#longest shutdown ever

[evilmark999]

On government shutdowns and border security concerns. And history...

Just a little more than five years ago - and just a few short months prior to Jon Stewart taking Congress to task on behalf of the 9-11 first responders - Colorado Senator Michael Bennett took to the floor of his chamber to call out Senator Ted Cruz - and rightfully so! - for Ted's and his party's "crocodile tears" over the plight of the first responders...

This was in the second half of the Trump presidency with a lot of other controversy happening at the same time. Michael details a lot of it in his speech in the video that follows. To recap in advance...

Congress was in the midst of the 2018-2019 shutdown - the longest in its history - which Trump would proudly and repeatedly claim as of his own doing. It also followed the failure, in Republican hands, of a large, drawn out border security package from the previous summer. All of which, again, Senator Bennett points out. And then some!

Are you still reading this?

One of the first things that Trump and the Republicans did after the 2016 election was to shut out Democrats and ram through a penciled-up $2 TRILLION tax break for the ultra wealthy, including a 14% cut to corporate taxes...

How much of a tax savings have YOU had?

[robertreich]

10 Worst Things About The Trump Presidency

Donald Trump left office with the lowest approval rating of any president ever. But some people now seem to be suffering from amnesia.

Let me jog your memory. Here are 10 Worst Things About the Trump Presidency — in no particular order.

#1. Trump fueled division and sparked a record uptick in hate crimes.

#2. Murder went way up under Trump. He presided over the largest ever single-year increase in homicides in 2020. A number of factors might have contributed to that, but a big one is…

#3. Gun sales broke records under Trump, who has bragged about how he “did nothing” to restrict guns as president in spite of…

#4. Under Trump, America suffered more than 1,700 mass shootings.

#5. Trump said there were "very fine people" among the neo-Nazis in Charlottesville.

I’m halfway to ten. If you think I’m missing something big, leave it in the comments.

#6. Trump allied himself with the Proud Boys, a violent hate group who helped orchestrate the Jan 6 Capitol attack.

#7. Trump’s not wrong when he says…

TRUMP: I got rid of Roe v. Wade.

It is entirely because of Trump’s judicial appointments that 1 in 3 American women of childbearing age now lives in states with abortion bans.

#8. One of Trump’s Supreme Court justices was Brett Kavanaugh, a man accused of sexual assault by multiple women.

#9. Trump’s White House interfered in the FBI’s investigation of Brett Kavanaugh’s alleged sexual assaults.

And now: #10. Trump has been convicted of committing 34 felonies while in office. The criminally false business filings he got convicted for in New York? All of them were committed while he was president.

I’m sorry, did I say the 10 Worst Things About the Trump Presidency? I meant 15.

#11. Trump’s failed pandemic response is estimated to have led to hundreds of thousands of needless deaths. By the time Trump left office, roughly 3,000 Americans were dying of covid every day. That’s a 9/11-scale mass casualty event every single day. How did Trump screw up so badly?

#12. Trump’s White House discarded the pandemic response playbook that had been assembled by the Obama administration.

#13. Trump disbanded the National Security Council’s pandemic response team.

#14. Trump repeatedly lied about the danger of covid, saying it was no worse than the flu or that it would go away on its own.

But behind closed doors, Trump admitted he knew covid was deadly.

#15. Trump promoted fake covid cures like hydroxychloroquine and even injecting people with disinfectants.

After Trump’s “disinfectant” remarks, poison control centers received a spike in emergency calls.

That’s fifteen things. Should I keep going? Ok, I’ll keep going. The 20 Worst Things About the Trump Presidency.

#16. Trump presided over a net loss of 2.9 million American jobs — the worst recorded jobs numbers of any U.S. president in history.

#17. Trump profited off the presidency, making an estimated $160 million from foreign countries while he was president.

#18. Trump also billed the Secret Service over $1 million for the privilege of staying at his golf clubs and other properties while they protected him. That’s your money!

#19. Trump caused the longest government shutdown in U.S. history when he didn’t get funding for his border wall, which he said Mexico was going to pay for.  

#20. Under Trump, the national debt increased by about 40% — more than in any other four-year presidential term — largely because of his tax cuts for the rich and big corporations.

You didn’t really think I was stopping at 20, did you? We’re going to 25 —

#21. Trump separated more than 5,000 children from their parents at the border, with no plan to ever reunite them, putting babies in cages.

#22. The Muslim Ban. Yes, Trump really did try to ban Muslims from entering the country.

#23. Trump sparked international outrage by moving the American Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem while closing the U.S. mission to Palestine.

#24. Trump tasked his son-in-law Jared Kushner with drafting a potential Middle East “peace plan” with zero Palestinian input.

#25. And finally, Trump recognized Israel’s occupation of the Goh-lahn Heights, which is considered illegal under international law.

So there you have it, folks: The 25 Worst — Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Did I mention the impeachments? We’ve got to do the impeachments. Let’s go to 30.

#26. Trump broke the law by trying to withhold nearly $400 million of U.S. aid for Ukraine in an effort to extort a personal political favor from Ukraine’s Pres. Zelensky. Trump wanted Zelensky to interfere in the 2020 election by announcing an investigation into the Bidens. Delaying this aid to Ukraine weakened Ukraine and strengthened Russia.

#27. Trump personally attacked and ruined the careers of everyone who stood in the way of his illegal Ukraine scheme, including Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch and Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman.

#28. To cover up the scheme, Trump ordered the White House and State Department to defy congressional subpoenas.

#29. For these reasons, on December 18, 2019, Trump became the third U.S. president to be impeached. He was charged with Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress.

#30. Even while he was being investigated for trying to get Ukraine to interfere in the U.S. election, Trump publicly called for China to interfere in the election.

So those are the 30 Worst Things —

I’ll go to 35.

#31. Long before Election Day, Trump started making false claims that the election would be rigged.

#32. After losing, Trump falsely claimed the election was stolen, even though his own inner circle, including his campaign manager, White House lawyers, and his own Justice Department and attorney general told him it was not.

#33. Trump kept telling his Big Lie even after more than 60 legal challenges to the election were struck down in court, many by Trump-appointed judges.

#34. Trump ordered the Department of Justice to falsely claim that the election “was corrupt.”

#35. Trump and his allies used threats to pressure state leaders in Arizona and Georgia to falsify the election results.

We may go to 40.

#36. When none of the previous schemes worked, Trump and his allies produced fake electoral votes cast by fake electors in multiple swing states. His former White House chief of staff and Rudy Giuliani are among the many members of his inner circle who have been criminally indicted for this scheme.

#37. Trump tried to bully Vice President Pence into obstructing the certification of the election.

#38. Trump invited a mob to the Capitol on Jan 6 with his “be there, will be wild” tweet.

#39. Sworn testimony alleges that when Trump was warned that members of the crowd were carrying deadly weapons, he ordered security metal detectors to be taken down.

#40. Knowing the crowd had deadly weapons, he ordered them to go to the Capitol and…

TRUMP: …fight like hell.

