#marco gonzales

[qualitystart]

For Seattle. For the PNW.

[softerbaseball]

[1083] everything melts.

[baseballjerseynumbers]

Marco Gonzales takes 27. Last worn by Vince Velasquez in 2023.

Edward Olivares takes 38. Last worn by Thomas Hatch in 2023.

[cedrickjuans]

#every filipino household once -ber months starts

[legendaryl0stpieces]

Closed starter for @etxrnaleclipse based off from this. || Marco & Grace

"Why the fuck did you have to keep digging huh? Why couldn't you have just let me go? I was trying to keep you safe!" Marco's life had never really been the safest. Considering who his family was and who his father was. He had tried to keep her safe, that was all he actually wanted. But no that plan went out the window now.

[geekcavepodcast]

BOOM! Studios Announces “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 30th Anniversary Comic Special”

To celebrate the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ 30th anniversary, Boom! Studios has announced a special anthology comic featuring five new stories as well as 24 pages of classic material for fans. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 30th Anniversary Comic Special anthology includes stories from writers Ryan Parrott, Mat Groom, Any Jo Johnson and Matt Hotson, Maria Ingrande Mora, and Melissa Flores and artists Hendry Prasetya, Eleonora Carlini, Marco Renna, and Jo Mi-Gyeong.

Content included in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 30th Anniversary Comic Special are:

a spotlight on Ernie in Angel Grove

Alpha 5′s struggle to find his true purpose,

a “What If?” story about Tommy’s powers, which will introduce a new alternate universe

a tale about Tommy and Kat’s marriage

a deeper look as Ranger Academy

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 30th Anniversary Comic Special will go on sale on August 30,2023. The special features a main cover by Dan Mora and variant covers by Rian Gonzales, Jamal Campbell, Bon Bernardo, Miguel Mercado, and Goñi Montes.

(Image via BOOM! Studios - Dan Mora’s Cover of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 30th Anniversary Comic Special)

[graphicpolicy]

BOOM! celebrates the Power Rangers with the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 30th Anniversary Comic Special

BOOM! celebrates the Power Rangers with the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 30th Anniversary Comic Special #PowerRangers #MMPR #comics #comicbooks

 To continue the 30-year legacy of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, BOOM! Studios has put together the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 30th Anniversary Comic Special–a landmark celebratory anthology issue featuring five brand new stories paying homage to the legacy of the Rangers, written by Ryan Parrott, Mat Groom, the original Mighty Morphin Pink Ranger Amy Jo Johnson and Matt Hotson, and young adult…

[rhk111sblog]

Journalist Iris Gonzales wrote on the January 7, 2024 Edition of her Column on the PhilStar Global Website called "Eyes Wide Open" is sounding off the Alarm based on the reportedly increasing Corruption within the various Agencies under the Administration of Bong Bong Marcos (BBM).

She cited numerous Incidents in her Column, and most if not all of them are Anecdotes, so it will be difficult to determine if these are true or not unless People start coming forward and exposing them. However, with the Government tightening its grip on Social Media, then less People will be encouraged to go forward and in fact will make the Corrupt People in Government (if there are any) continue what they are doing since nobody is exposing them.

Anyway, here are some select Quotes from the Article, there are many more so I suggest you go out and read it yourself, the Link to it will be down below:

"Some two Months ago, Embassy Workers from a Philippine Embassy abroad extorted Money from Foreign Nationals applying for a Visa to go to the Philippines, Industry Sources told me. Workers from this Philippine Embassy were asking P40,000 from each Visa Applicant. This is on Top of the Standard Visa Fee and the Applicants were told that if they don’t pay, their Visa application will not be facilitated. Some of the Victims are Chinese Nationals and some of them are here in the Philippines because they decided to just pay the P40,000, rather than not have their Visa processed. However, other Foreign Nationals, I’m told, are opting to just visit other Countries."

"As Buildings need to have a specific number of Fire Extinguishers, some of these local Fire Departments insist that you acquire the necessary Extinguishers from their Suppliers. And guess what? The Prices are many times more expensive than those available in the Market. Another Scheme is a delay in inspection. Inspectors will take their time before they visit your Site. They will then give you the runaround and find an endless number of Issues unless you give them what they want.”

Here is the Link to the Article on the PhilStar Global Website: https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2024/01/07/2324024/permits-visas-sale

SOURCE: Permits, Visas for Sale {Archived Link}

Check out the Links to my other Social Media Accounts at https://linktr.ee/rhk111

If you like my Work, buy me a Coffee to help support it at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/rhk111

[therosiestofrubys]

Leggy

[qualitystart]

honestly them leaving j.p. out is a travesty

[faerie-hideaway]

U.S. users email your representatives this, and make sure to include your zip code:

I am your constituent. I am strongly in favor of defunding Israel. I want my opinion logged on every single one of these pieces of legislation. It is an atrocity that the USA is sending our taxpayer dollars, weaponry, and other support to Israel in order to aid in the genocide of the Palestinian people. It does not reflect the will of your constituents, and I demand that you correct this by voting for/against the following bills, resolutions, and legislation.

To be frank, I will be basing my vote for you in upcoming elections on this issue. I will be watching closely to see how you vote on issues regarding funding to Israel. I will not vote for you in the next election if you vote to send any money, support, or weaponry to Israel. I will be voting for you if you vote to block money, support, and weaponry to Israel.

This is the current legislation I am for, and the current legislation I am against. I would like your office to record my opinion for each bill, and I would like you to take this into consideration when you vote.

I am FOR the following, and expect you to vote for this and co-sponsor, either now or when matching legislation reaches your office.

H.Res. 786: by Rep. Cori Bush

H.Res. 388 by Rep. Rashida Tlaib

H.R. 3103 by Rep. Betty McCollum

I am against Joe Biden’s proposal to spend billions of dollars on Israel via a package for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and the US border. Biden is asking for $100 BILLION for this package and it is only 1 YEAR'S worth of funding. This is ABSOLUTELY unacceptable, and I am against you voting for ANY bill that spends even $1 on Israel. I do not care what else is in the bill. If it gives money to Israel, I am against it.

I am AGAINST the following, and expect you to vote against this and not co-sponsor, either now or when matching legislation reaches your office.

S. 3083 by Sen. Bill Hagerty [R-TN]

S.Res. 417 by Sen. Charles “Chuck” Schumer [D-NY]

H.Res. 797 by Rep. Cory Mills [R-FL7]

S. 3081 by Sen. Steve Daines [R-MT]

H.Res. 796 by Rep. Ernest “Tony” Gonzales [R-TX23]

S.Res. 413 by Sen. Marco Rubio

H.R. 552 by Rep. Lance Gooden

H.R. 5959 by Thomas Tiffany

S. 3081 by Sen. Steve Daines

H.Res. 789 by Rep. Jefferson Van Drew

H.Res. 771 by Rep. Michael McCaul

H.R. 5932 by Rep. David Schweikert

H.Res. 768 by Rep. Michael McCaul

H.Res. 770 by Rep. Zachary (Zach) Nunn

H.Res. 701 by Rep. Bradley “Brad” Schneider

H.Con.Res. 61 by Rep. Janice “Jan” Schakowsky

S. 2587 by Sen. Jon Tester

H.Res. 606 by Rep. Andrew Ogles

S. 2413 by Sen. Robert “Bob” Menendez

S. 2438 by Sen. Christopher Coons

H.R. 4709 by Rep. Josh Gottheimer

S.Con.Res. 14: by Sen. Tom Cotton

H.Con.Res. 57 by Rep. August Pfluger

H.R. 4665 by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart

S. 2265 by Sen. Dan Sullivan

S. 2226 by Sen. John F. “Jack” Reed

H.Res. 581 by Rep. Gregory Steube

S. 2240 by Sen. Christopher Coons

H.R. 4564 by Rep. Claudia Tenney

H.R. 4365 by Rep. Ken Calvert

H.R. 4076 by Rep. Chris Pappas

H.R. 3932 by Rep. Michael Turner

H.R. 3907 by Rep. Lois Frankel

S. 1802 by Sen. Gary Peters

H.R. 3792 by Rep. Joe Wilson

S. 1777 by Sen. Jacky Rosen

H.R. 3393 by Rep. Carlos Gimenez

H.Res. 409 by Rep. Carlos Gimenez

S. 1637 by Sen. Marco Rubio

H.R. 3266 by Rep. Brad Sherman

S. 1504 by Sen. Tom Cotton

H.R. 3099 by Rep. Michael Lawler

S.Res. 188 by Sen. Robert “Bob” Menendez

H.Res. 346 by Rep. Randy Weber

H.R. 2973 by Rep. Cathy Anne McMorris Rodgers

S. 1334: by Sen. Jacky Rosen

S. 1300 by Sen. Benjamin Cardin

H.Res. 311 by Rep. Ann Wagner

H.R. 2670 by Rep. Mike Rogers

H.R. 2531 by Rep. Bradley “Brad” Schneider

S. 1143 by Sen. Jerry Moran

H.R. 1777 by Rep. Joe Wilson

H.R. 1218 by Rep. August Pfluger

H.R. 1102 by Rep. Chip Roy

S. 510 by Sen. Tom Cotton

S. 489 by Sen. Rick Scott

S. 430 by Sen. James Risch

S. 431 by Sen. James Risch

H.R. 987 by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz

H.Res. 92 by Rep. Josh Gottheimer

H.Res. 76 by Rep. Max Miller

H.R. 687 by Rep. Gregory Steube

H.R. 211 by Rep. Gregory Steube

S. 224 by Sen. Tom Cotton

S. 189 by Sen. Marco Rubio

I am against any legislation that allows troops to deploy to the Middle East in support roles for Israel, as proposed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

I am against Netanyahu’s ground invasion of Gaza, which will inevitably lead to mass killings of Palestinian civilians and escalate violence. If there are any future bills supporting this, you need to vote against them and not co-sponsor.

The U.S. Constitution and the War Powers Act stipulate that only Congress can authorize the president to use military force in a foreign war, except in cases of self-defense. Previous administrations from both parties have ignored this, with unauthorized strikes in places like Syria and Libya. I want you to stand against ANY use of military force that supports Israel or hurts Palestine.

And of course, I am against the usual funding of $3.8 billion PER YEAR to Israel. This 10-year agreement began in 2016. I do not want a renewal in 2026, and in the next election, I will vote for representatives who WILL NOT VOTE TO FUND ISRAEL. I will be keeping track of how you vote now, and I will not vote for you if you decide to fund Israel in any way.

I am a single-issue voter for this. I want you to defund Israel. I do not want a single dollar spent on supporting Israel. I will be paying attention to how you vote in the upcoming weeks and months, and if you vote to fund or provide weapons, troops, or intelligence to Israel, I will NOT vote for you in the next election.

We are paying attention to the budget. We know when you're giving aid to a country committing genocide instead of helping your constituents in the USA. Both myself and tens of thousands of other constituents have spent years saying that we don’t want our hard-earned taxpayer dollars going to Israel. The lack of willingness to fund anything for American citizens, but the quickness with which you take action for Israel is telling. It is unacceptable.

As an elected official, you have the opportunity to listen to the public and stand against genocide. Israel is currently committing war crimes against Palestine. You can stop this by defunding Israel. THOUSANDS of Palestinian people have been killed, 1/3 of them children, in just a couple of days. One child every 15 minutes is being killed. YOU can prevent this by refusing to send additional weapons and funding to Israel.

We are currently spending BILLIONS of dollars EVERY YEAR on Israel. I do not want my money going towards the ethnic cleansing and genocide of Palestinians. Not a dollar more.

[cedrickjuans]

OUTSIDE (2024) | dir. carlo ledesma

[marcosfeathers]

I've made too many posts, I gotta do an intro now (was gonna post this yesterday but decided to hold off)

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ basic info ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

✦ I usually go by feathers but I have so many nicknames that I don't mind if people use! (Said names being vi, fea, ru, gray, sam, or connor bc I'm hyperfixating and he's literally me)

✦ I'm a minor !!

✦ I'm a girl and I go by she/her

✦ I mostly post oc art but occasionally make fanart too!

✦ I love ocxcanon and you'll definitely find that here. I also love hearing about other people's ocs and ocxcanon ships!

✦ I support a free Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Haiti, Tigray, and many more that I may be less aware of

✦ I think I'm autistic (trying to do research bc my family's no help)

✦ I post more often on TikTok but I have other socials like Instagram, Pinterest, Discord, YouTube, etc.

✦ I write fanfiction sometimes (mostly js oc stuff...)

✦ Idk I'm cringe but I'm free

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ interests ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

✦ My interests are always subject to change but right now the stuff I'll post about the most are Outlast, Still Wakes The Deep, and Detroit Become Human

✦ Other interests include One Piece, Haikyuu, Fairy Tail, Uncharted, the Legend of Zelda, Akame ga Kill, Ninjago, Scream, Knack, and much more

✦ My favorite characters right now are Marco (One Piece), Connor (Detroit: Become Human), Leland Coyle (The Outlast Trials), and Finlay (Still Wakes The Deep)

✦ Some ocs you'll probably see are Berni (swtd), Reagan (the outlast trials), Evin (outlast), Harvey (detroit become human), and maybe Gray (One Piece)

✦ And ofc some ocxcanon ships of mine you might see are BernixFinlay, ReaganxCoyle, EvinxChris, HarveyxConnor, and maybe GrayxMarco

✦ Some of my hobbies include drawing (ofc), editing, reading, writing, & volleyball (sometimes)

✦ I like horror / thriller books & movies too !! I have a hard time finding good ones so I'm open to reccs btw

✦ I like a lot of classic books too

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ please interact ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

Interact if you like the following ^^

✦ Any of the media I like (mostly dbh, swtd, and outlast pls pls pls)

✦ OCs

✦ ocxcanon

✦ Like YouTubers like BigGaming64, CaseOh, Danny Gonzales, Drew Gooden, Kurtis Connor, Wendigoon, CreepCast, Moriah Elizabeth, or CoryxKenshin

✦ Like horror games in general !! (I also like some movies and books but I prefer horror games)

✦ Like music (I like The Cure, The Cranberries, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, Tears For Fears, Her's, Alex G, The Smith, etc.)

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ do not interact ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

Do not interact if you fit the following ^^

✦ Are racist, homophobic, transphobic, misogynistic, etc. Basic dni stuff

✦ Is a proshipper / ships illegal stuff

✦ Hate on ocs / ocxcanon if they're completely harmless and unproblematic

✦ Support Israel / are neutral on genocide

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ other boundaries ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

✦ please don't ship any of my ocs w/ urs w/o permission (this has happened so ig I gotta add it??)

✦ I am mostly non-sharing w/ my favorite characters when it comes to ships (you can do whatever you want, idc, but I'm prolly not gonna interact as much w/ people who share my favorite characters to an extent)

✦ I don't mind pretty much all ages as long as you're not weird and are respectful

[flyboyofcan]

I can't tell if I hate it or love it. That's not Eddie, that's Edmundo Rosario Juan Marco Gonzales Diaz. I'd see him every blue moon at parties con la familia.

[typingtess]

NCIS: Los Angeles Season 14 Rewatch:  “In the Name of Honor”

The basics:  The team searches for a missing Navy lieutenant.

Written by:   Matt Klafter co-wrote “Smokescreen Part II”, "A Fait Accompli" and “Hard for the Money” and was the sole writer for “Where Loyalties Lie”.

Directed by:  Dan Liu directed “Watch Over Me”, “If the Fates Allow” and “Love Kills”.

Guest stars of note:  Ashwin Gore returns from season 13’s “Genesis” as ONI Inspector General Akhil Ali; Gregory D. Gadson returns as Col. Jackson Ladd from “Of Value”; Duncan Campbell is back from “Best Seller” as Agent Castor; NFL star Tony Gonzales as Capt. Alonzo; Soraya Kelley as Zahra Mahmad; Marco Khan as Ahmad Mahmad; Asher Deva as Muhammad Hasan; Toktam Aboozary as Mina Mahmad; Eric Satterberg as Roger and Joshua Thomson as Jeremy.

Our heroes:  Think a Navy Lieutenant is missing for a military reason but find out there is more to her disappearance.

What important things did we learn about: Callen:  Can fix his jammed weapon in a hurry. Sam:  Looks at the water to find some peace. Kensi:  Thinks she can get her shot off before being surrounded. Deeks:  Won’t get to Kensi in time. Fatima:  Woman, life, freedom Rountree:  Working to make sure Kilbride’s ass is not being chewed. Kilbride:  Asked Col. Ladd for a favor.

What not so important things did we learn about: Callen:  Thinks Sam is becoming Raymond. Sam:   Not turning into Raymond. Kensi:   Not getting the “Pretty Woman” references. Deeks:  Fan of the kebobs. Fatima:  Training with Akhil. Rountree:   Working inside today. Kilbride:   Brought Col. Ladd to the super-secret office.

Where in the world is Henrietta Lange?  Not helping the Admiral today though Kensi thinks she might be.

Who's down with OTP:  Deeks was more under control than usual when Kensi was in danger.  Was happy as always to see her safe back in the office.  Fatima is working through any feelings she may have for Akhil.

Who's down with BrOTP:  Callen and Sam were perfectly Callen and Sam in the episode.  Sam was a good friend/teammate/mentor to Fatima at the end of the episode.  Kilbride and Col. Ladd are besties.

Fashion review:  Callen wore a white and blue plaid button down shirt.  Long sleeve tees for Sam (black) and Deeks (darker blue).  Kensi wears a great long-sleeve pull-over sweater.  She and Deeks wear dark rain jackets at the crime scene.  Fatima starts the episode in workout gear – oversized light grey sweatshirt.  Wears a spiffy brown leather jacket with a white turtleneck for the rest of the episode.  Rountree had a green jacket with black pockets over a black tee.  Kilbride was in his Kilbride uniform – medium blue three-piece suit, light blue dress shirt, red and blue tie.  He donned a trench coat when visiting Col. Ladd.

Music:   “Messenger” by Mamak Khadem plays at the end as Fatima is taking in her day.

Any notable cut scene:  No.

Quote:  Sam:  “I’ve spent a lot of time staring out at this water, searching for answers.” Fatima:  “Any tips?  I'm coming up empty.” Sam:  “You doing okay?” Fatima:  “Physically? Yeah.  Emotionally, mentally and spiritually?  I don't know how to answer that.” Sam:  “Well, you don't need to have the answers.  Not right now.” Fatima:  “I just...I keep thinking about all the women out there...not allowed to make their own life choices.  What to wear.  Who to marry.  What they can and can't do with their own bodies.  Freedom of thought, freedom of choice. Sam:  “It's terrifying to some people.” Fatima:  “It's not fair.” Sam:  “The world will never be fair.  But it could be better.  Good things are happening.  Even though it doesn't  always feel like it.” Fatima:  “I just wish they would happen faster.”

Anything else:  The previously-s include a greatest hits package for Akhil Ali and Col. Ladd.  Fatima wakes up in a car on fire, tied to the head rest.  In the driver’s seat is in unconscious Kensi. 

Eight hours earlier, Fatima is working out with Akhil with a trainer named Jeremy who is part of Herbie’s military training company.  As Fatima walks away, Akhil asks how his training was going.  Jeremy was impressed that Akhil stopped making squeaking sounds whenever he was grabbed.

Fatima tells Akhil that for his first self-defense class, he did better than expected.  Fatima thinks he will be bringing down a suspected without breaking his nose no in time.  Akhil is happy to spend this time with Fatima but maybe in the future they’d spend time together by taking a nice walk.  The two make dinner plans.

Callen and Sam are in the armory discussing the use of armrests on a plane.  Three seats, four armrests according to Sam.  One passenger – in this case Sam – get the second  armrest.  “Simple math,” according to Sam.  Callen thinks Sam bullies his way to that second seat rest.  He also notices that Sam is worried.  And Sam is.  He’s going on a trip and leaving Raymond with his caretaker Constance.  Callen notes that even Sam thinks things have never been better with Raymond now that Constance in the picture.  Sam is going across the country to see Aiden.  Callen suggests taking Raymond across the country – it would be a great trip for the Hanna men.  Besides, if Sam is worried about Raymond he’s going to make everyone around him crazy and that’s the moment Sam becomes Raymond.  Everyone is going to Ops – they have a case.

Fatima and Rountree start the debrief in Ops, Lt. Zahra Mahmad is a Navy submariner.  For the last two years, she was working with a defense contractor in El Segundo.  Her team was working on an anti-detection program for nuclear subs.  Callen notes that sort of program could make her a target for any country interested in hiding their nuclear subs or finding America’s subs.  According to Zahra’s CO, she left work early the day before for personal reason.   She’s not answering calls or texts.  It isn’t like her.

Sam points out that Zahra isn’t missing for even 24-hours yet.  Maybe she’s off doing something and hasn’t had time to respond.  Fatima agrees but with Zahra’s knowledge and security clearances, ONI wants her found.  LAPD checked her home but nobody was there.  Her parents live in Northridge, they own an Afghani restaurant.  Fatima sees the menu is in Dari.   Callen says he’s going to see Zahra’s CO when Rountree tells Callen that Kilbride as the CO going to the boat shed.  Kilbride will do the interview.  Callen and Sam instead will go to Zahra’s home.  Fatima will go with Kensi and Deeks to the family’s restaurant.  With Fatima speaking Dari, she could help.  The parents could as well – they may know something that could lead to Zahra’s location.

At the boat shed, Kilbride dismisses Castor and speaks with Zahra’s CO, Captain Alonzo.  Kilbride tells Alonzo that Vice Admiral Hunt thinks the world of him and Alonzo is properly humble.  Kilbride know Alonzo’s background and thinks he’d work well at NCIS.  The Office of Military Support has an opening and Alonzo would be perfect.  Alonzo would consider the position. 

Turning to Zahra, Alonzo said that he’s never worked with anyone at her level.  One of the hardest workers he’s been around.  And suddenly she’s missing, the Admiral notes, what is really going on.  Zahra was part of a top secret mission, Alonzo’s hands are tied when it comes to discussing her work assignment.  Kilbride is having none of that.  The NCIS agents would be flying blind in their search for Zahra – “that’s how mistakes get made.”  The Navy has a mission that they are going through no matter what happened to Zahra.  Reading between the lines, the Navy has a secret mission using nuclear subs that if it is compromised, SEAL Team 2 will be going in instead – a suicide mission.  NCIS has 12-hours to find Zahra or the SEALs are going in.

In Zahra’s home, the place is as neat as a pin.  Callen finds a safe but their warrant won’t allow them to open the safe.  Sam gets a text from Rountree.  There was a suspicious activity report on Zahra’s bank account.  She cashed out $20,000.  Callen asked when was the last time Sam made a large cash transaction.  He hasn’t – checks, bank wires, credit cards.  More secure but much easier to trace.  Callen thinks Zahra wanted to disappear – and maybe sell some secrets.  Sam is going to get Rountree to expand the warrant to include the safe.

At the Mahmad’s restaurant, Deeks loves the smell of the place.  Fatima pulls out a menu and starts making recommendations.   Kensi sees Zahra’s mom.  Walking up, Kensi pulls out her badge and starts asking questions.  Zahra’s dad stops the one-way conversation.  His wife’s cooking is a literal chef’s kiss but her English is not very good.  Deeks explains he has the exact opposite problem.  That earns him a chuckle from Zahra’s dad, Ahmad, and a glare from Kensi. 

Kensi restarts her explanation, saying that Zahra is missing.  Ahmad is stunned.  The family last got together the previous Saturday.  Zahra was her normal, happy self.  Zahra’s mom, Mina, walks away crying.  Kensi asks if Zahra seemed like she was in trouble but Ahmad says no.  Mina is openly weeping.  Deeks asks about Zahra’s brother.  Ahmad says he is studying in London, working on his master’s degree.  Fatima asks if the siblings are close.  Ahmad says they are all close – family means everything to them.  Mina asks Ahmad why are they asking questions about their son Omar. 

Kensi asks if they know anyone who would know about Zahra.  Ahmad says no, explaining that 30-years ago, their families left Afghanistan.  Almost everyone went to Pakistan but Ahmad and Mina went to America to chase their dream – opening a restaurant, raising their children where they would be safe from violence.  Fatima is getting weepy.  Ahmad asks Kensi to find Zahra and bring her home to her family.  Ahmad comforts his wife.

Leaving the restaurant, Fatima is sure that the brother is suspicious.  Mina spoke to Ahmad about Omar when they were questioning Ahmad.  Mina may not speak English but she understood what Kensi, Deeks and Fatima were saying.  Deeks can’t understand why Mina would pretend she didn’t understand – her daughter is missing, NCIS is trying to find her.  Fatima thinks as immigrants, the Mahmads may not trust law enforcement.  Her parents had issues before Fatima joined NCIS, “and they live in Beverly Hills.”  Kilbride wants them all back in Ops, Kensi is going to look into Omar.

While Callen is trying to crack Zahra’s safe, Sam is being cranky.  Callen notes Raymond would be cranky too.  Sam finds Zahra’s license, car registration and EZ-Pass in a jar on a book shelf.  Zahra is traveling and doesn’t want to be found.  Sam has Rountree check Kaleidoscope for Zahra’s car.  Callen finally gets into the safe and finds some jewelry and family items.  Also her passport.  If Zahra was looking to get out of town, she’d take those things.  Sam thinks maybe Zahra really was kidnapped.  “Or she wants us to thinks she was,” Sam adds. 

Rountree calls.  Looking through Zahra’s phone, she mostly speaks to her parents but has had daily calls for the last seven months with a Ted Brown.  Sam wonders if he’s a boyfriend but Zahra’s parents never mentioned a boyfriend, unless she was keeping things quiet until they got more serious.  Rountree finds that Brown has a sealed juvie record and a lot of debt – credit cards and high interest college loans.  The $20,000 could be for Brown or Brown could be extorting her.

An unhappy Kilbride walks into Ops.  He just got his “ass chewed” by an under-secretary in the Navy.  “I don’t like getting my ass chewed, makes it uncomfortable to sit.”  He wants a sit-rep on Zahra.  Rountree found her car – it has been in the shop since the weekend.  She’s been using a loaner.  That car is parked in a lot downtown.  Kensi and Deeks are going to talk to Ted Brown.  Kilbride wants answers before he has nothing left to sit on.

Walking to Ted Brown’s home, Deeks is stunned that Fatima’s parents were suspicious of the police and “they live in one of the wealthiest zip codes in America.”  He’s worried about what Rosa will be dealing with.  Kensi reminds him that while they won’t be there all the time for Rosa, they will be there and will help her.  Ted Brown’s door is opened, obviously forced entry.  Inside, Deeks finds a tortured but still alive Ted Brown.

In the garage, Sam finds a note in Zahra’s loaner that says “Roger 8 Broad”.  Callen thinks 8 Broad could be 8th and Broadway, which is just a few blocks from the garage.  There is a currency exchange on 8th and Broadway with some criminal times.  With $20,000, Zahra could be in trouble.  Sam thinks if a Roger works there, Roger has some explaining to do.

Walking up to Col. Ladd at an outdoor park’s lunch tables, Kilbride makes fun of the Colonel’s kombucha drink.  Ladd is drinking it because it clears up the bad bacteria in his gut.  The Admiral mentions prune juice doing the same job.  Speaking of jobs, Kilbride asks how Ladd is doing with the Space Force.  Ladd has no complaints except his title – “Director of Warfare Integration at the Space System Command” is a mouthful.  Ladd is thrilled his new employer sees his head and his heart, not his right and left legs.  The Admiral asks a favor – with Ladd getting his security clearance back, could he do some digging about the Navy’s secret mission.  “I know you don’t owe me or your country any debt…”  Ladd cuts Kilbride off – “what the hell do you need me to do?”

A crime scene tech gives Kensi Ted’s smashed cellphone.  Ted is alive but in a coma.  After dealing with a woman who wanted to braid Deeks’s hair, Deeks tells Kensi the woman saw an unfamiliar SUV in Ted’s driveway the prior day.  Rountree is looking for security camera footage of the vehicle.  Reviewing the case, Zahra could have been swept up by people who wanted their money back from debt-ridden Ted.  Or someone was looking for Zahra and beat Ted up to try to get to her.  There are photos in Ted’s home – Zahra and Ted are obviously in love.

At the currency exchange, Roger is working the desk.  Callen and Sam show him a photo of Zahra, who he claims he’s never seen before.  Sam asks to see the security cameras but Roger doesn’t have any.  Callen points out a fake plant that has a camera, Sam a clock radio and an owl figurine that are likely cameras.  Roger finds plants calming, even fakes ones.  The clock radio and owl figurine are just décor.  Callen explains that Zahra’s car is in the parking lot nearby where they found the address of  the currency exchange’s location and Roger’s name written on a note.  He's the last one to see her alive and the could be an accomplice to the kidnapping of a Naval Officer.  Roger becomes a bit more helpful.  Zahra was in about a week ago.  He is a hawala broker on the side – someone who send money overseas without getting the government involved.  This is illegal if he’s not registered (he’s not) and if he’s not telling the government about the exchanges (he’s not).  Zahra was supposed to send some money to an account in Pakistan but never showed up.

Rountree found the SUV outside of Brown’s house – it was a rental from a small rental company that accepts cash and a now known fake ID.  The bad guys picked up the SUV at the rental location so Rountree is checking Ubers and taxis dropping people off.  Fatima found footage of Zahra being grabbed at the parking lot.  It is the same SUV as the one parked outside of Brown’s house.  She tells Callen and Sam the kidnappers wore masks and were well-armed.  Zahra never had a chance.

In the gadget area, which has been woefully underused since Eric and Nell left for Japan, Kensi is trying to open Brown’s phone with no luck.  Deeks stops by as she nearly drops it, calling the phone a “slippery little sucker”.  Fatima joins in, recognizing the “Pretty Woman” reference.  Kensi thinks she’s working with Siskel and Ebert and passes the phone to Deeks.  Fatima found Zahra’s brother Omar, who is living in San Francisco, not London.  And Omar hasn’t spoken to his parents in years.  This contradicts Ahmad’s statement that the family is very close.  Omar wasn’t really open about what was going on but Fatima tells them Ahmad and Mina believe in a strict adherence to the Koran.  Omar said he was beaten as a child for being too Western.  Kensi and Fatima decide to see Ahmad and Mina again, Deeks is going to try to get the sim card out of Brown’s phone.

In Ops, Rountree tells Deeks he’s found the SUV driver – Muhammad Hasan.  Looking at his social media and online postings in the last year, Hasan has become a member of an Islamic military sect.  Hasan has a flight out of LA today – whatever he’s in Los Angeles to do, it finishes today.

Rountree calls Callen and Sam to update them on Hasan.  This may have nothing to do with her work in the Navy.  Kilbride calls – it certainly has nothing to do with the secret Navy mission.  The Navy is going to track Russian military activity in the Arctic – staging nuclear weapons.  Zahra was part of the team making the US subs untraceable.  She knew nothing about the mission in the Artic.  Kilbride wants Zahra found now.

In the office, Deeks found that Ahmad his a hotel suite booked in Pakistan later this year for a wedding.  A man named Bashir Khan is getting married and he’s getting married to Zahra.  Khan is a wealthy man – could he be behind this?  Sam doesn’t think so, Zahra’s parents wouldn’t allow her to marry a non-Muslim man.  Instead, they put together an arranged marriage.  Zahra’s $20,000 withdrawal may have been an attempt to buy her freedom.  Refusing the marriage would dishonor the family.  Deeks wonders if this was an honor killing.  Callen says they have no proof that Zahra is dead yet.  But suddenly Kensi and Fatima’s trip to the restaurant is a bit more worrisome.

Kensi and Fatima walk into the restaurant.  The place has been trashed.

Callen and Sam are on their way to the restaurant, Deeks is going too until Kilbride pops up on the plasma behind Deeks’s desk.  Deeks is ordered to stay in the office.

Mina Ahmad is speaking from the back of the restaurant.  Fatima replies in Dari.  Mina is tending to her husband, who looks like he’s been beaten.  On comms, Deeks warns them that the parents may be involved in Zahra’s kidnapping.  Hasan comes out from the kitchen.  He’s going to shoot Mina if Kensi and Fatima don’t drop their weapons.

Rountree tells Callen and Sam that Hasan is Zahra’s cousin.  There are two more cousins in Los Angeles.

Kensi and Fatima are surrounded by the Hasan brothers.  Mina asks Hasan not to go through with the plan.  Hasan explains that Mina failed to raise Zahra properly. 

Callen and Sam are 10-minutes out.  Deeks is not happy.  Kensi agrees to dropping the weapons.  She puts her gun on the ground but pulls out a baton. She and Fatima try to fight but eventually both women are knocked out.  Deeks is really not doing well. 

Kensi and Fatima’s trackers are offline.  The Audi is still outside of the restaurant but Kensi and Fatima are likely on the move.  Callen calms Deeks down and gets Rountree in the mix.  Deeks finds another Hasan family member, who owns a warehouse in Long Beach.  Callen and Sam are on their way.

And we’re back in the beginning with Fatima struggling to get Kensi to wake up and to get out of the car where they are trapped.  The area outside of the vehicle is ablaze.  Callen and Sam arrive but are taking fire from the Hasan brothers. 

Deeks runs out of Ops, only to be met by Kilbride.  Deeks is told he won’t get out to Long Beach in time to save Kensi but he could work to put out the fire from Ops.  In Ops, Deeks gets a visual of a fire extinguisher near the warehouse door. 

Callen and Sam make their way to the warehouse but Callen’s gun jams.  The Hasans are still firing away and the flames are all around the car with Kensi and Fatima.   

Fatima gets free and starts untying Kensi.  Kensi is finally awake. 

Callen gets his gun unjammed just in time to see the vehicle where Kensi and Fatima were blow up to a million pieces.

Deeks is very quiet until Sam says he can see Kensi and Fatima.  Deeks offers a “thank God” but the Admiral warns him not to offer thanks just yet. 

Kensi and Fatima hear Zahra screaming.  She’s being pulled to a different SUV by Hasan.  When Zahra tries to pull away, she knocked to the ground and kicked.  Kensi pops up and threatens to kick Hasan’s ass.  As Kensi pushes a dumpster toward Hasan, Hasan opens fire on the dumpster.  This gives Fatima time to find a pipe and knock Hasan out from behind.  She says “bye bitch” in Dari – which is a great call back.

Callen and Sam make quick work of the rest of the Hasan brothers.  Kensi and Fatima comfort a beaten Zahra.

In the Admiral’s office, he’s sharing stories with Col. Ladd.  Kilbride thanks Ladd for taking a big risk to help him.  Ladd replies that the only reason he has something to risk is because of the Admiral.  Ladd is calling it a day because if they hang around anymore, they’d probably wind up in a bar.  Those days are over for Ladd.  The two men hug – Ladd has the Admiral’s back - “Always.”

Rountree explains to Deeks as they go down the stairs from Ops that Zahra’s uncle was in touch with the Hasans.  The uncle was pulling the strings, the parents were not involved.  Kensi arrives with Callen.  Deeks gives Kensi a big hug and asks they never do this again.  Zahra is bruised but otherwise alright.  She’s with Ted in the hospital.  Ted’s awake and expected to make a full recovery.  As Rountree leaves, Deeks is stunned that Zahra’s family would do this to her.  Kensi brings up that it was all done in the name of honor.  Callen disagrees – it isn’t honor, it is fear. 

