#massie shooting

[tomorrowusa]

As NRA Republicans might put it: Another Thoughts and Prayers Situation. 

Five people died when an employee opened fire in a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, and livestreamed the attack on Instagram, police say.

The victims were aged between 40 and 64. Among nine others injured was a rookie police officer who graduated to the force just two weeks ago.

The officer was struck in the head and is still critical after brain surgery.

Police responded within three minutes, and fatally shot the attacker in an exchange of gunfire.

The shooting took place at the Old National Bank in the city centre at about 08:30 local time (12:30 GMT).

One of those murdered was a friend and backer of Kentucky’s Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said an "incredible friend" of his, Tommy Elliot, a senior vice-president at the bank, was among the victims.

"Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad," said Mr Beshear.

Louisville’s mayor survived an assassination attempt last year.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg called the attack "an evil act of targeted violence" and noted that he was also the victim of a recent gun attack.

Last year he was shot at by a mentally disturbed man who had burst into his campaign office. 

The shooter in Monday’s attack was typical of a majority of such mass shootings, a white male under 30 with an assault rifle.

The suspect was named as 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon, who police said used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle during the incident and was broadcasting the shooting online.

Kentucky, the state where Monday’s shooting occurred, is home to assault rifle fetishist Rep. Thomas Massie (KY-04) who sent out this Christmas card right after a mass shooting in 2021.

Maybe we should start referring to mass shootings as Massie shootings. If NRA Republicans like being associated with assault weapons, let’s give them full credit for use of such weapons. 

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

A heated debate erupted on Capitol Hill when Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a former middle school principal, yelled at his GOP colleagues Wednesday and repeatedly called them “cowards” for not supporting stricter gun measures in the wake of the Nashville school shooting.

The exchange between Bowman, D-N.Y., and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., occurred just outside the House chamber and was widely circulated on social media after several journalists posted video of it.

Bowman, a former principal at Cornerstone Academy for Social Action in the Bronx, can be heard yelling: “They’re all cowards! They won’t do anything to save the lives of our children at all!”

He continued: “Pressure them, force them to respond to the question: Why the hell won’t you do anything to save America’s children? Let them explain that all the way up to Election Day on 2024.”

Several lawmakers walk by Bowman without engaging, before Massie stops in front of him and says there has never been a shooting at a school where teachers were allowed to carry guns.

“More guns leads to more death,” Bowman responds. “Look at the data. You’re not looking at any data.”

Massie, who in 2021 tweeted a holiday photo with family members holding guns and text asking Santa to “please bring ammo,” then asks Bowman whether he would co-sponsor legislation he introduced last year to repeal a federal ban on guns in school zones. Massie has pointed to data from a controversial gun researcher to argue that such bans are ineffective.

At one point in Wednesday's exchange, Massie can be heard telling Bowman to “calm down.”

“Calm down? Children are dying," Bowman responded. "Nine-year-old children. The solution is not arming teachers."

Six people, including three children, were killed at a school in Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday. Three 9-year-old students, a custodian, a substitute teacher and the head of school were killed.

Police said the suspect shot through the locked doors of The Covenant School and was later killed in a confrontation with officers.

Congress has not advanced any new gun bills since the shooting, and Republicans have largely opposed any Democratic-backed measures to address gun violence.

A spokesperson said in an email that Massie had “accepted the challenge” from Bowman and explained the data he has used to argue for a repeal of gun-free school zones.

"When confronted with the facts, Mr. Bowman tried to shout Rep. Massie down," the spokesperson said.

Bowman's office declined to comment. In a tweet posted after the exchange, Bowman posted the video and used an expletive to say Republicans will do nothing to address gun violence.

"We can't calm down," he said. "People are dying everyday while we wait."

[joelmillers-whore]

Choking Hazard

summary: you’ve been waiting for joel all day, waiting for him to fuck you like he promised. but when he discovers that you’d gotten yourself off earlier, he makes you pay for being disobedient. 

recommended song(s): SLUT ME OUT - NLE Choppa 

pairings: joel x reader 

word count: 4.1K

series or one-shot 

warnings: 18+ explicit, minors DNI, no mention of Y/N, no outbreak, joel miller x female!reader, SMUT, daddy joel can get it, orgasm denial, overstimulation, use of sex toys (vibrator), allusions to female masturbation, cum play, oral (male receiving), praise, slight degradation kink, dirty talk, dom joel, choking on cock, fingering but for only a second, rough blowjob, lots and lots of teasing, edging, pet names (mostly baby and sweetness, a lil darlin' in there too), porn without plot, cum facial, cum eating, spitting 

A/N: JUST SOME GOOD ‘OL DIRTY SMUT FOR YOU ALL. i don’t know what this is but i saw a picture on pinterest of a pair of boxers that had the words ‘choking hazard’ written on the crotch and my dirty mind ran with it lol. 

You’d been waiting not so patiently for Joel to get home from work and it was killing you. He’d left your whole body on fire, each searing touch licking at your flesh, each hungry look he gave another nail in the coffin for your pride. Because you wanted it— needed it, and he was all too aware of that fact.

You were so turned on that the slightest brush at just the right angle could knock into you and you’d probably cum on the spot. Your need was bad, and deadly, and it didn’t help much that Joel enjoyed it. He got a kick out of torturing you, holding your release just out of reach that you’d be willing to ruin yourself for a single moment of pleasure. 