#41 — Yes, yes, I know, bear with me.

Trump betrayed his oath to defend the nation by doing nothing to stop the Jan 6 violence. Instead, according to witness testimony, he sat and watched TV for hours.

#42. On January 13, 2021, Trump became the only president ever to be impeached twice. This time he was charged with incitement of insurrection. It was a bipartisan vote.

#43. The majority of senators — 57 out of 100 — voted to convict Trump, including 7 Republican senators.

So that’s the two impeachments and the Big Lie, but wait, we haven’t dealt with Russia, right? So we’re going to 50.

#44. In a likely obstruction of justice, Trump pressured then FBI Director James Comey to stop the FBI’s investigation into Trump’s National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn. This was documented in the Mueller report.

#45. When Comey didn’t bend to Trump’s will, Trump fired him.

#46. Trump tried to shut down the Mueller investigation by ordering White House Counsel Don McGann to fire Mueller. McGann refused because that would be criminal obstruction of justice.

#47. When news got out that Trump tried to fire Mueller, Trump repeatedly told McGann to lie — to Mueller, to press, to public — and even create a false document to conceal Trump’s attempt to fire Mueller.

#48. Trump ordered his staff not to turn over emails showing Don Jr. had set up a meeting at Trump Tower before the 2016 election with representatives of the Russian government.

#49. Trump convinced Michael Cohen to lie to Congress about Trump’s plans to build a Trump Tower in Moscow, and Cohen served prison time for lying to Congress.

#50. Trump was not charged for criminal obstruction of justice because it’s the Justice Department’s policy not to indict a sitting president, but more than a thousand former federal prosecutors who served under both Republicans and Democrats, signed a letter declaring there was more than enough evidence to prosecute Trump.

So those are the 50 Worst Things About the Trump Presidency. Now I could go on…

And I will! The 75 Worst Things About the Trump Presidency.

#51. Trump said he’d hire only the best people, but…

His campaign chair was convicted of multiple crimes.

So was one of his closest associates.

His deputy campaign chair pleaded guilty to crimes.

So did his personal lawyer

His National Security Adviser

The Chief Financial Officer of his business

A campaign foreign policy adviser

And one of his campaign fundraisers.

They all committed crimes, and Trump pardoned most of them.

#52. Trump said he’d drain the Washington swamp. But he appointed more billionaires, CEOs, and Wall Street moguls to his administration than any administration in history

#53. Trump intervened to get his son-in-law, Jared Kushner top-secret clearance after he was denied over concerns about foreign influence.

#54. Trump hosted a Russian Foreign Minister to the Oval Office, where Trump revealed top-secret intelligence.

Oh, and Trump’s economic policies!

#55 Trump promised that the average American family would see a $4,000 pay raise because of his tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations. How’d that work out? Did you get a $4,000 raise? Of course not! Nobody did!

#56. Trump vowed to protect American jobs, but offshoring increased and manufacturing fell.

#57. Trump said he would fix America’s infrastructure, but it never happened. He announced so many failed “infrastructure weeks” they became a running joke.

#58. Trump said he would be “the voice” of American workers, but he filled the National Labor Relations Board with anti-union flacks who made it harder for workers to unionize.

#59. Trump’s Labor Department made it easier for bosses to get out of paying workers overtime, which cheated 8 million workers of extra pay.

#60. Trump repeatedly suggested he might serve more than two terms in violation of the Constitution — and continues to do so.

#61. Trump called Haiti and African nations “shithole” countries.

#62. Trump tried to terminate DACA, which protects immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. Luckily this was struck down by the courts.

#63. Trump called climate change a “hoax.”

#64. Trump pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement.

#65. Trump rolled back more than 100 environmental protections.

#66. Every budget Trump proposed included cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

#67. Trump tried (and failed) to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would have resulted in 20 million Americans losing insurance. And striking down the ACA’s protections for the roughly 130 million people with pre-existing conditions could have driven up their insurance premiums or led to a loss of coverage.

#68. Trump made it easier for employers to remove birth control coverage from insurance plans.

#69. By the end of Trump’s term, the number of people lacking health insurance had risen by 3 million.

#70. Trump lied. Constantly. He made 30,573 false or misleading claims while president — an average of 21 a day, according to Washington Post fact-checkers.

#71. Trump allegedly took hundreds of classified documents on his way out of the White House, reportedly including nuclear secrets, which he then left unsecured in various parts of Mar-a-Lago, including a bathroom. He was even caught on tape showing them off to people.

#72. Trump seriously discussed the idea of nuking a hurricane.

#73. When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, Trump delayed $20 billion of aid and allowed Puerto Rico to be without power for 181 days.

#74. Trump suggested withholding federal aid for California wildfire recovery and said the solution was to “clean” the “floors” of the forest.

#75. Trump pulled out of the Iran deal, placing Iran on a path to developing nuclear weapons.

Honestly, there’s so much more, from exchanging “love letters” with North Korea’s brutal dictator to publicly denigrating a Gold Star military widow and making her cry, to the way he attacked journalists, to late night tweet binges.

Look, I can understand why a lot of people want to block all of this out of their memories. But we cannot afford to forget just how terrible Trump’s time in the White House was for this nation.

And we sure as hell can’t afford to put him back there.

[beauty-funny-trippy]

Republican Dysfunction is not just an opinion. It's real, and it's measurable. Republicans in the House of Representatives have a repeated history of dysfunction, causing long government shutdowns.

Of course, the President and the Senate have their part to play in shutdowns. But it can't be a coincidence that of all the days that the U.S. government has shut down over the last 40+ years, 93% of those days started when Republicans were in control of the House of Representatives. (source)

In fact, the three longest government shutdowns in U.S. history all started during a time when Republicans were in control of the House of Representatives. The last one (during the Trump administration) was the longest and most expensive in U.S. history. It cost Americans $5 billion. (source)

Unbelievably, this worst-ever, 35 day government shutdown started when the House, the Senate, and the Presidency were all under Republican control! They couldn't even agree among themselves long enough to pass a budget to keep the government running.

So how did it finally end? It was only after Democrats were given control of the House that they, together with outcries from the American public, were able to get Trump to give up his tyranny of extortion and get the government running again.

And it's not just shutdowns. Of the 11 recessions in the modern era, 10 have begun under Republican presidents. Also job growth has been significantly greater under Democratic presidents than Republican presidents since the early 1980s, and the national debt got worse under Trump than Biden. (source)

Economists warn that Trump (who, due to his incompetence, has had to declare bankruptcy SIX times) will balloon the national debt, just like he did before, with even more tax breaks for billionaires and huge corporations, and ruin the economy with his massive tariffs.

And we're the only ones that can stop him.

[collinrobinsonsglasses]

anon since this is my first time doing this but i’m fucking devastated after the news. i have a weirdly specific scenario in mind with izzy x gn reader where reader panics/overloads sometimes if the crew get too loud tg or unexpected canon fire etc but is usually able to hide it from the crew. maybe they’ve been stressed or on edge lately and they kinda shutdown infront of the crew. and izzy comes over annoyed at first but when he sees reader not responding he takes charge and emotional hurt/comfort essentially. idk if this is too formulaic so take creative liberty!

