasn’t done his sums. Or perhaps he has done his sums and he realises they’re so horrendous that he’s unwilling to acknowledge that his version of a Labour government would put the country into financial difficulties. We start from a bad position. The budget warned of increased borrowing, dependent on the ‘kindness of strangers’. A Labour government focused on massive nationalisation would make things even worse. 10.07am GMTJohn McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, has also been giving interviews this morning. The most striking moment came when he he got involved in a tetchy exchange with Today’s Mishal Husain who asked him repeatedly how much extra it would cost the government every year to service the national debt under Labour’s plans for extra borrowing.McDonnell said the cost would be “minimal”, but he could not put a figure on it, and claimed that the question was “trite”.MH: Yesterday when you were asked about the amount that it costs us at the moment to service our debt, you struggled. What I want to ask you is do you have a figure for how much more it would cost to service our debt every year under Labour?JM: The type of journalism where you go into an interview and someone asks you a question on a particular figure, to be honest, is a trite form of journalism. That’s why we have iPads, and that’s why I have advisers, etc. So let’s get back to the reality of this ...The Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell says debt incurred by borrowing to increase productivity would "pay for itself" over the long-term https://t.co/GutOOFQqEn #r4todayWeirdest thing is that we asked him on Budget special prog yday and he didn’t know, but then we discussed the figure - not to be familiar with it this morning seems odd https://t.co/IuFByMDM1r 9.21am GMTHere are the main points from Philip Hammond’s morning interviews.This is a fascinating new technology. It is going to revolutionise our lives, it is going to revolutionise the way we work. And for some people this will be very challenging. It will happen, I can promise you. It is happening already. Cars are driving around our roads at the moment with a safety attendant on board with the car driving itself ...We have said by 2021 we want to see on Britain’s roads genuine driverless vehicles. Things like this will transform the productivity of our economy. The challenge for us is making sure that the million-odd people in the UK who drive for a living, over the next 10, 20 years or so, as driverless vehicles come in, are able to retrain and reskill so they can take up the many, many new jobs that this economy will be throwing up.We always understood that as we went through this process of negotiation with the EU there would be uncertainty about the outcome. When you are in a negotiation you never know what the outcome is going to be.As we move forward into 2018 I hope we will get increasing clarity about how these negotiations are going to move forward, an increasing sense that we are getting on and doing Brexit, and as we get that sense of clarity and sense of movement I think confidence will return, certainty about the future will return, businesses will start investing, consumers will start buying big ticket consumer items again and that will help to get our economy growing again faster.No, not at all. The UK economy is fundamentally strong. The growth figures for the next few years are disappointing, we have got to try and outperform those forecasts that we saw yesterday, but they do show growth picking up towards the end of the period. Of course we could get the deficit down more quickly, but that would mean cutting public spending, it would mean squeezing the economy harder, it would mean putting up taxes. We have taken the judgment that it is better to take a little bit longer to get the deficit down and ease up on families a little bit.I’m focused on getting this done.I take the world as it is. We are leaving the European Union and that has certain consequences and we need to prepare for those consequences. We need to make sure that we make a success of this. And that is the government’s number one priority. @BBCr4today Humphrys to Hammond: “you’re too gloomy”. Hammond: “no, I’m not.” Humphrys: “but you’re a remainer!” Great forensic analysis there as we collectively head for disaster. 8.55am GMTSky’s Faisal Islam has noticed this detail from Philip Hammond’s speech yesterday.Chancellor at Budget yesterday:“Britain is the world’s sixth largest economy”PM, to Lord Mayor’s Dinner, last week:“We are the fifth biggest economy in the world” pic.twitter.com/jVsyWo0f9NSo the Treasury officially recognises that the post Brexit vote sterling devaluation/ slower 2017 growth has this year relegated total UK GDP from 5th place behind France into 6th 8.52am GMTQ: Why was Jeremy Corbyn so angry in the Commons chamber yesterday?Hammond says that is what Corbyn does. He is “Mr Angry from Islington”. 