#man has several felony charges.

[aftermathplanner]

so my takeaway from mdzs is that the plot is essentially Wei Wuxian seeing a junior cultivator, going is anyone going to be this kid's weird gay uncle? and not wait for an answer.

[fluentmoviequoter]

With You and For You

Requested by @newobsessionweekly! I hope you like it and sorry for the wait!🤍

Pairing: (soft)Tim Bradford x fem!cop!reader

Summary: When you're involved in your first shooting, Tim tries to give you the comfort you need. You push him away until you realize why he's there.

Warnings: angst, r shoots someone in self-defence, fluff and comfort, depictions of fear and anxiety

Word Count: 2.2k+ words

Masterlist | Tim Bradford Masterlist | Request Info/Fandom List

Your career in the LAPD has been, for the most part, uneventful. You got lucky with a good TO, passed your rookie exam, graduated to P2 easily, and fell in love. No one knows about the last one, and if they do find out before you’re ready, it will put you and your boyfriend at risk. You’ve stopped bringing it up because when you mention telling someone or going out together, he assures you that he’ll handle it when the time comes. If you didn’t know better, you’d think he’s scared that he won’t be able to stay with you once people know. You also agreed to transfer to another station if that would make everything easier; your career is good and your relationship is maturing, and, for now, that’s enough. Even if they are completely separate.

During another uneventful, routine day, you initiate a traffic stop. The Camaro you are now parked behind ran several red lights before entering a residential area, and you pulled the driver over before anyone was injured. After radioing the stop to dispatch and running the plate, you prepare to approach the driver’s window.

The car's glass is tinted, dark enough to make you assume it’s illegal, so you walk out wide. You gesture for the driver to roll the window down, but nothing happens. Laying your hand on your gun, you gesture once more. Finally, the window rolls down about halfway.

“Can I help you, officer?” the man asks. You don’t reply before he continues, “Here’s how I’ll help. Let me go with a warning and we’ll all be okay.”

“That’s not how this works. Let me see your hands,” you command.

“I’m trying to help you, officer,” he insists.

“And I’m telling you to let me see your hands. Both of them.”

“Get back in your car.”

“Hands!”

“Fine,” he replies, clicking his tongue as he reaches down quickly. “Here’s my hands.”

He rolls the window down the rest of the way and extends his arms out, with a revolver held steadily between them.

“Drop the weapon!” you yell.

You unholster your gun and raise it to chest height. Trapped, you know that if you lower your guard or try to run for cover, he’ll just shoot you. You’ve seen too much, and his offer to help you by hurting others has been rescinded.

“Let me go,” he demands. “Or I will shoot you.”

“Threatening a police officer can carry felony charges in California,” you point out. “Last warning, drop the weapon!”

“Last warning is it?” he asks. “Fantastic. Let’s get this over with. I’ve got somewhere to be.”

You adjust your stance as he pulls a hand back inside the car. He opens the door and steps out. Quickly, he raises the gun to match your position and takes a measured step toward you.

“Stop!” you yell. “Don’t move!”

“Like this?” he taunts as he takes another step.

“Put down the gun and stop!”

He shakes his head as his finger slides toward the trigger. When his finger brushes the laser switch on his gun, the red dot appears on your sternum. He’s going to kill you unless you act now, you realize. Though they taught you everything to do in this moment, being in it is different. With one more warning, you pull the trigger. Your bullet rips through his arm and into his shoulder as you hold your position. When he hits the asphalt and groans, you kick his gun away and keep yours trained on him.

The man clutches his arm before he slumps. Immediately, your hands begin to shake. Carefully, you reach for your radio and automatically report the incident. While you operate according to procedure, your eyes never leave your gun or the man it is aimed at. You shot someone. Your breaths grow shallow as you return the radio to your belt. Though you know this was pure self-defence, you are still upset and find that you were totally unprepared for what it really feels like. You will yourself to calm down as dispatch alerts you to officers and Sergeant Grey responding; inside, everything is spinning as your emotions collide.

“Officer-involved shooting at South Curson and West 8th,” dispatch alerts. “Assistance requested.”

“Dispatch, I’m en route,” Tim radios the moment the transmission ends.

His hands tighten around the steering wheel as he clenches his jaw. They added your badge number as the officer involved, but no information about who was hurt or what happened. As Tim speeds through the streets of Mid-Wilshire, he fights not to panic. The worry that something has happened to you is something he can use, but he refuses to spiral.

Tim reaches the location of the shooting quickly and realizes that he is the first officer there. Before he gets out of his shop, he radios that he’s at the scene. The moment he steps out into the scene, his priorities shift. You are standing over an unconscious man, and Tim doesn’t even notice the blood on the ground. All he sees is you and that you are shaking. He calls your name, his voice soft as he approaches you. It takes a moment for you to look up, but Tim immediately identifies the emotions in your eyes. You’re genuinely shaken up, and Tim swears he can see fear in your eyes, either because of what happened or what you did.

“Hey,” Tim adds. “You’re okay.”

“I shot him,” you murmur, your voice breaking. “I shot him.”

Tim wraps his arm around your shoulders and gently turns you away from the injured suspect below you. He uses his other hand to direct your face to his. Quickly, Tim scans your face and body for any sign of injury and takes a deep breath when he is sure you are physically safe.

“Don’t tell me anything,” Tim reminds you. “But I’m right here, I’ve got you.”

You hear approaching sirens and blink quickly. Raising your hands to Tim’s chest, you push him away from you. His arm slides off of your shoulders as he steps back.

“You have to leave,” you tell him. “They can’t know.”

“But I-“

Tim stops. He wants to stay beside you and be anything and everything you need, but he also doesn’t want to risk upsetting you further. The first shooting is usually tough, and the fact that you’re relatively far into your career likely makes it harder.

“Okay,” Tim agrees. “I won’t be far.”

You nod, numb to everything except the memory of pulling the trigger. Sergeant Grey arrives and pulls you to the side as police officers and first responders crowd the scene. He takes you to his car and brings Nolan as your union rep before you even think to ask and takes your initial report.

“Everything is going to be fine,” Nolan assures you. “You did everything by the book and the evidence will back that up.”

Your gaze wanders to Tim, and though you know your relationship isn’t up to department regulations, you want to let him in. But you are scared and stubborn, and those have never mixed well.

Tim sees that you’re looking at him and takes it as an opportunity to return to your side. He doesn’t touch you this time, only sends you a look that reminds you that you’re not alone, even if you want to be.

“You should get back to work,” you say.

“I’m staying with you through all of this. You didn’t do anything wrong, but that doesn’t mean this is easy.”

“Tim,” you huff. “Just go.”

“No,” he answers shortly.

“Bradford,” Grey calls. “I need you to escort her back to the station. We’ll be back soon with everything else.”

Tim points to his body cam and Grey sends him a thumbs up. Yours was taken as evidence, so they’ll rely on Tim’s to monitor your behavior after the shooting. Luckily, Tim didn’t do anything that would read as more than a concerned fellow officer after he arrived.

“You heard him,” Tim says. “You’re stuck with me.”

As you follow Tim back to his shop, your hands continue shaking. You cross your arms over your chest, where your body cam would usually be, and tuck your hands between your arms and sides to hide the emotions leaking out.

“Just pass me off to someone else,” you encourage quietly.

“I’m not leaving you, not after what you just went through,” Tim states. “So, stop asking me to.”

You draw his attention to your face, out of sight of his body cam and mouth, “If you stay, they’re going to realize that we’re dating.”

“Let them,” Tim says aloud. “I don’t care what they see or think, I care about you.”

You tighten your arms over your hands and bite your bottom lip. Tim repeats himself, “I am only here for you.” Carefully, he pulls you into a hug, and you accept his comfort as you wrap your arms around his waist.