Izzy Hands x Reader (GN)

Masterlist

I loved this suggestion, and I hope it was what you're looking for. This is a shorter one. Lots of fluff and Izzy comfort.

Silence is Golden

This week on The Revenge felt like the longest and most exhausting since you first set sail with Stede Bonnet. The crew battled through multiple storms, tirelessly navigating the turbulent seas, constantly soaked to the bone. You had always been more sensitive than your crewmates. The sound of cannon fire made you want to seek refuge below deck, the sensation of your soaked clothes clinging to your skin felt unbearable, and it was impossible to ever get a moment alone on such a small ship. While you imagined that everyone experienced these feelings to some extent, for you, it often felt overwhelming. You had never shared this with anyone, striving to fit in and appear as a capable pirate. However, after this demanding week, everything began to weigh heavily on you. 

For that reason, relief washed over you when Captain Bonnet proposed that everyone take a vacation, emphasizing the importance of leisure. You yearned for some solitude, a chance to gaze at the waves and unwind for the first time in a week. Your hopes were swiftly dashed when Frenchie and Wee John enthusiastically began playing with the explosives. Realizing it was their vacation too, you silently moved further down the beach, not wanting to complain and spoil their fun. The explosions reverberated, rattling your head, and your body urged you to flee from the deafening sound. However, you found yourself sitting on a rock further down the beach, attempting to coax yourself into calming down. Perched on the rock, your right leg shook, fingers gently tracing the contours of a shell you discovered on the beach, all the while yearning for the explosions to cease. 

To add to everything, Buttons joined you on your rock, enthusiastically listing off every sea animal imaginable. At this point, you experienced a mental shutdown, unable to escape the sensory overload – it felt as if your brain had flicked a switch off. The following hours slipped away rapidly, leaving you in a dazed state that was far from relaxing. As everyone returned to the ship, preparing to set sail once more, exhaustion weighed heavily on you. Descending to sit on the stairs, you rested your head on your knees, not having the energy to help your crewmates on deck. 

Realization hit you suddenly, as Izzy’s raised voice echoed in front of you, though the words remained indecipherable. Lifting your gaze towards him, you observed the frustration etched across his face before his words finally sharpened into focus. 

“You’ve had an entire fucking day to do nothing,” Izzy sneered. “Get your ass to work. You’re acting like the rest of these lazy twats today.” 

You fixed your gaze on Izzy as he addressed you, your heart quickening its pace. Bowing your head back onto your knees, you attempted to curl into a tighter ball, wishing in that moment to vanish. Izzy’s words resonated, and you couldn’t help but acknowledge the truth in them. The realization of your own laziness brought a pang of guilt washing over you. The entire day spent doing nothing hadn’t brought you peace, but instead left you feeling worse than before. In the past weeks, you had grown closer to Izzy, sensing he tolerated you more than others. Now, you feared this display might change the dynamic between you. 

You felt the tender warmth of his hand as it gently scratched your head, his fingers moving through your hair in a soothing and affectionate manner. Then your arm was gently grasped, coaxing you to rise from your seated position. Placing both hands on the back of your shoulders, he guided you below deck and eventually to his cabin. Izzy’s unexpectedly gentle demeanor toward you caught you off guard; it wasn’t what you had expected. 

“Sit there,” he instructed, gesturing to the small bed in the corner of his room. “I’ll be back once we’re sailing away from this stupid fucking island.” 

The door closed, leaving you in solitude amid the quiet of Izzy’s cabin, comfortably seated on his bed. As you breathed in, the hush within Izzy’s quarters contrasted with the bustling activity above deck. Reclining on Izzy’s bed, you focused on your breath, and after a few minutes, a sense of relief gradually washed over you. It seemed like you hadn’t been alone for weeks, and you savorted the silence within the cabin. After a while, Izzy returned, his presence prompting you to sit back up on the edge of his bed as he stood before you. Contrary to Izzy’s typical expression of anger, you noticed concern on his face instead. 

“What’s wrong?” Izzy inquired softly, kneeling down to meet your gaze. 

“Just overwhelmed,” you whispered back, avoiding eye contact and feeling a twinge of embarrassment admitting this to one of the most renowned pirates in history. “Haven’t had decent sleep all week and the explosions were too loud. I sort of shut down. It’s stupid.” 

Izzy joined you on his bed, and for a moment, he seemed to contemplate. Then, you felt his arm wrap around your shoulder. “It’s not stupid. Everyone needs peace and quiet sometimes. Especially being around these fucking idiots all of the time.” 

“Pirates shouldn’t panic at the sound of cannon fire, Iz,” you replied, not convinced by his words. 

“Pirates shouldn’t be afraid of spiders, yet Blackbeard is terrified of them. Anyone questioning your status as a pirate can fuck off. You’re one of the hardest working people on this crew,” Izzy retorted, his tone resolute. “That's why I like you.” 

“Thanks, Izzy,” you replied quietly, a smile gracing your lips. You had always enjoyed Izzy’s company and sensed he had a stronger connection with you than with the others, so hearing him express that he liked you was nice. It didn’t appear to be an easy thing for him to admit. You reached down toward his hand, squeezing it for a moment. “I’m feeling better than before. Your room feels very safe.” 

“You’re always welcome in here,” Izzy said, a hint of bashfulness in his tone. “If you're feeling overwhelmed or need a break, just tell me, and I’ll fuck off.”

“No, I don’t mind if you stay,” you whispered, a warm feeling spreading in your chest. “You feel very safe too.” Letting your head rest on Izzy’s shoulder, you noticed a smile stretching across his face from the corner of your eye. Both of you sat there for a while, absorbing the silence, enjoying each other’s close company.

[w1tchcr4ftt]

My big old ramble abt dandys world ichor

Dandy needs the tapes to keep his ichor corruption at bay, I like to think he needs something inside the tapes that can combat ichor corruption

Toons are biologically engineered using ichor and other assorted materials, this is implying ichor can be classified as living

This also means ichor is like a blood to toons

Main toons contain more ichor than regulars and are more prone to corruption and other issues, thus the true reasons for the handlers (The regular ones being helping them out around gardenview with guests and stuff)

Ichor is transmitted via touch, once you come in contact with it, you are prone to corruption depending on the amt

Twisteds are fully corrupted scrapped toons who were left for research purposes, so when gardenview closed down, they managed to get out

Main toons were extremely well kept and hard to replicate therefore the reason they are so hard to come across as twisteds

The current toons have been around the longest out of any group of toons, due to gardenview believing they perfected their saftey against ichor

Twisteds are semi-conscious, some more coherent than others, but they do all feel and overwhelming violent agression towards the toons and living humans

The toons go on ichor runs to drain excess ichor, the reason for the corruption

Due to Dandy's corruption, he has lost most of his care for the others

There has only ever been one Dandy, he has never been replicated or replaced, thus why you only encounter him in a Dandy run

The only toon he still truely and fully cares for is Pebble, considering they were made to be together forever

Twisteds appearance alterations take at least a couple weeks to fully take effect, and it effects some worse than others (most notably the mains)

Dandys use of tapes most likely only works on him, and hes trying to figure out how to fully reverse the effects

Despite the ichor corruption causing the shutdown of gardenview, the toons still carry on with what they can (Vee runs her show, Dandy runs his shop, shelly studies dinosaurs, etc)

I DID IT!!!