The taunting had become a test between you, each measuring your limits and how much you could take. This time was no different. With dark and rounded eyes, Joel had gripped you hard by your chin, almost painfully so, and demanded that you not touch yourself, not give into the temptation of your orgasm.

And then, he did the most menacing thing he had ever done. He left you alone and completely to your own devices, if not for a small keepsake of multiple and agonizingly strong bursts of tremors every hour. 

Your nipples hardened into painful peaks, pressing into the abrasive material of your shirt and torturing you with equally blissful and confusing sensations. You snapped your eyes shut, rolling your head to the side as a powerful buzz rocketed through you, sending vibration after vibration shooting from your core, through the expanse of your body and settling low in your stomach, nudging you closer to your orgasm.

It was demented what he was doing to you; his little science experiment like you were some sort of fucked-out lab rat. It was drawn out and bordering on sadistic, and you couldn’t do anything but take it. 

Before heading out for the day, Joel had instructed you to get on the bed and spread your legs. His voice had been low, lethal, the edge of it shooting straight to your core, turning you into a needy slut. You’d whined, and begged, but Joel wouldn’t have it.

It was his time, his moment, and he wasn’t going to allow you to take that away from him. You had thought that he would be kind, that he would leave you with a parting gift. Maybe an orgasm to satiate your hunger for him until he came back home. Instead, your lips turned down, your brows furrowing in confusion when he’d revealed a small box, holding up a strange-looking device. 

Your core fluttered and came to life as you laid eyes on the toy. The pink, smooth vibrator promising endless pleasure that you’d happily give into. As you inspected it, your walls clamped around nothing, eyes dragging over the silicon material that curved at the end.

It reminded you of Joel’s cock and you bit down on your lip, suppressing a moan, not wanting to give Joel any more ammunition than he already had. 

You were roughly pulled toward the edge of the bed, feeling Joel’s massive and calloused hands grip you, making you squirm away from his touch out of reflex. He grabbed your ankles, soft fingers contrasted against the strength behind his grip.

Each and every nerve was awakened, charged, as if at a molecular level, you had been starved. You’d be lying to yourself if you said that the way he was looking at you, through heavy lids, his eyes glinting with devilish intent, wasn’t turning you on. Because it was.

You both knew it. You could feel the prominent wetness in your underwear grow in size and at this rate, you’d be drenched by the time he got you out of them. 

He wasted no time shimming you out of said panties, forcefully lifting your hips and tugging them down your legs. It was rushed, quick, as if at any second he could change his mind, alter his direction, and fuck you senseless instead.

You noticed the strain on his face, the way that the muscles in his neck were so tightly coiled you’d bet they would snap if you so much as breathed wrong. He was wound up as soundly as you were, suffering the same way you were, yet he let his feelings aside to fulfill a deeper desire. 

With your soaked panties in one hand and his other gripping both of your ankles, he brought the material to his nose, inhaling your scent deeply, with purpose. He let out a rumbling groan, letting his eyes flutter closed as he relished in it, knowing that you were that wet for him. Only him. Only ever him.

Your chest squeezed, constricting in time with your quickened breathing, the anticipation was killing you. Your hairline was slick with beads of sweat, from both the rising temperature in the room, and the restraint that you were exhibiting. Because you were holding yourself back, waiting to see what came next. 

Joel dropped to his knees, running his hands up and down your legs, almost tenderly, teasingly lighter than how he had been. It fucked with your head, how he was able to be both tender and punishing within such a short amount of time.

He inserted a single digit into you, your hips lifting, trying to escape the sudden intrusion. Joel held you firmly in place, his hand on your stomach crushing you into the mattress below. You’d thrown your head back, wiggling your lower half, trying to find something more than just his one finger. 

He had shushed you, telling you to be patient and that he’d make you cum if you behaved. His words heated your skin, making your lower stomach cramp and sparking something primal within you. You wanted him to fuck you with wild abandon, not stopping when you cried out, begged him for some sort of reprieve, or when you gasped for breath.

You needed him carnally, in a way that would make the Gods weep. It was something you should be ashamed of, but then again, did you really care? 

Your back naturally arched off of the bed when you felt him finally move inside of you, scissoring your hole, and curling his fingers, tickling the edge of your walls. A broken moan slipped past your lips, and incoherent begging mixed with panting came next. Your mind was in a fog, abuzz with lust. You continued to beg for it, begged for anything to make the pain stop. 

Joel removed his fingers, chuckling darkly when you whined. His face was twisted in concentration as he replaced his fingers with the vibrator, the size of it stretching you out.

Your chest was heaving, feeling like a balloon ready to burst from the blinding pressure in your cunt. He inserted it inch by delicious inch, not stopping when you protested, telling him that it wouldn’t fit. He made some crude comment that he would make it fit. 

You should have been turned off but your skin only tingled when he had said it. You felt his eyes watching you every second, not straying from your face as he studied you, curious to see how far he could push you, which limit would be too much for you.

He hummed in satisfaction when the device was fully lodged inside of you. 

In your daze, you hadn’t been sure if you asked him aloud what he planned to do with you, or if you had just only thought it. But when his raspy voice cut through the dense air between you, you’d stilled. You’ll see, is all you had gotten from him.

It made your heartbeat thunder in your chest, hearing a teasing, but all the same, dark lilt dripping from his silky and usually warm Southern drawl. But it wasn’t warm today, it was cold.

