#lawyer in amsterdam

[attorneyinthenetherlands]

Debt collection in Amsterdam

Debt Collection in Amsterdam: Navigating Legal and Cultural Complexities

Amsterdam, known for its rich cultural heritage and bustling business environment, presents unique challenges in the realm of debt collection. This article delves into debt collection in Amsterdam and these challenges, offering insights into the legal, cultural, and strategic aspects of debt recovery in this dynamic city.

What Sets Amsterdam's Debt Collection Apart?

Amsterdam’s debt collection landscape is shaped by its international business environment and stringent Dutch legal regulations. This dual influence requires a nuanced approach to debt recovery, blending legal precision with an understanding of diverse business cultures. For an in-depth analysis, visit Maak Law's comprehensive guide on debt collection in Amsterdam.

Why Prioritize Timely Debt Recovery?

Timely debt recovery is critical in maintaining cash flow and business relationships. Delays can have far-reaching effects, disrupting not only individual businesses but entire supply chains. The significance of timely action in debt recovery is well-articulated in Maak Law’s exploration of debt recovery in the Netherlands.

The Impact of Dutch Legal Framework on Debt Collection

The Dutch legal framework for debt collection provides a well-balanced approach. It respects the rights of both creditors and debtors, ensuring fair and equitable treatment. The complexities of this legal framework and its implications for debt collection are discussed at Maak Law.

First Steps in Effective Debt Collection

The journey of debt collection begins with the issuance of a demand letter. This initial step is more than a formal requirement; it’s a strategic move that sets the tone for the entire process. The art of crafting an effective demand letter is detailed at Maak Law.

When Does Amicable Debt Collection Escalate to Litigation?

While amicable solutions are always the first course of action, litigation becomes necessary when negotiations fail. The transition from negotiation to litigation in Amsterdam requires a comprehensive understanding of the legal process, as outlined in Maak Law's article on Dutch debt litigation.

The Role of Cultural Understanding in Debt Collection

Amsterdam’s multicultural landscape demands a keen understanding of cultural nuances in debt collection. Recognizing and respecting these cultural differences can be as crucial as legal knowledge in achieving successful outcomes. This cultural aspect is further explored in Maak Law’s insights on international debt collection.

Legal Expertise in Complex Debt Collection Cases

In cases involving high stakes or cross-border elements, legal expertise becomes invaluable. The role of legal professionals in navigating the intricacies of Dutch and international laws in debt collection is emphasized in Maak Law's overview of cross-border debt recovery.

Risks of Self-Managed Debt Collection

Attempting debt collection without professional assistance can lead to significant pitfalls. The risks associated with DIY debt collection, including legal missteps and inefficiencies, are highlighted in Maak Law’s discussion of Dutch debt collection processes.

Technology’s Role in Modernizing Debt Collection

The integration of technology in debt collection brings efficiency and transparency. Automated systems, data analytics, and online platforms are revolutionizing the process. The impact of these technological advancements in Amsterdam’s debt collection practices is examined in Maak Law’s review of advanced debt collection techniques.

Emerging Trends in Amsterdam’s Debt Collection Industry

The debt collection industry in Amsterdam is evolving, with a growing emphasis on international collaboration and technological innovation. These trends are shaping the future of debt collection in the city, aligning it with global business practices. For more on these trends, visit Maak Law.

Understanding Amsterdam’s Diverse Business Environment

Amsterdam’s business environment is marked by its diversity, hosting companies from various industries and countries. This diversity demands a debt collection approach that is adaptable and sensitive to different business practices and regulations. Navigating this environment successfully requires a blend of local knowledge and international perspective, as detailed in Maak Law’s article on international debt collection.

Amsterdam debt collection lawyer

Remko Roosjen is a debt collection attorney in the Netherlands and creates close working relationships with clients, providing pragmatic solutions across on all legal matters in the Netherlands. Remko is a partner of our Dutch Debt Collection office in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. His specialist areas include Debt Recovery, Commercial Disputes & Contracts, including civil litigation, arbitration and mediation. Remko is a sharp, creative attorney with extensive experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants. Visit Remko's profile via the website or via his LinkedIn Profile.

[thewingedwalrus]

Still on my first time completing Dracula so maybe there's more info later, but honestly my favorite thing about Quincy so far is that he's ??? just here?? For no reason??

Everyone else has some kind of background. Arthur is a young lord who recently inherited his title. Jack runs an asylum. Johnathan is a newbie solicitor. Mina is from a background of moderate means and has been teaching herself solicitor's assistant type skills because she married Johnathan. Van Helsing is a professor/doctor/lawyer from Amsterdam.

And then there's Quincy! Quincy's profession is "Visiting American." His background is "From Texas."

Where in Texas? What does he do? Why is he in England?? How long has he been here???

Unimportant

He seems to spend most of his time conducting the very important business of hanging out with Arthur. At this point I'm half convinced Arthur went on some rich lordling sight-seeing trip to Texas, where he met Quincy and brought him home, like a guy who takes a wild animal from its natural habitat in a foreign country and keeps it as an exotic pet.

[queerasfact]

Happy birthday to Willem Arondeus!

Dutch resistance member Willem Arondeus was born on 22 August 1894. He was a writer and artist, and protected Jewish citizens during the Holocaust by forging them non-Jewish identity cards.

In an effort to prevent the cards from being checked against other records, Willem was involved with a plot to burn down the Amsterdam civil registry office, successfully destroying 800,000 identity cards. Those involved were betrayed and most of them were sentenced to death.

Before his execution on July 1st, 1943, Willem’s final request to his lawyer was to publicise that he and two of the other arrested men, Sjoerd Bakker and Johan Brouwer, were gay, and to share his final words:

“Tell the people that homosexuals are no cowards.”

Willem has been recognised by Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remebrace Centre, as a Righteous Among the Nations - the title given to non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.

Learn more

[Image: Willem c.1921]

[probablyasocialecologist]

Psychiatrist Meng-Chuan Lai has observed the recent rollout of laws restricting gender-affirming medical care in the United States with concern, he says. Some legislators have justified these bills, at least in part, by pointing to his work: In 2020, Lai co-authored a study that found transgender and other gender-diverse people are three to six times as likely to be autistic as cisgender people are. Lawyer Tom Rawlings, for example, says he read about Lai’s findings in Spectrum. Last spring, Rawlings helped draft Georgia’s Senate Bill 140, which passed in March and cites the overlap between autism and transness as one reason to ban gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy and surgery for minors. An Arkansas law that also passed in March similarly points to an autism diagnosis as grounds to withhold gender-affirming care from minors. And an “emergency rule” issued by Missouri’s attorney general in April — but terminated in May — would have mandated autism screening for anyone seeking gender-affirming care, including adults. Such policies are driven more by personal ideology than by anything his research suggests, says Lai, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto in Canada and a clinician at Toronto’s Center for Addiction and Mental Health. Researchers have known about the link for more than a decade. By one 2022 estimate, about 11 percent of trans people also have an autism diagnosis. “That research is real. We don’t dispute it,” says R. Larkin Taylor-Parker, legal director at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. “It’s been going on for years, and it’s been replicated in multiple studies.” What’s new, they say, is that politicians are misusing the link to argue that “autistic people are incapable of making decisions about our own care.” That misuse has some scientists trying to figure out if — and how — they should push back. Anna van der Miesen, a postdoctoral researcher at the VU University Amsterdam in the Netherlands who has researched the link between autism and transness, says that if your research data are used to pass laws, and “the actual study had nothing to do with the laws at all,” then it’s time to speak up. “We have a responsibility to communicate what the data says, and what it does not say, to the general public — and also to policymakers,” she says.

[ilikethisacompletelynormalamount]

Since Andrew is taking some well deserved time away from the public at the moment, let's revisit (or visit for the first time, if you're new here) this stunning photoshoot from Mr. Porter, October 2019, when he was doing press for Modern Love and his Ripley casting had just been announced (yes, it's taken that long for it to come out).

Mr Andrew Scott’s big brown eyes are open wide in amused disbelief. “That was not an Irish accent,” he says in his musical Irish brogue. “That was a West Country accent.” How embarrassing for an interviewer who thought to connect with her subject by lightly mocking Mr Ed Sheeran’s ­– again – not-Irish accent in his cameo in Mr Scott’s episode of Amazon’s upcoming anthology series, Modern Love. Panic sets in. “It’s all right,” he says, soothingly. “It’s all right. Accents are such funny things.”