8.45am GMTQ: Is £3bn enough for Brexit planning?Hammond says that is what he thinks he will need.But if we need more, we will find more. 8.43am GMTQ: Do we set too much store by the OBR?Hammond says he has to respond to their forecasts. People would complain if he ignored them. We are not going back to the days when the government wrote its own growth forecasts, as it did under Gordon Brown. 8.41am GMTNick Ferrari is interviewing Philip Hammond now on LBC.He starts by asking about the stamp duty cut, saying it has had a good reception from callers on his programme. But what about the OBR critique? Hammond repeats the point he made earlier. (See 8.07am.) 8.38am GMTThe Resolution Foundation has just issued this press release about its budget analysis, Freshly Squeezed.NEW RF Overnight Budget analysis - Britain on course for longest fall in living standards since records began over 60 years ago https://t.co/jGcxFfVsFUFollowing years of incremental changes, yesterday the OBR handed down the mother of all economic downgrades pushing up borrowing for the Treasury.While Philip Hammond chose to take a relaxed approach to additional borrowing, families are unlikely to do so when it comes to the deeply troubling outlook for their living standards that the Budget numbers set out. Families are now projected to be in the early stages of the longest period of continuous falls in disposable incomes in over 60 years – longer even than that following the financial crisis. 8.29am GMTQ: You had a lot of jokes in the speech.Hammond says it was a long speech, and some of it was technical. Jokes help liven it up, he says. 8.28am GMTQ: Is is true you wanted to do a photo opportunity with a driverless car but were told not to, because it would look like a metaphor?No, says Hammond. It’s a good story, but not true. 8.26am GMTQ: What will the £3bn for Brexit planning be spent on?Hammond says most of it will be spend on departmental preparations. For example, Defra will need to set up a new system for registering animal movements between the UK and the EU. 8.23am GMTQ: What are you going to do about people hoarding land but not building on it?Hammond says he is setting up a review. 8.22am GMTHumphrys asks about the story about a firm set up by Hammond sitting on land with planning permission that it is not using.Hammond says he has nothing to do with the company now. There are strict rules about this, he says. It would be wrong for him to be involved. 8.20am GMTQ: The OBR says your stamp duty cut will not help first-time buyers.Hammond says the OBR did a specific piece of modelling. They looked at cutting stamp duty without doing anything else. (It is the point he made on BBC News earlier - see 8.07am.) 8.19am GMTQ: The Resolution Foundation says wages will not return to their pre-crash peak until the middle of the next decade.Hammond says you can only generate higher wages by improving productivity. 8.17am GMTQ: Our productivity is still desperate. We have not been able to get a grip on it. You have been in power for seven years. Why haven’t you done something about this?Hammond says the country was facing a fiscal and economic crisis after the crash. 8.12am GMTJohn Humphrys is interviewing Philip Hammond.Q: Do you ever think there is no point? Chancellors make predictions and they don’t come true. 8.07am GMTPhilip Hammond’s budget seems to have “landed” well, as they say in Westminster lingo. The Tory-leaning papers like it, and no-one has identified a policy so flawed it that it will have to be abandoned (as happened in the last three budgets). One of the biggest problems is the fact that the Office for Budget Responsibility says says Hammond’s stamp duty cut for first-time buyers will just push up prices, so that sellers end up gaining more than buyers. But Hammond, who has been doing a round of interviews this morning, has dismissed this criticism. He told the BBC:The OBR looked at a particular narrow question - if you reduce stamp duty and don’t do anything else what would happen? But we have not done ‘nothing else’, we have introduced a very big package, £15bn of extra money going in on top of the billions we are already spending on housing to increase the number of houses that we build in this country. Related: Budget 2017: Hammond masks gloomy outlook with stamp duty cut Continue reading...

