#same applies to techno-babble

[markwateneymemorialcrater]

Despite being a massive fan of JRR Tolkien and the fantasy world of middle earth, I really struggle to get into other fantasy. Like I’ll try reading or listening to the audiobook and as soon as I here “I am a Sta’Kai Greatest warriors of the last free realm Trabboor on the continent of Oudalin” I just can’t take it serious enough to continue.

And I’m not quite sure what the difference between Tolkien’s made up words; hobbits, Kazad-Dûm / Moria, Mordor, Minas Tirith, and other authors. But one I can take seriously and the other I can’t. Even though they are all made up words.

Maybe it’s the fact the the LotR movies did such a good job introducing me to the world as a world that could exist and that took itself seriously while not being an edge lord about it. Or that Tolkien wrote them under the imaginary filter of translating ancient text to more modern and familiar language.

The closest I would probably say is Game of Thrones or the Witcher. Both of which I only know from their tv adaptations.

[jaebird88]

Another thought I’m throwing out in regards to Eri/Aerial. Well, two, actually.

The first being the idea that there were more attempts of cloning Eri and applied to each Bit that I remember seeing being discussed elsewhere. It may actually be the case of Eri being split up to encompass each part of the Gundam. Which could fall more into how the system manages those Bits. We’re seeing it being represented as multiple children/Eri’s.

The second being Eri may never had developed beyond that of a four-year-old. If we think of it as being artificial intelligence, then Aerial is likely handling certain processes or interactions with Suletta the same way a child would. I’m sure there’s pseudo-science/techno-babble in place that prevents Aerial from actually behaving like a child. But to that extent, it can raise a question as to where does Eri end and the GUND format begin? And which is Prospera wanting to set free?

Scratch that second part because I was informed about the novella.

[luckyladylily]

I mean, there are lots of things that have this level of disconnect from fiction to reality. Take hacking, for an example. Another information gathering trope, and another extremely common trope at that which bears virtually no resemblance to the real world counterpart, not even modern interpretations. This, in fact, happens with many subjects, with the common uniting factors being: 1. It is a highly technical field poorly understood by the public. 2. It is very easy to pretend that it is simpler than it is if you don't know anything about it in detail.

The less people in general know about it and the simpler it seems as a narrative the more this happens. Which is why hacking is such a good comparison. It has an almost identical narrative through line. The protagonist needs info, the info is contained in some way that is trying to be hidden, protagonist applies specialized skills to obtain that information. Who cares what those skills might be or if it even remotely works how we want it to, just hand wave that so we can make an exciting scene. The motivation to bullshit it is exactly the same.

Torture is an application of a highly complex and technical field that very, very few people truly understand: Psychology. People know jack shit about psychology, and they are often resistant to learning about it because it goes against their preconceived notions, ranging from political views to own sense of identity.

Then there is the fact that literally everyone has been in a situation where they were pressured into revealing something they didn't want known, and that happens and is real, so intuitively people just scale it up to torture and think the same simple interaction holds.

Another comparison back to hacking, even to most fairly tech literate people computers are magic boxes and interacting with them on a deeper level is akin to sorcery. I mean this almost literally, my experience as an IT person is most people treat specialized technical computer skills like they are a form of unknowable wizardry. If you know just what buttons to press when and the right magic words and spells (read: console commands) you can do impossible things with a computer. This is further motivated by people's preconceived thoughts and emotions about computers and their unknowable nature. It just makes sense to people that if the information is *there*, then all it takes is a computer wizard of sufficient skill to get at it. It doesn't matter if that is true or not, the concept is completely divorced from reality and when it hits correctly it is purely by accident.

So the divorce from reality is no mystery at all. It's just what people do with concepts they have a passing familiarity with, and fiction has a strong incentive to use emotionally charged concepts as a plot device and little incentive to get it right. And whatever else torture may be, it is an emotionally charged concept.

I can think of several things like this off the top of my head. Drugs, crime, virtually any scientific or technical concept of significant depth (we have a super tropes like techno babble that exist just to point out the extreme prevalence of bad science), any time someone dual wields pistols, everything about mental health and especially the "scary" ones like psychosis. I could go on. It happens with, so, so many subjects.

Now the why behind torture specifically? The when and how it rose to prominence as a trope? That's what is unique about the situation.

it's interesting to me that torture just works to us, as a literary device. It's everywhere in movies and stories and whatnot, from big-budget dramas to little grindhouse short stories. It fits neatly into the requirements of plot: character doesn't want to offer information, Gets Tortured, has to offer information.

the issue with this is that it isn't how it works.

torture is a display of power. It fouls interrogation, this is known; a person being tortured will tell you whatever you want to hear to make it stop, which is more often than not a lie, made up on the spot, or if the truth an incomplete and useless version of it. It isn't generally done for information's sake anyway, but as a form of what the ancient Greeks called hybris, the violent exhibition of your power over another person.

This is, every once in a great while, done right in fiction, but it's a challenge to write vs. the idea that it's a shortcut to one character revealing plot-critical information to another. Pretty much every form of torture works this way, even the ones that are legally permissible. Psychological torment or physical discomfort also produce an animalistic desire to escape harm and foul interrogation. The forms of torture the cops can do? The cops do it not to gain information (or if they think it will, they're lying to themselves) but because it makes them feel powerful.

There's probably a master's thesis in it for somebody studying the rise of torture as a plot device since the beginning of the war on terror and the contemporaneous development of the Broken Windows theory of policing. I'm not really aware of any similar level of disconnect between what Works in fiction and what happens in real life!

[salenakingston]

Mystery March Day 1 - Heal

Wounds, in their purest form, can be seen on the physical plane. Each wound can have varying levels of severity, but bleeding all the same. Sometimes all it takes is one’s own self to close the wound, but sometimes it takes the help of others to fix the problem. But not all wounds can be seen. What’s to be done about those ones? The same rules apply to these as they do to physical wounds, they just require more care.

Life moves on, and in turn, so did Kingsmen Mechanics. Even in the aftermath of becoming a battlefield for one vengeful ghost, a vampiric plant woman, and a murderous kitsune.. God he could barely believe it all himself. Had he not been there himself, he probably would have scoffed at such a claim. It hadn’t been a figment of his imagination, the ‘boom’ of the shotgun echoing, shells ‘tinking’ down to the metal of the truck’s floor. Hate filled, and hollow, eyes fixated on the one that dare place a new hole in its heart.

Lance never did understand the kinds of things his nephew chose to pursue along with his friends, and more recent events made it seem like it was far more trouble than it was worth. But that wasn’t the biggest issue, far from it. It was Arthur himself. If there was one thing that kid was good at, it was keeping his feelings to himself. Who would want to worry those closest to him with his own problems as he always put it. The one thing that never seemed to get through his thick skulls was that family and friends would never push someone away for that.

