#military pay in India

[manasastuff-blog]

INDIAN NAVY TRADESMAN SALARY DETAILS #trending#viral#ndainvizag#defenceinvizag#navysalry#navy#armtv Indian Navy Tradesman Salary Details: What You Must Know! If you're curious about the salary structure for Indian Navy Tradesmen, you're in the right place! In this video, we delve into the detailed breakdown of the earnings and benefits associated with being a tradesman in the Indian Navy. From basic pay to additional allowances and perks, we cover everything you need to know to understand the financial benefits of this prestigious role. Whether you're considering a career in the Indian Navy or simply curious about the compensation, this video provides all the insights. Stay tuned till the end for a comprehensive overview of the salary components and how they add up to make a lucrative package. Don't miss out on this essential information!

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[whencyclopedia]

Anglo-Nepalese War

The Anglo-Nepalese War (aka Gurkha War, 1814-16) saw the British East India Company (EIC) lose several battles against Nepalese Gurkhas before finally securing victory in a hard-fought campaign that, for the first time, extended EIC control beyond the borders of India. Impressed with the Gurkhas' fighting abilities, the British have enrolled them in their armies ever since.

East India Company Expansion

The East India Company was founded in 1600, and by the mid-18th century, it was benefiting from its trade monopoly in India to make its shareholders immensely rich. The Company was effectively the colonial arm of the British government in India, but it protected its interests using its own private army and hired troops from the regular British army. By the 1750s, the Company was keen to expand its trade network and begin a more active territorial control in the subcontinent.

Robert Clive (1725-1774) won a famous victory for the EIC against the ruler of Bengal, Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah (b. 1733) at the Battle of Plassey in June 1757. The Nawab was replaced by a puppet ruler, the state's massive treasury was confiscated, and the systematic exploitation of Bengal's resources and people began. The EIC won another key contest in October 1764 with victory at the Battle of Buxar (aka Bhaksar) against the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II (r. 1760-1806). The emperor then awarded the EIC the right to collect land revenue (dewani) in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. This was a major development and ensured the Company now had vast resources to expand and protect its traders, bases, armies, and ships.

The EIC kept on expanding through diplomacy and military conquest. Victories came against the southern kingdom of Mysore across the three Anglo-Mysore Wars (1767-1799). Intertwined with these conflicts were the three Anglo-Maratha Wars (1775-1819) against the Maratha Confederacy of Hindu princes in central and northern India. Once again the EIC came out as the winner. The Company had extended its control of the subcontinent not only through direct territorial possessions but also through a policy of Subsidiary Alliances, where rulers of the Indian princely states were obliged to have an EIC resident at their court, host and pay for an EIC garrison, and hand over the direction of foreign policy to the British. With large parts of India now in its grasp, the ever-avaricious East India Company and its new Governor-General the Marquess of Hastings (in office 1813-23) began to look to the far north for further opportunities for profit. Consequently, the next EIC target was Nepal, and it declared war on the kingdom in April 1814.

Continue reading...

[doamarierose-honoka]

Ten years ago, musician Usman Riaz grabbed a pencil and started to sketch.

He might have hoped, but didn't know at the time, that it would start him on a path to making history.

That initial drawing became The Glassworker - Pakistan's first ever hand-drawn animated feature film.

It follows the story of young Vincent and his father Tomas, who run a glass workshop, and a war that threatens to upend their lives.

Vincent's relationship with violinist Alliz, the daughter of a military colonel, begins to test the bond between father and son.

Usman tells BBC Asian Network the characters ultimately come to learn "that life is beautiful but fragile, like glass”.

He describes The Glassworker as an "anti-war film" set in an ambiguous and fantastical world that takes inspiration from his home country.

“I wanted to tackle issues and themes that would have been difficult to tackle if it was based in Pakistan," he says.

The country doesn't have the thriving film industry of neighbouring India and there is no government support or incentive for budding creatives like Usman.

So The Glassworker was a passion project, he says.

“These 10 years for me have just been purely driven with passion and obsession.

“Since I was a child, I have loved hand-drawn animation and there's something so magical about it.

"The beauty of the lines drawn and painted by the human hand always resonated with me.”

Usman says he travelled the world looking for mentors and his search took him to Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli.

The influence of the Oscar-winning artists behind classics such as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke can be seen in The Glassworker's own style.

Usman says the industry veterans at Ghibli were also the ones who encouraged him to start the production himself.

After raising $116,000 through a 2016 crowdfunding campaign he founded his own studio, Mano Animations.

From there it's been a painstaking process, especially since full production started in 2019.

“What you are watching is essentially a moving painting,” says Usman.

“Every single frame you see, whether it's a background or the character moving, it's all drawn by hand.”

Usman says that, so far, he hasn't made any money from the project and has been unable to pay his wife Maryam and cousin Khizer, who he recruited to help him.

But there's hope that the labour of love could be the start of something bigger.

Usman Riaz says he's always been a fan of animation

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy is another experienced industry figure Usman turned to for advice about getting The Glassworker off the ground.

She directed 3 Bahadur, a computer-generated tale that was Pakistan's first-ever animated feature film.

On its 2015 release it broke box office records, even surpassing US imports and dethroning previous record-holder Rio 2.

Her studio was also the country's first female-led animation studio, and she understands the challenges of getting started better than most.

“Everything in Pakistan is driven by passion” she says. “I had to run pillar to post.

“We're a country that has limited access to electricity and our industry is heavily taxed.

"We're unable to import computers and hardware needed for animation.”

But Sharmeen – who is going to direct upcoming Star Wars film New Jedi Order – says The Glassworker could be a “monumental step” for Pakistan’s animation scene.

If it finds commercial success, she believes it will “ignite” something in the country, but there are barriers to home-grown animation becoming a red-hot trend.

The Glassworker is partly about the romance between characters Vincent and Alliz

Arafat Mazhar from Lahore-based Puffball animation agrees that “the technical skills are already there” in Pakistan despite there being “no formal training or schools available”.

But “how do you not censor yourself?” he asks.

It's a question facing any Pakistani filmmaker who has to deal with its strict board of film censors.

“Every time there's a good film that comes out that's sincere, the state ends up censoring it,” says Arafat.

He doesn't believe the rules are likely to relax soon.

Akira Toriyama: Fans reflect on Dragon Ball creator's legacy

Stranger Things season five teaser excites fans

Is Hollywood finally doing anime right?

Sharmeen agrees the government will only encourage the domestic film industry to grow if they work to "provide opportunity to create a level playing field for us to compete with the rest of the world".

“There is a lot of scope in Pakistan for animation," she says. "We've just never been given the opportunity to create it."

She shares Arafat's pessimism about the pace of change.

"Unfortunately, it will just be a few filmmakers who have that passion, who will continue to create films," she says.

But Sharmeen says she is eager to see how the world embraces The Glassworker.

"I know that there is so much in there that will touch people's hearts," she says.

Usman says The Glassworker has an anti-war message

Usman will finally get to find out how audiences react to the work he's spent 10 years pouring his energy into as The Glassworker goes on general release.

He says he hopes to “put Pakistan on the map” and show it can stand up to the giants across the border in Bollywood.

But he admits the process has been “gruelling”.

“It is extremely difficult, but we've done something nobody has ever done in the country before," he says.

"I think we've created something special that can stand toe-to-toe with the rest of the animation produced in the world.”

Listen to Ankur Desai's show on BBC Asian Network live from 15:00-18:00 Monday to Thursday - or listen back here.

[ohsalome]

How does a state become fascist? How did Russia do it?

A special kind of nationalism is needed here. To convince people that you were once great. That once you were a military empire — and then you were humiliated. This is what Hitler once said: “Germany was great, had colonies in Africa, but we were humiliated at Versailles

Under the terms of the Versailles Peace Treaty of 1919, which ended the First World War, Germany had to get rid of its numerous colonies in Africa, China and Micronesia, cede significant territories in Europe and pay reparations to the victorious states of the war in the amount of $442 billion at 2012 prices.. Our empire was taken from us, and our people in other countries and former territories faced genocide. We need a strong ruler to come and restore our empire. To show that we are a big powerful player. And Iʼm ready to do it.”

Putin behaved the same way. He even said that if Russia does not regain its greatness, it will destroy the world.