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2017/nov/23/budget-2017-hamnmond-dismisses-claim-stamp-duty-cut-will-just-push-up-prices-politics-live

[zhindian]

The judgment Day 2022 Recap: Part 12

Time to get back on track with my recaps. It’s time for Finn vs Edge in an I Quit Match!

Extreme Rules 2022: “You taught us too well!”

This match basically two parts. First with Edge and Finn battling it out by themselves, then the second part when Rey and the Judgment Day come in. The first part of the match is decent, as Edge and Finn go all over the area to get each other to quit. The match really picks up when JD comes to the aid of Finn, who looked like he was about to quit.

Notes: The only official clip regarding this match is Dominik getting kicked in the nuts by Edge. 🤣 I mean I get it, but lol

I loved Finn’s entrance. Especially his mask.

Rhea handcuffed Edge to the ropes, which had me wondering how Dom fits into all that at the time.

One thing I love about JD is their timing. Look at how Dom and Priest enter the ring and then rise with Finn to confront a handcuffed Edge. It really shows how in sync they are as a faction.

Rey comes out help Edge, but gets thwarted by Dom, who finally starts attacking him. This accentuated a lot of things in this storyline:

Rey coming to the aid of Edge, thereby proving Dom’s point about him.

Dominik finally beats Rey’s ass, instead of just blocking him. We get to see Rhea being so happy (peep her clap and smile) about it as she obviously proud ike a proper domme should be. Dom beat Rey so bad here we didn’t see him for the rest of the match.

“What is wrong with you! He’s your father for God’s sake!” Michael Cole’s disgust at Dom comes out in full force, and we still see it to this day. You could just feel the anger from Cole to Dom, and really solidifies how much of a heel Dom is, and not just someone following the wrong people.

Beth finally has enough and comes to the aid of Edge, taking out Priest and Finn. Dom’s chicken shit heel tactics fully evolve here, as he provides just enough of a distraction for Rhea to step into the ring to go against Beth.

The face off between Rhea and Beth is legendary. They spar for a bit until Beth spears Rhea, and gets the handcuff key to free Edge.

Edge takes out Finn and Priest again, and Dom’s chickenshit heel persona tries to get Edge to spar him, but to no avail, leading to the clip above. “Take that you brat!” - Cole

Edge then tries to take out Finn, but Rhea hits Beth from behind with brass knuckles. This leads to JD to swarming Edge, leading Finn to hit numerous coup de grace on him. Edge still doesn’t say I quit. Only when Rhea threatened to conchairto an unconscious Beth is when Edge says I quit, giving Finn the win.

And of course, Rhea conchairto’d Beth anyway. Peep Beth twitching after it.

Completely random, but I love Dom Dom’s selling. He continued to sell that nut shot by Edge through the finish of the match and beyond. Usually wrestlers will sell it for a bit and then don’t. But not Dom. When he sells, he sells.

That’s it for Part 12 of the recap! Next part soon!

[zhindian]

The Judgement Day 2022 Recap: Part 13

It’s the Monday Night Raw after Extreme Rules, where the Judgment Day forced Edge to say I Quit, and Beth was conchairto’d anyways.

But JD has some unfinished business with Rey Mysterio, and the JD gets a surprise of their own.

Monday Night Raw 10/10/22 - A New Challenger Appears

First off, Rey has a match against Chad Gable, but Dom and Rhea make a appearance during the match. Rey wins the match, but…

Notes:I loved this Raw for Judgment Day. It puts Edge, Beth and Rey to rest for awhile, and spins up future feuds for JD.

Peep Rhea’s Beth armband 🤣

Peep Rhea and Rey’s face when Dom slaps the taste out of Rey’s mouth 👀

Saints Row Finn Balor attacking Rey again 🤣

Dom once again fully attacking his father. He now fully trying to get Rey to fight him, but Rey refuses. Check out the little tantrum stomp Dom does when Rey once again refuses to fight him.

You can hear Finn and Damian goading Rey to fight Dom in the background.