Took me like 35 minutes but it was worth it!!!

Note that this is all hc and speculation, so if anything is proven wrong completely its fine!

(Ill just make it an au)

[utilitycaster]

Was reading your thoughts RE Laudna and Imogen last night and something hit me this morning. I think as well as not wanting to be alone, Laudna’s relationship with Imogen has some foundation in obligation/sense of debt (Imogen saved her from some people, is the first friend Laudna’s ever had). Given that Laudna’s longest “relationship” was Delilah, I can see her having trouble shedding a more transactional view of relationships, even as she goes on to make actual friends.

All of which makes the convo she had with Ash potentially pretty damning; Laudna hates feeling indebted to other people, even people she is as fond of as the Bells. Likewise, Ash seems to pick up on this immediately, while Imogen seems completely unaware of it.

Thinking it about it like this, I think Laudna’s actions make a bit more sense; not only did Imogen help bring her back to life, she banished Delilah. Even if she felt it was worth push back (and the incident with the Gnarlrock I think only reinforced for Laudna that if she steps “wrong” Imogen’s friendship can and will be withdrawn), she owes Imogen so much, more than she can probably ever repay.

(RE the Gnarlrock; I’m not trashing Imogen or how she reacted - it makes sense given her character and backstory. But it’s one of those things that reminds me of my first impression of them; they’re best friends the kids are best friends; all-consuming codependency, certainty they’ll be together forever)

I have to admit I'm not quite following all of this so let me know if I misinterpreted you.

Laudna's feelings towards relationships are a little tough to get a bead on because sometimes she does very childlike things - her belief her dolls are alive, her flippant attitude towards Delilah, her complete shutdown when Dusk asked her out - but I think she does understand that relationships aren't purely transactional. Marisha explained it as sort of an extreme version of when your friends take care of you after a night of too-heavy drinking; you feel kind of embarrassed and like you were a burden, but you do understand that they do it because they care.

With that said: I do think Ashton does see a lot of relationships as transactional following his abandonment by the Nobodies, and I think is discomfited by the fact that he does things for Bells Hells because he likes them and not as a give and take, despite his original intentions. And so I do agree that they are able to easily understand Laudna's feelings here, and I'm not sure Imogen does.

I do have to say: I have been quite harsh on Imogen this past episode, not (in my opinion) undeservedly, but I think if Laudna is thinking this way...that's even worse, and I'm not sure I'd go that far. Like, I saw someone say that Imogen kept pushing back whenever the party brought up their concerns (which were fairly measured; Orym is pretty generous in his criticism given that he, his husband, and his father-in-law were all killed by Otohan) and so Laudna understood this and knew not to push it. The fact is, it's a red flag that it took more than several party members pointing out the Ruby Vanguard's body count to shut this line of inquiry from Imogen down. I think if Laudna is tiptoeing around Imogen because she's scared Imogen with withhold her affections...I mean, that's how people behave around their abusers, which I don't think is an appropriate analogy. I think the idea that Imogen is just too insensitive and self-absorbed to realize what she's saying, and both she and Laudna are both too scared of conflict to be able to unpack any negative feelings they may have, is a much more generous read.

[the-frozen-pheonix]

Frozen Dew Dro’

The originally mischievous duo-turned trio that had terrorized the DWMA had turned out to be just what each of them needed. The twins having trouble finding a meister, and Freeze the same trouble with weapons-that the unlikely outcome of their mischief being a trio to rival Freeze’s brother, Death the Kidd-was a surprise to all but Lord Death proper.

None of this had been achieved without the blonde and his two dastardly cohorts having grown close. To say they were triplets was pushing the billet for sure, but Freeze was confident to say there was no one closer to Darla and Drew than he himself, and he was proud to say the same for the twins himself. Time had passed.

Months. A year. Two. Small interactions built up. They learned his greatest fear. Being left alone. Alienated. Especially from those he loved. Freeze’s relationship with the twins gained a personal touch to each. He and Andrew would game together time to time. He would enjoy specific things with Darla. But where there was a brotherhood with Andrew, there was a romantic attraction for Darla. One that seemed to be mutual.

The trouble started small, but never seemed like anything to be worried with. Drew wasn’t the biggest fan of Freeze and Darla’s time together-seeing the romantic interest the two took in one another. From time to time nasty and hurtful things might be said in off moments, but time and time again they were forgotten or brushed under the rug in hope for better times ahead.

Freeze was a big advocate each thing having it’s fine and it’s place. This saw the topic of Drew’s displeasure being shutdown just as often as Darla’s fancies towards the blonde would be. Also saw the blonde change some compared to when the twins first met him. Not drastically, but as time goes people can alter ever so slightly.

Madness was something Freeze was plagued by. Something he hid away and suffered with alone-more and more often. But it was something the twins surely knew.

One mission saw things come to a head. He was a tough meister to the twins-any weapons really. He pushed anyone that worked with him to the absolute limit of what they had to offer him-each time. And the twins had always risen to the challenge. He was unrelenting in their missions however, and today was a particularly tough day.

The toughest so far.

Flail mace was covered and stuck with viscera,-more of a meaty blunt weapon bound to a stick by a chain that only eluded rust due to Darla’s properties. Nothing new. Axe head had just as much of Freeze���s blood on it as it did foreign, and was just as stuck with gore, though Andrews blade still peeled out from the mess, and held onto pieces of enemies with less ferocity than his sisters spiked ball-head. Things has started graceful and swift, the twin swords being useful with the males speed and agility. This mission was simple. Beat out a group of baddies. It wasn’t a particularly bad nest of them-so said intel.

Freeze was insane, period. But it truly shined the longer combat went on. Resonance for their missions normally lasted around 15 minutes at the longest, but he’d been known to push them and hour or two in training. Slowly, but surely pushing the twins to a level he knew they were capable, but maybe not so willing to be sent to. The twins were with him though. They were his closest. His best. And they stood beside him no matter what it seemed.

Intel had been wrong, It was hour 4 by now, the resonance was sturdy but there was serious damage. The blonde struggled to keep himself in check, he could tell the twins were past their limits. Without a witch soul, a demon weapon was never complete in its power. It was dangerous for death to use less powerful weapons. Freeze elicited that same danger at times. It was bearing a point that he’d either have to risk one or both of twins, or lose himself completely. Who knew how long it would take him out of play. Who knew if he’d recover. He understood his value as an asset. The twins were powerful. They were good. But I’m this line of work, they were catalyst for power. Power that Freeze had. And they weren’t the only catalyst there were.