Also, often in countries that become fascist, there are many economic problems. And nationalism, this feeling of power, can replace food — you will draw your happiness from this feeling, or from the awareness of yourself as a German or a white American. After that, you say that representative democracy is evil. That it allows the existence of LGBT people and the like, that the state is weak because of democracy. Fascism appeals to conservative, religious people who would not call themselves fascists. He tells them: we will protect you from your children becoming gay, from someone destroying your churches. And they often call all their opponents communists. And they get votes. Sound familiar, right?

[...]

It is ironic that the Russians, who were once rightly regarded as the victors over fascism and who now practice fascism, call their war "anti-fascist."

It is necessary to pay attention not to words, but to ideology. Putin can say that he is a liberator — but he is closer to Hitler than to Brezhnev, to Peter I than to communists. And this is an important argument in favor of why the Russians should not leave a single piece of Ukrainian land. For the same reasons why it was not possible to leave, for example, Warsaw under the Nazis.

Now Putin is talking about Ukrainians like Hitler was talking about Jews. He says that there can be no Ukrainians, only Russians, and that all Ukrainians are actually Russians. This position means that he is going to get rid of everyone who speaks the Ukrainian language. That is why all this delusion of the West about territorial concessions must stop.

[panimoonchild]

Unpunished evil returns and grows stronger in its impunity

"13 houses in the residential area were damaged during the rocket attack, the houses have five floors. There is a very large number of broken windows, over 700. Seven humanitarian buildings were damaged," said Kateryna Yamshchikova, Secretary of the Poltava City Council, about the consequences of the missile attack in Poltava on June 17.

Utilities and rescuers are working at the site. They are trimming damaged trees and removing balcony structures. Social workers and psychologists are also assisting.

Also, Vadym Labas briefly explains why certain countries that arrived at the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland did not sign a joint declaration.

▪️ Saudi Arabia is a major hub for the transfer of components and units for Russian weapons, as well as a place of accumulation of billions of Russian money. ▪️ India - supplies units and components to Russia. It has joint military-industrial complex plants with Russia, from assault rifles to missiles. It is a hub for transshipment of Russian oil. ▪️ South Africa - everything is clear here: "Wagner", money and influence. ▪️ Thailand - supplies sanctioned products to Russia and also helps the Russian military-industrial complex with its production. For example, Russia could not produce cable products without Thailand. ▪️ Indonesia - supplies sanctioned products to Russia. ▪️ Mexico is a huge hub for the supply of drugs to Europe and Russian agents to the United States, which generates huge shadow earnings. ▪️ United Arab Emirates - helps to supply sanctioned products to Russia and has a lot of Russian money. ▪️ Armenia - has a huge Russian lobby and is one of the key players in the supply of smuggled military-industrial products to Russia.

All this brings super-profits either to these countries themselves or to influential clans in these countries. Therefore, they are quite satisfied with the current situation.

P.S.: these countries came to the Summit to "keep their finger on the pulse," but they are not interested in peace in Ukraine because they make super profits by helping Russia circumvent sanctions and supplying components. But if they were given a clear signal about the secondary sanctions that could be imposed for helping Russia, their "pulse rate" would increase significantly.

DPRK prepares for the arrival of the world's evil.

Now the most important news: The ratio of forces in the Pokrovsk sector is 1 to 7 in favor of the Russians, said a soldier of the 47th Brigade, pseudonym "Azimuth".

Photo: Approximate front line in the Pokrovsk sector/DeepStateMap.

The Russians are pressing near the villages of Novoselivka Persha, Sokil, and Novopokrovske, trying to reach the Pokrovsk-Konstantynivka highway.

Don't be indifferent. Make Russia pay. Please hear our cry out to the world, keep spreading our voices, and donate to our army and combat medics (savelife.in.ua, prytulafoundation.org, Serhii Sternenko, hospitallers.life, ptahy.vidchui.org, and u24.gov.ua).

[pear-boy]

To anybody wondering what exactly happened to twitter on Brazil here's the full version of the story coming from a brazilian:

-Elon closes the branch offices in Brazil as some sort of protest.

-Supreme court sends an email to the legal representative to ask for the removal of about 14 far right/nazi accounts.

-Twitter doesn't respond, a daily fine of 20.000 reais and an arrest warrent for the national administrator (15 days to 6 months + fine).

-Elon takes away the coutry's legal representative. Foreign companies need an office and/or a legal rep to be allowed to operate in Brazil.

-The official twitter account posts about being censored in Brazil, mentioning by name the judge who had sent the intimation and arguing that it wasn't made public. The judge in question then commented under the post, leaving the whole document for anyone to read as they like. Twitter has 24 hours to appoint a new rep and pay their more then 150 million reais in accumulated fines or it'll be blocked in Brazil.

-Elon says he will not comply with the Supreme court's decisions and instead resorts t posting corny AI generated images on his account.

-24 hours pass with no other negotiations from Twitter and as such the process of blocking the site as well as shutting down related Starlink accounts and freezing both of their bank assets starts. (https://noticias-stf-wp-prd.s3.sa-east-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/wpallimport/uploads/2024/08/30171714/PET-12404-Assinada.pdf)

-At this point the brazilian army sends a message to the supreme court stating that they were using Starlink for their own communications.

Elon had no problems with blocking accounts in other countries like in India but he had long been attacking the brazilian government since the 2022 election where former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro lost. Elon had been eyeing up brazilian lithium, Starlink was primarily sold to illegal miners in the Amazon and the military had been using it to coordinate about mineral deposits. Anyone can clearly see Elon's true intentions were to spread misinformation and destabilize the country for his own gain, we already know what his position with South America is when Bolivia nationalized it's lithium. Please spread the truth and don't believe this coward's lies, Brazil is a free, democratic sovereign country and he will stop at nothing until it's back at where it was in the 60's if it meas he'll have to spend slightly less money to make his stupid cars.

[bantarleton]

Who Were the "Hessians"?

A good article from Facebook by Dr Alex Burns;

Myth 1): German troops were all Hessians.

Although most came from the mid-sized German state of Hessen-Kassel, troops from six different principalities (Hessen-Kassel, Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, Hessen-Hanau, Ansbach-Bayreuth, Waldeck, and Anhalt-Zerbst.) Indeed, the current leading progressive reenactment group portraying these soldiers represents Regiment Prinz Friedrich, essentially a garrison unit from Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel.

If you include the larger, global war outside America, fought in places like Gibraltar and India, troops from the state of Hanover (Braunschweig-Lüneburg) also fought for the British outside of the Holy Roman Empire (the pre-German territorial entity.) So, while over 60% of these troops came from Hessen, they really hailed from all over the western and central Holy Roman Empire. As a result, it might be better to call them something other than Hessians. "Germanic" has been put forward, but that usually conjures up images of the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

Myth 2): They were mercenaries.

Imagine you are a soldier in the United States Army, serving in West Germany during the Cold War. You are stationed there because of longstanding agreements and alliances, which stretch back decades. The United States Government and the West German government have a financial understanding that helps maintain your presence in the region. Are you a mercenary? The situation was very similar for the German-speaking soldiers who fought in the American War of Independence, They had a longstanding relationship with Great Britain, stretching back decades. They had fought with alongside the British since the 1690s, both in continental Europe and in the British isles. As a result of the Hanoverian succession in 1714 (the British Royal family was drawn from Hanover) they had longstanding marriage connections with Great Britain. Horace Walpole, a British politician from the 1730s, referred to the Hessians as the Triarii of Great Britain.

These soldiers did not personally or corporately take on contracts from the British. they were members of state militaries: their governments were paid a subsidy by the British in order to fight in their wars. Frederick II (the Great) of Prussia, received subsidies from the British during the Seven Years War. As a result, the modern German term for these troops is *Subsidientruppen, *or subsidy troops. **Thus, it might be better to speak of the German-speaking subsidy troops, as opposed to calling them Hessians, or mercenaries. **Historians have argued that it might be fitting to call their countries "mercenary states". This is different from saying they were mercenaries.

Myth 3): They were sold to America because their princes were greedy and wanted to build palaces and pay for their illegitimate children.