When Rey decides to walk away, Dom attacks him from behind, and tells Rhea to hold him. This is the start of that vicious (and assertive) side of Dom that comes out from time to time. I fully expect this side of him to start coming out more and more as I think Prison Dom is a way for them to slowly transition from being completely chickenshit to a more vicious side. He probably won’t be a fully vicious heel, and he’ll still be in that distraction role for JD, but when it comes a time for Dom to bust out that side of himself, it’s going to shock people.

We also get the start of Papa Finn here. When Dom is gearing up for the 619, you can hear Finn proudly yelling “that’s my boy!” 🥰

A crying Rey would then go to Smackdown.

But wait! We’re not done! JD has to recap their victory over Edge and…

Notes: I love it when Judgment Day do group hugs 🥰

Finn is too legit to quit 🤭

Rhea showing of the Beth armband lol

Apparently seeing women get conchairto’d is a such a turn on for Dominik. Things are really starting to make sense. Oh yeah, I still believe this popped the ratings. 🤭

Again I am intrigued that everyone but Dom has taken a knee 🤔

Dom Dom: Talk shit, get hit

I love how JD regroups after being attacked by the OC and AJ. Damian, Rhea, and Dom go through the crowd to cover Finns retreat. And unlike most heel factions, no one gets left behind. They either celebrate victories together or they lick wounds together.

That’s it for this recap! Back soon!

[zhindian]

Judgment Day 2022 Recap: Part 10

While I take a break from creating that Judgment Day Discord server (which is killing me because I’m such a fucking perfectionist), here’s another recap!

Following the vicious beatdown of Edge and Rey Mysterio, the Judgment Day revel in their sucess.

This Raw was epic. The previous Raw solidified JD as bonafide vicious heels, and corrected their course.

Monday Night Raw 9/19/22: Nuclear Latino Heat

Notes: Riddle was so unserious here. Rey was having a heartfelt promo about Dom, then here comes Riddle and his bro shtick. Bro, really?

This Judgment Day entrance here is my favorite. It was the first time they came out as a group, we see them jelling as a family(see Finn grabbing Dom lol), they were on point with their music, just everything was perfect.

Favorite Corey Graves quite: “I think Dominik’s punching above his weight class! I’m high fiving him every chance I get!” 🤣

Rhea starts her ringside whisper in Dom’s ear here, and we see his response. Smiling, or not when it’s serious.

We see Dom’s place in the group here as well. He’s always between Finn and Rhea, and at ringside he gets Rhea’s arm around him possessively.

Before the JD promo even starts, peep Finn staring at the audience as the boos rain down. He looks almost offended. 🤣

The JD rain praises on to Dom Dom here, pretty much saying he’s the missing ingredient. Some thought this was too much at the time, but looking at how things are now, he really was. Plus this figures into the family aspect of JD, they were welcoming Dom into the family.

I’ve always found it strange Dom didn’t take a knee here. Maybe that will happen in due time.

As soon as Don tries to speak, he’s booed out of the building. It was so loud that night, it set off Apple’s decibel warnings! Dom to this day still carries this type of heat, and no it’s not go away heat.

Finn: I’m having a moment here 🤣

We get family photo time, and the photo is now on a JD Christmas shirt 🤣

Riddle and Rey then come out to start the match.

Notes: Rey Mysterio 🤝 unfortunate gear choices. Name a more iconic duo.

This was a good match showing the start that every member of Judgment Day will interfere on each others behalf.

We get Rhea doing an awesome back duplex on Riddle here.

Dom starts the hit me schtick with Rey here. Dom keeps goad Rey to fight him, and Rey won’t. This will come back to bite Rey many times, as this time it provides a distraction for Finn to advantage of.

Dom also calls Rey a pussy for not fighting him here as well 👀

Finn and Priest win after a coupe de grace in Rey. We get a family group hug moment, with more to follow in the future.

There was another promo featuring Finn and AJ, but I’ll save that for the next part. On to the next!