Freeze had done all he could. Ice covered the entire complex in some way. He pained and bled from wounds that would have pushed the resonance too far to block with the twins. They were stronger than his sane ice powers. Than his fists. Kicks. So he only used them for offense now. Even mixing in kicks and punches to leverage the limit they’d all been pushed past. But it didn’t stop. The insane amount he asked from the two normally was nothing compared to today. Other had spoken about how crazy it was, while the death scythes around and instructors had held tongue. This was a level behind what anyone knew but those who had experienced it. Pure and unstopping violence.

One last enemy. One last push. For each. Next. Thing. It’s all that kept him moving. All he could tell the two he weld to keep them going.

Then suddenly-it stopped. The resonance ended and as far as the twins were concerned, they weren’t being pushed. It wasn’t obvious to the two that the blonde had dropped them to finish one last baddy by himself. It didn’t show that he’d doubled over and spilled blood and lunch from his maw. That he cleared his composure as best he could before picking up the twins, and reassuring them.

Once transformed, Andrew lit Freeze up. About his sister. About pushing them. People, Everything. The older male stonewalled, and took it-doing his best to be fine with the harsh words. They’ll pass. They’ll be fine. Then-Andrew pushed it a step farther than before. He shoved Freeze, and made a threat that challenged the status quo they had built. A consistent life that saw them with Freeze everyday. The reason he smiled most often. The comrades he fought alongside. Possibly gone.

“You really feel that way? Fine, fucker. Hit me. Speak with your actions!”

And he did. Freeze retaliated with a slap, Drew another hit, another Freeze blocked. Andrew threw another bit. And another. More and more connected. Aimed at his weak points. Drew wasn’t stupid. He knew how to fight and win in a scrap…. He’d just forgotten Freeze wasn’t exactly normal or seemed.

Each hit hurt though. More than one would ever think. Because Freeze could think through it all. A bit to an open wound, an attempt at the balls. Eyes. Head. Head. Head. Fingers, joints. Weak spots. Places Freeze identified as weak. Andrew was fighting with hate. And it was hurting.

Eyes misted as he stood and took the beating, Darla watching on as the clash between two firm men just tuned into a wailing on the blue eyed lad.

A single wound up hit-making contact with Freeze’s cheek. It didn’t budge, but it brought the dark haired male twin eye-to-eye with the blonde-years now streaming down his face as the features on his white complexion trembled with emotion. Combat spoke more words than one could ever hope to communicate any other way-and Freeze had just received what May or may not have been the full extent of Andrew feelings.

In response, through the same method of symbolism to get a point across-the crying Freeze would hug Andrew right and tight-like family. Give a kiss on the cheek to him as well, then adopt a stoic manner and start an unabated path away from the two, using his power over ice to skate away from the two in a method unable to be tailed.

Their pick up would be along shortly, and Andrews message-be it that or just anger, or that of true heart-has been received. And a message in return for both the twins.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t enough. I love you…. Goodbye.”

@inseparableduo

[alonestuckinthestars]

Meltdowns and shutdowns

For the longest time I've been trying to figure out what meltdowns and shutdowns look like for me now as an adult and I think I'm starting to get somewhere with more clarity lmfao.

Meltdowns

I used to have very angry and intense outward meltdowns as a kid and even well into my teens, and I can recall a few other instances of just crying meltdowns. Because of the flack I've gotten from my angry meltdowns I feel like I internalized them over time, and now at moments where I /would/ have had outward meltdowns before instead I keep it all in.

There's a specific tension build up in my chest, my blood is boiling and my eyes may well up in frustration. My mind is stuck on whatever situation triggered it, often something minor or insignificant to everyone else, and I would want to scream, cry, kick stuff, be destructive to myself and others, in all the ways. When I was a kid I'd do it, but now none of it gets externalized and instead I curl up in a ball and spiral until I can calm down. If someone interacts with me when it happens though, I'll be snappy, and if they get snappy back, all hell breaks loose.

Luckily this doesn't happen often anymore and if it does, I live alone so I don't have anyone to poke at me to the point of blowing up.

Shutdowns

I think my shutdowns are the specific moments I always thought were depression, because when they start I feel completely hopeless and desperate, like life is so fucking hard and not worth living, like nothing will ever get better, just completely miserable. I'm extremely distressed. Gradually these thoughts stop and I just get completely numb and it's hard to even think.

I get severely exhausted, exhaustion that is so deep in my body it hurts and feels like my body is rotting. The sensation is so BAD I just want to sleep. I lie down in bed and just scroll mindlessly until sometimes I can't even stand to read/watch/listen to anything anymore, at which point I drop the phone and can't stand myself or anything anymore.

I'm someone that talks a lot to myself at home and in these moments I'm just quiet. Speaking is difficult and would take too much energy out of me.

This usually resolves within a few hours or a day, and very suddenly too. Like a switch gets flipped, and suddenly I feel positive and like myself again.

[solarishashernoseinabook]

4 8 23 for writers

Thank you!

4. Share a sentence or paragraph from your writing that you’re really proud of (explain why, if you like) Ah, thank you, you've given me an excuse to talk about a line I like :D From my second-ever RA fic, Built With My Own Two Hands, which features Will having retired after a leg injury forces him to move around with a crutch:

Slowly Will learned that the world was not designed for anyone who was not perfectly normal. Everything that made Castle Araluen defensible – twisting, narrow staircases, heavy wood doors that were hard as rock, and high towers – also made it very hard on his leg.

I wrote this during a very introspective time of my life. I'd been suspecting for a long time that I was autistic, but wasn't entirely sure. During this time, I realised that I have fairly significant sensory issues - I can't actually tune out noise, and I never actually stop feeling my clothes - and that stimming helps a lot. I learned that certain sounds affect me more than others, and finally realised that I go into shutdowns when I get into sensory overload. Through the college program I was in, I made a couple of friends who were disabled as well - one who was deaf, one with ADHD, one with chronic migraines - and saw how our college failed, over and over, to accommodate them. And because I didn't have a diagnosis, I wasn't entitled to even the paltry accommodations I wanted (wearing foam earplugs during tests). That first line was me expressing my frustration with the world. If you're not perfectly normal in every way, the world doesn't stop for you, and wonders why you're not keeping up.

I channelled a lot more of those frustrations into The Royal Ranger, but this fic was the first time I actually expressed any of them

8. Is what you like to write the same as what you like to read? Pretty much yeah! My absolute favourite thing to read is found family fluff, which is also my favourite thing to write :D

23. What’s the story idea you’ve had in your head for the longest? I'll go with the one that I've gone the longest without writing: an AU based off the song The Log Driver's Waltz. It's entirely self-indulgent and appeals to exactly one person: me. Making it the absolute pinnacle of fan writing.....or, at least, it will be when I get around to writing it :"D

Link to the ask game if you want to play!