Chilling you to the bone at his warning disguised as a promise. Joel got to his feet, leaning over your slack body, and gripped your chin, thumb digging into your bottom lip. 

“Open”, he instructed, and you obeyed. 

You opened your mouth, slowly. He towered over you, his face inches from your own. His dark brown eyes held no warmth, instead, they made you shiver when you looked into them. Which was an entirely new feeling for you. With an open mouth, Joel parted his own lips, letting a glop of saliva dangle off of his tongue, and let it drip into your awaiting mouth.

He snapped your jaw closed, watching your eyes curiously for any hint of disgust or refusal. Not that he’d let you refuse him in the first place. 

“Swallow”. 

Two words. Commands. And you were putty, willing to do whatever to please him. Your throat worked his spit down, swallowing it audibly. Joel’s lips quirked at the edges, his eyes shining with satisfaction. Wordlessly, he left you, heading out of the bedroom.

The room was silent, save for your harsh breathing. You heard the front door close, mistakenly thinking that Joel would be right back but you had been wrong. You shot up shakily, balancing your body weight on your elbows as you let out an annoyed puff. 

Your head was spinning as you lay there, waiting for what, you didn’t know. You rubbed your thighs together, unsure of your next move. Joel hadn’t explicitly said that you couldn’t touch yourself and he wasn’t there to help you out. What was the harm?

A sudden and sharp buzz pounded into you, the jolt making you rip your hand away from your aching cunt, forcing a loud moan from you. Your toes curled from the onslaught of pressure building and you were panting, slick running down your legs. 

You felt the warm tingling sensation that you craved. It began at the base of your spine, easing the knot that had been tangled in your stomach. It climbed higher and higher, your throat gulping bursts of air at a damning rate.

Your clit was on fire from the overstimulation of the continual vibrations, the pleasure bordering on painful. You were levitating off of the bed, head empty of every thought except your imminent release. Streaks of hot tears painted your cheeks, from the burn in your pussy, or the relief, you weren’t sure. 

Your legs quivered in time with each drawn-out buzz, your orgasm cresting and a breath away from exploding out of you. Suddenly, everything stopped. The vibrations were gone, your release yanked from you. You whimpered, crying out into the empty room as if someone could hear you. 

What the fuck? Your breathing was choppy, almost coming out as wheezes, your throat burning. Your pussy fluttered, your walls clamping and unclamping as if they didn’t know what to do next. You blinked back more tears, throwing your head back in both exhaustion and pent-up anger.

You were officially sexually frustrated that you’d give anything to cum. It was all so overwhelming and torturous. You heard a dull vibration from somewhere in the room, your body so hooked on the buzzing of the vibrator that it twitched.

You shook your head, sliding from the bed. It was your phone. Your heart ticked up when you saw that the message was from Joel. 

Joel: Having fun? 

You audibly growled at the phone. He was taunting you when you were all out of patience. The fucking bastard. 

You: Actually, no. 

Joel: Bet you’d have a change of heart if I made you cum.

Your walls clenched around nothing when you read and re-read his words, making sure you weren’t hallucinating. 

You: Was that... you? 

He took longer to respond this time, which made your hand clench at your side, nerves working in tandem with your displaced energy. You waited for his answer, realizing that you were playing right into his hand, holding your breath for his next instruction.

A soft buzz emitted in your hand. 

Joel: Thought we could have some fun today. 

You groaned, cursing softly. Fun. Sure. That had been so much fun. 

You: Wasn’t that much fun, baby. I didn’t get to cum. 

Joel: If you’re a good girl today, maybe I’ll let you. 

Maybe I’ll let you. The fucking balls on this man. He knew exactly what he was doing, winding you up so that you’d have no choice but to agree to him. You felt like he knew every decision you were going to make and yet, you had never been so turned on in your life. 

You: Fine. What do I have to do? 

Joel: Behave. Don’t touch yourself and don’t cum until I get back home. You’ll be rewarded if you manage to hold out. 

You rolled your eyes. It was sick. It was sick and oh, so hot. You bit down on your lip, wincing from the pressure. 

You: You have a deal. 

You couldn’t take it anymore. Your thighs had been aching all day, shaking until the muscles spasmed on their own. You debated conceding, telling Joel that you were at the end of your rope, and that he would just have to let you make it up to him.

Your resolve had slipped further out of reach as the day progressed, the excruciating spike of the harsh vibrations drilling into you, forcing you to grip whatever surface was closest to you, until the blinding pleasure subsided. Your mind was creeping to the edge of madness, your determination waning. Until it was non-existent. 

Your chest was heaving, toes cramping, chest burning as you came back down from your orgasm, your engorged and swollen clit chafing as you slid off of the bed.

Your fingers were covered in your own juices, as you walked into the bathroom to wash your hands. You’d broken your promise, crumpled for a moment of gratifying pleasure. And you felt like a failure. 

But you hadn’t been able to dwell on it for long before you heard the front door unlock, your back stiffening as you heard it close gently. Your breathing became shallow, knowing you were in for it, and that you hadn’t been able to last. Joel would unearth the truth from you and punish you accordingly.

A cord of both anxiety and excitement settled between your legs. You heard the dull thump of him kicking off his boots, your spine tingling with anticipation as you tracked each step he took. 