“Thank you,” you whisper.

“We’re here.”

You ride back to the station in silence, then sit outside Wade’s office as your body cam footage is reviewed and witnesses are interviewed. Tim sits beside you as you wait and shakes his head when people try to approach you, even if well-intentioned.

“How long does this take?” you ask quietly, picking at your fingers.

Tim slips his hand between yours as he answers, “It depends.”

You nod and lay one of your hands in Tim’s. The other curls in on itself, and your fingernails dig into your skin. Tim releases your hand and lays his hand palm up in your lap.

“Don’t take it out on yourself,” Tim whispers. “Do it to me if you have to, but this was not your fault.”

You run your finger over Tim’s palm, but without the worried movement of your hands, your energy finds a new outlet. Below Tim’s hand, your leg begins to bounce on its own accord.

“Take a deep breath,” Tim encourages as he turns in his chair.

He lays one hand on your bouncing leg while you hold the other. When you realize you’re too comfortable with Tim inside the station, you try to turn away.

“I’m okay now,” you say. “You can go.”

Tim shakes his head and mutters, “Stubborn.”

“But we-“

“You don’t need to be alone right now,” he interrupts. “Let me help.”

“We’re ready for you,” Grey says from his office door. “Bradford, you can come too.”

Tim offers a hand to help you stand, then follows you into the office with his hand against your back. Grey and a few other officers wait inside, and you swallow harshly while you wait for someone to talk.

“You’ve been cleared,” Wade says. “Everything was by the book, it was pure self-defence, and the guy has a good outlook. He’s expected to recover just in time for us to throw him in jail.”

Your eyes widen with the good news, and you force your words over a growing knot in your throat. All of your emotions want to burst out, but you control them as you reply, “Thank you.”

“Nothing to thank us for, ma’am,” one of the IA investigators adds. “You did your job, and you did it well.”

“You’re free to go for the day,” Wade says.

“You too, Bradford,” IA interjects. “And we’re not worried about the relationship, for the record. Just keep it professional at work; you’re both good cops.”

“Thank you,” you repeat.

Tim leads you out of the office, and your brain switches to autopilot as you enter the locker room and prepare to leave. He beats you back outside and prevents anyone from talking to you as he takes you outside to his truck.

When you arrive at Tim’s house, he leads you to the couch and sits beside you. In the privacy and with Tim’s hand on your cheek, you break down as the relief of being cleared mixes with every other emotion that has been building in your chest. Tim doesn’t hesitate to pull you into his arms. Held tightly to Tim’s chest, you receive the comfort you’ve craved all day, and Tim finally gets to give it without arguing.

“It was never about people not seeing us together,” Tim whispers as he strokes your back. “Your career would have been in jeopardy, and I was worried that no one would respect you if it got out.”

“You could’ve lost your job, too,” you point out weakly.

Tim pushes you back carefully and smiles softly. “Are you ever going to realize? It will never be about me. I don’t care who sees us together because I just want to be yours.”

“For now,” you mumble.

“What does that mean?”

“It means you’re only soft sometimes.”

“Like today?”

You nod as you lean against him once more. Whether you are willing to admit it or not, Tim will always be soft yet fiercely protective of you.

“You could also stop trying to push me away and break my heart,” Tim points out.

You kiss his shirt over his heart and say, “Softie.”

“Are you really okay?” Tim inquires after a quiet moment.

“I am. Thanks to you.”

“I’ll always be right here. With you and for you.”

[the-eternal-quest-for-balance]

Fosler had previously been arrested and booked in July by another agency for internet stalking of a child and sexual assault, according to Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley.  Spencer’s wife wrote an update on social media, stating, “We absolutely called 911 during the entire event.  We had no idea this man was in contact with our child again.  He was [a]waiting 6-9 felonies for what he did…He was looking at the rest of his pathetic life in jail, and our daughter was the only witness.”

She wrote on the GiveSendGo:

In spring/summer 2024 our then 13 year old child was targeted, groomed and ultimately raped by the boyfriend of a family friend. Our family did not know this monster. He just appeared in a place where our child should have been safe and got access to her phone number. And that’s all it took. We let the justice system do its job. The monster who hurt our child was charged quickly, but released even faster on a $50k bond. He was awaiting court in December for several felonies in relation to what he did to our child. In the early morning hours on Tuesday, October 8th, 2024, we awoke to our daughter’s dog barking. This is unusual and caused us to check on her. In that moment we lived every parents biggest fear as we realized our teen child was missing. We frantically searched our home/property and started calling friends, family, and 911. My husband immediately got into his truck to go blindly searching for our child. By God’s never failing grace, my husband passed this man driving on our road with our minor child in the vehicle. As soon as the predator knew my husband was behind him, he ran. The chase ended in an accident. Aaron was able to retrieve our child alive, but in the process he was attacked and did what he had to do to protect himself and our minor child. He is now facing an outrageous murder 1 charge. We were able to bring him home on $150k bond, but now we need to retain a legal team. I’m starting this campaign with a goal of $50k but I understand now it will likely cost much more. My husband is a combat veteran, who has always protected his country and family. I have no doubt our child would have not come home if my husband hadn’t found her. Please help us keep him home with us where he belongs. Any donation is appreciated, but we will also take all the prayers we can get.

[coochiequeens]

It bad enough men are being placed in a women's prison, but these scum?

By Genevieve Gluck September 11, 2024

A total of five male convicts were transferred to a Minnesota’s women-only prison following the adoption of a gender identity policy by the Department of Corrections in January of 2023. Two of the men who are now being held at MCF-Shakopee , a female correctional center, are sexual predators serving sentences related to the abuse of children.

Another, Sean Windingland, 35, sexually assaulted two 6-year-old relatives and posted videos of the abuse and grooming on pornography and pro-pedophile websites.

Windingland admitted to engaging in sexual contact with the young girls when questioned by investigators, but claimed that the children had consented. He pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in 2019. Windingland is now serving his 36-year prison sentence among women at MCF-Shakopee.

The third, Bradley Richard Sirvio, is a convicted murderer who is serving a life sentence. Sirvio, 52, beat a man to death with a hammer before setting his house on fire in November of 1995. A repeat offender, Sirvio has several other convictions that include multiple charges of assault, burglary, and theft. He was quietly transferred to MCF-Shakopee in November 2023, a full five months ahead of the date that a newly-drafted gender identity policy was set to take effect.

Bradley Richard Sirvio. Source: Minnesota DOC

The two remaining men confirmed by Reduxx to have been transferred into the women’s prison are Nathan Charles Johnson, serving two years for aiding and abetting a burglary, and a trans-identified male who uses the name Christina Suzanne Lusk, but was born Craig Lusk.

In June 2022, Lusk launched a discrimination lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Corrections which ultimately resulted in the implementation of measures permitting male convicts to be housed in the female estate. Lusk, who was serving a five-year sentence for the possession of methamphetamine at the Moose Lake correctional facility for men, was backed by the trans activist non-profit organization Gender Justice – which was recently revealed to have received nearly $500,000 in taxpayer funds from the administration of Governor Tim Walz.

The Democratic vice presidential nominee’s office handed out $448,904 to Gender Justice just one year after the organization filed the sex discrimination complaint against Minnesota’s DOC on behalf of Lusk, according to a review of public records published by the taxpayer watchdog group OpenTheBooks.com.

Lusk was arrested on two drug-related felonies, but was ultimately only convicted on one after striking a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to first degree possession of a controlled substance, and was sentenced to 98 months in prison. The defendant fact sheet lists Lusk’s gender as “male,” though he had changed his legal name the year prior.

Lusk had a previous felony conviction for first-degree robbery.

The legal claim, which was successful in court, demanded that Lusk be transferred to MCF-Shakopee and refers to him as “a woman who was assigned male at birth”, using feminine pronouns throughout.

“Gender identity refers to a person’s innate sense and deeply held understanding of their own gender. Everyone has a gender identity,” reads the complaint. Lusk began taking female hormones in 2009 and received chest implants in 2017.

Gender Justice further demanded that Lusk be given “women’s undergarments,” and claimed that DOC “punished Ms. Lusk for having breasts and for wearing women’s clothing.” Additionally it was stated that Lusk was “repeatedly misgendered and misnamed”.

Craig ‘Christina’ Lusk shortly after undergoing a chest implant procedure in 2017.

As previously reported by Reduxx, a Facebook account belonging to Lusk showed that he was obsessively posting about seeking female sexual partners, and that he wanted “a bride from Japan”.

As a result of a settlement between Gender Justice and the DOC, Lusk was awarded a $495,000 payout, of which approximately $250,000 was allocated to cover the cost of legal fees. The DOC also rolled out a new policy that would streamline the process for male convicts to transfer into the women’s prison.

The legal team responsible for arguing Lusk’s case was honored with the title “Attorneys of the Year” by law publication Minnesota Lawyer.

The new transgender inmate policy, which was revised in April last year and came into effect at the beginning of April 2024, established an Agency Gender Identity Committee in order to identify and make placement recommendations for “incarcerated people who are transgender” or “gender diverse”. The document cites as an authority the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), a lobbying group that Reduxx has repeatedly connected with sex offenders and sexologists sympathetic to pedophiles.

Christina Lusk.

This week, a woman formerly employed at the Minnesota Department of Corrections came forward to tell Alpha News that she had resigned from her post in protest of the new policy allowing men who claim a transgender status to be transferred into the female prison estate. Alicia Beckmann, who worked as a GED instructor at MCF-Shakopee, says the policy which prioritizes “gender identity” over biological sex creates an “unsafe environment.”

“I think it has just created a lot of risk, a lot of unknown confusion, frustration, anger,” Beckmann said. “It just has a vibe that doesn’t sit right with a lot of us who work at Shakopee because we are a women’s correctional facility.”

“We house every custody level. We have what would be considered low-level offenders who are there on DWI charges, theft charges, drug possession. Then, you bring in biological males who are violent, who would be housed at a custody level four facility. I just believe we’re re-victimizing some of these women, re-traumatizing them. They are incarcerated, however, they all have a past and a lot of their past includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. I think allowing men to live amongst these women is traumatizing and it’s also unsafe for staff,” she added.

Beckmann remarked that the policy had caused a climate of fear among staff at the women’s prison. “We just fear saying anything. I’ve been away from the DOC now for a few months and I still fear any kind of retaliation from the agency for speaking out, and I’m speaking out for these women who deserve a chance to be rehabilitated and returned to society. I just don’t think the way they’re doing it is appropriate.”

[kvetchlandia]

So...

The racist, nationalist, Islamophobic and antisemitic National Front (or whatever stupid, slightly less terrifying name they're giving themselves this month) is set to be the largest single party in the French parliament after next week's final round of elections. Italy is already governed by a party that's the direct descendant of Mussolini's Fascists. The neo-fascist Alternative for Germany was the second largest block in the recent German elections to the European Parliament and is expected to grow significantly in next year's elections to the Bundestag. Geert Wilders's reactionary party in the Netherlands took nearly 50% of the Dutch seats in the European Parliament (6 of 14). In the 2023 national elections in the Netherlands, Wilders' party took a whopping 37 seats in the Dutch House of Representatives, making it the largest single party in the Dutch legislature. Fortunately for the Dutch, they don't have another national election scheduled until 2028, but one could be held earlier should the government fall. It's hard for me to grasp that these countries, each of which was either conquered and occupied by the nazis and betrayed by collaborators, or was directly governed by nazis and fascists, is now electing precisely those same nazis and collaborators. Of course, we here in the United States, are facing the bizarre choice in the two "official" parties of American capitalism, of one candidate who's clearly cognitively impaired and another who is a dictator wannabe; a man already convicted of numerous felony charges and facing many, many more; a racist and misogynist; a man millions of dollars in debt on account of the fines levied against him after he was found liable for the civil sexual abuse of a woman and then libeling his victim and a man who has made it clear that if/when he's re-elected he's going to go after his political opponents and that he's also going to dismantle what little bit of social safety net we have in the United States. It looks as though Mushroom Dick, as Stormy Daniels referred to this monster, with whom she shared a brief and forgettable sexual encounter, is going to win the election in this country. This world is rapidly becoming an even sicker and sadder place than it's long been. I guess we should take a teensy bit of hope that Britain is bucking the trend and that Labour is expected to trounce the Tories in the upcoming election. Of course, this doesn't reflect that Britain is immune to the tide of the racist fear of immigrants that's sweeping over the rest of Europe and the United States but rather, it reflects the fact that the tide hit Britain first and that the British people have been suffering under the effects of Brexit for several years already, and that the long-term rule by the Tories has devastated the British working class and sucked much of the life out of the National Health System, which used to be a model for the world until the Tories slashed its budget to the bone. I guess all I can say is we're really screwed. The world is entering an ugly time and things are going to get worse before they get better.

OK, now I've totally depressed myself. I'm gonna pour myself a stiff drink and then stick a pillow over my head and try to go to sleep. I'm not in the mood to engage in my usual late night Tumblr silliness. Maybe I'll get back to posting tomorrow?

[verycleverboy]

Almost thirty-four years after Donald Trump took out a full-page ad in New York newspapers calling for the return of the death penalty in the wake of the case of a group of young African-American men branded the “Central Park Five”, and a few days after Trump was charged with thirty-four felony counts, one of the now-Exonerated Five took out a full-page ad of his own. The full text follows:

BRING BACK JUSTICE & FAIRNESS. BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR HARLEM!

On May 1, 1989, almost thirty-four years ago, Donald J. Trump spent $85,000 to take out full-page ads in The New York Times, New York Daily News, New York Post and New York Newsday, calling for the execution of the Central Park Five — an act he has never apologized for, even after someone else confessed to and was convicted of the crime, the convictions of all five of us were overturned, and we were renamed the Exonerated Five.

Instead, Mr. Trump has often doubled-down. A few weeks after taking out the ad, he went on CNN and stated: "I hate these people and let's all hate these people because maybe hate is that we need if we're gonna get something done."

Even after our exoneration and acknowledgment by the government that we had been wrongfully convicted, Mr. Trump continued to incite animus against me, my peers and our families. In 2013 — over a decade after our exoneration — Trump called the Ken and Sarah Burns Central Park Five documentary "a one-sided piece of garbage," and when asked how he felt now that we were shown to be innocent, responded: "Innocent of what?"

In 2014, the City of New York finally reached a settlement with the members of the Exonerated Five, awarding at compensation to help us rebuild our lives after so many years were taken from us. But even that acknowledgement from the city wasn't enough for Trump to see five young Black and Latino men as anything other than criminals, saying "settling doesn't mean innocence."

Note, after several decades and an unfortunate and disastrous presidency, we all know exactly who Donald J. Trump is — a man who seeks to deny justice and fairness for others, while claiming only innocence for himself.

Being wrongfully convicted as a teenager was an experience that changed my life drastically. Yet I am honored when people express how deeply they connect with my story.

It matters because, while my experience may have been extreme, I have lived through a form of trauma that many of us experience in some way every day throughout our country. My past is an example of systemic oppression imposed by the injustice system.

But the problems our community faced when my name was splashed across the newspapers a generation ago — inadequate housing, underfunded schools, public safety concerns, and a lack of good jobs — became worse during Donald Trump's time in office.

I am trying to change that, by working with so many other dedicated community members to build a better future for everyone, both here in Harlem and across the country.

Here is my message to you, Mr. Trump: In response to the multiple federal and state criminal investigations that you are facing, you responded by warning of "potential death and destruction," and by posting a photograph of yourself with a baseball bat, next to a photo of Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg. These actions, just like your actions leading up to the January 6 insurrection at the U .S. Capitol, are an attack on our safety.

Thirty-four years ago, your full-page ad stated, in all caps: "CIVIL LIBERTIES END WHEN AN ATTACK ON OUR SAFETY BEGINS."

You were wrong then, and you are wrong now. The civil liberties of all Americans are grounded in the U.S. Constitution, and many of us fight every day to uphold those rights, even in the face of those like you who seek to obliterate them.

Now that you have been indicted and are facing criminal charges, I do not resort to hatred, bias or racism — as you once did.

Even though thirty-four years ago you effectively called for my death and the death of four other innocent children, I wish you no harm.

Rather, I at putting my faith in the judicial system to seek out the truth. I hope that you exercise your civil liberties to the fullest, and that you get what the Exonerated 5 did not get — a presumption of innocence, and a fair trial.

And if the charges are proven and you are found guilty, I hope that you endure whatever penalties are imposed with the same strength and dignity that the Exonerated Five showed as we served our punishment for a crime we did not commit.

--Yusef A. Salaam

[offender42085]

Post 1138

If I had committed 11 felonies -- I would be under the jail. -- Sheriff

Jeremiah Payton Murphy, Florida inmate A81585, born 2000, incarceration intake July 2022 at age 21, scheduled for release January 2058

Murder

In May 2022, a man who murdered his 69-year-old neighbor when he was 17 was sentenced to serve a minimum of 40 years in state prison. 

Jeremiah Murphy entered into a negotiated plea agreement to the charge of first-degree felony murder State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden announced in a press release.

The State Attorney’s Office decided to charge Murphy as an adult based on the seriousness of the offense.

Pursuant to Florida law, he is entitled to a review of his sentence after 25 years due to his age at the time of the offense. He had previously faced a life sentence after shooting and killing Nancy Kirk Williams at her Crestview home on May 26, 2018.

Williams was the grandmother of Murphy’s ex-girlfriend. Evidence showed that she did not approve of her granddaughter dating Murphy, according to the State Attorney’s Office.

Williams’ body was discovered in a detached garage after her mother filed a missing persons report. She had been shot multiple times.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirmed the fired shell casings at the scene were from a .380 pistol, which belonged to Murphy’s parents, according to the State Attorney’s Office.

Murphy was arrested three days after the shooting. He told Okaloosa County sheriff's investigators that that he and an unknown person planned to burglarize Williams’ home. After she was shot, Murphy stole her vehicle and fled the scene.

Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley revealed thatMurphy has 11 prior felonies and several misdemeanors as well. “We have to end this rehabilitation mentality that’s not holding juveniles accountable,” the sheriff said. “If I committed 11 felonies I would be under the jail, but when it’s a juvenile we somehow feel that’s different.”

4j

[beardedmrbean]

YON, France (AP) — A French court ruled on Monday that the American man accused of sexually assaulting a Pennsylvania college student in 2013 and later sending her a Facebook message that said, “So I raped you,” can be extradited to the United States.

Ian Cleary, 31, of Saratoga, California, was detained in April in the city of Metz in northeastern France after a three-year search. He has been held in custody pending extradition proceedings since his arrest.

The Court of Appeal in Metz said that Cleary can be extradited. When asked if he wished to be extradited or not, in line with French law, Cleary refused, prosecutors said in a statement Monday. His refusal may delay the extradition process, but it won't stop it.

The ruling is final. Cleary's case is now the responsibility of the French Justice Ministry, which must prepare and submit the extradition order for the French prime minister. While he awaits the prime minister's signature, Cleary remains detained in France.

Justice Ministry officials didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Cleary had been the subject of an international search since authorities in Pennsylvania issued a 2021 felony warrant in the case weeks after an Associated Press story detailed the reluctance of local prosecutors to pursue campus sex crimes.

The arrest warrant accuses Cleary of stalking an 18-year-old Gettysburg College student at a party, sneaking into her dorm and sexually assaulting her while she texted friends for help. He was a 20-year-old Gettysburg student at the time, but didn't return to campus.

The Gettysburg accuser, Shannon Keeler, had a rape exam done the same day she was assaulted in 2013. She gathered witnesses and evidence and spent years urging officials to file charges. She went to authorities again in 2021 after discovering the Facebook messages that seemed to come from Cleary’s account.

“So I raped you,” the sender had written in a string of messages.

“I’ll never do it to anyone ever again.”

“I need to hear your voice.”

“I’ll pray for you.”

The AP doesn't typically identify sexual assault victims without their permission, which Keeler has granted. The accuser’s lawyer in Pennsylvania, reached on Monday, declined to comment on the development.

According to the June 2021 warrant, police verified that the Facebook account used to send the messages belonged to Ian Cleary. Adams County District Attorney Brian Sinnett, who filed it, declined to comment on developments when reached Monday.

After leaving Gettysburg, Cleary earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Santa Clara University, near his family home in California, worked for Tesla, and then moved to France for several years, according to his website, which describes his self-published medieval fiction.

Keeler, originally from Moorestown, New Jersey, stayed on to graduate from Gettysburg and help lead the women’s lacrosse team to a national title.

By 2023, two years after the warrant was filed, Keeler and her lawyers wondered how he was avoiding capture in the age of digital tracking. The U.S. Marshals Service thought he was likely overseas and on the move, even as he was the subject of an Interpol alert called a red notice.

Across the U.S., very few campus rapes are prosecuted, both because victims fear going to police and prosecutors hesitate to bring cases that can be hard to win, the AP investigation found.

Keeler, when the warrant was issued, said she was grateful, but knew it only happened “because I went public with my story, which no survivor should have to do in order to obtain justice.”

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Matt Shuham at HuffPost:

Last summer, a candidate for the New Mexico state House showed up on Nathan Jaramillo’s doorstep. Jaramillo, the Bureau of Elections administrator in Bernalillo County, said Peña had previously sent threatening emails to both himself and to others in the county. Jaramillo brushed it off, annoyed at the personal intrusion but unconcerned. Five months later, Peña, a Trump supporter who lost his election and rejected the results, was arrested and charged with organizing a string of brazen drive-by shootings targeting public officials. Jaramillo thought back to five months earlier, when the man had shown up at his doorstep. The severity of the situation “really hit me,” Jaramillo told HuffPost. “In hindsight, it was a lot more scary.” Now, Jaramillo’s office assigns ticket numbers to emails they receive, organizing them by sender and keeping tabs on the office’s responses, in the hopes of anticipating anyone who could escalate their complaints into something more serious.

But the incident with Peña — who has pleaded not guilty, and whose attorney did not respond to a request for comment — is just one scene representative of an increasingly tense era of American politics. Fueled by Trump’s lies about election theft, supporters of his have spent years threatening election workers and the democratic process — and acting upon those threats. Now, as the 2024 presidential campaign charges toward November, election offices are taking steps they’d never dreamed could be necessary. Several election officials HuffPost spoke to laid out laundry lists of upgrades — everything from ballistic windows, doors and walls to new security cameras, electronic access badges and location trackers on ballot boxes. And as the Republican Party continues to push lies about election integrity — a scripted Republican Party call last month falsely claimed there was “massive fraud” in 2020 — election officials are gearing up to protect what promises to be an even more tense presidential contest this year.

[...] Around the country, election officials are working on evacuation and “quick containment” drills for future potential envelope attacks — even just using a bucket to contain a suspicious envelope — and stocking up on masks, gloves and naloxone, just in case, said Jennifer Morrell, a former elections official in Utah and Colorado and co-founder of an election consulting group during a recent call hosted by the National Task Force on Election Crises.

[...] “Prior to 2016, it was a pretty sleepy industry. People trusted their election officials and the process,” she said. Then, Hall said, “everything changed: When you have rhetoric coming from the top, it empowers and activates people all the way down the food chain.”

[...] But election workers’ preparations for 2024 are complicated by the sheer range of security issues that could come up: Since 2020, for example, Trump supporters across the country have tried — sometimes successfully — to copy data from sensitive equipment like voting machines and ballot tabulators. In Michigan, for example, several prominent Republicans, including a former GOP nominee for state attorney general, have been charged with felonies for their roles in an alleged conspiracy to improperly gain access to ballot tabulators. In Colorado, a former county clerk faces felony charges for allegedly allowing a computer technician to get into election machines under false pretenses; information from the machines was subsequently shared at an election fraud conspiracy theory summit. The answer to these growing threats, according to election officials, is a mix of background checks, digital protections like phishing training for staff and multi-factor authentication for accessing databases, in addition to physical measures like electronic badges that allow different levels of access to observers, volunteers, election workers and government employees.

[...]

Brain Drain

For veteran election administrators, the Trump era has brought with it a troubling wave of resignations. Workers at all levels have decided they’d rather not participate in a process that, in recent years, has led some of their neighbors to think they’re part of an anti-democratic cabal. What used to be considered sleepy “clerk work” is now heavily scrutinized — and, as the Republican attacks against Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss showed, may make people vulnerable to nationwide defamation campaigns. In North Carolina, there’s been a “huge increase” in directors of elections retiring, Bowens said. And Jaramillo described “individuals that were with our office for 20-plus years [who] made the determination that they weren’t in it for the 2024 ride.” Mast said he’d seen an “incredible” number of election workers retiring or changing fields. Among elected clerks, Mast said the position has gone from one filled largely by career administrators who served lengthy tenures to one with roughly 30% turnover every four years. After the “environmental changes” of 2020, experienced clerks have begun leaving the field more often, he said. “It’s incredible to see.”

Election administration was once a sleepy nonpartisan industry, but with rampant election denialism instigated by Donald Trump and fellow right-wing bad actors, election administrators are looking to make safety upgrades before this fall's election.

[mariacallous]

The man accused of shooting a Jew on his way to synagogue in Chicago in late October has been found dead in his jail cell.

Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, 22, had been arrested and charged with terrorism and hate crime charges for shooting the Orthodox man in Chicago’s West Rogers Park neighborhood on Oct. 26, a Shabbat morning.

Abdallahi, an immigrant from Mauritania, had subsequently exchanged fire with law enforcement when police and paramedics arrived on the scene, and was taken to a local hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound.

Abdallahi was initially charged with 14 total felony counts — including attempted first-degree murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm toward a police officer. But the shooting unleashed a firestorm in Chicago, where the initial lack of hate crime charges drew sharp criticism from local Jewish leaders. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also faced backlash for omitting mention of the victim’s Jewish identity in his response to the shooting.

Days later, amid the blowback, hate crime charges were filed against Abdallahi.

At a detention hearing on Nov. 22, prosecutors presented evidence showing that Abdallahi had mapped several Chicago synagogues and Jewish day schools in the days prior to the shooting, including a synagogue one block from the scene of the attack, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Abdallahi was found dead Saturday, Nov. 30 at 3:30 p.m. during a routine security check at the health center in Cook County Jail. He was found unresponsive in an “apparent suicide attempt by hanging” in his cell, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office said. He was then taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died.

The Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force is conducting an investigation, according to the sheriff’s office, which said there was no sign of foul play and that Abdallahi was not considered a suicide risk. An autopsy is also being conducted, according to a local ABC affiliate.

“My community has been on edge for quite some time,” Alderwoman Debra Silverstein, herself an Orthodox Jew who represents West Rogers Park, told the Sun-Times. “I hope this will bring a small measure of closure.”

Silverstein, who had expressed outrage at the initial lack of hate crime charges, also said she hoped the investigation would continue. “We would still like to find out all the details about what happened,” she said.

[xyrxyfmxyrxyoxr]

I really don’t know what went through Americans’ heads when they chose that failed excuse of a man as a president.

He is a convicted felon charged with 34 felonies.

He has several cases of sexual assault.

He is a homophobic, sexist, racist criminal, how the hell did he even get to run for presidency? He is a total creep, a scary man who wants to strip people of their rights.

He expressed several times how he found his daughter “hot” and how if she wasn’t his daughter and if he wasn’t happily married he would DARE HIS OWN DAUGHTER!

He is against queer people, he wants to control everything and everyone whether it be sexuality or anything else. Gay marriages will be banned again and Any gay couple who shows acts of affection outside may be locked.

He is against women’s rights, he is against abortion even if it was a case of rape. “Women need to face some type of punishment” he said about women who CHOSE TO ABORT! I’m sorry since when was this your choice? And then those who support him will be like “ what’s the fetus’s fault?”. This was never about the child, it’s always and will always be about control. Men want to control women and their bodies cause they think they are superior or wtv bs they think. IT’S A WOMAN’S BODY SO IT’S HER CHOICES WHAT’S SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THAT?! Have we ever had a law that controlled a man’s body ? Of course not.

We are retreating, we are going back to the old times after so many fights.

But we never gave up and never will. If I don’t fight to get MY rights I will fight for my daughter’s.

And it’s not only about women but about people with different races.

Trump wants to drive everyone who is not American out of America and he says an I quote :”America is for Americans and Americans only.” And guess who said that? Of course the dictator H*tler, and I think that explains enough to be honest.

And some will be like :”You are not even American how is that any of your business?”

First of I am a woman so I fight for all women no matter the nationality or religion. Second as much as I hate to admit It, America is a state of power so wtv happens there affects the whole world. And finally never forget our sisters and brothers in Iran and Palestine, I know that both candidates are z*ironists but trump himself said it, if he becomes president, I*real will stay forever.

So never stop fighting we are all women and we are all humans who deserve rights. I hope having less priced groceries was worth it, for men who voted for him hope those less gas prices were worth your daughter’s freedom and rights.

Take part of the 4B movement and show him your disapproval. And never forget that Donald trump is a white supremacist and anyone who votes for him is no better.

[anyablackwood]

Is a Ten, But... Tag Game

Thanks so much @athenswrites for the tag! This should be fun, lol. I really couldn't decide what WIP to use! But since I mostly do Asteria Heights and Crown of Blood, I figure I'd try introducing a WIP I haven't talked about before. So I'll be using the Traveling Bards!

Rules: List your OCs as “tens but” to give us a not at all comprehensive scope of their characters

Luna: Is a ten, but would kill a man for a good bagel, and probably has. Currently has several felony charges and a bounty on her head.

Iris: Is a ten, but has been accused of stabbing a man 3 years ago in the back of a tavern over an illegal tome of arcane magic.

Claire: Is a ten, but has committed several acts of treason and would do it again for the right price. Also has an extensive collection of dried plants and animal parts in her bottomless satchel.

Felix: Is a ten, but has no almost concept of morality and absolutely no respect for anyone besides his sisters. Has calculated 83 separate ways to take over the kingdom without military resistance.

Bonus: Side Characters

Leopold: Is a ten, but doesn't understand the concept of poverty.

Genevieve: Is a ten, but is so unaware of it it's actually suspicious.

This is fun! I'd love to do it again. (Gently) tagging: @nemaliwrites, @amaiguri, @theunboundwriter, @aalinaaaaaa

[tomorrowusa]

A special election has been set for February 13th to fill the vacancy in NY-03 left by George Santos's expulsion from the US House of Representatives. The winner of this election will serve until early January of 2025.

There will not be a primary for the February special election. Party leaders will choose the candidates. Democrats have already chosen former Rep. Tom Suozzi as their candidate. Suozzi gave up his seat for an unsuccessful run for NY governor in 2022. He previously represented much of the largely suburban area which is now in NY-03.

Republicans are having a much harder time finding a candidate for the February election. As of Friday evening, they still don't have one.

An individual who has put himself forward as a possible GOP candidate in the regular November 2024 election in NY-03 is one of the pro-Trump terrorists who attacked the US Capitol on 06 January 2021.

A man who has filed to run in 2024 for the seat held, up until last Friday, by ex-Rep. George Santos (R-NY) was found guilty of crimes related to the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol this week. Philip Sean Grillo, a 49-year-old man from Queens who in May filed the paperwork to run for office in New York’s 3rd Congressional District, was found guilty of “felony obstruction of an official proceeding and other charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol,” the Department of Justice announced in a news release this week. Grillo, who was arrested in February 2021, was not only accused of entering and exiting the building several times — including once through a broken window near the Senate wing door — he was also accused of pushing up against police as he carried a megaphone throughout the riot and was recorded on video saying, “I’m here to stop the steal” and “it’s our fucking House!” He also took time to get high during the attack.

Grillo certainly has the type of mentality to be a House Republican.

Grillo also recorded videos of himself during the riot and smoked weed inside the building. Grillo proceeded to enter and exit the Capitol three more times and can be seen in multiple instances pushing up against police officers,” DOJ said in the news release. “In another recording from his cell phone, he can be seen smoking marijuana inside the Capitol. In this video, Grillo stated, among other things, ‘Our House!’ He asks, ‘Who’s smoking grass?’ and, ‘Can I get a hit it of that s—?’ Another video depicted Grillo high-fiving other rioters after smoking marijuana inside the Capitol.” During the trial, Grill claimed he had “no idea” that Congress met in the Capitol building — even though he is running for Congress — and his lawyers argued he was under the impression that he was allowed to behave how he did that day. Grill hasn’t yet been sentenced so it is unclear if he will still be able to run for Santos’ seat next year. It’s also not clear if he will be a candidate in the Feb. 13 special election to fill the seat, now that Santos has been expelled.

Republicans in NY-03 do understand that they have an image problem because of George Santos. Though it's fun to imagine Donald Trump campaigning for a clueless MAGA stoner.

[eaglesnick]

“A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses": Colin Powell.

With this quotation in mind let us look at the company Nigel Farage keeps.

Close to home is his French girlfriend Laure Ferrari.

Ferrari, who Farage met in 2007, is a French politician who has worked for “several right-wing to far-right political organisations." She was head of the Institute for Direct Democracy in Europe, which was accused in 2017 of having illegally diverted public money to UKIP, the anti-European party of which Farage was a founding member.  She ran for the European Parliament as a candidate for the far-right  French party Debout la Republique.

Farrari is also a founding member of “The Mouvement" alongside Steve Bannerman. In Europe The Mouvement has attracted the attention of the right-wing Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungry. Orban has been condemned for his racist remarks, which were described as “pure Nazi text worthy of (Nazi propagandist) Goebbels.” (reported by CNN World:27/07/22)

Meanwhile in America, Steve Bannerman, at one time Donald Trump’s chief strategist, has been accused of being anti-Semitic, racist and making bigoted statements against women and Muslims. After a Unite The Right rally - led by   "white-supremacists, neo Nazis and alt-right atavists” - degenerated into violence Trump was forced to sack Bannerman. He was later jailed for contempt of Congress after refusing to provide information concerning Donald Trumps involvement in the US Capitol Riots and Trumps alleged attempts at overthrowing democracy.

Farage has described the convicted Trump as “a true friend" and as “the single most resilient and bravest person I have ever met in my life". Right-wing Trump has been  convicted on 34 separate felonies  after falsifying business accounts. On hearing the news Farage said he supports Donald Trump “more than ever."

Trump, as we know, is in turn a supporter of the right-wing dictator Vladimir Putin, a man who is sacrificing his fellow countrymen in an illegal war he started when he invaded Ukraine.  The Atlantic (01/03/24:

“Adoration of the Russian leader, who murders his domestic opponents, kidnaps thousands of Ukrainian children, and interferes in American presidential elections, is so hard to comprehend..." 

Some explain this friendship as part of Trumps desire to conclude business deals with Putin’s Russia. The Atlantic has an alternative, more convincing explanation:

 “there’s a deeper, more nefarious truth about people on the right’s baffling unwillingness to criticize the Kremlin: They actually share its worldview.”

Like Putin, Trump has vowed to imprison his political opponents:

“Trump defends Vow To Prosecute Rivals Saying ‘Sometimes Revenge Can Be Justified.’ “ (New York Times 07/07/24)

Farage's friend rump has a total disregard for democratic elections and has now been indicted on charges relating to the January 6th Capital Riots when he refused to accept the verdict of the American people in the US Presidential elections of 2020.

To make matter worse last month this statement was posted  on Trumps Instagram account:

“WHAT’S NEXT FOR AMERICA?....INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH SIGNIFICANTLY DRIVEN BY A UNIFIED REICH”

Such language and sentiment is a clear reference to fascism and the German dictator Adolf Hitler.

Talking of Adolf Hitler brings us back to Nigel Farage.

On the BBC Election debate last Friday night Nigel Farage, along with all of the other candidates, was rightly critical of Rishi Sunak for leaving the D-day Memorial Commemorations early. But in the case of Farage’s condemnation there  is a glaring irony.

The D-day Memorial Commemorations were held to honour and remember the bravery and sacrifice of the men who risked and gave their lives for freedom and peace. Tens of thousands of men landed on the beaches of Normandy as part of a campaign to liberate Nazi-occupied Northern Europe. Their heroic actions and sacrifices marked  the beginning  of the end for Adolf Hitler and his fascist followers. We owe our freedom of today to these selfless individuals.

Farage told the nation that Sunak leaving the D-Day commemorations early “says a lot about him”. I would agree. But the irony is Mr Farage, the company YOU keep, and the friends YOU choose says volumes about YOU. The men on the Normandy beaches died to rid Europe of a right-wing dictatorship. Your right-wing friends show as much respect for democracy and human decency as did past European dictators. To misquote the Bible:

“Beware of false profits, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but are inwardly ravenous wolves. You will know them by their friends". Matthew 7:15-16

[eva-knits12]

Grocery shopping with Ransom Drysdale

Trigger Warning: chronic illness, Ransom going grocery shopping, fluff, Ransom caring for the reader, Ransom getting flowers, Karen being Karen, Andy Barber makes a surprise appearance.

Summary: Ransom Drysdale goes grocery shopping.

This is another story in the Daily Battle series. In this one, Ransom tries to help you with your grocery shopping. You and Ransom are engaged, and Ransom has officially disowned Linda.

It was Thursday morning, which meant it was your normal grocery shopping day. Ransom wanted to take you grocery shopping, because this was something that he had never done before, and wanted to take you. He wanted to help you with your grocery shopping, and you told him to just drop you off, and you would call him when you were done on his phone. Ransom wouldn't hear of it, and he didn't want you going by yourself anymore. Not since that Karen had pushed you out of the stores mobility scooter because she thought that you were faking your illness. You often got that a lot, but nothing to that extent. You had to live with Multiple Sclerosis, the people who gave you dirty looks didn't have to live with MS.

That Karen had pushed you out of the mobility scooter, leaving you screaming in pain. The store security had to intervene, and saw exactly what happened. The nice guard helped you up, and grabbed your cane, as you were having a bad day, and needed Marta to take you. You told her that you would call her when you were done, you didn't want to bother Ransom. You and Ransom had been dating for several months, and Ransom insisted on taking you places, he didn't exactly have a 9-5, but he was Harlan's research assistant, so he often worked from home, or in Harlan's office. You called Marta, who then came, and you called Ransom, and explained what happened. The ambulance took you to the ER, making sure you had your cane, but the ER provided you with a wheelchair, which was hospital policy-every patient had to be in a wheelchair when they came into the ER, no exceptions.

You suffered from a broken arm, a dislocated shoulder, a sprained ankle, and a concussion. Karen had managed to throw you out of the mobility scooter, telling you that only real handicapped people needed it. You were used to dirty looks, but the people who gave you dirty looks didn't have to live with an invisible illness.

When Ransom found out what happened, he was livid, and understandably so. Someone hurt his baby, so he was going to find a way to hurt them. It turned out that the Karen was working for his mother, Linda Drysdale, and when word got to Linda, that Karen was fired in an instant. Even though Ransom had officially disowned Linda, Linda was NOT going to let the Karen get away with that. Linda must have had some pity, she screamed at the Karen for what she did, presenting the Karen with a box, and told her that she was done. What she had done to her son's girlfriend was inexcusable and unforgivable. Linda and Ransom could both be ruthless, and when Ransom and Linda were ruthless, all hell broke loose.

"We are pressing charges!" Ransom screamed.

When Ransom found out, and he had managed to contact your parents, who discovered what happened. Your brother was a lawyer, who worked for Andy Barber, and when your brother found out, not only charges were pressed, he would make sure that the Karen would be facing jail time for what she had done. His boss Andy agreed, and upped the charges to several felonies.

It turned out that the Karen was married to Neal, the very man that tried to ruin Andy's career. Neal begged and pleaded with Andy to drop the charges, but Andy was sticking to it. He was not going to piss off Linda Drysdale and Ransom Drysdale even more right now.

So, Ransom and your brother agreed that you were not to go anywhere alone. You argued that you were independent, and that this was a one-time thing, but Ransom and your brother wouldn't hear of it. So, when Thursday came, Ransom was ready to take you.

Ransom had already woken up and showered. He let you sleep because yesterday wore you out. So, he sat next to you, reading his New Yorker and sipping his coffee while he was waiting for you to wake up.

You woke up, and sat up. You put you legs to the side, and just sit there for a few minutes.

"Good morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?" said Ransom.

"Good morning. I slept well. I just need my walker." you said.

Ransom grabs your walker, places it in front of you, kissing your forehead. He then stands behind you, knowing that the risk of falling over and fainting is high right now after after being in bed for so long.

Your motto ever since your MS had progressed was "Wake up, and get two feet on the ground, and it's a good day."

Ransom helps you to the bathroom, where you brush your teeth, wash your face, and relieve yourself. Ransom gets our your clothes for the day, and then gets your coffee ready.

You are sitting next to Ransom, snuggling next to him. You take a sip of your coffee, and you can't help but smile.

"Ransom, I love you so much. You always take good care of me," you say, kissing your fiance on his cheek.

Ransom leans in and gives you a loving kiss. Then, he kisses your forehead.

"I love you so much. You are perfect to me, MS and all," said Ransom. Ransom always liked to remind you every day that you were perfect in his eyes, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

Ever since your MS progressed, it often made daily tasks difficult. Ransom was there, making sure you didn't wear yourself out. Your neurologist and pain specialist took one look at your symptoms, and discovered that your MS had progressed, and agreed to get you on a new medication that would help manage your symptoms, and slow down and reverse some of the progression. You also went to physical therapy and occupational therapy regularly to help make basic tasks bearable and to help manage your pain, your fatigue, and to prevent your symptoms from getting worse. You were determined to walk down the aisle without the aid of one of your mobility devices. Ransom or Marta would take you to PT and to OT. Ransom would bring his crossword, Marta would bring her Soduko when you would go to PT and OT twice a week. You also went to regular doctor and neurologist visits. Ransom or Marta would go with you. Ransom even started to keep a journal on ways to help you with your multiple sclerosis.

He had become a better person, and he was learning a lot about being in a relationship with someone who suffers from a chronic illness, he was also learning how to put other people first, which was a first for him. To everyone's surprise, the trust fund playboy was in love, and the old saying was true. Love changes you, and it had changed him. He was a better person than he was years ago, and you helped change him, and love changed him for the better. He was good at taking care of you, and he was good at helping other people.

Ransom then helped you get into the shower, and while you were in the shower, Ransom prepared breakfast. He made you some oatmeal and some toast, and went back into the bedroom, and carried you bridal style to kitchen. He then sets you down in the chair, then goes back for your walker. Today, you needed the walker because you were feeling stiff. You had PT later this afternoon, and Ransom wanted you to save your energy for that. Tomorrow morning would be OT, then you would be discussing with your physical therapist and your occupational therapist about your progress. At every session, you were making a little more progress, even though your MS had progressed. You were determined not to let the MS win.

That morning, you made your grocery list, and organized your list by aisle and by section in order to make your grocery shopping quicker and more efficient. You always got the frozen foods last.

"Honey, we'll go do your grocery shopping after breakfast," said Ransom.

"Okay, then we'll go to my PT appointment this afternoon," you said.

"After lunch, try to get some sleep. You need your energy for PT," said Ransom, giving you another kiss to your forehead.

Ransom grabbed the list, while you sat there and finished your breakfast. Ransom also got the car ready, and he was taking your car because there was room for your entire grocery haul, plus your walker. Occasionally, he would take you in the Beemer, but on days like today, your car was much easier.

Ransom opened the garage door, and then pulled out the car. He parked the car so that you wouldn't have to walk on the snowy pavement.

You are using the walker, and stop at the closet. Marta grabs your coat, and helps you get your coat on. Ransom comes back, and carries you bridal style to the car, and gets you into the car, and helps get your seatbelt on. Marta loads your walker into the car.

Ransom kisses your hand, and you both go to the grocery store.

Ransom parks, and helps get you out of the car. He parks in the handicapped space, and your license plate has the handicapped symbol on it because it's easier than having to pull the placard out, and place it on the rearview mirror. Your doctor put in the paperwork to make this happen. You were determined to keep your independence for as long as possible.

Ransom puts one had around you waist and guides towards the entrance. He helps get you into one of the stores mobility scooters, and was ready to pounce if someone raised holy hell about it like that Karen did weeks ago. Your arm was better, your shoulder was better, and your ankle was better. You were getting the dang cast removed next week, and couldn't wait to start doing your normal activities with it again.

Ransom grabs a grocery cart in order to help you with larger items such as bottled water, toilet paper, etc.

First up, is the pharmacy section. You pick up some Motrin, some cough drops, and some cold medicine. You liked to have that around when you came down with a cold. Next is the feminine care section, and you pick up some maxi pads. You used to use tampons, but they just weren't a part of your life anymore, so pads were easier. You also pick up the overnight ones, too.

Next is the beauty aisle, so you pick up some of your favorite Cover Girl mascara, along with some loose powder, and some lip gloss. You also pick up some of the store brand's version of the original Olay lotion.

Next is the paper goods aisles, and Ransom has followed you to each aisle. He grabs some Kleenex for you, and puts it his cart. He also puts some toilet paper in the cart, just one pack until you both were able to make a Costco run.

Next is the produce section, and you pick up some fruits and veggies. Ransom helps you pick out the fruit and veggies, and even gathers the veggies to make some homemade pasta sauce. Ransom was still learning how to cook, and it was something that he was enjoying. It was about doing things for you to make things easier for you, and your mom gave Ransom the recipe for her homemade pasta sauce. Your grandmother gave him the recipe for her famous homemade macaroni and cheese, and he often made that on Sundays. He even picked up the veggies to make chili for the both of you.

Next is the bread, and you tell him to get one loaf of the white bread, and one loaf of the whole wheat. He also gets a loaf of whole grain, and it was great that he picked that up. Then, you head to the bakery section, and Ransom gets some ciabatta bread for tonight. Ransom kisses you on the top of your head, and you smile.

Next, is the baking aisle, and he gets the ingredients to make your famous homemade chocolate chip cookies, You were going to make those for Ransom this week, and he always looked forward to these. He also picks up some corn muffins, and that would be great for the chili. You would bake the cookies on chili night.

Next is the soup aisle, and you and Ransom gets some chicken noodle soup, and then some beef barley soup. He also gets some tomato and some minestrone soup.

You and Ransom keep talking in between the aisles, stealing kisses every chance you get. Ransom was a man in love and he would do anything for you and would do anything to protect you and defend you. He would do anything to protect your relationship, and that cold October Sunday proved it to the both of you.

Next up is the cereal aisle, and Ransom loved cereal. His favorite cereal was Frosted Flakes and Lucky Charms. Ransom also picks up some corn flakes so you both can make your Nana's famous corn flake fried chicken.

Next is the pasta aisle, and Ransom picks up some spaghetti and some penne pasta. He also picks up some lasagna noodles for the small gathering that you would be having later for the holidays. Your brother and you just couldn't go back home for the holidays this year, so your brother and you would have a holiday celebration, just the two of you. Plus, your brother had just broken up with his fiancee, and you and Ransom felt that he shouldn't be alone this year.

Ransom also picks up some milk in the dairy section, and some cocoa powder from the holiday baking display. He was going to make you both some real hot chocolate tonight. Ransom goes back to the baking aisle, and picks up one of those huge chocolate bars to make the cocoa. Not the bakers ones, the ones that they have to make authentic hot chocolate.

Next up is the meat section, and you get some ground beef, and some hot dogs, and you get a small turkey breast and some ground turkey. You were going to make tacos for dinner one night, and you could just freeze the meat until you were ready for the tacos.

You move into the dairy section, and get a pack of the single cheese slices. You then get some cream cheese for the bagels you picked up. He also remembers to get the butter and the margarine.

Next up is the cookie aisle, and Ransom puts his favorite Biscoff cookies into the cart. You also put in some Oreo's into the cart, along with your favorite Pepperidge Farm cookies, the Mackinac ones.

Next is the chips aisle, and you throw in some Tostitos, and you also pick up some Lays, the regular and the sour cream and onion ones. You also pick up some Fritos to put on the chili. You would be having company on chili night, so it really helped to have a variety of toppings,

Next is the frozen food aisle, Ransom helps with that.

"Ransom, why don't you get some frozen pizza? You don't have to make everything from scratch," you say.

"Honey, but I want to. I love taking care of you. I love you so much," said Ransom.

"I love you, too Ransom," you say, tearing up at Ransom's words.

Ransom also puts some fries in there, and some ice cream, the cookie dough kind this time. He also puts in some fries and some hashbrowns because he loved to cook for you. He was learning how to cook different things.

You and Ransom make your way to the checkout, and you unload the basket on the mobility scooter, while Ransom unloads the cart. The cashier scans everything, and Ransom bags the items until the bagger comes. You taught Ransom how to bag groceries, and now he can bag groceries.

Grocery shopping and bagging used to overwhelm Ransom because he always had these tasks done for him.

Ransom and you go home, and unpack the groceries. Ransom makes you lunch, and he makes you both some soup. He then puts the soup in the bowls he pulled out, and serves you the soup. You both eat your lunch, and you go into the bedroom to rest for a while until it was time for PT. You change into your exercise clothes, and then sleep for a while.

Ransom comes in, and watches you sleep. You wake up after a while, and Ransom loads you into the car. He drops you off at PT, and he sits in the waiting room and works on his crossword.

Your physical therapist comments you on your positive attitude, and how much progress you've been making lately. OT was tomorrow morning, and you would be discussing with your physical therapist and your occupational therapist about your progress. Your neurologist and your doctor feel that you've been making good progress, in spite of having a broken arm and a dislocated shoulder from that Karen.

Your physical therapist used to be the bassist for one of the top hair metal bands back in the '80s, but he moved on from that live. He moved back to Boston after living in L.A for so long, and he had been clean and sober for well over thirty years. He loved being around people and he loved helping them, so physical therapy was a natural fit.

Your PT session went well. Ransom and you got home, and Ransom cooked dinner. He made the homemade pasta sauce, along with the penne pasta. You had ciabatta bread.

Ransom stopped at your favorite bakery and got some tiramisu for dessert. He then stopped at your favorite florist, and got you your favorite flowers.

Ransom had fallen in love with your more. In his eyes, you were perfect for him.

[thenhlteaissuperhot]

any tea from the czech hockey world that north americans may not know?

To be honest, there is not much, which wasn't already covered even by the American media - from the top of my mind:

During last year's Worlds, Filip Hronek (who, back then played for the Red Wings) and Dominik Simon (who started his 2021-22 season in Pittsburgh, then was traded to Anaheim, and now plays in the Czech league) had an actual physical fight with each other behind the scenes. Prior to that, the team actually played rather poorly and visibly didn't have the best chemistry, making people question why. Simon ended up leaving the tournament (also cause Hronek apparently wanted him to and refused to play if Simon stayed), his family apologized for him taking the heated emotions even outside of the ice, and the discussion about it then just died out cause Pastrnak arrived and the Czechs won the bronze medal after several years.

Patrik Bartosak, a talented goalie who was actually on his way to the NHL as a Kings prospect, playing in the AHL for them for three seasons, ended up being charged with twelve domestic-related charges involving his back then's girlfriend, including a felony assault charge alleging he tried to strangle her at an apartment. Naturally, this just completely ruined his NHL career and he ended up coming back to the Czech Republic, where his scandal wasn't taken that seriously and he actually managed to more or less overshadow it with his performance - not just in the Czech league but also during the Worlds and Olympic Games.

Then in late 2019 and early 2020, he suddenly put his career on halt cause he began to have severe mental health issues, which he tried to solve with alcohol and dr*gs, forming an addiction to them, eventually even by s*icide (one day, he was completely wasted, sitting in a car at a gas station, wanting to end it all, but he, fortunately, called the police instead, which came to get him).

There actually was one post-game interview from that time period, where was visibly high, which immediately began trending and led to him taking a step back from his career to seek professional treatment:

After coming back to hockey, he moved to play in Finland, for a short while even in Russia, still being invited to the Czech representation. Last year he was accused by his own father of physical assault - it was after the father of his wife, with whom he now has two kids if I am not mistaken, contacted his father and warned him about Patrik once again falling down the messy spiral of alcohol and dr*gs.

His father tried to have a talk with him about it but, and I quote: "I warned him that he had a responsibility for his two children and his wife and that he should behave accordingly. Not be a lout and walk around every day under the influence of substances. I don't say alcohol on purpose. I tried to reason with him and he ended up grabbing me by the throat, dragging me all the way down the hall, and slamming me against the neighbor's door."

Important to note, that his mother also ended up speaking to the media and saying: "This information was leaked to the newspapers by a man who used to harshly beat up the said "naughty" child every time he came home from the pub." - so yes, childhood trauma and abuse at its best.