You know what else is a funny thing? Sitting with Fleabag’s “hot priest” – 2019’s most unexpected sex symbol – in a wine bar in Bermondsey, southeast London, talking about vulnerability, romcoms and love stories. Or, to take another angle: sitting across the table from the deranged Jim Moriarty and letting him pick out a rosé. That tickles, too. Having Hamlet express the need for a mini-break in, he doesn’t know, Copenhagen? Amsterdam, maybe? Surreal.

But actually, Mr Scott, who is wearing what can only be described as a modified sweatsuit (shorts and a zip-up sweatshirt, no shirt beneath) after our photoshoot isn’t funny funny. No, Mr Scott is serious: reserved and contemplative, but with the energy of a theatre nerd who, every once in a while, rests his head in his hands, cupping his fingers around his eyes to form blinkers while he thinks about a question you’ve just asked. In this quiet wine bar. He’s not an evil murderer, an agent of a shadowy organisation, or an overly excited (wink) cleric. He’s just a nice guy who sympathises about the difficulty of parsing the subtleties of the many accents in the British Commonwealth (and beyond).

Mr Scott is still hot off his run in Fleabag, even though the show ran from March to April of this year. A few weeks ago, he received a GQ Men of the Year Award, and just a few weeks after that, was in Los Angeles at the Emmy Awards where Fleabag cleaned up, winning three awards.

Of course, this is not Mr Scott’s big break. He’s been in the business since moving from Dublin to London 20 years ago to pursue acting. His dad worked in employment, helping young people find the right careers and his mother was an art teacher. “They were definitely into following your passion and doing that for the rest of your life,” he says. “Rather than, ‘You should be a lawyer,’ or whatever the fuck.”

And this has been a year for Mr Scott’s passions. Aside from Fleabag, and an episode of Black Mirror that landed on Netflix this June, he’s making a poignant appearance in the aforementioned _Modern Love,_­ which will drop all at once on 18 October. A series of discreet episodes, each one features its own starry cast (Mr Dev Patel, Mr John Slattery, Ms Tina Fey, Ms Anne Hathaway and, of course, Mr Ed Sheeran, among others), based on the much-loved New York Times column from which it takes its name. Mr Scott’s episode, which co-stars Ms Olivia Cooke and Mr Brandon Kyle Goodman, is loosely based on an early column written by the sex-and-relationships writer Mr Dan Savage about the unusual experience he and his partner had with adoption. “It’s just a really sweet little story. It’s not about a romantic relationship,” he says, (many Modern Love entries are not). “It’s simply about the relationships between people.”

He’s also currently filming in Cardiff for the BBC TV series of His Dark Materials. And maybe there’s a Marvel movie in his future? “Oh, fuck. Completely false,” he says. “Someone said, ‘Are you going to be in a thing?’ I said, ‘No,’ and I said, ‘There have been discussions.’ And it’s like ‘Andrew Scott has been in discussions.’”

That’s what happens when suddenly everyone wants you – to use Twitter parlance – to run them over with your car. The Priest, unlike his other characters, was a sex symbol, one that wears the hell (forgive me, Father) out of a cassock. But who could be surprised that Mr Scott turned a priest into the “Hot Priest” simply by saying “kneel”? (If you don’t know what that means, stop reading now, watch the show, come back.) In fact, he has been making words positively drip with meaning for nearly a decade.

Consider Moriarty, the insane criminal puppet master Mr Scott played for six years across four seasons of the BBC’s Sherlock, opposite Mr Benedict Cumberbatch in the titular role. This particular Moriarty – Holmes’ famous nemesis, who has also been played by Messrs Orson Welles, John Huston and Sir Laurence Olivier – is indelible and utterly idiosyncratic. “If you’re going to do it, I don’t see there’s any point in doing it without putting your own stamp on it. I never look at any previous incarnations,” says Mr Scott. The result of this thinking – in Sherlock, at least – was a Moriarty who is all sing-song eeriness, molten physicality, and questionable cutaway collars. “He was quite theatrical; he was grotesque, sort of the archetypal villain,” he says. Archetypal, indeed: the role propelled him into the world of maniacal superfandom. He might not have received a dedicated stan nomenclature like his co-star (ahem, “Cumberbitches”), but the role made Mr Scott a household name.

Of course, establishing yourself as adept at playing evil incarnate probably leads to people wanting to cast you in more Moriarty-like roles. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yep, yeah,” he says, six times. “Yeah, exactly right,” (one more). “I turned down a lot. The shadow of that character took over for a little while.”  The craze got to be so tiresome that he asked the interviewer for a recent profile in The Guardian not to ask him about Moriarty at all (two years after he last appeared in the series). But now he sees a bigger picture, understands how being the object of abject obsession can be a good thing. “I think to answer your questions,” he says, tapping his fingers on the table, “it’s been really good fun.”

Mr Scott demurs when asked what it’s like to be the quencher of many thirsts on the internet. “People don’t say that to me. People don’t say, ‘Oh my God...” He shakes his head and trails off, perhaps in horror of what fans could be saying to him. It’s a little hard to believe that he wouldn’t be mobbed as he walks down the street. After all, one major British publication declared that Fleabag and the Priest were the only couple worth talking or tweeting about this year. (We guess Meghan and Harry, and Kim and Kanye can relax.)

“If I’m honest, it’s only really just starting to dawn on me, the global effect the show has had. People like a bit of transgression, they just do.” Any follower of his career, though, understands that it’s more than just good writing that makes him so very watchable (though good writing, is, politely, what he puts it down to). His chemistry is electric with Ms Phoebe Waller-Bridge, as it was electric with Mr Cumberbatch, and palpable even if you weren’t lucky enough to catch his rendition of Hamlet and – like this interviewer – had to watch a clip on YouTube.

Mr Scott’s character, Tobin, in Modern Love is the most subdued we might ever see him. There’s very little shouting, and none of the wide-eyed glaring that has defined his roles to date. Instead, he plays sweetly, quietly off a tiny baby, and tells goodnight stories to an adorable little girl. Perhaps this is a harbinger of softer roles to come. “I’d love to be in a romcom,” he says. “I love watching people fall in love, and how mad it is.” And yet: it was just announced that he will be playing Tom Ripley in a new adaptation of The Talented Mr Ripley. So much for avoiding the nutters.

“What always amazes me is how innocent we are as human beings,” he says, sidestepping yet another probing question about being so irresistible right now. “We are very easily manipulated by stories. If someone puts scary music behind someone and they’re told this person’s eyes are absolutely terrifying, you go: ‘Oh my God, that person is scary, and his eyes totally freak me out.’”

“But then,” he continues, “[you’re told] ‘the priest is hot, wait till you see him’. And then you look at his eyes in a very different way and it’s the manipulation of the storytelling. It literally changes your character.” Hmmm.

“The success is the writing,” he tries, again, to argue. But it’s hard to be convinced that an actor who’s hopped from one iconic character to another is simply lucky with writing. He sees he’s not getting anywhere and changes tack. “Acting is just a way of experimenting with different parts of myself. Vulnerability is something I’m really, really interested in. I think vulnerability is at the centre of every character I’ve ever played even if they don’t appear or present as vulnerable.”

Throughout this conversation, his eyes have flicked around the bar, and he pauses from time to time to comment on the other patrons. At one point, a woman is coughing so vehemently, he stops mid-sentence to remark, humorously, on whether she might be dying. Now, he spots something on the bar. “Oh my God, she’s reading Brené Brown.” We both turn to stare at the book.

“She writes a lot about vulnerability,” he explains, excited. “[Being vulnerable] is how you get ahead. I really, really strongly believe that. [Vulnerability is] strong, it’s really strong.”

Perhaps this is the secret we’ve been trying to distil about his appeal: Mr Scott uses vulnerability to bring us all into a space of fear or sadness or lust or anger with him so that every character he plays – whether it’s the hottest priest in London, a gay man in Brooklyn trying to become a father, or a murderous villain – thrums with the heartbreak that comes with being human.

“The more I work,” he continues, “the more I just think every story is in some way concerned with love – or the lack of it.” He smiles an earnest little smile and we both know this is the place to stop. “That’s the way life is,” he says. “It’s so fast and furious.”

https://www.mrporter.com/en-hk/journal/fashion/the-softer-side-of-mr-andrew-scott-1052122

[fakeoutbf]

so much for (tour)dust

european leg

magic 8 ball and piano medley songs sorted by date

color coded by album ● repeated songs in bold

tttyg ● futct ● ioh ● fad ● srar ● abap ● mania ● smfs

October 17 - Hala Torwar, Warsaw, Poland

Piano medley

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball song

- Bang the Doldrums (Alias: DUMB AND DUMBER)

October 18 - Sportovní hala Fortuna, Prague, Czechia

Piano medley

- I'm Like a Lawyer With the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off (Me & You)

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball song

- G.I.N.A.S.F.S.

October 20 - Mediolanum Forum di Assago, Assago, Italy

Piano medley

- What a Catch, Donnie

Magic 8 Ball song

- I Am My Own Muse

October 21 - Zenith, Munich, Germany

Piano medley

- What a Catch, Donnie

Magic 8 Ball song

- The Kintsugi Kid (Ten Years)

October 23 - Le Zénith, Paris, France

Piano medley

- Golden

- What a Catch, Donnie

Magic 8 Ball song

- The Kids Aren’t Alright (Alias: NUTELLA CREPES)

October 24 - AFAS Live, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Piano medley

- What a Catch, Donnie

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball song

- 27 (Alias: PUMPKIN)

October 25 - Vorst Nationaal / Forest National, Vorst / Forest, Belgium

Piano medley

- Golden

- What a Catch, Donnie

Magic 8 Ball song

- Sophomore Slump or Comeback of the Year

October 27 - First Direct Arena, Leeds, England

Piano medley

- I'm Like a Lawyer With the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off (Me & You)

Magic 8 Ball song

- Don't You Know Who I Think I Am?

October 28 - The OVO Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland

Piano medley

- What a Catch, Donnie

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball song

- Young Volcanoes (First time live since 2018) (Alias: MIKEY MYERSs)

October 29 - AO Arena, Manchester, England

Piano medley

- What a Catch, Donnie

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball song

- The (After) Life of the Party (Alias: ZEROOO)

October 31 - Utilita Arena Birmingham, Birmingham, England

Piano medley

- I'm Like a Lawyer With the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off (Me & You)

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball songs

- Halloween (Misfits cover) (Alias: DANZIG)

- You’re Crashing, but You’re No Wave (Alias: BEACH BOYS)

November 2 - The O2 Arena, London, England

Piano medley

- Mr. Blue Sky (Electric Light Orchestra cover)

- I’ve Got All This Ringing In My Ears and None On My Fingers

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball songs

- The (Shipped) Gold Standard (Live Debut) (Alias: SONIC THE HEDGEHOG)

- Young Volcanoes (Alias: SPOCK)

November 3 - The O2 Arena, London, England

Piano medley

- Don’t Stop Me Now (Queen cover)

- What a Catch, Donnie

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball songs

- What a Time to Be Alive (Full Band Live Debut)

- American Beauty / American Psycho (Tour Debut)

November 4 - Utilita Arena Cardiff, Cardiff, Wales

Piano medley

- I'm Like a Lawyer With the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off (Me & You)

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball song

- Our Lawyer Made Us Change the Name of This Song So We Wouldn't Get Sued (First time live since 2008)

November 6 - Rudolf Weber-Arena, Oberhausen, Germany

Piano medley

- What a Catch, Donnie

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball song

- Thriller (Tour Debut)

November 7 - Barclays Arena, Hamburg, Germany

Piano medley

- Just One Yesterday

- What a Catch, Donnie

Magic 8 Ball song

- Fame < Infamy

November 8 - Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany

Piano medley

- What a Catch, Donnie

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball songs

- XO

- G.I.N.A.S.F.S.

[spacemiyy]

The Fall by Albert Camus

Famous for his existential philosophy, novelist Albert Camus explores the nuances of human morality in "The Fall." Published in 1956, this reflective work continues to be a moving examination of guilt, accountability, and the essence of being. "The Fall" is narrated by Jean-Baptiste Clamence, a former Parisian lawyer who, through his monologue, draws readers into a disturbing confession. The story is set amid Amsterdam's smoky pubs and misty canals. Clamence reveals layers of moral dishonesty and compromise as he tells his life narrative. The central theme of Camus's book is responsibility. The transformation of Clamence from an accomplished advocate to a dejected and ethically bankrupt individual highlights the vulnerability of human virtue. Camus challenges human authenticity and the propensity to rationalize dubious behavior through Clamence's experiences and reflections.

The conflict over ethical obligations is among the novel's main topics. Readers are prompted to consider their own ethical bounds by Clamence's story. Camus challenges us to address the universal conundrum of human culpability as Clamence struggles with the consequences of his previous decisions. Furthermore, "The Fall" highlights Camus' philosophical investigation into the absurdity of life. Clamence's pessimistic outlook is similar to Camus's claim that there is no intrinsic meaning to existence and that people must navigate an aimless universe. As a literary mirror, "The Fall" challenges us to consider our moral compass. In his typically clear style, Camus challenges readers to face up to harsh realities about society conventions and human nature. Camus urges us to face the shadows that linger in each of our own souls through Clamence's confession.

To sum up, "The Fall" is a timeless reflection on the complexities of morality in humans. It is because of Camus's skill at telling stories and his deep understanding of philosophy that this book still has an impact on readers today. It invites us to look down into the depths of our own moral beliefs, which eventually leads to reflection and introspection.

[gusty-wind]

TUCKER CARLSON:

Ep. 97 Bob Amsterdam is an international human rights lawyer who’s been banned from Russia by Vladimir Putin. He says Ukraine is the single most repressive country he’s been to. “The idea it’s a democracy is a farce.” Once again, they’re lying to you and making you pay for it.

[liamlawsonlesbian]

tagged by @albonoooo, thank you, emy <33

what colour are your eyes?: brown (I used to say "chocolate brown" as a child)

tell me about your pets/your dream pet: my dog growing up was a shih tzu named merry (short for meriadoc, my family is incredibly nerdy) and he was the best boy in the world and thought he was a human. I would loooove a dog but the more realistic goal for my lifestyle atm is probably a rabbit

share some interesting fact about yourself: when I was 16 I was so hyperfixated on checking on certain actors/projects on imdb that when we had to do a challenge to be "closer to nature" for a creative writing project in 11th grade English, I wrote about trying to see how long I could give up imdb for (it was four days). My english teacher gave me an A but his only comment was a script for a conversation between me and Thoreau that ended w Thoreau saying "I'm going back to the woods"

what was the first fandom you were a part of?: hmmmm I was really intense about my interests from a very young age, but the first time I was part of an internet fandom in a participatory way was 1D

do you have any phobias?: I have an anxiety disorder but very few specific fears, weirdly

are you a picky eater? if so, what food can't you stand?: nope! I will try most things and have a pretty varied palate. I used to be a pretty snobby eater (which is NOT the same thing imo) but I've mostly gotten over that

do you eat the burger and fries at the same time or one after another?: usually mostly one after another, fries first, but I wouldn't say I'm strict about it

winter or summer: hmmmm see I really hate being overheated and don't mind being cold, so winter in a place where there are real seasons. but I grew up in a place where it's basically between 50F and 70F all year, so there I prefer summer bc I hate when it gets dark early

favourite fanfiction tropes: I love friends to lovers, I also love enemies to lovers.... basically I love any fic in which one character realizes they've been in love with a person they've been thinking about too much this whole time

are you studying or working? what do you study/is your job?: I'm a lawyer! I work for a law firm that does city attorney work for cities

what is the last country you visited: the netherlands, last february!! I went to amsterdam on a solo trip and I loved it so much

what country would you want to move to after retiring?: I think it really depends how my life turns out! but I would love to live in New Zealand at some point

who was your first crush?: this feels....difficult to answer in a concrete way bc of comphet lol but I'll say Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit

how did you get into f1 fandom?: @oscarpiastriwdc told me that I had to read the object in mirror series by @drivestraight at the beginning of May 2023 and then it was the Monaco gp and I decided to watch and well....here I am

no pressure tags for @formulahuh @piastrology @omigodyall @vegasgrandprix @argentinagp @chilegp if you haven't done it yet!

[abbygrabska]

Daleks In Manhattan

We step out of the Tardis.

“Where are we?” Martha asks.

“Ah, smell that Atlantic breeze. Nice and cold. Lovely. Martha, have you met my friend?” We look up to see the Statue of Liberty.

“Is that…? Oh my God! That’s the Statue of Liberty!”

“Gateway to the New World. ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to break free…’”

“That’s so brilliant. I’ve always wanted to go to New York. I mean the real New York, not the new, new, new, new, new…”

We walk to the edge of the island with a view of the Manhattan skyline. “Well, there’s the genuine article. So good they named it twice. Mind you, it was New Amsterdam originally. Harder to say twice. No wonder it didn’t catch on. New Amsterdam, New Amsterdam.” “I wonder what year it is, ‘cause look, the Empire State Building’s not even finished.” I point at the building in question.

“Work in progress. Still got a couple floors to go, and if I know my history, that makes the date somewhere around…” Martha picks a newspaper out of the trash, “November 1st, 1930.”

I take the paper from her, “You’re getting good at this.”

Martha starts talking again as I read the headline.

“I think our detour just got longer.” I show them.

“‘Hooverville Mystery Deepens’.” Martha reads out loud, “What’s Hooverville?”

We stroll through the park.

“Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the USA, came to power a year ago. Up till then, New York was a boom town, the Roaring Twenties, and then…” “The Wall Street Crash, yeah? When was that? 1929?” “Yep. The whole economy was wiped out overnight. Thousands of people unemployed. The huddled masses doubled in number with nowhere to go. So they ended up here in Central Park.” I tell her.

“What? They actually live in the park? In the middle of the city?”

We quickly arrive at Hooverville.

“Everyone lost their jobs. Couldn’t pay rent, lost everything. There are places like this all over America. You only come to Hoovervile when there’s nowhere else to go.”

There’s shouting from further in. Two men are fighting.

An older black man steps out of his tent and pushes the two men apart, “Cut that out! Right now!”

“He stole my bread!” The first man shouts.

“That’s enough.” The older man looks to the other man.

“I don't know what happened. He just went crazy.”

The first man lunges at the second but is held back.

“That’s enough. Now think real careful before you lie to me.” The second man hesitates, “I’m starvin’ Solomon.” Solomon holds out his hand and the man reaches under his coat, pulling out the bread and handing it over.

“We’re all starvin’.” He breaks the bread in half, “We all got families somewhere.” He hands each man a half, “No stealin’ and no fightin’. You know the rules. Thirteen years ago, I fought in the Great War. A lot of us did. And the only reason we got through was because we stuck together! Now matter how bad things get, we still act like human beings. It’s all we got.”

“Come on.” The Doctor motions for us to follow, “I suppose that makes you the boss around here.”

“And, uh, who might you be?” Solomon asks.

“He’s the Doctor, I’m Abby, and this is Martha.” I introduce.

“A Doctor.” Solomon scoffs, “Well, we got, uh, stockbrokers, we got a lawyer, but you’re the first doctor. Neighborhood gets classier by the day.” He warms his hands over a fire.

“How many people live here?” Martha asks.

“At any one time, hundreds. No place else to go. But I will say this about Hooverville. We are a truly equal society, black, white, all the same. All starving.” He laughs, “So you’re welcome. All of you. But tell me, Doctor, you’re a man of learning, right? Explain this to me.” He points to the Empire State Building, “That there’s going to be the tallest building in the world. How come they can do that, and we got people starving in the heart of Manhattan?” Solomon throws coffee dregs onto the fire.

“How do you know that men are going missing? They must come and go all the time.” I ask.

Solomon goes into his tent, motioning for us to follow, “Someone takes them. At night. We hear something. Someone calling out for help. By the time we get there, they’re gone. Like they vanish into thin air.”

“And you’re sure someone’s taking them?” The Doctor asks.

“Doctor, when you got next to nothing, you hold on to the little you got. your knife, blanket, you take it with you. You don’t leave bread uneaten, fire still burning.” “Have you been to the police?” Martha tries.

“Cops have never cared about the homeless.” I shake my head.

A young man sticks his head inside the tent, “Solomon, Mr. Diagoras is here.”

We all walk outside, to where a man with slicked hair is talking to the men of Hooverville.

“I need men. Volunteers. I gotta little work for you and it sure looks like you can use the money.” “Yeah. What’s the money?”

“A dollar a day.”

The men grumble.

“What’s the work?” Solomon asks.

“A little trip down the sewers. Got a tunnel that collapsed and needs clearing and fixing. Any takers?” “A dollar a day? That’s slave wage you ass. And I’m gonna guess not everyone comes back up, do they?” I scoff. Diagoras doesn’t even look at me, “Accidents happen.” “What do you mean? What sort of accidents?” The Doctor asks.

“You don’t need the work? That’s fine. Anybody else?” Diagoras asks.

The Doctor raises his hand.

“Enough with the questions.” “Oh, no, I’m volunteering.” I raise my hand next.

“I’ll kill you for this.” Martha whispers to the Doctor. Solomon and the young man raise their hands as well.

“Turn left. Go about half a mile. Follow Tunnel 273. Fall’s right ahead of you. You can’t miss it.” “And when do we get our dollar?” Frank ask.

“When you come back up.”

“And if we don’t?” “Then I got no one to pay.” “We’ll be back.”

We start to walk down the tunnel.

Frank looks around, “We just gotta stick together. It’s easy to get lost. It’s like a huge rabbit warren. You could hide an army down here.” “So what about you, Frank? You’re not from around these parts, are you?” Martha ask.

“Oh, you could talk.” Frank chuckles, “No, no, I’m from Tennessee, born and bred.” “So how come you’re here?” “Uh, my daddy died. Mama… couldn’t afford to feed us all. So, I’m the oldest, up to me to feed myself, so I put on my coat, hitched up here on the railroads. There’s a whole lot of runaways in camp younger than me. From all over; Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas… Solomon keeps a lookout for us. So, what about you? You’re a long way from home.” “Yeah, I’m just a hitcher too.” Martha answers. “You stick with me, you’ll be alright.” He smiles.

“So this Diagoras bloke, who is he then?” The Doctor asks. “A couple of months ago, he was just another foreman. Now it seems like he’s running most of Manhattan.” Solomon tells him.

“How did he manage that, then?” “The rich get richer off the backs of the people they exploit.” I smile at him.

“Whoa!”

There's a blob on the ground giving off a sick green light.

“Is it radioactive or something?” The Doctor sets down his flashlight and crouches beside it.

I cover my nose and mouth, “It’s rank, whatever it is.”

The Doctor slips on his glasses and carefully slips up the slimy blob.

“And you’ve picked it up.” I observe, “I hope you know you’re not holding my hand until you’re thoroughly sanitized.”

He sniffs it, “Shine your torch through it.” I do.

“Composite organic matter. Martha? Medical opinion?” Martha looks at it, “It’s not human. I know that.” “No, it’s not. And I’ll tell you something else. We must be at least half a mile in and I don’t see any sign of a collapse, do you? So why did Mr. Diagoras send us down here?”

“So where are we now? What’s above us?” Martha’s gaze flickers up.

“Well… we’re right under Manhattan.” “We’re way beyond half a mile. There’s no collapse, nothing.” Solomon points out.

“That Diagoras bloke, was he lying?” “No shit.” I say.

“So why did he want people to come down here?” Frank asks.

“Solomon, I think it’s time you took these three back. I’ll be much quicker on my own.” We hear squealing echo in the tunnels.

“What the hell was that?” “Hello?!” Frank shouts, only for me and Martha to shush him.

“Frank.” Solomon chastises.

“What if it’s one of the folk gone missing? You’d be scared, half-mad down here on your own.” “Do you think they’re still alive?” I ask.

“Heck, we ain’t seen no bodies. Maybe they just got lost.” Frank points out.

We hear more squealing.

“I know I never heard nobody make a sound like that.” The Doctor walks a little ahead of us.

“Sounds like there’s more than one of ‘em.” “This way.”

Solomon looks down a different tunnel, shining his light down it, “No, that way.” The light of Solomon’s flashlight catches a huddled figure on the ground.

I look back at the Doctor, “Doctor…”

He rejoins us. “Who are you?” Solomon asks.

“Are you lost? Can you understand me? I’ve been thinkin’ about folk lost…” Frank starts to walk forward, but the Doctor stops him.

“It’s all right, Frank. Just stay back. Let me have a look.” He walks towards the figure, “He’s got a point, though, my mate Frank. I’d hate to be stuck down here on my own.” The creature squeals. “We know the way out. Daylight. If you want to come with us.” He squats and shines a light on the creature's face, “Oh, but what are you?”

Solomon looks on in confusion, “Is, uh, that some kind of carnival mask?”

“No, it’s real.” The Doctor answers before speaking to the pig man, “I’m sorry. Now listen to me. I promise I can help. Now who did this to you?”

I look and more pig men have filled the opposite end of the tunnel, “Doctor!”

The Doctor backs up towards us.

“They’re following you.” Martha observes.

“Yeah, I noticed that, thanks.” He reaches us, “Well then everyone… run!” We race down the tunnel to a cross-section where Marth stops in confusion, “Where are we going?!”

“This way!” The Doctor turns right, stopping at the mouth of a joining tunnel, “There’s a ladder!”

The Doctor climbs up the ladder and uses his sonic on the lid.

Martha and I follow up.

Solomon climbs the ladder, shouting to Frank.

Something must have happened because Solomon shoves the Doctor aside and closes the lid, “We can’t go after him.”

“We gotta go back down! We can’t just leave him!” The Doctor argues.

“No, I’m not losing anybody else! Those creatures were from Hell! From Hell itself! If we go after them, they’ll take us all! There’s nothing we can do. I’m sorry.” A blonde woman steps out from behind a shelf, a gun pointed at us, “All right then. Put ‘em up.”

Martha and I put our hands up. The woman cocks the gun, “Hands in the air and no funny business.”

The Doctor and Solomon do. “Now, tell me, you schmucks, what’ve you done with Laszlo?”

“Uh, who’s Laszlo?” I ask.

“Laszlo’s my boyfriend, or was my boyfriend until two weeks ago. No letter, no good-bye, no nothin’. And I’m not stupid.” She waves the gun around as she talks, “I know some guys are just pigs but not my Laszlo. I mean, what kinda guy asks you to meet his mother before he vamooses?”

“It might, might just help if you put that down.” The Doctor suggests.

“Hunh?” She realizes she’s still holding the gun, “Oh, sure.” She tosses it to a chair, “Oh, c’mon. It’s not real. It’s just a prop. It was either that or a spear.” “What do you think happened to him?” Martha asks,

“I wish I knew. One minute he’s there, the next, zip, vanished.” “Listen, ah, what’s your name?” “Tallulah.” She answers.

“Right, um, we can try and find Laszlo, but he’s not the only one. People are disappearing every night.” The Doctor tells her.

“And there are creatures. Such creatures.” “Whaddaya mean ‘creatures’?”

“Look. Listen, just trust me. Everyone is in danger. I need to find out exactly what this is,” He removes the blob from his pocket, much to my disgust, “because then I’ll know exactly what we’re fighting.”

Tallulah leans back, “Yech!”

Tallulah is in costume, putting on her makeup for her performance.

Martha and I sit, watching.

“Laszlo… He’d wait for me after the show, walk me home like I was a lady. He’d leave a flower for me on my dressing table. Every day just a single rose.”

I stand and walk over beside her, “Haven’t you reported him missing?”

“Sure. he’s just a stagehand. Who cares? The management certainly doesn’t.” “Can’t you kick up a fuss or something?”

I shake my head at Martha’s words, “You’re forgetting what year it is.” “It’s the Depression, sweetie. Your heart might break, but the show goes on and if it stops, you starve. Every night, I have to go out there, sing, dance, keep goin’. Hoping he’s gonna come back.” She breaks down.

I hug her, “I’m sorry.” Tallulah pulls away from the hug and wipes her eyes, “Hey, you’re lucky, though. You got yourself a forward-thinking guy with that hot potato in the sharp suit. Still, ya gotta live in hope. It’s the only thing that’s kept me going ‘cause…” She lifts a white rose from the dressing table, “Look, on my dressing table, every single day.” “You think it’s him?” “I don’t know. If he’s still around, why’s he bein’ all secret like he doesn’t want me to see him?”

Martha and I stand in the wings watching the show.

I see a pigman who looks different from the others standing in the opposite wings, just watching. I turn to Martha, “Go get the Doctor.”

She nods, a little confused before walking off.

I cut across the stage, hiding between the showgirls.

Tallulah shouts at me, “Get off the stage! You’re spoiling it!” “But look.” I point off-stage at the man, “Over there!”

The pig man realizes he’s been spotted. Tallulah screams and he runs off.

I run after him, “Wait!” I follow him through the halls, ending up back in the prop room.

He’s gone.

Someone grabs me from behind and I scream.

I end up in the tunnels again.

Two pig men push me against a wall, “Let go of me!”

More pig men come by with humans in a line, one of which is Frank.

“Abby.” I hug him, “You’re alive! I thought we’d lost you.” A pigman pushes us to keep moving, “All right! We’re moving.” “Wait. Where are they taking us?” Frank asks.

“To their leader of course.”

“What are they keeping us here for?”

“Not sure yet.” I whisper.

The pig men guarding us start squealing nervously.

“What’re they doing? What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”

A Dalek glides into the tunnel.

I get very tense.

“You will form a line. Move.”

The pigmen push everyone.

“Just do what it says, everyone, okay? Just obey.” I tell them.

“The female is wise. Obey!”

A second Dalek arrives, “Report.” “They are strong specimens. They will help the Dalek cause. What is the status of the Final Experiment?” “The Dalekanium is in place. The energy conductor is now complete.”

“Then I will extract prisoners for selection.”

A pigman brings an older black man forward. 

The Dalek extends his sucker towards the man’s face, “Intelligence Scan. Initiate. Reading brain waves. Low intelligence.” Two pigmen pull him away.

They go down the line until they get to Frank, “Superior intelligence.” It turns to me, “Intelligence scan. Initiate. Superior intelligence. This one will become part of the final experiment. Prisoners of high intelligence will be taken to the transgenic laboratory.”

The Doctor and Martha fall in like between me and Frank, while the pig man I saw acts like one of the guards.

“Just keep walking.”

“Glad to see you again.” I glance at the pig man, “Laszlo, I assume.”

We are brought into some sort of lab.

“Report.” “Dalek Sec is ready for the final stage of evolution.” “Scan him. Prepare for birth.”

“Evolution?” The Doctor wonders quietly, before turning to Martha, “Ask them what’s going on.” She looks at him, “Me? Don’t be daft.” “They’ll recognize us.” He motions between himself and me.

She takes a deep breath, “Daleks, I demand to be told. What is this Final Experiment?”

“You will bear witness.” “To what?” “This is the dawn of the new age.” “Waht does that mean?” “We are the only four Daleks, so the species must evolve a life outside the shell. The Children of Skaro will walk again.”

Dalek Sec’s shell powers down and the casing opens to reveal a human-dalek hybrid. The clothing is unmistakably that of Diagoras. The head is similar to a Dalek body with a mouth, one eye, and tentacles. The hands are almost claw-like.

“What is it?” Martha asks.

Dalek Sec speaks slowly, “I am a human Dalek. I am your future.”

[attorneyinthenetherlands]

Litigation under Dutch law

Understanding Dutch Litigation: Insights and Procedures

What Is the Dutch Legal System?

The Dutch legal system, with its civil law tradition, ensures fairness and rule of law. It comprises 11 district courts and 4 appellate courts. Litigation starts with a writ of summons and a statement of defense, concluding typically within 6 to 24 weeks. Third-party litigation funding is allowed, except for law firms.

How Does Dutch Litigation Work?

Dutch litigation involves understanding intricate civil procedures. Starting with a writ of summons, litigation in the Netherlands is efficient, with interim or final judgments delivered within a predictable timeframe.

Commencing Legal Proceedings in the Netherlands

What Are the Initial Steps in Dutch Litigation? Initiating legal proceedings requires selecting an appropriate court venue from the 11 district courts and 4 appellate courts. Crafting summons and addressing jurisdictional challenges are key.

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Dutch procedural law guides litigation from summons to defense. Summary proceedings offer a swift resolution for urgent matters. The process is systematic and tailored to litigants' needs.

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How Do Dutch Courts Uphold Fair Trials? The courts' authority to appoint independent experts and their duty to ensure objective evidence assessment are key to maintaining the integrity of the Dutch legal system.

Transparency and Evidence in Dutch Litigation

What Are the Rules of Disclosure in the Netherlands? Dutch litigation mandates full disclosure of relevant documents. Courts can command the revelation of records to maintain procedural transparency.

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Dutch trials emphasize transparent disclosure of all relevant documents. Independent experts may be appointed for objective assessment, ensuring the validity of evidence throughout the trial.

Judgments and Orders: An Overview of the Dutch System

What Types of Judgments Are Issued in Dutch Courts? Dutch courts issue interim or final judgments in civil proceedings and provisional judgments in preliminary relief proceedings, adapting to various legal dispute scenarios.

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The system varies in response time and judgment type, from quick preliminary relief judgments to more prolonged ordinary civil proceedings.

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These methods allow for voluntary agreements, binding decisions, and direct resolution, making the legal process more accessible and efficient.

The Appeal Process in Dutch Law

What Are the Stages of Appeal in the Netherlands? Disagreeing parties can challenge district court decisions at appellate courts. The Amsterdam Court of Appeal and three other appellate courts handle such appeals.

How Does the Appeal System Ensure Justice? The structured framework allows for case reconsideration at higher levels, preserving fairness and offering legal redress.

Ethical Considerations in Dutch Legal Practice

What Are the Ethical Standards for Dutch Lawyers? Clear communication about fees, prohibition of certain fee arrangements, and transparency in third-party funding are key ethical standards in Dutch law.

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These guidelines ensure integrity and fairness in legal proceedings, reflecting the ethical obligations of lawyers in the Netherlands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What characterizes the Dutch system of law?

A: The Dutch law system is a civil law tradition, emphasizing the rule of law and a structured court system.

Q: How does indemnification work under Dutch law?

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Q: What is the appeal process in the Netherlands?

A: Dissatisfied parties can appeal to appellate courts and, ultimately, to the Supreme Court for a revision of lower court rulings.

Contact Our Experienced Dutch Litigators

For legal assistance in Dutch proceedings, contact our team for personalized attention and expert legal services. Reach out via our website, email, or phone for a consultation with a skilled attorney.

Remko Roosjen is a commercial law attorney in the Netherlands, specializing in commercial disputes, contracts, and civil litigation.

Note: This article is for informational purposes and not a substitute for professional legal counsel.

[perezhilton]

Someone get Nicki Minaj’s lawyer to Amsterdman ASAP!

[beardedmrbean]

Lizzo has lodged her first legal response to the lawsuit brought by three of her former dancers.

In August they claimed they had been subjected to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment while on tour with the US singer, which she denies.

The star and her Big Grrrl Big Touring company are requesting that the court dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning that it cannot be refiled.

If they do not, the dancers are requesting a jury trial.

What are the claims?

Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez accused Lizzo - real name Melissa Jefferson - and her touring company of several allegations in the original complaint filed in a Los Angeles court.

These include claims that Lizzo pressured them to attend a sex show in Amsterdam and interact with the nude performers, and that dance team captain Shirlene Quigley repeatedly engaged in behaviour that made them feel uncomfortable.

They also accuse Lizzo of fat shaming, saying the Brit Award and Grammy-winner "called attention" to a dancer's weight gain following a performance; and that employees of the touring company singled out black dancers by accusing them of "being lazy, unprofessional and having bad attitudes".

It is also claimed that Lizzo denied dancers bathroom breaks during an "excruciating re-audition".

In the immediate aftermath of the claims, Lizzo took to social media allegations to say they were as "unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed."

She added that "sensationalised stories" were "coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted they were told their behaviour on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional", something the dancers deny.

Lizzo's dance team Big Grrrls later released a statement in support of the singer, saying they "had the time of our lives" on tour.

What are Lizzo's lawyers now saying?

Now, in a 31-point rebuttal, lodged on Wednesday, Lizzo's legal team said:

The dancers who filed the complaint "ratified, acquiesced, condoned, and/or approved of the acts" they were now complaining about.

Lizzo's alleged conduct "was undertaken in good faith and with good cause" and "undertaken for legitimate reasons reasonably related to one or more lawful business purposes".

If the dancers were harmed as alleged, they "contributed, in whole or in part," to that harm.

The dancers' claims relate to Lizzo's rights of free speech and/or religion and are therefore barred.

The dancers claims of discrimination or retaliation should be barred because any employment decisions were made "for legitimate, non-discriminatory, non-pretextual reasons", and that Lizzo and the other defendants "acted out of business necessity".

The dancers "have failed to plead and cannot establish facts sufficient to support allegations of malice, oppression or fraud".

Lizzo's spokesperson, Stefan Friedman, said in a statement that this was "the first step" of a legal process in which the star and her team "will demonstrate that they have always practised what they've preached - whether it comes to promoting body positivity, leading a safe and supportive workplace or protecting individuals from any kind of harassment."

He continued: "Any and all claims to the contrary are ridiculous, and we look forward to proving so in a court of law."

In response, the dancers' lawyer, Neama Rahmani said Lizzo's team's answer "merely consists of boilerplate objections that have nothing to do with the case".

"That said, the key takeaway is that Lizzo is agreeing to our clients' demand for a jury trial," he added.

"We look forward to presenting our case in court and letting a panel of her peers decide who is telling the truth, Lizzo and her team, who continue to shame the victims or the plaintiffs and so many others who have come forward sharing similar stories of abuse and harassment."

Lizzo sued again over bullying and harassment

Lawyers review further allegations against Lizzo

Lizzo says dancers' harassment claims are 'false'

Lizzo dancer claims others are scared to speak

Earlier this month, Lizzo was sued for the second time this year by a former employee who claimed she oversaw an "unsafe, sexually charged workplace culture".

Fashion designer Asha Daniels accused the star's wardrobe manager of making "racist and fatphobic" comments and mocking black women in the entourage.

Lizzo was named as a defendant in the lawsuit, but was not directly accused of harassment.

A spokesperson for the star called the case an "absurd publicity stunt".

[reynoldsrap4949]

Over to Woods Hole to visit old and dear friends from Rockridge Clinic in Oakland. If you have ever watched the series New Amsterdam, that was us, an idealistic group of doctors, midwives, nurse practitioners. We cared for inner city poor folks and Berkeley folks. Don Quijote fighting the good fight. The best group I ever worked with.

Allen was the administrator. Sala one of the midwives who augmented the training I’d had with men teaching me about women’s bodies. Amenta was a teen back then and now is beautiful, a martial artist at 50. Tirian had become a lawyer, head of Berkeley law school? Then to Stanford where a problem arose about race I think. I am so proud of them all🌀🌀🌀

The composting toilet was just the best I have ever seen.

Top photo part of our Rockridge group. There were so many more. I am proud of our work together as a team. 🌀🌀🌀

[sjsmith56]

We Danced - Part 3

Summary: Bucky is anxious for Quinn’s arrival in New York as part of the delegation from the International Court of Justice that will see the replacement of five judges, including her boss. An invitation to an informal reception hosted by Quinn’s boss also brings him face to face with her ex-husband. Bucky finds out that Quinn did something that eventually led to his pardon. Part three of three-part story.

Length: 3.2K

Characters: Bucky Barnes, Quinn Olman, Sam Wilson, Quinn’s boss, her best friend, her ex-husband.

Warnings: Bucky doubting himself, a rude ex-husband (too arrogant for his own good).

Author’s note: Here it is, the final part of the three part story. Bucky is still worried that Quinn is going to end the relationship, as neither of them are satisfied with a long-distance love affair. Her ex-husband being a jerk at revealing her previous connection to Bucky sets the stage for her to confirm that she’s always been on his side. It also hints (if you squint hard enough) that what she did prompted the job offer that will keep her in New York. The last sentence was always going to end the story. Please like and reblog if you enjoyed this.

<<Part 2

🔹 🗽🔹

New York City, November, 2024

It had been a long six weeks since Bucky and Quinn said an emotional goodbye at the train station in Paris. He still remembered how she looked at him when he whispered in Russian how she was taking a piece of his heart with her. She promised to take care of it like the precious possession it was. Since then, they had phoned or video called but it wasn’t the same as being physically together, holding hands, dancing, being close, making love …. He sighed and rolled out of the bed in his room at the Tower. Opening the curtains, he stood in his sweatpants staring at the dark, noticing it was snowing, the snowflakes blown around by the wind gusts that came around the edges of the massive building. Pulling a T-shirt on, Bucky went out to the communal kitchen, starting the coffee machine up, then checked his phone. Still no message from Quinn on what time she was arriving in New York.

“You’re up early,” said a sleepy looking Sam, also wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt. “You okay?”

“Don’t know,” replied Bucky, tersely. “Quinn hasn’t texted to say she’s on her way.”

“Maybe she’s just been too busy with preparations for the election of new judges,” said Sam.

A shrug was Bucky’s response as he poured himself a coffee, then glanced at Sam to see if he wanted one. Receiving a nod in response he poured another cup and placed it in front of Sam, as the latter scrolled through his phone.

“What airline was she on?” he asked, checking the departures from Amsterdam. Bucky told him and Sam flicked through the list. “It was delayed, left two hours ago. She probably thought you would still be asleep.”

“Or she’s already pulling away from me,” said Bucky, morosely. “Wouldn’t blame her after those Instagram posts of us saying goodbye at the train station. They identified her by name, Sam. Her boss wasn’t thrilled about it, even though he knew she was seeing me.”

“You don’t know that,” said Sam. “She loves you. Has she said she wanted to end it on your video calls?”

“No, because she’s too kind.”

Sam sighed. When Bucky got down on himself, he was often his own worst enemy.

“Listen, she’s already asked you to accompany her to the formal reception for all the candidates, right?” Bucky nodded. “You’ve had good press since we got back from Paris. You saved those kids from a burning building, and you stopped a bank robbery. Those things count and according to the PR people you’re being viewed favourably. She’s an international lawyer who’s lived an exemplary life, and you said yourself she knew who you were from the beginning. You met, fell in love, and whatever happens will happen.”

There was no rebuttal from Bucky on what Sam said as he knew intellectually that his partner was right. Even though Quinn would be in New York for two weeks she was going to be working long hours while she was here. She was also required to stay at the hotel where all of the judges and their staff were also staying. Like being in the Avengers, working for the ICJ wasn’t a 9 to 5 position; if she hadn’t called it was because she was busy. Sam turned the TV on, and they both sat watching the very early morning news before deciding to get a workout in. After a couple of hours building up an appetite they showered, changed and return to begin their breakfast preparations.

By then the others were up, all of them jostling for position in the kitchen area as they poured coffees to burn away their remaining sleepiness. As the younger ones talked over each other, Bucky and Sam sat down with their food and began to eat. The cell phone beside Bucky’s plate buzzed and he picked it up, smiling at the text.

Quinn: On aircraft wifi and realized I didn’t text you I was on the way. Sorry, it was hectic getting out of Amsterdam. Landing at JFK at 11:30 EST. Staying at the Plaza and my boss would like to meet you and Sam at a small informal gathering. Sorry for the last-minute notice. He just sprung it on me. I’ll get more details once we check in. Love you.

Bucky: Was worried when I didn’t hear from you. Better now. I’ll be there for you. Love you, too.

Sam looked at him, seeing how his demeanour relaxed almost instantly. Bucky showed him the text, so he was informed without alerting the others. It was later, after Quinn checked in to her hotel, that she phoned to tell him that an informal diplomatic gathering was business dress code. They talked for an hour until she finally had to cut it short as her boss needed her to go over some notes regarding the transition with his replacement. After getting Quinn’s promise that she would be glued to his side that evening, Bucky let her go and passed on the dress code update to Sam.

Three hours later they arrived at the Plaza Hotel, passed the security check at the elevators, then again on the floor reserved for diplomatic guests and were let in by the security agent stationed outside the judge’s suite. It was already quite full which made Bucky feel a little anxious but as soon as he saw Quinn he relaxed, and she came over to take his arm and kiss his cheek.

“Come,” she said to both men. “I’ll introduce you to my boss.”

As they wound their way around the small groups of people chatting several made note of who she was with, watching the two men. With his enhanced hearing Bucky could hear the hushed comments of people, surprised they were all positive, mostly noticing how commanding a presence both he and Sam seemed to have. There was no mention of the Winter Soldier, which was unusual for him. Finally, they approached a grouping of several older people and a grey-haired man with glasses smiled at Quinn, coming forward with his hand extended.

“Judge John Donaldson, may I introduce Sergeant James “Bucky” Barnes, and Sam Wilson, the current Captain America.” Quinn stood back, watching the interaction carefully. “Judge Donaldson is retiring after being President of the court for the last three years.”

“It’s my absolute pleasure to meet you both,” he said, then he shook his head in wonder. “Real life heroes. You both do an amazing job at tackling some difficult assignments with your team. Please get yourself a drink and enjoy the company. We’ll talk more later.”

“We have some excellent scotch,” she said to both men, guiding them to a bar set up in the corner. “Or whatever you wish.”

They both agreed to scotch while she ordered white wine. Retreating to another open space the trio stood and sipped their drinks, not talking much at first, until another attractive woman joined them.

“Gentleman, this is my friend Hannah Van den Berg,” said Quinn. “Another legal researcher, from Amsterdam. She housed me when I first interned with the court and has stayed my friend through thick and thin.”

She shook hands with both men. “You are the man who has stolen my friend’s heart,” she said to Bucky, her Dutch accent barely noticeable. “I’m not complaining as she is too good a person to devote her life to her job, as I guess you are as well. I wasn’t expecting you to be here, Mr. Wilson.”

“Sam is fine,” he smiled. “Are all the women legal researchers as stunning as you two?”

“No, we’re the best looking,” joked Hannah, then she nudged Quinn. “Perhaps Captain America would agree to be my date for the reception.”

“What reception is that?” He already knew but wanted to hear her talking, loving how her voice sounded.

“After the new judges have been selected, they have a reception to thank those who are retiring and introduce the new ones,” she said. “It is a formal event, tuxedos for the men, evening gowns for the women. Judge Donaldson will be greatly missed as he has been a great support to the women staff of the ICJ, encouraging us to explore lines of research that aren’t necessarily in our wheelhouse. I think you should come with me as my date, Sam.” She looked over to the judge then drew in a sharp breath before turning to Quinn. “I’m sorry, Werner is here, just arrived by the looks of it.”

Both men turned to look at a tall blond man greeting the retiring President. Everything about him seemed familiar but it wasn’t until he saw Quinn and a look flashed across his face that both Bucky and Sam realized he reminded them of John Walker. The proud looking man approached, displaying the same excess of confidence that Walker often had.

“Quinn, darling,” he said, leaning forward to kiss her cheek, a touch she barely tolerated. “Hannah. Who do we have here?”

“Werner Hoffman, may I introduce Sergeant James “Bucky” Barnes and Captain America, Sam Wilson,” said Quinn, her voice noticeably tense.

“Celebrities,” he joked, although his tone was dismissive. “A pleasure. I saw an Instagram post of you and Sergeant Barnes in Paris. It surprised me that you would be involved with a man you wrote a legal opinion about.”

Bucky glanced at her but didn’t react to what was obviously meant as an insult, except to put his arm around Quinn protectively. She blushed then looked at Hoffman angrily. “A legal opinion that was accepted by better legal minds than yours, Werner. I hope you didn’t attend this reception to insult me in front of my friends. That’s low even for you. How is Erika by the way? Has she tired of your womanizing yet?”

Hoffman’s face went hard. “Yes, we’ve split up. Excuse me, I see a former colleague here and must greet him.”

Bucky looked intently at Quinn who looked ready to bolt once Werner moved on. He kept her close then leaned towards her ear, whispering something. Leading him out of the judge’s suite she inserted her key card into the elevator and pressed the button for a lower floor, still not saying anything. It wasn’t until she opened her room door and Bucky followed her in that she turned to him.

“He’s my ex-husband and is a major prick,” she stated angrily. “He was cheating on me within weeks of the wedding and I filed for divorce within six months.”

She paced back and forth, wringing her hands until Bucky stopped her, kissing her hands gently.

“What did he mean about a legal opinion?”

Taking a breath Quinn sat on the sofa in her sitting area, gesturing to Bucky to join her. It took her several minutes to gather her thoughts as he waited patiently to hear her explanation.

“You’re aware the Sokovia Accords came out and were quickly ratified in 2016 by the UN,” she began. “I had just started in 2015, the year before you were taken into custody in Leipzig. Judge Donaldson was also new to the court, which is under the jurisdiction of the UN. He was very supportive of his researchers and asked me for a legal opinion on how the Accords would affect you, which was unusual as we have no jurisdiction over criminal charges.” She squeezed his hands. “The Accords were poorly written as they dealt with criminal matters, but Secretary Ross didn’t involve the International Criminal Court in their creation. They’re independent of the UN and I was of the opinion he didn’t want them to have any jurisdiction in their implementation. He was running roughshod over the basic human rights of anyone affected by the Accords, denying them legal counsel, a right to a fair and timely trial, even the right for them to speak with their families. I felt that you would be the first person to be executed summarily under them, without any of your rights being recognized at all. Judge Donaldson agreed with me, and presented my opinion to his counterpart in the ICC who filed a brief as an Amicus curiae, or friend of the court, with both the ICJ and the UN. It drew attention to the shortcomings of the Accords and how they were being used to deal with anyone that disagreed with Ross. It shone a light on Ross that made him seem dangerous to the rule of law.” She let out a very audible breath. “It took a while, but that first opinion on their veracity led to the Accords being repealed. Any attempt to recreate them now has to go through the ICC to make sure that the rights of those affected are respected.”

“So, in 2016, you were already of the opinion that I wasn’t guilty?” he asked.

“You were a PoW, subjected to horrendous torture and mind manipulation, not to mention medical experimentation without your consent,” she replied. “When you were arrested you had been under the radar for two years, not breaking any laws, or hurting anyone. It was obvious to me, by my research, that you were not responsible for what HYDRA forced you to do between the time you became their prisoner to the time you turned against them. You were being blamed unfairly for everything HYDRA did just because you were the most visible agent of them by then. It was legally and morally wrong.”

Grasping her face in his hands Bucky kissed her passionately, before drawing her tightly into his arms. When they stopped, he looked intently at her face, caressing it.

“You saved me,” he said. “After I returned from the Snap and turned myself in after the battle with the second Thanos, my lawyer used your opinion to bolster my defence. I was so confused and overwhelmed by everything at the time that I didn’t remember the name of who wrote the opinion, but it was you. I’m a free man because of you.”

She looked away from Bucky for a moment, affected by his remark, until she responded to him.

“I was new to the legal profession and wanted to make my mark but the more I researched the decrypted files that outlined your treatment at the hands of those animals, the more I realized that the man behind the mask was a good man. You fought them for so long and even when you did their bidding the effects of the brainwashing didn’t last as the serum repaired the damage done to you. I know you don’t think you’re the same man you were before, but you are a good man and I fell in love with you very quickly after we met in Washington.”

“Chérie, I love you even more, knowing you were on my side even then,” replied Bucky. “I’m proud of you, that you would stick your neck out for someone who was thought to be a ruthless killer.” It was his turn to look away. “Where are we going with this relationship? I take it you’ll be working with the judge’s replacement?”

“I’ve been considering that,” replied Quinn, carefully. “I don’t want to be halfway around the world from you, Bucky. You have an important job here, keeping people safe. I’m a lawyer, I can work anywhere. I’ve been offered a job in New York, acting as a liaison between an independent agency and the ICC. I’ll have to pass the bar exam here as there are times I may have to represent the agency in the New York courts, but because I know my way around the international court system I’ll go to The Hague on occasion as well.”

“But you’ll be based here,” he asked, to which she nodded. “Are you going to accept the job offer?”

“I want to,” she replied. “Depends on whether there’s more keeping me here.”

“Oh, Chérie,” smiled Bucky. “There is, trust me, there is.”

“Then I guess I’ll be accepting the job offer.”

He pulled her onto his lap, enclosing her fully in his arms, as they kissed each other intensely. Once more they whispered endearments to each other in every language they shared, and would have gone further, except for the ringing of both their phones. After ignoring the first set of calls they both answered the second calls; Sam was calling Bucky, while Hannah was calling Quinn. They both informed the couple that Werner had left, after being told by Judge Donaldson that even if he spent double the effort on his job as he did chasing women he still wouldn’t be as good a lawyer as Quinn Olman was. By the time they got back to the judge’s suite the informal gathering had become quite the occasion. Bucky didn’t return to the Tower that night. Neither did Sam.

Two weeks later, at the formal reception, announcing the newly chosen judges of both the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, Bucky and Sam found themselves at the same table as Judge Donaldson, his wife, his counterpart on the ICC and her husband, Quinn and Hannah. As people stopped by to offer their respects to both retiring Presidents of the international courts, they also offered congratulations to Quinn on her new job as liaison to the International Criminal Court for the Avengers. Many of those wishing her well brought up the quality of her legal opinion written about the Sokovia Accords when she was new to the ICJ, saying they knew then she had a bright career in the legal profession.

When the music started Bucky stood up, resplendent in his black tuxedo and offered his hand to Quinn, stunning in a black silk taffeta gown, it’s sleek look and fit accented by pearl and diamond drop earrings, and a recently accepted 1.5 carat diamond engagement ring. Everyone who watched the couple dancing commented on how well they moved together, as if they had been together for years rather than a few months. With their eyes only on each other the couple murmured compliments to each other.

“You’re beautiful, Chérie,” said Bucky. “The most beautiful woman here.”

“You’re the most handsome, Yasha,” she replied, using the Russian nickname of James.

With laughs that displayed how utterly happy they were, they kissed each other before Bucky expertly twirled Quinn through the increasingly crowded dance floor. Sam and Hannah danced nearby, grinning.

“He told me in Washington he didn’t dance,” he said to his dance partner.

Before she could respond Bucky came by, having heard Sam’s comment with his incredible hearing ability.

“But I have the perfect partner now,” he clarified. “Perfect for me. We can dance all night.”

In later years whenever their children asked what they loved doing the most when they were courting, they would both blush a little, then Quinn would look up at her still handsome husband and caress his face.

“We danced.”

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Short Fiction Masterlist

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[fettesans]

Top, the Mundaneum (Répertoire Bibliographique Universel) created in 1895 out of the initiative of two Belgian lawyers, Paul Otlet and Henri La Fontaine. (They also designed the cabinets) It was aimed to gather together all the world's knowledge and classify it according to a system they developed called the Universal Decimal Classification. Via. Via. Bottom, installation view Anne Imhof, Youth at Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Oct 1, 2022 - Jan 29, 2023. Photograph by Peter Tijhuis. Via. Also.

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(Maura) Grossman (research professor in the School of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo and an expert in the ethics of AI) has a dear friend whose husband passed away and who goes to a medium to connect with him. While Grossman was originally spooked and worried her friend would get defrauded or encounter some psychological trauma, the medium ended up helping her process the loss.

“Was it such a bad thing to visit a medium every other week and converse with her deceased husband?” Grossman asks. “On the one hand, it’s a distortion of reality. On the other hand, it did help her get through this.”

Not everyone can afford to visit a psychic (or believes in the concept in the first place), but an AI capable of perfectly imitating a dead loved one could provide a similar experience for anyone struggling with the loss of a loved one.

Angela Sheldon, a sixty-two-year-old from Northern Virginia, would love to use Alexa to have a chat with her dead mother — who she tries to speak to now every day anyway. “As it is now, I get no response,” Sheldon tells Inverse. “So even if I just heard ‘Yes I understand’... I would probably be happy.”

Angeliki Kerasidou, from Amazon's new invention could let you “speak” to the dead — but should it? - Amazon, Microsoft, and other tech giants are circling closer to digital immortality for Inverse, October 10, 2022. Via.