[cynical-crypt]

Autism ask meme

(originally by @autie-j​)

Here's an ask meme specifically for autistic people

How old were you when you found out you were autistic? 5

Do you have any other autistic people in your family? Or are you the only one? most people in my family are autistic or have some kind of other neurodivergence

Do you have any comorbidities? Or just autism? severe adhd and “very likely bpd,” as my psych put it

Are you LGBTQIA+? yup

What do you wish more people knew about autism? that it makes it hard to exist around people and also that it doesn’t automatically make you “dumb”

Have you ever been in a relationship? quite a few

Do you find it hard to make friends? yes, unless we have several things in common

If you have any, what are your special interests? fall out boy and anything i was really into when i was little

What was your first special interest? prob warrior cats or lps

What are your most common stims? rocking fwd/side, bobbing my head

If you could give any advice to your younger self, what would it be? keep being cringe its ok

Do you headcanon any characters as autistic? If you want, tell us why you headcanon them as autistic. a lot of characters if they remind me of myself in the autistic ways

Tell us an autistic person that you really look up to. kittydog. shes also my friend but shes one of the people that inspired me to start animating

Are you currently in school? does reading wikipedia pages for 12 hours straight count

Have you ever received any accommodations for your autism in either school or work? my teachers let me listen to music but thats about it

Do you have any autistic friends? i dont think i have any that arent autistic

Do you own any stim toys? Which is your favorite? i have plastic straws to chew on

Do you find it easier to get along with other autistic people? depends on whether or not theyre annoying in the “everything is offensive to me!11!!” way but generally yeah

What kinds of things are sensory hell for you? plastic anything being crinkled and more than one person talking to me

What kinds of things are good sensory wise? music i like and silence

How open are you usually when it comes to being autistic? i mean i told my teachers but they also knew i was trans so

Would you say you're proud to be autistic? yeah i guess so. i see the world differently and i think thats neat

What's the longest you've ever has a special interest for? 10 years i think. i still like homestuck but its not a special interest anymore. i take that back ive liked httyd since it was in theaters

Do you have meltdowns? yes but not publicly

What about shutdowns? really frequently yeah

Do you avoid eye contact? yes unless im doing it to annoy my friends. then suddenly im amazing at eye contact but otherwise if i look someone in the eyes ill be on the verge of tears and i will want to run away

Do you have any vocal stims or echolalia? does singing a single verse over and over again from whatever song im fixated on count?

How long do your special interests usually last for? 2-3 years

Are your friends and/or family accepting of your autism? yeah my mom and i watch people and be like “thats so autistic. theyre like me look theyre making the me face” and we do that for hours

Favorite canon autistic character? hiro hamada, mothflight, all of them...

Do you have a comfort item? If you feel comfortable with it, then show it to us. too lazy to take a picture but a wolf plush my dad gave me when i was 7 i absolutely cannot sleep without it

What are your same foods? microwave meatloaf and chicken alfredo

Foods you are sensitive to (maybe because of bad texture for instance)? pickes, taste is too jarring... also anything chunky in a certain way

Do you enjoy hugs? Or are they sensory hell? depends on the person but i dont like being touched in general so

Have you ever used a weighted blanket? yes theyre great i need one so bad

Do you have routines that you have to follow? What's in your routine? i have to pick up my cat and pet her every single day or else i will be angry the whole day and wont want to talk to anyone

Do you enjoy holidays or are they sensory hell to you? i dont like them. i hide in the bathroom or in the corner the whole time

How good are you at detecting sarcasm? terrible. i either take EVERYTHING as sarcasm or nothing as sarcasm no inbetween

What's the most comfortable/sensory friendly outfit you own? old mental hospital pants and this one specific hoodie ive had for 12 years that somehow still fits me

Do you collect anything related to your special interest? yes

If you date people then would you prefer to date other autistic people? yes

Tell us something about your special interest. eevees. adobe flash. dance dance by fall out boy and let’s dance by five

If you could have any item related to your special interest what would it be? warriors figurines but theyre all how i see them in my head

Who are your favorite autistic bloggers? Say something nice about them. i dont think i follow any neurotypical people if i do i sure as hell dont know about it. i love all of you keep posting

Favorite autistic celebrity? 田尻智。pokemon destroyed my life and im glad it did

Are you generally a loud or quiet person? quiet i suck so bad at verbal speech that i just dont talk 99% of the time lol

Do you happy flap? on occasion

What is your favorite special interest related item you own? Show it to us if you want. all of my toothless (httyd) and bnha merch. i have so much

What's something you find hard to do because of autism? anything that requires extended attention that im not interested in

Free question. Ask anything you want! Any topic at all! can i go to bed...?

[heavierthanlaila]

5 - 37 - 40

5. what made you start your blog?

this is a funny story actually. back in january 2012, i was looking for some pictures on google image and i stumbled upon a pic i liked so i opened the link and it was blog about reading on tumblr. i had NO idea what the heck tumblr was or how blogs work but i decided to create an account here and i've been stuck ever since. man i can't believe it has been this long tbh. this is the second longest consistent relationship i have in my life (after my best and oldest friend).

37. share a secret

hmmmmmmm.. im worried that this loneliness won't go away and i'll forever be trapped in my solitude. i'm scared my solitude will hinder me from experiencing life to the fullest.

40. any bad habits?

oh yeah i tend to shutdown a lot and be afraid of expressing myself fully. i tend to give up on myself more than i should. i tend to expect from ppl what i know i can offer so i always end up disappointed. i tend to hold myself back bc im too scared of facing this world on my own.

[beauty-funny-trippy]

Republican Dysfunction is not just an opinion. It's real, and it's measurable. Republicans in the House of Representatives have a repeated history of dysfunction, causing long government shutdowns.

Of course, the President and the Senate have their part to play in shutdowns. But it can't be a coincidence that of all the days that the U.S. government has shut down over the last 40+ years, 93% of those days started when Republicans were in control of the House of Representatives. (source)

It can't be a coincidence that the three longest government shutdowns in U.S. history all started during a time when Republicans were in control of the House of Representatives. The last one (during the Trump administration) was the longest and most expensive in U.S. history. It cost Americans $5 billion. (source)

Unbelievably, this worst-ever, 35 day government shutdown started when the House, the Senate and the Presidency were all under Republican control! They couldn't even agree among themselves long enough to pass a budget to keep the government running.

This was during the first influx of MAGA Republicans to Congress (and the Presidency). When you add MAGAs to the mix, you get Republican Dysfunction on steroids! It's like trying to put out a grease fire with gasoline.

So how did it finally end? It was only after Democrats were given control of the House that they, together with outcries from the American public, were able to get Trump to give up his tyranny of extortion and get the government running again.

You know, with absolute certainty, that Trump really wants to be America's first dictator. But we're not gonna give him that opportunity, are we, folks?

