#neighborly relations

[incomingalbatross]

TWICE in two days someone I literally just met has invited me to have tea or coffee with them at a secondary location. Not even as a date thing, either. Baffling.

The first one made more sense because it was a mom whose family was at our church for the first time and who was clearly just INTENSELY friendly as a default setting. Still, though, hearing that I go to school nearish to her home and instantly saying "if you ever need a break come over to our house and have a cup of tea!" is a lot! I would not be that ready to offer hospitality after one interaction with someone.

The second one was a young woman on the train who struck up a conversation about my cross pendant and five minutes later was like "if you're in the area [of her job] we should get coffee sometime!" and asking if I wanted to exchange numbers. HUH?? Like, her vibes were generally fine and it seemed like she was just looking for more friends, but A) why would you ask that and B) why would you WANT to ask that. I am a stranger!! Why are YOU ready to give ME your contact information!! What are you doing???

Anyway. I wouldn't have bet on two super-friendly strangers in two days but there we are.

[amphibiosis]

oh.. note to self i owe the music store a dollar

[amememightywarrior]

Food in Dawntrail

Gonna go ahead and share my thoughts on it as posted on twitter, excuse the format!

I found the prevalence of food in DT's MSQ very interesting. In a lot of cultures, food and food-sharing are acts of love both familial and neighborly. It also symbolized a desire to reach out and understand one another, from xibruq pibil to tacos to ice cream to weird grapes.

Our first encounter with food in DT is when Wuk Lamat wants to give us some tacos, but then BJJ smashes them carelessly, a sign that he is rejecting sharing and love

During the lay of repast, which is ALL about food, we learn a lot about the symbolism of meals and food and culture. It's great. 

Zoraal Ja and Bakool Ja Ja are teamed up and shown to not understand or care about food and sharing despite the BLATANT emphasis on it in the trial.

More subtle stuff that isn't called out is the way food is raised - like the Crystarium, where wandering around can reveal the importance, if you wander around DT you can find an example of what's called the three sisters method of farming.

For those unfamiliar with this system, it's actually a very culturally important method of farming in the americas where 3 staple crops, maize, squash, and beans, are grown together in a harmonious fashion. and i mean TOGETHER.

The maize, which grows tall and strong, provides support for the beanstalks which curl around it and provide stabilization both physically and nutritionally. At their feet grows the ground-covering squash which shades the soil, keeping it moist and preventing weeds.

The next major time we learn of food and agriculture is in heritage found, where we see people preserving real food as an act of culture more than anything else, showing the resilience of culture and the spirit of sharing in even the most lightning riddled situations.

After that it gets interesting. The concept of food in S9 is abstracted into the absurd (the grapes??? help), but they still share the food. More than that, it's a SPECTATOR sport, seeing WoL and Wuk Lamat eat. If you've ever been to a dinner with a family of a different culture, you will know the experience of tasting a new cuisine for the first time, and people asking you what you think of it. They share their culture with you and hope you approve. It's the sharing of joy, and it's the same as when you eat in S9.

Then we're REALLY challenged. We enter living memory and find the inhabitants feasting on the mere idea of food. They share with us as well, giving us popcorn. Did you lie and say it was great? Did you speak the truth of your tastebuds and reject the popcorn?

The food in living memory is tasteless to us, the only real ones in the place. But the act of sharing, that was the real important part. And so perhaps if WoL lied, it was not to spare feelings, but to show that yes, they were sharing in joy and culture.

Thus introduced, we are hit with that ice cream. We know it tastes of nothing, but we give it to Krile and her parents to share. Krile knows it doesn't taste like anything, and she struggles. But G'raha zips in with his own, to make her laugh and help her understand the joy.

The way each character reacts to food within DT is symbolic and shows a bit of their own perspectives. Someone who's very out on the edges, Estinien, is also someone who has embraced food very heavily after being freed from Nidhogg. He runs around eating everything in sight now.

And of course we also have the cornservant, who wants to feed everyone. I haven't actually done that quest line yet but I can already tell you what's at the heart of it XD

A lot of this we all know, I'm just calling it out specifically because it was beautifully done in DT.

Oh, before I forget: Otis and Gulool Ja

Otis, despite being, er...mechanical, has been feeding Gulool Ja. It is a familial act, feeding and helping this child grow despite zero relation.

is it just another fetch quest? Another shared meal of many shared meals in the field? Or is it asking us to look at this meal in the context of all that came before it?

What does it mean to love and care for one another? Otis shows it by being there and feeding Gulool Ja.

It contrasts with two other parties: Cahciuna's group, and Zoraal Ja.

Zoraal Ja does nothing. He does not feed his child. Abandoned him outright. ZJ rejects family, love, and sharing.

Cahciuna's group is trying really hard to take care of him, and he does allow it because they keep finding and taking him home. But why does he run away to eat with Otis? Cahciuna's response to realizing he WANTS to leave is to allow it instead of insisting.

I find that rather mysterious but I think it shows Gulool Ja prefers organic sharing, not S9 where everything is simply handed to him. Hopefully we see more of him in the future so we can learn wtf is up with this little blue-scaled cutie.

Food takes a background role in a lot of stories but DT took it, explained it, and then challenged our understanding by taking away the most talked about component, stripping away flavor to ask us what the point of food-sharing really is and how it reflects ourselves & our culture.

We've seen a lot of these themes before - ARR used to have a whole thing about feeding the soldiers before the assault on the garlean strongholds, SHB had the infamous rhon ron food stand scene, etc

we just got it called out repeatedly and the concept gently deconstructed for us in DT. 

So. what does the act of food-sharing mean to you? What does it mean to your WoL? How did you see the Lay of Repast? What did you think of the popcorn?

[mariacallous]

With Donald Trump’s election win fueling fresh speculation over the prospects for a negotiated settlement to the Russo-Ukrainian War, Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again underlined his insistence on Ukrainian neutrality. “If there is no neutrality, it is difficult to imagine any good-neighborly relations between Russia and Ukraine,” he commented on November 7 in Sochi.

This is nothing new. Since the eve of the full-scale invasion, the Kremlin has been consistent in its calls for permanent Ukrainian neutrality. Neutral status was a key condition set out by the Kremlin during the abortive peace talks that took place in the first weeks of the war. It once again featured prominently when Putin laid out an updated peace proposal in June 2024.

Many in the international community regard Putin’s push for a neutral Ukraine as by far his most reasonable demand. Indeed, some have even accused NATO of provoking the current war by expanding into Russia’s traditional sphere of influence since 1991 and deepening cooperation with Ukraine. They argue that if Ukraine can be kept in geopolitical no-man’s-land, Russia will be placated.

Such thinking is likely to feature prominently as the debate continues to unfold in the coming months over the terms of a future peace deal. While Trump has yet to outline his plans for a possible settlement, unconfirmed reports suggest that a twenty-year freeze on Ukraine’s NATO membership aspirations is under consideration. This would be a costly blunder. Imposing neutrality on Ukraine will not bring about a durable peace in Europe. On the contrary, it would leave Ukraine at Putin’s mercy and set the stage for a new Russian invasion.

Ukrainians have already learned the hard way that neutrality does not protect them against Russian aggression. The country officially embraced non-aligned status during the 2010-2014 presidency of Viktor Yanukovych, but this didn’t prevent Moscow from seeking to reassert full control over Ukraine. Initially, Russia’s efforts focused on orchestrating Ukraine’s economic reintegration through membership of the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union. When this sparked a popular backlash that led to the fall of the Yanukovych regime, Putin opted to use force and began the military invasion of Ukraine.

Ever since the start of Russia’s attack on Ukraine in spring 2014, Putin has sought to justify Russian aggression by pointing to the looming danger of Ukrainian NATO membership. In reality, however, Ukraine has never looked like progressing toward the distant goal of joining the alliance. For the past decade, NATO leaders have refused to provide Kyiv with an invitation and have instead limited themselves to vague talk of Ukraine’s “irreversible” path toward future membership. Putin is well aware of this, but has chosen to wildly exaggerate Ukraine’s NATO prospects in order to strengthen his own bogus justifications.

Putin’s complaints regarding NATO enlargement are equally dubious. Indeed, his own actions since early 2022 indicate that Putin himself does not actually believe that the alliance poses a genuine security threat to Russia. Instead, he merely exploits the NATO issue as a convenient smokescreen for Russia’s expansionist foreign policy.

Tellingly, when Finland and Sweden responded to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine by announcing plans to abandon decades of neutrality and join NATO, Putin was quick to declare that Russia had “no problem” with the move. This evident indifference was particularly striking, given that Finnish NATO membership has more than doubled Russia’s NATO border while Sweden’s accession has transformed the Baltic Sea into a NATO lake. Over the past two-and-a-half years, Putin has continued to demonstrate his almost complete lack of concern over NATO’s Nordic enlargement by withdrawing the vast majority of Russian troops from the Finnish border and leaving the area largely undefended.

Putin obviously understands perfectly well that NATO is not a threat to Russia itself, and sees no need to guard against a NATO invasion that he knows will never come. While Putin’s resentment over the expanding NATO presence on his borders is real enough, he only really objects when the alliance prevents Russia from bullying its neighbors. In other words, Putin’s opposition to Ukraine’s NATO aspirations has nothing to do with legitimate security concerns. Instead, it confirms that his ultimate goal is the destruction of Ukrainian statehood.

For years, Putin has made no secret of his belief that the emergence of an independent Ukraine is an historical mistake and a symbol of modern Russia’s retreat from empire. He has repeatedly claimed that Ukraine is not a “real country,” and is fond of declaring that Ukrainians are actually Russians (“one people”). In July 2021, Putin even published an entire essay arguing against the legitimacy of an independent Ukrainian state.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, it has become increasingly apparent that Putin’s ultimate goal is not Ukraine’s neutrality but Ukraine’s destruction. The Kremlin propaganda machine has portrayed Ukraine as an intolerable “anti-Russia,” and has promoted the idea that Ukraine’s continued existence is incompatible with Russian security. Meanwhile, Putin has compared his invasion to eighteenth century Russian ruler Peter the Great’s imperial conquests, and has repeatedly claimed to be “returning” historically Russian lands.

Putin’s imperialistic outbursts must be taken seriously. Throughout occupied Ukraine, his soldiers and administrators are already imposing a reign of terror that directly echoes the criminal logic of his imperial fantasies. Millions have been displaced, with thousands more simply vanishing into a vast network of camps and prisons. Those who remain face policies of relentless Russification and the suppression of all things Ukrainian. Adults must accept Russian citizenship in order to access basic services, while children are forced to undergo indoctrination in schools teaching a new Kremlin curriculum.

The crimes currently taking place in Russian-occupied Ukraine are a clear indication of what awaits the rest of the country if Putin succeeds. Despite suffering multiple military setbacks, he remains fully committed to his maximalist goals of ending Ukrainian independence and erasing Ukrainian identity.

Furthermore, since 2022 Putin has demonstrated that he is prepared to wait as long as it takes in order to overcome Ukrainian resistance, and is ready to pay almost any price to achieve his imperial ambitions. Imposing neutrality on Ukraine in such circumstances would be akin to condemning the country to a slow but certain death.

Any peace process that fails to provide Ukraine with credible long-term security guarantees is doomed to fail. Acquiescing to Putin’s demands for a neutral Ukraine may provide some short-term relief from the menace of an expansionist Russia, but this would ultimately lead to more war and the likely collapse of the current global security order. There is simply no plausible argument for insisting on Ukrainian neutrality other than a desire to leave the country defenseless and at Russia’s mercy.

Peace will only come once Putin has finally been forced to accept Ukraine’s right to exist as an independent country and as a member of the democratic world. Naturally, this includes the right to choose security alliances. It is absurd to prioritize Russia’s insincere security concerns over Ukraine’s very real fears of national annihilation. Instead, if serious negotiations do begin in the coming months, Ukrainian security must be the number one priority. Until Ukraine is secure, Europe will remain insecure and the threat of Russian imperialism will continue to loom over the continent.

[goqmir]

in my dream i imagined a world in which the most popular tv show in america was a drama/dark comedy about several neighborly families now vying for scraps of sustenance in a bloodborne-esque apocalyptic city where they have all died and gone to a torturous underworld. and the main character is the dork nobody really liked in any family who arbitrarily escaped death by hiding his soul in that of an automaton.

this tv show was the result of a brand deal where the artist Drake got really into painting somewhat gothic portraits of imagined characters during the 2020 lockdown. Wal-Mart offered Drake an exclusivity deal to sell prints of these paintings that included a personal studio, and Drake requested for his studio a hole so deep in the earth that they can use magnets to make the canvasses have zero gravity. americans lapped that shit up and Wal-Mart began releasing ads of Drake in his dark and cavernous underground warehouselike studio where he would paint mildly gothic portraits on floating canvasses held down to the floor and walls by a series of trusses from Roblox and cables from Teardown. these portraits were astoundingly popular and a similarly successful TV show was produced by Wal-Mart using the characters Drake would paint.

during the dream, I lived this TV show through the eyes of the twink main character. I escaped from the underworld pits by hiding in the body of a Wizard101 wooden automaton, and began wandering the streets of the gothic city it took place in, meeting still-alive members of the group of families the portraits depicted. A little before my death, tragedy struck the families and they had a falling out. During my dreams i had to watch all of these tragedies in grim detail, which I depicted as fairly funny in my head to the average american but like. i never really found death or suffering that funny even if a character dies by a series of slapstick events. so it kind of just sucked for me to have to bear witness to it.

every time a new character would appear, the original Drake portrait depicting them would be shown on screen. every character had the name of a Universes Beyond Magic: the Gathering card-- Graham O'Brien, Rosie Cotton, that sort of thing, even though they weren't related to the characters.

there was a segment where i could choose to revive anyone from the underworld that wanted to leave, and I saw the cartoon shadow of a cute babe from behind a boat winking at me and flirting with me. I chose her cuz i was like woahhh i love women but when I revived her I realized it was actually Evie Frye, my rival in life who was close to me as a child but drifted apart from me after witnessing the comedically gruesome death of her father. the dream then played out that death in a flashback sequence, which was sickening enough to me that it woke me up. and then I spent 30 minutes writing this post and that's been my morning so far.

[yourneighborlyweirdo]

Tarot 🤝🏼 Shifting

This isn’t really a post that I usually make with all the big headings and special symbols, and that’s because I just got my nails done (love them btw) and I just popped an advil so I’m hella tired, but I just wanted to put this out there…

I usually use my tarot deck to ask a big main question I have, and then once it’s answered I put my deck away until I need it again, (which there’s nothing wrong with that) but I just did an actual reading which I haven’t done in a while and I asked multiple questions leading into other questions, like “What do you need to tell me?” “What is something I need to improve on in my journey?” “What can I do to start doing that thing to improve?” And etc, and instead of pulling only one card each question I got 2-4 which gave me a clearer answer on my questions, and it helped me connect the dots a lot more.

Just made this post to say,

• If you have a tarot deck, and you usually barely do any readings, I would recommend you start doing it more often because I can’t stress the amount of clarity I got because I only ever pull one card for one simple question and feel confused because I don’t see why the card answers my question, so when I asked more smaller and simplified questions leading into eachother, it helped me understand a lot more!

• If your a witch/spiritual person (like me) who’s also into shifting, I highly recommend to start intertwining them into each other instead of treating it like they are separate things (they are separate but go under the same category/umbrella for Spiritual stuff)

• Use your divination tools (like your tarot deck if you have one) more often because they are so so useful.

• This reminded me that everyone’s journey is different because everyone is different so getting advice personalized for me and myself made me feel so much better because now I know how I can improve on certain things!

Sorry if this post is annoying or going over shit everyone already knows, I just wanted to share that when I did this reading I got so much clarity and advice and I realized what I was doing wrong, what I was missing, what I can do to improve, and so much more, and I might just make a big long post going over this because I got some advice I’ve known before but it was explained to me in which a way helps me understand a lot better (because I asked MY tarot cards about MY journey) and yeah. Highly recommend tarot cards for divination, especially shifting related.

Shifting is different for everyone. Everyone’s spiritual journey is different. Remember that, because like many, I keep forgetting.

Sincerely,

Your Neighborly Weirdo

[shrikeseams]

Good point! I won't lie, I'm not great with the Journey chronology, and also the entire teleri situation just... it's weird. It's weird, right? It doesn't quite pass the sniff test, idk. And Finwe's not exactly proactive once he does find out that Elwe vanished:

"and Finwë grieved when the Teleri came not, and yet more when he learned that Elwë was forsaken, and knew that he should not see him again, unless it were in the halls of Mandos."

(There is also, of course, an argument to be made that Elu and Miriel both ditched him first and that the Melkor choice was driven by the wider will of the noldor population. But then, I suspect that the people who go around calling themselves the forsaken aren't entirely open to alternate perspectives, and Finwe's descendents' record of kinslaying isn't likely to do Finwe's own reputation any favors.)

A nasty, bitter sentiment that I know in my heart was common among the umanyar who knew Finwe, especially among the sindar:

Of course the man who forgot (abandoned) Elwe for the sparkling new allure of Aman would also forget (abandon) miriel for someone fresh and new like Indis. Would forget the dead and stolen of Cuivienen in favor of the political path of least resistance and invite Melkor into his city.

[profoundgladiatorbarbarian]

Disney kid siblings

Peter pan Liddell and Alice Pleasance Liddell

Peter PAN and Alice in my version are based off of Come away version where they are siblings.If you watch the movie you might understand more, But in my a u it's also combined with a disney version, Where are they are Twins who after having a lot of adventures in neverland in wonderland start a new adventure at Auradon prep, But technically speaking they're many years old , However, they are about 13. No, because time runs different in wonderland and neverland

Alice- Alice is a thirteen year old adventurous, And curious Girl, Who found the secret world of wonderland, But in the aftermath when the queen of hearts Had chased her out, Alice Went back to Her world of england, But became bored, Of the same old same old especially now that she was living with her sister, So alice decided to go back to wonderland, and live there permanently. It was a tough decision having to leave her family.But in the end she She decided it was for the best, Since her family was in financial trouble and if she left, maybe it would give them More of a boost to get So thus she'd be got her new life in wonderland, However there was one thing she missed most of all and that was her older twin brother peter pan, Whom she was inseparable with.

Peter pan- Peter pan, Was always a playful person, However there came a time When He lost His older brother, Whom he was playing with and accidentally made him fall into the water causing him to drown and get electrocuted by an Unexpected storm In the water. After that day peter pan was never the same and tried to act more grown up, As a way to mask his pain. Alice Was quite side about her brother's death, But was even more worried for peter pan, Who is starting to become emotionless, But one day will peter pan was at the markets, He came a Cross A flying Whisp, That led him into the forest, And in the forest the wisp turned into a Female shape and introduce yourself as tinkerbell peter pan's, She said that she could bring him away from all The drama and problems going on with him at home, If he took her hand and followed her to a place called neverland, Where time never moved and you could stay young forever. Peter pan was hesitant about this, But then remembering All that was going on With his family being in debt, His brother dead, And some of their own family members , turning against his parents, And some of their own family members, turning against his parents He decided it was for the best that he leaves, So that may be his family can start afresh, So he agreed and flew off with Tinkerbell to neverland, And as the years passed by , peter pan kept bringing, Much wealth back to his family from neverland, So that they would never be poor, The only thing he regretted was never saying goodbye to his Twin sister Alice.

Many years had passed and alice and Peter PAN's parents had long passed Leaving leaving their older sister lorena to be the new owner of the house, She grew old and time as well with Yvonne. Alice and Peter's younger brother max's becoming adult Before them, But fast-forwarding to 2021 Alice, Having explored Almost all of wonderland, Was curious if she was Curious if she was able to go back to her home of london, And decided To crawl out of the rabbit hole To see what was happening above. When she crawled out The Old Neighborly House where she lived was replaced with a beautiful mansion, She couldn't even believe it herself and then she heard from the sky A familiar sound. It was Peter PAN Calling to her, And thus the twins were reunited, Two years had passed The 2 Are now attending Arudon prep with their significant others.

Winifred darling is the niece of Anita darling, based off of the 2021 Cruella movie, And is in no way related to Wendy darling Who long passed away. Winifred is now the new love interest of Peter PAN, With her siblings, always following her on adventures through neverland.

Amandla Darling, Is the oldest Sibling, and Was once, A girl in wonderland herself, Like alice but in a different part, the looking glass, And she is also the future storyteller Of Alice and Peter pan's stories.

Winifred darling Is the second oldest And is based off of wendy darling a bit, But is more nerdy, And as a mixture of nurturing, And feminine Strength, And is willing to fight any pirates, Or be a big sister figure to any lost boy. She is Very close with her younger brother Kingston, But it's also enemies with him Seeing him as a intellectual rival with her in school, And the two often fights over who's smarter.

Kingston is the oldest boy and the third born, And just like his older sister is a huge nerd, But prides itself on it and see himself as the smartest in the family, Which Always gets under his sister skin, Matter of fact he mostly does it for the entertainment about her reactions, However as siblings they are still very close. People sometimes think he's a bit cowardly But in reality he can be brave and will stand up to Evan The scariest pirates like captain hook, Matter of fact, the only thing he and his sister are afraid of is their younger brother mkhosini Who, Let's just say Acts like the evil child in the family He's also a bit shy around tiger Lily's sister katawasisiw Whom he saved one time When she was kidnapped by captain hook, And saved her from nearly getting her head cut off by A pirates, In return she gave him a big kiss like the scene in the peter pan movie of 2003, And he started developing feelings for her and her intern, And the two do get along pretty well, And like to solve mysteries in the book of neverland which was a gift from the indigenous tribe of neverland given to Kingston That holds all the secrets and mysteries and powerful forceshe didn't within never land, Something that would be quite useful to captain hook who constantly tries to steal it.

mkhosini Is the last born, Baby brother of the family, A k a the evil child, And he takes this job with pride. He isn't necessarily manipulative, Or a type of sibling who blackmails his older siblings, But instead will physically force them to do things that he's really passionate about, And this is kind of help the family, But it's also made Winifred and kingston Fear him the most because, Of what he's Capable of doing Even in the dark, And He uses Two his advantage, His older siblings are Looking After him, Using his Strategies sort of butts to make them Fear him so much that they can't even tell him no, But he's not all Evil, He does look up to Peter PAN As an older brother figure which Kind of Makes kingston jealous, But also slightly relieved to that his brother is off his back, But also scared for peter pan's sake, And at the end of the day mkhosini It's just a very energetic Person, With a bit of a violent streak with his siblings, But he still love them.

Christopher Robin and the Derby Robin

Mowgli, Bala, Lali, Ranjan

Dipper and Mabel pines.

Violet, Dash, and Jackjack incredibles

Melody, Eros, And Erica

Marco and mariposa diaz

Miguel And Socorro Rivera.

lampwick and Bella

[ms-m-astrologer]

March 2024 Good Days

These are the days in March during which (1) the Moon is in a particular sign and (2) making a flowing aspect to the ruler of that sign. (Almost always a trine or sextile, sometimes a conjunction).

Mercury: Friday, March 15, 03:16 UT - 22:11 UT

Good for all communication, neighbors and neighborliness, sibling relations, gathering and distributing information.

Venus: Wednesday, March 13, 00:28 UT - 02:56 UT

A brief window for art, beauty, love, and money - and for simply enjoying what one has.

Mars:

Monday, March 11, 00:19 UT - Tuesday, March 12, 11:08 UT. Good for sports stuff, taking the initiative, leadership, independence.

Wednesday, March 27, 09:03 UT - 16:18 UT. Good for getting things done, cleaning and purging, surgery, healing.

Jupiter: Saturday, March 9, 01:03 UT - 21:24 UT

Good for the Pisces side of Jupiter: forgiveness, loss, generosity, spirituality.

Saturn: Monday, March 4, 21:15 UT - Tuesday, March 5, 15:38 UT

Good for hard work, hanging out with old people, discipline, responsibility, getting unpleasant tasks over with.

[dyoreos]

I can't believe I sat through that useless Behind The Sims stream.

I'm relieved stuff packs are back, but I don't care too much that its another cooking-related pack. Wish they'd give us a damn hobbies pack, bands, hotels...pack refreshes. Anything that we've been asking for for years now!

The new "neighborly expansion pack" sounds like it'll have a city world (and hopefully more apartments). And I saw car keys, so are we getting cars? Taxis? Subway stations? I'm keeping my expectations really low.

[sukoshimikan]

Fuck outdoor cats. My garden beds are not a littler box and the bird feeders that I have been maintaining for going on two years now are not a buffet. Finally talked to the office about the problem today. Neighborly relations be damned, I'm done dealing with it. My daughter deserves to be able to enjoy the space when she is born and not have to deal with urine and feces.

[mariacallous]

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has already waded into his future trade wars before taking office. His proposal of a steep import tax on all products from the country’s top trade partners gives a preview of exactly how his zero-sum approach to economics could quickly become zero-benefit for businesses and consumers.

Trump, who vowed during his campaign to slap tariffs on everything that moved, said on Nov. 25 that he would, on his first day in office, put a 25 percent duty on all imports from Canada and Mexico—the United States’ two biggest trade partners, all bound together by a trilateral, tariff-free trade deal that Trump himself wrote. For good measure, Trump also threatened a 10 percent tax on all imports from China. His demand was for those countries to take immediate steps to curtail U.S.-bound deliveries of drugs and migrants.

The response, at least from the country most directly targeted, was pointed: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told Trump in a letter, “Migration and drug consumption in the United States cannot be addressed through threats or tariffs,” and vowed the same kind of retaliation that the European Union and China have already promised if Trump makes good on his threats. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reportedly spoke with Trump sometime after he posted his statement online; Ontario Premier Doug Ford compared the threat to “a family member stabbing you in the heart.”

There are two ways to consider Trump’s latest threats of tariffs, trade wars, and economic friction. The president-elect’s backers view his threat of tariffs as a clever way to force China, Canada, and Mexico to come to grips with two things he considers primordial: drugs and immigration. Those folks believe that Trump will not have to implement the tariffs because those countries will somehow overhaul their vigilance and enforcement of two of the thorniest questions in cross-border relations. 

Alternatively, given that Trump has called tariff the “most beautiful word,” he could actually do what he just said he was going to do, as he has done in the past. Given that the combined trade of the United States with those three countries is around $2.5 trillion a year, with a lot of interconnected supply chains and a deep, decades-old interdependence that could not be jury-rigged on the fly, such a move would be economically devastating. 

Prices in the United States—Trump ran in part on fixing the problem of that runaway 2.5 percent inflation—will go up, because whether it is Canadian lumber, Canadian oil, Mexican produce, or perhaps most importantly, all of the many components that go into making a car or a light truck, all of it would cost more than it did before.

The charitable view of Trump’s tariff threat is that it is just silly and would be ineffective, as his previous four years of hectoring China over trade matters and fentanyl achieved very little. The uncharitable view is that it would be silly and catastrophic.

Mexico is the biggest source of U.S. agricultural imports and a big outlet for U.S. exports, as well. The problems with a neighborly trade war are many, and they hit close to home.

“The idea that we are going to have a guacamole tax on day one, right before the Super Bowl, is nonsensical,” said Scott Lincicome, a trade expert at the Cato Institute in Washington.

The first problem for Trump to do what he said he would do is that the United States, Canada, and Mexico have one of the world’s biggest free-trade agreements, the USMCA, or NAFTA 2.0, that Trump himself undertook and which went into effect in 2020. 

The proposed tariffs are “definitely a violation of the basic USMCA commitment to charge zero tariffs,” said Simon Lester, a trade lawyer who worked on NAFTA and USMCA issues for years. Trump could invoke the national security exception in the agreement, as he did years ago, to raise taxes on imported steel and aluminum, but that would just trigger a dispute settlement process, which would take longer to play out than the inevitable Mexican and Canadian retaliation would, Lester said.

There are problems even with using that national security exception: It would require an iron-clad executive order, potentially publishing notices in the federal register, and maybe a declaration of a national economic emergency. Social media posts are not policy.

“On the procedural issues, there are so many hurdles and gray areas,” Lincicome said. “I don’t expect those tariffs to be implemented.”

Regardless of the more mainstream names picked for key positions in Trump’s economic braintrust, such as hedge fund manager Scott Bessent to run the Treasury Department, many in Washington don’t think that will be a check on Trump’s anti-trade tendencies.

“Trump loves tariffs, and there will be tariff threats and maybe even tariffs,” Lester said.

The stock market seemed to take the tariff threats with a grain of salt: The Dow Jones industrial average, the blue-chip index, barely wobbled. The U.S. dollar hardly gained against either the Chinese renminbi or the Canadian loonie; the Mexican peso’s slippage against the dollar could be for any number of reasons.

But, given that Trump did campaign on the explicit promise to raise taxes and impede trade, what if they’re wrong? 

One of the biggest threats to the economies of the United States, Canada, and Mexico would come in the automotive sector. The original NAFTA, by breaking down trade barriers among the three North American countries, set the stage for an integrated auto industry where bits of a car or truck are made thousands of miles apart. This is big business: Automaking accounts for about 11 percent of all U.S. manufacturing and 5 percent of all U.S. private sector jobs, not even counting all the corollary and related jobs the sector provides. 

Trump’s revised USMCA made the relationship between the automotive sector and regional trade even clearer, especially by mandating that roughly 75 percent of all cars and trucks be sourced locally. One way to avoid the cost of tariffs, if they are implemented, is to source goods from elsewhere. That is not an option for autos. 

Trump’s trade policies are now going full circle. Manufacturers cannot get cheaper inputs from anywhere else, lest they fall afoul of Trump’s USMCA, but would have to pay more for everything because of his tariffs.

Similar stories could abound in agriculture, textiles, and even the construction industry. One of the big advantages of the USMCA, for example, was greater U.S. access to the Canadian market for agricultural products: What would be first on the list of Canadian retaliation?

Trump’s threatened tariffs would be economic insanity, which is probably why his surrogates present the very specter of tariffs as gamesmanship, and not a real blueprint. The fear, and it’s genuine one, is that tariffs just like those are exactly the blueprint Trump ran and won on. The worst-case scenario could become the default setting.

[beardedmrbean]

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) responded after an interview with North Macedonia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Aleksandar Nikoloski, who criticized Bulgaria for the absence of the flag of North Macedonia at an informal meeting between Presidents Rumen Radev and Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova. Nikoloski's comments included strong criticism, stating that Bulgaria lacked civility and respect.

In response, the MFA declared it would not engage in such non-European rhetoric. It emphasized that Bulgaria’s partners had been informed of the provocations, which seemed aimed at disrupting diplomatic dialogue. The MFA also reiterated the importance of good neighborly relations for North Macedonia's European integration.

Bulgarian MPs also reacted sharply to Nikoloski's comments. Asen Vassilev, co-chair of "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB), criticized the remarks as insulting and disproportionate, urging North Macedonia to honor existing agreements if it wanted to join the European Union. He emphasized that Bulgaria's interests were protected by the EU and called for a reminder that written agreements must be upheld.

Delyan Peevski, chair of the DPS parliamentary group, also condemned the comments, calling for North Macedonia's ambassador to be recalled until Bulgaria receives a formal apology. He insisted that Bulgaria would not tolerate such insults from a country it had supported in the past.

Ivan Ivanov, deputy chair of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) parliamentary group, described the statements as unacceptable and warned they could harm bilateral relations. He stressed that Bulgaria had done everything possible to support North Macedonia’s EU bid, citing the good-neighbor agreement, which had not been respected by the Macedonian government. Ivanov, a historian, labeled Nikoloski's remarks as lies, insisting the shared history between the two nations is a historical fact.

Toshko Yordanov from "There Is Such a People" (TISP) viewed the comments as further evidence that North Macedonia does not belong in the EU. He criticized WCC-DB, DPS, and GERB for lifting the veto on North Macedonia’s EU accession, stating that leaders who use such rhetoric should have no place in the EU. Yordanov pointed out that North Macedonia’s history is tied to Bulgaria and argued that their current leaders’ attitudes demonstrated disrespect toward the entire EU. He called for European partners to take a strong stance on the issue, emphasizing that North Macedonia’s accession talks should not proceed until they respect treaties.

[posttexasstressdisorder]

Politics

SCOTUS Chief Justice Sidelined Alito Days After Flag Scandal

FLAGPOLE POSITION

In an unusual change to SCOTUS protocols, Roberts opted to tackle a Jan.6-related case himself.

Corbin Bolies

Media Reporter

Updated Sep. 15, 2024 1:58PM EDT Published Sep. 15, 2024 1:57PM EDT 

Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts sidelined one of the most conservative members of the high court on a pending case just days after his wife seemingly shared support for the “Stop the Steal” movement, according to a new report.

Roberts had initially asked Justice Samuel Alito to write the majority opinion in Fischer v. United States, a case that alleged the government went too far when it charged Jan. 6 rioters with obstruction of a federal proceeding, according to The New York Times.

Then came the Times’ May 16 report on his wife Martha-Ann Alito’s aggrieved decision to fly an upside-down U.S. flag—an emblem of the “Stop the Steal” movement, and propagated by some Jan. 6 rioters—outside their home in Virginia back in 2021, less than two weeks after the Capitol attack.

Four days later, on May 20, Roberts informed the court that he would write the majority opinion after all, according to the Times.

To switch authors on an opinion without a shift in the decision was unusual, experts told the newspaper. So was Roberts’ decision to take on yet another case for himself; he had written seven cases during the court’s most recent term, five of them among its most consequential rulings.

That 6-3 majority, split mostly along ideological lines, ruled the government must prove a defendant impaired specific elements of an official proceeding and it cannot apply the statute so broadly.

It is unclear if the episodes were linked, and the justices did not respond to the Times’ questions.

Alito remained on the case and was part of that majority, even as the Times uncovered that an “Appeal to Heaven” flag (symbolism also co-opted by Jan. 6 rioters) had also been on display at the Alitos beach home in Long Beach Island, New Jersey.

Alito told the Times that the upside-down flag was raised as part of a neighborly dispute between his wife and a neighbor over the latter’s anti-Trump sign.

In response to congressional leaders calling for his recusal in late May, Alito said he asked his wife to take the flag down but “for several days, she refused,” and he claimed he was unaware of its significance.

“The two incidents you cite do not meet the conditions for recusal,” he told Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse. “As I have stated publicly, I had nothing whatsoever to do with the flying of that flag. I was not even aware of the upside-down flag until it was called to my attention.”

[simplendelulu]

For Niffty and Emberlynn:

Having heard of Charlie's victory, Satan took an interest in this "redemption project" of hers. Even if Lucifer wouldn't order the Sins to support his daughter's efforts, any change in relations between Heaven and Hell or the legal rights of sinners would affect Satan's business. He needed to know exactly what Charlie was up to.

A few days prior, the Sin of Wrath had sent a letter to the princess---announcing his intention to stop by, which she then announced to everyone else. Naturally, some people were worried about this and Charlie demanded that everyone be on their best behavior. But would they?

Red smoke crept towards the entrance, slipping underneath the double doors and forming a circle in the center of the lobby. Thunder clapped, the winds blew strong and the circle had become a gaping portal in the floor. In its depths, four eyes glowed bright---coming closer as each half-second passed.

A massive hand erupted from the magical vortex, digging its claws into the floor. Another emerged, allowing the shadowy figure to climb out. After two quaking stomps shook the ground, the portal closed beneath the four-horned beast. SATAN had come.

"Apologies, Your Highness," his deep voice rumbled. "Your estate wasn't built to accommodate someone of my stature---so I needed to improvise..."

"It wouldn't be very neighborly of me to batter down your doors and drag my entire bulk through your lobby, now would it?" @king-of-wrath

Each stomp had nearly threw Niffty out of her seat from the sheer force. A fact that honestly excited her but not as much as seeing the big bad boy himself. He checked every box on her list perfectly.

Thankfully for Charlie, she's the only boy-crazy weirdo to somehow manage. Emberlynn left after much coaxing once they received news of Satan's upcoming arrival.

Unfortunately, Niffty lost her filter and impulse control looooong ago. Whether it was from years of inhaling fumes from mixing cleaning chemicals or an attempted lobotomy, nobody can tell. Her standing there with the others, just bouncing in place and staring hard enough to drill a hole, is honestly something of a miracle. At least, until her name is mentioned. A microsecond after realizing she's being introduced, she is literally already climbing Satan like a damned tree until they are face to face.

"Hi! I'm Niffty!" she lets out a somewhat cutesy giggle before it turned slightly manic then full manic, "I clean and cook for everyone here. I hope you like the cookies, heehehehhe~"

[lifeofresulullah]

The Life of The Prophet Muhammad(pbuh): First Migration, the Year of Sorrow, the Splitting of the Moon

Migration to Abyssinia

5th year of the prophethood, the month of Rajab (A.D. 615).

The severity of the persecution, insults, and torturous acts the polytheists inflicted upon the Muslims continued to increase and worsen each day. As a result, Mecca became an unbearable city for the Muslims to live in. The torture and hardship that increased daily had eliminated the possibility for the Muslims to worship in a state of peace.

The polytheists did not intend to forgo their cruel and inhumane behavior, either.

For that reason, one day our Holy Prophet (PBUH) told the Muslims, “You might as well spread on the face of the Earth. Allah will bring you together once again.”

When the companions asked, “O Allah’s Apostle, where shall we go?”  Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) pointed in the direction of Abyssinia and said, “It will be good if you go to the country of Abyssinia. Nobody is tortured near the Abyssinian King. It is a righteous country. Hopefully Allah will allow you to attain peace there.”

Upon our Holy Prophet ‘s (PBUH) advice and permission, the Muslim procession that constituted ten men and five women left their homeland, parents, relatives, neighbors, properties, and gardens with the blessed aim of protecting their religion, and secretly set forth in the direction of a foreign country. The individuals who constituted the first Muslim procession to Abyssinia by way of the Red Sea and who were greeted very positively by the Ruler of Abyssinia were:

Hazrat Uthman and his wife, Hazrat Ruqiyyah,

Zubair bin Awwam,

Abu Huzaifa bin Utba and his wife Sahla,

Mus’ab bin Umair,

Abdurrahman bin Awf,

Abu Salama and his wife Ummi Salama,

Uthman bin Mazun (the head of the procession),

Amir bin Rabia and his wife Layla,

Suhail bin Bayda,

Abu Sabra bin Abi Ruhm and his wife Ummu Kulthum. 

Hazrat Uthman took his wife, Hazrat Ruqiyyah by his side and proceeded on the journey before everyone else. When our Holy Prophet (PBUH) was notified, he said, “The first person to follow Prophet Lut in taking his family and migrating in the way of Allah is Uthman.” 

Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) preferred Abyssinia for a few reasons: Before everything else, it was well known by the Meccans since it had been having trade relations with them for a long time. Najashi, the just Abyssinian king was the second reason. Of course, Najashi, who was renowned for his justice, would not treat an oppressed group unfairly. Another reason was that the community of Abyssinia was predominantly Christian, also meaning that it consisted of the “People of the Book.” Since they were the People of the Book, their conduct and attitude towards the Muslims would undoubtedly differ from that of the polytheists.

In fact, the Sahaba (the Companions) who had left Mecca in secrecy, were greeted wonderfully by King Najashi and his people. After settling in Abyssinia, the Muslims did not encounter any obstacles or difficulty in practicing their religious beliefs and fulfilling their religious duties. The Muslims said, “We saw good neighborliness and inviolability towards our religion. We were not mistreated. We did not hear any words that we disliked. We worshipped our Lord in peace.” 

It is really striking that our Holy Prophet (PBUH) chose Abyssinia for the Muslims to migrate to and not another country. It is impossible for the souls of a Muslim and a polytheist to unite. However, it is possible for a Muslim and a Christian, both considered as being the “People of the Book”, at least to agree on some commonalities that are found in faith. As a matter of fact, the kind conduct and the strong tolerance of which the Abyssinian community showed towards the Muslims in fulfilling their religious practices confirm this reality.

Along with all this, the migration caused many other more important positive aspects to be born. In this way, Islam was heard in the surrounding areas. As a result, the polytheists were greatly alarmed and uneasy about the handful of Muslims taking shelter in Abyssinia. They did not want the Muslims to live in peace even though they had escaped to a distant country.

Hazrat Hamza in the ranks of Muslims

(The 6th year of the prophethood)

The voice of Islam was becoming more and more resonant as it passed from ear to ear. The establishment of this divine atmosphere that freshened the hearts unsettled the polytheists. None of their applied schemes or plans could get in the way of this waterfall of faith that gushed happiness; the polytheists were withering in a state of hopelessness and devastation.

Their spiritual aches doubled due to Hamza, who was included in the circle of happiness.

Hazrat Hamza, who was our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) paternal uncle as well as his foster brother, was a hero who could not tolerate injustice no matter where it came from. He possessed a high esteem among the Quraysh.

It is never apparent where and how one will attain the blessings of faith. Hazrat Hamza attained the blessings of faith at an unexpected time.

One day, he was returning from a hunting trip (it was what he liked to do best). While he was walking towards the Kaaba from Mount Safa, he came across Abdullah bin Juda’s freed handmaiden who said, “Oh Umara’s father, if you had seen what happened, you would not have been able to bear what Abul-Hakam bin Hisham (Abu Jjahl) and his friends did to your brother’s son, Muhammad!”

Staring solemnly at the handmaid, Hazrat Hamza asked her, “What did Abul Hakam bin Hisham do to him?”

“He tortured Muhammad in a variety of ways and insulted him. He left afterwards. Muhammad did not say anything to him.”

Hazrat Hamza asked, “Did you see what you have told me with your own eyes?”

The freed handmaiden replied, “Yes, I did!”

Without stopping at his house, Hazrat Hamza, who had become immensely furious, was carrying his bow, arrow, bag, and hunting supplies with him as he went straight towards Abu Jahl and his friends, who were sitting around the Kaaba. Without asking any questions, Hazrat Hamza severely wounded Abu Jahl’s head by whopping an arrow on it amid the assembly. He spoke afterwards, “Are you the one that swore at Muhammad? I am from his religion, too. I say what he says. If you have enough strength, then try doing whatever it is that you have done to him.”

Abu Jahl began to defend himself so as to justify the actions that he had committed: “But he regarded us as stupid. He insulted our idols and chose a separate path from what our fathers chose.”

Hazrat Hamza gave a decisive and firm answer: “You worship something other than Allah by calling it a deity. Who is more stupid than you? I testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger!” 

Abu Jahl and those around him did not respond nor act in the face of Hazrat Hamza’s decision. In fact, Abu Jahl even admitted to his guilt, “The truth is that I swore at our brother’s son in a very ugly manner. I deserve it.”

The Whisperings of Shaytan

When Hazrat Hamza, who had suddenly and unexpectedly entered the circle of happiness, returned to his home, he was left to deal with the shaytan’s whisperings in his mind: “You are a reputable person among the Quraysh. You have forsaken your religion by following Muhammad. You did not act wisely!”

When Hazrat Hamzah sensed that he was being exposed to the inculcations of shaytan in both his mind and heart, he went straight to the Kaaba and prayed, “O Allah, if this road that I have chosen is correct then have my heart affirm it; please provide me a solution in this matter!”

After a day passed, he went to our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) presence and explained what he had experienced;

Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) then gave him advice.

Hazrat Hamza’s heart then found the confidence and level of faith it had been searching for, “I testify to your truthfulness, oh my brother’s son, explain your religion to me.”

While Hazrat Hamza’s conversion to Islam made our Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the Muslims immensely happy, it instilled a great sense of sadness and fear in the polytheists’ hearts. They were also obliged to forgo committing a portion of the cruel and tortuous acts that they used to inflict upon our Holy Prophet (PBUH).

New Proposals From Polytheists

The circle of guidance was expanding. The lights of faith and of the Quran were continuing to enlighten souls with their majesty and brightness.

The state of panic and worry that the polytheists were in was at a critical measure. They were completely bewildered by Hazrat Hamza’s unexpected conversion to Islam since they deemed him as a hero. The newer and gretaer losses in the castle of the polytheists led them to make new and different plans and schemes with each passing day.

One day, Utba bin Rabia, one of the leading figures from the tribe of Quraysh, said to a group of polytheists, “O, Qurayshis!  How would it be if I were to go to Muhammad and make some offers to him? Hopefully, he will accept those offers and we will fulfill his wish. In this way, he might quit what he has been doing to us.”

The group accepted the offer.

Upon this, Utba went to the Masjid al–Haram, where our Holy Prophet (PBUH) was alone and began to speak:

O my Brother’s Son! You know that you are much more fortunate and advanced than all of us in terms of honor and ancestry. However, you brought a great trouble to your tribe. You have separated their unity with this cause and have told them that they were stupid. You have decried their idols and religion and have considered their forefathers as unbelievers. If you listen to me, then I will have a few offers for you. I want you to consider them and perhaps you will accept some of them!”

When our Holy Prophet (PBUH) replied, “Explain, O Walid’s Father! I’m listening to you”, Utba began to list his offers: If your purpose is to acquire wealth and property through this cause that you propose, then we will allot our wealth so that you will be the wealthiest of us all. If you are in the pursuit of fame, then we will make you our chief. If the condition that has befallen upon you is a delusion that you do not have enough strength to overcome or if it is an illness or spell that came from your fairies and jinn, then let us bring a doctor and treat you. We will not avoid spending our wealth and property until you are saved.”

Utba made his offers and then became silent. It was our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) turn to speak, “O Walid’s Father, have you finished speaking?”

When the Messenger of Allah received the answer “yes” from Utba, he said, “Now, you listen to me.” He uttered basmala and recited verses 1-36 of the chapter Fussilat solemnly:

“Ha Mim. A Revelation from (Allah) Most Gracious, Most Merciful―A Book, whereof the verses are explained in detail― a Qur'an in Arabic, for people who understand―Giving Good News and Admonition: yet most of them turn away, and so they hear not.”

Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) recited the Surah until its verse of prostration and then prostrated. Afterwards, he turned to Utba and said, “O Walid’s Father, you heard what I have read. Now, think about the rest!”

The concision of the Quranic verse and the sweetness in its meaning suddenly changed Utba’s sour face causing the Qurayshis to notice it. They told one another “By God, Abu-Walid is returning with a change in his countenance!”

When he came near them they asked, “What have you brought?”

Utba replied, “By God, I heard an utterance that is not similar to what I have heard before in my life. I swear that is not a poem, a spell, or a prophecy!” And he continued to say:

“Oh the Community of Quraysh! Listen to me, stop pursuing this task and leave this man alone for my sake! Stay far away from him and do not touch him! I swear that the words I have heard from him is great news. It will be much better if you leave him to the Arab tribes who are not from among you so they can hinder him. If he prevails over those Arabs, it means that his sovereignty and glory is yours as well. You will be the happiest and most fortunate of all people.”

Utba’s speech displeased the Qurayshis; thus they reacted by saying, “Oh Walid’s Father, he has casted a spell on your tongue.”

Walid saw that they were not listening and said; “In that case do as you please!” then distanced himself from them. 

Thus, the polytheists were facing defeat upon defeat against our Holy Prophet (PBUH). Their solutions and measures against Islam were running out one by one. Every plan and measure they applied was going against their favor since Allah had promised:

“I will complete My light even if the nonbelievers and polytheists don’t want for it to happen.”  His order to His Messenger was this:

“O Messenger! proclaim the (Message) which hath been sent to thee from thy Lord. If thou didst not thou wouldst not have fulfilled and proclaimed His Mission: and Allah will defend thee from men (who mean mischief). For Allah guideth not those who reject Faith.” 

For this reason, Allah’s Apostle (PBUH) was continuing his duty to invite the community to Islam without fear, weariness, and hesitation. He was doing his best to wave the Flag of Tawhid over the hearts of the people. As a result, the ranks of Muslims were increasing and becoming much stronger.