Joel entered the bedroom, finding your eyes immediately. He leaned against the doorframe, eyes roaming you hungrily. His smile was tired, but those never-ending orbs gleamed back at you with the promise of something sinful.

They squinted, boring into you suspiciously. You fiddled with your hands, trying not to make it obvious that you had disobeyed him, cumming just moments ago when he had told you not to. 

Joel closed the distance, peeling off his flannel, and throwing it onto the chair in the corner of the bedroom. Your gaze focused on his chest, his broad shoulders, watching the subtle way that his chest rose and fell softly. He didn’t seem the least bit on edge, unlike you. His hands found your hips, gripping them tightly. 

He inhaled deeply, a wicked and knowing smirk plastered on his lips. 

"'D'you come, baby? Hm?", he asked, gruffly. "Did you disobey me and get yourself off?". 

"No", you answered, shaking your head. But it came out meekly, unsure. 

Joel slid one of his hands up your waist, crawling up your stomach and past your chest, to grip your throat, resting at the base of it. Out of habit, you swallowed, Joel’s eyes flicking to your throat.

His eyes seemed almost black, endless with lust as they honed in on you. On every tick and hum of your body. 

His hand tightened around your throat, not yet constricting your airflow, but playing with the fact that he could if he so chose.

A surge of liquid fire tore through your lower belly, making a home deep within you. 

"I think you did, sweetness", he hummed, licking his bottom lip, his nostrils flaring, "I can smell it on you". 

You fisted his shirt, unsure if you were trying to stop him from what he was going to do next, or steady yourself as you rode the impending wave. His grip tightened on your throat, and the other hand pulled your body flush with his.

Your pulse strummed, feeling him harden through his jeans. You felt his growing bulge push into your stomach. You were only wearing an oversized shirt yourself, your lower half completely bare and exposed, ready for whatever Joel was about to do to you. 

His face lowered and he dragged his scruff along your jawline harshly, his full lips ghosting over your already inflamed skin. You whined from the contact, practically keening at how touch-starved you felt.

Joel had complete control over your emotions and your body. He had two modes; rough and tender. And you knew exactly which one you were in for tonight.  

“Don’t lie to me now”, he started, his one hand tangling in your hair, yanking to the point of pain. “Just gonna make it worse for yourself”. 

You let out a broken moan, bucking your hips into his bulge, trying to distract him long enough to forget that you’d come without his permission.

But it didn’t seem like that was going to happen. He only tightened the hand that was around your throat, all but crushing your windpipe, causing your pussy to weep at how much you wanted him to fuck you. 

“Y-yes”, you admitted, choking on the words. You swallowed against the grip on your throat. 

Joel clicked his teeth, shaking his head. You could tell that he was disappointed in you, it was written all over his face.

He looked down at you through heavy lids, his pupils the size of saucers, the intensity making you shiver. 

“What am I going to do with you, huh?”. 

You ground your hips into his groin, eliciting a clipped groan from him. 

“Fuck me, Joel", there was an edge to your voice, as you rubbed your thighs together to ease the pulsating, “Please, baby. I’m so wet for you”. 

Joel grunted, features neutral as he glared at you. “Fucking is a reward, but you haven’t been good. Have ya, sweetness?”. 

Your body trembled at his harsh tone, hearing the intensity in his voice, how strained it was. 

He continued, “Gonna have to punish you”. You nodded, both ready and willing to accept whatever punishment he dealt. “Get on your knees”. 

You didn’t hesitate, Joel’s grasp releasing you as he stepped back, giving you room as you lowered yourself. When you were situated, you looked up at him, watching as he undid his belt. 

His movements were fluid, smooth, and confident as he dropped the belt to the ground with a dull clang. Buttons were undone, his zipper taunting he pulled it down slowly. Next came his jeans and boxers, shuffling them down his legs, letting them pool at his ankles. 

Joel’s cock sprang free from its constraints, finally. It slapped against his stomach, pre-cum already dribbling out from the tip, making the head glistening in the low light of the room.

You wet your lips, preparing for the breach into your mouth. He reached out, taking hold of your chin, looking down at you with admiration. 

"Don't say I didn't warn 'ya", Joel muttered as he released your chin, taking hold of his cock and fisting it. 

You watched him stroke himself rhythmically, taking his time with it, a low grunt leaving him when he stopped, eyes on you. 

"A little help, darlin'?", Joel asked, his voice stuttering in time with his breathing. And you immediately what he was asking of you. 

You let the saliva in your mouth pool in your cheeks, standing on your knees and letting a glob of spit drop from your mouth, dripping onto his shaft. He smirked at you, a pleased hum rumbling from his throat as he used the lubricant that you provided to continue stroking himself. 

Loud grunting tumbled out of him, beads of sweat dripping down the side of his face. Joel was practically in a cloud of lust as he gripped the back of your neck, pushing your face closer to his lower half.

You opened your mouth, your head in a tizzy as you inhaled his musk; a mix of salty sweat and his natural aroma invading your senses. 

With your mouth open wide he forced his member into your mouth roughly, not giving you a minute to adjust or breathe. His tip hit the back of your throat, causing you to momentarily sputter around him. But he wasn’t deterred, if anything, it only spurred him on more, witnessing you choke down his huge cock.

He demanded more, always more from you. You inhaled deeply through your nose as he continued to stuff his girth further down your throat. 