[artcalledtattoo]

It’s Not Congress Whenever Republicans can get a upper hand, to create a failure Shutdown is near You can watch a new show to figure things out today early adulthood young Men & Women M O A on iTunes This may upset Trump A whole mess of POW’s captured during WWII Can we all recall, Trump speaking on Sen. McCain’s military records Trump’s Republicans causing problems whenever they can The longest shutdown Helped to facilitate the attack on Ukraine Republican normal tactics It’s not everyone in Congress And then they point fingers To the CIC For the breakdown Roll back of Roe IVF hurt parents Added to the body (Republicans) your Enslaved body For Females What about Homeland Security Don’t want some other muthafucka Owning a piece of my Wife Owning a piece from my daughter Owning a piece of Frozen What’s next issue Shutdown no pay From elected officials Even afterwards no one ever sues For gross negligence In the Voted in America in Leadership Not at all like Police Serve & Protect Was never adder for that Serve & Slave Is always Taxed No more taxes on millionaires The big quite and self serving Not Ice Cream Happy Fuck You Ore’n Man (Money man) for clarity Where the 3 S H Weird Science Queer Light in chested Your no Sir With power I’m poking flying around punching All mind you, by me self Congress This day Sir Even the Ma’am’s are going along Misses just lost her kid When everything was readily The STATE controlled the fetus No it’s Petri frozen dish Don’t ask that! Does it have taste? Ask the funding and tasting not missed from bank accounts are Voted Leadership! Leaderships! Who is really all in Charge I’m posting for position World Wide Earth Human Leader Mascot I’ll wear with a Jacket and Slacks Frilly my Cuffs I don’t Botox or uplifting What happened to hair Trump Don’t cry Do you Answer Me Trump It’s not Friday ? Let hope ! WordsbyMM MMybsDroW

[amor-est-potestas]

Autism Asks

How old were you when you found out you were autistic?

Do you have any other autistic people in your family? Or are you the only one?

Do you have any comorbidities? Or just autism?

Are you LGBTQIA+?

What do you wish more people knew about autism?

Have you ever been in a relationship?

Do you find it hard to make friends?

If you have any, what are your special interests?

What was your first special interest?

What are your most common stims?

If you could give any advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Do you headcanon any characters as autistic? If you want, tell us why you headcanon them as autistic.

Tell us an autistic person that you really look up to.

Are you currently in school?

Have you ever received any accommodations for your autism in either school or work?

Do you have any autistic friends?

Do you own any stim toys? Which is your favorite?

Do you find it easier to get along with other autistic people?

What kinds of things are sensory hell for you?

What kinds of things are good sensory wise?

How open are you usually when it comes to being autistic?

Would you say you're proud to be autistic?

What's the longest you've ever has a special interest for?

Do you have meltdowns?

What about shutdowns?

Do you avoid eye contact?

Do you have any vocal stims or echolalia?

How long do your special interests usually last for?

Are your friends and/or family accepting of your autism?

Favorite canon autistic character?

Do you have a comfort item? If you feel comfortable with it, then show it to us.

What are your safe foods?

Foods you are sensitive to (maybe because of bad texture for instance)?

Do you enjoy hugs? Or are they sensory hell?

Have you ever used a weighted blanket?

Do you have routines that you have to follow? What's in your routine?

Do you enjoy holidays or are they sensory hell to you?

How good are you at detecting sarcasm?

What's the most comfortable/sensory friendly outfit you own?

Do you collect anything related to your special interest?

If you date people then would you prefer to date other autistic people?

Tell us something about your special interest.

If you could have any item related to your special interest what would it be?

Who are your favorite autistic bloggers? Say something nice about them.

Favorite autistic celebrity?

Are you generally a loud or quiet person?

Do you happy flap?

What is your favorite special interest related item you own? Show it to us if you want.

What's something you find hard to do because of autism?

[newstfionline]

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Amid GOP confusion, U.S. braces for ‘first-ever shutdown about nothing’ (Washington Post) In 1995 and 1996, the federal government shut down as House Republicans and the Clinton administration clashed over spending cuts. In 2013, the government shut down because of a partisan disagreement over President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act. In 2018, Democrats bucked President Donald Trump’s demands to fund a U.S.-Mexico border wall, leading to the longest shutdown in U.S. history. “We are truly heading for the first-ever shutdown about nothing,” said Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a right-leaning think tank. Strain has started referring to the current GOP House-led impasse as “the ‘Seinfeld’ shutdown,” a reference to the popular sitcom widely known as “a show about nothing.” “The weirdest thing about it is that the Republicans don’t have any demands. What do they want? What is it that they’re going to shut the government down for? We simply don’t know.” Budget experts and historians say the current impasse stands out for its lack of a clear policy disagreement. With only two days left before the federal government shuts down and millions of Americans stop getting paid, members of Congress are frustrated and worried.

Heavy rains bring flash floods to New York City (NYT) Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York declared a state of emergency today as heavy rainfall pounded New York City and the surrounding region, causing flash floods. Entire subway lines were shut down, major roadways turned into lakes and children were moved to the upper floors of flooded schools. Hochul described the storm as a “life-threatening rainfall event,” urging New Yorkers to stay home and warning those who live in basements to brace for the worst. “Plan your escape route,” she said. “Don’t wait until water is over your knees before you leave. Don’t wait until it’s too late.”

Number of migrants crossing Panama’s Darien Gap surpasses 400,000 to record high (Reuters) The number of people crossing the perilous Darien Gap linking Panama and Colombia has hit a record high of 400,000 in the year to September, official data showed, as migration to the United States intensified despite efforts to curb the flow. More than half of those migrants were children and babies, Panama’s security ministry said in a statement, adding that September alone saw the number of crossings increase by a fifth compared to the previous month. Most of the migrants traversing the dangerous stretch of jungle are Venezuelans, with others from Ecuador, Haiti and other countries, Panama’s security ministry has said.

Cuba warns of worsening blackouts as fuel crisis bites (Reuters) Power blackouts in Cuba are expected to increase significantly due to a lack of fuel, officials warned in a nationwide TV broadcast, worsening the country's plight as it deals with food and medicine shortages. Local governments have already begun announcing restrictions on power usage at state-run companies and other entities, including moves to postpone sporting events and university classes. The officials suggested citizens could expect blackouts of up to eight to 10 hours per day starting in October outside of Havana, where residents are usually spared power outages. The Communist-run island has been mired in crisis and plagued by blackouts and shortages of food, medicine and fuel since the pandemic. Gross domestic product is 8% below 2020 levels and goods production 40% below, according to the government.

Who’s Gaining Ground in Ukraine? No One. (NYT) Despite nine months of bloody fighting, less than 500 square miles of territory have changed hands since the start of the year. Both sides started the year with lofty ambitions: Russia wanted to capture the eastern Donbas region, while Ukraine aimed to split Russian forces with an attack in the south. Neither offensive has gone to plan. The front line, after months of grueling combat and heavy casualties, remains largely unchanged. Across the front line, every mile of territory has been a grinding fight, with no repeat of the rapid breakthrough that Kyiv managed in Kharkiv in September last year, when Russia’s defenses collapsed after a surprise Ukrainian counterattack. Russia and Ukraine have faced similar challenges this year. Both sides are fighting for positions that have remained largely entrenched for months, or even years in some parts of eastern Ukraine. Seasoned troops and commanders who were killed earlier in the war have been replaced with new recruits who often lack sufficient training.

