#nobody here knows it but I was a lookin artist many year ago

[fishfood22]

oh yeah here's some snufkin!!

[jikookuntold]

Jungkook and His Cover Songs: Is “10000 Hours” about Jimin?

Disclaimer: The following post includes theories, lyric and numeric analysis, plus my personal opinions, so please don’t take anything seriously. I’m too lazy to upload photos and videos for the moments I mentioned here, but I’m sure you know about them all. Any Jikooker must know. And I’m not Korean or a Korean culture expert, I just know as much as any Stan Twitter ARMY knows about their culture.

Anyone?

Maybe one of the biggest Jikook moments of 2021 so far, is where Jimin jumped into Jungkook’s hug, in Lee Hyun’s Vlog. But the other moment on that Vlog was even more significant; Jungkook was singing “Anyone” from Justin Bieber’s new album, and Jimin was harmonizing with him while holding on his shirt. I don’t want to mention their interview moment singing “Peaches” because I know this song is super popular in South Korea right now and somehow it doesn’t count as a moment. But it’s safe to say that Jikook has something special with his songs, and JK in particular always was invested in him. 

JK & JB

The reason behind Jungkook’s devotion to Justin Bieber was always a big question for me, and I got my answer not long time ago. Jungkook’s playlist for Melon Radio Station included a song from JB’s new album named “Lonely”. This is one of the most personal songs any artist can ever make, and JK recommended it to his audience. Here are the lyrics of “Lonely” by Justin Bieber:

Everybody knows my name now

But somethin' 'bout it still feels strange

Like lookin' in a mirror, tryna steady yourself

And seein' somebody else

And everything is not the same now

It feels like all our lives have changed

Maybe when I'm older, it'll all calm down

But it's killin' me now

What if you had it all, but nobody to call?

Maybe then you'd know me

'Cause I've had everything

But no one's listening

And that's just lonely

I'm so lonely, lonely

Everybody knows my past now

Like my house was always made of glass

And maybe that's the price you pay

For the money and fame at an early age

And everybody saw me sick

And it felt like no one gave

They criticized the things I did as an idiot kid

What if you had it all, but nobody to call?

Maybe then you'd know me

'Cause I've had everything

But no one's listening

And that's just lonely

These lyrics made me think of one specific thing, the thing that JK and JB have in common: They started their careers at a very young age, and their lives have been under the scrutiny of so many people. These people judged and criticized them but never tried to understand them. The lyrics are straightforward and leave no place for interpretation. By recommending this song, JK showed that he had (and probably still has) the same experiences in his life, and I think the reason he recommends or covers JB’s songs more than any other artist is that he has many things in common with him, and feels connected to his songs. 

This can lead us to another theory: By covering a Justin Bieber song, Jungkook shares something about himself with us, something that he can’t express directly.

Jungkook is interested in JB’s songs, but he is not the only one. As I said earlier in this post, Jimin shares the same taste with Jungkook, and my receipt is not just that “Anyone” or “Peaches” harmonizing moments, but also Jimin’s Spotify playlists. Since 2017 (or earlier, I’m not sure about this part) he has added some JB songs to his official playlist, and even his current playlist (July 2021) has two JB songs. And also let’s not forget the fact that Jikook as a subunit started in 2014 with a JB cover. Yes, I’m talking about “Mistletoe” and as you may know, Jimin translated the lyrics of this song to Korean. 

10000 Hours

Nearly 700 words and I haven’t started yet! The subject of this post was supposed to be the connections between “10000 hours” cover and Jikook but this prelude was necessary to clarify all the aspects of the topic and we find out how JB is special for JK and Jimin and how they (especially Jungkook) feel connected to him. Anyways, back to 10000 hours:

Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber released this Grammy winner song in October 2019. Here are the lyrics: 

Do you love the rain, does it make you dance

When you're drunk with your friends at a party

What's your favorite song, does it make you smile

Do you think of me?

When you close your eyes, tell me, what are you dreamin'?

Everything, I wanna know it all

I'd spend ten thousand hours and ten thousand more

Oh, if that's what it takes to learn that sweet heart of yours

And I might never get there, but I'm gonna try

If it's ten thousand hours or the rest of my life

I'm gonna love you

Do you miss the road that you grew up on?

Did you get your middle name from your grandma?

When you think about your forever now, do you think of me?

When you close your eyes, tell me, what are you dreamin'?

Everything, I wanna know it all

I'd spend ten thousand hours and ten thousand more

Oh, if that's what it takes to learn that sweet heart of yours

And I might never get there, but I'm gonna try

If it's ten thousand hours or the rest of my life

I'm gonna love you

Ooh, want the good and the bad and everything in between

Ooh, gotta cure my curiosity

Ooh, yeah

I'd spend ten thousand hours and ten thousand more

Oh, if that's what it takes to learn that

Sweet heart of yours

And I might never get there, but I'm gonna try

If it's ten thousand hours or the rest of my life

I'm gonna love you

And I'm gonna love you

As you can see, the lyrics are 100% romantic, and the singers including JB, have dedicated this song to their lovers. Also, their girlfriends/wives have a cameo in the MV, which leaves no place for speculation for the context of the song: Even though the uncertainties always exist and no one knows about the future, our love is strong and will stay strong regardless of time. 

The Cover and the Theories

Nearly one year later, on July 28th, 2020, Jungkook surprised ARMYs with a short video he tweeted at 11:56 AM. That video was a 49 seconds cover of 10000 hours. A few minutes later, he deleted the tweet (apparently with the advertisement excuses, because it was tweeted from an iPhone and they have a contract with Samsung). Later that night, Jungkook released the full version on Sound Cloud and tweeted the link at 11:47 PM. 

Jikookers discovered numerous theories that day about the times of both tweets; if you add the digits of the time, the result is “13” for both tweets 1+1+4+7=13, 1+1+5+6=13, and as you already know “13” is Jikook’s magic number. Also, the first video he tweeted was 49 seconds and 4+9=13. But in my opinion, this theory is not strong. I know that numerology is very popular in Korean culture but still, all of this can be coincidences, but the other things I’m going to bring up are most likely not. 