Kilbride arrives – the artic recon mission was a success.  Callen asks how the Admiral found out about the recon mission.  Kilbride said he turned to an  old friend.  “Hetty?” Kensi asks.  “I said friend,” Kilbride replies as he leaves.  Callen, Kensi and Deeks are packing up.  Callen asks about Ted’s phone that is on Deeks’s desk.  Kensi starts to laugh – he couldn’t get the SIM card out, could he.  He did.  But the SIM card was so damaged it only had the last sent text message on it.  Ted told Zahra he loved her.  Kensi’s not laughing now.  She’s hungry.  The three decide to go out for Afghani food.

In the boat shed on the back deck, Sam talks about the hours he spent looking for answers in the water.  He asks Fatima if she is OK.  Physically, she’s fine.  She doesn’t know about emotionally, spiritually and mentally.�� She is worried about all the women who can’t make their own choices – what to wear, what to do with their lives, who to love.  Sam says the thoughts of choice terrify some people.  Fatima talks about things being fair but Sam says the world is never fair.  But they are getting better.  Fatima wants things to move faster. 

Akhil arrives but seeing Sam with Fatima says he can leave.  Sam says he has a flight and needs to leave.  Before he does, he tells Fatima the answers she is looking for will come.  After Sam leaves, Akhil asks about Fatima’s day but doesn’t push it.  He also asks about dinner – again not pushing it – but Fatima would like something to eat.  She just needs a second to compose herself.  Akhil gives her “as long as you need.”

As Fatima gives the water one last look, she says “Woman, life, freedom” in Farsi.

What head canon can be formed from here:    A really generic episode.  You could have replaced Rountree with Eric and not change a single line of dialogue.  Actually, wanna bet Hetty knows Col. Ladd as well.  And she certainly had her hand-picked allies in different agencies when she needed help.  Kilbride’s lines could be Hetty’s in season three.

The main storyline had an interesting aspect with Fatima looking at people who were corrupting her beliefs but mostly it was a generic NCIS/Law & Order/CSI the missing person isn’t missing for the reason you think episode.  Totally forgotten was Zahra’s brother who wasn’t getting his master’s degree and claimed his parents beat him.  We’re just going to forget about lying to federal agents and child abuse.

Nice callbacks to Jocko Willink’s season 13 Herbie character with the trainer in the gym and Akhil’s broken nose in season 13’s “Genesis”. 

Episode number:   314 overall, the 12th episode of season 14.

[earthtogwyneth]

Blog Post #2 (9/6/24)

How has media affected our acceptance of biases?

Media has affected our acceptance of bias by allowing ourselves to be complicit to pushed narratives. In News for all The People, Gonzalez and Torres begin their writings with, "Access to instant news has become so indispensable to modern society that major media companies now wield unprecedented influence over public thought." Media companies now possess the upper-hand in a society willing to take everything for face-value. Media pushes for certain narratives of a story to be told rather than a full encompassing view. This all stems from the need for control that media conglomerates have. By presenting society with limiting viewpoints and biases, society unwillingly accepts and knows no means to escape it.

Can community on social media really influence radical action?

Numerous communities are built upon various social media platforms. These communities often find comfort with one another, seeing as though you have somebody to relate to, much like a friend or peer. Alongside communities made up of fans or mutual interests are communities looking to make change (Fuchs, 2014). These communities band together across social media platforms attempting to educate others on their cause. Can this form of education really influence people to take action? Much like every other grassroot movement, the determining factor on whether people will feel influenced relies on the way the information is presented. To promote radical action via social media, the information must be presented in a way that rallys others to share the information. Being that the platform is social media, it's easier to share information as well as provide access to stories in real time. If a story that supports the cause has just happened, in minutes communities can mass-spread this story, reaching hundreds very quickly.

Does an acceptance of bias in media mean an acceptance of control?

Without knowing or not, media conglomerates feed the same narrative on multiple platforms. Even if you possess any form of media literacy and do your due-diligence of fact checking, if the information from every source is the same, you are left with that as your final answer. Although media companies claim to be non-bias, motive for power and control overtake that claim. Gonzales and Torres write, "Despite the incessant chatter, many Americans remain remarkably misinformed about the world around us, while the professional journalists who produce our news routinely endanger fear and loathing from the mightiest politician or celebrity, as well as from the lowliest citizen”(Gonzales and Torres, 2011). People are not looking to sign off to hearing bias without consent, but simply due to the nature of social media and the way in which media consumes all aspects, people have unknowingly consented to being presented narratives.

How can we navigate systems of power with skewed information?

Navigating systems of power with limited or skewed information requires society to be much more aware of their sources. Media literacy must be taught to people at a young age to fully comprehend the importance of critically questioning power systems. Many of the sources available present biased opinions (Gonzales and Torres, 2011), and without critically evaluating sources, society falls victim to manipulation and attempts at controlling radical action.

Cosimo Marco Scarcelli. (2015). Christian Fuchs, Social Media. A Critical Introduction, Sage, 2014. Tecnoscienza (Padua, Italy), 6(1), 166–169. https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2038-3460/17249

González, J., & Torres, J. (2011). News for all the people : the epic story of race and the American media. Verso.