#ni protocol

[tweetingukpolitics]

[seachranaidhe]

Why the UK should not leave the ECHR - 1828 - Championing Freedom

Why the UK should not leave the ECHR LEE MARSONS FEBRUARY 23, 2023 According to reports this month, the Prime Minister would contemplate withdrawing the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if the government’s policies on small boats are found to violate the ECHR. This would be the wrong decision.  The ECHR is an international treaty – separate from the European Union –…

[voxpeople]

Solution to Northern Ireland Protocol: Make Ireland Leave the EU

Debates and discussions continue between the UK "prime minister" Rish! Sunak, Northern Irish leaders and the European Union in attempting to find a solution to the protocols which cloud the situation concerning the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

All have so far proved fruitless and all have overlooked the simple solution: Ireland should also leave the EU, allowing them and the UK to come up with a solution between them. #Irexit

[don-lichterman]

Truss will be a 'disaster' if she governs as she campaigns, Sturgeon says

Truss will be a ‘disaster’ if she governs as she campaigns, Sturgeon says

Truss will be a ‘disaster’ if she governs as she campaigns, Sturgeon says Source link

[bumbog]

liz truss british pm i'm gonna blow my brains out

[rqbossman]

Heyo! Folks be sending all sorts of questions so I'll give it a shot. So you're a Star Trek fan right? Have you been watching and/or enjoying the newer series? Or are you partial to the older ones? (I'm the latter, ive preferred TNG, DS9 and Voyager best.) But if you're also enjoying the newer stuff I'd be curious about your thoughts on 'em?

So I admit I have fallen off on Star Trek recently and my opinions on star trek in general are often considered... controversial. TOS: It's fine I guess. Next Gen: Good although a good chunk of season 1 and anything to do with Tasha Yar is less good. (Not because of Tasha's Character or performance just the writing for her feels a bit tone deaf at times to a modern ear.) DS9: I have bounced off this again and again. Never made it past about 10 episodes. I dunno why, I've watched worse without complaint. I wonder if it is to do with the religious portrayals, as these are the things I most struggle with in Sci Fi due to my own bias getting in the way. Voyager: Wonderful once it finds its feet. I married the woman who was the closest to Janeway I could find in the real world. Coffee addiction, war scowl and all. Discovery: Watched season 1 and enjoyed, subsequent seasons nI haver not had chance to view consistently due to UK licensing and not being able to afford every streaming platform. Lower Decks: Frigging brilliant, no notes, but again I am behind as I haven't the budget for additional media purchases right now. Brave New Worlds: I couldn't say. I hear good things but again, fragmented streaming is an expense I can't justify right now. Picard: Mixed. I was okay with the premise and S1 had it's moments although it was harder to get through than I thought which is weird since it had so many components I liked. I dropped off with the introduction of seven of nine as I feel the character was done a bit dirty and with Protocol entering preproduction I had to prioritise my time and Picard didn't spark enough joy to continue. I may return to it. Star Trek films: Far too much to cover here. TLDR much like bond movies it swings between good and bad but I'll always have a soft spot for any iteration of Kahn and I have seen First Contact most. TLDR: Seen a bunch, not all, Voyager is my fave despite the well known flaws.

[kpopscatterbrain]

Kdramas/Movies with strong female characters

Dramas

Eve (2022): Lee La-El (Seo Yea-Ji) When Lee La-El was little, her father died unexpectedly. Powerful people were responsible for his death. After her family was destroyed, Lee La-El prepared for the next 13 years to take revenge. Starting by targeting Kang Yoon-gyeom, one of the main culprits who orchestrated the death of her father. Along the way she becomes torn between her desire for revenge and her feelings for Yoon-gyeom.

It's Okay To Not Be Okay (2020): Ko Moon-Young (Seo Yea-Ji) Ko Moon-Young is a popular children's book author with antisocial personality disorder. She had a troubled childhood and a turbulent relationship with her parents. She develops romantic feelings for a psychiatric caregiver after a coincidental encounter and often goes to extreme lengths to get his attention.

Hotel Del Luna (2019): Jang Man-Wol (IU) Jang Man-Wol is the moody owner of Hotel del Luna. The hotel catering to the dead has been bound to her soul in order to atone for the sins she committed 1,300 years ago. Through the new manager Gu Chan-sung, the mysteries and the secrets behind the hotel and its owner are revealed

My Name (2021): Yoon Ji-Woo (Han So-Hee) Yoon Ji-Woo’s father gets murdered suddenly. She wants to desperately take revenge on whoever is responsible for her father's death. She starts working for a drug crime ring that her father was a part of. Ji-Woo joins the police department as a mole for the drug ring.

Vagabond (2019): Go Hae-Ri (Bae Suzy) Go Hae-Ri is an NIS agent and is currently working undercover at the Korean embassy in Morocco. She is tasked to help the bereaved families of a fatal flight. She helps Cha Dal-Geon whose nephew was on the flight uncover a darker and more sinister conspiracy than they expected.

Sisyphus: The Myth (2021): Gang Seo-Hae (Park Shin-Hye) Gang Seo-Hae is an elite warrior. She can take down the biggest men with just her bare hands. She is a sharpshooter and a bombmaker. She learned these skills to survive in a world that is dominated by gangsters and military cliques. One day she time travels to save a genius engineer.

Mr. Sunshine (2018): Go Ae-Shin (Kim Tae-Ri) Go Ae-Shin is an orphaned noblewoman and a member of the Righteous Army. Her parents were independence fighters who died in Japan due to their colleague's betrayal. She trains as a sniper. An american soldier Eugene meets and falls in love with Go Ae-shin. 

The Glory (2022): Moon Dong-Eun (Song Hye-Kyo) Moon Dong-Eun was a victim of high school violence. She waited for the bully ring leader get married and have a child. Now she is the homeroom teacher of her tormentor's child. Her cruel revenge plot begins.

Tomorrow (2022): Koo Ryeon (Kim Hee-Seon) Grim reaper Koo Ryeon is the leader of a crisis management team. The teams objective is to save suicidal people. Choi Jun-Woong (Ro Woon) is a young job seeker who is unable to secure a job. One night, he accidentally becomes a new member of the crisis management team.

Remarriage & Desires (2022): Seo Hye-Seung (Kim Hee-Seon) Seo Hye-seung who lost everything in an instant after her husbands affair and su*cide. She signs up to a matchmaking company Rex for the upper class, and participates in the race of her desires for her revenge.

Under The Queen's Umbrella (2022): Queen Hwaryeong (Kim Hye-Soo) Queen Hwaryeong is supposed to act with grace and dignity, but she has troublemaker sons. The queen decides to abandon strict protocols to transform her sons into deserving princes through education and personal growth, all while navigating the complexities of motherhood and royal life.

Juvenile Justice (2022): Sim Eun-Seok (Kim Hye-Soo) Sim Eun-Seok is an elite judge with a personality that seems unfriendly to others. She hates juvenile criminals and gets assigned to a local juvenile court. There, she breaks custom and administers her own ways of punishing the offenders.

K-Movies

Kill Boksoon (2023): Gil Bok-Soon (Jeon Do-Yeon) Gil Bok-Soon is a single mother and a contract killer working for M. K. Ent. Highly regarded by her peers, she has a 100% success rate and is one of a few killers rated "A" by her company. Right before Gil Bok-Soon is set to renew her contract, she gets involved in a kill or be killed confrontation.

Ballerina (2023): Jang Ok-Ju (Jun Jong-Seo) Ok-Ju used to work as a bodyguard. Ok-Ju is friends with Min-Hee, who is a ballerina. Min-Hee asks Ok-Ju for a favor. She wants Ok-Ju to take revenge.

The Witch: Subversion (2018): Ja-Yoon (Kim Da-Mi) A young girl escapes from a mysterious laboratory where she was trained to become a murder weapon. 10 years later, the girl, named Ja-yoon, is living a normal life, apparently without any memory of her past, she becomes involved in a crime.

Special Delivery (2022): Eun-Ha (Park So-Dam) Eun-Ha is a special driver for deliveries. She delivers anything or anyone for the right price. Her success rate is 100%, but she gets involved in an unexpected delivery accident.

Brave Citizen (2023): So Shi-Min (Shin Hae-Sun) So Shi-Min used to be a boxer in her student days. She now works as a contract teacher at a high school. She confronts a school bully, who frequently torments other students.

[lounesdarbois]

Bernhard Roetzel

Le luxe s'achète, le goût s'acquiert, l'élégance est innée. Bernhard Roetzel est l'auteur de manuels d'éducation du goût portant sur les détails de la culture occidentale. Ses livres illustrés Der Gentleman (1999) et Traditional Style (2000) sont des reportages photographiques de chaque aspect concret de la  Culture européenne: le vêtement, l'ameublement, les arts de la table, l'éducation des enfants, l'ordonnancement urbain, la classification des loisirs, jusqu'à l’entretien d’une pelouse, au cirage des chaussures ou à la préparation du pique-nique champêtre. Ce sont là des choses connues? Pourtant nous redécouvrons à neuf chacune d'entre elles, ressuscitées, à la lumière de photos et de commentaires dont l'efficacité sont sans concurrence dans ce domaine. M. Roetzel est un réenchanteur de tout ce que nous aimons dans le monde.

Il y avait davantage de sagesse dans le concret des gestes quotidiens de nos grands-parents que dans la pseudo-philosophie du 20ème siècle. Vivre ainsi aujourd'hui, en Français traditionnel, est une voie ouverte à qui veut la prendre: la Culture Européenne détaillée par Roetzel est intemporelle ; la forme de cette Culture touche à une perfection qui ne souffre ni ajout ni retranchement.

Nous vivons au milieu des pièces d'un fabuleux héritage et y sommes accoutumés au point de ne plus même le voir. Ce faisant nous perdons l'usage de ce legs, oublions d'où nous venons, qui nous sommes et ce que nous faisons.

Un homme annonce-t-il vouloir diriger une ferme, un village, une ville ou une région? Pour évaluer la confiance à lui accorder vous étiez jusqu'ici habitués à écouter ses discours. Vous examinerez désormais la manière dont cet homme a dirigé son propre domaine: son jardin, sa maison, son studio de 20 mètres carrés, sa toilette du jour. L'homme fidèle en peu de choses est capable de grandes choses dit l’Evangile.

Notre monde du tertiaire, du débat, de l'abstrait, est rempli de directeurs de cabinet mais vide de chef de protocole. Aux "valeurs" il est bon de joindre les actes. C'est la stature, l'incarnation, l'exemple vivant qui nous donnera sans recours aux mots les clés de la vraie Culture. "Je n'ai point besoin de sermon mais de délivrance légère" disait Céline.

Der Gentleman est à la fois une encyclopédie du vêtement masculin, jalonnée d'encadrés, de bonnes astuces, et une notice d'utilisation, un vrai mode d'emploi de la vie pratique. Si Der Gentleman constitue le catalogue de l'Européen habillé, Traditional Style explore le cadre de vie de ce même homme. Ces deux titres complémentaires ont pour objet ce que les peuples occidentaux ont produit de plus beau, de plus intelligent, de plus pratique, bref d'objectif, au point d'y convertir le monde entier: porter un pantalon, manger avec des couverts dans une assiette, s'asseoir sur une chaise, dormir dans un lit. La fenêtre, le savon, la salle de bains et mille autres objets spécifiquement occidentaux sont eux aussi devenus objets universels.  Roetzel a expliqué, illustré chacun de ces éléments considérés dans leur finition la mieux aboutie.

Est-ce en raison du fameux "esprit de système" germanique qu'il fallait que Bernhard Roetzel, allemand, fût le pédagogue le plus complet sur la culture anglaise, par exemple? L'Angleterre, l'Italie et la France sont des revendicateurs bruyants d'un certain art de vivre. Il existe en Allemagne une classe d'esthètes ignorée du reste du monde et peu soucieuse de s'en faire connaître. La bourgeoisie patrimoniale et industrieuse de Cologne, Munich, Hanovre, Brême, Hambourg, aux bourgeoisies très Heimat, connaît bien ses codes culturels : habitat, vêtement, sport, éducation, voiture, art et artisanat. Une bourgeoisie probablement plus raffinée, plus enracinée que la parisienne, que la londonienne, plus sérieuse, plus discrète.

M. Roetzel est un sujet qui s'efface pour ne montrer que l'objet, la chose en soi. En cela il rend davantage service à la cause qu'il sert que les "sartorialistes" montreurs de costume issus du youtubage. Seule doit demeurer la Culture, dont le vêtement et l'ameublement sont des catégories "superficielles par profondeur", parmi d'autres.

La production d’une Culture est la preuve de la Conscience de Soi d’un peuple. Les primitifs ne produisent pas de culture. Plus un peuple a de Conscience de Soi et plus la Culture qu’il produit est codifiée. L'exaltation de l'intelligence individuelle est une marque de basse époque, source de divisions hélas durables. La Culture, elle, est une intelligence collective, un pacifique ensemble d'habitudes forgées par l'expérience concrète de la vie, un tissu de réticences du Je en faveur du Nous, une science de la sous-expression (understatement), un code de reconnaissance communautaire à usage interne pour l'exercice du Bien Commun. La Culture était très understatement jusqu'à la fin des années 1990, avant les années Eden Park, avant la vague tapageuse du faux preppy, du genre gala d'école de commerce, lorsque l'argent était encore une chose un peu honteuse et que les classes sociales d'avant internet vivaient dans un relatif cloisonnement. Charme discret de la petite bourgeoisie locale, où êtes-vous ?

M. Roetzel écrit non en conseiller en mode mais en technicien de la culture attentif aux faits, aux actes et aux objets qui équipent celle-ci, il rédige un rapport d'enquête renseigné, neutre, qui démontre chaque argument par la photographie appropriée.

Le vrai style ne peut être sujet qu'à un ou deux changements mineurs par génération. Contrairement à la mode le style est stable, sa supériorité n'est pas dans le renouvellement cyclique de nouveautés mais dans le perfectionnement d'une Forme qui vise la plus pure exactitude fonctionnelle. L'ergonomie du vêtement bien pensé, l'importance de connaissances en anatomie pour former de bons modélistes, vastes sujets qui sont la voie royale du bel habillement.

Deux principales tendances accaparent les hommes: ils sont plutôt exhibitionnistes ou bien plutôt voyeurs c'est ainsi. Les exhibitionnistes sont la majorité de ce monde qui gît au pouvoir du mauvais goût, individus à haute estime de soi et basse conscience de soi. Monsieur Roetzel appartient au tempérament exactement opposé, celui du voyeur, celui des hommes en retrait qui aiment voir et n'être pas vus, qui ont tout compris et que personne n'écoute, c'est pourquoi ils écrivent.

[onlyforpjm]

Agent Emerald

Episode 1; Korea's Boyfriend

❧words: 4,884

❧ warnings:gun violence, violence, blood, minor deaths, one sided love

❧pairing: agent!jimin x agent!y/n ft jungkook

❧genre: strangers to lovers

❧au: national intelligence service/agents/bodyguards 

summary: Protecting Jungkook as you work for the secret service was a walk in the park, until things change for the worse and a new recruit is assigned as your partner, Agent Dorem.

Jeon Jungkook, someone you were all too familiar with.

The name that echoes throughout the room, turns heads from those who are interested in what he’s wearing lately, and gossiping about his dangerously good looks. The country knows Jeon Jungkook as the president’s son and his only child.

Every woman wants him and every man wants to be him, you’re no stranger to Korea’s boyfriend, who is currently standing in front of you in his 2.4 million penthouse with one shirt in each hand. One black, one white, pouting like a lost puppy.

“I have no fucking clue what to wear.”

You scoff at his words as you cross your arms looking at him standing in his grand master bedroom connected to his closet. “Really Jeon? It’s the same shirt but different colors, shades at that. Just pick one before you’re late to class.”

He rolls his big brown doe eyes and sulks back into his walk-in closet like a kid who recently dropped his favorite candy on the floor.

“You would think my own best friend would know the differences between my favorite shirts. One shirt can change a whole outfit. Y/N” He starts to rummage through the rest of his wardrobe.

“Jeon, I am working, and you know better to address me as Agent Emerald, not my legal name.”

Jungkook lets out a loud groan and darts his eyes at you. “Y/N. I’ve known you since you had a disgusting teenage crush on Justin Bieber, you’re always going to be Y/N to me, not Agent Emerald” Quotations are thrown in the air using his hands and his broad nose scrunches up cringing saying your code name.

A hand rest on your nose pinching the bridge as you try your best to keep things professional following protocol, but your oldest friend keeps testing your patience.

Jungkook notices the frustration on your face and his softens.

“Okay, I’m sorry. I know you’re working and my dad made strict rules even though he knows how close we are, but c’mon Y/N. I know this is torture for you too.” His eyebrows wiggle when he speaks his mind, a bunny smile appearing as he walks towards you. “And what’s the big deal we’re the only people in my house right now, loosen up a little.”

A comforting sigh leaves your mouth and you let your shoulders relax. “I know Jungkook. I just have a lot of pressure on me. It has only been a few months since I’ve been assigned to you, and you’re my first job. I’m still a rookie and I don’t want to jeopardize anything.” You look at him with sad eyes.

Truthfully when you first decided at the age of 9 to become an agent and be a part of the national intelligence service or NIS, you were aware that your first job would be small and be an introduction to your work and that a big mission wouldn't be assigned until you at least have 5 years worth of experience. But the shock that traveled through your body as your boss informed you that the president himself requested you as Jungkook’s personal agent was unimaginable.

Of course, it was because you had known Jungkook since you both were pre-teens, being friends for a decade his parents gained an abundance amount of trust in you, but the fact you received one of the most important jobs in the country one year into you being on the workforce gave you unimaginable anxiety.

“I would hardly call it a few months. It has been 11 months since you’ve been assigned to me and 2 years since you’ve been an agent Miss Emerald.” A muscular arm wraps around you and his head rests on your shoulder.

You comply and lay your head softly onto his. Inhaling his shampoo evidence that he’d showered earlier. “I think you’re pretty amazing Y/N, relax a little. Nothing has even happened over these 11 months. If anything you’re getting paid to spend more time with me.” He spins carefully and then strikes a pose. You let out a small chuckle at your childhood friend’s actions.

“Okay okay, you’re right and I hate it when you’re right.” A smile creeps on both of you.

“Exactly, Jeon Jungkook is always right!” Rolling your eyes then quickly gaze over his well-organized closet.

“Oh shut the fuck up and get dressed. Put on that flannel, black Balenciaga shirt, baggy jeans, and your favorite black boots, and let’s go! You’re already late.” Simultaneously you look at your watch. Five minutes before Jungkook's class starts. Then you turn your back and start heading to the front door leaving Jungkook behind. He stands there in disbelief with his tattooed hand covering his mouth dramatically.

“Y/N! You’re a fucking fashion genius!”

An obnoxious yawn appears on your side.

Jungkook has his eyes glued to his phone scrolling through yet another fashion website to add more to his already tight-packed closet. His free hand reaches to fix his hair, a cute habit you adored about Jungkook.

His eyebrows furrow as he speaks to let you know what's on his mind. “Sometimes I just want to drop out and live my life as a freeloader.” You smile softly at your best friend’s words. “College is cool and all but the boring days are dreadful and instead of you following me around the campus, you could be following me around Bora Bora or something.”

While telling you his thoughts he raises his phone to your view and shows you a pair of shoes on the website from earlier. You analyze his pick carefully scrunching your nose and shaking your head.

Jungkook nods in response to your answer. “Jeon, You could choose to live in hell and I still would follow you around. Wherever you go I go.” Your face remains expressionless. Jungkook grins cheerfully then raises both of his arms to wrap around your neck giving you a genuine hug.

You both stop walking and you wrap one arm around his waist to return his hug.

Jungkook pulls away with fake sniffles wiping his crocodile tears.

“Y/N you’re so sweet.” He continues his act but gets increasingly louder causing other students on campus to turn their heads at the two of you.

“Am I interrupting something here?”

A towering man approaches the both of you with a warming smile holding two plastic bags in both hands.

Jungkook returns a smile and waves to his first friend he’d made attending college “Taehyung! You just missed one of Y/N’s rare moments of her being sweet to me!”

Taehyung lets out a dramatic gasp and hands you one of the plastic bags. “No way. Y/N being nice? That’s unheard of.” You scoff and roll your eyes at the two boys on each side of you. You look into the bag Taehyung handed and see bakery goods occupying the space.

“Alright alright. I’m not mean guys. I only act stern when I’m working and I basically work 24/7.”

You take a chocolate croissant out and take a big bite. The flavor immediately disperses through your tastebuds and you groan at how good it tastes. You wish that you didn’t skip breakfast this morning.

“On-shift Y/N and Off shift, Y/N are two different people.” Taehyung follows your actions and grabs a slice of pound cake. Jungkook’s shoulders slump hearing his friend's words and glares at you lightly. “Either way she’s still mean to me” Now crossing his arms mimicking an upset child. You chuckle.

A small vibration comes from the left pocket of your sweatpants and you reach for your phone lifting it to your view and tilting your head with a confused face as you see who is calling your phone. Jungkook who took some of Taehyung's pound cake notices your movements “Who is it?” You look over at him and silently debate whether you should tell him. A small sigh comes out of your mouth.

“It’s your father.”

Jungkook’s eyes widen. Stress rushes across his face. “My dad? Why is he calling you?”

You begin to walk away to pick up your phone which seems to be ringing for an eternity gesturing an apology for not responding to Jungkook's questions.

President Jeon has not once ever called you personally in your 12 years of knowing the Jeon family. President Jeon has always been busy ever since you met him. Before his presidency, he was the CEO of his company. Retiring and passing it on to his most trusted worker, which is the sole reason why Jungkook is attending college studying his bachelor's degree in Business Administration to prepare himself as the next heir to the company after the current CEO, who is awaiting Jungkook to be ready so she can retire.

You were yet to be introduced to him until the age of 16, seven years after befriending Jungkook finally meeting him at a family Christmas party which Jungkook’s dad missed years prior. President Jeon was an extremely professional man to the outside world and you, but the more time you spent with the Jeon family you’d notice how even more cold-hearted he is when it would come to his wife and son.

You quickly place your phone onto your ear curiosity spreading through your thoughts on why the President is calling you. “Hello, President Jeon. May I ask-“ Before you could even finish the rest of your sentence the President speaks in a loud but serious tone over the phone nearly piercing your ears. “Agent Emerald. Get my son out of there immediately. He is not safe.” Your eyebrows furrow deeply. “Take Jungkook home now! Keep him safe until you get confirmation from Agent H and only Agent H.”

You spent no time asking questions and your feet rapidly move running towards your best friend with the phone still against your ear. “Yes sir, Jeon is on his way home now.” You hear a sigh from the other line with a lot of commotion in the background. “Agent protect my son, please. Everything will be explained later.” The call ends after and you grab Jungkook’s arm leading him to your car.

Jungkook doesn’t protest waving his friend goodbye and Taehyung goes to class returning a wave with a smile not questioning what had happened as he knows the protocols. “Y/N? What’s going on. Is my dad okay?” Worry fills his brown eyes as they stare at the back of your head aimlessly following and going wherever you go. As you enter your car you swiftly turn your head scanning for any dangers. “I haven’t gotten any information. All I know is that something major happened and that I need to take you home now.” 'You drive off the engine roaring as you press the accelerator.

Jungkook reaches for his phone to check the news.

“What the fuck.”

His jaw visibly drops and freezes with his phone almost slipping through his hands making contact with the car floor.

“What? What happened?” Your eyes focus on the road speeding trying to get to Jungkook’s penthouse.

“The Vice President has been shot. About 20 minutes ago.”

Jungkook places his phone down to hold himself in his arms, tears threatening to spill. “He…He has a family Y/N. What the fuck is happening.” Hands grip tightly on your car wheel knuckles turning ghostly white. You continuously scan the rearview mirror for anyone attempting to harm Jungkook.

Your eyes squint slightly eyeing a suspicious black car that had been following yours closely. “Fuck. Hold on Jungkook.” Jungkook responds quickly holding onto the car bracing himself from your actions. The car roars as you press your pedal to the car floor as you make a sharp right lifting the car onto its two wheels as it tilts and you reach another street trying to avoid the following car. At the same time, you look into your rear view again to see the same car mirroring your movements now increasing its speed towards you.

Jungkook follows your eyes and notices the same car. “Shit shit shit! Are they following us?” Panic overcomes him and his hold becomes more secure. “Yes. Whoever they are, it must be related to the shooting of the Vice President.” You pick up your earpiece and apply it to your ear. The earpiece automatically connects and you speak with volume.

“This is Agent Emerald. I have Golden Jeon with me. A Black BMW 430i is following us. Requesting for backup immediately!”

Jungkook flinches at your raised voice. A female voice appears through your earpiece. “Agent Emerald we already have your location. Backup is on its way.”

Before you could realize it, the black sports car speeds up and appears on your driver’s side. A masked man dressed in black head to toe points a gun toward Jungkook with half of his body outside the car window.

Jungkook ducks immediately and covers his ears out of fear as the unknown man opens fire but the bullets end up ricocheting against your bulletproof windows. Frustrated with the men targeting Jungkook. You turn your wheel harshly towards the small car colliding with the man shooting towards the two of you causing him to get hit and drop his weapon. The masked man goes back in his car showing pain from your action as the driver tries to keep the car stable from your actions. You look back once more to find familiar cars from the national intelligence service and then speed off in your car heading straight not minding the multiple red lights you ran.

Jungkook looks up uncovering his ears. Tears were ridden all over his face. “Wait where are we going? You missed the way to my house.” He lowers his head again holding his head in disbelief. “I just want to go home Y/N. Please take me home.” You try to not react to your friend but as your heart sinks you can’t help but express pity. A hand comes off the wheel as you place your hand on Jungkook’s head. Caressing his locks to comfort him. He relaxes slightly but keeps his position still admitting fear. You don’t turn to look at his eyes focusing on the road as you speak to him softly. “We’re taking a different way. Your home is the safest place to be right now. I promise I’m taking you home and I promise I will keep you safe Jungkook. Trust me.” Jungkook takes your soft hand from the top of his head placing it in between his hands squeezing tightly.

“Ok. I trust you.” He whispered quietly.

You look behind your car once more to see the car long gone and that you’d lost them. Sighing quietly in relief as you drive to Jungkook’s Penthouse. You’ve been Jungkook’s agent for almost a year now and two years since you became an agent. Never had something happened like this to the President, let alone Jungkook. You know this was the sole purpose of your job but thoughts helplessly ran through your mind.

Why is this happening? Why were they trying to assassinate Jungkook? Who were those men?

The rest of the car ride was silent as you didn’t want to spark up a conversation knowing Jungkook was in shock and still in fear of the events happening prior. You drive to Jungkook’s neighborhood approaching the gate slowly littered with police and agents like you. Which had seemed to triple from the news earlier today. You roll down your window showing your badge and Jungkook to gain access and enter the neighborhood.

You park your car in your designated parking spot, quickly exiting your car to go over to Jungkook’s aid. The passenger door opens and Jungkook comes off with heavy footsteps as his legs go weak almost collapsing. You react and catch him before he could make contact with the parking lot floor.

"Jungkook hold onto me."

His muscular arm wraps around your shoulders applying his weight and propping himself onto you. The weight is heavy but thanks to your hard work at the gym you effortlessly support him.

Arriving at his penthouse.

You open the door with a keypad greeted by Bam Jungkook’s large brown Doberman. Jungkook softens and kneels to embrace his guard dog. “Bam I’m so happy to see you, buddy.”

Tears fall again. You walk over to the sobbing boy and rest your hand on his head. “I’m so sorry this is happening to you Jungkook.” Jungkook stands up straight and turns towards you.

This time you wrap your arms around his neck giving him a comforting hug. Jungkook returns your hug and continues to let his tears flow onto your shirt.

“I was so fucking scared Y/N. I didn’t know what to do. When I saw the gunpoint towards me I…I…”

His sentence stops with more sobs and he breathes rapidly trying to control his breathing. You know the start of this action too well. Rubbing his broad back you try to calm him down. “Breathe slowly Jungkook. You’re having a panic attack. Inhale and Exhale slowly.”

Jungkook listens to you and follows your words carefully. Heavy breaths come in and out of his body and slowly Jungkook starts to calm down. You guide him to his couch for him to sit and your phone rings once more.

Reminding you of the earlier events as if it was deja vu. You reach for your phone and look at displaying the contact name Kim Seokjin remembering the President’s words of only getting confirmation from Jin.

Quickly you answer the phone and place it to your ear. “Hello Agent H.”

Agent H is the head of the National Intelligence Service and your boss, being the youngest in NIS history to acquire the head chair at the age of 26 after serving the president as his main agent for 5 years. Seokjin was like the older brother you never had before. He'd had taken you in after you fled you home and raised you to the person you are to day. Jin had grew up protecting the president and naturally became close with Jungkook seeing Jungkook as his own brother, naturally he'd introduce the two to you. His firm voice reaches your ears. “Agent Emerald put your call on speaker, I want Golden Jeon to hear this too.”

As you put the call on speaker you gesture to Jungkook to listen to Jin. Jungkook looks down at your phone and sees Jin’s name on the call. Immediately bombarding him with questions.

“Hyung! What’s going on? Are my parents okay?”

A quiet sigh comes from your phone. “Golden Jeon your father is safe at our headquarters and we are currently sorting things out after the assassination of Vice President Choi.”

Both you and Jungkook freeze. A tense atmosphere clouds Jungkook’s living room. You look over to your right to see your best friend’s red eyes from all the crying threatening to spill more tears and his shaking hands.

“Assassination? Did the Vice President not make it?” You ask carefully not being able to process the news from your boss.

You can imagine vividly Jin rubbing his temples in the stress of not being able to protect the vice president. “Unfortunately no. Vice President Choi died in action 15 minutes after he was shot.”

A heavy feeling overcomes you as Jin continues.

“There is a secret organization targeting the president and anyone in his family. Including Golden Jeon.”

Anger has now filled you. Who are these people? How dare they try to harm the president and your best friend.

Jungkook remains quiet, eyes still wide. “I need you Agent Emerald to prepare to head to HQ and bring Golden Jeon. We will have a meeting and explain everything in great detail. Until then do not and I repeat do not trust anyone you do not know personally. I don’t know who or how, but we have a rat. Be careful.” The call ends finally as it felt like a lifetime.

Jungkook sits in silence to process all his thoughts.

Your eyes graze over Jungkook’s figure. Feeling pity for him you wrap your arms around his body. Rubbing his shoulder softly to let him know you’re there. “Jungkook, I promise you nothing will ever happen to you. Okay?”

Jungkook leans closer to you finding your warmth and scent comforting. “I know, just promise me that you won’t leave me Y/N” He looks into your eyes with sadness. You soften yours and hug him even tighter. “I would never dare to do that to you. I’m always going to be here for you no matter how far we are from each other.” Jungkook lets more tears flow and you both sit holding each other cherishing the small moment of peace you both won’t have in a long time.

Arriving at HQ was a nostalgic feeling. Since being assigned to Jungkook, you have hardly ever visited. As the two of you moved through the building, he was near your side. His eyes were compelled to briskly scan his surroundings like those of a lost child, but every so often, he would stop his wandering eyes and remember why he was there.

“Y/N!” You turn your head to the familiar voice calling you from behind to see an old friend. Immediately smiling, you see him walking towards you.

“Yoongi! I haven’t seen you in so long!” You stop your pace for Yoongi to catch up, and Yoongi offers you a firm squeeze to make up for the many months you've been away.

Yoongi is a junior agent working in the same department as you. You two quickly bonded over your many similarities while on the same missions. Other agents liked to joke about how you two were once one person and one day split into two.

Jungkook stands patiently waiting for your small reunion, giving Yoongi a welcoming smile.

Yoongi realizes this which causes a halt in his actions and bows towards Jungkook. “Ah, I’m so sorry. My name is Min Yoongi or Agent Suga. You must be Jean Jungkook.” Yoongi straightens his back and offers a hand to the boy in front of him.

Jungkook takes his hand and shakes it. “No need to bow. I’m not the president so no need for um formalities.” You eye the two, slightly chuckling from your good friends having an awkward encounter. Jungkook glares at you feeling embarrassed and Yoongi giggles at the younger one’s actions. “It’s my job to, don't worry about it and I’m sorry for the current events. I wish we could’ve met with different circumstances.”

As Yoongi finishes his sentence your best friend’s face drops. Quickly noticing Jungkook’s mood change, you nudge Yoongi, who clutches his ribs as he gets the wind knocked out of him. A cough comes from you to change the subject. “How about heading to the meeting. Seokjin doesn’t like people showing up late” Jungkook nods lightly and you spin on your heels to pick back up the path you were following, Jungkook repeats your movements and trails behind you. Yoongi pauses in confusion about why his coworker elbowed him. “Hey! Wait for me!” Seeing the figures of you and Jungkook grow farther and farther he speed walks.

Yoongi catches up to you and comes close to whisper. “Did I say something wrong?” he speaks softly, carefully looking back to Jungkook seeing him keeping his head low while playing with his fingers. You gaze over Jungkook for a moment and your face softens at Jungkook’s obvious nervousness. You turn back to focus on Yoongi. Noticing his eyes showing pity to the younger one. “He’s still shaken up over what happened earlier. It’s better not to remind him about it.” Yoongi nods his head and opens his mouth slightly letting out a quiet oh, showing that he’d now understood Jungkook’s actions.

The three of you slowly come to a stop as you reach the room that held the meeting. You hear a loud sigh from behind you. Before you could turn and console your friend, Yoongi had beaten you and was already patting Jungkook’s back to console him. “It’s okay to be nervous. We’re just having a meeting to discuss things. You don’t have to worry about anything. Y/N and I will protect you.” Yoongi gives Jungkook a reassuring smile as the younger one relaxes a bit. Your heart softens at the sight.

While opening the door you see many familiar faces. Including President Jeon. You and Yoongi quickly bow towards him and Jungkook immediately runs over to his parents. “Son! Thank the lord you’re okay!” Jungkook falls into his mother’s arms. His mother starts sobbing clutching her son never letting him go. “My only son! I don’t know what I would’ve done if you were to get hurt!” Jungkook's mom pulls back to examine her son to see if he'd been injured in any way. Jungkook finally smiles genuinely after what felt like a lifetime. "I'm okay, I'm okay. I was so scared Mom." He let his tears flow once more, feeling relieved to be with his family again. The President sits back and watches the two before a serious man with broad shoulders enters the room.

"So sorry to interrupt your reunion, but we must start the meeting." Everyone listens to Jin's words and sits down around the large table in the center of the room.

Jungkook sits by his mom who now had his hand in hers. You sit in between Jin and Yoongi waiting for Jin to speak once more. "As we're all aware. An assassination occurred earlier this morning regarding the Vice President." You listen attentively, carefully processing your boss' words and waiting for him to continue.

Jin inhales deeply before resuming. "The investigation department has researched as much as they could and found out that they weren't aiming for the vice president. We believe that the proprietor was targeting you, President Jeon."

The President's teeth visibly grit and Jungkook shifts uncomfortably in his seat hearing that his dad was originally the one to be killed.

"Not only you but your family, but specifically Jeon Jungkook."

President Jeon slams his fist on the table. Jungkook stares at you hopelessly while anger overcomes your body.

"My Son?!" Jin sighs at the President's response. "Yes sir, we don't know the motive of this, but we know who is behind it." The President's nose flares out of rage. He sits back down as his wife tries to calm him.

Jin reaches for a folder containing multiple papers and opens it carefully to grab the first page inside and faces it towards the meeting revealing a vivid picture of a built man leaving the crime scene from earlier today. As you lay your eyes on the picture of the man behind the assassination your blood runs cold. Your brain processing his features you know all too well. The features you have yourself. You look away out of disbelief to meet the wide eyes of Jungkook. Jin clears his throat and continues.

"This is Choo Sunghoon. He is well known as a mafia leader feared by many, one of the most violent criminal organizations in operation. Leading the Choo Mafia recognized as the most powerful Mafia consists of about 570 made members. We believe he is the one conspiring against the President." You look at Jin with furrowed eyebrows and see his stern expression unfazed. It can't be. Why him out of all people. Choo Sunghoon. Your own father.

Growing up your dad never hid his antics from you. Your earliest memory is of him brutally beating one of his members to death. He had no shame showing you the crimes he'd done, he raised you to be a killer telling you it was to protect your sister Sejeong. He had high expectations for you to be his right-hand man and to be his main assassin. All until the incident with your sister.

You feel a hand grasp yours bringing your attention to the present. You look at the owner of the hand to see Yoongi giving you reassurance.

The only people who knew your secret in the room were Jungkook, Jin, and Yoongi. It was labeled confidential by Jin. You looked over to the head agent to see him with sadness in his eyes. He opens his mouth to say something to you but the President cuts him off.

"That damn monster."

President Jeon's fist clenched tightly as he thought of the mafia leader. Jin shifts his attention toward the president. "We understand that Sunghoon is extremely dangerous. Which is why we have assigned another agent to Golden Jeon."

You look over to Jungkook to see him stiffen from the news.

A knock echoes through the room. Jin smiles as he expected this person. The door opens and reveals a man with dark black hair, so dark it almost comes off as blue, his chubby face doesn't match the rest of him as his body is strong lean, and muscular. He walks in with a smile that reaches his eyes making them half crescent moons and his pearly whites show a tooth that's slightly protruding.

He walks to an open seat and bows slightly to everyone but deeply bows to the President and his family before sitting down

"Everyone, please welcome Agent Dorem also known as Park Jimin."

[christian-dubuis-santini]

Aux thèses pseudo-marxistes selon lesquelles le moteur du capitalisme serait le "désir", nous apposons que le capitalisme est un discours, et il s’agit en l’occurrence de ne pas confondre le désir et l'envie, qui diffèrent radicalement.

Une petite histoire raconte que Dieu demanda un jour à un homme: "Fais un vœu, je te donnerai ce que tu voudras, mais je donnerai le double à ton voisin."

L'homme réfléchit quelques instants et répondit : "Alors crève-moi un œil!"…

Voilà la pierre angulaire, refoulée, de l’idéologie qui sous-tend le "libéralisme".

Si le désir, n’est pas à confondre avec l'envie, c’est que le désir tel qu’il se découvre dans la psychanalyse n’est pas désir de tel ou tel objet mais manque à être par où le désir se révèle lui-même sujet de la parole; le désir fait la loi au sujet, le langage fait la loi du désir.

Désir désirant désirer le désir, le désir (indestructible selon Freud qui en fait le dernier mot de la Traumendeutung) laisse toujours à désirer...

Car le désir en son essence, s’il est toujours désir de l’Autre, au génitif objectif comme au génitif subjectif, c’est que le désir est à entendre comme désinence du dire.

Pour faire suite aux divers développements que je donne depuis mars 2020 au fait toujours plus manifeste, plus massif, plus incontestable selon lequel "si le virus est réel, la contagion est idéologique", voici un petit exemple qui permet de saisir la faille du "raisonnement" le plus courant dans nos sociétés régies par le Discours Capitaliste [et la problématique (de l'absence) de lien social dans les échanges dominés par des considérations comptables, mathématiques et marchandes]: dans une crèche, il y a des parents qui arrivent systématiquement en retard, ce qui perturbe le bon accueil des enfants et l'organisation du travail des professionnelles.

Les responsables de la crèche se réunissent et finissent par prendre la mesure suivante: les retardataires devront s'acquitter d'une amende.

Sans se rendre compte qu'avec cette décision, ce qui devait être de l'ordre d'un échange socio-symbolique (entre les parents et le personnel de la crèche) vient de basculer dans l'échange commercial.

Résultat: non seulement les retards ne cessent pas, mais ils ont au contraire tendance à augmenter, les retardataires ayant la possibilité de se dédouaner avec l'argent versé, ils n'ont même plus de culpabilité à éprouver.

Les responsables atterrés décident alors de supprimer le système des amendes, mais las ...le problème des retards loin de s'en trouver amélioré se dégrade encore, les retardataires récurrents éprouvant, cette fois, un sentiment de gain lié à l'idée d'une gratuité pour leurs méfaits… (S’ils avaient lu Hegel — ou fait une psychanalyse — ils n’auraient pas été sans savoir que la négation d’une négation ne revient jamais à l'affirmation première...)

L’éthique, qui est à entendre ici comme un equivalent de "lien social", n’est jamais une question de chiffres, mais de lettres à partir desquelles s’articule le réel d’une parole, la parole qui engage, parole donnée et parole tenue. La parole ne peut pas être "modélisée", nul algorithme ni protocole ne peut se substituer à la parole, par laquelle l’imaginaire et le symbolique sont noués d’un réel qui détermine le sujet de l’inconscient, le grain de sable de l’énonciation...

"De notre position de sujet, nous sommes toujours responsable, qu’on appelle cela où on veut du terrorisme." (Jacques Lacan)

[tweetingukpolitics]

[seachranaidhe]

1/ Rejectionist Unionism is still grappling with the cold reality of modernity and loss of veto on the affairs and control of the previously subordinated minority, exposing their insatiable need to kettle & police their neighbours as enemies. The anti-GFA Dup have always been

1/ Rejectionist Unionism is still grappling with the cold reality of modernity and loss of veto on the affairs and control of the previously subordinated minority, exposing their insatiable need to kettle & police their neighbours as enemies. The anti-GFA Dup have always been

2/ against powersharing.Brexit offered the opportunity to turn the clock back to pre-1972 supremacist regime hegemony. It backfired spectacularly now Brexit is ravaging unionism itself.The DUP don’t want any deal. They wanted a border!They got one, but not the one they wanted. 3/3 The mindset has landed us all with the inevitable confirmation that bigots themselves are incapable of…

[rebeccadumaurier]

2023 Books in Review

a tiered ranking of all the books i read in 2023! originally i was going to write up my commentary on each one but then i was like hahaha.....no, so below the cut is just a list of the titles/authors in each tier instead.

changed my brain chemistry

The Idiot, Elif Batuman

Land of Milk and Honey, C Pam Zhang

The Borrowed, Chan Ho-kei (trans. Jeremy Tiang)

My Cousin Rachel, Daphne du Maurier

Vagabonds, Hao Jingfang (trans. Ken Liu)

The Membranes, Chi Ta-wei (trans. Ari Larissa Heinrich)

Under the Pendulum Sun, Jeannette Ng

Severance, Ling Ma

He Who Drowned the World, Shelley Parker-Chan

Vita Nostra, Marina & Sergey Dyachenko (trans. Julia Meitov Hersey)

Network Effect, Martha Wells

top-tier stuff

Our Share of Night, Mariana Enriquez (trans. Megan McDowell)

Brainwyrms, Alison Rumfitt

The Door, Magda Szabo (trans. Len Rix)

The Lover, Marguerite Duras (trans. Barbara Bray)

Fun Home, Alison Bechdel

Strange Beasts of China, Yan Ge (trans. Jeremy Tiang)

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, Becky Chambers

Pachinko, Min Jin Lee

Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century, Kim Fu

Tell Me I’m Worthless, Alison Rumfitt

Bliss Montage, Ling Ma

How to Read Now, Elaine Castillo

Annihilation, Jeff VanderMeer

The Fifth Season, N. K. Jemisin

If Beale Street Could Talk, James Baldwin

My Brilliant Friend and The Story of a New Name, Elena Ferrante

The Jasmine Throne, Tasha Suri

good, well-written

Carmilla, Sheridan Le Fanu

Life Ceremony, Sayaka Murata (trans. Ginny Tapley Takemori)

Yellowface, R. F. Kuang

A Memory Called Empire, Arkady Martine

Assassin of Reality, Marina & Sergey Dyachenko (trans. Julia Meitov Hersey)

Witch King, Martha Wells

Tokyo Ueno Station, Miri Yu (trans. Morgan Giles)

Parable of the Sower, Octavia Butler

Peaces, Helen Oyeyemi

Gingerbread, Helen Oyeyemi

Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir

The Pachinko Parlor, Elisa Shua Dusapin (trans. Aneesa Abbas Higgins)

All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy, Fugitive Telemetry, and System Collapse (Murderbot #1-4, #6-7), Martha Wells

Revenant Gun, Yoon Ha Lee

The Dry Heart, Natalia Ginzburg (trans. Frances Frenaye)

Gods of Want, K-Ming Chang

Paradais, Fernanda Melchor (trans. Sophie Hughes)

The Mushroom at the End of the World, Anna Tsing

Your Emergency Contact Has Experienced An Emergency, Chen Chen

The Hurting Kind, Ada Limon

Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie

An Unauthorised Fan Treatise, Lauren James

Upstream, Mary Oliver

The Art of Death, Edwidge Danticat

Meander, Spiral, Explode, Jane Alison

alphabet, Inger Christensen (trans. Susanna Nied)

Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates

flawed, but enjoyable

The Wicker King, K. Ancrum

Exit West, Mohsin Hamid

Detransition, Baby, Torrey Peters

Flux, Jinwoo Chong

Bang Bang Bodhisattva, Aubrey Wood

The Murder of Mr. Wickham, Claudia Gray

Natural Beauty, Ling Ling Huang

The Monster Baru Cormorant, Seth Dickinson

Certain Dark Things, Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Likeness, Tana French

The Cabinet, Un-su Kim (trans. Sean Lin Halbert)

The Kingdom of Surfaces, Sally Wen Mao

The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On, Franny Choi

good, well-written, but not my cup of tea

The Good House, Tananarive Due

The Transmigration of Bodies, Yuri Herrera (trans. Lisa Dillman)

Roadside Picnic, Arkady & Boris Strugatsky (trans. Olena Bormashenko)

The School for Good Mothers, Jessamine Chan

At Night All Blood Is Black, David Diop (trans. Anna Moschovakis)

Family Lexicon, Natalia Ginzburg (trans. Jenny McPhee)

The Empress of Salt and Fortune, Nghi Vo

The Kingdom of This World, Alejo Carpentier (trans. Harriet de Onís)

Against Silence, Frank Bidart

flawed, less enjoyable

Tenth of December, George Saunders

Counterweight, Djuna (trans. Anton Hur)

Authority, Jeff VanderMeer

Comfort Me with Apples, Catherynne M. Valente

Babel, R. F. Kuang

The Genesis of Misery, Neon Yang

Carrie Soto Is Back, Taylor Jenkins Reid

not ranking

These are nonfiction and they aren’t literature-related, so it just felt weird trying to rank them.

Visual Thinking, Temple Grandin

On Web Typography, Jason Santa Maria

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo (trans. Cathy Hirano)

[don-lichterman]

New PM faces 'second most difficult brief' since World War Two

New PM faces ‘second most difficult brief’ since World War Two

New PM faces ‘second most difficult brief’ since World War Two Source link

[mariluphoto]

Multiple reports of field executions being carried out by Israeli forces. These are civilians who are being sentenced to death with no charges, trial, or jury. THIS is the country our government is siding with? Caption: No sentence shall be passed and no penalty shall be executed on a person found guilty on an offense except pursuant to a conviction pronounced by a court offering the essential guarantees of independence and impartiality. —Second Protocol of the Geneva Conventiond (1977), Article 6.2

---------------------------------------------------

Múltiples informes de ejecuciones sobre el terreno llevadas a cabo por las fuerzas Israelíes. Se trata de civiles que están siendo condenados a muerte sin cargos, juicio ni jurado. ¿ESTE es el país con el que nuestro gobierno se está alineando? Pie de foto: No se dictará sentencia ni se ejecutará pena alguna contra una persona declarada culpable de un delito, salvo en virtud de una condena pronunciada por un tribunal que ofrezca las garantías esenciales de independencia e imparcialidad. —Segundo Protocolo de la Convención de Ginebra (1977), Artículo 6.2

Today, a large number of residents of our beloved neighborhood,  Sheikh Radwan, arrived at Al-Shifa Hospital in a catastrophic condition after the occupation soldiers stormed their homes. A friend's mother tells me that her son was kidnapped, tortured in front of her, then taken to the ground floor of Al-Taqwa Mosque, executed along with a large number of young men, and thrown into the streets.

-------------------------------------------------- Hoy, un gran número de residentes de nuestro querido barrio, Sheikh Radwan, llegó al Hospital Al-Shifa en una condición catastrófica después de que los soldados de ocupación irrumpieran en sus hogares. La madre de una amiga(o) me cuenta que su hijo fue secuestrado, torturado delante de ella, luego llevado a la planta baja de la mezquita de Al-Taqwa, ejecutado junto con un gran número de jóvenes y arrojado a las calles.

(via. IG: rosypirani)

[ghelgheli]

The Stuff I Read in September 2023

Stuff I Extra Liked Is Bold

Books

Orphans of the Sky, Robert A. Heinlein

Starship Troopers, Robert A. Heinlein

Revenant Gun, Yoon Ha Lee

All Systems Red, Martha Wells

Artificial Condition, Martha Wells

Rogue Protocol, Martha Wells

Exit Strategy, Martha Wells

Friendship Poems, ed. Peter Washington

Introduction to Linear Algebra, ch. 1-3, Gilbert Strang

Manga (mostly yuri [really all yuri])

Yagate Kimi ni Naru / Bloom Into You, Nio Nakatani

Kaketa Tsuki to Dōnattsu / Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon, Shio Usui

Onna Tomodachi to Kekkon Shitemita / Trying Out Marriage With My Female Friend, Shio Usui

Kimi no Tame ni Sekai wa Aru / The World Exists for You, Shio Usui

Teiji ni Agaretara / If We Leave on the Dot, Ayu Inui

Nikurashii Hodo Aishiteru / I Love You So Much I Hate You, Ayu Inui

Tsukiatte Agetemo Ī Kana / How Do We Relationship? Tamifull

Himegoto - Juukyuusai no Seifuku / Uniforms at the Age of Nineteen, Ryou Minenami

Colorless Girl, Honami Shirono

Short Fiction

It gets so lonely here, ebi-hime [itch.io]

Aye, and Gomorrah, Samuel R. Delaney [strange horizons]

Evolutionary Game Theory

Red Queen and Red King Effects in cultural agent-based modeling: Hawk Dove Binary and Systemic Discrimination, S. M. Amadae & Christopher J. Watts [doi]

The Evolution of Social Norms, H. Peyton Young [doi]

The Checkerboard Model of Social Interaction, James Sakoda [doi]

Dynamic Models of Segregation, Thomas C. Schelling [doi]

Towards a Unified Science of Cultural Evolution, Alex Mesoudi, Andrew Whiten, Kevin N. Laland [doi]

Is Human Cultural Evolution Darwinian? Alex Mesoudi, Andrew Whiten, Kevin N. Laland [doi]

Gender/Sexuality/Queer Stuff (up to several degrees removed)

Re-orienting Desire: The Gay International and the Arab World, Joseph Massad [link]

The Empire of Sexuality, Joseph Massad (interview) [link]

The Bare Bones of Sex, Anne Fausto-Sterling [jstor]

On the Biology of Sexed Subjects, Helen Keane & Marsha Rosengarten [doi]

Vacation Cruises: Or, the Homoerotics of Orientalism, Joseph A. Boone [jstor]

Romancing the Transgender Native: Rethinking the Use of the “Third Gender” Concept, Evan B. Towle & Lynn M. Morgan [doi]

Scientific Racism and the Emergence of the Homosexual Body, Siobhan Somerville [jstor]

White Sexual Imperialism: A Theory of Asian Feminist Jurisprudence, Sunny Woan [link]

Haunted by the 1990s: Queer Theory’s Affective Histories, Kadji Amin [jstor]

Annoying Anthro

The Sexual Division of Labor, Rebecca B. Bird, Brian F. Codding [researchgate]

Factors in the Division of Labor by Sex: A Cross-Cultural Analysis, George P. Murdock & Caterina Provost [jstor]

Biosocial Construction of Sex Differences and Similarities in Behavior, Wendy Wood & Alice H. Eagly [doi]

Political Theory

Some critics argue that the Internal Colony Theory is outdated. Here’s why they’re wrong, Patrick D. Anderson [link]

Toward a New Theory of Internal Colonialism, Charles Pinderhughes [link]

The Anatomy of Iranian Racism: Reflections on the Root Causes of South Azerbaijans Resistance Movement, Alireza Asgharzadeh [link]

The veil or a brother's life: French manipulations of Muslim women's images during the Algerian War, 1954–62, Elizabeth Perego [doi]

A Difficulty in the Concept of Social Welfare, Kenneth J. Arrow [jstor]

Manipulation of Voting Schemes: A General Result, Allan Gibbard [jstor]

China Has Billionaires, Roderic Day [redsails]

Other

Conversations I Can't Have, Cassandra Byers Harvin [proquest]

Earth system impacts of the European arrival and Great Dying in the Americas after 1492, Alexander Koch et al. [doi]

Why prisons are not “The New Asylums”, Liat Ben-Moshe [doi]

Uses of Value Judgments in Science: A General Argument, with Lessons from a Case Study of Feminist Research on Divorce, Elizabeth Anderson [doi]

Boundary Issues, Lily Scherlis [link]