28th July 2020 was the 7th anniversary of the first Jikook selca posted after debut. This also might be a coincidence and to be honest, it cannot be a strong link to make a connection with Jikook, but worths sharing. 

The next thing that many Jikookers also pointed out, was related to the title of the song. The lyrics say “10000 hours and 10000 more” and 20000 hours after the 28th of July is 8th November 2022. As you may know. Jikookers believe November 8th is a significant date for Jikook. I believe this can be a coincidence either, and it’s very unlikely of Jungkook to do such calculations (Koreans are interested in numbers when it comes to days and dates, but counting hours is not usual in any culture. Other than that, I’m still doubtful about the origins of the November 8th theory because we have nothing other than two tweets and G.C.F Tokyo release date and their hotel room in Tokyo which still can be coincidental). But I don’t deny these theories because even as a coincidence, it’s still very interesting. 

And the next theory is connected to the “Red Moon”. On 27th July 2018, a total lunar eclipse happened all over the world, which became known as the red moon. At that time, BTS were in Malta, and on the same night, Jikook were watching the red moon on a boat. They shared plenty of photos and videos of that moment and I’m sure as a Jikooker you have seen them all and you know that night had a very romantic mood (BigHit words, not mine) for Jikook. So, a second anniversary for that night and the day after that night can be a significant date to release a very romantic cover. Is this a coincidence too? I think we had many of them already.

And last but not least is something connected to Korean culture. You probably know that 1000 days anniversaries are very important for Koreans and they celebrate them along with real anniversaries of the important dates in their lives. And guess what? 27th July 2020 is 1000 days after 31 October 2017. This day is the day Jikook’s travel to Tokyo ended and they posted their couply mirror selca on Twitter with flower bouquet emoji. Despite the one-day difference (the same case for the red moon anniversary), this is not a minor event or small coincidence. I believe Jungkook posted “10000 hour” cover for this reason and based on this, the other theories I mentioned earlier can be true either. 

The lyrics hit different if you read them again, after knowing this fact. Right? I don’t want to make this post much longer but before wrapping up, I want to talk about the lyrics of “Anyone” by JB (the song Jikook were harmonizing in Lee Hyun’s Vlog):

Dance with me under the diamonds

See me like breath in the cold

Sleep with me here in the silence

Come kiss me, silver and gold

You say that I won't lose you

But you can't predict the future

So, just hold on like you will never let go

Yeah, if you ever move on without me

I need to make sure you know that

You are the only one I'll ever love

(I gotta tell ya, gotta tell ya)

Yeah, you, if it's not you, it's not anyone

(I gotta tell ya, gotta tell ya)

Looking back on my life

You're the only good I've ever done (ever done)

Yeah, you, if it's not you, it's not anyone (anyone)

Not anyone

Forever's not enough time to (oh)

Love you the way that I want (love you the way that I want)

'Cause every morning I find you (oh)

I fear the day that I don't

You say that I won't lose you

But you can't predict the future

'Cause certain things are out of our control

Yeah, if you ever move on without me

I need to make sure you know that

You are the only one I'll ever love

Only one (I gotta tell ya, gotta tell ya)

Yeah, you, if it's not you it's not anyone

(I gotta tell ya, gotta tell ya)

Looking back on my life

You're the only good I've ever done (I've ever done)

Yeah, you, if it's not you, it's not anyone

It's not anyone, not anyone

Oh, oh, oh, oh

If it's not you, it's not anyone

Oh, oh, oh, yeah, whoa

Yeah, you are the only one I'll ever love

(I gotta tell ya, gotta tell ya)

Yeah, you, if it's not you, it's not anyone

(I gotta tell ya, gotta tell ya) gotta tell ya

Looking back on my life

You're the only good I've ever done (ever done, oh, yeah)

Yeah, you, if it's not you, it's not anyone

If you read the lyrics, you will notice that the context is very similar to “10000 hours”. It talks about the uncertainties of a beautiful love or in other words: No matter what the future brings to us, this love will last forever. 

This context of uncertainty and unknown future for a romance is a common concept in many of the songs Jungkook has covered and it’s not limited to the Justin Bieber covers he has done and maybe this concept can be the topic for my next analysis. 

[sad-sweet-cowboah]

It Started With A Skeleton

The final commission! @writingandsins asked for Arthur beginning to fall for an archaeologist!reader. I wrote it in a way to seem like a random encounter like in the game. Thank you for being patient with me and enjoy!

The bright sun beamed down in between the thick green leaves, brightening up spots of the forest floor. Smoothing out the rolled paper upon the rock in front of you. The familiar shape of New Hanover was the only thing you recognized as you tried to make heads or tail of this map. It seemed hastily drawn, ink spots scattered here and there. Were they marking specific locations, or was it just the carelessness of the maker?

You sighed in frustration, standing up straight to closer observe your surroundings. You’d just come from Annesburg, your pockets three dollars lighter for having to purchase the map from some smooth talker outside of the gunsmith. He’d mentioned an ancient burial site nearby, and offered to share the location. Excitement overtaking you, you’d quickly agreed and paid the man. After handing you the map and pointing you west, you mounted your horse and began to head out into the forest. An hour had passed, and with vague instructions and no knowledge of the pathways, you’d stopped to try and regain your bearings.

Though now, it seemed as if he was just making a fool of you.

You groaned, swearing out loud and stomping over to your horse, who stopped grazing to look at you with interest. “Sorry boy, gotta head back.”

“You alright, miss?” a voice called from behind you.

A jolt of surprise shot through you, quickly erasing the assumption of you being alone out here. You hadn’t heard anyone coming by. Turning around, a man on horseback appeared in your view. He was standing just a few yards away, stopped in the middle of the path. The sun caught the barrel of a rifle along his back, glinting brightly. Underneath the worn black hat, his face showed slight concern.

“I’m fine,” you answered, albeit somewhat warily. “Just a little lost is all.”

“Where are ya tryin’ to go?” he asked, his drawl strong unlike the folks from around here.

“I…” you hesitated, wondering if it was a good idea to share this information, lest he decided to find it before you and plunder to his heart’s content. However, this forest proved larger and more complex than you expected, and you weren’t even sure how to find your way back to civilization. “Yes, actually! There’s supposedly an ancient burial around ‘round here somewhere. Some silver-tongued fool gave me this map for three dollars and told me to head out here. But I’m beginning to think he led me on a wild goose chase.”