The princes of the Western Holy Roman Empire lived in an incredibly dangerous world during the eighteenth century. Their territories were small, rural, principalities, trapped between the military giants of France, Austria, and Prussia. As a result, from the 1670s, these princes attempted to use subsidy contracts to build themselves larger armies, in order to preserve their independence. These subsidy contracts were a standard feature of European politics, diplomacy, and conflict resolution. They allowed the princes to better protect their small domains. None of the princes who formed subsidy contracts with Britain during the American War of Independence were doing something radically new or greedy. Instead, they were following on decades of practice which had allowed them to maintain their own independence. The Hessian (Hessen-Kassel) Landgraf Friedrich II actually used the funds from the contract, in part, to promote economic development and the textile industry in his territories. **Some of them had illegitimate children. Some had palaces. Portraying them as sex-crazed misers limits our understanding of the economic and security necessities which actually underpinned their subsidy policies. **Following the long-standing practices of their governments, princes in the Western Holy Roman Empire entered subsidy agreements to maintain the costs of their states.

Myth 4): They committed many brutal war-crimes in America.

The subsidy troops had been used in messy civil conflicts before. Hessian troops were used against the Jacobites in 1745-6, where they remarkably refused to take part in the repression against the Scottish Jacobites. Their troops were remembered in Perthshire, Scotland, as "a gentle race," and their commanding Prince (Friedrich II) declared, "My Hessians and I have been called to fight the enemies of the British crown, but never will we consent to hang or torture in its name." (Duffy, *Best of Enemies, *p. 133). English officers in the Seven Years War, noted that their troops were reprimanded for plundering more than Hessian forces. (Atwood, *The Hessians, *p. 173). In North America during the War of Independence, the Hessians once again behaved better than their British counterparts. Although there was a surge of fear about Hessian brutality early in the war, after the first few years of the war, Americans believed that the Hessians treated them better than British soldiers. Aaron Burr wrote of Hessian atrocities: "Various have been the reports concerning the barbarities committed by the Hessians, most of them [are] incredible and false." (Matthew Davis, *Memoirs of Aaron Burr, *Vol 1. p. 107). Comparing the brutality of the Napoleonic Wars with the American War of Independence, a Hessian veteran who served in both wars commented: "Everything which the author has subsequently seen in this regard greatly exceeds what one should term cruelty in America, which in comparison with more recent times, can be regarded as nothing more than a harmless puppet show." (Adam Ludwig von Ochs, *Betrachtungen Ueber die Kriegkunst, *60-61.) Hessian troops committed crimes in America, there is no doubt. What is clear is that these crimes were not excessive for an eighteenth-century conflict.

Myth 5): Many of them deserted to America, where life was better.

Many Americans claim Hessian ancestry. As a result, it is common to encounter the sentiment that these "mercenary" troops were simply waiting to switch sides. In reality, most of these troops returned to their homelands in the Holy Roman Empire. A very small number switched sides before the end of the war, a larger (but still small) percentage elected to remain in America after the war ended in 1783. Far from being an act of rebellion, the princes encouraged their subsidy troops to remain in America if they desire: this would cut costs, and make the process of slashing the military budget easier in peacetime. Most returned to celebrations, public parades, and being welcomed by loved ones. For more on exact data of desertions, as well as the subsidy-troops' return home, see Daniel Krebs' book, *A Generous and Merciful Enemy. *The majority of these troops remained loyal to their princes, and returned home to their own native lands.

Who Were the Hessians?

The experience of 37,000 soldiers mainly drawn from six small counties is not all one thing. There are elements of truth to each of the myths about the Hessians, but their story is more complex than the myths that are told about them in English-speaking circles in North America. They were drawn from a fascinating world in Central Europe with its own customs, practices, and traditions. They entered the American story, and as a result, it is worth taking the time to understand and remember their path in it in a complex way.

A "Hessian" Reading List:

Rodney Atwood: "The Hessians: Mercenaries from Hessen-Kassel in the American Revolution"

Friedrike Baer: "Hessians: German Soldiers in the American Revolutionary War"

Stephan Huck: "Soldaten gegen Nordamerika Lebenswelten Braunschweiger Subsidientruppen im amerikanischen Unabhängigkeitskrieg"

Charles Ingrao: "The Hessian Mercenary State: Ideas, Institutions, and Reform under Frederick II, 1760–1785"

Daniel Krebs: "A Generous and Merciful Enemy: Life for German Prisoners of War during the American Revolution"

[grand-theft-carbohydrates]

which dynasty would you choose to be involved in the foundation of? for clarity you would be making contributions on the side of the new dynasty, no watching from the sidelines or joining a rump state, and also little one-off dynasties like xin, shun, and wu zhou are absolutely fair game

tang all the way baybe! it's got everything you could possibly ask for: second official golden age of china founded through a bloody rebellion with plenty of succession drama where one son had to preemptively assassinate his brothers under murky circumstances. princess pingyang raising an army to help her dad win a war and becoming china's first female general (buried with full military honors). you got the economic golden age. the artistic golden age. the social golden age. grape wine from europe. people decided it was neat to sit in chairs and finally, finally, finally stopped fucking eating elemental mercury. women had an unprecedented (sadly never to be repeated) amount of equality and freedom, they could go outside, ride horses, cross dress, ride horses outside while crossdressing. fat was in fashion. tricolour contrapposto drip ceramics. xuanzhang snuck off to india to pick up his buddhist library books and someone wrote a popular furry fanfic about it. 2/2 GOATS of Chinese Poetry li bai and du fu were failing their imperial exams hand in extremely drunken hand. we had womens rights. womens wrongs. the girlbosses yang guifei, an lushan and shi siming. it was the best of times. the worst of times. a time of wisdom and everlasting sorrow.

so hell yeah i want a part in building all this! catch me in the annals of history bankrupting my family to the 3rd degree to give all my worldly possessions to princess pingyang. if i keep myself healthy i'd be able to live long enough to be personally lingchi'd by wu zetian *heart eyes emoji.*

second choice is to go back to the three kingdom period and join team Wu as a government official and work in the agriculture department. yeah you read that correctly, idgaf if Dong Wu is the forgotten middle child of the san guo era. maybe i don't want everlasting glory and the chance to drop dead at age 50 from a stress-related stroke. maybe it's enough to get steady job, consistent pay, reasonable hours, and a chance to be in the peanut gallery while Liu Bei and Cao Cao bite each other's dicks off.

[halfagonyandhope]

ignite the stars │ch. 19

first chapter (x); previous chapter (x)

Satine Kryze is an internationally-recognized scholar in genocide studies who recently resigned from the Department of State over her concerns regarding the agency's ethics. Ben Kenobi is a tenured professor at Georgetown University studying the use of religion to justify military conflicts. Once high school sweethearts, the two haven't spoken since parting ways for university. That is, until Satine accepts a research fellowship - at Georgetown.

---

The next day, Satine drops the shrug and gown off at the dry cleaners. When she picks them up a week later, the cherry blossom petals have begun to fall in earnest, and they are replaced by dense green foliage and muggy afternoons.

Ben is still wary to let her wander too far alone, and if Satine is being honest, she’s glad for his company. He insists on paying as they pick up the garments at the cleaners - as they leave, he murmurs “Your exertion in those pieces was initiated by me, after all” in her ear, causing her to blush deeply - and he walks with her to Embassy Row to return the gown to Breha.

Bail is the one who greets them this time, opening the door with the same enthusiasm that Breha did a few weeks prior. He shows them inside, and as he catches up with Ben, whom he hasn’t seen since his campaign, Breha says, “Padma mentioned she instructed you to get pictures at the fundraiser. I hope you haven’t disappointed her.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” says Satine, and she pulls out her phone to show her friend.

Ben had sent her the pictures he’d taken of her, of course, but her favorite is one of the two of them taken by the event’s photographer that had been posted to the department’s social media page, an album celebrating the success of the event. They’re dancing, him holding her close against him, his hand on her lower back. Satine thinks she remembers the exact joke he’d been telling because she’d already etched that particular smile of his into her memory - she’s tilting her head back in laughter and his eyes are bright with amusement and mischief as he watches her.

Breha squeals. “Like a fairytale,” she says dreamily. “You could be a duchess with her duke consort.”

“Ben would loathe such a life,” Satine says immediately.

Breha quirks a brow at her. “That is not the face of a man who would loathe a lifetime attached to your arm.”

Satine just looks at her, exasperated.

Breha shrugs. “It’s the truth. Regardless, you looked gorgeous.”

“Thanks,” says Satine, genuinely this time. “And thanks again for lending me the dress.”

“It probably will be a while until I would be able to wear it again anyway, if my appointment coming up goes well,” says Breha under her breath. “So I’m glad it got some use. Let’s catch up again soon, okay? Sometime without any Y chromosomes in the room. I sense there have been developments, and I want the details.”

Satine laughs. “Deal.”

---

The following week, Padma invites Satine to tour her office on Capitol Hill. Congress, of course, has long outgrown the main building at the far east side of the National Mall, so most of its members do the majority of their work in various office buildings adjacent to the Mall. Padma’s office is located in one of the buildings to the south, and one of her interns is at the entrance to meet Satine and guide her through security and then to Padma’s office.

Satine has been in the building before to listen to committee hearings and testimonies, but she’s yet to visit any of the offices. The New Jersey flag hangs alongside that of the United States just outside of Padma’s office door, and the intern brings Satine inside, guiding her through the common area and toward Padma’s private office.

It’s a typical junior politician’s office, with a large desk and wood paneling lining the walls. But it’s warmer, perhaps, than Satine had expected: Padma has found ways to incorporate fabric from India, where she was born, on table runners and decorative pillows.

“Satine!” says Padma, standing up to greet her and embracing her tightly, her body language making it clear that Anakin has filled her in on how Satine’s professional life has begun to bleed into her personal one. Padma closes the door behind her, gesturing for Satine to sit in the chair in front of her desk. “Anakin had something he wanted you to know, and given what Ben found in your office, Ani and I agreed it would be best to tell you away from campus. The security here is a tad better.”

Satine laughs at this. “As it very well should be.”

Padma sits down at her desk and rests her hands over the papers strewn across it. “Ani may have gone a bit overboard looking into this,” she warns. “But you’re Ben’s person, and Ani adores Ben. So…”

Padma looks slightly embarrassed as she continues.

“He found two different receivers in the Intercultural Center. One was hidden in the office belonging to the person who bugged your office - Malek. It was deep in a filing cabinet and must have been missed when the room was being cleared out by whichever underpaid employee had to get rid of his stuff.”

Satine nods. “And the second receiver?”

“He doesn’t know for sure because he didn’t break into the office to search, but he thinks the signal is being transmitted to the department chair’s office.”

Satine’s heart drops.

“Dooku Serenno’s office?”

Padma leans forward. “I have the resources of the Library of Congress and the Congressional Research Service on my side. I was able to make a discreet request to look into Serenno. His CV is lengthy, but it turns out that he omits one interesting accomplishment.” Padma takes a breath. “On the CV published on your department’s webpage, Serenno is listed as having obtained one master’s degree and one doctoral degree. He actually has two master’s degrees, though, one of which appears to be scrubbed from the internet.”

Satine thinks she knows where this is going.

“Who was on his master’s committee?” she asks. “For the degree he’s hiding?”

“One Secretary of State Sheev Palpatine,” says Padma. “I’m sure you know he was an academic before going into politics.”

Satine nods.

“Is there anything else I can look into for you?” Padma asks. “Anything else I can help with?”

Satine leans back in the chair, wishing this piece of news weren’t so easy to digest. She thinks back to Asajj’s words about hitting the dark academia jackpot.

She gives Padma a strained smile. “No,” she says. “I mean, if there is, I’ll reach out. I mean it. And thank you. I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate what you and Anakin have done for me.”

Padma’s gaze is knowing. “I can tell you’re tired of thanking people for helping you,” Padma says gently. “It’s a valid feeling.” She takes a deep breath. “But you should know…Ani and I, like Ben - we’d help you even if you didn’t ask. And we don’t care about gratitude, or thanks. We just want to keep you safe. It’s the reason I went into politics, really. I’m tired of government making people less safe. That’s not what it’s here to do.”

Satine nods, and they both stand. 

“Can I call you a cab?” asks Padma, stepping toward her.

Satine shakes her head. “Ben is waiting outside,” she says. “But thank you.”

And this time, Satine is the one to initiate the hug.

---

Moments pass, and then minutes, and then a month.

Satine submits her grant application. When she tells Breha, Breha shares news of her own - miraculously, against all odds, the first round of IVF has taken, and she is pregnant. Satine is sworn to secrecy, but by now she can keep a secret.

On Ben’s birthday at the beginning of May, Satine manages to bake him a cake without setting anything on fire. The icing is sloppy and ridiculous - who knew you were supposed to let the cake cool before applying the frosting? Certainly not Satine - but it tastes just fine, and Ben is clearly overjoyed.

That evening, she straddles his hips in bed, pushing him back against a mound of pillows.

“I’d like to propose another thought experiment,” she says, “this one more…prurient in nature.”

She immediately has his attention, his hands on her hips. “Propose your terms,” he says. “Though I can’t imagine I wouldn’t agree to them with you looking like that.”

Satine grins, beginning to unbutton her blouse. When she reaches the final button, she shrugs out of the shirt, letting it fall over his legs behind her.

She shifts slightly, purposefully creating some friction between them. “I’ve noticed you enjoy foreplay,” she says. “And, in particular, banter. But something I'm wondering about - something I'd like to learn is...what do you like? Physically, that is. I didn't know that part of you when we were teenagers."

Ben's gaze on her softens. "You want me to show you?"

She nods. "Guide me, more like."

His hands push her hips down. "I think you'll find I'm pretty easy to get off," he says. "Occupational hazard of not tending to think too much about sex. So when it's presented to me - especially so appealingly - I'm usually not fatigued."

Satine stills. "Is that you saying you don't masturbate?"

He laughs. "No, I definitely do. I think it's probably just not nearly as often as someone who doesn't identify as ace. My libido is...well, to me it's not weird, but to others it might seem strange. I can go entire months without thinking about sex, and it literally doesn't bother me."

Suddenly Satine is worried. "But you...you do enjoy it, right? You like when we're together?"

Ben takes her hand and places it on him so she can feel for herself the answer to that question. 

"Asexual doesn't necessarily mean indifferent to sex or sex-repulsed," he assures her. "Sometimes it means only interested in sex under the right conditions. And you, my dear, are absolutely the right conditions."

She nods, still a little unsure. "If there is ever a time when I initiate that you aren't receptive..."

"I'd tell you," Ben says. "But the fun part of having an ace partner - at least for you, given my particular flavor of ace - is that even if I'm not feeling particularly like receiving, I'm nearly always interested in giving."

"But if you're not - "

He cradles her jaw. "I will tell you."

Satine leans into his hand. "Are you..." she begins. "Are you feeling open to receiving now?"

Her hand is still under his, resting on top of the buckle of his belt. He moves his fingers to drag her own down his body.

"I'll take that as assent," says Satine, and she moves to unbuckle the belt, to unzip the fly.

She pushes layers of fabric out of the way and then ghosts her fingers over his skin, delighting in the way his breathing becomes uneven.

"Will you show me now?" she asks. "What you like?"

And so he does.

She follows his movements, learning how to unravel him with sure strokes of deft fingers. "I have lube in my nightstand," she says. "Do you want - "

She loses her train of thought as he lifts her hand to his lips, licking her palm, and then guides her hand back to him.

"I suppose that works just as well," Satine says, feeling faint.

And true to his word, he approaches climax fast. He shows her how to bring him there, and when he crosses the precipice, it's glorious. He spills into his hand, trying to prevent a mess, and she watches him, enthralled.

Satine lets herself fall into him as he comes down from his high.

Ben’s arm tightens around her, holding her tight to his chest, as he catches his breath. “Holy fuck,” he says.

Satine kisses his neck. “Good?”

“So fucking good,” he groans, still out of breath. He kisses her, and Satine holds him as his breaths return to normal. 

Then he whispers in her ear.

“You made quite a mess. Help me clean it up?”

She grins, pulling him toward the shower.

---

The next morning, she hears him stir. She’s not ready to wake yet, not ready to move away from him, so she feigns sleep.

Ben kisses her elbow, where the bruises have long faded but memories remain.

“I love you, Satine,” he whispers against her skin.

Satine fights to keep her breathing neutral.

She wants to cry. He’d tried to say those words when they were eighteen, when they were at the precipice of parting for the final time. She couldn’t bear to hear the words then, and she doesn’t think she’s any more ready now.

But his tone - dear God, his tone - it’s like he never stopped believing the words, like he’s been holding them in too long, like he couldn’t wait a second longer to tell her.

So why on earth isn’t she brave enough to open her eyes, to tell him she’s awake? That she’s heard him? Why can’t she be brave enough to say the words back?

Why can’t she be brave enough for him?

---

May bleeds into June.

Satine finally manages to get referred to a psychiatrist, and the doctor is able to prescribe her an as-needed medication to help with her anxiety attacks. She uses the medication for the first time about a week after she picks up the prescription, saying a silent thank you to the universe that she’d brought it along in her purse to her second attempt at taking the citizenship exam.

It’s a hellish sort of déjà vu, standing inside the USCIS federal building in Virginia, hearing the clerk tell her she’s failed the exam again.

This time, Satine expects the result, but it’s no less painful.

Now that classes are out for the summer and there are no department obligations to consider, Ben is waiting for her outside. She shakes her head at him, and he gathers her into his arms.

“I requested a hearing to contest the results,” she tells him as she pulls back. “Normally they schedule those within thirty days of the second failed test, but they told me they’re understaffed and won’t be able to get me in until October 1st.”

Ben sighs. “So much for my grand plans of trying to convince you to extend our stay in Paris. Good thing our flight back leaves immediately after your keynote address.”

There’s something off about his tone, and Satine says, “You don’t think they’re actually understaffed, do you?”

“You don’t think so, either,” he points out.

Satine exhales sharply. “No,” she admits. “I think it’s very convenient that my hearing can’t be scheduled until after I give my speech, a speech which I’ve been warned must go well. A warning given by two unsavory individuals.”

She’d shared Padma’s information on Serenno with Ben almost immediately after Padma had given it to her, and of course Ben already knows of the threats from Malek.

Ben pulls her toward the bus stop. “Let’s go back to my place,” he says, clearly uncomfortable with saying more in public. “We’ve much to discuss.”

---

Once back in the privacy of his home, Ben grabs a pint of ice cream and two spoons and meets Satine on the couch. She leans back against his chest without a word and reaches for a spoon, aggressively digging into the tiramisu-flavored ice cream.

“So - to recap,” Satine begins. “Palpatine is influencing the results of my citizenship application. He might intend to deny my appeal at the hearing regardless of how I give my speech, or he might be using the hearing as incentive for me to give the speech he wants to hear.”

Ben nods. “Seems like it. And any good that came from Malek being ousted was essentially negated with the knowledge we got from Anakin tracing the bug’s transmission back to Serenno. It seems increasingly unlikely that Serenno’s comments at the fundraiser were sincere. Or, rather - they were sincere. But a sincere threat.”

He scoops some ice cream with his spoon, but before he can bring it to his lips, Satine grabs his wrist and steers the spoon to her mouth instead.

Ben chuckles. “I’ll allow it given the shit day you’ve had.”

She kisses his jaw. “So what are our options?”

His arm tightens around her waist. “I think I should start looking into the process of immigration to Norway. Just to be safe.”

She turns to look at him. “Ben - ”

“I know you want to stay here,” he says, “but we need to be prepared for every eventuality. I proposed this a while back as a new backup plan. I think it’s time we greenlit it.”

He takes in her devastated expression.

“This doesn’t mean I think it will come to that,” he adds. “It just means we’re being careful.”

“Your parents…your brother - they’ll all hate me if you move to Norway.”

Ben moves some wayward strands of hair out of her eyes. “They could never hate you, Satine. You’ve met them; you know they love you.”

“They got along well with teenage Satine,” she points out. “They don’t know thirty-six year old Satine, the woman with cPTSD and the wrath of the State Department out to get her.”

“Details,” says Ben. “Is it okay with you if I begin the process?”

She burrows into him, resting her head in the crook of his neck, and then she nods.

“Backup plan is officially in motion, then,” he says, kissing her temple. “And now - how are you feeling about options for your speech?”

“There are two. The first is to give the speech that Palpatine wants me to give.”

This speech, in fact, is already written. She’d woken up in a panic a couple weeks prior and hadn’t been able to fall back asleep, so she’d gotten to work. She’d printed out speaker notes along with the presentation slides and had wanted to vomit; it had felt as though the Secretary had attached strings to her fingers as she typed, manipulating her from above like some sick sort of marionette.

She continues. “All I need to do is get the speech to Serenno ahead of time, at least I assume. He’ll be able to make sure Palpatine receives it. Then I give the speech as written. And et voilà - problem solved. Probably.”

“And the second option?” Ben murmurs.

“I stand up in Paris and give all but a literal fuck you to Palpatine, Malek, and Serenno by giving the speech I’d originally intended to give. And then Palpatine refuses to let me back in the country after the conference.”

The pint of ice cream is almost empty now, and Ben scoops up the last of it, offering it to Satine. She doesn’t refuse. Then Ben sets the empty container on the coffee table along with the spoons, pulling Satine more firmly against him.

“There is,” Satine whispers, “a potential third approach. I play along for now; I send the script to Serenno. This gives me more time to decide my course of action. It gives me more time to decide whether I’m brave enough to give the version of the speech I want to give.” She shrugs. “Who knows? Something may happen that implodes American politics before September - maybe Palpatine will die of a stroke or something.”

Ben gives her a sad smile. “Satine, you know you’ve already been brave enough for multiple lifetimes.”

She ghosts her fingers over his jaw, his lips, his nose. “But not brave enough for this lifetime. And this is the one that counts.”

His look is pensive. “Being brave - it’s not about being fearless,” Ben points out gently. “It’s about being afraid but pushing forward regardless of the fear.” He falls silent for a moment, and then he says, “Can I tell you something?”

“Always,” she murmurs.

Ben stills for a moment, his eyes unfocused, looking past her. 

“Ben?” Satine asks.

Ben seems to steel himself. “After I graduated from West Point,” he begins, “I commissioned. That process meant attending basic training, what we call the Basic Officer Leader Course. After that, I went immediately to Ranger School.”

His eyes are still unfocused, but Satine knows he’s seeing something - even if it’s just memories.

“When I told you I did a tour in Afghanistan…that wasn’t completely accurate. It was just easier than explaining. Most Rangers live in the US on base, and we get deployed on various missions. The goal is for us to serve a few years as a Ranger and then take what we learn with us to other areas of the military. Or at least,” he says, grimacing slightly, “that’s the official story. I suspect a lot of it is to disguise the high turnover. Those kind of missions…it takes a special kind of person to be able to do them more than three years or so. And I wasn’t cut out for that.”

Satine rests her hand on his arm.

“My deployments abroad were mostly recon assignments. Gathering intelligence - missions where I could use my Arabic. There were some deployments where we engaged combatants. And some were a mix of both.” He swallows. “In early 2013, we’d gotten some intel from an informant, a civilian. It was good intel, and it helped us save a lot of Afghani lives. We were on our way back to extract our source - because we’d promised to get him and his family out of the country in exchange for more information. But the Taliban got to him first.”

His voice breaks on the last sentence, and Satine bites her lip. Nothing she can say will make this easier for him.

“His home was rigged to blow when I showed up to extract him. He died instantly. But his wife, and his daughter…I could hear them inside still. I couldn’t really see, my team was still stunned from the explosion, and everything was on fire, but I could hear his family inside. I got the woman out and went back for the daughter. And then one of the structural beams collapsed. I was able to keep her protected, but the beam pinned me down.”

He shakes out his left arm, stretching his fingers, as though he can still feel the heat, can still feel the flames.

“I was stuck long enough to suffer the burns, but my team got me out.”

“And the girl?”

“Alive,” says Ben, and he looks at her for the first time since beginning the story. “We kept our promise to our informant: we got his family to the US. As far as I know, they’re still here. The daughter will be going to college this fall, I think. I never did catch her name.”

Satine pulls his hand against her chest.

“That’s the moment that haunts me most,” he admits. “There’s something about the fire. The heat. I saw war crimes being committed by both sides that were arguably far worse than that fire, but the fire is what fucked me up. So when I said trauma isn’t rational, that it doesn’t make sense…well, I was speaking from experience.”

Satine nods. “So you left the Rangers after?”

“I couldn’t complete any missions after that. It was my time; I recognized it.”

“Thank you for telling me.”

“You should feel honored.” He laughs. “I haven’t even told my therapist the full story.” 

Her tone, however, is far more serious. “I’ll guard it with my life.”

“That won’t be necessary,” he says, smiling softly. “But the sentiment is appreciated. And in case you’re wondering: I hadn’t told Ventress this. She surmised some of the details, but I never told her. You’re the first.”

Satine slides a hand down his left upper arm, tracing his elbow and then forearm, before returning her hand to cover his own.

Ben breathes out deeply. “For so long, part of me was trapped there, in that burning house. But telling you this…” he trails off, and suddenly his eyes become focused again. He holds her gaze. “It’s like dousing the fire with water. It doesn’t feel like a fire any longer, at least not one that’s out of control. It’s more like…burning embers.”

Satine squeezes his hand.

“Anyway,” he says. “The reason I bring this up is because a while back - do you remember when we were over at Quinlan and Ventress’ home? The night you told them about…well, everything? You saw me struggling to light a match, to light the fire.” He takes a breath, and then another. “And seemingly without thinking about it, your first instinct was to stand beside me and offer to help. You didn’t push; you asked if I needed help. You didn’t know exactly why I was struggling, but you knew that I was - and then you were there. Right beside me.”

Ben breathes in again.

“I guess my point is…you can let yourself be afraid, Satine. Because I’m going to be there for you if you’re scared or frightened. I’m going to be by your side, just like you were for me. Just like you are for me.”

His lips form a soft smile.

“If you’re struggling to find the sunlight,” he says, “I’ll help you ignite the stars.”

---

The next Monday, they go into campus to work at Satine’s request instead of working from hom. Ben picks the lock on the door to the lecture hall he’d used last semester, the room where they’d reunited, so that she can practice her keynote address. He sits in the first row, ready to give pointers.

Satine knows it’s a good speech. It’s not a great one; it can’t be unless she goes off script from what Palpatine and Serenno want from her. And while she hasn’t ruled out that option, for now she is undecided.

But there is one thing she’s decided on. Maybe Satine can’t quite be brave about everything else just yet, but she can be brave about Ben.

So after her last slide, before Ben can speak, she says, “There’s one more thing I wanted to practice.” 

She’s still standing on the raised platform, one hand on the lectern. She sets her PowerPoint remote on the podium and holds her hands at her sides.

“Marry me, Ben,” she says, and her voice is sure and steady.

Ben seems to freeze in place, all except for the blood that has drained from his face. Then her words appear to sink in. He stands slowly.

“Is this my girlfriend Satine asking or…” He hesitates. “Is this my Satine asking?”

She knows the difference. “Both,” she says helplessly, and now that the words are out, she can’t stop. “I know I’m doing this all out of order - and three months too early - but nothing makes sense except you being in my life, Ben. And then on Friday, you told me you’d start working on the immigration process to Norway. For me.”

And damn it all, her eyes are blurry with moisture again.

“I know we’d agreed on September, and I know this is fake, or it was fake - I’m not really sure what we are anymore - but there’s nothing fake about how important you are to me. I know I’m not ready to say the words yet, but I’m working on it, and I know this is madness but I need you to know - ”

She can’t help but ramble, but it doesn’t seem to bother Ben in the slightest - the shine of his smile is practically luminous.

“I need you to know how much I - ”

She curses at her brain’s inability to let her speak, and suddenly Ben is there beside her, one step below her. “I know,” he says, his hands resting on her elbows. “You don’t have to say the words. I know.”

Satine wipes at her eyes. “I want to marry you, Ben. I’ve wanted to since I was sixteen. And I know loving me was never easy but I - ”

“There was never anything difficult about loving you, Satine,” says Ben quickly.

“Well, we both know that’s not true, but I appreciate you lying to make me feel better,” Satine says, blinking furiously. “I…” She starts over. “I just want to be the person who stands beside you who helps you be brave,” she whispers. “And I want you to be the same for me. And I don’t want to wait any longer before looking for jobs with you, whether it’s here in America or in Norway or whichever country will take the both of us.”

Ben reaches up to wipe a tear from her cheek.

“My heart isn’t quite ready to give away,” Satine whispers. “I’m still putting the last pieces of it back together. But what I’m trying to say is - when it is ready, it will be yours.” She breathes in sharply. “That is, if you’ll have it.”

“Of course,” he says, the awe obvious in his tone, in his expression. “Of course I will.”

And he steps up onto the platform so that they are eye to eye, and he kisses her soundly. He kisses her senseless.

And then they are laughing with joy and nerves, and she throws her arms around his shoulders, and it’s like Valentine’s Day in the library or the day in her office when she’d been offered the keynote address - he spins her around and holds her tightly, and it just feels right.

Then Ben sets her back down, and he steps back. “One second,” he says, and he steps off the platform to move to where he’d been sitting, and he rummages in his crossbody bag.

He returns to the platform, revealing that he’s holding a small, velvet box in one hand. He kneels beside her.

In the box is a simple, gorgeous golden band with a single diamond.

“Lab-made,” Ben says. “In case you’re wondering. You told me back when we were seventeen that you’d never wear a blood diamond.”

“You remembered?”

“Oh, that piece of information haunted me for many years,” he admits. “I thought I’d never get to be the one who bought you that ring.”

He holds up the ring.

Satine examines it. “How long has that been in your bag?”

Ben grins. “Since approximately the weekend after Valentine’s Day.”

Her jaw drops. “You’re not being serious.”

He takes her hand and slides the ring onto her finger. “Oh, I assure you, I absolutely am.”

She pulls him to his feet.

“I left my heart with you eighteen - ”

He corrects himself.

“- now nineteen years ago, Satine,” he says as he stands.

He kisses the ring on her finger.

“Thank you for keeping it safe.”

[lol-jackles]

Anon: but... but... the Gaza attack was due to 75 years of colonization......!

Me: Well gee, I guess the Armenian genocide ought to be considered in the context of…the previous 1500 years of Armenian Christianity’s existence, and 450 years of non-Muslim Armenians living peacefully under Ottoman rule and paying a special tax in order to do so. And while we're on that subject, I guess the Omagh bombing, which killed 29 people including non-Protestants and non-English people, should be considered in the context of 800 years of British political and military involvement in Ireland. And I suppose the Cambodian genocide has to be considered in the context of centuries, if not millennia, of class warfare which preceded it. Or something.

Fucking. Bull.  Shit.

And let's not forget an important fact, immediately after the U.N created the partition, Jordan annexed Palestine (Jordanians and Palestinians are the same people living in different locations). So Palestine never actually technically existed. It was only after the Jordanians got their asses kicked twice in wars they started with Israel that Jordan gave up and renounced the "Palestinians" citizenship. The terrorist Yasir Arafat, in a remarkably successful P.R. move then decided to create this new myth of a Palestinian People with Israel as its homeland.

This is the translated meme that gets passed around in the Arab nations mocking the gullible liberal Westerners like you for falling for Arafat lies.

Now Anon, try to imagine Mexicans get uppity over losing territory to United States of America and begin a campaign of terror against the USA. Mexico launches missiles across the border wall into San Diego, Tuscon, San Antonio and more. They dig tunnels under the border wall and generally make themselves a pain in the ass.

But this time they launched a full scale incursion, took over several border towns, massacred most of the population and took the rest as hostages back into Mexico. They post videos online of raped and tortured hostages, who only barely cling to life. Mexicans now say they will start killing hostages, unless USA abandons New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, California and Nevada and calls on the entire world to join in their crusade.

How do you think the USA would respond to that? Hmmmm?

You can switch countries if you want. Russia took land from Finland, China from Tibet, India and Pakistan have their antics, there’s the perpetual issue of Western Sahara and so on. Can you think of one example, only one example, where the response would be more restrained, if a militarily weaker force did that to a larger, stronger neighbor in such a manner? All it takes is one.

[sea-owl]

I feel like Penelope, Michael, and Sophie would be such menaces and cause so much mayhem if they teamed up.

We all know Michael and Penelope were menaces to society. Penelope had the Ton wrapped around her finger so tight that her column even made it to the countryside. Michael was an international menace from his time in the military and his four year trip to India. Sophie wasn't all that much of a menace in her book mainly because she had to dodge Benedict, but she gave off the vibes she had the potential to be. Like give her a chance and time away from Benedict's horny radar, and she'll take it.

If Penelope wanted to pull some people from the ton in on her business empire, those two would be some ideal informants. Michael could charm gossip out of members of the ton while Sophie could help by keeping her ears on the ground and talking with the servants. I also feel like Michael and Sophie would agree just for the fun of it. Plus the pay is nice.

[stephensmithuk]

"Army-crammer"

You may be wondering what one of these was, so I'll give a quick explanation.

An idea imported from Imperial China, where it had been going since the end of the 6th Century CE, the British at this time had a series of competitive exams you would do if you wanted to join the civil service (either UK or Indian) or become an officer in the British Army. These has been introduced to improve the quality of the men in the organisations and get rid of the problems caused by patronage by selecting on merit.

You would take this exam, covering a wide range of topics from the classics (of course) to modern languages to geography. If you passed, you were eligble for a role, although still needed to undergo the other sorts of checks you still do for employment today - background checks, health checks and also oral testing to make sure you knew your stuff.

Some more stuff here:

I think the "Modern Major-General Song" was influenced by this - officers who had a lot of broad knowledge, but not that much of use in a military context. Although the croaking chorus from The Frogs of Aristophanes would make a great password.

You would have various organisations, either tutors or full-time schools, to help young men prepare for these exams.

The exams are largely a thing of the past in the UK, but are still very much around in India, where the UPSC to join their civil service is considered possibly the toughest exam in the world:

Those who got into the Army officer training programme would either go to the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich (for the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers) or the Royal Military College in Sandhurst (infantry and cavalry).

However, while these exams were designed to make the Army more merit-based, it still tended to be the richer guys who ended up as "Ruperts". You had to buy a lot of your own kit and maintain it too. You still do have to pay for full ceremonial dress (generally red or black), No. 1 Dress (blue, for ceremonial events) and "mess dress", which is basically the military equivalent of evening wear.

This uniform could be bought from various places, including the Army & Navy Stores, a chain of department stores run by officers from both as a co-operative. Their stores covered a whole range of stuff for soldiers and their families, ranging from groceries to guns. They even expanded to India, although those branches went with independence. In 1973, they were bought out by House of Fraser; a chain that has had a bad last few years, with a large number of its stores closed or closing.

You can get allowances and tax relief on uniform costs today. There is also a big second-hand market.

Also, living the lifestyle associated with being an officer and a gentlemen wasn't cheap. You had to pay your mess bills, ensure that your sword was in good condition, keep up a decent social life etc.

Professor Moriarty from the Sherlock Holmes also was an army coach in his past, by the way.

[whencyclopedia]

XYZ Affair

The XYZ Affair was a diplomatic incident that occurred in 1797-98, involving diplomats from the United States and Revolutionary France. Amidst rising tensions between the two nations, President John Adams sent envoys to Paris to negotiate a treaty, only to find that the French would not open negotiations unless the US paid a bribe. This helped to incite the Quasi-War.

The affair came at a time when the concurrent French Revolution (1789-1799) was already creating divisions within American politics. The nationalist Federalist Party – of which President Adams was a member – was horrified by the violence of the French Revolution and wanted to move the United States away from France's sphere of influence. To do this, they sought to foster closer political and economic ties with Great Britain, which they viewed as the natural ally of the US. This caused outrage amongst the rival political faction, the Democratic-Republican Party (Jeffersonian Democrats), who believed that closer ties with Britain would only undermine republicanism in the United States. At the same time, the French Republic viewed the budding relationship between the US and Britain as an act of aggression and authorized attacks on American merchant vessels in late 1796.

In 1797, President Adams sought to resolve the issue diplomatically and sent three envoys to France. These envoys had expected to be received by the French foreign minister, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord; instead, they were met by three French intermediaries (referred to in coded dispatches as agents 'X', 'Y', and 'Z') who insisted that the United States pay a large bribe in order to meet with Talleyrand and begin negotiations. When this became public knowledge in the US, it inflamed public opinion against the French, leading to increased support for Adams and the anti-French Federalists. Rising Franco-American tensions led to a brief, undeclared naval conflict called the Quasi-War (1798-1800), as well as the passage of the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts (1798).

Background

In 1778, the Kingdom of France signed a Treaty of Alliance with the fledgling United States. The American Revolutionary War had been ongoing for three years, and the Americans had time and again proven their resilience and determination in battle against the British; however, it was clear to all that the American rebellion would falter if they did not receive support from a European power. France was happy to oblige, seeing that a victory in America would humiliate and weaken its rival, Great Britain. France provided the Americans with arms, ammunition, uniforms, troops, and ships, and it turned the war into a global conflict by threatening the valuable British colonies in India and the West Indies, forcing Britain to spread its military resources thin. French soldiers and ships proved vital to the decisive American victory at the Siege of Yorktown, the engagement that solidified American independence. Certainly, the French contributed greatly to the ultimate American victory and succeeded in striking a blow to British prestige in the process.

But such a war came with a monstrous cost, and France soon found itself drowning in debt. Attempts to tackle the problem failed, and France's economic misfortunes blossomed into a revolution. News of the Storming of the Bastille in July 1789 was sweet to American ears, as was the proclamation of the First French Republic three years later. Americans were jubilant that their French brothers-in-arms were following their lead and casting off the shackles of monarchism, with Thomas Jefferson and his supporters even welcoming the new French Republic as "our younger sister" (Wood, 182). But then came the violence: the September Massacres, the trial and execution of Louis XVI, and the start of the Reign of Terror made the streets of Paris slick with blood and plunged the young French Republic deeper into chaos. Under the new Jacobin regime, hundreds of thousands of French citizen-soldiers swept into Europe, vowing to deliver liberty and equality at the point of a bayonet. The French Revolutionary Wars were soon underway as the great powers of Europe – Austria, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, and Great Britain among them – took up arms against the French.

Even now, the French Revolution had support in the United States, with men like Jefferson believing that a little violence was the price to pay for liberty. They believed that the 1778 Treaty of Alliance was still in effect and urged the Washington Administration to offer support to their sister republic. However, President George Washington was reluctant to offer any such support. He knew that doing so would risk antagonizing Great Britain, with whom relations were already low, at a time when the United States was completely unprepared for war. Instead, Washington issued a Proclamation of Neutrality on 22 April 1793, in which he promised to keep the United States out of the French Revolutionary Wars. The following year, his administration negotiated a deal with Britain – the controversial Jay Treaty, ratified by Congress in 1795, created stronger economic and political ties between Britain and the United States. While this achieved the goal of the Washington Administration and the Federalist Party of avoiding another war with England, it outraged the Jeffersonian faction of Americans (Democratic-Republicans), who still wanted to support France and feared that the treaty placed the US too closely within Britain's sphere of influence.

Jay Treaty

John Jay (Public Domain)

The French Republic itself was also incensed by the Jay Treaty, which it interpreted as a British-American alliance. The French felt especially double-crossed because they believed the 1778 Treaty of Alliance was still in effect and had been expecting American support. They retaliated in 1796 when French privateers began attacking American shipping in the British West Indies. Within the next year, nearly 300 American merchant ships were captured, their crews often subjected to maltreatment; in one instance, the French tortured the American captain of the Cincinnatus with thumb screws to get him to confess that he was carrying British goods. Amidst these rising tensions, Washington, who was preparing to leave office, recalled James Monroe as ambassador to France, feeling that Monroe was too pro-French. In his place, Washington sent Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, a hardline Federalist from South Carolina; but when Pinckney arrived in Paris, the French refused to even receive him. This was how matters stood when John Adams was inaugurated as the second US president on 4 March 1797 – a discontented pro-French faction on American soil, and an aggressive French Republic looking to assert its will.

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[f1ghtsoftly]

All The Women’s News You Missed Last Week 

11/4/24-11/11/24

Donald Trump wins the US presidential election. His party also won control of the Senate and could take the House, potentially giving Republicans control of all three branches of the Federal Government. Women in Gaza continue to suffer disproportionally from indiscriminate Israeli attacks on citizens. Raygun retires. The Pope initiates dialogue with abortion activists.

Read my election special report here.

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Trump Transition:

Anti-abortion advocates press Trump for more restrictions as abortion pill sales spike

Democrats had bet on women showing up in force. They didn’t

Susie Wiles: Who is Trump's new chief of staff?

US Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor ignores pressure to retire - reports

Melania Trump, enigmatic first lady who might do it differently this time

Women’s Health:

Olympic Boxer Imane Khelif Takes Legal Action after Leaked Reports Claim She Is a 'DSD' Athlete

Nigeria offers free Caesareans to poorer women

Pope pays house visit to veteran Italian abortion rights advocate

With little water, displaced Lebanese women worry about periods

Male Violence:

McGregor rape accuser telling 'web of lies', court told

‘Catfish killer used my photo to trap other girls’

Church of England leader Welby urged to quit over abuse cover-up

Trial starts over rape, murder of junior doctor in India's Kolkata

Nigeria rights body finds 'no evidence' military conducted secret mass abortions

Women In The News:

South Korean president sorry for controversies surrounding wife

Raygun retires from breaking after Olympic backlash

How a Chinese maths 'prodigy' unravelled in cheating storm

Princess Kate attends Remembrance Day event in return to public duties

Gaza mother struggling to feed children says only death can end their suffering

Gaza women, children are nearly 70% of verified war dead, UN rights office says

Arts and Culture:

Judith Jamison, a dancer both eloquent and elegant, led Ailey troupe to success over two decades

Movie Review: In Andrea Arnold’s ‘Bird,’ a gritty fairy tale doesn’t take flight

Taylor Swift wins big and Rita Ora pays tribute to Liam Payne at the MTV EMAs

Mattel says it ‘deeply’ regrets misprint on ‘Wicked’ dolls packaging that links to porn site

As always, this is global and domestic news from a US perspective covering feminist issues and women in the news more generally. As of right now, I do not cover Women’s Sports. Published each Monday afternoon.

[rajasthan-political-leader]

Happy Armed Forces Flag Day: A Tribute by Col Rajyavardhan Rathore

On Armed Forces Flag Day, we pause to honor the valor, dedication, and sacrifices of India’s Armed Forces. Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore, a decorated soldier himself, extends his heartfelt wishes and gratitude to the brave men and women who protect the sovereignty of our nation.

Armed Forces Flag Day: A Day of Gratitude

Since its inception on December 7, 1949, Armed Forces Flag Day has been a solemn occasion to honor the heroes of our Armed Forces �� those who stand guard on borders, protect us in times of need, and embody unparalleled patriotism. It is also a day to raise funds for the welfare of serving personnel, veterans, and their families.

Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore’s Message

On this special day, Col Rathore expressed: “The Armed Forces are the pillars of our nation’s strength. Their sacrifices ensure our freedom, and it is our duty to recognize and support them. Let’s unite to honor their unmatched courage.”

Why Armed Forces Flag Day Matters

1. Honoring the Sacrifices

Recognizing those who laid down their lives for the nation.

Paying tribute to the families of martyrs who endure untold hardships.

2. Supporting Veterans and Families

Funds raised on this day are used for:

Rehabilitation of injured soldiers.

Welfare of veterans.

Financial aid for the families of fallen heroes.

3. Promoting Patriotism

The day fosters a sense of unity and pride among citizens, reminding us of the debt we owe to our Armed Forces.

Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore: A Soldier’s Perspective

As a former officer in the Indian Army, Col Rathore understands the life of a soldier firsthand. His journey from the military to public service is a testament to his commitment to the nation and its people. His efforts on Armed Forces Flag Day aim to bridge the gap between civilians and the Armed Forces, urging every citizen to contribute to this noble cause.

How Can We Support the Armed Forces?

1. Contribute to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund

Donations directly aid soldiers, veterans, and their families.

Even small contributions can make a significant difference.

2. Wear the Flag with Pride

The small Flag Day token symbolizes solidarity and respect for the Armed Forces.

3. Spread Awareness

Encourage others to recognize the importance of this day through social media, events, and local gatherings.

4. Volunteer for Welfare Programs

Many organizations provide avenues to assist veterans and their families.

The Role of Civilians in Supporting the Forces

Col Rathore believes that Armed Forces Flag Day is not just about monetary contributions but also about acknowledging the sacrifices of our soldiers. It’s an opportunity for every citizen to reflect on the freedom and peace we enjoy because of their vigilance and courage.

A Unified Tribute

As we celebrate Armed Forces Flag Day, let us come together to express our gratitude and extend our support to the brave hearts of India. Under the leadership and inspiration of individuals like Col Rajyavardhan Rathore, we can make a meaningful impact in the lives of those who protect our nation.

[mariacallous]

Conspiracists and far-right extremists are blaming just about everything and everyone for Tuesday morning’s Baltimore bridge collapse.

A non-exhaustive list of things that are getting blamed for the bridge collapse on Telegram and X include President Biden, Hamas, ISIS, P. Diddy, Nickelodeon, India, former president Barack Obama, Islam, aliens, Sri Lanka, the World Economic Forum, the United Nations, Wokeness, Ukraine, foreign aid, the CIA, Jewish people, Israel, Russia, China, Iran, Covid vaccines, DEI, immigrants, Black people, and lockdowns.

The Francis Scott Key truss bridge collapsed when the MV Dali cargo ship collided with one of the bridge supports. Six construction workers, who were filling potholes on the bridge’s roadway at the time, are presumed dead. The ship is owned by Singapore-based Grace Ocean Private Ltd., and the 22-person crew were all Indian. The ship was en route to Colombo, Sri Lanka, at the time of the accident.

This did not stop people from “asking questions” about the incident, a frequent conspiracist response to major events. And though conspiracy theorists are having a hard time pinpointing exactly what conspiracy caused the collapse, the one thing they do agree on is that this incident is a “black swan event.”

The term black swan event has been around for decades and is used to describe a major global event (typically in the financial markets) that can cause significant damage to a country’s economy. But in recent years, the term has been co-opted by the conspiracy-minded to explain an event triggered by the so-called deep state that would signal an imminent revolution, a third world war, or some other apocalyptic catastrophe.

One of the first people to call the bridge collapse a black swan event was disgraced former US national security adviser Michael Flynn. “This is a BLACK SWAN event,” he wrote on X. “Black swans normally come out of the world of finance (not military) … There are harbor masters for every single one of these transit points in America that are in charge of assuring the safety of navigation … start there.” Flynn’s post has been viewed 7.2 million times.

Misogynist influencer Andrew Tate, who has been charged in Romania with rape and human trafficking, also posted on X early on Tuesday morning, writing: “Nothing is safe. Black Swan Event imminent.” The post has been viewed almost 19 million times.

The term black swan quickly began trending on X, and soon conspiracists, extremists, and right-wing lawmakers began coming up with explanations for what or who triggered this “black swan event.”

One post claiming a link between the bridge collapse and the film Leave the World Behind has been viewed more than 1.2 million times. The post claimed that because the ship was headed to Sri Lanka, which has a lion on its flag, then the situation was linked to the ship that runs aground at the beginning of the film which was called White Lion. The post also points out that the film was produced by Obama.

A post from Anthony Sabatini, a former Florida state congressman, declared, without evidence, that “DEI did this”—and its been viewed over 2.2 million times.

Some politicians have boosted the conspiracy as well. “Is this an intentional attack or an accident?” Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, an influential and conspiracy-minded member of the GOP, posted on X above a video shared by a prominent QAnon conspiracist.

Under previous iterations of X, formerly Twitter, such speculation would typically have gained little traction, as the algorithm would have prioritized trusted news sources and primary evidence. But under Elon Musk’s reign, anyone willing to pay for a blue check can have their posts artificially boosted by the algorithm. This means that conspiracies like this are ending up in the news feeds of millions of people.

On Telegram, one prominent election denier claimed the incident was linked to the fact that the bridge was named after Francis Scott Key, who wrote the words for the Star Spangled Banner, and was thus an attempt to undermine America.

“Don't let them erase our history,” the conspiracist wrote.

Investigators are looking into the cause of the tragic incident, but William DelBagno, the FBI special agent in charge, said on Tuesday that there are no indications of terrorism.