You unhinged your jaw as wide as you could, opening your throat to take more of him. You hollowed out your cheeks as Joel’s hand snaked back around to fist your hair, guiding your head as he began thrusting his hips savagely.

Your eyes watered from the intensity of his pace, trying to remember to breathe. Your head bobbed up and down his length, interchangeably suckling at the tip. 

"Mmm, you like sucking my cock, hm?”, Joel asked, his voice raspy, “Like choking on it like a good little slut”. 

You hummed around him, satisfied that he was enjoying himself. You used your tongue to bring him even more pleasure, licking a wide strip along the underside of it. Joel bucked his hips faster, yanking your head back and burying himself down your throat, to the hilt.

You gagged, your eyes dispelling the build-up of tears, your lungs burning from the lack of air. 

You could feel your whole body start to simmer, your inhibitions and fleeting anger at Joel withholding your orgasm from you, gone. Now you were only focused on one thing; making him cum. There was an influx of pressure coursing through you.

You wanted more, actually, you needed it. You reached in between your legs, barely touching your clit, the sensation driving you insane, and moaning onto Joel’s cock. His eyes snapped to you, noticing that you were touching yourself. 

"D'you think you deserve to come, sweetness? Hm?", he mocked, watching as your brows furrowed and you massaged your clit harder, "'Cause I don't think so". 

Joel grabbed your arm forcefully, keeping up his unruly tempo on your throat, his balls slapping hard against your chin.

You whined around his cock, feeling the swell of your orgasm just on the outskirts. 

"You've been disobedient, darlin', and we need to correct that", he continued, making you gag on his length, chuckling darkly.  

His jaw was slack, his head falling back as he grunted, feeling your throat acclimate to his size. Accepting that you weren't going to get off anytime soon, you concentrated all of your efforts on him.  

You decided to turn the tables on him, sitting back on your heels and puckering your lips, sliding them up and down his shaft. He groaned above you, his other hand joined the one in your hair, holding on for dear life.

You could feel him twitch in your mouth, signalling that he was close. You picked up your pace, sucking the tip and massaging his balls to bring him to the edge. 

Joel removed you from his length with a pop, saliva dribbling out of your mouth and down your chin, you were positively intoxicated from his cock, under its spell.

Confusion was written all over your face as he pulled back. He fisted his cock, fast strokes faltering as his whole body began to shake. 

"'M gonna cum, sweetness. Where do you want it?", he sighed, gasping for air as his eyes closed. You gaped at him closely, turned on by watching him lose control. 

"Want you to cum on my face", you said, low. 

"Fuck, you can't just say that to me".

Joel pumped his cock harder and it didn't take much before he was unloading his spend onto your face, painting you with his seed. Your eyes fluttered closed, enjoying the warmth of him on your skin.

His groans were deep and throaty as he milked himself of every drop. 

You felt a dollop of his cum run down your cheek, cresting the edge of your mouth. You opened your eyes to see him use his cock to wipe it up, shuffling it into your mouth.

You purred, licking up each drop like the obedient little slut that you were. When your face was clean, you stood up, leading Joel to the bed and straddling his lap. 

"Did I do good?", you asked, blinking up at him sweetly. 

He nodded, "You did so well, sweetness. Now lemme make sure you feel good too".

[merymoonbeam]

I might write a bigger firebird legend theory post in the future but in all of the firebird legends there is a important part...about a feather.

in the story "Tsarevitch Ivan, the Firebird and the Gray Wolf" we have this:

Finally Ivan Tsarevich, the youngest son, asked to try; his father was reluctant because of his youth but consented. Ivan remained awake the entire time, and upon seeing the bird, tried to catch it by the tail. Unfortunately, Ivan only managed to grasp one feather.

And in "Suzanne Massie version" we have this

A modest and gentle orphan girl named Maryushka lives in a small village. People would come from all over to buy her embroidery, and many merchants asked her to come away and work for them. She told them all that she would sell to any who found her work beautiful, but she would never leave the village of her birth. One day the evil sorcerer Kaschei the Immortal heard of Maryushka's beautiful needlework and transformed himself into a beautiful young man and visited her. Upon seeing her ability he became enraged that a mere mortal could produce finer work than he himself possessed. He tried to tempt her by offering to make her Queen if she would embroider for him alone, but she refused saying she never wanted to leave her village. Because of this last insult to his ego he turned Maryushka into a Firebird, and himself into a great black Falcon, picked her up in his talons, and stole her away from her village. To leave a memory of herself with her village forever she shed her feathers onto the land below. As the last feather fell Maryushka died in the falcon's talons.

And in "The Firebird and Princess Vasilisa" we have this...

Irina Zheleytova translates another version, The Firebird and Princess Vasilisa. In this version a king's archer is on a hunt and runs across a firebird's feather. The archer's horse warns the archer not to touch it, as bad things will happen.

In "The golden apple" by Grimm brothers

Every year, a king's apple tree is robbed of one golden apple during the night. He sets his gardener's sons to watch, and though the first two fall asleep, the youngest stays awake and sees that the thief is a golden bird. He tries to shoot it, but only knocks a feather off.

So every one of them has a feather...from a firebird.

And we have this:

Elain paused halfway up the stairs. Slowly, she turned to look back at him. “I saw young hands wither with age. I saw a box of black stone. I saw a feather of fire land on snow and melt it.”

The fact that young hands wither with age happened with Briallyn when she was turned but cauldron aged her rather than making it her young and we havent seen the other two.

Box of black stone which I theorized could be about a book rather than a box koschei has in this post

And lastly...feather of fire land on snow and melt it...we havent seen this happen. And with the way sarah said she wants to write swan lake and vasilisa the beautiful story and we have a firebird vassa in acotar. Its a pretty big hint imo that we are having vassa as the last pratoganist of the new trilogy.

[gutwrenchflowerbomb]

That’s a shoot brother. Matthew Jackson (Massie) has the middle name Ron Jon. Like the surf shop. Hilarious.

[eleemosynecdoche]

"The Emperor immediately became enthusiastic about an ideal ship which would be heavily armored and armed with many torpedo tubes… Apart from the fact that speed and heavy armor plating compete against one another, the torpedo armament which was to be put below the waterline would have taken up the greater part of the engine and boiler space. We set to work, however, to comply with the command we had received and, in view of the impossibility of coming to any useful results, the department gave this project the name of Homunculus… When I had an opportunity of presenting and explaining the draft plans [at Romintern], the Emperor abandoned his idea… As a reward, I received permission to shoot a stag. I was able to telegraph to an aide in Berlin 'Stag and Homunculus dead.' "

- Alfred von Tirpitz, quoted in *Dreadnought*, by Robert K. Massie

[alphaman99]

Natalie Fawn Danelishen posted:

Back to school reminder that Gun-free zones should be abolished so teachers can effectively protect their students.

“Gun-free zones are ineffective and make our schools less safe. 98 percent of mass public shootings since 1950 have occurred in places where citizens are banned from having guns,” - Congressman Thomas Massie

[novemberthewriter]

what got me on this thought train was wanting to reread 'dial l for loser' (my fav clique novel besides the one w the blue and cream plaid cover whose name escapes me rn- the one where they go on the adirondacks class camping trip) & thinking about how the jealousy massie feels over claire's movie shoot opportunity compares w galleria's jealousy over dorinda getting a big backup dancer gig . there's so much to be said about classism and ego and entitlement and control and ambition etc .

[fictionadventurer]

the goonies, drugstore cowboy

the goonies: what was the last thing to make you laugh?

The Corner Gas episode I'm watching. Hank is brainstorming ways to get signatures on a petition to stop a call center from coming to town, and imagines shooting a guy with a tranquilizer dart, laying the petition on the sidewalk beside him, putting a pen in his hand, and signing the petition for him.

drugstore cowboy: which historical figure most spikes your interest?

Ever since reading Nicholas and Alexandra, I've had a lingering interest in Czar Nicholas II. Massie is too kind to him, I suspect, but he makes him sound like a decent guy trying his best in a really horrible system.

In my current presidential history study, I unexpectedly became fascinated with Zachary Taylor (mostly because of how shocking it was I'd never heard anything about him before). I'm also getting interested in the long, complicated political career of William Seward (and liking his wife, Frances, who understood very early on that the Civil War would be a long conflict about slavery, and took her husband to task for trying to make too many concessions to keep slave states in the Union). In a different direction, my latest history infodump (thanks for listening, Dad) was about General George McClellan, who has gained a place on my list of Historical Figures Who Make Me Want To Find A Time Machine So I Can Punch Them In The Face.

[beardedmrbean]

The outbreak of rioting in France is the stuff of bad dreams for President Emmanuel Macron.

To the list of other civil order crises he has had to surmount - terrorism, yellow-vests, left-wing protests over pensions - can now be added that persistent French crisis-in-waiting which is the banlieue - or suburb.

Sporadically over the last 18 years there have been outbreaks of rioting in the suburban cités or tenements, whose once-immigrant populations are now often third- or fourth- generation French.

Typically triggered by the accidental death or injury of a young male resident - an accident blamed on the police - they tended not to last more than a night or two.

Not since 2005 has there been a protracted trauma of the kind that now threatens.

Back then, as now, troubled banlieues went up in flames one by one across the country, as one suburb after another copycatted what had gone before.

Then as now, the main targets (beyond the easy prey of parked cars) were town halls, police stations and schools - any building essentially that might be flying a French flag.

And back then the rallying cries of protesters were social neglect, racial discrimination and police brutality. Again today, slogans that are little changed.

Yet in many ways things have changed.

Look for example at the billions of euros being spent on the Grand Paris Express project, which is putting new metro and tram connections across the suburbs and combating the social isolation that was said to be one of the main banlieue grievances.

Look at the spanking new public buildings in Paris suburbs like Nanterre or Massy. Neglect there is not a word that comes to mind.

Look at the growing numbers of people ofAfrican or Maghrebi origin who are now serving in the police - many more than were visible in 2005. Or at the efforts to get more people from the banlieues into elite schools and universities.

And look at how public language has changed. Old-fashioned bigotry towards minorities, which might have enjoyed an indulgent wink two or three decades ago, will invite condemnation today, if not prosecution.

The point is that France is changing, like everywhere else is.

But despite that, everyone in France also knows that there is still - neglected but festering - this ancient scar which is the problem of the banlieues.

It is a scar born of colonialism, arrogance, long-gone wars and nurtured hatreds - to which might be added drugs, crime and religion. And it is not about to disappear.

President Emmanuel Macron had fervently been praying that the banlieue phenomenon would not be added to his litany of burdens, but his wish has not been granted.

This evening the suburbs will be swamped with police officers, in the hope that mass deployment will provide the shock that can bring the riots to an end.

But President Macron knows his history.

He knows that the 2005 riots lasted three weeks and only ended after the declaration of a state of emergency, with curfews and house arrests.

We are not there yet, but we could be.

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

Kyle Rittenhouse, the rifle-wielding teenager who shot two unarmed racial justice protesters to death in Kenosha, Wisconsin, two years ago, met with members of the GOP Second Amendment House caucus on Thursday.

Rittenhouse, found not guilty of homicide charges last year for killings his lawyers argued were self-defense, met with members of the pro-gun caucus at a gathering at the Conservative Partnership Institute office near the Capitol.

Rittenhouse repeated his self-serving defense and held a question-and-answer session, The Hill reported. He has been hailed as a right-wing celebrity since the killings.

The caucus is chaired by Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). Rittenhouse posed for a photo with both of them, and with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).

He also posed for a wild Twitter photo in front of the Capitol, writing: “T- 5 years until I can call this place my office?” Given Twitter’s meltdown, it was unclear whether it was an actual message, though his profile did have a “verified” blue check.

“It was an honor to have Kyle join the Second Amendment Caucus,” Boebert, whose close election appears headed for a recount, told The Hill in a statement. “He is a powerful example of why we must never give an inch on our Second Amendment rights, and his perseverance and love for our country was an inspiration.”

Rittenhouse was charged after he killed two unarmed protesters following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. The shooter, then 17, used an assault-style rifle purchased by a friend to fatally shoot Joseph Rosenbaum, who had run after him for an unknown reason, and Anthony Huber, who attempted to use his skateboard to strike Rittenhouse’s rifle out of his hands.

Rittenhouse also injured Gaige Grosskreutz, who was holding a pistol the night of the protests.

[salmankhanholics]

★ Bholaa to get bigger with Bhai?!

22 November, 2022

Some stories tend to inspire confidence from the beginning. That appears to be the case with Ajay Devgn’s Bholaa. In April, mid-day had reported that even before he wrapped up the shoot of Bholaa, the actor-director had greenlit its sequel (Ajay goes down the sequel street again, April 30). Now, as the action thriller progresses towards its March 2023 release, it is giving birth to bigger plans. Sources say that Devgn is planning to create a Bholaa universe comprising three instalments. While the first part is an adaptation of Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Tamil hit, Kaithi (2019), the subsequent editions will be fresh stories with the titular character at the centre of the proceedings.

That’s not all. We hear the leading man has approached Salman Khan to join him in the second installment. So, where exactly does Khan fit in, in the scheme of things? A source tells us, “In Bholaa, Ajay plays a released convict, who helps the police to catch gangsters, in exchange for seeing his daughter. While it is a remake of Kaithi (2019), significant changes have been made to the story by writers Amil Keeyan Khan and Sandeep Kewlani to appeal to the north-Indian audience. Going forward, the second part will not be in the Lokesh Universe, instead taking its own route. This is where Ajay wants Salman to come in, playing a crucial role alongside his protagonist. The second and third parts will not necessarily be titled Bholaa, but will be set in the same universe.”

The source adds that Devgn has begun talks with the superstar, even showing him the teaser. “Salman liked it as Ajay has given a massy treatment to the actioner, which also stars Tabu. If Salman gives his nod to the sequel, the actor-director intends to give a sneak peek into his character in the first instalment itself. After the climax, the new character will be briefly introduced before the end credits roll.” Discussions are at the initial stage, and things will take a while to develop, depending on Khan’s interest, and the first part’s theatrical success.

[theyoungturks]

Jamaal Bowman railed against Republicans stance on gun violence in the halls of Congress. Ana Kasparian and Cenk Uygur discuss on The Young Turks. Watch TYT LIVE on weekdays 6-8 pm ET. http://youtube.com/theyoungturks/live Read more HERE: https://www.commondreams.org/news/bowman-massie-gun-violence "Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman vocally condemned his Republican colleagues in a hallway outside the House chamber on Wednesday, calling them "freaking cowards" and "gutless" for refusing to support basic control measures in the wake of the nation's latest mass shooting—the 130th of the year. As Bowman railed against GOP obstructionism, saying that Republicans "won't do anything to save the lives of our children," Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) stopped to ask the New York Democrat, "What are you talking about?" "I'm talking about gun violence!" Bowman responded. Massie—who in 2021 posted a Christmas photo in which he and his family members are holding guns—proceeded to tout a dangerous, NRA-backed proposal that Republicans float after virtually every school shooting in the U.S.: Arming teachers. (A number of states already allow teachers to carry firearms under certain conditions.)" *** The largest online progressive news show in the world. Hosted by Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian. LIVE weekdays 6-8 pm ET. Help support our mission and get perks. Membership protects TYT's independence from corporate ownership and allows us to provide free live shows that speak truth to power for people around the world. See Perks: ▶ https://www.youtube.com/TheYoungTurks/join SUBSCRIBE on YOUTUBE: ☞ http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=theyoungturks FACEBOOK: ☞ http://www.facebook.com/TheYoungTurks TWITTER: ☞ http://www.twitter.com/TheYoungTurks INSTAGRAM: ☞ http://www.instagram.com/TheYoungTurks TWITCH: ☞ http://www.twitch.com/tyt 👕 Merch: http://shoptyt.com ❤ Donate: http://www.tyt.com/go 🔗 Website: https://www.tyt.com 📱App: http://www.tyt.com/app 📬 Newsletters: https://www.tyt.com/newsletters/ If you want to watch more videos from TYT, consider subscribing to other channels in our network: The Watchlist https://www.youtube.com/watchlisttyt Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey https://www.youtube.com/indisputabletyt Unbossed with Nina Turner https://www.youtube.com/unbossedtyt The Damage Report ▶ https://www.youtube.com/thedamagereport TYT Sports ▶ https://www.youtube.com/tytsports The Conversation ▶ https://www.youtube.com/tytconversation Rebel HQ ▶ https://www.youtube.com/rebelhq TYT Investigates ▶ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwNJt9PYyN1uyw2XhNIQMMA #TYT #TheYoungTurks #BreakingNews 230330__TB02ProgressivesBlastsRepublicans by The Young Turks