The man approached closer, twitching his fingers toward you. You passed him the map, and he studied it for mere seconds before scoffing, passing it back to you. “Yeah, he fooled ya alright. Looks like he drew it in five minutes. Ain’t even worth a cent.”

“Perfect.” you sighed heavily.

“I might know the place you’re talkin’ ‘bout,” the man continued. “It’s a little ways north of here.”

Excitement immediately replaced the disappointment. “You know where it is?” you gasped. “Can you take me?”

He gave a small shrug. “Sure, ain’t got nothin’ else to do.”

Smiling widely, you turned back toward your horse and mounted quickly. He began to walk forward, and you slipped in behind him. He urged his horse into a slow lope and you did the same, moving at a good pace down the path.

“You don’t know how much I appreciate this, Mister,” you spoke out to him. “I would have been wandering this forest forever if you hadn’t come along.”

“I’m sure you woulda found it sooner or later,” he responded. “Why’re you lookin’ for it in the first place?”

“I’m an archaeologist, I study artifacts and sites from ancient civilizations,” you explained. “That burial site from what I hear is remnants of Viking inhabitants.”

“Vikings, huh?” he slowed to be in pace with you, your horses cantering side to side. “Out here?”

You nodded with enthusiasm. “May sound strange, but there’s tons of evidence that they came here hundreds years ago! I’ve found helmets and tools here and there, but this is the first lead I’ve gotten about a tomb.”

The man gave a soft hum. “Ya know, y’oughta be careful out here in these woods,” he said, gazing out into the distance. “Some of the folk out here ain’t too friendly. Snatch ya up if you ain’t careful.”

You gave him a strange look. “I hope you don’t mean yourself.”

He gave a humorless laugh in response. “Nah, I ain’t the type. The ones I’m talkin’ about, they’re called Murfrees. They ain’t right in the head, act more like feral animals than people. Not the smartest, but they’re sneaky.”

Your eyes widened. “And you’d know from experience?”

“’Course, had to fight ‘em off out here on more than one occasion. And I’d hate to see ‘em come up on some poor unsuspectin’ fools out here.”

A shiver coursed through your body, horrified to even think of such a thing to happen to you. Over the years you’d come across some questionable people, though always managed to get through the day unharmed. “Well, then I’m glad to have run into you, Mister…”

“Arthur Morgan.” He answered your unasked question.

---

The two of you chatted nonchalantly for the next ten minutes, although it had been mostly you speaking more about the Vikings, and other ancient artifacts you’d found. Arthur was mostly silent, only commenting every once in a while on your explorations.

Eventually he slowed his horse down to a walk. You had followed suit, your eyes in search for the prize.

“Here,” he motioned directly ahead, pointing to an in-ground structure that had a few open trenches branching out. “I believe that’s what you’re lookin’ for.”

Hastily you hopped off your horse, hurrying forward to get a better view. You halted at the foot of much worn stone steps, leading down into the center of the site. Even from here, you could spot the unmistakable alabaster color of old bones. You slowly stepped down into the trench, taking care of where you put your feet. Some of it was overgrown, roots had snaked their way through the cracks.

As you grew closer, it was apparent that there were more than one set of bones here. In the center of everything was a stone slab with a full skeleton lay across it, in remarkably good condition despite being exposed to hundreds of years’ worth of weather, elements, and possible animal tampering. Meanwhile others were placed around the base of the slab, femurs, detached torsos, skulls stacked neatly. You had to wonder why.

Objectively, it appeared to be a burial site for multiple people. However, there could be more to the story depending on what else lurked here. You dug into your satchel, producing a worn journal to record your findings. You could call yourself a decent artist, if rough sketches could be considered as such. Regardless, without a camera, it was the easiest way to keep track of your discoveries.

“Wonder who they were.” Arthur’s voice startled you, in your excitement you’d nearly forgotten about his presence.

You turned around to face him, he was standing just a few feet away. “From what I see here, it might have been a mass grave.” You answered.

He didn’t answer, although stepped forward to observe. He walked around the slab, studying the remains. He paused and bent down as if to retrieve something.

“Wait, don’t disturb anything!” you warned him.

He stood up straight, holding what looked like a hatchet in his hand. “Thought you’d like to look at this.” He held it out.

You blinked in surprise. How long had this sat here and went unnoticed by this area’s inhabitants? You reached out for it and grasped it carefully. It was surprisingly heavy and sturdy. “Amazing this is still in good condition,” you remarked. “And that nobody took it yet.”

“Guess it’s here for you to find.” Arthur noted with a small smile.

You smiled back at him. “Maybe so.” You put it down to sketch it out.

You took a few more minutes to explore this little find, discovering that it had five branching trenches shaped somewhat like a star. Some of them were closed off with a ceiling, natural and carved out from the earth. You made sure to sketch every angle, noting every piece of information that you could.

Meanwhile, Arthur stood just a few feet away. You were surprised he hadn’t left yet, perhaps he was keeping watch in case one of the Murfree people he mentioned might be lurking around somewhere. Either way, you were too drawn in to really notice the surroundings.

You even caught him staring at your journal as you drew, probably intrigued by it.

Some more time had passed and you finished your last sketch. You stood above the structure, marveling its ancient beauty. Satisfied with your recordings, you placed your journal back into your satchel. You were thankful you were able to find this place, even after being swindled and losing money for it.

Arthur’s footsteps alerted you, and you turned to smile at him as he sidled up next to you. “Y’ get everything?” he asked.

“Oh yes,” you expressed with delight. “This is the most comprehensive find I’ve had in a while! The others in New York won’t believe this!”

“New York?” he repeated with bewilderment. “And you came out here?”

“My work takes me many places, Arthur,” you said proudly. “Though my colleagues would rather have me serving them beer and biscuits. I work three times as hard as them, you know. No respect for the women in this field.”

He made a soft noise, shaking his head as if to agree with you. “Can’t say many men are smart, then.”

Your smile widened at his comment. “Arthur, thank you again for taking me here, and watching over me. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

“Ain’t nothin’,” he said nonchalantly, turning his gaze downward. It only occurred to you then he was fidgeting with something in his hands. As you opened your mouth to ask, he held it up. “By the way, I found this down there. Thought you should have it.”

It was a comb, off white in color and carved with an intricate design. It too was obviously of Viking origin, given the designs of the animals that wrapped around the handle, looping to form holes for holding. It was beautiful.

It left you breathless. “Arthur-” you began. “That’s …”

“I know, I shouldn’t have taken it,” he said with a slightly sheepish tone. “Jus’ seemed to be a shame to leave it down there, for no one to admire.”

You reached out and gingerly took it, holding it flat in your hand. It was an unorthodox gesture, especially from someone you’d just met earlier that day. “Well…thank you.”

A full smile appeared on his lips then, the first you’d seen today. “You’re welcome.”

---

It’d been three days since coming upon the burial site.

Since then, you’d left Annesburg to travel further west, arriving in a little town called Valentine. You settled into a hotel room, copying over your original notes onto paper, as well as refining your sketches to appear clean. You’d soon sent them into the mail, hoping your colleagues would take you more seriously.

You were also on a limited amount of time, having just a few more days before traveling back home.

You adventure didn’t stop there, however. Originally coming here to collect more leads on possible sites, which ended up to be drier than a summer well, you focused on other means. Mulling around this town has proved to be fruitful, as you’d took the time to acquire an odd job here and there to replenish the money you’d spent in the past few days.

The comb you had carefully bundled up into a rag and placed in a small pocket of your satchel, although you admittedly taken it out more than once to appreciate its beauty. You’d sketched it out with everything else, along with the man who gave it to you.

That one, you kept to yourself.

He’d crossed your mind more than once. He’d been the first to not give you an odd look when expressing your interests, or make an offhand comment on how you would make a better housewife. A man like that was certainly a rarity, and you hoped you’d cross paths once more before returning home.

Tonight, you decided to have some relaxation and wandered into the more popular saloon in town. It was expectedly busy; the smell of tobacco and alcohol nearly burned your nostrils as you found a place to sit off to the side.

Despite the rowdiness of the crowd, you were thankful to have gone unnoticed. You sat quietly, sipping a beer whilst observing the drunken tomfoolery that took place around you. People watching entertained you sometimes.

Out of the corner of your eye, the doors swung open to reveal another patron stepping in. Paying little attention to it, your vision wandering to a young harlot pulling a stumbling man up the stairs.

“Miss Y/N?”

You turned your head in surprise, knowing you did not give your name to anyone in here. This however wasn’t some stranger, instead you were looking into the blue eyes of Arthur Morgan.

“Arthur!” you greeted with slight confusion. It were as if the heavens above had heard your prior thoughts. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Likewise,” he replied, pulling back an empty chair to sit at your table. “Ain’t you supposed to be out, lookin’ for more, eh, Viking burial grounds?”

You smiled at him. “Archaeology doesn’t take every facet of my life, you know. I like to take breaks too.”

He chuckled at your response. “Weren’t implyin’ that it was,” he shifted in his chair. “Actually, I’m glad I ran into ya.”

Cheeks burning, you took a swig of beer to hide your surprise. “You are? Why is that?”

“Just wonderin’ ‘bout what else you’ve found. I’d like to see, ‘less it’s private.” He responded.

You raised your eyebrows in surprise. This had to be the first time that anyone was interested in your work, even your fellow colleagues. “You really want to see?” You asked, a tight feeling of disbelief looming in your stomach.

He nodded. “Ya seem so passionate ‘bout it, got me curious is all.”

You couldn’t help but to beam at him, your chest swelling with excitement. Thankfully, you had your journal with you. Digging it out of your satchel, you lay it across the table and flipped open to the first page, containing sketches of various Indian arrow heads you’d found in your home state. “This was just a little after the beginning of my career…” you began, dragging your fingers lightly across the sketch lines, recalling vividly your amazement when you’d unearthed them.

Time wore on and you’d gone through the pages, you’d noticed a slight glimmer in Arthur’s eyes as he studied your drawings. Every once in a while, you could have sworn he was staring at you, yet every time your eyes turned to meet his, he’d swiftly turn his gaze back down to the journal.

You’d eventually reached the most recent section, closing the journal back up as you know he’d already seen that. Placing it back into your bag, you gave Arthur a sweet smile. “What did you think?”

Arthur leaned back, a slight look of awe on his face when he looked at you. “You got quite the collection, Miss Y/N. I’ve been ‘round and ain’t seen half the stuff you have.”

A small giggle escaped your lips. “You just have to know where to look.”

“Guess so,” he groaned as he stretched out. “You stayin’ here?”

You nodded. “Just for the next few days. I’m hoping to find one more site before I get back to New York.”

“Well, I dunno ‘bout other places, ‘sides the one we just went to.” Arthur responded.

“That’s okay, Arthur,” you reached over to pat his arm. “Your help the other day was more than enough. Can’t expect you to escort me to another, if there is one around.”

“Eh, I wouldn’t mind.” he shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips.

You tucked your head down in hopes to hide the blush that flared on your cheeks. “Well, aren’t you generous, Mr. Morgan?” you said with a lighthearted tone. “Would you mind escorting me to the hotel, then?” you asked, peering back up to him.

Another shrug rolled his shoulders. “Sure.” He replied, his smile turning soft.

Gathering your belongings, you’d marched out of the saloon with Arthur behind you, leaving the drunken chatter behind to a quiet night. It was certainly late; the moon high in the sky and nearly no one outside. The lights from the adjacent buildings have long been extinguished. The distant chirping of crickets and a faint train whistle set a lovely ambience.

Even though the hotel was just down the way, Arthur kept by your side, walking to avoid treading through mud and horse manure. He was certainly a gentleman, uniquely apart from anyone else you’d met out here. It’d only taken a moment of walking before reaching the front steps of the hotel, the orange light flickering as a greeting.

Stepping onto the wooden steps, you turned to face Arthur once again. “Thank you, Arthur.”

He tilted his head in a small nod. “You’re welcome, Miss Y/N.”

As your gazes met, a pang of emotion hit you as you realized you barely even knew this man. He’d been so kind to you and interested in your work, yet he’d never shared a single mention of his personal life. He didn’t have to, given the circumstances in which you two met. However, you would be boarding a train back to New York in a few days’ time, and you highly doubt he’d come up that far.

Regardless, you still wanted to keep in contact.

Reaching for your journal once again, you tore out a page and hastily scribbled an address onto the paper. You held it out to him, noting his look of confusion. “Write to me, please,” you murmured to him. “If you find another site.” You quickly added.

Arthur took the paper slowly, holding it out to read it for a moment before folding it neatly and tucking it into his own satchel. “I’ll be sure to do so.” He responded, giving you the same smile as before.

[theironrepository]

Devvo Did Nothing Wrong

It recently emerged that Christian Webb, longtime collaborator of cult internet figure David Firth, lost his job as a primary school teacher when it emerged that he was the man who portrayed joke rapper MC Devvo, a sort of one-man Goldie Lookin’ Chain.

The reasoning cited for this decision was Devvo’s vulgar lyrics – that is to say, nothing Webb did while on the clock, acting in his capacity as a teacher. Are we to believe that this is reason enough for a man to lose his livelihood? When the likes of Marshall ‘Eminem’ Mathers, Kanye West, and Nicki Minaj, vulgar lyricists all, tell children to stay in school and study, it’s usually seen as a fluffy feel-good thing. Webb actually put something behind those words – or at least, he did, before some pearl-clutching official sent him his P45.

(Further, unlike the works of Em, Ye, and, um...Min, Devvo’s brand of vulgarity was always so ridiculous that nobody could construe it as sincere.)

One might suggest the vulgarity is compounded because Devvo is an offensive stereotype of the British working class, which he is – but so too were Ali G and half the characters Matt Lucas and David Walliams portrayed on Little Britain. Sacha Baron Cohen, Lucas, and Walliams have, to my knowledge, faced no negative consequences in their careers or otherwise for what was, when all’s said and done, greater displays of bigotry than anything Webb ever turned out.

(Lucas and Walliams, in fact, regularly blacked up – in the 2000s – and Cohen is likewise no stranger to a touch of boot-polish.)

I mention Sacha Baron Cohen with good reason, since a pupil’s parent was quoted as saying  “Everyone always said he was a brilliant teacher and I can see why people will stick up for him, but at the end of the day you wouldn’t want to have Ali G as your kid’s teacher”. A fairly naive argument – Jon Hamm, star of Mad Men, briefly worked as a teacher, and by all accounts didn’t spent that time drinking, smoking, and whoring.

Had Webb taught classes in character as Devvo, he’d have been fired long ago, and would probably be in prison. But, and I don’t know how this eluded the parent in question, he did not do that. Reality and fantasy remain as separate as ever. It’s curious that it’s usually children we reckon have trouble telling the difference, since the people who get worked up over works of fiction are almost invariably well over the age of majority.

A better argument would have been that this revelation could reflect badly upon King Edward Primary School, and upon Webb as a teacher. This sort of thing has always been applied very arbitrarily. For instance, when Henry Kissinger, the man behind the overthrow of the democratically elected government of Chile, gives a speech at a university it’s usually seen as a badge of honour. Put old Super K’s misdeeds in verse form, and apparently it’d be a different story.

Further, it’s been about ten years since the height of Devvomania. This is not some cold case, or Operation Yewtree-style investigation into historic sex abuses, this is a man who appeared in silly videos on the internet. Any reasonable statute of limitations on that expired long ago. Nonetheless, Webb himself kept his stage persona quiet, which raises the question of exactly which employee of King Edward Primary School recognised their colleague as MC Devvo – and how, exactly, they then introduced the subject to their superiors.

This is a fairly clear case of the Streisand Effect, that curious paradox where attempts to stifle a story expose it to a much wider audience. Nobody knew King Edward Primary School was employing the man who was once Devvo until it came out that they’d fired him because of it. Had they done nothing about that revelation, it would have generated barely a ripple, because the idea that people will settle down a bit and get a real, non-rapping job when their twenties are over isn’t particularly controversial. ‘Where are they now?’ Well, in Devvo’s case, he is (or rather, was) a well-liked teacher, good for him.

The broader point here is the chilling effect this has upon freedom of speech. Being a UK resident, Webb is perhaps lucky to not be facing actual criminal charges for having created material people found offensive (although those laws only ever seem to be used against the working classes – had Devvo not been a character, he would likely have received a hefty fine). This is at least not the actual legal system clamping down on speech. Nonetheless, it’s the sort of creeping authoritarianism that is the death of free and open societies.

In its way, this is even more insidious than state censorship. The justice system, at least, is open to the idea that people can change. The administration at King Edward Primary School appear to believe, against the evidence of their own eyes, that Webb could not – that his time as Devvo should hang around his neck forever, as a mark of Cain.

Many have condemned this kind of non-state censorship, although the focus in that regard is usually on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, neither of which have been at all shy about trying to stamp out stuff they disapprove of. With bodies both public and private trying to effectively regulate our personal lives, it begs the question: where does it end? In an increasingly politicised world, will we see banks freezing the accounts of anyone whose opinions they dislike? Will trains and buses refuse to stop for anyone who whips up too dank a meme? Laugh if you like, there’s probably a long list of these being circulated in the halls of power in Beijing.

Most great art has the potential to offend. The last thing we need is the artists behind it hesitating to create or publish it, with the fear of it coming back to ruin their life years later in the back of their mind. Even if it’s not great art they’re creating – even if it’s downright awful art – forcing them to not do so carries a far greater and more terrible cost.

[iheartsurveys]

121

Where have you been all my life? Here, there Can you recite the Greek alphabet backwards? Nope. Can't even recite it forward What social networks are you a part of? Well obvs tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, insta, snapchat Which of your fields of interest are you a total expert on? I'm a total expert on nothing lol What is one thing you will never understand? Why some people are so ignorant and close minded Do you blog? You're lookin at it. I actually used to have a Wordpress blog in like high school/early college. I wrote about hockey, inspired by some of my fave hockey bloggers lol no one knows about it and I haven't used it in years but there was a time I was getting like tons of views so that was cool What was the last movie you watched? Idk about movie but I watched a documentary on Netflix about living off $1 a day ^Would you recommend it? Yessss it was so good. The guys that made it also made Salam neighbor, a documentary about a refugee camp in Jordan, which was also really good and insightful, it was on Netflix too not sure if it's still there With whom did you share your last awkward moment? Ummm idk probably just me lol When was the last time you got all dolled up? I went to a bday party a few weeks ago and put myself together Gimme yer best shot and insult me. Go ahead. You suck What do you think makes a person attractive? Sense of humor, intelligence, being polite, a nice smile Out of everyone you know, who has the worst taste in music? One of my roommates senior year listened to some decent stuff that I liked like the Lumineers but she also loved country and like musical soundtracks. I don't mind musicals if it's like hairspray or Grease but that's about it ^How about the best? Britt and I are v similar with our musical interests except I like 1D and she doesn't lolz. Jordan likes 1D and some other artists I like so she's good too Can guys REALLY pull off skinny jeans? Some can What is one thing you missed out on that you wish you hadn’t? Interning in college Are you honest, or more inclined to tell people what they want to hear? Kind of a mix, I think I'm usually more honest though What was the last thing/place you decorated? I rearranged my room a bit and decorated my desk Have you just recently started listening to any new bands? Since I'm def going to firefly I've started perusing some of the other bands on the lineup that I don't know as well as my faves. Today I got into Kaleo How many windows/tabs are open on your computer right now? 0 because it's still dead and I'm using my phone Would you rather date someone really skinny or really overweight? I guess skinny. But that's kind of awk because while I'm skinny/average in ways I wouldn't want my bf to be way skinnier than me Let me in on a little secret of yours. I mentioned the blog earlier, that's all you're getting What is one habit you had as a child? I always sat with my shins/feet under me and my mom would yell at me for it ^Do you still have that habit today? No, sitting on your feet gets uncomfortable when you're older and tall af Is there someone you wish you were closer with? Kind of ^What’s stopping you from being closer with them? Idk. I deleted his number years ago and even though we hung out idk if it'd be normal to steal his number from someone and talk again. Like I guess it'll just happen naturally if we hang out with friends altogether again but 1 on 1 chatting probably won't happen for a while Besides air, what was the last thing you inhaled? Helium Which point in life do you think is hardest? (i.e. childhood, adulthood…) Young adulthood has been a struggle How was life going for you, say, six months ago? Shitty ^Is that the same as today, or have things changed? Some things have changed... I think things are getting better so that's nice What is one opinion you have regarding love? If you think something you're in is one-sided, it probably actually is. Don't try to make something work if you're the only one doing all the work. It can suck letting go especially if you thought you really had something with the other person but dragging along and trying to make it something it isn't is just wasting your time. Who was the last person to make you frown? The caps ^Was anyone able to turn that frown upside-down? My dog What was the last non-papery substance you drew on? Does a canvas count as papery or nah What is one thing you wish you had the courage to do? Not sure Which is bigger: Your iTunes library or your cd collection? Def iTunes... I have like 3 CDs What is your one true weakness? Puppies When is the last time you had hot chocolate? Month or so ago Composition notebooks or spiral notebooks? Why? Spiral just because they're better What is the most bizarre compliment you’ve ever received? Nothing too bizarre comes to mind... Someone on tinder once said that I "look really hot but really short" which is odd because I'm 5'9 and there was a picture of me with my friends who are like way shorter sooo yeah idk it was strange Do you identify more with guys or girls? Girls When someone you know is sad, how do you go about cheering them up? It depends I guess... Usually just listen to them or tell them how great they are Has someone ever accused you of not being creative enough? No Starbucks coffee or Dunkin Donuts coffee? Dunkin Do you crack under peer pressure? Sometimes I have, sometimes I haven't What do you think deserves more attention than it already gets? How sucky DT & his squad of supremacists are What song never fails to get stuck in your head? Totally varies Who is your favorite vocalist? Why? Lana & Ed Sheeran are both amazing What is your most overused emoticon? The laughing crying emoji Do you ever name objects? (i.e. mp3 players, guitars, cars, etc.) My cars When was the last time you had a bagel? Week or two ago Can you lick your own elbow? No What time during the day/night is your mind most active? It always seems like night right before I go to sleep I think about everything What color ink does your favorite pen have? Black What was the last thing you licked? A fork Who was the last person in your bed besides yourself? My dog Can you touch your tongue to your nose? Nope What flavor mouthwash do you use? Some minty teeth whitening one What tends to distract you most? My thoughts Is the perfect man or woman a myth? Nobody's perfect~~~~ How do you feel about Bob Marley? He's alright Let’s end this survey with a smile; tell me something funny. Pass

[politicaltheatre]

Jury Nullification

“I understand that you have your question. I have my answer.”

That was White House adviser and speechwriter Stephen Miller way, way back on September 29th, not answering a question despite repeated attempts by a Fox News anchor to get him to.

Yes, you read that right. No, the right-wing safe space that has been Fox News isn't turning on the bullying bullshit artists that made it what it is today. You see, while Chris Wallace is a Fox News anchor, he was asking the question on Fox News Sunday, which airs not on cable TV's Fox News Channel but its broadcast sibling, the one with entertainment shows and NFL football.

Wallace's Sunday morning show competes with the major broadcast networks' own Sunday morning political coverage and, notably, is one that is watched not by Fox News' primary demographics but by "more serious" viewers, ones who expect a serious question or two.

Wallace's position within the Fox News family, much like that of recently departed Fox News Channel daytime anchor Shepard Smith, has long been to offer a sense of the "fair and balanced" journalism the network has always promised and too often lacked. Doing so provided cover to self-proclaimed "entertainers" such as Sean Hannity, who began his Fox News career with his own "balancing" co-host, Alan Colmes, an arrangement that lasted exactly until the 2008 election of Barack Obama, at which point Hannity and the network no longer felt the need to pretend they weren't just pushing an aggressively right wing agenda.

Which brings us back to Stephen Miller, his boss, and that very important non answer. The serious question Wallace asked Miller was about Donald Trump’s July phone call to the president of Ukraine and how its content could have broken any number of laws and lead to Trump’s impeachment.  

It may feel like old news now, but this was a mere five weeks ago, only a few days after news of the phone call broke. This was the day the more ridiculous of the non-denial denials started, before the closed-door testimony by Trump appointees and career diplomats, and before Congressional Republicans began a series of stunts intended to distract from serious questions being asked or answered by anyone.

The question Wallace asked truly was a serious one, seeking serious answers on a very serious subject, and that Wallace insisted on following it up speaks well of him. The thing is, he never stood a chance and maybe he knew that. Really, having seen Stephen Miller in action even once he should have, so maybe Wallace was hoping for the confrontation he got.

Unfortunately for Wallace, he didn't seem to anticipate just how little Miller cared about what he was asking. Had Wallace's question been about anything, Miller's scripted, targeted non answer would have been the same. That‘s the point, and that, to a point, was Miller’s point.

Fortunately for us, at least regarding TV appearances, Miller is incredibly arrogant, and typical of arrogant political flacks trying to do damage control, Miller's non answer revealed far more than he intended.

What Miller wanted the audience to understand - the audience, not the anchor, who like the camera and the broadcast license is merely a means to an end - was that not only did he not have to answer that question, he didn't have to answer any question. Ever.

Questions, he wants us all to accept, don't matter. Questions and questioning are wrong. They are weak. They do not deserve our respect. And those asking don't either. This, for him, was far more important than anything else he had come there to say. This was the message.

Of course, that's always his message. What Miller has to say - what he always has to say - is that he does not have to be accountable to others, that rules do not apply to him, and that if you support him and/or the man he chooses to serve, then they don’t have to apply to you.

This is, of course, the promise of all right wing demagogues. To hear it from Trump or one of his minions in any context shouldn't surprise us; they've been promising it since before he even began his campaign in 2015. The Republican Party in its rightward trajectory has been doing it even longer, spending the past half century, with the help of media outlets such as Fox News, pushing the country away from the rule of law and towards the rule of laws you like.

It is corruption in every sense. It is the normalization of cheating, of dismissing wrongdoing because it gets in the way of profit, and of belittling those wronged because they were too weak to stop it. It is muddying the waters and lowering expectations. It is a race to the bottom. It is poison, and at its end is the destruction of the bonds that hold a society together.

And, oh, how Donald Trump and those about to face charges with him - both impeachment and criminal - want you to embrace that.

If we're being honest, we already have to some extent. This isn't something foreign to us. Few of us truly want to have to be accountable. We want what we want with no consequences. Whatever is was, we want to get away with it. We want our power, and in little, petty ways we take it.

Just look at the NFL, the jewel in Fox Sports' broadcasting crown. More to the point, look at the state of NFL officiating. There has always been a conflict between coaches and players on one side and those making them follow the rules on the other. That's only natural. As long as there's balance and the rules seem to apply equally, nobody likes it but they accept it as a fair system.

Of course, the rules don't apply equally, or never seem to. Name a team in any sport and you'll find a fan base convinced that some game, maybe even a championship, was taken from them by a suspiciously bad call. Do star players get special treatment, do they get away with what less marketable players can't? It could just be perception, but try explaining that to the fan or player on the losing side.

When there is an obviously bad call - and how could there not be? Officiating is a very difficult job - everybody on the wrong side of it complains. They may have benefitted from another, equally bad call earlier in the game - lookin' at you, New Orleans Saints - but that doesn't matter. They were robbed, it was unfair, and they want justice.

So, following that one bad call against the Saints, the NFL did what organizations both public and private have done since officiating began, they added a new pass interference rule that allows those being judged to question and reverse the judgments made against them. Not only that, if judgment should have been made against somebody else and wasn't, the wronged party now gets to challenge that, too.

Great, right? No? Of course, not. You can only imagine how NFL officials felt about the new rule, the one ruling them, and you can clearly imagine how they have responded. Through the NFL preseason and the first half of the regular season, challenge after obvious challenge has been rejected.

The officials have to know they were wrong. A small child ignorant of the rules could tell they were wrong on some of those calls and non calls. Again: not the point.

The officials know the calls and non calls were bad. They know that by reinforcing them they are ruining coaches', players', and fans' ability to trust that the game is fair and balanced - a level playing field - and with it the ability to trust the result.

But you know what? The officials just don't like that new rule. They really don't like the idea that they now have to be more accountable to people over whom they have power. It makes them look and feel less than they want to see themselves. And they're letting us all know.

It's not like they'll face any kind of consequences for this. They know the NFL hates controversy, and they know the players and coaches don't want to piss off a group of people who still hold power over them on countless other judgments.

So, as the season has gone on, fewer and fewer pass interference challenges have been made. By the time they reach the playoffs, where this all started last year, it's likely none will be made at all. This "experiment", as all failed rule changes are called, will be changed again next off season or, more likely, dropped altogether, swept under the rug and forgotten like so many others.

The lesson learned here, sadly, is that rules don't have to apply if you don't like them, and that if you have enough leverage, enough power, rules you don't like have no power.

Which, again, brings us back to Stephen Miller, his boss, Fox News, and congressional Republicans, and the point they're all trying make about questions and the many groups about to pass judgment on them and the world they're trying to hold onto.

Those groups, in order, are the House, the Senate, the Supreme Court, and, in 2020, the American voting public. What Trump and his surrogates are signaling to their dedicated, emotionally invested 2020 base is that nothing Trump or those with him have done violates rules - or as the government calls them, laws - that matter.

That's the pitch. That's the entire campaign. We see it in the phrases they choose to repeat, such as “nothing burger”, a favorite. By reducing corruption’s importance to the point of giving that unimportance a pet name, they seek to normalize it.

A world of normalized corruption is this: The ends always justify the means; If somebody asks you a question, you can give whatever answer serves your needs; They're wrong, you're right; You have the power, they don't; You are the rules, you are the team; You are a constituency of one living in and perhaps running a kleptocracy.

In this world, the notion of equal protection and justice on which any community is based is missing. When a culture believes that a system is unfair, they are more likely to cheat. If they believe that cheaters are getting away with it, they are likely to cheat even more. All of this benefits those already cheating, those who have been benefitting from the imbalance of power. It gives them cover to expand their corruption and to profit even more.

Again, this is a world we already see. We see it all the time in courts of law. In communities that trust the police, accusations of wrongdoing by them are rejected without question. In communities that don't trust police, evidence of criminal acts by defendants are similarly rejected.

We must recognize that these accusations and evidence are not ignored. They are seen, they are understood to be what they are, and a rationale is given for looking the other way. This is short term, transactional thinking, driven not by reason but by emotion.

One of the most famous examples of this behavior, what in a courtroom we would call "jury nullification", was the verdict in the murder trial of O.J. Simpson. Cases continue to be made for and against his guilt, but, as the 2016 ESPN documentary series showed, to some members of the jury his actual guilt or innocence had nothing to do with their votes.

Their anger and mistrust of the Los Angeles Police Department were so deep and so bitter that they never gave the prosecutors or the evidence an even chance. To get back at the people they blamed for decades of abuse and for the imbalance of power that kept defining their lives, they were going to vote "Not Guilty" no matter what he did. For them, that would offer some sense of balance, not much and not for long but enough to make them feel good while they were doing it.

Simpson's lawyers understood this as clearly as the prosecutors did not, and they played to it. They wanted an emotional verdict, ignoring the logical, rational case the prosecutors were laying out, and that was exactly what they got.

It was a cruel irony, then, in 2016 that another team looked to game another system using that same strategy. Play to the anger and mistrust. Cultivate it and help it to grow. Attack the process and attack the messengers. Encourage emotional decision making and transactional thinking - I may hate what he has done, but this will get me the satisfaction I think I want - and let the other side make the mistake of thinking logic and rational explanations will find their way through and lead to victory.

Seriously, anyone watching "O.J.: Made In America" should have seen what was coming. Donald Trump, with not a little help from Steve Bannon and internet-borne short term thinking, got everyone who voted for him to think of themselves and their fears and their anger and what they wanted over what they actually needed.

What Trump succeeded in doing, what he has succeeded in doing his whole life, was to get all of them to excuse his violations of laws and of other human beings as acceptable behavior, a cost of doing business, something to be recognized and ignored as long as they get what they wanted. Maybe they wouldn't get the justice or payback they wanted or deserved, but they'd get something. Donald Trump ran on a reprehensible platform of corruption as virtue and won.

And that's what he's hoping to do now.

Go back and look at everything he's said and done regarding impeachment since he was sworn in. He hasn't made a rational, logical defense, as so many in the press keep insisting on framing it. He's done exactly the opposite, appealing to irrational, illogical emotions.

Does it appear that he's spouting nonsense? Is he telling obvious, stupid lies? Yes and yes, but he doesn't have to been proven right about any of it. He's muddying the waters. He's creating doubt. He is tainting the jury pool.

And on top of it all, he's attacking process, not the process, mind you, the process of impeachment, but process itself as a function of government.

The idea that any question asked is an affront to patriotism is ludicrous, and yet time and time again he and his minions and their allies in Congress and elsewhere have attacked those asking questions and those suggesting that questions need to be asked.

The substance of the questions is rarely mentioned, let alone attacked, but the people asking are. They're belittled, made fun of, given nicknames, and bullied. Again, to a rational mind this seems counter-productive, but it is only if a rational, reasoned defense is what they have in mind. It isn't.

Take a look at what Trump's allies in Congress have done in the past five weeks to cloud the impeachment investigation. In the House, clearly hypocritical attacks by Republicans on the politicized nature of any inquiry have been going on since Trump was sworn in; now, they're are staging pantomime tantrums about access to closed door testimony, accusations easily dismissed and ridiculed as false and even stupid.

They had to know they would be, so why make them? Simple: as Trump shows us on a daily basis, an accusation made is not easily forgotten. When they cast their votes on Thursday not to formalize the impeachment inquiry, they did so on grounds that Democrats have an "illegitimate" agenda. When they go on to vote to reject charges they know are coming that cannot be refuted, they hope it gives them and Republicans in the Senate cover with their 2020 electoral base.

And what have those Republicans in the Senate been doing? Well, they’ve tried to make the case that what Trump did doesn’t rise to a “high crime”. They’ve also passed a watered-down, non-binding resolution that they will not convict Trump if and when he is impeached. Evidence be damned. Without Republican support the Democrats cannot hope to convict, so this would seem to put an end to it. But, no, it doesn't.

As sure as Trump will be impeached, a non-binding resolution is non-binding. If something comes out that cannot be excused - it would have to be something politically horrific, something Republican voters couldn't choose to ignore - Republican senators who swore to the resolution could still vote to convict if they thought they needed to. Because, well, 2020.

And that really what they're all playing for: power. Trump may be terrified of prosecution - actual prosecution - but even if he were to win next year he could only hope to avoid it for another four. At best. If Republican senators voting to reject clear evidence of guilt have read their base and their opposition wrong, they stand to lose six seats or more and with them control of Senate.

Selfishly, those six or more senators who stand to lose could turn on Trump and vote to impeach, but they would do so knowing that even with their votes the Senate would still not convict and that still could cost them their seats. What the resolution does, then, is lay yet more emotional support for their base to accept corruption and vote for them anyway.

So, if it seems strange that people serving in government and passing laws seek to delegitimize government and the rule of law, it shouldn’t. The point of their attacks against government oversight isn’t to delegitimize all government and all laws, just to establish that we can pick and choose which of them we want. The part that makes us and our friends rich, that allows us to harm others with impunity, that's the part they want to keep.

So, no, Stephen Miller and his boss and their surrogates and their friends don't want us asking questions. They want us to believe that questions don't matter. Only the answers should, and then really only the answers we want to hear.

Hearing only what we want to hear and seeing only what we want to see gives us the emotional justification for looking the other way. Nobody's cheating if everybody is. Nobody's guilty if we're all on board. It feels good, and we want to feel good. That's why we like them. That's why they can win.

As the late, great Richard Pryor once asked, “Who you gonna believe, me or your own lying eyes?”

- Daniel Ward