#please get the latest vaccine & use masks

[levymcgarden55]

[ID: a 1950s style ad, redheaded woman clutches package of KN95 masks. Text reads "it's never too late - to start masking again" in large red letters then in pink smaller letters "you can restart covid safe practices at any time! no matter when or why you stopped!”]

Source

CDC Wastewater Viral Activity Monitoring

BreatheTeq

[pandemic-info]

I'm seeing information about the Novavax being formulated for the previous variant and the Moderna and Pfizer being for a more recent one. Is this true and if so, why are so many people trying to get the Novavax?

Hi, glad you asked! Here's a few posts on this:

Graphic (albeit from Novavax, no 3rd-party trials) showing broad neutralization:

Another, thread explaining the above. Particularly:

"Ultimately as the antigenic distance is very close for all major circulating variants, all vaccine options should be very good, and provide good protection against infection and severe disease (even when compared with infection-acquired/natural immunity)."

One more, from NPR: https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/08/22/nx-s1-5082372/updated-covid-vaccines-fda-approved

The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna ... now target the KP.2 variant ... The Novavax vaccine, which is based on an older technology, targets an earlier strain of the virus called JN.1. As many of us know by now, the virus continues evolving to better evade our immune defense, which means regularly updating the vaccines to keep up with the latest strain. It turns out the KP.2 and JN.1 variants have already been overtaken by newer variants. Because those are also descendants of omicron, the hope is that the new vaccines are close enough matches that they can still boost immunity and protect people in the coming months – ideally reducing the chances of a big winter wave. “The vaccine is not intended to be perfect. It’s not going to absolutely prevent COVID-19," Dr. Peter Marks from the FDA told NPR in an interview. "But if we can prevent people from getting serious cases that end up in emergency rooms, hospitals or worse — dead — that’s what we’re trying to do with these vaccines.”

There's a couple of other points I do not have sources for right now; if anyone would like to reblog and add some or correct this, please do!:

I've read that in the past, for example, flu vaccine efficacy was not necessarily dampened when the vax targeted a "parent". They are in the same lineage, so efficacy should be good.

Analogy (albeit imperfect): using a net vs a spear.

Of course, without more data, we don't know. I would wager that people who choose Novavax nowadays may also be informed on #Layered Protection and prioritize physical barriers (N95 masking) as the first line of defense, with vaccine as secondary bonus, since any of them have a non-negligible % of breakthroughs at this point.

It was different in 2021 when they were first released and showed high efficacy; ~3% breakthrough, if that. Now, I would not in any case rely on Pfizer or Moderna alone, so there's not much of a reason to suffer their ill effects for days.

But bodies are all different. Some people tolerate them well. Some have no other choice. As always, get the one you can, that works for you!

[charmedhypno]

Charmed! 2025 Covid Policy Update

Charmed! 2025 Covid-19 Policy

Charmed! is committed to hosting the safest event we possibly can as the world continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of this, the Convention Committee (“ConCom”) will continue to require up to date Covid vaccinations as well as masking for our attendees, staff, and volunteers at Charmed! 2025.

In addition, hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout Convention Space (“Con Space”) and our Dungeon Monitors (“DMs”) will be extremely proactive in reminding people to clean their equipment - if you need help please ask and it will be provided!

Please read the following policies carefully! They contain several important dates and deadlines – ignorance of these policies will not result in any exemptions.

Vaccination Policy

The newest Covid-19 vaccine update has been evaluated and released for use in the United States to people aged 6 months and older for Fall 2024. People can get the vaccination if it has been at least 2 months since their last vaccination for Covid-19. People who have not previously been vaccinated for Covid-19 are considered “up to date” with their vaccinations after receiving this single dose.

This vaccine update is free under most insurance plans in the United States (including Medicaid and Medicare), but is no longer offered for free by the United States government.

Free vaccinations may be available on a state-by-state basis; so check whether or not your state has a free adult vaccination program if you require a free option. People based in the United States can search for their local Health Department here: https://www.naccho.org/membership/lhd-directory

People who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 may wait 3 months before getting the updated vaccine.

In order to attend Charmed! 2025 in-person you must be up to date with your Covid vaccination: a person who is “up to date” with their vaccinations beginning September, 2024 is a person who has received the latest updated vaccine, released in September, 2024.

Vaccinations typically take around two weeks to reach full efficacy; therefore for the purposes of Charmed! 2025 vaccinations will be considered valid if they are received by or before Monday, January 6th, 2025.

In-person attendees of Charmed! 2025 will be required to show proof of “up to date” vaccination received in good time – that is, they must show proof that they have received the Fall 2024 vaccine update by or before January 6th, 2025. Proof may be in the form of one of the following: official paper vaccine card, electronic vaccine card, photocopy or digital representation of official vaccine card, website listing your name/vaccination date, dated email for an applicable vaccination appointment, a photograph of some part of the vaccination process (eg. the vial of serum), or other applicable media. If you are unsure that your form of proof will be valid, please contact us before arriving at the event. Proof of vaccination will be verified at badge pick-up.

You can contact us using one of the following ways: Email us at: Covid@Charmedhypno.org Contact us through Charmed! social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharmedHypno Fetlife: https://fetlife.com/groups/121240?sp=1 Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/charmedhypno Bluesky: https://charmedhypnocon.bsky.social/ Discord: DM @Noelle - I have answers!

People who are unable to get the updated Covid-19 vaccine for a three month period ending with the final day of Charmed! 2025 (January 26th, 2025) due to a previous Covid-19 infection will be considered “up to date” for the purposes of in-person attendance. Please contact ConCom if you become Covid-positive within this window.

IMPORTANT: if you have a Covid-19 infection that results in you being able to get the updated vaccine within the two week time period before Charmed! 2025 begins – that is, January 8th through January 22nd – you will not be considered “up to date” with your vaccination and will be ineligible to attend Charmed! 2025 in person.

PLEASE NOTE: the three month waiting period is a CDC recommendation and it may be possible for people to get the updated vaccine within that time period.

In-person attendees at Charmed! 2025 will be required to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 48 hours of badge pick-up, (over-the-counter test is okay), in picture form in order to pick up their badge. Please do not bring a physical test with you to badge pick up - a picture on your phone is sufficient.

Mask Policy

In-person attendees at Charmed! 2025 will be required to wear well-fitting, high quality masks, such as N95s, KN95s, and FFP2s (or equivalent) at all times while in official convention space. This includes both the private convention area and Con Suite, as well as semi-public areas such as registration and the hallway outside of the upstairs classrooms.

If you are unable to acquire an N95 or similar mask, then pleated surgical masks are acceptable as a last resort.

Examples of unacceptable masks include: bandanas, gaiters, and scarfs.

Presenters and demo-bottoms may choose to remain unmasked only while actively presenting.

There are no mask exceptions for evening social events and dungeon play.

Masks may be raised, but not removed, in order to sip water and/or eat small snacks in Convention Space as needed.

A small number of masks may be available via Convention Operations for people who need them; however, we cannot guarantee this so please do your best to procure your own.

Testing Policy

In 2024, we did not require that attendees test daily but did highly recommend that they do so. For 2025, we are again highly recommending that people test daily before entering convention space. Over the counter tests are excellent at detecting a viral load in someone who is contagious, and are currently the best way for people to determine if they need to isolate themselves.

Convention Operations may have a small number of tests available for people who need them; please do not count on this and do your best to procure your own.

Policy Exemptions

Residents of countries that do not offer updated Covid-19 vaccines to the general population may be considered exempt from the requirement to be up-to-date by United States standards as long as they have received and can show confirmation that they received the primary course of vaccinations; that is, the original shot plus the two follow up shots.

We ask that people in non-U.S. countries who are eligible to receive updated vaccines continue to do so.

Attendees who are offered exemptions to the 2025 Covid-19 policy will be required to test daily while in attendance in person at Charmed! 2025 and to send verification of their negative test result to a member of ConCom before they are allowed entrance into official con space.

Failure to follow this policy may result in that person’s badge being pulled and them no longer being able to attend Charmed! 2025 in person.

We will continue to assess the status of attendees with possible medical exemptions on a case by case basis. If you are affected by this policy, please contact us as soon as you can via email at Covid@charmedhypno.org or dm Noelle_8033 on Discord.

There are no exemptions to the masking policy.

Covid Infections & Isolation Policy

Attendees, including all staff members, volunteers, presenters, etc, will be required to report and self-isolate if they test positive for Covid-19 while attending Charmed! 2025.

For the purposes of Charmed! 2025, an attendee who is “self-isolating” will remain in their private room as much as possible and will not enter any shared hotel spaces with convention members, including but not limited to: official Convention Spaces (areas past our security check points), shared convention spaces (eg. the badge pick up area, the hallway outside of upstairs classrooms), and the Charmed! 2025 Consuite (the enclosed room outside of regular Con space that is across from the public fireplace seating area.)

ConCom reserves the right to expand this list during the Convention in order to accommodate the number of in-person attendees present at Charmed! 2025.

Out of an abundance of caution, an initial positive test result will be taken as confirmation of infection, regardless of subsequent testing.

**The identity of anyone that contracts Covid-19 while at Charmed! 2025 will be kept anonymous unless otherwise unavoidable, unless that person wishes to share their identity.

Failure to report and self-isolate will result in the infected attendee’s badge being pulled and potentially a ban from Charmed! in the future.**

Reporting & Contact Tracing Policy

Anyone becoming positive for Covid-19 while attending Charmed! 2025 will be required to report and self-isolate. They will need to identify to ConCom classes/areas where they have been, including private spaces, and ConCom will inform the attendee population that they may have been exposed to Covid-19.

**The identity of anyone that contracts Covid-19 while at Charmed! 2025 will be kept anonymous unless otherwise unavoidable, unless that person wishes to share their identity.

Failure to report and self-isolate will result in the infected attendee’s badge being pulled and potentially a ban from Charmed! in the future.**

Charmed! 2025 is committed to providing as safe an environment as possible for our attendees. This may mean that our vaccination/mask requirements are stronger/stricter than those of other events or organizations. We understand that this can be frustrating, and we appreciate your adherence to these policies that are for the benefit of every attendee at Charmed! 2025.

[covidsafecosplay]

The People’s CDC COVID-19 Weather Report: October 28, 2014

The People's CDC has released another updated report on COVID-19 data and action items for the United States of America.

Highlights:

Wastewater and emergency room data indicate covid transmission continues to be under-reported. Get vaccinated and use layers of precaution such as masking and air filtration to defend yourself from infection.

KP.3.1.1 remains the dominant variant.

The CDC has updated guidelines permitting access to twice-annual covid vaccines for adults aged 65 and older, as well as the immunocompromised.

Read the rest of the report here:

Please note that the CovidSafeCosplay blog and its admin are unaffiliated with the People's CDC or its management, and are simply sharing the resource.

Via the People's CDC About page:

The People’s CDC is a coalition of public health practitioners, scientists, healthcare workers, educators, advocates and people from all walks of life working to reduce the harmful impacts of COVID-19.  We provide guidance and policy recommendations to governments and the public on COVID-19, disseminating evidence-based updates that are grounded in equity, public health principles, and the latest scientific literature. Working alongside community organizations, we are building collective power and centering equity as we work together to end the pandemic. The People’s CDC is volunteer-run and independent of partisan political and corporate interests and includes anonymous local health department and other government employees. The People’s CDC is completely volunteer run with infrastructure support being provided by the People’s Science Network

[firespirited]

Vague indefinable under the weather thing became a very defined half way down the head divide sinusitis mid morning.

It wasn't as easy to spot because there's just been ongoing 'ouch' of the head and face due to the neck issues but yeah you can actually see the swollen sinuses and that clear divide down the head is unmistakable. I really should have worn my mask on walks even though I don't approach anyone (except bully cops I guess) to avoid the pollen.

Then again, funny thing I went out with Sis this morning, it was cold so we were wearing masks for cold and the woodfires which give you a good lungful of nasty and we got lectured by a rando about how unnecessary it all is and how much money 'they' have made off this

and how his latest booster made him feel sick even though by his own admission he got covid the last time he went unmasked in public earlier this year.

I just cheerfully pointed out that the vaccine hurts less than the infection, masks are useful for more than just covid and thanked him profusely for doing his civic duty of masking in public transport and shops as an immunocompromised person. But like, dude, we have two really cute dogs and the weather's been interesting, half the country's protesting now that the government have shown they'd rather throw away democracy and our freedom of expression than tax a few corporations a little better (it is literally so little money that we could make buying back your own company stock from excessive profits illegal and collect double what's needed for pensions from just this year. The insistance that pensions must be funded by workers with no corporate or government help is stupid, the math indicated we won't be in the red til 2030 so tax some billionaires already, they can protest live in Monaco or Luxembourg (and get super bored and crawl back) if they insist on not leaving france's luxuries to far behind...

Oh look there so much to talk about that I got derailed (not that it takes much LOL) but mr man had to scold us for being silly gooses for wearing masks and tell us his incoherent but important thoughts on the matter. I know I'm probably contagious with a bad cold right now, didn't get to work that into the conversation though. Sis talked about how much more she's able to enjoy nature as an asthmatic since masks though so that was nice. We shot eachother a lot of subtle side eyes especially when he casually dropped that half the party he went to unmasked got horribly sick from that party.

If you feel like that dude, please do try different mask types and mask comfort aids. Everybody has to find what they can wear for long periods without pain. For me it's a China made K95, straps in the back, changed every hour so the sweat doesn't chafe my skin but I have to be really careful to not end up with an inperceptible flow of hot wet air straight into my right eye. Sis likes the fish shaped k94. Doc uses a duck shape for minimal face chafing.

I've put a few things on hold til my health gets slightly better. I really want to rework the neck on the lovely 1/6 bjd Maleficent sent and then paint her not with human blushing but like she's part of a crockery set. The one great auntie Francis left us a few years ago is a gold trimmed fruit motif and blue china is pretty but already done so I was thinking more along the lines of something with strawberries because I love her porcelain paleness and a strawberry motif would allow me to keep the face simple and stylized. (writing this down because ideas do sometimes spark during the SADS but I often completely forget them).

Jewel Richie had an 'incident' in the post and has been undeliverable since Thursday but amazon doesn't open the refund/rebuy options til tomorrow. I'll have to decide then. The vagueness of 'incident' made me think OK, maybe the roads/trains were blocked but the 'cannot be delivered' kind of implies the package got smashed up or in the same truck as idk a bottle of ink or something.

I think it's maybe why I had a doll dream, I imagined a rainbow high rolling into a roadside somewhere after someone forgot to properly shut the van doors or something.

Then again, I spent most of last night talking over (with my own brain) how the Shoah probably 'killed' Gd (mine the xian god who is supposed to have a personal relationship with people, not necessarily anyone else's - i can explain in detail if anyone is interested, the law of free will wasn't broken other xian specific things were) for me to an imaginary rabbi questioner (he was very nice, if pushing further than I dared to talk, in the daydream and had experience with christianity in the form of evangelicalism so I didn't have to explain certain concepts that are absolutely not in the Talmud and not really the new testament either.) and really felt my shame that a genocide unrelated to me shook a faith (xianity) that's a disrespectful sect of their faith. Nevertheless I was 10, and the idea that the gospels weren't the symmetrical conclusion to the Talmud was never in question and even considered blasphemy if I ever brought it up. I was such a different person by 14 then 16 facing it again. To think I thought jewish people were as brainwashed as I was into the belief that martydom is a noble death. Yeah I mentioned the nice fever dream about the dolls because many times sick musings end up in 'the roads not taken' , existential crises and lists of people who probably took years off my life. Fun stuff.

Lily is picking up this march, she is happy and well. I think she may have had a tough winter but for 14 she is very fit and still very much a mischief, she's started doing her upside-down dances, asking for fuss and thieving from my recycling bin again. I love her to bits.

Have a lovely day everyone. Stay safe and relatively sane ❤️❤️❤️

[littlejowo]

Just survived Covid for the third time. Allow me to list off the long-term effects I have. Keep in mind, this includes only what I'm aware of and can remember off the top of my head, and there are definitely more:

Multiple heart attacks (3 confirmed, 1 unconfirmed but likely)

A stroke

Brain damage that affected my speech, writing, memory, focus, and emotional threshold/reactivity

Arrhythmia

Growths in my left lung that resulted in permanent damage that makes it difficult to breathe

Occasional inability to take a breath at all (lasts a few seconds)

A persistent, occasional cough, even when otherwise not ill

A weakened immune system, as well as a new autoimmune disorder (a cold is as deadly as the flu to me now, and on top of this, instead of attacking the illness, my body will attack itself. Usually my kidneys and digestive system)

Weakened bones (after this latest time, I am at a high risk of developing osteonecrosis, which I will have to be on the lookout for)

Severe lack of coordination, often results in clumsiness and injury

Intermittent paralysis in both legs. Can last anywhere from a couple minutes to several hours

Fainting spells, frequent loss of consciousness (usually lasts only a few seconds)

Brain fog severe enough to impact my daily life, including my job

Slower function in nearly all areas of ny brain. Takes roughly triple the time to process any stimuli aside from tactile

Rare seizures (never had a single one before covid)

Occasional bouts of incontinence (usually paired with the intermittent paralysis, but sometimes happens on its own). If this worsens, I will need to start wearing adult diapers in the very near future

Constant state of mild to severe nausea, frequent vomiting

Fatigue that makes it difficult to move most days

Mild tic disorder became much more severe, now very similar to touretz syndrome (more tics, plus FAR more frequent, and extremely difficult and often impossible to prevent)

Frequent heart burn (almost never happened pre-covid)

Total inability to wake up at a reasonable time without assistance (always had issues with sleep, but now even setting alarms won't wake me before 5pm most days, and I need people to physically move me). Takes more than an hour to be able to move after waking

Frequent blood clots that result in edema, numbness, and pain

Entirely unable to take a deep breath without struggle, or risk of injury to certain internal organs (namely my lungs and spleen)

Change in vision and hearing

Occasional loss of balance, which results in falling if I don't have my mobility aid (I use a cane 100% of the time now. Until 2022, I only needed it for one day every few weeks)

Inability to grip things, even lightly, for long. Unable to grip tightly at all

Constant cramping and aches in all parts of my body, occasional buckling of knees/elbows

Keep in mind, this is only what I'm aware of, and only off the top of my head. There's more than this.

Again, this is after surviving covid THREE TIMES. Once in late 2019 or early 2020, once in late 2021, and once on the first day of 2023. Most of these effects came after the first infection and have persisted since then, and some gave started only in the past few days after the latest infection. I only survived the third infection because of Paxlovid, and being monitored at all times.

Covid has left me chronically ill and permanently disabled, to the point where any minor illness can now kill me without medical intervention. My condition is worsening to the point where I may be unable to walk before the decade ends, and I may be unable to move at all before I even turn 40 (I am 24 as of writing this post). I will forever have to be careful of every little thing about my body (with the biggest threats being to my heart, immune system, digestive system, and my bones). This is with me ALWAYS wearing a mask outside my home, being vaccinated, and frequently washing and sanitizing.

Please, do your part. Wash your hands, get your vaccines, and wear your masks. It takes ALL OF US, or else you get people like me who are nesrly killed by the actions of others. Many people DO die. Don't kill the people around you. This pandemic is still deadly, even to the healthiest of us

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220224/Study-reports-persistent-SARS-CoV-2-lingering-within-tissues-of-patients-with-long-COVID.aspx

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/long-covid-even-mild-covid-linked-damage-brain-months-infection-rcna18959

[ntriani]

OQM Playlist: Life during quarantine #27

With this new Life during quarantine playlist, Nick Triani ponders Randy Newman's standard 'I Think It's Going to Rain Today' and the emotions it evokes.

Lockdown Don’t open the borders we said. Keep wearing the masks we said. Avoid crowds we said. Stay home if feeling ill we said. Lockdown is here again. It’s tiring to discuss but our inherent greed and wish to keep the wheels of capitalism churning might do for us yet. The welcome news that a vaccine is now a reality and just around the corner is a chink of light in this most rotten of years…

Human kindness overflowing The songwriters that have benefited from the patronage of Judy Collins are too numerous (for the sake of brevity) to mention here. But let’s at least recognise Collins’ role in the careers of Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Donovan (in the US), Jimmy Webb and Randy Newman. Why Collins doesn’t have some kind of monument in her honor for music discovery is baffling, she also never had the title A&R woman attached to her name although that’s clearly what she did. The fact that in this era of rediscovery and music nostalgia Collins is not more readily identified amongst the greats of popular music is quite simply a conspiracy against women. Today I focus on a song by Randy Newman first introduced by Collins, ‘I Think It’s Going to Rain Today’ (or in some cases ‘I Think It’s Gonna Rain Today’).

Collins recorded a version of the song for her In My Life album from 1966, though Julius LaRosa is credited as having released a version a few months earlier. It’s Collins interpretation that became the template for the song’s subsequent ubiquity. To confirm this, LaRosa’s version doesn’t appear anywhere.

30 different versions Over the years all kinds of bands and artists of varying degrees of fame and fortune have tried to interpret ‘I Think It’s Going to Rain Today.’ I’ve cherry picked 3o different takes for this playlist. You may think, how crazy is that, listening to the same song so many times in a row, but please have a try because this may surprise you. Many of these interpretations are achingly similar in style, but I do think these vary enough so that you can sit through an hour and 40 minutes of the same song. The middle eight is the big variance in a lot of these versions (something about “Tin can at my feet, Think I’ll kick it down the street.”) Generally, most versions lead with piano and have string arrangements. Yet, the story changes with each voice. The latest version on this playlist is from 2020, which gives you some kind of idea of the longevity of the song.

I personally have a soft spot for the Françoise Hardy take from 1972. Her fractured English and the baroque string arrangement brings an intimate melancholy to the song. Leonard Nimoy does a great pass that pleases by not quite being right. Still, it might just be that Randy Newman’s own version from his debut album in 1968, impeccably produced by Van Dyke Parks, is the best. Newman is not the greatest singer, but has oodles of character and personality, which means the song retains its weary edge and infinite sadness (which is a bit lost on many of these takes.)

A younger generation may recognise Newman as the Toy Story soundtrack guy. That’s ok and cool. But Newman also lays a belated claim to be the pre-eminent songwriter of his generation. Recently this song has taken on a life of its own for me, reflecting collective grief and my hopes for a better day. The song also tells something about empathy and giving, even indulging our obsession of connecting our emotions to the weather. ‘I Think It’s Going to Rain Today’ touches a raw nerve, the weary sadness at the heart of the song can also comfort and help in getting through the ache. I believe that’s what Newman initially wanted when he wrote the song.

[misterewrites]

Deductive Wizardry: The Salt-Irons Case

Hey E here with a new chapter! woo! I hope you are all doing okay in these.....interesting times. You know I never understood why "may you live in interesting times" was a threat. I get it now. I want off the fucking ride guys. Please keep Ukraine in your hearts though step away if you need to. It's tough and really heartbreaking. Research good, reputable charities, watch out for misinformation from Russian Psyops and it's okay to take some time for yourself or maybe not want to hear about the war. It is a lot. For us state side we gotta watch out for Florida and Texas and hold a certain mouse accountable. 

Okay be safe, keep your loved ones safe. Wear your mask, wash your hands, get vaccinated if you can, be extra careful if you can't. Push global vaccinated cuz fuck this noise! :D Thank you so much all my readers. You make me so happy and it's nice to know there's some people who like my original work. As a writer I know how hard it is to get some traction for your own work and reading is already not everyone's thing so thank you so much. Feel free to share this with your friends, likes, reblogs and feedback are always welcomed because I love hearing that kind of stuff. E is out, have a great week! Bye!

Hey a more reader friendly site with the latest chapter up? No way! https://archiveofourown.org/works/30599756/chapters/94225096

And the last chapter in case you need a refresher? whaaaaat? https://archiveofourown.org/works/30599756/chapters/93202417

And the story from the beginning if you’re like “What is this? I’m bored and I got time to kill.”  https://archiveofourown.org/works/30599756/chapters/75486005

And if you like Arcane, Soul Eater, Genshin Impact, Legend of Zelda, Owl House or whatever else I happened to write you can find a list of all my works right here

https://archiveofourown.org/users/MrE42/pseuds/MrE42

And here at the end of our tour is the keep reading sign. for those of you leaving us have a good day, thanks for putting with this because promoting is kinda necessary for arts and fics. Bye bye!

Summary:  Finnrick survived his deadly alleyway encounter but the answer to this case eludes him still. It's time to do what he does best and put the clues together. Of course for that he's going to need a safe location and a good conspiracy board. Luckily he knows a place that has both.

-----

“So it’s that kind of day huh?”

“Mhm.” Finnrick responded, his gaze fixated upon the sight before him.

The M.R.R.D office was mostly empty save for one or two of the more dedicated officers given the lateness of the day: Tucked within a pocket dimension hidden in the backroom of Newton Haven City Hall and protected by powerful defensive magic put in place by a certain private investigator, the Magical Rapid Response Department was among one of the most secure places in the city.

The space itself had been magically expanded to be bigger on the inside: The main area where the various officers worked was roughly the equivalent of a warehouse though with marble tiling. The various colored doors led to much needed amenities: Kitchens, file storage, break rooms, nap rooms (for those Oh my god why won’t this day just stop moments.) security offices, gear and set up. There was even a two way portal that led directly to the Grimoire library for research purposes. The office was well equipped to handle any possible problem the magical world could throw at the city.

Too bad the walls couldn’t be changed. The paint was dull faded brown and no one, not even Finn, could figure how to get it to change colors.

Oh well.

“Well” Garrus the elf continued with his line of question, his sliver eyes peering curiously at Finnrick’s conspiracy board “This escalated huh son?”

“What makes you say that da?”

Garrus gestured to the black trench coat that hung off the seat “You took off your coat.”

Finnrick sighed as he stretched the back of his neck.

“And rolled up sleeves.” Garrus noticed with a hint of amusement “As your fake father should I be concerned?”

“Nah. Either I got it or I don’t. I need to review this.”

Officially Finnrick was not an employee of the M.R.R.D. He was considered an “Outside Asset.” which came with certain benefits and drawbacks. Finn was free to operate how he saw fit and without the limitations the M.R.R.D would normally have to deal with. He was given permission to use his magic at will and generally left alone to his own devices. This, however, also meant the M.R.R.D was not expected to assist him in any capacity beyond arresting the perpetrator if sufficient evidence was presented. Finnrick could not have any help from any officers not assigned to his case (if any had been), access to any of the department resources and not allowed to be near any open cases that he had not been hired to solve. He actually wasn’t supposed to be in the building to be honest.

Of course those rules were set in place in case The Council had decided to pay an unexpected visit. Those geezers were too traditional for Finnrick’s taste. Better for the department to cover their asses than deal with a Council hissy fit. Luckily Finnrick and M.R.R.D were close allies and no one actually minded having him around given how hard he worked to keep the city safe. Also he always repaired the wards for free whenever he came for a visit.

So “officially” Finnrick had no desk to work out his case on but the department used a board in the back that was considered free for anyone to use.

Garrus took a sip of his coffee as he took in all of Finn’s notes.

The plain board was covered with various index cards pinned to its surface. Different colored strings tied various names and locations together in a very crazed pattern. Some of the cards were circled to signify their importance while those that were crossed out indicted Finnrick either did not have enough to make them work or he found them irrelevant to the case at hand.

“Let’s start at the beginning. The Salt-Irons Apartments. Crossed out?” Garrus tilted his head curiously.

“It doesn’t matter. Whatever we’re dealing with was invited in. The protection wouldn’t have stopped it.”

Garrus nodded before moving onto the next clue “The victims? You don’t usually circle them.”

“True.” Finnrick agreed “But there’s dark magic afoot and either or both are behind it. So our victims are more than likely our bad guys as well. Until we can find them and get answers I can’t rule them out.”

“Sentinel?” Garrus cocked an eyebrow “Is that some kind of spell or something?”

“Person. Works out of the Northside. Means well but unconnected to the case. She’s a follow up for later.”

“I bet the Gatekeepers fucking loved that.”

Garrus and Finn turned around, their train of thought derailed by the new voice.

Eden Azreal was the other previously mentioned dedicated officer here tonight. A twenty something year old cleric of justice she took a her job very seriously. A little too much if Finnrick was going to be honest but only because she didn’t get the concept of rest.

Not that Finn was one to throw stones.

She was average height with long brown hair currently tied in a high ponytail. Despite her runner’s frame, Finn knew she routinely lifted a scary amount of terrifying weaponry on the daily with little effort. Based on the shine off her palish skin and the fact she was currently wearing a tank top/ yoga pants combo she’d probably just came back from exercising. Her fierce golden eyes twinkled with eagerness as she glanced back and forth between them.

“Well?” Eden asked impatiently.

Finnrick pursed his lips for a moment “Ma you’re not allowed to…”

“Fuck that.” She scoffed before pushing the boys to the side to make room for herself “Give me the details.”

Eden studied the board for a moment before blurting out “Okay what the hell am I looking at?”

“It’s our son’s conspiracy board.” Garrus answered with an impish grin.

The elf winced as Eden nudged his ribs playfully “Obviously but this is way more than we got. What are we thinking?”

“The victims probably were the cause of the dark magic.” Garrus filled in “I take it that’s where the mysterious ash and werewolf smugglers come into play.”

Finnrick confirmed with a nod “I sent the ash to get tested. One of Quinn’s cubs was dealing on the side.”

“So something illegal.” Eden finished “Not a lot of stuff on that list. Hoping it’ll give you an idea what the spell was?”

“No it wouldn’t be useful for that at this point. Trying to figure out the spell itself requires way more time and clues than I have.”

Eden frowned uneasily “So what are you expecting it to tell you?”

“Where.” Finnrick answered “Something big is going down tomorrow.”

Garrus raised an eyebrow quizzically “Tomorrow?”

“Full moon.” Finnrick clarified.

“The barriers will be at their weakest.” Eden clicked her tongue thoughtfully.

“Which is perfect for a summoning spell.” Garrus offered.

Finnrick shook his head “Whatever the victims made a deal with is here already. No point to try to summon it.”

“Deal?”

“Warlock. It mentioned being cheated when I fought it earlier.”

Eden whistled, clearly impressed by Finn’s detective work “Explains why you’re tired. So we have a warlock casting a dark magic spell and breaking a deal with something. You sure it’s not from here?”

Finnrick sighed as he ran his hands through his hair “It wasn’t a fan of sliver or bricks.”

Garrus scratched chin, ideas and theories starting form “Okay so let’s see if I got this straight: Warlock casts a dark spell, breaks a deal with their patron and now their patron is here on our plane of reality.”

“Not breaks.” Finnrick took a step closer to the board. He read each card over and over again, his mind trying to connect the dots “It said cheated. That means the victims kept their end of the deal in a way the creature hadn’t expecting. I’m willing to bet it traded their service for a spell of lost forbidden knowledge.”

The trio stood together in silence, their thoughts racing as one.

“Okay.” Finnrick spoke up, clearing his throat. Eden and Garrus leaned against some nearby desks well aware that it was case cracking time.

“Discount what we don’t know: The artists mannequins I found, the ash, illegal werewolf side dealing. Sentinel and the Salt-Irons. Amos.”

“Amos?”

“He’s in town.” Finnrick explained with a wave of his hand “Might be nothing. Might be something. But anyway it’s theory time.”

“Inkwell.”Eden gestured to one of the crossed out cards, her curiosity too great to ignore.

Finnrick rubbed his eyes “That is a problem for another day. Okay I’m Richard Charles.”

“Terribly generic name.” Eden snickered playfully.

“Very unoriginal.” Garrus chimed in with a grin.

Finnrick pressed on, completely ignoring their banter “I want something but I don’t know how to get it. I don’t even know if it’s possible. I have no magical experience.”

Eden raised her hand to interrupt “What about the son?”

“Factor him out. The father would be in a better position to do these things anyway. So I want something. Something bad given the dark nature of the spells I will use. What do I do?”

Garrus snapped his finger as the answer comes to him “You find a way to get the information.”

“Exactly! I can’t use normal means because M.R.R.D…”

“The best!” Eden motions to herself with a smirk. Garrus rolls his eyes though smiles warmly in her direction.

“...is going to keep tabs on everything.” Finnrick continues without missing a beat “So I need to get it from somewhere else. Something else. Somehow I figure a way to contact a powerful creature. I make a deal with it: The power to cast magic in exchange for something.”

Finnrick clicks his tongue “I finally get what I really want. The spell I was looking for. I need to get out of my deal with the patron….or maybe.” Finn suddenly snaps his finger “Maybe the spell is how I get out of the deal. A way to fulfill my part of the bargain I made but keep all my goodies I got.”

Garrus gave him confused stare “How do you figure that?”

“Anyone willing to make a deal with an unknown entity and use dark magic probably doesn’t have the best morals.” Finnrick gave a little shrug “just saying.”

“Fair. Go on.”

Finnrick glances at the board again “When I feel I’m ready I set out to perform the spell to get out of my deal. I start gathering the ingredients. When I get the last one, however, my patron wants to me to pay up, fulfill my side of the bargain. Maybe it notices what I’m doing, maybe it’s just impatient but the bill comes due sooner than I was expecting.”

Eden pursed her lips, trying to find Finn’s reasoning “What makes you say that?”

“Because.” Finnrick taps the broken spell circle card, unable to contain his excitement “My spell is rushed. It isn’t ready. Something messes it up. It backfires horribly and worst still my patron is somehow here. It found me. I have to run for it.”

“But my mishap will lead the M.R.R.D to my apartment.” Garrus fills in the blank.

Eden jumps to her feet, brimming with excitement “I have go into hiding. Hunted by two parties.”

Finnrick stares at the word ash “I still need to complete the spell to get out of the deal. M.R.R.D is bad news for me but at least they won’t kill me. Most of the materials are probably easy enough to get but the most important one only comes from one place.”

Garrus stands and begins pacing back and forth lost in thought “Luckily my werewolf dealer told me where he found it cuz he’s young and eager. High off the full moon enough to get cocky. He lets it slip where he found it. So I’ll just hide where the last ingredient is to be safe. No one else knows where it is anyway.”

“But I don’t realize if my werewolf dealer told me.” realization dawning upon the detective “he’ll tell anyone. Like a creepy old man waiting outside the alleyway.”

“That’s why he jumped you!” Eden slammed her fist on the desk in victory. And promptly winced as she tried to shake off the pain from her hand.

Finnrick shakes his head gently “No. Not him. It. The patron. It….it’s old. And it already knows. The cub probably blabbed or maybe it has a way to listen in even through walls. It jumps me because it knows I’m on the case. I’m asking questions. Worst I’m getting close. So it tries to get rid of me. It won’t be cheated again.”

A thick heavy tension falls over the trio. No one wants to say what they’re all thinking but Eden knows it’s better to deal with it sooner than later “...was the man another victim? A helpless pawn in the game?”

Finnrick remains quiet, unsure what to say.

“So.” Garrus clears his throat “Why the full moon?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Finnrick explains after a moment “It’s just universal randomness. I’m willing to bet he’s exhausted. He’s not used to magic and he didn’t develop the magical muscle you need for higher powered spells. Let me guess you got the call in the morning right? I bet someone heard something around 2 in the morning.

Eden nodded in confirmation.

Finnrick beamed with pride “He’s tired. He needs rest and with the full moon it’ll be easy to know when he can try to again. He just has to wait for it to be at the highest point in the sky and he’ll know it’s midnight. Plus every day his patron is here is a chance our reality ejects it out. Of course he doesn’t know it’s ancient. It probably could stay here for years without worrying about being banished naturally.”

“So we’re missing the where.”

As if waiting for a cue, Finnrick’s cellphone rang loudly, playing a cheery song from his favorite cartoon. Finnrick reaches for his coat pocket only to realize he isn’t wearing it. Sheepishly he reaches for his phone and answers.

“Drift speaking.”

“Heeeey Mister Drift.” It was Theo’s voice that answered though instead of the false swagger he usually presented, his tone was sullen and apologetic “So you know I have a strict no refund policy right?”

“Stop peering around the bush. Give it to me straight Brewmaster.”

Theo let out a heavy sigh “It’s dirt. Plain old dirt Mister Drift. It’s old, over 200 years give or take but just dirt. Mister Drift I’m sorry, I….”

Dirt…

Theo began launching into a spiel about how he tried his best but every test was telling him the same thing over and over but Finnrick had long since tuned out.

Dirt. Old, older than the city itself. Only a few places were left untouched by urban development.

“Theo.”

“And you know I take a real pride in my work and I hate giving out bad news but you know, if think you about it…”

“Theo.”

“…It’s not really my fault. You gave me dirt, it’s dirt! And the way you were telling me it was from a crime scene and…”

“Brewmaster.” Finn added some steel to his passive tone.

Theo fell silent at once.

“Thank you. You earned your pay and yes it was helpful.”

“R-Really?” Theo scoffed, slipping the mask of infallibility back on “Well naturally. You paid for the best so you get the best. So. We are squared right?”

“Naturally Brewmaster. Take care.”

“Cool” Theo awkwardly answered “Cool. Cool. Umm….bye.”

Before Garrus and Eden could ask, the phone rang once more a moment later. Finnrick answered without glancing downwards.

“Quinn.”

“Drif...Finnrick.”

“Whatcha got for me?”

Finnrick could hear the shuffling papers in the background “Cub picked up some graveyard dirt. Some of the others heard him boasting about it the other night. He isn’t telling which one though. Not much of a clue I’m afraid.”

“Actually.” Finnrick’s face broken into a grin “It’s exactly what I need. Thanks Quinn!”

Finnrick could practically hear the lost expression on the old wolf’s face “I...well….alright then. Should I stop interrogating him?”

“Absolutely. You can switch over to teaching him a lesson.”

“I….alright. Take care. Drift.”

“Dai.”

The phone had barely left the detective’s ear before Eden’s question exploded out of her.

“Well!?”

Finnrick let out a sigh of relief “I know where it is.”

Garrus and Eden shared a smirk.

“It’s graveyard dirt.” Finnrick explained as he scrawled a new note and pinned it onto the board.

Garrus frowned unhappily “Wait, graveyard dirt? That shouldn’t be possible. All the graveyards in town are consecrated. Even magic from darker, evil gods is considered divine. It would completely disable any necromantic magic.”

Eden scoffed, unimpressed “Please. Obviously you can just take it out of the graveyard and it would lose its holy...ness.”

“And how would you know?” Garrus leaned in inches away from his partner’s face.“Because I’m a cleric. That’s clearly how it works. Right Finn?”

Finnrick raised his hands when Eden gestured at him to take her side. Her face scrunched up in disappointment.

“Et tu my son?!”

“Well….” Finnrick tried to stifle his laughter “No. That’s not how it works. It still retains some of its divinity even if it’s removed from the source. You would have to basically corrupt it to turn it back to normal dirt. You know you still have to study magic ma even if you have a god handing it out to you.”

“So he could’ve done that.” Eden insisted, ignoring the last bit.

“That doesn’t seem very efficient.” Garrus countered logically.

“You don’t seem efficient!”

“You’re still mad about the sandwich.”

“It was my sandwich! I LABELED IT WITH MY NAME!!”

“Do not touch is not your name.”

“Guys!” Finnrick jumped in between, separating the bickering partners with a wave of his hand “Occam’s Razor.”

Eden raised an eyebrow “Occam’s what?” while Garrus scratched his clean shaven face, muttering under his breath “I don’t even own a razor.”

Finnrick gestured to the board “It means the simplest solution is often the correct one. Unconsecrated graveyard dirt.”

Eden and Garrus turned to the other in hopes they had an answer. They ended up staring blankly at one another for a few seconds.

“You’re right da. Every graveyard in Newton Haven is consecrated by some sort of divinity.”

Garrus beamed with pride.

“But.” Finnrick continued with a theatrical wave of his hand “There is one graveyard that is unconsecrated. Outside of town.”

The detective paused for dramatic effect as the partners slowly realized what he was implying.

“Gallow Hills.” Garrus replied, his silver eyes wide with awe “It’s out in Litwick forest.”

“Exactly!” Finnrick let the tension wash out of him.

“Well.” Eden cracked her knuckles threateningly “Wait are we waiting for?”

Finnrick rose a hand “Whoa, slow your horses ma. You know the rules.”

“Well yeah but the rules won’t know if I break them. I’m not going to tell them and Garbear over here isn’t a snitch.”

"Nope.” Garrus grunted as he reached for his rifle laying across his desk.

“Sorry I can’t let you do that. We’re already pushing it as it is. My case and you two handed it off to me.”

The partners exchanged a concern look.

Finnrick reached for his coat, slipping it on with a dramatic flourish “I’m not going alone. I’ll bring Case and Jai with me.”

The two weren’t satisfied with that response but little could be done about it.

“Be careful” Eden pinched his cheek playfully “I will kill you if something else does.”

“Do you need anything before you go champ?” Garrus clasped his shoulder gently.

Finnrink thought about it for a moment.

“Actually yes. Do you have a file on Richard Jr?”

“I complied everything we had. It isn’t a lot. There wasn’t even a photo.”

Finnrick motioned for the elf to lead on though little did the officer know he had solved the final mystery eluding the wizard detective.

Everything was in motion and tomorrow everything would come to a head. It was going to be a really long fucking day.

Fuuuuuuuuuun.

[awhitehead17]

Batfam Alphabet: F - Fear Toxin

Summary: When Tim gets injected with a new variant of Scarecrow’s fear toxin, all Jason could do is hold the kid in his arms to stop him from getting injured further as he waits for back up to arrive. 

A/N: As a warning violence happens, nothing too graphic but here’s a warning just in case!

Enjoy! :D

Jason pauses when his fingers grasp nothing but empty air. Snapping his gaze down, he frowns when he finds his pocket completely empty. He sighs and curses. This is just what he needs, he’s ran out of antidotes.

He looks up across the street to find Tim administering an antidote into another cowering civilian caught in the crossfire of Gotham’s latest villain scheme. Jason jogs over to his brother and glances at him through his helmet. “You got any more? I’m out.”

Tim shakes his head regretfully. “No. That was my last one. We really underestimated how far Scarecrow’s toxin got this time. We don’t have enough.”

Jason hums in agreement and observes their surroundings. They’re together in a back alley of Gotham’s streets, one that had been hit badly by Scarecrow’s latest fear toxin. They had the task of vaccinating all the civilians around with the new antidote. Back in the cave they calculated an estimate number of many people populated the area and had prepared more than enough between them, or so they thought, unfortunately their numbers were far from right leaving them with not nearly enough antidotes.  

Around them now, many civilians are still under the hallucinations of the toxin, some are screaming, crying or even violently yelling at empty air. Jason swears again, this is not how the night was supposed to go.

He’s brought out of his thoughts when Tim turns to him. “We’re going to need to go back and restock. We’re not much use otherwise.”

“Agreed.”

He wonders if the others are having similar issues with numbers and the lack of antidotes. The team’s spread out around Gotham’s most targeted areas, all of them working in pairs for safety and everyone working their asses off to help people in the city.

Wordlessly the two of them head for their hidden vehicles in a neighbouring alley. As they prepare to climb onto their bikes Tim glances his way to say something but ends up yelling in alarm instead. “Hood watch out!”

It’s thanks to Jason’s reflexes that he’s able to duck underneath the swinging arm in time to avoid being hit. He brings his gun out and turns to face his attacker. His attacker is probably middle aged man, a little on the heavy side and he’s wearing a shitty Halloween mask to hide his face. Jason dodges another swing and returns the favour, he takes him out in three quick and precise strikes with his hands.

A loud grunt gets his attention and Jason spins around to find Tim caught in a head lock with a gun pressed against his temple. Tim’s attacker is too wearing a mask as were the four others who now surround them. Where they came from Jason has no idea. How the hell did they miss these guys who had obviously been waiting and hiding for them to return to their bikes?

As Jason levels his gun at Tim’s attacker the four others surrounding him also raise their guns pointing them in his direction, this concludes them all into a standoff.

Tim’s attacker speaks up first. “Put that gun down or I blow his brains out.”

Behind his mask Jason rolls his eyes. How fucking cliché? He keeps his gun up though, pointing at the man and in a cocky statement he takes the safety off with an audible click. The man holding Tim snorts as he had been expecting Jason’s disobedience.

“Very well. I’ll show you how this is going to go. You get one warning and mate, you’ve just used that warning.”

He kicks Tim’s legs out from underneath him and lets him go, unexpecting the abrupt movement Tim crashes to the floor. Once he’s sprawled out on the ground the attacker stamps on one of Tim’s hands, causing a rather loud and sickening crack to ring out. Jason winces as Tim yells in pain but before anyone could react further the same man manhandles Tim to his knees and resumes their previous position.

He cocks the gun and presses it to Tim’s head. “Now, if either of you act up, you’re gonna get a hurt whole lot worse than a broken hand. Now follow us. No funny business! Get his gun!”

One of the men come and wrench Jason’s gun out of his hand and all Jason could do was let him. He doesn’t want to risk Tim any more than he has to.

He and Tim are marched out of the alley and into another before being directed into an abandoned building. They’re walked into the middle of the room and forced down to their knees, once on the ground a couple of the thugs come over to grab their hands and tie them behind their backs. Jason grits his teeth and refrains from doing something like headbutting the asshole, while next to him Tim lets out a pained grunt as his broken hand is jostled.

When they step away Jason twists his body awkwardly to get a look at his restrained wrists to find them tied with cable ties. Jason huffs in disbelief. His attention is soon brought back to the room when one of the attackers speak up.

“Boss we got’em just like you asked.”

Jason straightens up when a new figure walks into the room only to grit his teeth seconds later when Scarecrow is revealed. The bastard doesn’t stop moving until he’s looming over them. Unable to help himself Jason speaks up, sarcasm heavily laced in his tone. “Same shit different day Crane. Why don’t you go and get yourself a new hobby, go for something like knitting perhaps.”

Crane turns his head towards Jason, his expression hidden by that stupid potato sack over his head. “You would like that wouldn’t you? If I were gone there would be nothing to fear. Perhaps that clown but nothing else.”

“Sorry to break it to you but you ain’t that scary.” Jason quips, glaring through his helmet.

“Maybe not right now but with a little help, I will be, I’ll become your greatest nightmare.” Crane reaches behind him and pulls out a box, he makes a show of opening it up and producing a syringe filled with a clear liquid. “A person can learn to control themselves when feeling great emotion, sadness, happiness, anger, but never in times of fear. Fear is the minds greatest enemy and that’s why it’s so powerful, why even the greatest of men fall.”

Jason watches as Crane drifts over to stand in front of Tim, his brother simply looks up with a hard and determined expression not saying anything. Crane fiddles with the syringe in his hands, studying Tim as he does.

“It won’t work. We’re not stupid Crane.” Jason says feeling dread build up inside of him. He knows what’s about to happen and he has feeling he knows exactly what Crane’s response is going to be.

“I know. That’s why I’m sure you’ve worked out that this is a different toxin I’ve produced to the one I’ve already distributed. One of which you don’t have an antidote for.”

For the first time Tim speaks up, snarling at the man in front of him. “Go to hell Crane.” Scarecrow doesn’t answer Tim, instead he reaches down and grabs a fist full of Tim’s hair and yanks his head back to expose his neck.

From his position Jason lurches at the movement, ready to pounce but it stopped when the thugs immediately zone in on him. Guns point at him and at Tim, simply daring him to make another move. Uselessly he settles back down on the ground.

Crane jabs the syringe into the kid’s neck and injects the liquid into Tim’s body. Once it’s empty he steps away, pushing Tim down to the ground as he does. Jason is torn between worriedly watching Tim’s unmoving form on the ground and Crane’s retreating figure from the room.

One of the thugs speak up. “Uh boss now what? We not killing the big one?”

“No.” Crane says firmly. “He has a choice to make, come after me and leave the other to suffer or help him and let me go.”

“You bastard!” Jason yells as Crane exits the room, disappearing from his sight. “You’ll be sorry you’ve left me alive! I will kill your ass when I next see it.”

Jason snaps his attention to Tim who is now whimpering on the floor. He needs to get help, he needs to get Tim to the cave so they can start working on a new antidote to whatever the hell Crane just injected him with.

With some difficulty, Jason twists and wiggles around so he can move to get his restrained hands in front of him. Using a move Dick once showed him, Jason tucks up tightly loops his arms underneath his body so they go underneath him and end up in front of him. It tests his flexibility for sure but it works.

Once his arms are in front of him he reaches up and presses the comms, getting Barbara’s help.

“O! I need immediate assistance!”

“Hood what’s going on, why did you and Red Robin go radio silent-”

Not having the patience Jason cuts her off. “Now’s not the time! We ran into Scarecrow and he injected Red with a new toxin. We need to get him to the cave asap.”

“Shit. I’m alerting the others now and sending them your location. Do what you can to help Red.”

“Already on it.”

Jason signs off and moves to break the cable ties around his wrists. He tightens them up as much as possible, raises his hands over his head and brings his fists down to his stomach in one fluid movement. Upon impact the ties break and his heads are freed.

Not wasting a second he scrambles over to Tim who is now starting to wither on the floor, whimpering pitiful sounds. Knowing there’s not much he can do, Jason decides to break the ties from Tim's own wrists, he’s aware of Tim’s broken hand but that’ll have to be dealt with later on.

At least that was his plan up until he puts a hand on Tim’s shoulder. As soon as Jason touches him, the kid freaks out. He lets out a scream of terror and suddenly jerks up right and starts to scramble away from him. Jason freezes in shock as he watches Tim try and move away from him, but the kid’s movements were hindered by his hands being tied behind him.

“No no no no. I’m sorry. Please I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. No no no. It won’t happen again I promise.”

The words were quiet and raspy but Jason could hear them clearly in the silence of the room. He needs to stop Tim from moving and also to prevent further damage to his hands. He cautiously approaches Tim again, crouching down low and taking slow steps forward, but at the moment Tim only sees him as a threat. The kid screams and continues to try and scramble backwards away from him.

“No no no! I’m sorry! Please don’t kill me…”

Jason frowns at the words as his heart lurches inside of his chest at the sound of Tim’s pleading voice. When he takes another step forward Tim only screams again, making Jason freeze on the spot. He really ought to get Tim to stop moving, Jason doesn’t particularly want to use force to get him to restrain his movements but he doesn’t think he has any choice.

Sighing Jason takes off his helmet, something he admittedly probably should have done before now, and approaches Tim again. As expected the kid screams and begs as he tries to shuffle away, his legs kicks out and his body contorts uncomfortably.

Pretty much out of options Jason lunges for Tim. He grabs the kid’s ankle to stop him from getting any further away before diving onto the floor and situating himself behind Tim. He wraps his legs around Tim’s thighs and knees, pinning them in place and he wraps his arms around Tim’s torso and shoulders. He holds on tightly as Tim tries and fails to buck out of his grasp.

While the kid screams in his arms all Jason could do is hold him and wait until backup comes. He counts the never ending minutes as they tick by. His brother is weakly fighting his hold while tears stream down his cheeks as he whimpers out pleas, it breaks Jason’s heart to hear it all.

Thankfully the cavalry soon arrive, they burst into the room and take in the scene before them. Both Dick and Bruce rush towards them and immediately start making plans.

“How long ago was he injected?” Bruce demands as he grasps Tim’s chin. Tim tries to get out of it but Bruce holds firm as he removes the kid’s mask and studies his dilated pupils.

“Twenty maybe thirty minutes. Right before O contacted you. Crane got away.” Jason reports automatically. He’s furious about Crane of course but family comes first, he couldn’t have left Tim alone in this state.

“Hold him still.” Bruce grunts as he digs through his utility belt. After a moment he produces a small blood sample kit. With quick efficiency Bruce takes a vial of Tim’s blood, caps it off and holds it out to Nightwing who had been hovering on the side but not getting in the way. Dick takes it without words. “Get a head start to the cave, Agent A is preparing to start a new antidote trial.”

Dick nods, his gaze lingers on Tim before his head tilts in Jason’s direction. “Keep me updated.” He disappears before Jason could respond. When Dick is out of sight his attention is drawn back to Tim and Bruce.

“We need to get him to the car and then to the cave. You’ll need to keep him restrained so he doesn’t hurt himself.”

If the situation were different Jason would both be peeved and even upset at the detachment in Bruce’s tone of voice. Unfortunately in this situation he can understand why Bruce is like it, not being emotionally invested will allow him to focus on the task at hand, which in this case happened to be getting Tim back to the cave and working on a new antidote. He’ll let himself feel everything once he knows Tim is safe and sound.

Together he and Bruce manage to get Tim into the batmobile. The kid does nothing other than scream, whimper, plead and cry as they move him. Jason makes sure to tell Bruce about his hand and once in the car Bruce relays the injury to Alfred in the cave. Once they’ve worked out the antidote they can work on his hand.

Getting back to the cave seems long and tedious but once they��re there they move Tim from the car and into the medical bay. They settle him down on one of the cots, having to restrain his wrists and ankles to the bed to stop him moving so much and Alfred updates them on the situation with the antidote.

They were fortunate enough to be able to come up with a temporary antidote in that short amount of time. It turns out Scarecrow hadn’t used a new toxin but rather the same one as before, the only difference in this one is that there are hints of Poison Ivy’s hallucinogen concoction. Dick and Alfred quickly worked together to combine the two antidotes making a new one altogether.

Without much hesitation they give Tim the new antidote and watch as the kid quietens down on the bed and falls unconscious. It’s only after Alfred deems everything is okay that they all can breathe somewhat easily again.

While Dick, Bruce, Jason and Barbara (over the comms) discuss the next steps and about what the current situation is looking like, Alfred stays with Tim and patches up his hand, fixing a cast over the skin and bone until they can get it looked at professionally.

As plans are being made Jason watches Alfred work, his worry for Tim still heavily stirring inside of him. He doesn’t think he’ll be forgetting those petrified screams any time soon. Once the kid wakes up Jason is going to have a long chat with Tim, one to rest his own subconscious and secondly because he wants to make sure the kid is mentally okay after the ordeal. He’ll make sure Tim gets some proper r&r after all of this and maybe even for himself too once Crane is dealt with.

[x--daughters-of-darkness--x]

EVANESCENCE Tour 'Hit By COVID'; Band Credits Being Vaccinated For Having Only Mild Symptoms

EVANESCENCE and HALESTORM have postponed their show tonight (Sunday, December 12) at the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio after the two bands' joint tour was "hit by COVID."

EVANESCENCE announced the concert postponement in a social media post earlier today. The band wrote: "Our tour has been hit by COVID and we are forced to postpone our show tonight in Cincinnati. We were able to reschedule the show for Monday, Dec. 20th, so hold onto your tickets! Be on the lookout for an email with additional information. Please be safe out there! See you soon."

EVANESCENCE added: "Even when you have every precaution in place, you can still get and transmit this virus. Grateful we are all vaccinated and nobody's symptoms are severe. Please be smart and stay safe this season, get the vax, wear a mask, care for one another. We will get through this together".

EVANESCENCE and HALESTORM's tour kicked off on November 5 at in Portland, Oregon and will run through December 18 in Worcester, Massachusetts.

EVANESCENCE and HALESTORM first toured together in 2012. EVANESCENCE singer Amy Lee later guested on the track "Break In" on HALESTORM's 2020 "Reimagined" EP and HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale lent backing vocals to the EVANESCENCE song "Use My Voice" and appeared in the accompanying music video.

EVANESCENCE is on tour supporting this year's "The Bitter Truth" album. HALESTORM is promoting its latest single, "Back From The Dead", which recently became the band's sixth No. 1 at rock radio.

[rebeccalouisaferguson]

TIFF also took the unusual step of announcing a few of the films that will screen in competition. They include Kenneth Branagh’s coming-of-age drama “Belfast”, Edgar Wright’s horror-thriller “Last Night In Soho,” and Alison Klayman’s Alanis Morissette documentary “Jagged.” Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” will get a special Imax screening, but will not be eligible for awards. The festival plans to reveal more selections by the third week of July and should have most of its slate locked down by the middle of August.

Variety spoke with Cameron Bailey, TIFF’s artistic director and co-head, and Joana Vicente, TIFF’s executive director and co-head, about the public health situation in Canada, the safety precautions they are taking to keep audiences healthy, and the 2021 lineup.

One staple of TIFF is the red carpet premieres and parties. Will those happen? Will filmmakers and stars still be on hand to introduce their movies?

Vicente: We are hoping to welcome talent in Toronto. I’m not sure parties are in the cards. But we think talent will be able to be celebrated and will get a chance to interact with audiences while showing their films.

Will you require people to provide proof of vaccination in order to attend in-person events? Will there be social distancing at screenings and other safety measures?

Vicente: We are looking at safety protocols like social distancing, masks, no concessions, no physical tickets. Right now, we are not looking at having people provide proof of vaccination, but as things evolve and things become more normal in Canada that may change. We know that in the U.S. festivals and sports are requiring proof of vaccine. We have to stay nimble and see how things evolve and we might need to adapt and adopt that.

What are you most looking forward to about the 2021 edition of TIFF?

Bailey: Maybe this is the movie geek in me, but I’m very excited to be presenting “Dune” at the very first Imax cinema ever built, the Cinesphere. It’s a big moment for us because Denis Villeneuve is really one of us. We’ve been presenting his films since the beginning. To see his success globally has been magnificent and it’s something we take pride in as part of the Canadian film industry. And he’s presenting his latest film in a Canadian technology — Imax was invented here. That’s a big moment. It touches film history for us in a nice way.

please read the whole article under the link

[babbushka]

I want to open this up for a civil discussion, and your opinion can be different from me or others, but with the CDC saying it’s fine when you’re vaccinated to no longer wear a mask or socially distance two weeks after your last dose is given, do you think vaccinated people should still be being cautious? I saw you repost about this and I didn’t know if that was before or after the CDC came out about it. And once again, I completely respect whatever you say, we’re all mature adults here :)

Hello! Sure I’m more than happy to share my thoughts! 

I think that the CDC lifting the mask mandate is exceedingly irresponsible and reckless. Memorial Day weekend is coming up soon, and considering we are only 36% fully vaccinated, with only 40% of the country having gotten their first shot, I personally foresee an issue. 

It’s important to remember that the vaccine is not 100% effective. It is pretty damn close at 99.8 or whatever the latest numbers are, and yes you are completely protected against death from COVID-19 if you’re fully vaccinated, but you can still get sick (look at the NY Yankees). You can still test positive for the virus. The virus can grow and mutate into different variants that your vaccine may not be able to fight. 

I know America is rife with entitlement (I mean just look at the panic-buying gas situation from a couple days ago that caused gasoline shortages for no reason other than people being selfish, or the toilet paper panic buying from last year), and I know that this lifting of the mandate is meant to encourage people to continue to think about themselves in the manner of “being vaccinated = no more masks”, but all it’s going to do is allow people to be selfish in the different manner of “I’m going to lie and say that I’m fully vaccinated because we’re basing this on an honor system that I can and will exploit.” 

We’re already seeing people make fake vaccination cards. We’ve already seen those fake “I have a disability so I can’t wear a mask” cards. People who want to be contrarian, who want to buy into conspiracy theories, who want to push false narratives and spread misinformation are already exploiting every loophole they can -- and now the CDC has given them essentially the biggest loophole they could. People who are staunch anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers already weren’t following the mandate, but at least when the mandate was in place, violations could be enforced.

Of course whether or not private businesses continue to enforce mask mandates is up to them, but large corporations are already announcing they won’t be requiring them. So, where does this leave us?

It leaves us with a false sense of security. The pandemic is not over. The virus is not gone. We have only just approved the pfizer vaccine for children. And with the removal of social distancing mandates, mask mandates, and rampant anti-vax conspiracies and campaigns, there is almost no way we will be able to achieve herd immunity (which is said to be at ~70% vaccination, as a reminder, we’re only at 36%). 

Those of us who are fully vaccinated may feel like we’re on top of the world, but this thing isn’t over yet. You may be protected, but you can still pass the virus to others. There are almost 600,000 Americans dead from our own entitlement and selfishness as a nation. We have just finally begun the steps necessary to cull that number and work towards eradicating this thing like we did Polio. 

And it’s working! People getting vaccinated is working! Please please if you’re reading this and you have vaccine hesitancy, I promise you it’s alright. People who are vaccinated are helping stop the spread, they’re not getting sick -- but only in conjunction with these other measures like wearing your masks, washing your hands, and keeping a safe distance. When we remove the requirements for these other measures, when we stop being vigilant, the spread moves quicker again. 

TLDR; All of this is to say that I’m not going to stop being cautious. I’m not going to stop wearing my masks (and I say masks plural because I do wear 2) until a greater number of people are vaccinated. I’m not going to stop keeping my distance. Now is not the time to party recklessly. Now is the time to buckle down more than ever before and do what is right for our country, protecting our most vulnerable. 

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

August 3, 2021

Heather Cox Richardson

First, let’s get the obvious out of the way: former president Trump has raised $102 million since he left office, but aside from a recent donation of $100,000 to his chosen candidate in a Texas race which is not yet in the public disclosures (she lost), has spent none of it on anything or anyone but himself. Since January, he has convinced donors to fund his challenge to Biden’s election and to fund Trump-like candidates in the midterm elections. But election filings and a release of donors to the Arizona “audit” show he has not put any money toward either. So far, about $8 million has gone to the former president’s legal fees, while funds have also gone to aides.

The second piece of news that is surprising and yet not surprising is an ABC story revealing that on December 28, 2020, the then-acting pro-Trump head of the civil division of the Department of Justice, Jeffrey Clark, tried to get then–acting attorney general Jeffrey Rosen and acting deputy attorney general Richard Donoghue to sign a letter saying: “The Department of Justice is investigating various irregularities in the 2020 election for President of the United States. The Department will update you as we are able on investigatory progress, but at this time we have identified significant concerns that may have impacted the outcome of the election in multiple States, including the State of Georgia.”

It went on to say, “While the Department of Justice believe[s] the Governor of Georgia should immediately call a special session to consider this important and urgent matter, if he declines to do so, we share with you our view that the Georgia General Assembly has implied authority under the Constitution of the United States to call itself into special session for [t]he limited purpose of considering issues pertaining to the appointment of Presidential Electors.”

The letter then made the point clearer, saying the Georgia legislature could ignore the popular vote and appoint its own presidential electors.

This is classic Trump: try to salt the media with the idea of an “investigation,” and then wait for the following frenzy to convince voters that the election was fraudulent. Such a scheme was at the heart of Trump’s demand that Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky announce an investigation into Hunter Biden, and the discrediting of 2016 Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton over an investigation into her use of a private email server.

In this case, Donoghue and Rosen wanted no part of this antidemocratic scheme. Donoghue told Clark that there was no evidence of fraud that would have changed the outcome of the election and wrote: “There is no chance that I would sign this letter or anything remotely like this.” Rosen agreed, saying “I am not prepared to sign such a letter.”

The less obvious story today is the more interesting one.

Trump and his loyalists feed off Americans who have been dispossessed economically since the Reagan revolution that began in 1981 started the massive redistribution of wealth upward. Those disaffected people, slipping away from the secure middle-class life their parents lived, are the natural supporters of authoritarians who assure them their problems come not from the systems leaders have put in place, but rather from Black people, people of color, and feminist women.

President Joe Biden appears to be trying to combat this dangerous dynamic not by trying to peel disaffected Americans away from Trump and his party by arguing against the former president, but by reducing the pressure on those who support him.

A study from the Niskanen Center think tank shows that the expanded Child Tax Credit, which last month began to put up to $300 per child per month into the bank accounts of most U.S. households with children, will primarily benefit rural Americans and will give a disproportionately large relative boost to their local economies. According to the Washington Post’s Greg Sargent, “the...nine states that will gain the most per capita from the expanded child allowance are all red states.”

The White House noted today that the bipartisan infrastructure deal it has pushed so hard not only will bring high-speed internet to every household in the U.S., but also has within it $3.5 billion to reduce energy costs for more than 700,000 low-income households.

Also today, after pressure from progressive Democrats, especially Representative Cori Bush (D-MO), who led a sit-in at the Capitol to call for eviction relief, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that in counties experiencing high levels of community transmission of Covid-19, it is extending until October 3 the federal moratorium on evictions that ended this weekend. It is doing so as a public health measure, but it is also an economic one. It should help about 90% of renters—11 million adults—until the government helps to clear the backlog of payments missed during the pandemic by disbursing more of the $46 billion Congress allocated for that purpose.

Today, the president called out Republican governors who have taken a stand against mask wearing and vaccine mandates even as Covid-19 is burning across the country again. Currently, Florida and Texas account for one third of all new Covid cases in the entire country, and yet their Republican governors, Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott, are signing legislation to keep Floridians and Texans unmasked and to prevent vaccine mandates. Biden said that he asks “these governors, ‘Please, help.’ But if you aren’t going to help, at least get out of the way of the people who are trying to do the right thing. Use your power to save lives.”

At a Democratic National Committee fundraiser last night, Biden told attendees that Democrats “have to keep making our case,” while Republicans offer “nothing but fear, lies, and broken promises.” “We have to keep cutting through the Republican fog,” he said, “that the government isn't the problem and show that we the people are always the solution.” He continued, “We've got to demonstrate that democracies can work and protect.”

—-

Notes:

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/03/trump-spending-millions-gop-candidates-502233

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-backed-candidate-ballot-us-house-runoff-texas-2021-07-27/

https://abcnews.go.com/US/doj-officials-rejected-colleagues-request-intervene-georgias-election/story

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/08/02/gop-scamming-rural-trump-voters-continues-new-study-shows-latest/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/08/03/fact-sheet-top-10-programs-in-the-bipartisan-infrastructure-investment-and-jobs-act-that-you-may-not-have-heard-about/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/08/03/remarks-by-president-biden-on-fighting-the-covid-19-pandemic/

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0803-cdc-eviction-order.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/03/cdc-will-extend-the-federal-eviction-moratorium-through-oct-3.html

https://news.yahoo.com/dnc-fundraiser-biden-accuses-gop-123000070.html

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/08/02/remarks-by-president-biden-at-a-virtual-fundraising-reception-for-the-democratic-national-committee/

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/03/cori-bush-eviction-crisis-502313

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[newagesispage]

                                                                AUGUST    2021

THE RIB  PAGE

Fran Drescher is running for National SAG-AFTRA President with Anthony Rapp as secretary treasurer for Unite for Strength!!! Matthew Modine is running under Membership first with Joely Fisher for Secretary Treasurer. Running in local elections are, among others, Yvette Nicole Brown, Shari Belafonte, Rosie O’Donnell, Jeff Garlin, Ezra Knight, Dule Hill, Camryn Manheim, Sara Rue, Mindy Cohn and Ever Carradine. Sept. 2 is the day!** Frances Fisher filed a suit against SAG-AFTRA over the health care plan but a judge rejected it.

*****

Sha’Carri Richardson’s problem is all our problem. No more drug testing for Mary Jane in this country!

*****

Chuck Schumer finally unveiled the Cannabis administration opportunity act to end Federal prohibition of marijuana.

*****

Dolly Parton used the $10 mil + in royalties from the Whitney Houston version of her song to invest in a black neighborhood in Nashville.

*****

Bob Balaban and Henry Winkler play brothers in The French Dispatch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t wait for October 22!!!!!!!!!!!!** The next Wes Anderson film will star Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Adrien Brody and Tom Hanks. No other details are out there yet.

*****

Trees save lives in heat waves.

*****

TBS will bring us n updated Stupid Pet Tricks with Sarah Silverman.

*****

So much organized religion is based on forgeries, fakes and plundering. Virtually none of it is based on any sort of truth, spiritual or even historical. Just lies to fulfill an agenda and control the masses. And so far it has worked. –Larry Charles

*****

Scarlett Johansen has sued Disney cuz her contract guaranteed a theatrical release only.

*****

An expert on the circus industry recently reached out to me and urged me to not compare Trump and his comeback tour to clowns and the circus, as that is an insult to clowns. –Jim Acosta

*****

Eric Adams has won the Dem primary for Mayor in NY.

*****

Have you seen High on the Hog?? It’s awesome!!

*****

Jeff Flake will be ambassador to Turkey.

*****

Cornell West resigned from Harvard with a scathing letter accusing the school of “intellectual and spirited bankruptcy of deep depths.”

*****

Biden gave a hell of a speech in Philly. He needed to go on more about the filibuster but he was passionate about the For the People act and the John Lewis voting rights advancement act.  He roared, “Peddlers of lies are threatening the very foundation of our country.”

*****

Will Celebrity Dating Game continue? I am sure they think romance expert, Michael Bolton is a cute and quirky thing to do but not so much. If it stays, I hope they change the music, at least those final notes. And why are half of the questions, “Who am I?” The show could be cute but they need a little work!!

*****

Jeff Bezos donated $200 mil to the Smithsonian air and space museum.**Feminists everywhere winced when Gayle King was interviewing the Bezos space team.  Bezos commented about the 18 year old going with them into space and that he was just worried about the prom at 18. Gayle said “And I was just hoping for a date to the prom.”** But we have to love Wally Funk, the oldest woman to go into space.**Bezos thanked the Amazon employees and customers for paying for his trip. Yikes!**  Saw a great sign: Pay fair taxes, end hunger, help people, end poverty, save Earth or fly to space.

*****

Antonio Banderas and Harrison Ford will star in Indiana Jones 5.

*****

Zsa Zsa Gabor’s ashes were laid to rest 5 years after her death.

*****

The Britney conservatorship mess is still going thru the courts, and now topless?

*****

Pope Francis underwent colon surgery which caused him to comment on the need for good health care for all.

*****

Questlove brings us Summer of Soul!!!

*****

Reports show that about 150 people were killed by guns in more than 400 shootings during the 4th.

*****

Has anybody ever built a show around the Tex Watson tapes?? The LAPD apparently liked to deny them but there was a book.

*****

Henry Hall is out with his debut album, Neato, along with a tour.

*****

Do all male law enforcement officers have to be bald now?

*****

Idaho has begun an eradication campaign that could slash the number of gray wolves living in the state by 90%.

*****

Hooray for the monthly child tax credit!!

*****

Release Me 2 from Barbra Streisand is due out August 6.

*****

The look into the Jan. 6 insurrection has begun. Kinzinger and Cheney are in. **Tucker Carlson attacked Harry Dunn, a Capitol officer on air. The man protected Carlson’s son, a House staffer.** On Jan. 5, the Steve Bannon podcast went like this: All Hell is going to break loose tomorrow. Just understand this. It’s gonna be moving. It’s gonna be quick.** Why is mainstream media putting nearly all eggs in the Covid and Olympic baskets and only a few on the insurrection hearing?

*****

Why do so many that call America , “great” seem to hate it?? How can one love this country and not want majority rule, not want democracy??

*****

The Emmy noms are out: Lovecraft Country was nominated even though it has been cancelled.  Also hooray for Pose, The Flight attendant and for Conan!! Lead actor is a tough category with Matthew Rhys, Billy Porter and Rege-Jean Page. Aidy Bryant and Jean Smart got lead and supporting noms. I have to route for Ewan McGregor and Anya Taylor-Joy. I am excited for Paul Reiser, Bowen Yang, Evan Peters, Carl Weathers, Renee Elise Golsberry, Dave Chappelle, Helena Bonham Carter and Daniel Levy. There is love for Yvette Nicole Brown, Issa Rae and Maya Rudolph. The Masked Singer got a few noms. The doc category included Tina, Allen V. Farrow and The Bee Gees. Friends: The reunion got 4.

*****

“Voting is not supposed to be easy. That’s what our men died for.”- Jack Finger

*****

Giant Pandas are no longer endangered.

*****

Zalia Avante- Garde is the 93rd Scripps National Spelling Bee Champ.** I’m more impressed by the girl who won the Spelling Bee than the billionaire who went to space. –Mike Jollett.

*****

Why do they have to run erectile dysfunction ads during true crime rape episodes? ** And why do people still say things like, “this just don’t happen here” or “dumped like a piece of trash? “ There have to be other things to say.

*****

Tom Barrack, chairman of the inaugural committee for Trump was arrested for foreign lobbying shenanigans. America first, right?** Wilbur Ross lied to congress about the census and the Trump administration declined to prosecute.** Stephen Calk, bank exec was found guilty of trying to get a WH position by giving Manafort millions in loans.

*****

Jake Ellzey won the Texas special election run off for congress, beating out Trump’s girl Susan Wright.

*****

Every city should have a Peacemobile!!!!!

*****

The Chinese government has been called out for malicious cyber -attacks.  Four officials have been indicted in California.

*****

Miracle Workers’ Simon Rich was there when FB was invented and was so creeped out by people using it to stalk women.

*****

There was a story in Rolling Stone about how Eric Clapton threatened to cancel shows if the venue required proof of vaccines. Valerie Bertinelli tweeted: Once a dick, always a dick.

*****

Every Fox news host is vaccinated. –Mikel Jollett

*****

Toyota has dropped out of Olympic ads.  Contenders are starting to drop out due to positive Covid tests.

*****

Actor Isaiah Stokes has been indicted for murder.

*****

Lionsgate has bought the rights to Clerks 3.

*****

Ready or not, here come the Olympics.- Harry Shearer

*****

The Cleveland Indians will now be the Cleveland Guardians.

*****

A bust of KKK leader Nathan Bedford Forrest was taken out of the Tennessee capitol.

*****

American Housewife was sold into syndication.

*****

The poorest zip codes include Erie, Pennsylvania, Decatur and the south end of Peoria, il, Canton, Oh, Waterbury, Ct., Bonsecour, Al. and Elpaso, Tx.

*****

Issa Rae married Louis Diame.

*****

The court of appeals disqualified Judge John W. Ouderkirk from the Jolie- Pitt divorce because of a business relationship with Pitt’s attorney.

*****

Joe Manchin owns a coal company.

*****

The Hollywood walk of fame has welcomed Jimmy Smits, Kathie Lee Gifford and 90 year old Marla Gibbs. Terry Crews is next!

*****

Generation after generation of women love the bad boy.  Do they never learn? I will never understand, please explain.

*****

Pelosi rejected 2 of the noms to serve on the special committee looking into Jan. 6. Kevin McCarthy withdrew his 5 noms.

*****

The gun that killed Billy the Kid is for sale.

*****

I think you should leave with Tim Robinson on Netflix is hilarious if U get thru the gross. U can’t miss the episode with Clifton Davis and Fred Willard!!

*****

Joaquin Phoenix is trying to get some bears from a traveling show moved to an accredited sanctuary. The Bearadise Ranch in Florida has been cited for, “violating state wildlife laws.”

*****

Go employees Go!! Frito Lay is on strike, Coal miners are on strike and Ride Share drivers are on strike. A good portion of this country should be on strike. The top of the corporate ladder needs to learn! Let those that treat us fair rise to the top.

*****

Who owns Brett Kavanaugh?

*****

A Bishop seeking to deny Biden communion was caught on Grindr.

*****

Gabriel Jagger married Anouk Winzenried.** I don’t know why the Rolling Stones bass player doesn’t just change his name to “not pictured.” –Michael Mckean

*****

Frank Fritz will not be back on American Pickers.

*****

For the first time, astronomers have seen behind a black hole. Einstein predicted the gravitational pull of black holes is so enormous that they warp the very fabric of space. He was right. Scientists have now spotted light which was being emitted by the far side of the black hole.

*****

Look for Heels on Starz.

*****

What is this new screen for Amazon? It sucks.

*****

Biden has signed an executive order to protect infrastructure from cyber- attacks.

*****

Arthur was canceled.

*****

The Kennedy Center has revealed the latest honorees. The 44th class is Justin Diaz, Berry Gordy, Lorne Michaels, Bette Midler and Joni Mitchell and will be held on Dec. 5.

*****

Get well Bob Odenkirk!!!! The fabulous Odenkirk collapsed on the set of Better call Saul from a minor heart attack.

*****

Days alert: We have lost Days of Our Lives first director, Joseph Behar.  He will be missed.** Marla Ginns is joining the cast as Paulina’s Mother. ** Is EJ throwing Sami out? Will AJ McLean join the cast? **Rex is back.**Peacock is bringing us a limited series, Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem that will send many couples on romantic vacations and lead to intrigue. Lisa Rinna will star.** Arianna Zucker (Nicole) is set to marry Shawn Christian (former Daniel).  He popped the question on Father’s Day.

*****

R.I.P. President Jovenel Moise, Philece Sampler, Robert Downey Sr., Richard Donner, flood victims of Belgium and Germany,  Robby Steinhardt, Covid victims, Joseph Behar, Robert Moses, Jackie Mason, Dusty Hill, joey Jordison, Priscilla McMillan, Ron Popeil, Carl Levin, Saginaw Grant and Charles Robinson.

[96thdayofrage]

The Fake “Delta Variant” and the Fourth Wave: Another Lockdown? Upcoming Financial Crash? Worldwide Economic and Social Sabotage?

Is a new worldwide lockdown envisaged as a means to combating the “dangerous” Covid variant entitled “Delta”?

The fear campaign has once more gone into high gear.

Let me briefly review the history of this crisis.

There is a sequence of outright lies and fabrications used to justify far-reaching policy decisions in the course of the last 18 months.

The biggest lie, which is firmly acknowledged both by scientific opinion and the WHO is that the RT-PCR test used to “detect” the spread of the virus (as well as the variants) is not only flawed but TOTALLY INVALID. (Michel Chossudovsky, Chapter III)

From the outset in January 2020, all far-reaching policy decisions upheld and presented to the public as a “means to saving lives” were based on  flawed and invalid RT-PCR case positives coupled with false mortality data pertaining to Covid-19 related deaths: “The underlying Cause of death” is Covid-19 “more often or not”. No autopsy required

These Covid “estimates” were used to justify confinement, social distancing, the face mask, the prohibition of social gatherings, cultural and sports events, the closure of economic activity.

The crisis was marked by several important phases:

1. Crisis in Air Travel and International Transport

The calling of a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) by the WHO Director General on January 30, 2020 was instrumental in launching the coronal crisis. There were 83 positive cases outside China out of a population of 6.4 billion. There was no emergency:  Ironically, the flawed and invalid RT-PCR test was used to estimate those 83 positive cases.

On the following day president Trump’s ordered the closing down of air travel with China which marked the onset of a crisis in International Air Travel and Transport which has extended its grip over a period of 18 months leading to the bankruptcy of airline companies Worldwide, the destruction of the tourist industry, a major crisis in commodity trade, etc.  This was a deliberate act to précipitate the demise of Air Travel Worldwide. There were 5 positive cases in the US, which were used to justify Trump’s decision on  January 31st, 2020.

2. The  February Financial Crash on February 20, 2020

It was the most serious financial crisis in World history, far surpassing that of 1929. It occurred immediately following “warnings” by the WHO that a covid-19 pandemic was imminent, thereby spearheading the fear campaign. There was  ample evidence of outright “conflict of interest” and fraud including foreknowledge, inside information, etc. which resulted in a massive concentration of money wealth by a handful of billionaires. That same day, millions of people Worldwide lost their lifelong savings. What was the justification for the WHO’s shock and awe statements. This imminent threat was based on 1078 (flawed) RT-PCR Covid positive cases outside China.

3. Barely three weeks later, the March 11, 2020 lockdown with 44,279 cases Worldwide outside China were used to justify home confinement, social distancing and the closure of economic activity Worldwide leading to poverty and mass unemployment.

And then in early November 2020 it was the launching of the MRNA “Killer Vaccine” which has resulted in a trend of mortality and morbidity. See the latest figures below.

EU/EEA/Switzerland to 28 August 2021 – 23,252 Covid-19 injection related deaths and 2,166,285 injuries, per EudraVigilance Database.

UK to 18 August 2021 – 1,609 Covid-19 injection related deaths and 1,165,636 injuries, per MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.

USA to 20 August 2021 – 13,627 Covid-19 injection related deathsand 2,932,001 injuries, per VAERS database.

TOTAL for EU/UK/USA – 38,488 Covid-19 injection related deaths and 6,263,922 injuries reported as at 30 August 2021.

Nota Bene: It is important to be aware that the official figures above (reported to the health authorities) are but a small percentage of the actual figures. Furthermore, people continue to die (and suffer injury) from the injections with every day which passes. See D4CE Statement

And now, starting in May-June 2021, we have the Delta Variant. It’s the new talking point.

The alleged dangers of the Delta Variant are being used to speed up the vaccination program as well as the imposition of the vaccine passport.

“A Fourth Wave” has already been announced.

Is a second Worlwide lockdown on the drawing board, requiring stay at home confinement, social distancing and the closure of economic activity coupled with another devastating financial crash similar to that which occurred on Black Thursday March 12, 2020?

The Deadly Variants Sustained by Media Disinformation and Fake Science

Media disinformation is a deadly weapon which sustains 24/7 the illusion of a dangerous SARS-2 Delta Variant.

First identified last year in India, The SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant was  “thought to have driven the deadly second wave of infections this summer in India”. According to so-called “scientific opinion” it is now said to be spreading worldwide, to some 80 countries.

“Here’s the deal: The Delta variant is more contagious, it’s deadlier, and it’s spreading quickly around the world – leaving young, unvaccinated people more vulnerable than ever.”

That’s a lie.  The original virus categorized by the WHO and the CDC as “similar to seasonal influenza” is not a killer virus. Moreover, virus variants are always “less vigilant” and “less dangerous” than the original virus.

Joe Biden’s proposed “solution” is  “the Killer Vaccine”, which has already in the course of the last seven months resulted in countless deaths and injuries.

“Please, get vaccinated if you haven’t already. Let’s head off this strain before it’s too late.” (emphasis added)

Health authorities are now claiming that the new cases of the Delta B1.617 variant, increase the risk of hospitalization by 2.7 times.

What is the “science” behind these assertions.

Ferguson’s Infamous Lockdown “Mathematical Model”

Ferguson’s March 2020 mathematical model based on “predictions” of 600,000 deaths in the UK borders on ridicule. It’s more than a lie. It’s a crime against humanity. It was used by the financial establishment as a justification to trigger economic and social chaos Worldwide. Ferguson’s endeavors have been generously funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The economic and social devastation of the March 2020 so-called lockdown is beyond description: 190 member states of the United Nations accepted to “close down” their national economy coupled with the face mask, social distancing and the derogation of fundamental human rights.

The stated intent was to protect people against V the Virus. The March 11 lockdown was followed by the Black Thursday “financial crash” (March 12, 2020), which created havoc on stock markets Worldwide. The March 11, 2020 lockdown was heralded as a means to containing the alleged “pandemic”. Nonsense.

“Mathematical Model” in Support of a “Fourth Wave”

And now a second authoritative “mathematical model” is being put forth to “justify” another lockdown.

The same “scientist” (Ferguson) has been called upon to design a new “mathematical model” which is being used to justify a “Fourth Wave Lockdown”.

The erroneous “assumption” behind the modelling exercise is that the Delta Variant is “deadly”.

“New modelling for the government’s SAGE committee of experts [to which Ferguson belongs] has highlighted the risk of a “substantial third wave” of infections and hospitalisations, ….” The official outlook is “now more pessimistic”.  (BBC Report, June 2021, emphasis added).

According to Prof Neil Ferguson:

“the Delta variant of coronavirus is 30% to 100% more transmissible than the previously dominant variant”. (quoted by the Guardian).

Where does Ferguson get his data and estimates? The flawed and invalid RT-PCR test?

What he fails to mention is that virus variants are always “less vigilant” and “less dangerous” in comparison to the original virus. And how does he establish the “identity” of the original virus?

Both British and UK officials are intimating the possibility of a Fourth Wave lockdown, tentatively scheduled for next Autumn.

According to Britain’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty (member of the SAGE Committee)

“The NHS needs to brace itself for another difficult winter ahead, with the possibility of a further “very significant Covid surge”.

According to the SPI-M modelling sub-group of the government’s SAGE panel (to which Whitty and Ferguson belong):

“restrictions would have to be reintroduced”. … the Delta variant posed a “higher risk of hospitalisations”

These announcements are frivolous. Their intent is to justify drastic policy measures (lockdown, mask, social distancing, closure of economic activity, disruption of health services) as well as the speeding up of the vaccination programme and the repression of the protest movement.

Moreover, the statements by British, US and EU health officials regarding the so-called spread of “the more infectious Delta variant” are now also being used to justify the implementation of  “Fourth Wave” lockdown policies internationally in a large number of countries.

The World Economic Forum to the Rescue

The World Economic Forum (WEF) which represents the financial elites, played a key role in the launching of the March 11, 2020 lockdown. And now what they are saying is that another devastating Worldwide economic and social crisis is likely to occur in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In recent developments, the World Economic Forum (WEF) which co-sponsored Event 201, the table top simulation of the corona pandemic together with John Hopkins and the Gates Foundation in October 2019, is now involved in another strategic exercise entitled Concept 2021. The latter is described as an “international capacity building initiative aimed at raising the global cyber resilience”.  It is not a table top simulation comparable to Event 201.

Last year it was conducted at the height of the lockdown via video conferencing. This year the 2021 Conference “discussed the “key risks of digitalisation”.

Those participating in the Cyber Polygon Exercise (2020) included high tech companies including IBM, numerous banks and financial institutions, internet companies, cyber security agencies, corporate and government media, think tanks, law enforcement agencies including Interpol with representatives from 48 countries. The exercise is an obvious means to secure reliable partners and develop strategic alliances. In this regard, there were numerous representatives from Russia and countries of the former Soviet Union, including major Russian banking interests, communications and media companies. All in all 42 partners. No corporate /governmental partner from China.

There was also a training program with 200 teams from 48 countries.

Klaus Schwab, founder and Executive Director of the WEF and architect of the “Great Reset” describes the crisis scenario as follows:

“The frightening scenario of a comprehensive cyber attack could bring a complete halt to the power supply, transportation, hospital services, our society as a whole. The COVID-19 crisis would be seen in this respect as a small disturbance in comparison to a major cyberattack.” (emphasis added)

Jeremy Jurgens, WEF Managing Director:

“I believe that there will be another crisis. It will be more significant. It will be faster than what we’ve seen with COVID. The impact will be greater, and as a result the economic and social implications will be even more significant.” (emphasis added)

The implications of these bold “predictions” which represent the interests of the financial establishment are far-reaching.

What they describe is a scenario of economic and social chaos involving the disruption of communications systems, the internet, financial and money transactions (including SWIFT), the power grid, global transportation, commodity trade, etc., as well as likely “geopolitical dislocations”.

The opening session (July 2021) of Cyber Polygon 2021 was conducted (video below) by the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin together with the Director General of the WEF Klaus Schwab.

Is this scenario a dress rehearsal for a forthcoming cyber crisis?

Why was China excluded from the Cyber Polygon Exercise? The major partners were from the former Soviet block.

Is the Covid Agenda Part of  A U.S. Hegemonic Project?

Is the covid crisis engineered by the financial establishment part of a hegemonic project, pertaining to control over strategic sectors of the global economy as described by the WEF director general Klaus Schwab?

It’s an act of economic warfare?

It’s “imperialism with a human face”, committed to “saving lives”.

Visibly, it is part of President Joe Biden’s foreign policy agenda. It has geopolitical and strategic implications.

US intelligence and the Pentagon (including DARPA) as well as NATO are directly or indirectly involved in the corona crisis. Cyber Warfare is already on the drawing-board.

The March 11, 2020 Lockdown leading to closure of national economies Worldwide has also been instrumental in   destabilizing several countries which are categorized as “Enemies of America”.

No need for Washington to impose piecemeal sanctions on Iran, Venezuela and Cuba. These countries have endorsed the covid narrative. They have accepted the “ultimate sanction”, namely the closure of their national economy as a means to combating “V the virus”.

The situation in Cuba is particularly dramatic. Resulting from the March 2020 lockdown, Cuba’s tourist industry which constitutes the country’s main source of foreign exchange is destroyed. Since the 1980s, the forex revenues from tourism have been used to import food. And now as a result of the closure of the tourist industry, Cuba is experiencing serious food shortages.

Yet the Cuban government has accepted the “Big Lie” and has endorsed the lockdown which is literally destroying the achievements of the Cuban Revolution.

And unfortunately progressive intellectuals are totally blind. They are not only supportive of the Covid narrative, they fail to understand how the Covid lockdown policies as well as the deadly mRNA vaccine are being used to destabilize and destroy countries one after the other. These countries are now fully controlled by Western creditors and the billionaire foundations.

Engineered economic and social chaos. Is that not part of a US hegemonic project?

[tinyshe]

The global COVID response is simply the exercise of absolute power instead of science For bureaucrats and politicians, gaining power and compelling submission are victory enough, even when their policies fail to vanquish a virus.

Tue Aug 31, 2021 - 2:03 pm EDT  

(American Institute for Economic Research) – Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown champions have perennially invoked “science and data” to sanctify any mandate politicians impose. Hard facts have recently shown that neither vaccines nor face masks provide surefire protection against the virus. But no amount of evidence has yet shaken faith in the magic of absolute power.

COVID policies are increasingly degenerating to the equivalent of sacrificing virgins to appease angry viral gods. New Zealand on August 24 imposed a nationwide lockdown in response to a single COVID case in the capital city. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ordered her captive citizenry: “Do not congregate, don’t talk to your neighbors. Please keep to your bubble.” Arden asserted that “complying with these rules, making sure we do all we can to stamp it out, still remains the best strategy in the world right now.” Ardern did not deign to explain why almost no place else in the world, including places with vastly more COVID cases, sought to outlaw everyday conversations.

In Australia, the military is patrolling city streets to enforce the latest lockdown. Daniel Andrews, the Premier of the state of Victoria, recently decreed: “There will be no removal of masks to consume alcohol outdoors.” One Aussie lamented, “My business has been forcibly closed. Everyone has been sent home without pay. We are banned from leaving our homes except for the 5 reasons given by the Government.”

There is no “science” to justify prohibiting Australians from going more than 2 miles from their home. But New Zealand and Australia presume that no one will be safe unless government officials have jurisdiction over every breath that citizens take.

In the United States, many of the same pundits and activists who howled about the evils of “microaggressions” are now cheering for the government to forcibly inject everyone with a COVID vaccine. Biden publicly declared that he is checking to see if he has the power to force everyone to get injected.

Biden endorsed the vaccination passports that some cities have already imposed. Radio host Grant Stinchfield commented, in Los Angeles “you can [defecate] on the street, shoot drugs in crack tent on the sidewalk and even steal anything less then (sic) 900 bucks but now you have to show papers to get in a restaurant or gym!?!?” New York City’s passport regime effectively bans the majority of blacks from many activities of daily life, since they have a much lower vaccination rate than other groups.

Far greater restrictions may be on the horizon. The Associated Press reported that the Biden administration is considering “mandating vaccines for interstate travel” but is delaying any such decree until “Americans were ready for the strong-arming from the federal government.” A top former Homeland Security official has called for placing anyone who is not fully vaccinated on the No Fly list, thereby expanding the list to scores of millions of people and creating new havoc for air travel. Biden administration officials have offered no evidence that such restrictions would end the pandemic but it would permit the president to demonstrate the same machismo that President Nixon showed with his illegal invasion of Cambodia in 1970.

Politicians’ anti-COVID recommendations increasingly resemble frightened soldiers shooting at any noise they hear in the dark. NIH Director Francis Collins recently condemned the “epidemic of misinformation, disinformation, distrust that is tearing us apart.” But much of the misinformation has stemmed directly from the Biden administration’s flip-flops and fearmongering. On August 3, Collins announced during a CNN interview that “parents of unvaccinated kids should… wear masks” in their own homes. He conceded: “I know that’s uncomfortable, I know it seems weird, but it is the best way to protect your kids.” A few hours later, Collins recanted on Twitter, perhaps after other political appointees persuaded him to stop sounding like a blithering idiot.

COVID misinformation started at the top. In a CNN Town Hall last month, Biden declared, “You’re not going to get COVID if you have these vaccinations.” Biden administration officials kept reciting the “pandemic of the unvaccinated” refrain long after it became clear that vaccines were rapidly failing to prevent the spread of COVID. On August 8, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky finally admitted: “What [COVID vaccines] can’t do any more is prevent transmission.” Helluva asterisk. Prior to that, the Biden administration even refused to disclose the number of “breakthrough” infections that had occurred among White House staff. Prof. Eric Topol complained that the CDC’s false statements on COVID risks was a “blatant failure putting millions of vaccinated Americans at unnecessary risk for breakthrough infections.”

On Thursday, a front page Washington Post article castigated the CDC for withholding COVID information from the public, noting that its “overly rosy assessments of the vaccines’ effectiveness against delta may have lulled Americans into a false sense of security.” Tom Frieden, former CDC director under Obama, suggested that the long delays in disclosure led some people to “wonder if the CDC is hiding results.” CDC Director Walensky responded to the debacle by promising “to develop a new forecasting and outbreak analytics center to analyze data in real time,” the Post reported. The CDC apparently did not previously consider it worthwhile to spend any of its $8 billion annual budget on such a project.

The Biden administration has sought to blame the resurgence of COVID on scofflaws who did not submit to every revised command. The Official Enemies List has expanded from those not wearing a mask to those resisting getting vaccinated, and it will soon include those who balk at getting a third (and fourth? fifth?) injection.

 The biggest expansion of the Enemies List occurred on August 13, when the Department of Homeland Security issued a terrorist alert, warning law enforcement agencies that “anti-government/anti-authority violent extremists could exploit… potential re-establishment of public health restrictions across the United States as a rationale to conduct attacks.” Anyone who loudly objects to being locked back under house arrest will be the moral equivalent of the Taliban, or maybe Hezbollah. Previous federal driftnets for potential troublemakers expanded far beyond individuals who threatened violence. The feds may already be compiling vast lists of COVID critics that could come in handy at some future point.

But at least government officials now recognize the real enemy. COVID Czar Tony Fauci recently declared, “I know people must like to have their individual freedom… but I think that we’re in such a serious situation now, that… mandates should be done.” Fauci predicts that once the FDA rushes its formal approval of the COVID vaccines, there will be far more mandates imposed on Americans. The fact that the efficacy of the Pfizer vaccine has fallen to 42% is irrelevant. A vaccine isn’t a failure as long as the government can force everyone to get additional injections.

The primary “evidence” for most COVID policies is the job title of the government official issuing the decree. As University of California San Francisco professor of medicine Vinay Prasad wrote last month, “When it comes to non-pharmacologic interventions such as mandatory business closures, mask mandates, and countless other interventions, the shocking conclusion of the last 18 months is this: We have learned next to nothing.”

Prasad slammed his colleagues for failing to do reliable research on key issues of the pandemic: “Anyone who considers themselves a scientist should be embarrassed by our collective failure to generate knowledge, and this failure is once again looming large.”

For bureaucrats and politicians, gaining power and compelling submission are victory enough, even when their policies fail to vanquish a virus. Citizens are obliged to assume “government knows best, even when it knows little or nothing.” People won’t get infected as long as they are groveling to federal commands, right? Unfortunately, the government has no liability for the injections it approves or the freedoms it destroys.

Faith in absolute power is not “science” – regardless of how many scientists pledge allegiance to Washington in return for federal funding. As historian John M. Barry, author of The Great Influenza, observed, “When you mix politics and science, you get politics.” There is no safety in submission to damn fools, regardless of their pompous titles.

Reprinted with permission from the American Institute for Economic Research

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