[sweetswesf]

I Found an Old Goals List...

...and it made me chuckle...

by each of the "Want to Be"s, I put who I knew was currently in that role...some names, I don't even recognize...How I feel today is in red...

Want to Be

Fundraiser

Owner of Microfinancing Philanthropist

Financial Infrastructure Engineer

Data Scientist

Product Director

Trader on Wall Street

Enterprise Saleswoman

App Owner/Business Owner/Entrepreneur/Mogul

Professor

Teacher

Author

Investment Banker

Fantasy

Actress

Dancer

DJ (Hannah Bronfman)

TV Host (Desus & Mero)

Tour Manager

Don’t Want to Be

Attorney

Real Estate Agent

Rapper

Singer

Scientist

Fitness Coach

Event Planner

Office Manager

Financial Advisor

Financial Analyst

5 Year Plan – 2017 - 2021 – 24 - 28 YO (6/13 complete)

Establish connections, gain industry experience (happened)

Complete my 1st Marathon – 2017 (happened)

Raise & Promotion @ L – 2017 (happened 2018)

Leave L – 2018 (happened 2022)

Visit Cuba - 2018 (didn't happen, lost my passport and fought w/my mom pretty badly over this one...)

Join Netflix w/ 6 figure salary – 2018 (hahahah)

Complete UC Berkeley data science program – 2018 (no longer a desire)

Make 1st trade on NYSE - 2018 (happened 2019)

Visit KT in Bangkok/Bhutan/Charles in Singapore – 2019

Visit Japan - 2020 (happened 2018)

Become Mid-level Finance Manager – 2021 (ahahhaah)

Earn CFA - 2021 (not a desire)

Visit Switzerland - 2021 (not a desire)

10 Year Plan – 2022 - 2026 – 29 - 33 YO

Visit Capetown - 2022 (2023...2022 is over this week, I don't think this finna happen...)

Return to work in NYC on Wall Street as Financial Infrastructure Manager – 2022 (no, but I did work in NYC in 2021...)

Finish the NYC Marathon - 2022 (don't care to anymore)

Learn basic conversational and reading in Japanese – 2022 (I tried in 2021...but other things were prioritized)

Visit Hong Kong - 2022 (with that air pollution & covid?? nahhh)

Harvard Business School funded by employer – 2023 (could happen...)

Visit Dubai/UAE/Mecca - 2023 (I don't care to go there anymore...human rights reasons...)

Work abroad in Italy, South Africa, Japan or London – 2024 (could happen...)

Visit Brazil – 2024

Visit Australia – 2025 

Visit Tahiti – 2026 

First child with natural birth – 2026 (yikes...unless my future husband has 8 figures, miss me with this one...)

Own NYC loft - 2026 (we shooting big here!...can happen...)

Get hired at T4 or T5 SWE position at my top choice company - 2023

Get a $180k+ base salary - 2023

Start dating a guy a like and who likes me - 2023

Move to a 1 bedroom in Manhattan or Brooklyn, New York - 2023

Master all the topics I want to before June 2023 - June 2023

Look like Tamara Prichett, Melanie Alcantara, Jade Cargill, or Massy Arias - 2024

Update my app to be on React - 2024

Mentor an intern engineer - 2024

Get a promotion - 2024

Staff engineer - 2025

Visit friends in Milan - 2023

15 Year Plan – 2027 - 2031 – 34 - 38 YO

Visit the Amazon – 2027 (don't really care to do this anymore)

Fundraise for my own app – 2027 (2028)

Go public with my company – 2031 (2037, MAYBE)

Get married to a really rich man (2026)

Move back in with grandparents to code for my app full time or live off of my really rich husband - 2027

35 Year Plan – 2032 – 2050 – 39 – 58 YO

Grow company

Tech Invest - 2040

Own home in NJ or NY - 2040

Retire – 2050 

40 Year Plan – 2051 – 2055 – 59 – 63 YO 

Become teacher in LA – 2051

41 Year Plan – 2056 - 2060 – 64 - 68 YO

Become USC Trustee

It could happen...I have to believe and work hard...

[middleageamerican]

Sonia Massy

Sonia Massy was murdered by a Springfield Illinois cop . . he was quickly fired and will face criminal charges . . the fatal shooting was recorded by the cop’s partner’s bodycam . . it was 1st reported that the cop who shot did not turn on his bodycam . . he did . . just b4 he shot . . and it’s clear Sonia was throwing the boiling water in his direction . . . . he’ll probably b acquitted . . even…