More than 70% of Nagorno-Karabakh’s population flees as separatist government says it will dissolve (AP) More than 70% of Nagorno-Karabakh’s original population has fled to Armenia as the region’s separatist government said it will dissolve itself and the unrecognized republic inside Azerbaijan will cease to exist by year’s end after a three-decade bid for independence. By Friday morning 84,770 people had left Nagorno-Karabakh, according to Armenian officials, continuing a mass exodus from the region of ethnic Armenians that began Sunday. The region’s population was around 120,000 before the exodus began. The moves came after Azerbaijan carried out a lightning offensive last week to reclaim full control over the breakaway region and demanded that Armenian troops in Nagorno-Karabakh disarm and the separatist government disband. During the three decades of conflict in the region, Azerbaijan and separatists inside Nagorno-Karabakh, alongside allies in Armenia, have accused the other of targeted attacks, massacres and other atrocities, leaving people on both sides deeply suspicious and fearful.

Blast hits prophet’s birthday celebration in Pakistan, killing at least 31 (Washington Post) At least 31 people were killed and more than 60 injured in a blast targeting a Pakistani procession to mark the birthday of prophet Muhammad on Friday, local police official Azam Khan said, as authorities cautioned that the death toll was likely to rise. The attack hit a rally in the district of Mastung in the southwestern Pakistani province of Baluchistan. Jan Achakzai, information minister of the provincial government, said the bombing amounted to one of the worst attacks in recent memory in the province, which is regularly struck by smaller blasts and targeted killings.

Sikh Separatism Is a Nonissue in India, Except as a Political Boogeyman (NYT) During his first trip to India as Canada’s prime minister in 2018, Justin Trudeau made a visit to the northern state of Punjab, where he got a photo op in full Punjabi dress at the Golden Temple, the holiest site of the Sikh religion. He also got, courtesy of the Indian government, an earful of grievances—and a list of India’s most-wanted men on Canadian soil. The killing this summer of one man on that list, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, has turned into a diplomatic war between India and Canada. Mr. Trudeau claimed this month that Indian agents had orchestrated the assassination inside Canada. India rejected the assertion and accused Canada of ignoring its warnings that Canadian Sikh extremists like Mr. Nijjar were plotting violence in Punjab in hopes of making the state into a separate Sikh nation. But there is little support in Punjab for a secessionist cause that peaked in deadly violence decades ago and was snuffed out. For Mr. Modi, the amplification of the separatist threat provides an important political narrative ahead of a national election early next year. It furthers his image as a strongman leader who will go to any extent to protect his nation. It has prompted even some of his staunchest critics to rally around him in the face of Canada’s accusation.

Chinese property giant Evergrande’s slow implosion nears crunch time (Washington Post) It’s been a terrible week in Chinese real estate giant Evergrande’s battle to shake its reputation as the Lehman Brothers of China’s struggling economy—a comparison it has been trying to avoid since 2021, when it defaulted on $330 billion in debt and sent shock waves through global markets. It started with confirmation Sunday that the developer couldn’t raise funds after saying it needed to “reassess” its restructuring plans amid an investigation by Chinese regulators—news that led to the biggest sell-off in Chinese property stocks in nine months on Monday. Then, on Thursday, the group and two of its major subsidiaries suspended trading after Bloomberg reported that its billionaire chairman, Xu Jiayin, was being held under “residential surveillance” by Chinese police. The fall from grace of Xu and his company—he was by some estimates China’s richest businessperson in 2017—tracks the rapidly declining health of the Chinese property sector, which accounts for nearly a quarter of economic growth in the world’s second-largest economy.

Singapore’s population grows 5% as foreign workers return post-pandemic (Reuters) Singapore’s population grew 5% in a year as foreign workers returned to the city-state following the pandemic, data released on Friday showed. There were 5.9 million people in Singapore as of June, up from 5.6 million in June last year. Of these, 61% were Singaporeans, 9% were permanent residents and 30% were foreigners working or studying in the country. The bulk of the population increase came from foreign employment, with 162,000 foreign workers coming to Singapore from June 2022 to June this year. In 2020 and 2021, the population shrank as hundreds of thousands of foreign workers left amid strict Covid-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions.

Sudan’s diaspora sends home aid as world’s attention drifts (Washington Post) The indoor basketball court at a Northern Virginia fitness center echoes with a familiar chorus of cheers and groans punctuated by a blaring buzzer. Gihad Salih watches from the sidelines as two teams face off. The event, a fundraiser on an August weekend for local Sudanese aid organizations, feels a long way from the corpse-strewn streets of Khartoum, where some of his extended family remain. The casual tournament—Slam Dunk for Sudan—is one of many grass-roots humanitarian fundraisers Sudanese immigrants and their descendants in the West have led since the war began. From North America to Australia, Sudanese people have raised money for emergency medicines, food and rent; lobbied officials to ease entry for refugees; and crowdsourced information about road safety, medical care and getting money into the country. With the conflict grinding into its sixth month, many Sudanese people and their supporters around the world are growing frustrated as the East African nation struggles for its share of international relief budgets and to remain on the global aid agenda. The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, has received 27 percent, or $266 million, of the $1 billion it requested for its emergency response. “Despite the urgency of the crisis,” the agency warned in early August, “funding has trickled in.”

Turning Jokes Into Reality (NYT) Mehran’s Steak House in New York City boasts an almost-perfect Google review rating with over 90 reviews, as well as a fully-booked, months-long waitlist, making it one of Manhattan’s most desirable dinner attractions. Unfortunately for any diners seeking a night at the exclusive restaurant, the steakhouse, well, didn’t actually exist—up until last weekend. You see, it’s very easy to create Google Maps listings. You can pick a name for a spot, upload a few details, and rename your house to whatever you want—which is what a few friends living at a four-story “hacker house” in Manhattan did, naming the building after a member of their group named Mehran, who would cook a top sirloin from time to time for house dinners. They padded out the listing with sarcastic rave reviews, eventually setting up a website and phone number to grow out the elaborate joke. Last Saturday, that joke became a reality. The friends rented out an event space, set up a menu, and invited dozens of people from their waiting list of over 900. They served up a four-course menu crowned with a ribeye steak to the unsuspecting guests for the low, low price of $114 (before tax, tip, and drinks).

[featurenews]

From California to Capitol Hill, tributes to Dianne Feinstein flood in after her death

Leaders in the House and the Senate paused from the race to avert a government shutdown to remember Feinstein, the California Democrat who was longest-serving woman to ever sit in the U.S. Senate. https://www.npr.org/2023/09/29/1202646467/dianne-feinstein-tributes-washington-california?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr