#let’s ignore the fact that it lacks dept

[pretentiouswreckingball]

hiiiii 🚀 🚀 🚀

[proper-goodnight]

Detroit: New Beginnings

Summary: It has been one year since the androids claimed their rights to freedom after the revolution, and one year since Connor has decided to stay on the force at the DPD. The duo are currently working on a case involving androids going missing while Connor grapples with what he almost did to Markus at the peace rally and fearing Amanda’s inevitable return.

Pairing: N/A

Warnings: Violence, Strong Language

A New Start: Partners (01)

Detroit Police Dept.

August 30, 2039

12:30 P.M.

Tuesday

Chris abandoned his wife’s pastries on the counter in the break room.

Over the years, it had become an unspoken rule to not berate him for the fact that Hank could count the people that were brave enough to try his wife’s newest lifestyle kick for that week on one hand. 

For all of the employees on the force, that wasn’t a lot. He didn’t need any special probability and statistics program to figure that out. 

But, it wasn’t like Hank hadn’t tried. He had, but only once--and couldn’t keep a straight face or control his gag reflex enough to even think about trying it again. Their outward appearance had been what threw him for a loop initially; being made of enough random herbs and healthy shit couldn’t sway the uncanny resemblance between it and actual shit and no amount of Chris promising such couldn’t and would never convince him otherwise.

While Hank may have never cared about what he put in his body, he was still not ignorant enough to test whether or not his tolerance extended to something beyond alcohol or cigarettes. Some days, Connor’s habit of sticking evidence in his mouth suddenly didn’t sound so fucking revolting. 

God, if the kid heard him say that…

In that same area of the precinct, a loud continuous whirring of a coffee machine grinded endlessly. DPD staff shuffled around it eagerly awaiting its cycle to complete, and Gavin had ingested just enough caffeine to erupt into his usual cacophony of loud remarks and comments about fuck-all that morning. 

Of course the prick couldn’t grant them reprieve for even a few minutes. 

Hank supposed if he didn’t then the fucker was either late or… late. It wasn’t like he ever called off.

No, they couldn’t be that lucky.

“No fucking way!” And to complete the morning, here Hank was with a deafening insistence in his tone that left little room to argue over Connor’s suggestion for the umpteenth time that morning. “I have had enough birthdays! I am getting too damn old for this shit!”

In response, Connor looked contemplative, but even more so, unsatisfied with his decision.

Typical Tuesday.

Sitting hunched over his desk, Hank sifted through piles of papers for his tablet. It furthered his incessant personal reminding that he should probably take a few minutes and clear his desk of all of his personal clutter--all of the memorabilia piling up over the years was beginning to make finding anything nigh to impossible, another indication made clear when he bumped a couple of pens to the floor with his elbow. 

Cursing, he dismissed it to the abyss below his desk, staring at the screen with faux concentration. The contrast between their work stations was proving more apparent as the days went on, Connor’s completely clean of surface clutter and retaining a fresh sheen despite having claimed it a little over a year ago.

Besides the mess, the spinning yellow circle glaring at him just outside of his peripherals held his focus, having more recently recognized it as a sign of the android’s thinking--thought processing. Whatever. 

Connor’s brows were furrowed, eyes fixed on him as if deciding in some sort of situational software that he had of some other option that would help move their conversation into a more positive direction, something that would somehow change it in his favor. He wasn’t getting anywhere, and Hank wasn’t going to take any bait. 

The android’s lips parted to speak, but Hank was already turning away, grumbling incoherently under his breath. 

And nothing that he would reiterate unless Fowler was going to lecture him about playing nice with his co-workers. Again.

Perched on the only unoccupied corner of his desk, arms crossed over a broad chest, Connor worked a tick in his jaw. If androids had actually possessed the need to breathe--and their biocomponents that simulated breathing were actually functional for that sole purpose--the asshole may have just sighed. For the briefest of an instance, he caught his partner’s stoic expression, tight-lipped and silently asking for some sort of agreement between the pair.

It wasn’t offered.

“I have been researching human cultural practices and I thought that maybe--”

“Drop it. You want to celebrate, then do it for yourself why don’t ya? Celebrate your one year since deviating. That’s in a couple of months.”

Connor almost looked thoughtful, features folding over in confusion as he worked through some sort of response. Hank’s celebration into an even older age was many in the long list of arguments that the two seemed to have, but it was also one of the only topics that Connor seemed ever insistent to talk about that didn’t revolve around a case.

That made it unavoidable.

Goddammit. 

“I don’t think that qualifies as the same thing, Lieutenant.”

“Take my word for it. Let’s just go over the case.” To further his point, he swept his hand over the case files that had piled up on his desk the last couple of weeks. One large unorganized mess of manila folders and reports. “If Jeffrey dumps any more shit about it on my desk, I’m going to resign it.” It was a harmless jab in an effort to get Connor motivated, anything involving the words case or leads never failed to catch his attention.

Connor straightening from his rare hunched posture proved that fact rang true. 

Even after finally closing the deviancy case. 

The conversation, begrudgingly, wasn’t done though. It would be brought up again eventually. Unless the kid forgot or got distracted with something else.

Who the fuck was he kidding?

Connor never forgot. He didn’t possess the ability to forget. Maybe his stubborn nature could be argued with but in the last year or so being his partner, it was something that Hank faced with raw aggression and chose to avoid. 

“Could’ve originated from the peace rally.” Hank went on, rubbing at his chin with faux concentration at the various folders opened up in front of him. He didn’t think any of them were relevant to their current case anyway. “The dates between that and the first android incident are pretty damn close together. Then again, maybe it’s just a weird coincidence.” The words unfolded into a low mutter under his breath, slumping back against his chair. 

He spinned to the side to assess the clutter, a quick sweeping gaze over the mess and he retrieved the file that they needed and extended it to the android. 

Connor’s eyes had followed every movement, and Hank assumed he was judging his lack of organization. 

At least he kept his mouth shut if he was.

“Two guys were sent to the hospital last night.” Hank went on.

“According to the reports from Officer Miller, they were walking home from a Red Ice Anonymous meeting.” Connor confirmed.

Of course he’d kept up to date.

“They were jumped. He went to ask them some questions, bust aside from a brief statement, we ain’t getting much out of ‘em right now.” While he spoke, Connor flicked through it with practiced precision while simultaneously picking it apart. For what he already didn’t know, and Hank didn’t figure that was a lot. 

And while it would be denied for the rest of Hank’s life, he would never admit that he was even somewhat jealous of Connor. If humans possessed the ability to see anyone’s information by a quick scan or retaining an entire casework of information in a few seconds, the meeting and getting-to-know-you shit of social relationships would be made easier by miles. Then again, he didn’t need any superior programming to know that his time would be better spent at home with Sumo. 

“According to their file, Mr. Greene and Mr. Nicholson did in fact have a Red Ice history in the past.” 

“That bit checks out with what Chris managed to get from ‘em at least. Not the worst druggies I’ve had the pleasure of dealing with.” A smirk pulled at one edge of his lips. If they were the worst of the worst, his job would have been a lot easier and most cases would be an opened and closed one. 

“Possession and usage that earned them a few months jail time.” Connor confirmed, turning a suddenly quizzical gaze in his direction, dipping his chin. His brows pinched. “Wasn’t Detective Reed assigned all cases involving Red Ice?” The mention of their most eccentric detective was enough to pull a look of discomfort from the android. 

Maybe it was the ill memory of the beating that he’d been forced to give him in the evidence room last year. Either way, Hank swore that Connor had some kind of satisfaction from it. He didn’t think so. 

The bloody nose that he had given Perkins however? Fucking classic! 

“He is, but there was Thirium found at the scene. No fingerprints on the weapon that was likely used in the attack. We’re looking at another Carlos Ortiz case except we can push an android through a fair trial now.” 

Connor closed the case folder in his lap, his fingers plucking gingerly at the corner. That spinning yellow circle glared accusingly. “If the claims of their whereabouts are in fact correct, then I think that our best course of action is to question them ourselves. Maybe they can recall more when the shock period has passed. Distinct characteristics, how many androids there were in total, even.”

“Not to bust your balls kid, but we can’t scan a serial number like you can. Not to mention all of you androids have the same face. There’s no record of them ever owning an android, but…” Hank threw up his hands in surrender. “Maybe there’s a past history we don't know about. We’ll follow another lead over the next few days,” he decided. “See if they can’t give us anything else by the end of the week.”

With that, Hank breathed out a long-winded sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose, squeezing his eyes shut as though fighting off a headache. Connor was a headache enough, the case being the migraine. He waved his free hand over his desk. “Take your pick. God knows we’ve got plenty.” A pained laugh slipped past his lips, almost incredulous. Borderline sympathetic. 

For them.

Propping his elbow on the chair’s armrest, he leaned his head against a curled fist. His partner’s gaze was distant, even as Hank tried to meet it with a vague curiosity of his own. 

He waited.

“What are you thinking, Connor?” No response was offered, that same accusatory yellow glaring at Hank just out of the corner of his eye. 

Connor’s features folded, looking to an empty space at his right. Upon further inspection, Hank noted that nothing was there, looking between the two confirming the assumption that he was in some far off place elsewhere. An abrupt snap of his fingers in front of Connor’s nose brought him back. He raised his eyebrows, tilted his head. “Nothing. Nothing relative to our case.”

“Any other time you’re pulling leads out of your ass.” The remark was followed by an exaggerated sigh. His eyes rolled to the side. “This is the first time that you don’t wanna input your opinion? Finally hit a damn wall with enough dead leads, didn’t ya?”

A slight tug pulled at one edge of Connor’s mouth, working a tick underneath a rigid jawline. “Hilarious, Lieutenant.” He mumbled.

“It was a pretty damn good joke in my opinion." With a dismissive hand gesture--a quick slice of his hand through the air--he reached across his desk to retrieve one stack of case files. It didn't account for the other large piles but hell, it was a start. 

“That is a personal opinion.”

“What the fuck ever.” Running a shaky hand through his hair--something else that Connor blamed on Hank's poor diet--his gaze never left him, flicking over his rigid form with a blatant curiosity. "We should go talk to Markus. There’s a good chance that he would know somethin'?" 

And then Connor moved from his perch. Carefully--stiffly was a better way of putting it--around the edge of the desk. Long precise fingers fumbled for the coin in his pocket. It rolled across his knuckles, coming to a complete stop as it was flicked into the opposite palm. Hesitation made the movement rigid, not as fluent as it normally would be. A tick worked itself underneath a rigid jawline. Connor didn't look at him, and instead passed by to his own desk. 

"You haven't seen him since the peace rally," Hank prodded. "I think it's about time we paid him a visit, don't you?" 

"I don't know," He answered in what was almost a whisper, voice low. Unsure. "I've assessed the database's files and all of the reports involving our missing androids. I have only come to the conclusion that older models, or new deviants are being reported disappearing from Jericho. That and it's still limited to Detroit and only a few surrounding cities.” He shrugged. “So far." 

Connor shook his head in defeat. "My most recent solution was to send a scan parts to Cyberlife, but-"

"All of the missing reports we’ve managed to solve end with the android self destructing and destroying their systems," Hank finished for him. "That and its considered murder with your rights. Can't just go pulling apart an android and not expect to get your ass busted." 

"I do not know if an exception can be made for some kind of malfunction. I could probe its memory, but there is no evidence as to how that would affect my own systems." 

"Keeping you at a distance makes the shit harder." Hank agreed, and other than nodding in response, Connor offered no comment. "Until we can figure out if it can be spread, there isn’t much that you can do." 

"Why don't you take your chances and see what the hell happens?" An all too familiar and unapologetically arrogant voice drew closer to their desks. Gavin came to a full stop at their desks, arms folded over his chest with a smirk that never ceased to infuriate him. Both of them, he assumed.

He grimaced. 

Fucking asshole.

"Fuck off, Reed. Don't you have your own case?" Hank grumbled, an edge to his tone that Gavin brushed off a condescending smirk.

"Unlike you and the plastic prick, I've actually made headway." Gavin boasted, his interest in Hank diverted to Connor who watched passively. Most of the time he acted as if Gavin was gum under his shoe that he could scrape on the sidewalk and be done with. Like he couldn't be bothered even when he had a gun in his face and death threats on his name. Hank had been guilty of that look once.

Gavin was full of shit, but Hank wouldn't put anything past him. Even now.

"Hey plastic," Gavin halted in front of the android, squaring up his shoulders. The situation would have been alarming if the difference in height wasn't so obvious. Reed had to look up to address him and Connor responded by raising his eyebrows, tilting his head to the right. 

"Hello, Detective Reed."

"I thought that after the walking toasters were suddenly recognized as people you would leave. A detective android prototype hunting androids is still doing the exact same damn thing." He sneered. 

"I assessed that it would be appropriate to remain in the android crimes department to further offer my assistance to the DPD." His hands folded in front of him, meeting Gavin's eyes with that usual infuriatingly neutral expression. The little twitch in Connor's facial features gave him away however, signaling his annoyance at the detective's harsh jobs.

Gavin didn't see it, but Hank knew him well enough that it was impossible to miss. 

"Yet you're still wearing your Cyberlife threads. I'd almost think that you liked hunting 'em down. Does it give you a sick thrill, prick?" 

"Reed!" Hank interjected, rising stiffly from his desk chair. "That's enough."

"I believe that wearing my uniform shows more professionalism than a leather jacket and a relentlessly hostile attitude, Detective." Connor's brows raised and relaxed sequentially, a slight and subtle twitch pulling at one corner of his mouth. 

"The hell did you just say to me, tin can?" Gavin leaned forward, hand clenching at his side into a fist that he pulled back and took aim on the android. 

"I said that's enough!" Hank barked, shoving himself in between them. 

Gavin was shoved back a few steps.

Connor didn't budge. 

"Back off! Can't you ignore him for five fucking minutes?" 

"Fuck," An enraged gaze flicked between Hank and Connor. Gavin snarled in frustration, one hand slipping seamlessly into the pockets of his jacket, the other pointing an accusing finger in the android's direction like it hadn't been the detective that had approached them with the intention of starting shit. 

Hank scoffed. 

"I'll never so much as tolerate the plastic asshole. The day there are two of him is the day I put in my resignation." One last threatening glare was thrown their way, the threat released into a spat. Before either could comment, Gavin was storming off, cursing incoherently under his breath. 

Surprisingly it had gone better than most of the other times. Hank would have admitted that. 

Evidently, every altercation passed by Connor without a second thought. Hell, maybe not even a first. The evidence room incident remained the only time that the android actually retaliated on him. That being that he needed to in order to accomplish his mission. 

Still, he caught Connor's expression as Gavin was leaving. He watched him through distrusting slits, LED flashing yellow for a split second before correcting itself. His jaw was tense, something dark stirring within him, something troubled that Hank didn't quite recognize. It was only when Hank actually decided to speak that Connor finally looked at him, eyes softening into something more calm, relaxed. Normal. 

"Let's go ask Markus some questions. Any idea where he might be?" In a gesture of reassurance that didn't quite reach him, Hank placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Markus has been overseeing the conversion and stock of dormant androids at the remaining Cyberlife stores. We can pull up those that have yet to be listed as maintenance and distribution centers and start there." And as if nothing had changed, as if the threat from the DPD's most eccentric detective had already been forgotten--at least it would have been if he wasn't squirming underneath a clenched jaw--the task of talking to Markus seemed to unnerve him more. Talking to the deviant leader was a task that Connor was less inclined to do over listening to Reed berating him every chance he got. 

The observation was a question for later, and truthfully Hank didn't anticipate an answer. 

Connor stepped back to allow him through first, Hank's hand slipping from his shoulder to dangle uselessly at his side instead. Expression falling flat, he waved him through. "After you, Lieutenant."

[giftofshewbread]

Walk Circumsectly

By Daymond Duck Published on: February 28, 2021

The title of this article comes from Scripture. “See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16).

Here are 7 basic things that people need to know about Bible prophecy:

One, people need to know that God knows the future. Paul said, “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world” (Acts 15:18). God knows what will happen before it happens.

Two, people need to know that God reveals the future before it happens. God said, “I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done” (Isaiah 46:9-10). There is just one God, and He reveals what He plans to do before He does it.

Three, people need to know that the Bible is full of prophecy. God put 18 books of prophecy in the Bible. He put 5 books called the Major Prophets in the Bible. He put 12 books called the Minor Prophets in the Bible. He put the Book of Revelation in the Bible. He put whole chapters of prophecy in the Bible (Matt. 24-25). Depending upon who we talk to, some say 25-40% of the Bible is prophecy. The Bible is full of prophecy.

Four, people need to know that Bible prophecy is reliable. God said, “The prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die” (Deut. 18:20). God’s prophets had to be right 100% of the time. If what they said is not from God, it is from Satan.

Five, people need to know that there is proof of the accuracy of Bible prophecy. The Old Testament records more than 300 prophecies about the first coming of Jesus. Some prophecies are repeated two or three times. After the repetitions are removed, the Old Testament still records at least 108 specifically different prophecies about the first coming of Jesus that were literally fulfilled.

Many years ago, Peter Stoner, former Professor Emeritus of Science at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, calculated the probability of one person fulfilling just 48 prophecies to be 1 with 127 zeros (A trillion has just 12 zeros). With the odds being so great for one person to fulfill just 48 prophecies, one must wonder what the odds would be for one person to fulfill all 108 prophecies. Fulfilled prophecy is indisputable proof that Jesus is the Messiah, that God knows the end from the beginning, that God is in control, and that the Bible is the Word of God.

Six, people need to know what Peter said about Bible prophecy. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (II Peter 1:20-21). Notice these four things: Bible prophecy is sure (it is accurate), people would do well (be wise) to pay attention to Bible prophecy, Bible prophecy is like a light (because it helps people understand other things in the Bible), and Bible prophecy was given by the Holy Ghost (the reason why it is 100% accurate).

Seven, people need to know that Bible prophecy is about Jesus. The Bible says, “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19:10b). Why would people, especially pastors and church members, willfully ignore the testimony of Jesus?

Here are recent current events that relate to Bible Prophecy and our need to walk circumspectly (believe, live and act the way God wants us to believe, live and act).

One: on Feb. 19, 2021, it was reported that Pres. Biden took office promising to improve America’s relationship with Europe, work with our allies in Europe, strengthen NATO, etc.

Pres. Macron of France believes it is time for the EU to establish a more powerful military and tell the U.S. to remove her troops.

The Antichrist will rise to power in Europe and go forth conquering and to conquer.

I am receiving e-mails from readers that want to know if I believe Emmanuel Macron is the Antichrist.

The identity of the Antichrist will not be revealed while the Church is here, but since Israel became a nation in 1948, several people have been identified as the Antichrist that are no longer alive.

There is no question that Macron has many traits of the Antichrist, and he could be the Antichrist, but be careful because skeptics will label you as a false prophet, refuse to listen to you, etc., if something happens to Macron.

Two, concerning world government: on Feb. 19, 2021, it was reported that Biden addressed global leaders with two major speeches (one at the G-7 virtual summit and another at the Munich Security Conference) to declare the end of Trump’s “America First” agenda.

As I understand it, the era of “America First” is dead, and it has been replaced by the era of “Globalism First.”

Trump put the needs of America above the needs of the UN and other nations.

Biden is putting the needs of the UN and other nations (the globalist agenda; the New World Order) above the needs of America.

Know that the World Economic Forum (WEF) plans to ask the G-7 nations to approve “The Great Reset” this fall, and Biden (or whoever is in charge at the White House) is letting people know that he supports the globalist agenda.

Be aware that a former Obama Dept. of Homeland Security Official said more than one million immigrants will try to cross the U.S. border with Mexico this year (many with Covid; some getting vaccinated before American citizens that want vaccinations can get them).

Be aware that Biden has prepared a $1.9 Trillion Covid Relief Package and less than 10% of the money is for health-related issues (more than 90% is for museums, family planning, bailing out states and cities, a bridge that Schumer wants in New York, a tunnel that Pelosi wants in San Francisco and more).

Be aware that the bailout of cities and states is based on unemployment rates, meaning that cities and states that use lockdowns to put people out of work will get more money than cities and states that don’t use lockdowns to put people out of work.

Be aware that Biden is warming up to China; that nation is requiring its people to hate God, wants to head up the coming world government, a government that will hate God, etc. (Rev. 13:4-8).

Know that God gave Daniel a vision of the latter time, the rise and fall of the Antichrist, and his world government during the Tribulation Period (Dan. 8:23-27).

“And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.”

The vision of the coming Antichrist and his world government was so evil and destructive that it caused Daniel to faint and be sick for several days.

In a past article, I stated that God may have allowed Trump to be removed from office so the globalist agenda can go forward (and it is).

God is in control, and He can speed it up or slow it down, but I expect the Democrats to lock America into a world government before the next election.

Three, concerning persecution: on Feb. 16, 2021, Worthy News reported that the Center for Family and Human Rights is warning groups and organizations that the UN (wannabe world government) is planning to create lists of those that oppose the LGBT agenda.

Those that oppose the LGBT agenda will be designated as “LGBT hate groups,” and they will be blacklisted and punished.

Four, concerning natural disasters: the state of Texas is known as a major producer of oil and natural gas, but in 2020, Texas used wind turbines to produce 23% of its electricity.

The extreme cold of the Feb. 2021 winter storm froze about half of the wind turbines, and, at one point, more than one and a half million Texans were without electricity.

It has been reported that without rolling blackouts, the entire system was just minutes away from a catastrophic failure that would have taken weeks, or perhaps months, to totally repair.

Stores closed for lack of electricity, others closed because they ran out of food, people moved into their vehicles to stay warm, more than 40 people died, and this is perhaps the costliest weather event in the history of Texas.

Thank God for fossil fuels because without them, the hunger (famine), cold, death and destruction would be much worse than it was this time.

Incidentally, on his first day in office, Biden stopped construction on the Keystone XL Pipeline in the U.S., put thousands of Americans out of work, and hurt Canada, but now he is promoting a pipeline to carry Turkmenistan gas across Afghanistan and Pakistan to India.

Why are pipelines environmentally unsafe in the U.S. but environmentally safe in Muslim and terrorist countries?

If nuclear power plants are unsafe in the U.S., why is Biden signaling his readiness to resume talks with Iran over the resumption of that terrorist nation’s nuclear program?

Since America’s economy is in danger of collapsing and the U.S. has crude oil that could be sold, why is the U.S. cutting production, jobs, etc. and starting to buy oil again?

If pollution of the atmosphere is causing climate change disasters like the one in Texas, why is Biden ignoring the fact that China is one of the worst polluters on earth, and why is Biden’s Climate Change Envoy, John Kerry, still flying around in his private plane?

It has been my opinion for a long time that God uses natural disasters to warn nations to repent and return to Him (II Chron. 7:13-14), but globalists are using the disasters as a scare tactic to bring in their godless world government.

Godless leaders do not think like Christians, and more and more, it is clear that this world is not the Christian’s home (I Cor. 2:14-16).

To be honest, I do not think America will repent, and if Covid and the Texas disaster are birth pains, there is more to come.

By the way, on Feb. 19, 2021, John Kerry was on CBS This Morning, and he was asked, “How much time do we still have left to avert climate catastrophe?”

He replied, “The scientists told us 3 years ago we have 12 years to avert the worst consequences of climate crises; we are now 3 years gone, so we have 9 years left.

This is 2021, and 9 years from now will be 2030, which is the UN agreed-upon goal for having a world government up and running.

Five: on Feb. 19, 2021, William Koenig, author of “Eye to Eye,” noted that Biden has hit the ground running on issues that are worrisome or detrimental to Israel.

Koenig is famous for pointing out that those that bless Israel are blessed, and those that curse Israel are cursed.

We cannot deny that Biden has come out in favor of the Two-State Solution (division of Israel), he opposed Israel’s construction of settlements in Judea and Samaria, he waffled on Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, he announced that the U.S. might be willing to rejoin the Iranian nuclear deal, he revoked Trump’s designation of the Iranian-backed Houthis as a terrorist organization, and more.

Now, the U.S. (especially Texas) has been hit with a record-breaking storm.

Six: on Feb. 17, 2021, it was reported that there is a leaked July 16, 2020, video of Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, expressing concern to his employees about the Covid-19 vaccine.

Zuckerberg said, “We just don’t know the long-term side effects of basically modifying people’s DNA and RNA … whether that causes other mutations or other risks downstream.”

This seems significant because Facebook has announced an expedited effort to remove posts that say the Covid-19 vaccine changes people’s DNA.

If Zuckerberg can warn his employees about future risks, why are others not allowed to warn people about future risks?

The U.S. Constitution gives citizens freedom of speech, and people like Zuckerberg should not be allowed to take it away.

This is another case of the rich and powerful making rules that apply to others but not themselves.

Finally, if you want to go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

[fuckthe10essays]

Othello dramatizes the hidden conflicts in human life

For all of the major themes in Othello, jealousy, revenge, lack of communication, Othello also shows its hand at bringing out the inner intricacies and conflicts of human life. On the surface level Othello can seem to be a play of only a deranged husband going to crazy town with Iago driving and killing his wife. But a deeper look can show that Othello deals with friendship, manipulation, lack of trust, infidelity, racism and the need to keep up appearances among others. In this essay I will go into detail on these qualities and the dept that Othello as a play achieves.

It’s not hidden in human life precisely, but marriage problems plague this play left right and centre. Othello and Desdemona’s relationship is a rocky one to say the least but an entire lack of communication certainly does not help that. Othello lets Iago fill his head with lies about Desdemona and Cassio rather than asking her straight out is she having an affair, and when he does choose to ask it’s all too late as Othello is already convinced by the handkerchief of their affair. ‘Swear thou art honest.’ Desdemona is of course not having an affair with Cassio she’s all too in love with Othello, but his lack of ability to talk to his wife ends up with four people dead Othello himself included. Othello kills Desdemona in a rage befit of a man been cheated on, except he wasn’t. His lack of communication kills Desdemona, Emilia and eventually himself. This shows how letting the little things build up can result in them blowing up in everyone’s faces. If Othello had only managed to have a conversation with his wife, instead of listening to revenge bent Iago, so many lives could have been saved and disaster could have been avoided.  

As a master of manipulation Iago does not choose to limit himself to the mind of Othello but also to the mind, and pockets, of Rodrigo. Rodrigo is desperate for a relationship with Desdemona and Iago readily uses this for his own gain. Iago uses something as simple and universal as a crush to fund his schemes to bring about Othello’s downfall. Iago tells Rodrigo to bring his money with him to Cyprus ‘Put money in thy purse, follow these wars.’ and subsequently bankrupts him all the while ignoring Rodrigo’s pleas to stop. Iago uses his ‘friendship’ for his plot for revenge and uses Rodrigo once again in the plot to kill Cassio. Iago has no qualms about letting Rodrigo get indicted for Cassio’s attempted murder or for bleeding him dry. Rodrigo is too blind to see how little Iago really cares for him. It’s the disturbing use of friendship and the blasé attitude towards manipulation that shows the dept of depravity in Iago and just how far emotions like jealousy and a need for revenge can take you.

A hidden conflict that we all deal with but seldom speak about is our gullibility and just how easy it is for us to fall for false rumours and speculation. If Othello had half a mind more to ask questions so much tragedy could have been avoided, but alas we need plot points. A fine example of this is the handkerchief debacle involving Cassio. Othello is on the verge of believing in Cassio and Desdemona’s affair and this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Iago has been watering the seed of doubt in Othello’s mind of their affair and when Bianca came in brandishing the handkerchief it finally convinced Othello of Desdemona’s extramarital affair. Othello took this at face value paired with the fact that Iago said that he had seen it at Cassio’s lodgings ‘But such a handkerchief I am sure it was your wife’s did I today see Cassio wipe his beard with.’ just solidifies the belief in Othello’s mind that Desdemona is unfaithful. Othello accepts this as proof of Desdemona’s wrongdoing. This conflict leads to the eventual deaths of Desdemona and Othello, plus Emilia and Rodrigo. If Othello had been more willing to question things and not accept things on the spot, if he was more considerate of his wife and really wondered would she do such a thing, maybe the tragic ending could have been avoided.  

Not only is jealousy a hidden conflict in human life but it also a major theme in this play. This can be especially seen in Iago as a character. Jealousy is one of the main motives that drove him to do what he did. Iago is convinced of the rumour that Othello has slept with his wife Emilia ‘And it is thought abroad that twixt my sheets he has done my office.’ and he desires Cassio’s job after Othello passed him up for a promotion. These two things are reasons enough for him to set about planning and executing the downfall of Othello and Cassio and not caring about who gets hurt along the way. This jealousy of Cassio led to Iago framing him for a riot and then organizing an attempt on his life. This conflict that Iago has created because of his incessant need for revenge leads to many losses of life and irreversible damage on his part. Iago allowed his jealousy to overtake him and it made him the villain of the story. He is a cautionary tale to us all to never allow such violent and destructive feelings to rule us.

A tale as old as time, peer pressure to drink, shows up in Othello as a warning of what happens if you allow people to make you go against your own better judgement. Cassio is well aware of his limits and knows that he cannot hold much alcohol before becoming extremely drunk. ‘I’ll do it, but it dislikes me.’ but yet he accepts Iago’s offer of wine. He drinks continuously and becomes very drunk, drunk enough to fight Rodrigo. ‘I’ll beat the knave into a twiggen bottle.’ This incites a riot which Iago blames on Cassio, even though Iago knew of Cassio being a lightweight and he was the one who offered him alcohol. When Othello ends the riot, he asks Iago who began it. Iago indicts Cassio and Othello then takes away his job. It is these set of events that puts on course Iago’s schemes to enact revenge on Othello. With Cassio mourning his reputation he goes to Desdemona for help which only serves Iago’s needs in insinuating an affair between them. Had Cassio refused Iago’s initial offer so much could have been averted. But the human condition of wanting to fit in and be like everyone else can sometimes take hold of us and the results can end up being disastrous.  

A desire for his good reputation back again is a driving conflict and force for Cassio. His need to get back into Othello’s good books sends him to ask Desdemona to vouch for him. He is unaware that Iago has planned this to look like Desdemona and Cassio are sleeping together and Desdemona does what he asks. To Othello this is just another piece of proof of their ‘affair’. This nagging for Cassio on Desdemona’s part ends up with her dead by Othello’s hands and Cassio nearly dies as well. But another thing stands out as to Cassio and his desire for a good reputation. Cassio and Bianca, a prostitute, are sleeping together. Bianca very obviously likes Cassio and is very jealous when Cassio gives her a handkerchief from another woman to be copied ‘This is some minx’s token.’ but when asked if Cassio would ever marry her, he just laughs it off like the prospect is impossible. The very idea of him lowering himself to marry a woman he likes is impossible because he has a reputation to uphold and Binca certainly does not fit that image. Between his desire for his job back and his scorning of Bianca, Cassio cares so much for his reputation that he is unable to see what is going on around him and just how dangerous it is for him to be asking Desdemona to vouch for him. Or maybe he doesn’t care, and his reputation matters so much to him that the prospect of Desdemona getting hurt means nothing as long as he appears reputable.

In conclusion Othello dramatizes many things and the inner conflicts of the human condition is most definitely one of them. Jealousy, miscommunication, peer pressure, these are all things we have to deal with, and Othello sort immortalizes them. If these characters from 15th century Venice can feel like they have to drink to fit in then it’s no wonder that we can. It’s a reminder that there has always been someone in your position before and if they can make it, why can’t you?

[suicidalcatz]

DOG DAYS ARE OVER : CHAP 9

Pairing : Jake Kiszka x reader

Genre : College AU

Previous parts : Prologue ; Chap 1 ; Chap 2 ; Chap 3 ; Chap 4 ; Chap 5 ; Chap 6 ; Chap 7 ; Chap 8

Masterlist : here

AN : Hello reader ! How we feelin today ? Yeah me too, I guess it’s time for a party then ! But pay extra attention to the title, I warned you. I’ll be waiting at the end, I have some things I’d like to discuss, see you in a few!

Chapter 9 : Be careful, okay ?

Unsurprisingly, it turned out that we were the only ones invited, for some reason I couldn't quite decipher. It was only December so maybe the boys didn't make friends with their other classmates yet, but still I found it odd. They were funny, nice, and really, really skilled. But their friends, or lack of for instance, wasn't a topic I could bring just like that, so I'll have to wait for now and ask any of the twins when we were alone, I guess. Couldn't say I was surprised by their dorms, too, as they were pretty much the same as ours, maybe a little bit more messier. The four of them slept there, in two different rooms, on two different floors, from what I understood.

Josh of course lead the way, while Mandy was whispering questions she couldn't keep in her head but was too shy to say out loud for everybody to hear.

- Who's the long haired bassist ?

- That would be Sam, my little brother, he replied in the same quiet tone. Why ? Interested ?

Mandy poked him in the ribs when he smirked at her in a suggestive way, and I let out a chuckle. The boys were all in favor of going inside to get warm and drink together while getting to know each other. It seemed like a good program. We helped them bring all of their stuff back inside either to the Music Dept building (drums and mic) or their dorm (guitar, bass and amps). And as Jake wouldn't let me lift anything that he deemed heavy, they declared me tambourine supervisor, making a show of putting it in my hands like a holy relic and insisting that this job meant a lot of responsibilities. Not gonna lie I was feeling kind of stupid seeing them carrying gigantic amps in their arms while the tambourine I got kept ringing with every step I took as if to remind me how useless I was.

- Oh that's him you were talking about last time, I said while sneaking a peek at him behind my shoulder. You guys really look alike. And the drummer is your childhood friend Danny, right ?

Josh looked positively surprised for a moment before acquiescing, asking me how I knew this info.

- Jake told me one time, when you were rehearsing.

The thought of that night made me smile to myself, remembering the awful pictures and odd war metaphors with poor Danny trying to calm everybody down. However, my smile disappeared quickly when I caught Josh's unamused expression. It didn't last long, hardly a second, before he found his usual cheerful self, but it was enough to make me uneasy. Something in his eyes told me there was something wrong. And I knew it was linked to Jake, I just ignored why. A piece of the puzzle was missing and it was slowly upsetting me since nobody cared to tell me. He was weird when he saw the both of us hanging out together, and flipped when he discovered we texted, but I thought we were over that now. So was he still upset about the whole thing ? Should I avoid talking about it even though I have his phone number too now ? Or am I being totally paranoid ?

The singer abruptly stopping still in the middle of the hallway got me out of my thoughts, though, painfully so since I face-planted on the back of his head and shoulder blades, making the tambourine ring in the process.

- Please stay with us mama, we're here.

Rubbing my nose, I heard Sam snort loudly and probably at me but had already been warned that he was a sass master, so took no offense in it. Danny, on the other hand, seemed like the sweetest dude alive. Always smiling and asking if we needed help with anything, with a quiet charm and a soothing aura. What a great guy. Now that I knew a bit more about the Kiszkas, I felt sympathy for his poor soul.

Jake came by my side, and I suddenly got surrounded by the twins, one of them waiting impatiently at my left, and the other filling the empty space between the wall and I. Gently dropping his amp on the ground, he searched in his jeans pockets for the key to their room, lightly brushing my face with his hair in the process, before bending over a little to unlock the door. He moved aside just enough so that Josh could have the honor of introducing us to their room by violently slamming the door open while posing and screaming « TADA ! ». Shaking his head, Jake got in first, seemingly not in the mood to wait for his brother, switching on the lights and putting his guitar and amp at their place in a corner of the room. Josh motionned us to go first, and Mandy pushed me by the shoulders.

It looked... just like them. And smelled like them, too. The ground was covered by gigantic berber carpets, bunk beds were on the side of a wall, cornered by guitars, amps, and boxes of vinyles piled up in a tower. Some rock legends posters were displayed here and there next to their respective beds, and facing their single wardrobe, which I supposed they all had 2 drawers of it. On top of it was a turntable, and facing the door a window and a messy, messy desk. Orange leathered fatboys were sitting on the floor, an ashtray was hiding in a corner beside the wardrobe, and a door next to the desk was leading the way to their kitchen. Raising my head, I saw they had decorated their celling with colorful fabrics in red, maroon and orange, keeping one of them at the window as a curtain. Numerous mobiles hung by the celling, some of them with agate and quartz stones of every color, others in the shape of animals crafted by hand, and the whole room smelled of masculine perfume and incense. It was so them I was suddenly aware of where I stood and every nervousness I had lost came rushing back again.

- Welcome to our humble home, greeted Josh as Sam had already climbed barefoot on the top bunk.

- Please make yourself comfortable, added Jake.

The brunette removed his shoes and went around the room to get a towel in order to scrub his sweaty face, letting it stay around his neck. Danny asked Mandy if he could take the beer keg to get us all drinks and she thanked him, standing by my side frozen in their doormat.

- Oh please don't stay here ladies, have a seat, anywhere you want.

Josh didn't even have to turn around from his vinyle collection to know we didn't move an inch, it was honestly scary how well he knew us already. That piqued Jake's interest who raised his head and gestured for us to come.

- This is my bed, he said while straightening the covers a bit, feel free to sit on it if you want to.

Jake then sat down on the bottom bunk and gave a heavy pat on the mat, and that's the moment Mandy chose to shake out of it and push me on the bed in the less discreet way possible to make sure I couldn't sit anywhere else but besides Jake. I swear to God.

The death glare I gave her when she made herself comfortable on a fatboy was so intense that she felt it and smirked at me. Unbearable.

- Be careful not to bump your head, okay ?

Jake's raspy voice came to my ears and when I turned my head he was smiling at me, hand on the back of the top bed. We were cramped in here, not having much space to ourselves and almost hitting our heads with every movement we made, but it came with a strange sense of security and intimacy. You could put a curtain around us, and it'd be like we were all alone.

- If you're uncomfortable you can always sit on the ground or take the desk chair, interrupted Josh without looking away from his vinyles.

Both his brother and I shot a glance at him but he wasn't returning the favor, instead he kept his face burried in his boxes, trying to find something to listen to. His behavior was beginning to concern me more than I thought it would. And even Jake raised a questionning brow at his intervention. For some reason he looked really serious, with a closed expression. Not someone you'd like to ask the hour on the street. I shrugged it off for now, like the others did, telling myself it'll pass eventually, and that we were all gonna have a fun night together. Once Josh finally found something worth listening to, Sam let out a loud sigh of relief before relaxing into the bed cracking under him, letting his long legs hang into the nothingness between the mattress and the ground.

- Oh, you must be reading my mind, he groaned. Finally some fucking good music. All those pop and rap concerts today nearly made my head explode.

We all snickered at that comment and a smiley Danny put a goblet of beer in all of our hands before settling down next to Mandy. Once Josh was absolutely sure of his choice of music and nodded along in the rythmn of the first few seconds, he climbed on the desk and clapped his hands in his little brother's direction, something that surprised me for a second before Sam threw a little box his way, and I understood. They had a weed box, that Josh opened and began to roll a joint for us to smoke together.

As the night went on, my former stiff posture got more relaxed, and Mandy had already befriended every person in the room, requesting for Sam to teach her how to roll a proper joint, and laughing at Danny's witty interventions on the matter. We were pleasantly either drunk or high at this point and Josh got into an unstoppable karaoke mode, blessing us with his singing and exaggerated dance moves, only focused on the music blaring through the turntable's speaker. Jake and I were face to face now, sitting cross-legged while he passionately shared his knowledge on astronomy with me. And I knew for a fact that in this moment all the stars he spoke about were nothing in comparision to the ones he had put into my eyes when he talked with such passion to what he and other people  deemed as nerdy subjects. With the alcohol running in my veins, listening carefully to the words coming out of his mouth was becoming more of a challenge, especially when said mouth looked so delicious, with his voice low and eyelids hooded by the drinks he had.

- I'm sorry that's not interesting, he finally apologized while running his fingers through his hair.

- What, no ! I love listening to you, you know so much stuff, it's impressive.  

On the covers, my hand found his knee in a reassuring manner, too fixed on his smile to care about everything else. The world could catch on fire and I wouldn't even notice, had a feeling he wouldn't either. We were in our own little bubble, not paying attention to anything that wasn't the other. Mandy flirting with Sam, Danny contemplating the ceiling, Josh singing loudly ; everything was just background noise to us. Certainly because he was drunk himself, Jake took my hand in his to give my knuckles a light peck kiss.

- Thank you. If only people were more like you...

He trailed off, taken aback by the sudden music change, and gave me back my hand. My heart was still banging against my ribcage while he was trying to guess what the song was, asking his twin for a confirmation. The sensation of his soft lips against my hand was still very vivid, and my brain was too busy replaying his last sentence again and again to think of anything else. A fluttering sensation I knew too well spread in my stomach when he returned his attention to me, a boyish smile adorning his mouth. I could ear him say how much he loved that band, but my heart was still thumping so loud in my ears that I stood there in silence, replying to his smile with my own and craddling my hand with the other like I just got burned.

Unaware of my internal breakdown, Jake let the joint hang between his lips, and my gaze could only follow his movements before he noticed me.

- My bad, do you want some ?

My whole being was on auto pilot and I only bobbed my head at his question, letting the boy in front of me put the joint between my own lips, getting his zippo to light it for me.

- There ya go, don't inhale too hard or your head'll get dizzy. Try to keep the smoke in for a bit.

Taking a deep breath, I did as I was instructed, his eyes never leaving mine as I did, careful and cautious until he motioned for me to blow. As an art student, it obviously wasn't my first time smoking weed, because all stereotypes were true, people here smoked a lot. More than necessary if you'd ask me. But it felt good nevertheless to be taken care of while I did, even being instructed what do to. I didn't cough, but my face heated up almost instantly as I felt the smoke burn my lungs and my vision getting a bit blurry with the drinks I had before. The whole room reeked of weed and booze Sam had toppled on the carpet, the air filled with a thick cloud of white smoke mixing with those of the incenses Josh had lit up earlier. Jake took the joint between his fingers, considering the few centimeters left before looking at me with a serious expression.

- Do you trust me ?

- Of course I do.

Maybe sober me would've said that it depended on the topic or asked what shenanigans he was up too, but drunk me was on autopilot mode and couldn't get enough of Jake, whether it was his scent, his voice, or his fingers and knees brushing mine because of how close we were sitting. So it really didn't matter right now, I trusted him with anything.

- Come closer, he muttered while putting half of the joint on his mouth.

He gestured for me to get closer to him and swiftly brushed my hair behind my shoulder before framing my face with both of his hands, fingers linking our two heads together as he leaned on me, keeping us merely inches apart. With the joint between us, he began blowing smoke for me to inhale, keeping it from escaping with the barrier his hands formed. It was intense. Both the strong effects and the proximity of our bodies. I don't know which one made my heart rate go wild, too concentrated on his eyes just in front of me, body heat emanating of his body and bathing mine in a warm sensation. I could feel some of his fingers gently tug on my hair as it got tangled in it, and automatically put my hands on his shoulders during the exhange, giving it a firm squeeze when I couldn't take more weed. It hardly lasted more than a few seconds but everything seemed to happen in the painfullest slow imaginable. I coughed, this time, not letting go of Jake's arms as he took me in his arms, rubbing circles on my back.

- Are you crazy ?

Tiny tears had gathered at the corner of my eyes because of the smoke but I could still clearly ear Josh's humorless voice next to us. My back was facing him so I missed the exchange but Jake's body tensed and his hand left my back as he shrugged, probably silently asking his brother what was up. Wanting to calm my breathing to listen to them only made my body betray me as a violent coughing fit got over me, causing me to shake and Jake to reaffirm his hold on me.

- Can't you tell she's not used to it ? Good job, Jake.

- I'll get her some water.

His voice resonnated in my ear before I felt him slowly detach himself from me to get up. I could tell part of him was upset his brother kept nagging him, but the other one probably felt too guilty to retort and he just got to the sink with an empty glass in hand. Scrubbing my eyes, I met Josh's sympathetic gaze before he patted me on the hand, and even though I'd usually appreciate his concern, his whole bizarre behavior had me more upset than anything at this point so I shook his hand off to follow Jake in the next room, slaloming between Danny's large sleepy body and Mandy and Sam's spot. I found him in the dark, standing back to the door, checking the water with his index finger to make sure it was cold enough.

- Hey.

When the brunette looked at me, his concerned eyes made me instantly feel guilty. Maybe I should've been more responsible, but I was okay, more than okay, I didn't drink too much or anything, just enough to feel light-headed, and there really wasn't anything to get worried about.

- I'm sorry I made you smoke too much, he started while filling the red cup.

- You didn't do anything wrong, I just had a coughing fit. You know, I said while getting closer, I used to do this with friends so you don't have to feel bad or anything.

A small smile spread at the corner of his lips and he turned off the water, only looking at me when he handed me the cup. And after all the booze, weed, and smoke, I must admit it felt pretty nice to have cold water running down my throat.

- I know, but I should've been more cautious, y'know ? One time I got carried away and my girlfriend got sick so I should've known better s'all.

My heart stopped at his words. I didn't hear correctly what he just said. It wasn't possible. Maybe I was too drunk after all, imagining things that nobody said, ever. A painful lump grew in my throat, making it impossible for me to drink anymore. My stomach was in knots, overcoming my whole body with a nauseous feeling. My voice was small and strangled as I spoke.

- Your girlfriend ?

- Yeah, Mina. She lives in our hometown so it's kinda hard, but I feel like you two would get along so fine. You kinda remind me of her sometimes, you know ?

A fond and nostalgic smile danced on his lips as he said that, making me want to vomit for real now. Not because I was disgusted, but because my stomach kept turning on itself, and my breath was stuck in my lungs. I put the cup back in the sink when I noticed my fingers were shaking. How could've been so stupid ? Of course he had a girlfriend. I wanted to cry and then laugh at myself for being so dumb. Of course there was no way this perfect boy was single, what was I even thinking ? Anger started rising within me, at myself, for being this delusional. I was feeling downright pathetic to have ever thought he could love me the way I loved him, and what pained me the most was that I was the only one I could blame.

- Everything alright here ?

That's when Josh's head peaked through the open door and I sucked in a breath, feeling tears clouding my vision. Unable to bear it much longer, I faked a headache and waved everyone goodbye, only letting myself cry in the comfort of my dorm.

-----------------------------------------------

AN : Not gonna lie I’m so stressed about this chapter, please don’t hate me, I had this idea in mind for a while now. The Angst Days Are Not Over unfortunately, but it’ll get better in a few chapters. Please let me know what you think, feel free to message me or review, see you on Saturday for Part 10 ! (And I’m currently writing Part 13 atm) As always, thanks for the love and support, I know this is a slow burn so you might get impatient but we’ll get to it soon now.

[thoughtlesstales]

Frat Boys & Boobs

Title: Frat Boys & Boobs Word Count: 1606 Rating: Teen Relationship: Oliver Queen x Felicity Smoak Characters: Felicity Smoak, Oliver Queen, Sara Lance, Tommy Merlyn Triggers: None 

Prompt by olicityslowburn: olicity college AU. "Anyone with boobs can get a frat boy to do anything". Please and thank you

“Oh my God, look it’s Oliver Queen,” Sara hissed ducking her head so her hair would fall around her face in effectively hiding her. Felicity looked over her friend's shoulder and noticed the billionaire frat boy enter the room with a friend, who she was pretty sure was Tommy Merlyn. She knew the reputation the pair held, they would spend their nights partying and sleeping around with other girls and then turn up the class late and cause trouble with the professors.   

“Seriously Sara?” She sighed an eyebrow raising, but a slow smile curling the edges of her bright pink lips. “You’ve been trying to get in that guy’s pants for weeks now, you’d think him declining you would be enough.” She laughed bringing the pen she held in her fingers to mouth so she could chew the end as she watched them arguing over something. There was something about him she couldn’t place. Yeah he was a dick, he reputation proved that, but sometimes she thought alot of it was just an act.

“He’s just shy and he’s just come out of a relationship with that Helena chick, he obviously doesn’t want to jump into another one.” Sara answered matter of factly while she peeked through her cascading blonde hair to watch Oliver push Tommy away so he could settle into his seat a row above them, but at the other end.

“He’s a guy Sara, more importantly he’s a frat boy; Anyone with boobs can get a frat boy to do anything,” Felicity smirked. “So I just think you’re lacking in that department,” she teased.

“Shut it Smoak!” Sara laughed throwing an eraser at her best friend’s head. “It’s not like you’re much better, but if you think you’re little saying is true, prove it!” Sara offered the challenge and felicity knew it would be be rude to not give it a go.

“Alright, I will prove it to you and when I do you owe me that Game of Thrones box set” Felicity grinned. “The collectors edition one!” she pointed out knowing it much more expensive.

“Fine. but if I win you pay for my Kick boxing classes for the next month,” Sara agreed offering her hand. Felicity shook it and the bet was on.

***

“Another one?” Oliver laughed in disbelief. “That’s the third one this week, I’m already behind with Kellerman’s class, anymore and he’s going to kick me out!”

“You’re turning soft Ollie,” Tommy chuckled slapping his friend on the back. “We need to get you laid some more now you’re over with Helena.”

“Well lets keep it to the weekends, my dad will kill me if I get kicked out another school!”

“Fine, fine,” Tommy nodded. “Hey look it’s that Lance chick that keeps hitting on you, you should give her a chance, she’s more than willing,” Tommy teased pointing across the room to where Sara and Felicity were sat.

“Nah I’m good I’m not interested in her,” Oliver shook his head and eyed the other blonde behind her, the one with brightly coloured lipstick. “That’s Felicity with her isn’t it?” Oliver asked as casually as he could. Ever since he had first seen her with Sara, only a few steps behind her, waiting while she had been speaking with Oliver, he had been fascinated with the blonde hair and bright colours. There was just something about her that he liked and he couldn’t put his finger on it. She was just so fresh compared to everyone else, Oliver knew she was intelligent, well she was a genius, everyone said so; but it wasn’t that, she just seemed like the type of person who didn’t care what people said or who someone was, it was like she saw someone for who they really were and not the masks they put on.

“Yeah and?” Tommy asked confused to where his friend was heading. “Wait you like her?” He grinned. Oliver shook his head and tried to remove her from his mind. “No wait you’re whipped!” Tommy cried hands raising up in shock. “You’ve never even spoken to the girl and you’re falling for her!”

“Shut it!” Oliver growled pushing his friend out the way to sit down.

***

This was the only class Felicity had with Sara and then Oliver Queen. So it was the lesson that Felicity never really got anything done, since Sara would spend the time talking non stop to her and then she might have secretly been watching Oliver for most of it. She was never like this, well okay, she sneaked a few glances in his direction now and then, who could blame her, he was more than attractive; but he really wasn’t her type, all he did was party and sleep around, not the kind of person she needed in her life.

Thankfully the lesson ended quickly enough and after some thought, Felicity had thought of what she was going to ask Oliver. It was something that would benefit her much more than it did him, but she was to curious for her own good and she had to prove something else, whether it really was all just a mask and that he was a completely different person behind it.

Her and Sara rose from their seatsand hurriedly started towards the door hoping to catch Oliver. Felicity had pulled her already low top down some, exposing more chest than she thought was really necessary, but she didn’t plan on losing this best.

“Oliver!” she called out stopping a few steps behind him. “Have you got a second?” she asked when he turned around to face her.

“I, uh, yeah sure,” he nodded hastily eyes moving back and forth between her face and chest. A smirked crossed her face and she heard Sara mutter ‘Dammit’ behind her.

“I was just wondering if you could help me?” she asked biting down on her lip as she looked up at him through her lashes, cursing the height difference.

“Yeah, why not, what can I do?”

“Well the IT dept. I’m with need help with moving equipment and stuff over to the new building this weekend and we’re to being as many people as we can and well, I thought you’d be the ideal person to help,” she nodded hugging her books closer to her chest. Oliver couldn’t keep his eyes still, they moved from her face to her chest to a different part of the room again and again.

“This weekend?” he asked looking at Tommy who was shaking his head. “Sure I can do this weekend,” he agreed ignoring his friend.

“Fantastic,” Felicity grinned. “I’ll text you the details.” Turning to look at Sara who was looking annoyed now that she had been proven wrong Felicity tucked her arm through hers and walked out the room.

“But you don’t have my number!” Oliver called out behind her, Felicity didn’t both turning around to answer him because she’d quite easily get her hands on his number, she’d probably only have to ask Sara.

“So you’ll be ordering my box set tonight?” Felicity grinned looking towards Sara.

“I can’t believe it, it was like you had him under some kind of spell, I thought he was better than that and actually liked the women he went after,” she grumbled tipping her head to Felicity’s shoulder.

“He’s a frat boy, nothing more to it,” Felicity said softly. She had been hoping she was wrong and that Sara was right in saying that Oliver was different.

***

Oliver and Tommy were just about to leave when Oliver heard his name being called. When he turned to see who it was, he couldn’t have been more surprised to see Felicity Smoak calling it. He couldn’t believe she was actually talking to him, he had always kinda thought she didn’t like guys like him. For some reason Oliver couldn’t help but notice that Felicity had a lot of chest on show, in fact he was pretty sure he could see her yellow lace bra, it was distracting as hell and it seemed to block his ears.

“I, uh, yeah sure,” he nodded answering her after a moment of realising she had spoken, but his eyes seemed to have a mind of their own. He kind of expected her to be asking him for to get her into some club or something else which only he could get, so when she asked him if he could help her out this weekend with one of the IT dept. moves, the surprise was obvious; she wanted to spend time with him outside the classroom and it wasn’t at a party or somewhere he was familiar with, it was on her terms and her place.

Tommy had obviously wanted him to say no so they could go partying, but this was some prime opportunity to spend some time with her. So he agreed to it and manage to keep his gaze on her face for longer than minute and he felt a little better about himself, because unlike any other time he had felt a little annoyed with himself that he could be distracted so easily.

“Great now we can’t go out tomorrow night,” Tommy sighed. “But she had some great...” Tommy motioned with his hands on his own chest.

Oliver whirled round and glared. “Don’t!” he growled fists at his side clenched.

“Seriously?” Tommy demanded. “You couldn’t keep your eyes on her face so don’t start on me!  When this blows back in your face, don’t let me forget to tell you ‘I told you so’,” he sighed grabbing his bag and walking off leaving Oliver stood still in the doorway to the classroom.

[castlehead]

makeshift feels from the opinion lab

kafka wrote in a journal urhmherm of being limited to prague, then his room, then his bed, then nothing at all. to be limited at last to nothing at all. well. turns out i guess the most kafkaesque sentiment came from franz kafka.

enjoi ya rickety gethsemane while it is still to be dreamed, young writers, young writers of youth.

after a job on a hot day back in april or may or something i started listening to this while walking out of the truck towards the gas station convenience store and abruptly pivoted away from the sliding doors to sneak around the side and weep near the green fencing around some boilers. it occurred to me how little i could ever forgive myself for doing.

the shit ive done, all of it, i havent forgiven myself. if i did it and it was bad, or even meagre, dumb, really no big deal, bet yr ass it still keeps me from thinking i deserve happiness. i do not forgive myself for anything ive ever done. no deed is too temporal to etch itself cleanly into my head as something unforgivable, if only it makes a small point.

i know this is true because no joy i ever feel is felt fully, because i do not think it is deserved; and because i allow myself to be joyous only when i think of the truth of my unforgiven, unforgivable state. never to be. Never will.

and that is what is depression.

There must be something here, in me. Here where the jackals caterwAul Like streetcats Mewing their gizzard After this night’s heat, What’ll it be Jackals, Buzz off, shit man

i feel like the key to life is knowing that 90 percent of anxiety & depression, either in degree or in its truth, and at least somewhere not wracked by war, is unsubstantiated (the ten percent being actual crises, like fear of violence, a death in the family, etc). The problem is how persuasive these feelings can be that lead to the fulfillment of the very fear or solidifying the reason for being depressed. But with positive feelings, the least thing, whether true or no, can always be rewarding. A bit of happiness must be allowed to be felt, indiscriminately, because it is more useful to us than a bit of sadness. Take the fierce dialectic u use to establish a depressing ‘truth’ and persuade yourself of something good. If one is far fetched, let it be the something bad. Until it happens, after all, all of it remains in your head, to do with what u will.

You don’t get to lower taxes on the rich and gut social services at the same time. The reason social services are in place is to provide a fair shake for john q public. Mostly investors are feeling the benefits of the corporate tax cut. They’re not giving the money towards a better product that would help the people. but one day there will be no sesame seeds on the bun of yr Big Mac and you’ll wonder how that’s possible with an entire sesame seed dept that just got a pay raise.

tax reform should be done to help a free market, so that the rich can be poor and the poor rich. Taxation helps the people so that social services become less necessary. Social services were developed because the percentage of taxation was unequal between higher and lower class. Poor folks felt the pain while rich folks shrugged it off.

Thats why I say you can’t do both: social services are a protection against the world being entirely controlled, if it’s not already, by those from the very swamp this president wants to drain. T**** hasn’t drained shit.

i feel like writing takes over for your thought process. You can’t think and write at the same time, or something. something turns off or it switches where it’s doing the shit it’s doing to a different place, like yr hands. I don’t think you can write down one linear thought with another thought being thought in your head. This is why people say their mind goes blank in extended periods of inspiration. The functioning has gone from being untethered and temporal, ie wandering thoughts, notions, speculating, to being possessed in a focused place, ie yr hands, which usually leads to a more focused expression of perhaps a thought of particular value, enough in the first place to require writing down. But tho this can be easy for some talented people, who might, as Joyce said, polish their nails while writing some genius thing, what does not come easy for anybody, because it is imposssible, is thinking two disparate things, of the everyday and of some behemoth philosophic concept, for example, without either one taken place after or before; or, one of them being intermittently disturbed, tho linearly, by the other, like a notification on yr phone- until at last one of the two breaks down, and the foxus superseded by the one left. This is especially novel. One thinks; one does not think and also think. That would make it two people in one head. Therefore we can presume that ones identity is found in the unity, or internal focus, of their story in thoughts down one narrow wire: thought can cross many paths and examine everything under and beyond th sun, but per person it is still in the singular. It cannot divide into two simultaneous paths of equal focus. there can be multilayered thoughts with a similar core concept behind them, and these can be thought simultaneously as much as one can ante up and dole out shades of emotion and shades of thought, and so on. But I cannot think of a teleological explanation for all creation and with the same focus Apply myself to letters in the mail. There is a dominant voice, and the rest, the mundane voice, is seen thru that lens.

ya cant say yr colorblind then gripe about people hatin ya cuz u r white. contradiction of terms no? if you really didnt see color, ud say people hated yr ass because yr a damnfool entrylevel, grunt-ass lowbrow. not because of the color of ya skin, which ya recognized and put to the forefront in making that very statement.

feel like uh, a priori is not intuition alone. Intuition is a function of the mind, while a priori is, if I understand Kant correctly, a representation synthesized before there is an object of focus available for the senses to interpret, ie an essentially true conclusion drawn, that has no need for a combined manifold, as, Kant tells us, is offered by merely living in space and time: time to extend and progress from cause to effect to cause, and space to do it in. In other words, intuition is cognitive- psychological, and a priori, theoretical- logical.

Pathos is the one thing most divine about people, for i see that in my worst state I can still grieve for the savaging of life’s last hope, and be uplifted, feel tears, at least for a little blessed while. There is no state so low that does not inspire one to at least pity themselves, and feel the comfort of passions, however mistaken or wretched the person.

i feel that / Some subjects do not even allow to be proved through the scientific method, yet they are still issues of a scientific nature and not just mysticism. the line is very thin however, since usually these subjects devolve into mysticism. In fact, if science only worked with that which could be proven, from the outset or otherwise, we’d have a pretty limited roster of discoveries. Sometimes discoveries can be made along the way towards proving; sometimes, discoveries can be made, scientifically, thru means that for lack of anything better, are entirely theoretical. And sometimes the search is not to prove something true but to clarify something. Science is not out to be incontrovertible.

The man in mismatched sox inhaled not as deeply as he would have liked at such a crescendo, even if on the third listen in a row, then, looked up at the massive pure blue upwards, cloudless, felt likely to cry for joy, but in the end simply mouthed the words:

“I’m gonna die of loneliness, fo sho.”

So often doth trespass our intuition upon realms and pathways of a more intimate enumeration of cause and effect than could be available to any witness, and that is available only to the actioning of objects involved in the event seen and analyzed by what and who were no player.

The crisis paid goodbyes in the form of telling your ass off, is what he said. But we all knew he thought he was merely a parable often enough already. We didn’t listen to the crisis, deliberately shut our ears like boxing them very slowly ourselves before anyone else could. Later in the year many terrible events would occur that were the direct result of ignoring his words. But nobody came around to believing he did it. The crisis was way off teaching prophecies someplace probably foreign. But if I refuse to be confined to learning from my own folly I should at least give the follies of others a chance. Fatass karma, and more hell than handbasket.

What the crisis he said was

HEY YOU DONT WANT TO FACE JACK, FACE? TELL ME ABOUT HOW CRUELTY CAN BE ELEGANT AGAIN. YOU ARE FACING NO SUCH BURDEN OF SIMPLY LIVING. TELL ME WHAT HALLUCINATIONS ARE, YOU SWOLLEN, DYSPEPTIC SHIT.

And to this day All I remember is him Looking slain already Like he’d be on the slab In days Or even hundreds of years from then And it’d be how, uh, how He looked then Slamming the door While my sister and things Was gatherin they buckets for weeping later In that queer disease of spite where You grieve for the vanquished enemy.

all triumph is in some sense humorous, for in itself triumph is the opposite of tragedy. that is why the soldier laughs as he shoots at a retreating enemy. there is an element of rowdiness that is somewhat comedic, taken in itself.

Numbers are the only symbols that stand for what they are. In this way they are more like hieroglyphs

is bed porn a thing? it should definitely be a thing.

THIS LIFE IS FILLED WITH DARKNESS THIS DARKNESS IS SO LIGHT GOD IN HEAVEN QUA SKY MUST BEAT WINGS TO KEEP ON GROUND NOTHING MUCH IS EVER FOUND NOTHING MUCH IS EVER FOUND. No symbols where none intended etc etc

No art is permanent, in that its aims in being created do not last, do not translate between epochs. I will never experience Homer as one living in Ancient Greece. Have not closely read Homer, but when I do it will be as myself in my time, with all the sullying context of those years from then to now only left to unguide me.

Kierkegaard tricks you into thinking he knows his insanity is illogical, the side effect of writing his labyrinths. The frightening moment comes when you realize how fiercely logical his insanity seems to him, and how insane the World actually is, and you wonder if it is that you do not understand it or just do not accept it.

[chaos-coming]

My little sister is often very frustrating in her ignorance and complete lack of awareness of her own privileged and very inexperienced perspective on the world. And ofc you cant say anything to her, she just wont hear it because shes the worlds most special and smartest princess.

She is like completely convinced that shes going to win a fullbright next year, solely based on the fact that her friend from ireland managed to get one through a loophole during 2020 plague times when people were dropping out.

Like babe idk how to tell you that the competition in ireland with its 4 million people on a little rock in the north atlantic is not the same as the competition for fullbrights in the usa. (It should be obvious that since fullbright is run through the us dept of state its requirements for giving out international fullbrights are waaay different than the competition within the imperial core). Let alone that the pandemic situation isnt the same and that kind of exception is no longer being made because the crisis isnt new anymore.

Its just... something in the flippant way she shrugged and said, "I'll just do the fullbright next year instead" just really bothered me like do you sincerely think you are fullbright material? And that youre so qualified that you are banking on it and turning down other options in anticipation, when you havent even applied yet? What exactly have you done with your life so far besides spend daddys money and develop the egotistic hubris of an english undergrad?

This unearned confidence shows so so much privilege and it grates on me because she is not even forming backup plans, just acting like a fucking fullbright is something she is entitled to somehow so of course she will get it.

Also she didnt know anyone in our diaspora growing up and hasnt lived her adult life here so she thinks shes special for being an ethnic minority like babe there are so many of us in the usa and youre definitely not the only one applying to this program and youre definitely not the most qualified, and youre not even going to be competitive if you dont step it up and show intention (like start taking a damn language class before you apply instead of relying on the scholarship you likely wont get to teach you your own gd language). Ugh ok im done having this episode of older brother disease.

[rareearthsinvestor]

The United States Election and The Rare Earths Sector (Part 1)

The United States (US) Election and Rare Earths (RE): Investor Considerations with a Republican Win (Part 1)

First in a two-part Blog on the RE sector, a Black Swan event and the impact of a potential new Republican Administration.

Summary

1. Global focus on the RE sector has never been more public

2. RE Black Swan triggers maybe quickly converging

2. US strategic military RE/related value chain is being built

4. Would a Republican administration support future value chain RE  

   focused company involvement outside US borders?

On the RE Investor Forum, we are interested in discussing and sharing potential RE sector investment ideas. Clearly, we do not ignore the information that RE companies release and which is placed on both the REI website (www.rareearthsinvestor.com) and Forum. However, likewise, politics also cannot be ignored in any comprehensive due diligence undertaken by individual investors in the RE sector. Specifically, macro decision making at both the national and international level; particularly actionable moves involving legislation and financing, etc., should be carefully considered by RE stock investors.

Hype, Depression and now Anticipation (2010 – 2020)

Since the RE hype that was generated by the international dispute between China and Japan in 2010 and the highlighting of RE as a political weapon, we have had a very mediocre RE investment environment. In fact, long term RE stock holders have probably seen in general, noticeable decreases in their RE investment values; particularly, if they bought in the first half of the last decade. But, since 2019 we have had a much more animated RE sector. In fact, 2020 has seen all sorts of news articles and analyst reports (free and fee based) touting the RE sector; including, a slew of RE company releases, a number of which come from first time entities into the RE sector.

So, why have we had such a recent increase in the critical metals’ news narrative? Noticeably, the 2019 narrative focused on the electric car revolution and particularly, the Lithium supply. However, this focus has since moved to emphasizing the place of RE in the green energy revolution. A major factor for this change I would speculate has been the direct intervention of US President Trump in global trade. In particular, for the first time this century a US administration has directly confronted China with regard to trade between the two superpowers.

In fact, Trump has placed various sanctions and tariffs on Chinese goods leading to some trade retaliation by China. Both sides eventually signed a Phase One trade deal. However, the COVID issue has now seriously impacted China’s ability to make their 2020 trade deal quota’s. Further, the US President is presently facing a election battle with his economy decimated by the virus. Both superpowers are still at loggerheads over future trade issues, etc., and the US President is directly blaming China for the COVID virus spread and threatening ‘retaliation’. Further the global news narrative has highlighted RE as a sector that the Chinese dominate and could be used to sanction the US. Specifically, dependent on the length and magnitude of any such RE/related material and component stoppages by China, US military needs may be directly and negatively impacted.      

To try and lessen this RE/related supply stranglehold that China has on US military needs, US legislative action has been initiated (e.g., Onshore RE Act - OREA) to begin establishing a RE/related value chain.  

The present Republican admin’ sees China RE dominance as a strategic issue. Further, US military issues and support have been a key policy focus for Trump. Interestingly, the Dept. of Defense (DoD) Requests for interest (RFI) on RE have also indicated a possible build out of RE/related supply for commercial use, after military needs are met. Consequently, we have seen mention of future tax incentives offered to business (as well as RE/related companies) to create or bring back within borders manufacture (e.g., Reclaiming American RE Act and the OREA). However, any RE commercial development is clearly secondary to the US military strategic supply issue.

RE and a Black Swan (2020-2021)?

The Japan – China issue of 2010 has been identified as a Black Swan event which had a positive impact on the stock prices of many RE companies at the time (some with little more than a piece of paper claiming a RE deposit). On the surface this Black Swan was driven by a fishing boat incident. Today, investors have to consider that the present global political and RE environment is more complex than in 2010. Specifically, there are major issues that may well be converging that might just drive an even more powerful RE Black Swan event than in 2010. For example, today we see the following very public issues coalescing:

1.   A global public recognition that China dominates a RE sector that is needed to help drive the new energy revolution, which is at the very heart of the Climate Change movement.

2.   US and China are locked in an ongoing trade dispute in which sanctions, tariffs and tech’ company bans are all seen by both sides as ‘tools’ for advancing (or retaliating) around trade demands.

3.   US recognition that significant strategic military needs are controlled by Chinese RE/related supply, which has already led to US RE legislation and funding moves.

4.   China openly recognizes their RE dominance as a very real retaliatory political trade mechanism e.g., ‘no chips, no RE’.

5.   The US Republican administration directly blames China for failing to attempt to prevent the initial spread of the COVID virus throughout the globe and should, therefore, suffer consequences for such negligence.

6.   President Trump holds China responsible for destroying both (his) US economy and employment figures, both of which he would have used as the foundation for a much stronger reelection campaign now side tracked by questions on e.g., his response to the pandemic and same time emergent civil rights issues, etc.

A 2021 Trump Administration and RE

So, let us assume here that the Republicans maintain the Presidency for 2021 -2025 along with at least one branch of the legislature. What might we speculate for the RE sector (based on past public documents, actions and statements)? Trump would take reelection as a vindication of his policies over the last 4 years. He is focused on the economy and the impact of his policies on trade, the market and US employment, etc. So, there is no reason to feel Trump would not continue at least a similar China trade approach. Remember, again, the Chinese are unlikely to meet their agreed-on Phase One trade goals for 2020. Also, again, Trump has said he holds China responsible for the COVID spread; further sanctions could be coming.

(In fact, in contrast, should Trump lose the election he may well use the ‘Lame Duck’ session for pushing through his ‘final wishes’. This may well include trying to punish China, whom he will directly blame for his election loss. Trump will no longer need a friendly posture towards Xi and the President is a counter puncher towards any who he perceives to have wrong him, personally. However, this will also depend on if he can bring at least some of his probable election defeated cowering party along with him. Such US hostility could, in turn, see a swift Chinese RE related retaliation; something both highly public and quick to enact based on the recently enacted Chinese export control law).  

Recent US Republican admin’ moves have already seen several RE/related companies receive support via initial DoD funding. Initial funding has been given to MP Materials and Lynas-Blue Line to work on designs for heavy RE (HRE) processing facilities. Both have feedstock (although MP Mats’ as yet has to indicate where HRE supply for their facility might be derived). Also, US private company Urban Mining has been funded to help develop its RE waste magnet production abilities. Other US companies (including eMagin Corp’ and Spirit AeroSystems) and a United Kingdom company (Meggitt – Rockwell) which all make parts for the US military have also received DoD funding; along with the UK TechMet, which is involved in other critical metals production. Likewise, the US Dept’ of Energy (DOE) has provided recent grants to a number of US universities and small companies for basic research on RE element usage, geological and recycled extraction RE reduction via substitution.  

Both news narrative and analysts have also highlighted the involvement of ‘friendly’ countries in any potential US RE/related strategic value chain. We have already mentioned several UK companies (though not specifically RE companies) who have received US DoD funding. However, next door neighbors Canada also ‘houses’ a number of RE projects. For example, news and company releases indicate that Vital Metals are looking to RE feedstock production in Canada in 2021 and have indicated the aim to set up a concentration facility next to the proposed Saskatchewan Research Council’s (SRC) RE processing facility (production 2022). There are a number of other RE feedstock companies based in Canada including Appia Energy and Commerce Resources, etc. While the SRC has indicated interest by several RE feedstock companies in providing supply to their processor no specific suppliers have been identified. This is not surprising as the SRC itself, has as of yet not identified any offtakes for their proposed RE process production. Lack of documented offtakes has, in fact, plagued RE company financing over the past decade.  

Therefore, the question remains as to where all this proposed Canadian RE feedstock and processed material is eventually destined? Presently only China seems to have the mid and end line manufactures set up in a value chain into which such Rest of the World supply can go. So, why would a US potential RE value chain under a new Trump Republican admin’ take on board feedstock from Canada? After all, the new value chain already has initially funded Lynas-Blue Line (L and HRE) and MP Mats’ (LRE) and there are several other RE feedstock projects in the US (e.g., USA Rare Earths. etc)?

Bottom line it is really the processing facilities that a US strategic chain would need to supply component makers. Here, again, we already have Lynas/Blue Line and MP Mats along with potentially Energy Fuels in Colorado looking to build(out) processing facilities. Further, we know that Trump is very much a job, manufacture, etc., within borders leader. So, it is difficult to see a clear case for outside RE feedstock supply or even processing involvement, when US based entities are already available (note Lynas’ sensible move to partner with US Blue Line). Also. notice the number of US politicians already ‘involved’ in promoting this chain; their focus is on ‘local’ companies (e.g., Cruz, Gooden and Gonzalez from TX the home base for Lynas – Blue Line and Urban Mining).  

Again, how much RE feedstock and processed material might be utilized to supply any magnet and component makers involved within a US RE value chain? The amounts are small but the question will also depend on the degree to which US established or returning manufacturing may expand or build out new facilities for producing green products, etc., requiring RE/related materials. Trump’s admin’ is offering tax incentives for RE and mid and end line manufacturers to return to the US. However, this incentives issue is unclear and may well depend in terms of pursuit on which US party controls the next 4 years.

The same supply and processing questions raised earlier also apply to Australia (AUS) in terms of RE sector involvement. AUS, while recognizing its strength in raw materials production is now lamenting its inability to do little more than ‘dig holes’; the least value adding stage of the critical metals chain. Lacking any processing, component and end line manufacture and a within borders sizable consumer base, has led almost all AUS critical metals’ pathways to China. Only Northern Minerals of the AUS RE feedstock companies has moved to basically pilot HRE production, but its processing is still done in China. Other AUS RE companies (excluding Lynas) are yet to produce even at the pilot stage. The present market response to AUS Strategic Materials and Pensana while speculatively more trading related, may suggest some acknowledgement that both companies are at least entertaining support by South Korean and Angolan sovereign entities.  

However, (as with Canada) would a continued US Republican admin’ financially support RE value chain development within AUS? Again, the question remains why would it? Admittedly, we do have the very recent talks amongst the ‘quad’ (i.e., AUS, India, Japan and the US), but any critical metals’ moves seem a long way off, even though all four recognize the strategic threat caused by China’s value chain dominance.

Conclusion

So, with an ongoing 2021 – 2024 US Republican administration, speculatively, non-China RE/related moves (particularly, feedstock and processing) would seem to focus more within US borders. Further, notice that companies that have been recently funded, public or private by the DoD, are already producing within the RE sector or in related military equipment manufacture. These companies are not just doing basic research, acquiring new exploration sites or holding non funded projects. In fact, these selected DoD RE companies (if next stage supported) are expected to be up and running in the next 2-3 years with magnet and military component producers on a faster production timeline. Basic research funding e.g., alternative RE extraction, etc., is mainly provided by the DoE via the Carbon Ore, RE and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) initiative designed with a longer-term RE sector outlook, than that of the DoD.

Again, US military strategic needs are small in terms of RE feedstock and processing requirements to support magnet and component production for today’s weapons. However, any commercial RE/related considerations (cited in the US DoD FYI) as indicated earlier, would depend on how incentivized mid and end line manufacture are to build out within the US. It should also be acknowledged there most likely would need to be the will with any new US Republican administration to at least initially, ‘protect’ any expanding Us RE/related value chain against Chinese (2010 + repeat) flooding of the RE/related market with cheaper products, to destroy the competition (as led to the goodbye of Molycorp, almost Lynas and many other Re companies, post 2010).

Clearly, as with any speculation complex questions remain as to the possible approach and impact on the RE sector of a potential new Republican admin. But, based on past publicly available written statements, verbal comments and legislative action, it would seem that the Republicans are likely to continue to pursue such a new RE/related value chain. In the second part of this Blog the focus will be from the perspective of a Democrat win in this November election and its meaning for the RE sector.

To be continued –

Note - The author holds shares in the aforementioned - Lynas, Vital Metals, Appia Resources and eMagin.    

All the companies mentioned in this Blog (except Spirit) can be found on the Rare Earths Investor website www.rareeearthsinvestor.com and on the REI Forum usually with extensive threads containing articles and opinions - https://rareearthsinvestor.discussion.community/categories

Please leave any comments to add to the discussion on the Forum Blog thread. No membership is required to comment, simply post under ‘anonymous’ or sign up for a free membership to get post updates and to be able comment  on all other REI Forum boards.

[theseaeaglelives]

Round 13

THE SEA EAGLE

MAKING RUGBY LEAGUE GREAT AGAIN!!!

Round 13

Manly Sea Eagles      22

Defeated by

NZ Warriors             26

The sooner that the NRL move Manly home games away from Home of the Gayamaygal and Garigal Peoples, and back to Fortress Brookvale the better. Manly are now in recent times, 0-2 at this venue after going down to the Warriors and the Sea Eagle implores Manly management to address this urgently before all hope is lost for season 2020. Even playing at the dreaded Central Coast would be a better option.

The game started horribly when Cherry Baby was bundled into touch from the kickoff. As Rex Mossop used to say the sideline is a precipice that should never be crossed (generally referring to inept wingers), so on this basis Cherry Baby, who is on the big bucks should know better than to put himself in such a position in the first place.

And talking about inept wingers, Horhay Taufua was again found wanting in this fixture with the Warriors seeming to target his side with great success on numerous occasions leading to at least 3 of their tries. The not so young Horhay is next to useless under the high ball (as he cannot get his 110 kg frame off the ground), he has the turning circle of an Abrams M1 tank, and his propensity to come in, in defence to try and deliver a bone crushing tackle is now exposing his outside flanks. Sure, when it comes off it’s great to see (just ask Cameron Munster), but this is becoming all to rare and opposing teams are now exploiting Horhays deficiencies. As indicated last week, surely its time for a move to the forwards for Horhay, or alternatively to acquaint himself with the reserve grade coach.

In soggy conditions the undermanned and under siege Warriors leapt out of the blocks and within 15 minutes had racked up a 16-zip lead. Let’s face it in recent times Manly have very a very poor record when playing in wet conditions so such a performance was not totally unexpected.

Manly managed to hit back with tries to Tevita Finua and Moses Suli, when the Warriors had a player in the bin, but a further try to the NZ based team on the strocke of half time gave them a 20-10 lead at the break.

Only minutes into the second half, the Warriors crossed again, this time via former Manly man, Peta Hiku and at this point the Sea Eagle was reaching for the valium. There was a late surge by Manly when Warriors forward Jack Hetherington was binned for KO’ing Marty Tapau with a shot that surely warranted a sending off, but at the end of the day it was too little too late as Manly went doen 26-22.

The plight of the Warriors this year has been well documented. Having to leave NZ and relocate to Australia (normally not such a bad thing), their coach being sacked, and being severely undermanned as many of their playing group gradually pull up stumps and return to their families in NZ. There was even talk of Paul Gallen coming out of retirement to join their roster. On this basis there is no shame in losing to the Warriors, there was only embarrassment. A number of Manly players need to visit the room of mirrors after such a performance, particularly also bearing in mind this was coach Hasler’s 400th game as a coach – he deserved much better!

As was the case last week, with Manly now languishing even further down the table, the Sea Eagle now implores the NRL to pull stumps on season 2020 and put us all out of our misery. Games are becoming more meaningless each week and whoever takes the premiership this year (if we get that far) will forever be remembered as winning a title that no-one really gives a flying f#$k about.

Talking of the NRL, it has been noted that they have yet to formalise the appointment of a CEO to replace Todd Greenberg. Whilst the acting CEO, Andrew Adbo is doing a sterling job (by basically staying out of the way and letting Chairman Peter V’landys get things done), surely the NRL world deserves the certainty a formal appointment for this all important role.

Whilst the Sea Eagle as always stands ready, if called upon, there is another prime canditate waiting in the wings to take the reigns at the NRL. That being none other than Victorian Premier Dan Andrews whose handling of the COVID situation in that state is a shining example of administrative and managerial excellence that once was the exclusive domain of rugby league senior management. 

The NRL have a proud history of appointing ex state ALP premiers to key positions, and come the next election its likely that Premier Dan will freed up for new opportunities and will be on the radar for a new challenge.

The Return of DFI

Only a month ago, Paul McGregor stood alone as the only remaining DFI (i.e. Dark Force Influenza for the young kiddies who were not reading the Sea Eagle back in 2005) infected non-premiership winning ex Dragon in the NRL coaching ranks, and he was only hanging on by a thread as the Dragons season was in free fall. A few wins later and he at least looks like seeing out the season.

Then we had the news that the DFI infected non-premiership winning ex Dragon/Shark Trent Barrett had been appointed to the head job at the Bulldogs for next season. There is no need for the Sea Eagle to make further comment about this appointment that has not already been said.

And now to top it off, it has been reported that the DFI infected non-premiership winning ex Dragon, and coaching failure at the Knights, Nathan Brown has been appointed to the head job at the Warriors next season.

 As was the case in Barretts appointment, surely those in charge of this decision at the very least should have sought explanation and clarification of the following questions and issues, during the interview and appointment process. Namely; “Nathan:

Have you won an NRL premiership as a player?

Have you won an NRL premiership as a coach?

Have you ever been coached at NRL club level by a premiership winner?

As a player were you ever coached by DFI patient zero, Brian Smith?

Is it possible that as a consequence of the above question, that you are infected with DFI which is still transmittable to players that you coach?

As a coach, did you ever publicly slap a player (who was also a DFI infected, ex-Dragon, non-premiership winner?) and who now coaches the Dogs?

Will you and said new Dogs Coach create a new Cup the next time the Warriors play the Dogs, known simply as the DFI Cup? Will there be a slap off in the case of a draw?

Were you sacked from your previous NRL head coaching role?

Has any team since your sacking, under a new coach improved (to wit the Newcastle Knights?)?

The fact that these three, McGregor, Barrett and now Brown will all have NRL head jobs, beggars belief and highlights the ignorance and lack of rugby league acumen by so many in Club NRL management positions. The fact that the Clubs in question (i.e. Dragons, Bulldogs and Warriors) have become perennial bottom feeders is no coincidence.

And Finally Some Controversy

It was reported during the week that the appropiately named Bronco’s winger Katoni Staggs was involved in some form of leaked sex video featuring himself and a busty teen.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8600463/NRL-Kotoni-Staggs-sex-tape-scandal-Teen-allegedly-involved-identified.html

In normal circumstances it would be fair to assume that the leaking of said video would have been the handy work of the NRL player in question (think Tyrone May, Big Papi etc). However in this instance it has been revealed, following extensive viewing by the NRL Integrity Dept, that young Staggs was the victim of what has been termed “revenge porn” as the video was released by the female participant in response to being jilted by Staggs who apparently refused to partake in a threesome with her and a friend. Surely it remains now for the NRL Integrity Dept to get to the bottom of why such a reasonable request by this young lady and her friend was declined by young Staggs!

Whilst, this is fairly lame in terms of controversy, its as good as it gets in season 2020, and we can only hope that the 2020 competition is brought to an end asap with that the mother of all off-seasons will follow.

  Rules are not Rules

Last week the Sea Eagle reported NRL Supremo Peter V’Landys edict that there needs to be flexibility in rules interpretation. The Sea Eagle never thought however, that many in senior positions in rugby league would take this to heart.

Here is the tale of the tape of this week’s Covid 19 protocol cluster breaches (in and of themselves they are basically meaningless, but in these challenging times, with the game’s TV revenues on the line, it still does beggar belief that somethng so simple can be flouted in the misguided belief that no one would find out):

South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett fined $20,000 for breaching NRL's coronavirus protocols - Wayne Bennett had already been stood down for two weeks by the NRL after it was revealed on Thursday 6 August he and his partner had lunch at a restaurant in the inner-west Sydney suburb of Leichhardt

The Broncos Alan Langer and two other football staff members - Ryan Whitley and Blake Duncan - attended a private function in Brisbane to mark Langer's birthday - with only a few people in a private dining room upstairs at the Caxton Hotel in Brisbane. NRL breach notices have followed.

Dragon Prop Paul Vaughan was stood down and forced into a 14-day isolation "hold" after he was spotted dining at an Illawarra café ahead of his side's 24-16 loss to the Roosters on Thursday 6 August 2020. Vaughan apparently admitted to Nine News that he was at the cafe, although he has denied using a false name at the venue to escape detection.

Broncos star Tevita Pangai jnr will be fined for breaching the NRL's biosecurity rules after being caught up in a police raid on a Brisbane barber shop, after the 24-year-old Tongan international allegedly attended the opening of a barber shop which has been linked to a notorious bikies group.

Brisbane Broncos head coach Anthony Seibold has also joined three of his Broncos assistants (see above) in being placed on a "COVID hold", meaning he will be away from the team for 14 days. The Broncos played in Sydney on Friday night 7 August 2020, and Seibold allegedly stayed behind to attend to "a serious family matter”. He is expected to return to Brisbane in the next two days but will then have to isolate for two weeks.

Sea Eagle Comment

With the exception of Coach Siebold, who surely must fall into the Peter V’Landys exceptional circumstances justification for breaking rules category, the rest is not much more than what would be expected.

Although the Wayne Bennett breach is rather distressing. Of all people, one would have thought Wayne Bennett had the capacity to understand. Still it just goes to show that none of us are perfect.

And for Coach Siebold, a 2 week break might be just what the Broncos need to stop their slide to the spoon.

The Sea Eagle of course considers the whole Covid 19 protocols for NRL teams as nothing short of a farce. Witness Victoria, who had all the resources in the world but still couldn’t stop private escort (sorry security) guards in quarantine hotels from having sex and generally close contact with those they were supposed to be guarding. It’s a bit much to demand perfection from NRL participants if that is the benchmark from an Australian State government.

Frankly, and the Sea Eagle has said this before, a new town needs to be created. The Sea Eagle now calls on the NRL to buy some cheap land out in outer Western NSW and just call it Chatswuhan , with the motto – No Eating of Bats Allowed.

This would be a town where rugby league and NRL officialdom go, for the sole purpose of completing the 2020 season. Persons from outside said Chatswuhan bubble could of course enter, but the usual rules apply, i.e. big Maroon sign at the border – Warning Chatswuhan is an NRL sanctioned Non-Bat Eating town - enter at own risk”.

Mandatory self isolation would also be required if anyone chose to leave (a bit like the Eagles song Hotel California, i.e. the reality is you can check out but you can never really leave).

Inside the said Chatswuhan bubble it would be a veritable free for all, a bit like Dodge City in the days of the wild west (with the exception of course – no eating of Bats).

As the man on the fat aka Sam Kekovich famously said, you know it makes sense.

 THE SEA EAGLE

[midnightluck]

@leafyxthiefy​ and I were discussing the sad lack of Disney aus, and then High School Musical mas au was mentioned, and well, look, I ain’t gonna write it, but here’s how it might be done, and if you wanna, please do and tag us?

Izo really loves theater, yeah? And Haruta. They used to put on productions of fairy tales in the living room and rope their siblings into being the cast, and Marco as the oldest ended up trying to direct/help/figure it all out for them, and he somehow just never got out of the habit? and they're in high school and yet he's still doing it and then we have Izo and Haruta as idk a real nice friendly casual ryan and sharpay?

and idk one of his other siblings, probably Thatch???? helps with the music sometimes and he's like, Marco, let's write a love story, and Marco is like nope, no thanks, let's stick to adventures like we do, kay? kay

Thatch is like, "noooooo we've never done a love story" "and I'm not gonna" "c'mon, izo would love it" "but it's a love story" "look we'll throw in pirates, too, okay?" "......" "you love pirates" "......no fair fine, okay"

and oh, it's the tale of roger and rouge

and usually he writes the roles for Izo and Haruta, yeah? with them in mind, which is kinda unfair because they're the stars of the theater dept now because of course they are, and they're amazing, of course, but it's hard for anyone else to compete when the main roles are literally written for them, you know? Only it's love story, and it's hard for Marco to wrap his head around for them, and he starts to drift, starts to go back to the fairy tales, starts to do typical prince/princess stuff.

Only, the princess is boring, so let her snark.

The prince is too perfect, so make him fail.

And somewhere along the line, he starts writing for himself, because he can only write what he knows. The princess becomes a pirate, Rouge, queen of the seas, embodiment of freedom, all sly smiles and snark and slippery, stealing and singing and leading a merry chase, and the poor guy, Roger, chases after her through a series of pratfalls, setting out to be pirate king and blinded by the stars she put in his eyes, and it's ever so fun, with quick teasing songs and a lot of playful exchanges and this one lovely slow duet on a beach in the moonlight

meanwhile, in the background, Ace and Sabo meet at, idk, karaoke. Because Luffy. Nah, wait, that's too au, hang on, we can fix this

they attended the same elementary school. Ace and Sabo were bestest friends and he ran away to their house all the time because his parents were never home  so they didn't know, only one day they had to move and took Sabo with them

...he tried to run away and got hit by a car?

Ace heard, thought he was dead, but he was just in a coma for a while? forgot stuff? and his parents didn't notice because it's not like they've been around anyway?

So Sabo turns inward and studies, because college is the closest escape he can manage, and he's gonna get a full ride and not rely on his parents for anything. He's gonna disappear and be independent if it kills him

boom, science squad Sabo

MEANWHILE Ace likes Disney movies and reading, but his Grandpa wants him to join the military???? he doesn't want to, but Garp is like "ROTC or gtfo" so Ace compromises with sports, because still teams and activities

so he has to sports team, and boom, we get crouching jock hidden nerd, and he lowkey hates it, but it's life, whatever, and if he doesn't want it, well, there's nothing he wants more, so might as well, right?

Until. Until.

So Sabo has this grades thing down, right, but if his parents move him one more time, he's gonna have to start working his way up to valedictorian again, he hasn't got time for this. He needs something to look hella good on college applications, and it needs to keep him out of the house but not take up valuable time and not sports, ugh, teamwork? no thanks, and nothing that requires anything academic, so it's band or theater, really.

He goes theater, maybe he can be like a lighting technician and study in the booth or something, or learn a practical skill like makeup to hide scars; overall a lot more practical than music. So he joins drama and doesn't think twice about actually auditioning.

And that's all well and good except he leaves the library one day to go to drama club and he passes Ace in the hall and Ace doubletakes so hard he almost falls over. It can't be Sabo, it can't--but it looks like him, he walks the same, maybe--maybe???? so screw practice, he follows Sabo to the theater, where tryouts are happening today because plot convenience

"Sabo," he says, and the guy turns around. Same eyes, same face, same suspicious paranoia, same bags under his eyes, same stubborn frown--how could it be anyone else? "Sabo," he says, reaching out, and the guy steps back. "Do I know you?" he says, and Ace goes cold

And he walks away, so Ace chases him all the way to the theater. He gets into a shouting match with has-to-be-Sabo right in the middle on the auditorium, and the theater teacher sighs and says, "if you have something to say, come up here and say it. Obviously you're dramatic enough for the drama club."

Ace storms on stage and yells at Sabo and Sabo yells right back and falls into taunts as naturally as blinking, and it's so easy, and he knows just what to say to get Ace to go red and splutter and chase him, and he also knows the stage and the area because it's his domain, and he bounces around as Ace chases him, yelling at him to come back, and Sabo just taunts and like, hangs over the rail of the fake pirate ship, and Ace throws up his hands and stomps around and says things like, "Why did I even miss you?!" and "I can't believe you forgot!" and "Luffy! Remember Luffy????" and actually--actually Sabo does

Sabo goes soft and says, "Luffy?" and Ace folds his arms and says, "Luffy," and Sabo sinks down to sit, resting his head on the railing as everything falls into place behind his thought, and Ace stands there, looking up, his heart in his eyes, and the teacher yells "Scene!" and Marco stands up from the front row and says, "it's them or I walk."

and of course the problem is that Marco wrote himself a love story, and as Sabo tilts his head and smirks sideways and says the words Marco wrote, of course he'd start to fall in love, because that's what he wrote it for. And every time Ace laughs and gets back up, every time Ace has a passionate, poetic speech, well of course the words cut Marco to the heart because that's what he wrote it for.

And the fact that they work so well on stage is only compounded by their chemistry offstage, where Sabo will drape himself across Ace's back to read the script over his shoulder and Ace will run fingers through Sabo's hair and murmur in his ear on days when the eye-bags are particularly deep. Sabo won't talk about his scars but Ace can touch them, press his hand right up to them, and Sabo will just sigh and go limp. No one's allows to mention Ace's tattoo, but Sabo's allowed to trace the letters with careful fingers. For two high school guys who met a few weeks ago, they're amazingly close, and Marco can only watch it all happen and tell himself that it's good that they're like this. It'll make the play better. It's a love story; that's what he wrote it for, and he never once expected to want it to be his.

And, see, Sabo owes Ace his sanity and Ace owes Sabo his personality, but they both owe Marco for each other and neither one is ever gonna forget that

And Ace goes to Marco to try to "get to know his character" and Sabo goes to Marco to ask if this line needs more vibralto or perhaps this harmony is just--like, could we do it like this? and Thatch is in the background making these awful faces at Marco behind their backs and Marco is Ignoring Him Entirely

Leafy: Sabo being the highish classed boy that he is he may have learned the piano and one day, he could be sitting in the theatre room, his hands lazily playing some sort of ballad, his fingers just glide on the keyboard but like unbeknowest to him, Marco had snuck in because its free period for him too, to like practice some chorus lines for the play and the way that Sabo plays with his serene expression, just looking like he belongs and the way he makes the piano sing, it makes him want to be a part of that, he is captvated and wants to join but?? is he allowed? The pull of the music is too strong tho and before either of them know it, he's there too, his fingers also on the piano now, the little song becoming something more as it turns into a little duet and sabo is startled at first but also?? he has a high respect for Marco and his skills at the piano so its like an honor and all and he loves the sound they create together?? so maybe we?? can like keep doing this if you want, just play

and oh we could probably get a scene in there where Sabo keeps "messing up" in the moonlight duet and Marco sighs and is like, no, like this, and he has to step in to show them and he only meant to do the phrase but somehow he ends up singing the whole love duet with Ace while Sabo watches his every move--for the good of the play, of course.

And Ace just can't seem to get this one bit of choreography right, where he is supposed to pick "rouge" up off the deck and spin her around and into an underarm twirl and Sabo is like, "drop me again and I'll scream, Marco, come show him how it's done" and Sabo is really light on his feet and so responsive it's a pleasure to work with him and he ends up going through the whole number, with Sabo beaming in his arms and Ace's eyes heavy on his shoulders, because he really does have to learn this, you know???

sabo being like, "I can do this backwards in a princess dress and heels, Ace, c'mon" because Sabo probably had dancing lessons. Ace learned to fight from Garp

Thatch is miming throwing up off stage

Everything is happy until a fight, teach, idk, something goes down and the school calls their guardians

Leafy:  they're both like "why are you doing this? what is a play going to do for you? study and get into whatever college" while Garp is like "are you slacking on me, if you cant abandon this silly excuse of a curricular activity then what about military school?"

Leafy: so then Marco has to make things right somehow, like not entirely for the sake of the play but also for like them!! because?? he was so used to being around them and now that they are no longer there he misses them and also, like his two best friends boyfriends are miserable and not in the play together and ?? can we not do all three things? so marco recruits his siblings who happen to be in whatever sport ace is in and sabo's science lab, together they are able to help them keep up with practice/work and the play??

And then the play happens and Luffy drags his cross-clique group to go see it and all the Whitebeard siblings and basically everyone and instead of being about breaking down barriers and stuff it’s a cute little love story about defying your parents’ expectations/being yourself????

idk I’m sure there are ~Morals~ but I dunno what they are

and it ends with mas all happy and Thatch being like, “See? See? I told you a love story was a good idea!”

[theneras-la-lath]

12, 18, and 19 from the OC ask meme for whoever you would like!

Sorry I took so long to answer this, I started it, and then it was DWC Friday and I completely forgot to finish it! Anyway, better late than never! Thanks so much for asking!

12. What have you found to be most difficult about creating artfor your OC (any form of art: writing, drawing, edits, etc.)?

I have a handful of OCs, the main two are Amelia ‘Mia’Trevelyan, and Carina (Vhenrenan) For both of these I struggle toexpress what they are thinking and feeling adequately. After twoyears of writing them I feel like I’m just now finding the rightwords to capture them. The two are very different in how theyapproach things, but at times it sounds like the same character dueto my lack of creativity. I’m a logical and rational person most ofthe time, and often overlook the little things that I see in otherpeoples writings that give their characters more range and dept totheir personalities. It isn’t that I don’t know my characters,it’s the lack of skill in describing them. Or the old, show vstell.

18. What is the most recent thing you’ve discovered about yourOC?

Hmm, well it’s not so much something new I discovered about her,but that I have accepted it as part of her canon. I kept trying toignore it as just a temporary diversion from her characterization.But Carina is in fact poly-amorous. For the last year her story hascome to a crawl because I was struggling with the choice of which ofthe two LIs would be ‘the one’. She and I have both decided thatthere doesn’t have to be a choice, she can love them both, if theywill let her.

19. What is your favorite fact about your OC? That she is strong and determined, but also extremely vulnerable emotionally. Literal basketcase in the right conditions, even if it doesn’t appear so on theoutside. She gets very abrasive around those who treat her with kidgloves. Unless she has complete trust in them, which isn’t often,then she will allow her guard down and let them see her at her mostvulnerable. Her biggest fear is rejection, which is something I tend to scare her with a lot in her life, poor girl. 

[nancydhooper]

Randazza: Nothing is Straight in Boston

By Marc J. Randazza

Boston was home to a "Straight Pride" rally. Unsurprisingly, a bunch of idiots showed up to protest the other idiots, and idiocy ensued. It seems to have all been fixed now. So, here's the story.

Straight Pride Ralliers – Super Happy Fun America – Really? What is the point?

Yes, the straight pride group is really called "Super Happy Fun America." One could say "Super Gay Fun America" would be a synonym?

On one level, I'm ok with these clowns. That's what America is — the right to march down the street proclaiming whatever you want. I'm pretty proud to be a native Masshole – and part of that Masshole pride comes from the fact that Massachusetts was the first state to say "Dood, what the fahk paht of EQUAL do you not fahkin' undastand? If you can get married, so can the queahs if they wanna. Peary-id." See Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health, 798 N.E.2d 941 (Mass. 2003).

Some have asked what the purpose of the parade was, but, that is beside the point. I don't like it when someone asks me why I want to have an AK-47. My answer is "because it is my constitutional right to, and that's all I have to say." Same with "why don't you want your home randomly searched?" Or, "why do you need to say this shit?" If the answer is "because it is my Constitutional right," then that's that.

Of course, you know the reason why there was a "straight pride" rally. There's the sorta dumb perspective of someone who does not understand why there might be a need for a "black pride" event, but a "white pride" event sends a really different message. If you're that stupid, go read something else. We're not going to wait for you to catch up.

Ok, fine… if the day comes that gay people kick the shit out of you for liking pussy… and you get arrested for enjoying pussy… and you maybe even get lobotomized or put in a mental asylum, and all of a sudden you're like "what the fuck, I WAS FUCKING BORN THIS WAY, LEAVE ME ALONE!" Yes, then maybe we might need a straight pride rally. Until then, lets chill.

But, the way shit is, we only "need" a straight pride rally because we "need" the entire texture of thoughts and ideas to be put in the marketplace of ideas. So, I wholeheartedly support these clowns right to beclown themselves.

The Counter-Protesters

Idiots too. Yes, I would like to invoke "The Inverse Charlottesville Speech Rule." That is when you say: "There were very dumb people on both sides."

If you want something so pre-discredited as a "straight pride rally" to fail, the best thing you can do is ignore it. Personally, I wish there could have been a very organized counter-protest where they just got 1,000 guys to put on sparkly sequined dresses and feather boas to watch, clap, and just yell "WE LOVE YOU, YOU'RE FABULOUS!" at the entire parade. That would have been a resounding victory for the pro-equality crowd. But, y'know, nobody fuckin listens.

So, those who got angry about this parade? Congratulations -they gave them at least part of their win. But, hey, they get to express their ideas too.

Along with them were the dipshits with the bandanas on their faces – trying to be all "we're just anti-fascists." No, they're fascists. Don't tell me that they're "anti-fascist" just because that is what's in the name. By that measure, The Democratic Republic of North Korea is a "democracy."

The Police

TThey arrested violent protesters, as they should — and maybe as they should teach their counterparts in Portland and Berkeley how to do. But, they also arrested non-violent protesters. And, since I haven't reviewed any of the film of those arrests, I'll give them a pass — civil disobedience might have its place, but you still might have to get a ride to the police station and a little bit of paperwork.

The DA

The Suffolk County DA is sorta awesome in this case, because she tried to drop all the charges against the non-violent protesters. But, things got weird.

Context: She has pledged not to prosecute "minor" crimes like trespassing, shoplifting, drug possession, and resisting arrest. On one level, I like that. I really wish that prosecutors would be a little more discerning in filling the prison pipeline. But, this is just might going to result in the "inverse broken windows" situation. Already, some dumbass decided he could shoplift with impunity because he heard about her policy. (source) Unfortunately for that dumbass, he didn't realize that he was shoplifting in a different jurisdiction. Oops.

The DA decided to drop all the non-violent charges connected to protests at the straight pride rally. I am going to presume she did this for an enlightened reason – that if a citizen is expressing him or herself in a non-violent way, then maybe we don't need to crush them with the weight of the state. I do question whether she would have done the same had the political polarity of the offenders been reversed. But, that's just a question right now. She has not yet had the opportunity to prove me right or wrong. So, let's give her the benefit of the doubt.

The Trial Judges

Every day, prosecutors walk into court and say "your honor, we would like to noll pros these charges." If the defendant does not want the charges to proceed (naturally) and the prosecutor does not either, then that's the end of the story. Even if the prosecutor is doing it for a bad reason (not that she was) then that's that. She is elected by the people. She speaks for the people. The people, through her voice, say "this person's conduct is ok with us, let it go."

But, two judges have said "LOL, no" (paraphrased). They refused to let the state drop the charges. (source)

To make things even weirder, the Prosecutor appealed to the Supreme Judicial Court to drop the charges. I have to say, I have never seen a case where a prosecutor appealed to try and let defendants off the hook.

And, the decision came down just a few minutes ago. FIGGITY FIRST, MUTHAFUCKAS!

The Decision – Commonwealth v. Roderick Webber

Supreme Court Justice Gaziano just issued his decision – and the result is no surprise – he upheld the prosecutor's discretion to drop the charges.

Primarily, it was a separation of powers issue. Under Art. 30 of the Massachusetts Constitution, the prosecutor has exclusive jurisdiction over whether to prosecute a case or not. (Op. at 3).

The trial court judge apparently resisted because of the Massachusetts Victim's Bill of Rights, which gives a victim of a crime the right to have some input into dropping a case. The judge took the position that the victims were "Super Happy Fun America," whose First Amendment rights were impeded. (Op. at 4) I can sorta see that point, at least from an emotional perspective.

But, as Justice Gaziano pointed out, in a disorderly conduct case, the "victim" is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and not a particular citizen. Same logic applies if you wind up getting in a bar fight and neither of you really want to press charges — you didn't just do something to each other, you also violated the Commonwealth's peace.

But, even if that were not so, the trial court would have still lacked the authority to force the Commonwealth to press forward. Because separation of powers.

Justice Gaziano did specify that there were cases supporting some curtailment of prosecutorial discretion – but only if there is a "scandalous" misuse of authority. You know, bribes or shit like that. Nothing like that seemed to be even remotely going on here – but good to know that there's at least that level of control.

Accordingly, all of the charges that the prosecutor sought to drop are dropped and the arrestee's record is expunged.

Conclusion

All in all, the chips seem to have fallen where they should – but not in a way that doesn't at least make me want to exercise a bit of vigilance.

I like that the state and city did not interfere in the parade, despite the fact that 90% of the community would have loved to see the Super Happy Fun America people rounded up and put in camps. The Commonwealth and the city of Boston seem to have protected the marchers' First Amendment rights.

Protesters got in the way a few times, and the police removed them. This is what the police should do – lest Boston become a "heckler's veto" city like Berkeley or Portland. The District Attorney seems to have done the right thing by using her discretion to only prosecute those who engaged in violent acts. And, while I was initially horrified at what the trial judge did, after reading the Opinion, I see the trial court's position: Think about another time and place — maybe Alabama during the civil rights movement. Imagine a group of locals wants to beat the shit out of some civil rights protesters, and the local prosecutor just says "no crime here." So, yeah, I would like to see some oversight of charges being dropped. But, if we do not respect the separation of powers, the judiciary can get out of control too. The judge is supposed to be impartial – not taking sides.

But, I do hope that if this kind of thing happens again, the politics of those involved is not the determinative factor.

And, y'know … picking Boston as a place to have a parade to stick a finger in the eye of gay rights? Well, that's not exactly how we do it. Nevertheless, I think there's plenty of room in the cradle of liberty for everyone's ideas. I just know which ideas are going to win in the marketplace of ideas. And it isn't Super Happy Fun America's ideas.

Copyright 2017 by the named Popehat author. from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8247012 https://www.popehat.com/2019/09/09/randazza-nothing-is-straight-in-boston/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

[michaelmullen]

Smelt Vs. Central Valley Farmers Part 3

This rant was inspired by an ongoing ”discussion” with a friend, and he floated this article:    http://humanevents.com/2011/04/25/epa-regulations-strangling-america/

Here’s my response:   Aside from the snide sarcasm rife throughout the Humanevents.com article you included here, I would take issue with a few points. First of all, ever since environmental laws first started to be enacted, the Right has claimed those laws will do grievous harm to the economy in general, causing a calamitous loss of revenue for business, driving corporations off shore, and generally sending everyone home en masse, jobless to dark houses where we will sit and slowly die, lonely and cold. Funny thing is, that seems to never come true. We have the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act--enhanced by additional regulation here in California--and we seem to still be trucking. I believe at this point every state in the union is happy to have those laws, and the prophecies of doom just never came true. This is one thing that has been causing me to cast a skeptical eye on such claims. I don't think all government regulation is spectacular, but necessary regulations that improve the health and well being of the populace in general? Absolutely. Anthropogenic climate change, however, is something I take very seriously. Doubtless you and I differ on this issue. But when we pass the (oh I don't know, let me see, I'll just pick a number) 500ppb (that's Parts Per Billion) mark on carbon content in the atmosphere and coastal cities throughout the world are inundated, we'll see which of us was right. That cap and trade idea was an attempt to deal with that problem. There are a number of systems that are governed by similar exchanges that seem to function just fine and don't complain about massive government interference. It wouldn't cause such a calamitous collapse. That's BS. So anyway, if you are right--and anthropogenic climate change "is not a thing"--then I'm wrong, life goes on. But if you are wrong, then the consequences of inaction will happen to us.  Subject change: I like the new light bulbs. They last several times as long as incandescant bulbs, and the ones I put in my fixtures are 12 watts per, while giving as much light as a 60 watt bulb. What's wrong with that? So they cost more: the amount I save from using that bulb pays for itself, several times over. Those modern bulbs are waaaay better than those incredibly inefficient relics of the 20th century, the incandescent. Perhaps the author should be figuring ways that the NEW bulbs could be made here, rather than complaining that he can't buy the crappy old ones anymore.     And we will save water--MILLIONS OF GALLONS--if we use low flow toilets. Did I mention already that we have been in the worst drought ever? How is THAT a bad idea? All we have to do is use toilets that are more efficient. Instead of spending 300 bucks for a new toilet in your condo, you spend 400. Big ass deal, what is the frickin problem with that?! Oh, and I really love the one about antibacterial soap. News flash, bacteria evolve. At an astounding rate. From last night to this morning ten thousand generations of bacteria can come and go. In fact, evolution of bacteria helps to prove the theory of evolution. And while we use antibacterial soap constantly (that doesn't really make us all that much healthier ) the bacteria--though they die by the billions--the survivors have resistance to that antibacterial in that soap. We use so much antibacterials everywhere that bacteria are evolving that are completely resistant to all antibiotics. This is happening NOW. Goodbye surgery, hello sepsis from paper cuts. Yeah, that guys a friggin genius. The person who casually dismisses this issue in that article is either criminally ignorant, or simply doesn't care. Oh wait, Ted Poe, he's a US Representative! Oh I get it now: his ideology is more important than the health of his constituents. What a great 'Murcan he is. I'm glad I don't live in his district. Wait, job creation? Sure, that is important, but since when is that the EPA's job? That's stupid. Is it the Dept of Education's job to worry about job creation? No, their function is education. Is it the Dept of Justice's job to worry about job creation? No, they do lawyer things. I don't know what kind of logical fallacy that is off hand, but I can tell you it is one. Rep. Poe says "You can't make this stuff up" (tidy little homage to Rush Limbaugh) but the fact is, he makes some of this shit up. Lastly, his last paragraph:  gas was "nearly $5 a gallon" in 2006-2008, I believe (during the W Administration). Fuel prices had climbed because we were, y'know, at WAR and in the worst recession since god invented the word. It's pretty well established that energy prices in the US tend to follow world prices. EPA policies did not drive up energy costs: they have been dropping for years, and that was during an Administration that was EPA friendly. The drop in energy prices might not have anything to do with the EPA, but the EPA policies certainly don't seem to have led to any rise in prices that Rep Poe is talking about.    Anyhoo, lastly, the dust from farms point that the author brought up, I don't know what that's about and don't want to take the time to research it right now. It sounds superfluous, but I can tell you, given his  track record so far, I imagine this is based on some distortion, assumption, or lack of understanding.  Last of all, cow farts: this is one that I have indulged in some hilarity over the years. perhaps the science is right on, but that sure is funny. On the other hand, I always come back to this argument against this tidbit: what about the millions of buffalo that used to roam throughout North America from the Rockies to New York? From Canada to Texas? Didn't they fart? I have always been skeptical of that one, and it's just too comical to take seriously...  But back to the meat and potatos, alot of this anti EPA alarmism is the same GOP BS we've been seeing for years. I doubt you read the previous thing I wrote. I'll be surprised if you read this one. And I'm not going to change your mind anyway. I wouldn't be able to if I was Marcus Aurelius. So I imagine that this has all been just, as my dad would have said, pissing in the wind. But it was good for me to write it I guess.