They were there to listen.

Despite this, there were cues to show something was off with him. Having those friends of his had been the best thing that ever happened to him, taking a reclusive nerd and getting him out into the world. Tragedy had struck them, and of course his nephew didn’t take it well. He still recalled the way he behaved both in and out of the hospital after his accident. Strain on the mind and body to all present parties, but even that had turned around.

He very well couldn’t stop his determined nephew, not when he was so adamant in finding the missing person that made them all complete. There was no trio without a third body.

Now?

His nephew was at the shop again. He was working on his little projects into the late hours of the night. He was content in his uncle’s company. None of his recent actions would make it seem like something was off, but it was so obvious to the older man. Arthur was avoiding them.

The ones that would listen to him talk, following along as if they could understand all his techno babble.

The ones that got him roped into adventure after adventure, even if he was scared out of his wits. He kept going back for them.

The ones that brought him so much joy.

Enough was enough. How much time was it going to be before his nephew thought it might be a good idea to make the first move? Why did it have to be him? Well, even if they were to try and reach out to him, what’s to say the blond was going to reach back for them? He would have to take some initiative.

And so, the short, yet elder Kingsmen stalked through the garage of the shop. It wasn’t hard to spot Arthur, his signature yellow pants peeking out from the underside of one of the cars. It didn’t really matter what the vehicle was in for, his nephew wasn’t going to have to worry about it anymore. Lance stepped over to the side of the car, giving a knock of his hand against the metal to get the younger man’s attention, “Hey kid.”

Arthur slid out from under the car, body still resting against the creeper, as if he were ready to get back to work once they were done chatting. His head turned enough to show that he had his uncle’s attention, “Yes Uncle Lance?”

God, even the tone of his voice was masked so well. He didn’t show any sign that something was wrong. It was like today was just another day at work.

“I want ya to take the rest of the day off.”

His nephew’s head tilted, confusion flashing over his face, “I don’t understand.”

“Ain’t hard to understand. Get out of here.” A bit harsh sounding, but only to those that didn’t understand how their dynamic worked. He cared, but it was harder for him to show it. Arthur sat up, seeming to get it, but he still wasn’t moving, “I really should finish this one up.”

“I can take care of it.”

“What am I supposed to do Uncle Lance?”

“Why not see what yer friends are doin’?”

Hesitation and a sideways glance. There it was. He was contemplating it, but not moving, “I’m not sure if that’s a good idea…”

Ok, maybe a different angle then, “Ya miss them don’t ya?”

“Well of course but…”

“So go on kid. Ain’t goin’ to do ya any good sticking around here all the time.”

He could see Arthur’s eyebrows furrow in thought, bouncing the pros and cons in his head before he came to a decision. He finally pushed himself up from the creeper, pacing across the garage to retrieve his signature orange, puffy vest. He mumbled a bit, but loud enough to hear, “Ok.. Ok.. yeah I can do that.. I’ll see you later Uncle Lance.”

Lance watched his nephew leave, a small smile forming between the hairs of his beard. That kid was a smart one, but sometimes he just needed a push in the right direction.

Arthur reached into the pocket of his vest, pulling out the keys to the van. Go see your friends. Yeah, that was easier said than done. Then again, how could he have expected his uncle to understand the complexity of the situation the four of them had managed to get themselves into? Vivi’s memory could still be unpredictably spotty. Mystery had been holding secrets from them. And Lewis…

Metal hand paused on the door handle. He found his eyes trailing down to the metal, glaring at it for a brief moment. Maybe if he gazed at it hard enough, the sleek silver would be replaced with the peach color of flesh that was meant to be there. But of course, even now knowing ghosts and magic were as real as science, such a thing was impossible. He’d long since accepted it, but one doesn’t just see their own possessed arm and not feel like life has dealt them an unfair hand.

Never in his life had he ever felt so angry. It was such a strange feeling, almost as if it had come out of nowhere.

He finally pulled the door open, settling down against the soft seat. The door shut, and now he was truly left alone with his own thoughts. He’d done so well to hide them, just as he always had. That’s how he got through life. When something was bothering him, he shut it away, pretended like it didn’t exist. And when that didn’t work, he physically removed himself from the equation. That’s what he did when he was growing up, and what he did when Lewis and Vivi started getting so close with each other.

And here he was doing it again.

He was avoiding the problem instead of facing it.

Fingers gripped at the steering wheel, a small tremble wracking his body. He cared about them so much, daring to say that he loved them. They gave him so much, but so much had been damaged. Vivi down her memories. Him down an arm. Lewis down the life he had waiting for him. He had found them after being alone for so long. How could he ever want to go back to that again? But what choice did he have?

No, he always had a choice. So long as he was still breathing, he had a choice.

Arthur finally removed one hand from the wheel, taking the keys, and slipping them into the ignition. Everything that led up to this very moment had been nothing more than a domino effect. Once one fell over, the rest tumbled after.

And it all started with him.

Was it some unspoken obligation that now made him think it was his responsibility to fix everything? Or maybe because deep down, he hated the distance. The only thing keeping him from being truly alone was himself. Go see your friends. Yes… and he knew exactly where to start.

With the turn of the key, the van roared to life. He pulled out of Kingsmen Mechanics, eyes following up the side of the hill where the guard rail still had yet to be repaired. At least there was another blockade back up, rather than the broken down one. He had been avoiding that road, just like everything else recently. Not anymore. His foot hit down on the gas, guiding the van up to that road, following it until asphalt turned to dirt.

Arthur took a deep breath before letting his eyes finally fall on the beating mansion. Just the sight of the place pulled his mind to the first time the van stopped in front of its doors. A thing of beauty, yet full of danger. A sigh passed through his lips, finally finding the courage to pry himself from the steering wheel and seat. He now stood beside the van, eyes wandering among the subtle movements in the windows. This wasn’t going to go very well, but he hoped, for once in his life, to be proven wrong.

His feet dragged, but he stood firm in front of the double doors. Fight or flight began to kick in, his body hoping he would choose to flee, run away like he always did. No. Not this time.

Metal hand raised up, prepared to knock on the door…

Yet met air as the door opened before he could do so, the ghost himself standing before his friend.

Lewis’ gaze peered down at the blond standing outside his home. Arthur was just as he remembered him, save for the metal arm that replaced his real one. Blinding anger kept him from noticing the sheen of that arm before it had begun sparking. It alone had caused so many questions to surface. That, and a green arm wandering around a body wearing a familiar wristband. No one else he knew wore the same ones day in and day out. How funny that once everything was said and done, he would adopt the cowardice that his murderer friend had been known for.

When did he get so brave?

Neither one of them said a thing, just allowed their eyes to meet before retreating to the side. When the silence got to be too much, he broke it, “What are you doing here?”

The unnatural echo of his voice must have unnerved the blond by the way he gave a small tremble. He wasn’t sure even he was used to the way his own voice sounded now. Arms crossed, waiting for what this spineless idiot had to say. Amber eyes found their way back to him, “I.. I wanted to talk to you.”

“What about?”

You know exactly what he’s here to talk about. It doesn’t matter what he has to say.

It didn’t matter before, but it matters now? We used to talk about anything and everything.

“I just..” He stopped, as if he were trying to find the right words to say. Just how much time had he poured into finding his ‘missing friend’ only to find out he wasn’t alive anymore? To find out his friend hated him more than anything in the world? Just how much nonsense remorse would spill?

“I’m sorry.”

Two words, but they said so much more than anything else could.

It doesn’t matter if you are sorry. Sorry doesn’t fix what’s happened to me. Sorry doesn’t give me back everything you took from me. Sorry doesn’t make up for your weakness.

He didn’t mean to do it. How could I blame him for something beyond his control? None of us knew what we were getting into. He’s guilty about it.

When Lewis said nothing, the blond seemed to take this as an opportunity to say more, “I can’t.. change what’s happened, as badly as I want to.. but I want to make up for it.. I want to fix it.”

You can’t fix this. What could you possibly do to help anyways?

Fix it.. He’s making an effort. Only a friend would do that. It wasn’t even his fault to begin with.

“You can’t fix this.”

“I know.. I know I can’t, but I still want to try.”

Such determination.

As if Arthur thought he could defy the impossible and fix his condition.

No, that’s not what he means. He means us.

Conflicting thoughts were always getting in the way, but what could be done about it? He was split, like two personalities constantly arguing with one another on what to do. Death has a way of changing a person, and festering like his rotting corpse back in the cave. You spend so much time hating someone, only to find out all that hatred was misplaced. Even if the true threat was gone, the anger never subsided, all pointing to the one person who wanted nothing more than to mend what was broken. It’s what he did with machines, so why not with anything else?

No.

Yes.

“We can try.”

It wasn’t a no, but no confirmation that anything was going to change in the long run. It seemed to be enough to bring a smile to Arthur’s face, like that was exactly what he needed to hear. Maybe it was. He glanced over to the van, then back to Lewis, “Do you.. Would you like to see how Vivi’s been doing?”

No, I can’t trust you with her. You’ll just backstab her like you did to me.

He said he wanted to fix things. He couldn’t have only meant with me. He wants to see Vivi too. He wants us to go to her together.

“Fine.”

Both left the doorway of the mansion, heading back to the van. The ghost simply phased through the door, leaving Arthur to settle in once he pulled the driver’s side open. He shut it, eyes peering up to the rear view mirror to the flamed hair peeking over the top of the back seats. Yeah, probably not a good idea to have the skeleton man sitting in the front seat with him.

Go see your friends.

The drive to the Yukino family home wasn’t a long one, but one full of silence. Even with clear intentions to mend things, neither one of them mustered the will to make conversation. It wasn’t like before when they would chat about what was going on in their lives, or just any nonsense to pass the time.

No one was around as the van pulled up to the home. Arthur slipped out of the driver’s side, and Lewis out the same side of the van, just further down the wall. The ghost dawned his human guise, a pair of sunglasses to cover his eyes. Man and ghost walked up to the front door, giving a knock. It had been another blond that answered from the other side. Arthur gave Mrs. Yukino a smile, “Is Vivi home?”

She turned her head back into the house, “Vivi, your friends are here.”

The sound of speedy footsteps was a good indication that she was on her way. They were led inside, the girl dressed nearly in all blue from head to toe making her grand entrance. She looked at each of them in turn, one with happiness, and the other with lingering bitterness. She practically pulled the two of them with her, “Well come on then.”

Just as quickly as she pulled them into her room, the door was shut behind them. Open arms made their way to Arthur, him seeming surprised by her gesture, “It’s so good to see you Art. I was wondering when you were going to come out of hiding.”

Before the blond even got a chance to say anything, her once loving eyes narrowed on the ghost, “You haven’t done anything to him have you?”

She was not as blind as others might have been led to believe. She was there when she saw the ghost trying to barrel into her best friend when he was cornered in the mansion. She was there when that otherworldly truck stalked them along the road. She was there when they had been sent flying off the road. She was there when that same ghost appeared again, three friends reunited to face down the three-eyed kitsune. It was kind of hard to ignore the anger the ghost had for Arthur.

As starry eyed as she got over him, she couldn’t just bypass everything he had done. She couldn’t trust him.

She must have struck a bit of a nerve when the ghost bit back, “No, I haven’t.”

“Good.”

“Vivi..”

She looked at her best friend. Oh Arthur. She cared about her friend, and would never want anything terrible to befall him, not even from the hands of their other best friend. She rubbed a fist through his spiky hair, “It’s fine Artie, I’m just making sure.”

There was a roll of the eyes behind the sunglasses, “I don’t know why you bother.”

“Uhh because he’s our friend? That you’re supposed to be too?” Even though you’re the one who stole my memories. If Arthur had been the thief for stealing everything from Lewis, then the ghost was the thief that stole what he actually meant to her.

“Right, of course.”

She hadn’t noticed that Arthur’s head turned away from her, probably because she had let go of him, leaving her to focus on the ghost. Lewis’ sarcasm bled from his words. Hands moved to her hips, “Don’t use that tone with me mister.”

“Sorry. Still getting used to this.”

“Should put a little more effort into it.”

“I am. Why else would I be here?”

“To see me.”

“No. Well.. yes… but why else would I be here with him?”

“Well I don’t know. You were pretty hellbent on getting revenge on him not too long ago.”

“Vivi.” His tone was sharp as he spoke her name. Part of him hated the way he had done so.

“Lewis,” her’s bit back just as much to match his own tone.

“Hey Vivi, where’s Mystery?”

The two bickering turned their attention on the blond. So that’s who he had been looking for. Her wonder for the kitsune hiding as her own pet dog kept her from tossing him out. Then again, why should she? Yes, he hid something major from the three of them, but he was just as much a part of her family, and a part of their team as Arthur and Lewis were. He was always there when she needed him. How could she turn a blind eye when so much of what happened to him had been out of his control?

Didn’t that sound familiar?

She gave a sad sigh, “He’s been moping around the house. I have been trying to give him some space, but I’m at a loss.” How was one supposed to help a depressed kitsune? This went beyond just researching something in one of her many books, but rather something on a much more personal level. What could be done to lift his spirits again? The three of them looked among themselves. What help could they really be in this situation? No one knew Mystery better than Vivi.

Then a spark almost seemed to hit her. Perhaps it was because all of them were standing together, in the same space without the threat of malice hanging in the air. In the heat of everything, there had been one key thing she failed to notice. Now it made sense. Gripping their wrists, she pushed the door open, pulling them out, “I’ve got an idea. Come on!”

As they raced through the house, the blond caught sight of the black and white dog. His head was hung, eyes moving up briefly to catch their figures passing by, then went back down. He knew that look. He knew it because he had lived it for plenty of his life. Mystery looked so down.

No, he looked alone.

Arthur dug the heels of his shoes into the floor, tugging back on his wrist, “Vivi wait! Maybe.. Maybe I should stay with Mystery.”

That seemed to catch them both off guard. He noticed not only the surprised look in her eyes, but the narrowed ones behind the darkness. Of course he would look annoyed. After being brave enough to walk up to the mansion and claim he wanted to fix things, now here he was seeming like he was ditching them all over again. All that anger wasn’t going to vanish in an instant, and he would have been a fool to believe that. No, he had another reason for this choice. He could feel the grip on his wrist loosen, as she was kind enough to grab the flesh one over the metal one, “Are you sure?”

One more look over to the dog solidified his answer, “Yes.”

“Alright then. Come on Lew.”

Once the two were gone, the blond stepped towards the brooding dog. Each step was met with more hesitation than the last. It was hard to forget that the kind canine he knew for so long had also been the one to rip his arm off. Mystery had saved him, but it didn’t negate any of the pain he had to regulate. His hand gripped at the metal, now standing over the disguised kitsune. Red eyes trailed up until they met amber, “You should have gone with them.”

“Maybe… but you.. you looked like you could use some company.”

Nothing.

“How about a walk, Mystery? I bet it’s been.. a while since you and Vivi took one.”

The dog looked up, seeing the small trembles the blond was trying to hide. He wondered if Lewis had seen them too. He wanted so much to help, giving up everything he had just so that he could fix things. So that he wouldn’t be alone. No, so that all of them could be whole again. How could he say no?

Man and dog walked down the nearly empty street, side by side. Two who had been wounded by the same entity, but didn’t allow it to bring them to ruin. If anyone could understand one another, it was the two of them.

“Arthur.”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you.”

“Yeah, no problem.”

Maybe their wounds could heal after all.

[mantis-lizbian]

i want to take a moment to talk about this page. this is one of the final pages of a comic called Lost on Planet Earth by Magdalene Visaggio. it is a heart-wrenching comic, and this page is actually one of the most devastating to me, but none of that is really relevant to what i want to say about it.

what i do want to say is that - absent the broader context of the comic, and why i found it so devastating (in short, i had picked the wrong ship, but also i kinda think that picking the wrong ship was something the comic wanted the reader to do? again, not the point here) - this is perhaps one of my favourite depictions of a gay family in speculative fiction, and it kind of reshaped my ...or perhaps just solidified some already shifting... thoughts and feelings on the well-worn trope in gay fiction of "science babies".

for those unfamiliar with the term, "science babies" refers to when two same-sex (and implicitly cis) characters have a baby together through some sort of super-science techno-babble, or just plain magic. despite the name, this can apply just as well to classic fantasy settings as well as sci-fi, even if the mechanism by which the couple has a child is some kind of arcane ritual rather than test tubes and genome splicing.

anyway, honestly, i do sometimes have fun with the science babies trope, but... if it isn't relevant to the plot, i think this is a much better way to handle it. one that i'd barely even considered until it happened right here on this page, but that as soon as i saw it, made me embrace this couple whole-heartedly despite the pain it put me through.

see... the character in that first panel just shows up pregnant in it. there is no explanation, no build-up. the last page just has them arriving at the house behind them. the redhead isn't implied to be or referenced as being trans or anything in any other way throughout the entire rest of the comic, yet the children are clearly related to both mothers.

the fact that they are allowed to have children together with no excessive explanation... just like straight couples are - hell, just like half-elves and half-Vulcans get to! perhaps Red is a trans woman. perhaps, in this sci-fi setting, they have access to genetic gamete implantation technology or something. perhaps Blue's alien biology somehow allows her to take one of Red's eggs into herself and fertilize it there. doesn't matter. and more importantly, it's no one's business. the important thing is that they have built a family together. and... i dunno... that's just cool...

[fandom-necromancer]

Furniture struggle

Okay, this is a bit different to the prompts but I got inspired yesterday. This short story is based on this post by the incredible @liminalityyy! A huge shoutout for letting me use this!

Fandom: Detroit become human | Ship: Reed900

It had been a swift decision in the end. One nobody had expected keeping in mind the first few months of them working together. Hell, it had ended in screaming and curses on a good day and caused hospitalisation in the worst. Weeks of tension and everybody keeping a safety distance from their desks. But eventually they had let it fall. No one knew why exactly they stopped going at each other’s throats – it happened from one day to the next. Most speculated it was bound to a case, others betted on a hard reset on RK900 and a severe concussion with Reed. But they started working together instead of against each other and eventually even surpassed Hank and Connor in terms of work efficiency. It was as neither of them were caught individually, that people started spreading rumours again. It was never just one, the Detective or the android. You’d always get the whole package: Detective Asshole and Detective stick-up-his-ass.

So, as they both updated their address and it ended up being the same, it was no surprise the whole precinct knew it in a matter of seconds. Connor had initially found it, being updated about every change in the systems it seemed. He told Hank, Tina overheard it – and that was the end of it. One glare of Nines though and no one dared to ask questions. They were quietly observed as they gathered their documents and left early as they had taken vacation for the moving.

RK900 had deemed one week as enough. They both would work on it and he didn’t need sleep. Renovation was scheduled for the first days, setup of the essential inventory afterwards. Just enough to keep a human alive and content, the rest they could juggle somehow between working hours. It was a menacing work, scratching off the old wallpaper, putting the new one up, cleaning everything afterwards, applying lights. Nines was sure had he not already deviated he would have done so now. Gavin had helped him the first day, the second was reserved for him driving to multiple home-centres to buy some furniture for the empty house. He would send Nines pictures of everything he deemed fitting and he gave his acceptance.

In the evening Nines had finished scratching off the whole house and already started putting up new wallpaper again. It was when he finished the room that the door opened for Gavin who carried an ominous box. ‘The first shelve’, he groaned. It had to be heavy. ‘Was cheaper that way. The rest will be delivered in the next week. Should I start putting it together?’ Nines took the box from him effortlessly. ‘No. You should relax for now. Humans tend to need it. A serious design flaw, if you ask me.’ ‘Hey, tin-can you seem to forget the miracles of coffee. Where is that boost option for your kind, hmm?’ But instead of really picking a fight, he simply leaned against a dry wall and looked around. ‘You finished quite a lot. Now I feel bad about this.’ ‘You don’t have to. I assure you I would have failed at the task of finding something visually appealing and effective at the same time.’ ‘Oh, for phck’s sake! And here I was thinking you would stop with the techno-babble once you deviated. But thanks.’ ‘Seriously, take some time to relax. Maybe take a shower, your smell is distracting me with analysing prompts.’ ‘Will do, toaster. Love you too!’

Nines looked around and figured assembling the shelf would be far more interesting and diversified than gluing rolls of paper to the walls. He opened the box and laid the contents out in front of him, organising everything before he started. Then he fished the instruction manual out of the cardboard-hell and opened it. No text. Not even a hint of what to do. Some pictures, yes, but no text, nothing to help outlining a clear order except for his interpretation of stick figures and badly managed perspective. He let out a frustrated groan. He knew this was most likely done to spare the cost of translating the instructions, but seriously – there were good, free accessible translators out there.

Well, he was the most advanced android Cyberlife had ever built. Clearly, he wouldn’t have any problems following instructions a human could easily understand. They wouldn’t print manuals they themselves couldn’t understand, would they? He ran over every picture, interpreting it, comparing it to the materials at hand and started building up his own manual from the data he gathered. Then he put the instruction aside and started working.

It was rewarding seeing the shelf assemble under his hands and he could understand what fascinated humans so much in building something. After some time, Gavin came back from the shower, looked at him wide-eyed and went for his coffee. The machine had been the first thing to be installed in their new home. ‘Holy shit, terminator, you are flying through this thing. You don’t even use the manual?’ ‘I saved it in my mind.’ ‘Tell me, did you phck up already?’ ‘Detective, I never fail my mission. I am not my brother.’ ‘Seriously? I always did something wrong and had to undo it in the end. Guess we found the cure for Swedish-furniture phck-ups.’

RK900 ignored him. He was only human and as much as he enjoyed being with him, as much as he could only describe him as perfect, he knew his flaws. But that was okay, even Nines himself wasn’t without them.

He stood up to lift the last board up to the top and press it into the designated holes, took a step back and admired his work. The shelf was exactly symmetrical, was stable enough to hold everything they might want to put in there and even looked… sleek. Gavin had taste. ‘Nice work, RK! I’m so phcking proud, I will boast about this everywhere. We might be the first couple to successfully assemble a shelf on the first try! Wait, I’ll clean this up first.’ He moved to gather the plastic foil and excess cardboard, inspecting the box whether it was worthy to take to his shitty apartment for his cat. As he lifted up a particular large foil something slid down on it. A small silver thing clattering as it hit the ground. Gavin got down to pick it up. ‘Hey, toaster, were there excess pieces?’ ‘No, Gavin.’ Nines was still standing in front of the shelf, testing out if the capacity lived up to its expectations. ‘Could it be that you missed a screw?’ The android froze, then turned to the man, LED red against the frame. Quickly he snatched it out of his partner’s hands and scanned it. It was indeed one of the screws that should be somewhere in there.

He felt his systems overheating as he analysed his memories and searched for the moment he failed his mission. Nothing. ‘I… I don’t understand, I did exactly as instructed. I… This shouldn’t be possible.’ Gavin looked up to his face void of any emotion except for desperation. Shit. ‘Hey, Nines, it’s okay. See?’ He gave the shelf a push and it didn’t move an inch. ‘It’s rock solid. No one cares if a screw is missing as long as it works. And this thing has more structural integrity than my sanity.’ ‘That doesn’t say much.’ ‘Oh phck you, I’m trying to be comforting here when you seem to have a mental breakdown over furniture assembly. This thing will be kept together by the sole fear of what you would do to it just to get this screw to its original place, okay?’ The LED was still a raging hot red. ‘Fine, watch this:’ He went over to a window, opened it and threw the accursed piece out with all his strength. ‘See? It’s gone. You wouldn’t have noticed a thing had it stayed in the foil and had I thrown it in the trash. Get over it. I will go home to sleep now and I would advise you to go into stasis when you get so riled up by a phcking missing screw. Take some care of yourself, babe!’

RK900 looked back at the shelf and analysed it again. Ran simulations whether an additional piece would greatly increase its quality. He came to the conclusion that the Detective was right, and it wouldn’t really matter.

Still he went out armed with a flashlight that night in search of the screw Gavin had thrown out. He wouldn’t tolerate anything less than perfect in his home.

[tinymixtapes]

Feature: Insomniac Focus

Drew McDowall’s work extends well before Coil’s 1998 album Time Machines, but his major releases from that work to now is more than enough to explore. Coil fans, I know you’re set. It’s partly you who I had in mind when I welched on my assignment for his latest solo album, The Third Helix. You likely have alerts on this guy, and no amount of critical descriptors (“harrowing,” “cavernous,” “dreamscape,” “hallucinatory,” “bleak,” “trance-inducing,” etc.) are going to make any difference to you. And, as for neophytes, McDowall is not only an easy sell, but one who you likely have to get to ass backwards. And in these diffuse, cherry pick-enabling internet times, that’s something. We tend to keep our paths of discovery close to the vest against the snotty record store clerk in our heads. I say “we,” because I’m a newbie myself at 38. I did meet a classmate in my junior year of college who tried to help me with my post-NIN fan, small town ignorance, but it was to little effect. I don’t wanna admit I got into Blackest Ever Black and PAN artists before McDowall, but it’s true. There is no tomorrow, so allow me to show my ass in this regard. It took time — and a closer friend with a staggering record collection — to show me the way. I won’t blame blowing my assignment on anything but me, but I will offer the assertion that Drew McDowall’s music is alive in ways that language is not. Although McDowall, John Balance, and Peter Christopherson collaborated on Time Machines, you could hardly call it a conversation. It feels more like an unstable, massive hum, with the creative instinct of human interference put in restraints. It’s the sound of artists getting out of their own way, carving out a path for something that doesn’t sing so much as surge like blood or water or electricity (it resists analogy, so I’m inclined to reach for more elementary terms). If the intention was to induce the loss of a sense of time, it dissolved critical faculties in the process as well. It is sound happening to you. Whatever a train does to you when you hear it, before you even begin to get to the typical leitmotifs. Whatever a tuning orchestra makes you feel, before you remind yourself not to feel anything about it. There is suspense, sure, but there’s also the flat pulse of pure sensation. Time Machines hunkers down and dispels reaction in favor of presence. Of true immersion. Of rote and unquestioning self-sacrifice to a sensorily consuming source. The tracks being named after psychotropic drugs and the perhaps unavoidable (there’s always “repeat all”) reality of their finiteness are the only things stopping this machine. It has you without a hello. Time Machines hunkers down and dispels reaction in favor of presence. Of true immersion. It’s curious that this towering, uncompromisingly minimal work is collaborative, while his eventual solo material doesn’t shy from a comparatively genre-friendly, kitchen-sink aesthetic. But more on that in a bit. First, a decade-plus later, some more from the creative alliance dept. Having familiarized myself with Psychic Ills, McDowall’s collaboration with Tres Warren as Compound Eye was on my 2013 radar. Their music intrigued in ways that the sturdy psych rawk of Psychic Ills never did. I liked it enough to save it, but never got too deep. So McDowall’s presence didn’t properly register until researching him this year, even after the aforementioned friend gave me his free download code for 2017’s Unnatural Channel. Having familiarized myself with McDowall, it’s easy to see that the man never quite got triggering-then-getting-out-the-way-of-strong-currents out of his system in the intervening years. It contains that blissful, sci-fi pastoral modular babbling that is really nothing to turn off, but the album is balanced with the (watch me writhe, beset by stultifying magnetic poetry adjectives) vast, impassive coursings of McDowall’s high water mark material. The album title, Journey From Anywhere, reinforces the notion of not ruining vital elements of sonic procession with basic human shit. Both are men, with presumable communication skills, but never does conversation seem like an apt analogy. Their collaboration is a numb sort of cooperative sentience, toiling as a vessel for steady, sluicing flow. Destiny being God and human’s favorite crap joke alike, the void really deserves more credit. Compound Eye’s shimmering, delicate, 69-minute reverie comes across like a humble attempt to give the nothing its due. It simmers in rote bodily function reality, even as it attempts to merge with the least dense, most windless air it can manage to breathe. Another collaborative work, The Ghost of Georges Bataille (released on Bank earlier this year), is less of a curious animal, but enticing nonetheless. Hiro Kone (a.k.a. Nicky Mao) specializes in elegant digital snowdrift downtempo. She, like McDowall, is a friend to contemplative melancholy as a default mode. But similarly to McDowall, she’s careful to augment her traditional rainstreaked Aphex brooding with character-rich textures that teeter on the brink of encroachment. Here, McDowall pushes this bordering that much closer. Each haunted progression is enshrouded with warm yet disorienting clamor. Similarly to the post-Boards re-tooling of Dalhous, Bataille takes away the head-nod in favor of a swirled sort of distance. This blithe obfuscation renders that tradition of pastoral, half-remembered dream progressions that much more affecting. McDowall excels as a bit player as well. In 2015, he featured on Ben Greenberg’s (Sacred Bones engineer, Men) debut with Michael Berdan (York Factory Complaint) as Uniform. As much as the album is a scorcher par excellence and far superior (and I’m edging on apples/oranges territory here), what “Death Star” is to The Future of War, “Lost Causes” is to Perfect World. McDowall’s hermetic throb steals the show on an album of showstoppers. Then, ably displaying his adaptability to ambient techno, McDowall lent his modular chops to another album highlight on Hiro Kone’s 2017 album, Love is the Capital. “Rukhsana” is a shorter track, but it still bears the unmistakable fingerprints of McDowalls absorptive approach. With these drop ins, McDowall redeems the notion of the guest spot from mere name-dropping and seamlessly applies his methodology rather than his personal stamp. Now, back to 2015 and Drew McDowall’s first official solo release under his own name, Collapse. As I mentioned, McDowall wound up being decidedly less reductive once left to his own devices. Similarly to Prurient’s later output, there is a concerted effort to tacitly merge monophonic direness with monolithic earthen beast-sloughing reverbations, whelmed to the edge of over. Dark monophony has retained a lasting power, even if the grubby fingers of branding-obsessed metal aestheticians have rendered its keenings almost cute. These are the ones who cry “false metal,” which in and of itself is false. It’s no different than complaining about how football has changed or how a comic book adaptation oughta be. True artisans of inner and outer darkness are not beholden to purist genre fetishism. They survive, thrive, and die by their virtue in this exploration. By their unwaveringly limitless drive, we are able to imbibe the vast shimmering terror innate to existence. While Collapse may not be the most chilling thing out there, its black satin bug eyes affix you to where you are and evaporate your culture-soaked lunges for contextual asidery. Collapse by Drew McDowall True artisans of inner and outer darkness are not beholden to purist genre fetishism. They survive, thrive, and die by their virtue in this exploration. Things only seemed to get better with 2017’s Unnatural Channel, though it’s of a piece enough that “seem” might be the operative word. There are two tracks featuring words/vocals from Roxy Farman (of superb NYC duo Wetware, also a guest on the Hiro Kone album), but the key adjustment is a Vanity Records-like focus on the embracing of silent rests. Of course, the fidelity is higher, but the unrelenting hesitation of that legendary label’s best material (namely, Tolerance’s 1981 LP, Divin) is a curious early precedent. Even with the presence of a singer, Farman’s recitation of “this is what it’s like, sleep deprived” is just as innately infused as the “I convulsed” sample on the last record. And her whooping and schizo mutterances on closer “Recognition” are essential but unshowy bits of punctuation. All spaciousness aside, the tetanus textured throb of “Unnatural Channel (Part 2)” is a sort of head-nodder, but even this winds up being more of a cautious slink through a confusing party (boring? bad scene? twisted? brilliant?) than a departure. Although the bowstring bouncing on The Third Helix opener echoes Unnatural Channel’s “Tell Me The Name,” “Rhizome” initially feels like a proper departure. Not unlike the airy skittering of Actress’s R.I.P, this tune initially seemed like a wrong turn. It’s lovely, especially when the “Sinking of the Titanic” strings come in, but it feels almost lateral rather than expansive. The touchstones come too easy. It’s a fascinating track, the way it swells and glitches out abruptly, but it’s also strangely on-the-nose for this artist. Things get better and back to the same (“Proximity” sounds cut from the same cloth) from there, but one couldn’t be blamed for mistaking Third Helix for a Helm, Fis, or post-Virgins Tim Hecker album. Of course, he is a sort of godfather to said touchstones, but similarly to the atemporal realm of Time Machines, this sort of sine wave slippage reads more familiar than it actually is. And, for what it’s worth, why shouldn’t masters be genuinely influenced by their descendants (beyond tokenistic exaggerations)? Chances are, they are beholden to a lot of the same technology anyway. Taken another way, McDowall’s newest is a sort of long-distance collaboration with those who’ve been inspired by him and his rarefied peer group. Conscious or not, its blending with the aesthetics of younger, like-minded artists could be seen as a rejection of the notion of hierarchy in musical succession, one way or the other. The Third Helix is an endearingly solid listen, and it deserves a place among the heralded releases of 2018. Similarly to the previous two (all on Dais), the album’s tracks don’t stray too far past the five-minute mark. Despite this, they stretch out in the ears like ancient aural cobwebs, making one feel as lived-in as the planet itself. I’ve tried not to use the word “innovation” here. Too often, the notion of innovation is whittled down to novelty, and reinventing the wheel is not what makes McDowall’s third-act material so worthwhile. More so, it’s the sense of earnest drive. The deep affinity for life’s rich tangent. That it’s darkly fixated is no more material than that the blues are despondent. Actually, the best of that long deracinated-to-pilloried genre has much of the same turning-oneself-inside-out quality. Even if Drew McDowall never tops himself or others in this quietly industrious field of wide-eyed abstraction, he is set to remain a stirring essential to every cerebral wandering ear, regardless of prerequisites or lack thereof. http://j.mp/2RBEqkz

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

Prt3

You're just easy to please"

"Hunk, we both know that's not the case. Or have you not forgotten the first time we had goo"

Hunk visibly shuddered

"Exactly my good man, exactly. Now that food is organised, can we talk a little more?"

"What... what do you want to know?"

"About you, silly. How did you hear about us? About Allura?"

"I... when I came through I was no where near Altea. I tried to find it, but no one knew anything and there were Galra everywhere. I didn't have food, or money or friends, so I stole what I could. I'd hide out, and steal fruit from markets and you kind of hear things. Everyone was talking about Voltron. And Lotor and Allura. I knew I had to meet you, but I didn't know how"

"All you had to do was ask. Our comms are always open"

"I... when I learned how happy Voltron made people and that... that my mot-Allura was part of it. I had to come"

"How does the gala work in?"

Good. Hunk's question meant he was actually listening to her, and the video feed for the kitchen meant there was a record of this

"Well. I knew if I wanted to attract Lotor's attention, it needed to be big. So I kind of... used Allura's name to invite everyone, except for Allura. Everyone wants to help Voltron"

Lance groaned. He'd have to do the call around and find out who she'd talked to and what she'd told them. No. Better yet, Coran or Allura could do that

"So you organised the gala?"

"And I remembered what Grandfather said about herbs. Altean alchemy is-was incredibly, but some things you needed herbs for. When I was a kid, he'd take me with him. He said I was his good luck charm. I didn't realise he'd take me away because Allura and Lotor were always fighting"

Wrapping his arm around her, Toral sat a little taller

"I loved my dad. I loved him more than my mum, but he was using her the whole time! He just wanted Altea for himself"

"But why?"

"Because that's who he is! He wants everything he can't understand! Mum is a gifted alchemist! Everyone said she was at least as good as grandpa"

"I think that's enough for now, and I have a few things that belong to you"

"You do?"

"You can't have your bow back, but it would really help if you could tell us what these things are"

Using his free hand, Lance pulled out all of Toral's things from his pockets, laying them down in front of her

"My stuff!"

"If you're going to learn we're not here to hurt you, I figured you would probably want these back"

Toral nodded quickly

"Ok"

"Are you going to tell me what they are?"

Toral explained each item. The remote thing she'd used was something used by Altean's to disguise their ships... well, not just their ships. Depending on the way the user wielded it, it could change a planets surface, hide an army or even alter ones appearance. The pendant looking thing was a gift from Alfor, a star for his star, and in the heart of it was what seemed to be gold quintessence. He didn't know if it as actually quintessence, but it shimmered and moved like it was, and he definitely wasn't touching that. There was a piece of tech that looked like a pocket mirror, which Allura had given Toral shortly before they separated and she had no idea what it did. Then there was her collapsible arrows, a broken communicator, half a dozen tiny trinkety things she'd picked up along the way and some loose coins. She really wouldn't have lasted much longer without meeting them, which is probably why she was waiting on the gala planet for someone to return. She probably didn't even care who. She'd missed her mark, and that had to have hurt

"Lance, here's your cookie dough"

Lance's eyes lit up as Hunk placed the bowl down in front of him

"I don't know how you can still be so happy about cookie dough"

"Because it's awesome. Don't worry, I had my ring on during my heat"

"But there was a time it was off"

"Hunk, don't scare me like that. Just let me love this moment. Toral, you have to try this"

"It doesn't look very good"

"Are you serious! Here"

Scraping the bowl with the wooden spoon, he held it out to Toral, who scrunched up her face as she tried to pull away

"I promise it's good"

"I don't..."

"Trust me. I know it's hard, but I was honest with you, and I returned your things, so the least you can do is try this"

"Fine"

Leaning in, Toral used her teeth to pull a minute amount of dough off, her eyes lighting up as she did

"Oh my! This is so good!"

"See. I told you it was"

Toral went to grab for the bowl, but Lance snatched it up

"This is mine. You're going to love your pancakes"

"I'm so hungry, and that tastes soooo good"

Hearing Hunk start to laugh, Lance looked from Toral to the alpha

"What?"

"She's just like you!"

"She's what? No"

"She is. I can't believe I didn't see it sooner. No wonder you two get along so well"

"I didn't come here to be insulted"

"That's right. I'm nothing like him!"

"Exactly. And Toral, stop inching closer to my cookie dough. It's mine"

"But it tastes really good"

When their pancakes were placed down in front of them, Toral dove straight in. The girl wolfing then down like she hadn't eaten in years.she didn't even question if it'd been poisoned. She'd settled down so much faster than he'd expected, and now they had some idea of her past, Lance really hoped they'd be able to work things out and find a way to send her back home.

*

Toral quickly managed to win everyone over. She was loud and bubbly, her personality way too big for her small stature, meaning you couldn't help but like her. Lance was honestly a little jealous of her, after all, there were still days when he didn't feel like he belonged, but Toral just fitted so naturally, and she managed to keep up with Pidge and Hunk's techno babble once she had the basic principles. As for her and Allura. Allure was loving having her around. She'd dress Toral in her old dresses, and they'd spend hours whispering about Altea, comparing all the similarities and differences, as if they were true blood relations and had known each other from day one.

Having completed their visit out to orphan school, and having completely blown more than a few minds, they were now exploring space with the hopes of expanding the reach of the coalition with renewed energy... they hadn't seemed to infect him like it had the others. Even as the movements drew into a phoeb, the castle was brimming with life, and brimming with plans for the future. Pidge having fully analysed the academies data, had found nothing of use, so the files had been squirrelled away into her never ending void of stolen files... Things were finally going right, so... he should be happy? Yet, he didn't know what was wrong with him. It was like he had an itch he couldn't scratch, and he knew he was driving Keith crazy because of it.

Sighing as they cuddled in bed, Lance tried to enjoy his early morning bliss, but that itch was rising again

"I can tell you're thinking"

"I'm sorry. I really don't know what's wrong with me"

"There's nothing wrong with you. But you have been quite, especially after visiting the orphanage"

"I was so excited, and now I'm just... I don't mean to bring you down"

"You're not bringing me down. I was most definitely up"

Lance rolled his eyes as he let Keith roll him onto him. Cupping his face, his husband smiled warmly

"It's ok to need a break"

"I don't need a break. Maybe I'm missing Red? I know we all took our lions down to see the kids, but we were together so much, and now I haven't had to pilot her. We've spent the whole last movement a half just floating in space... yeah... Maybe she can tell me what's wrong with me?"

"Then go spend the day in Red"

"You won't mind?"

"Why would I mind? She's your girl"

"She is. She's my best girl. Do you want to watch the boys today? Or should I?"

"Shiro wanted to do some hand to hand training as he's still having trouble figuring out just how much pressure to apply"

"I'm happy you two are talking"

"It's not great, and sometimes I just want to punch him in the face, but we're working on it"

"Good. Has he admitted to dating Allura?"

"No. They're still hovering around the issue. They like each other, but they both let their thoughts get the better of them. The most they've gone is nearly kiss, and now with Toral. He's trying to give Allura space"

"Do you want me to ask Toral if she wants to go for a ride in Red? Give Allura and Shiro some space"

"I still don't know how I feel about her"

"She's a kid, and she's been good for Allura, and Coran"

"I know. I wasn't impressed you'd let her out, but she's been tolerable"

"Mmm, Hunk said we were alike"

"You two are. She's got the same happy vibe about her, but I prefer you every time"

"Mhmm. Don't go forgetting who you're married to"

"I'm not going to. You can ask her if you want"

"Yeah. I think I will"

Toral was surprisingly keen to get back inside Red. They'd left the castle, and almost immediately Toral started talking about all the things she and Allura had planned, the young girl was very clearly smitten with their Queen. Normally Lance would be happy to listen, but today his mind was to focused on that itch, that even being inside of Red hadn't scratched. If anything, her gentle tugs at his mind were making things worse

"Lance, are you listening?"

"Sure Toral. You and Allura are best friends"

"I was asking what's wrong with you? Did I do something?"

[frxncaise]

RULES:  List five tropes applicable to your character, then tag others to do the same. (Tropes Wiki)  REPOST! DO NOT REBLOG.

Tagged by: @evrgold​ thanks broski! Tagging: @breaksrules​ @starcoveredcuffs​ @dimenovelhero​ @hadencugh​ @scdasgirl​ && anyone else who wants to do it!

I. BADASS BOOKWORM:

This character is a quiet smart guy or girl who is physically unimposing, but with Hidden Depths of formidable physical and practical skills. They are Brains and Brawn, with brains dominant.Their physical abilities might result from applying their genius to solve physical challenges like math problems. Their attention to detail might also result in a Diagnosis from Dr. Badass. While some badass bookworms are surprisingly strong, others might be Weak, but Skilled, relying on flawless technique or supernatural abilities. Sometimes a bookworm can lack any special physical traits, but has access to an Impossibly Cool Weapon or enough firepower to make toe-to-toe combat, as they say, academic. A favorite weapon of the bookworm might even be what's always close at hand.

II. BADASS ADORABLE:

A catch-all term for characters who, while being absolutely adorable, are also extremely capable at kicking ass. As said on a certain website, they make you break down and go "Aww, who's a widdle asskicker? Who's a widdle asskicker?"Significant overlap with Cute Bruiser and Little Miss Badass can occur. What distinguishes the Badass Adorable from their peers is the adorability. Particular emphasis is placed on their inherent vulnerability (emotional or otherwise), which is at odds with the abilities they can access.Underneath the irrepressibly cheerful demeanor, behind the innocent wide-eyed gaze, lies an astonishing capacity for kicking your ass, leveling a city, or why not, leveling an entire country. Perhaps you've threatened their loved ones. Maybe you've offended their inviolate sense of justice. No matter what shape the grievance against you takes, they will give you an entirely new set of benchmarks to define hurt. Their destructiveness is directly proportional to their cuteness. Thus, Beware the Nice Ones.

III. BRAINY BRUNETTE:

Stereotypically speaking, in fiction, blondes are lacking in intelligence, redheads have short tempers, so, out of the trio, brunettes are all brain. Like the Dumb Blonde, the brunette varies quite a bit. They can bashfully hide behind their books or glasses, with their hair done in pigtails or a bun or they can boldly use their smarts for their ambitions. Whichever it is, their knowledge is real—if she's on your side, then you can always count on her smarts in a fix. She may be a Hot Librarian, a Hot Scientist, or even a Wrench Wench. If so, her Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness and/or Techno Babble will turn people on. And she always has nice, thick, brown locks. What they don't (necessarily) have is strength, like the Squishy Wizard (who may be The Smart Guy himself), as they care more about their mind than their body. That's what makes a Badass Bookworm so interesting, a rare combination

VI. THE TRAGIC ROSE:

In contrast to its strictly romantic usage, roses have long been dual symbol of beauty and tragedy. The reasons for this are evident in the rose itself. The soft, fragrant petals are outwardly very beautiful, making it one of the most famous flowers in the world and perfect for romantic occasions. On the other hand, the stem of the rose is covered with sharp thorns, causing pain to careless hands. The colors of the rose can further this association, since they can be any shade from a deep blood red to an innocent white.

V. BENEATH THE MASK:

Virtually everyone has to wear a public mask in order to be accepted by others. That's a simple fact of human psychology. When circumstances (such as anonymity, strong emotion, or sufficient power) allow a character to take off that mask and act in complete accord with their inclinations, they reveal what's beneath the mask.The secrets this mask hides are varied and are not always dark. A villain, for example, may be hiding a soft spot.Sometimes a person may never know they had a hidden self before the mask comes off. The change is even a surprise to them. Other times the person is well aware of their hidden self and are determined to keep it hidden. This hidden self that people don't show to others is what Beneath the Mask is about.This hidden self is sometimes portrayed as "the real self". Occasionally the person actually wants someone to see their hidden side (the "real me") but for some reason can never get people to see it. More complex works might argue that the hidden self is just a part of the real self, and that the public self is also part of the real self.

[havemyoldusername]

AOS Character Analysis

Okay, i haven’t seen any character analysis really for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

This is kinda more to my own benefit, if anyone disagrees, go ahead and tell me, i’m interested.

and because I have the time, here is my concept of the characters (This is without seeing the last two episodes of season 4 before the mid-season finale, thanks to stupid Aussie TV networks not showing it)

1: Agent Coulson

Right off the bat, Coulson has a high moral compass, willing to do what is right for the people and for his team. He doesn’t trust easily and has his doubts with nearly everyone he comes in to contact with. He isn’t opposed to killing as long as it fulfils something. Killing people like Garret and Ward for several reasons.

While Coulson’s loyalty has been tested in the briefest of times, he’s really just the guy who’s mind says ‘Stick to the system, unless the system is wrong, then you make your own system’

2: Melinda May

It makes sense that the shows quietest character is the one of the most complex. From day 1, she’s been unwilling to carry or do anything lethal unless she absolutely has to. She was haunted by her time in Bahrain and doesn’t want to make the same mistakes. For the quietest character, emotion doesn’t come easily to her, but when she feels something, she really feels something and it takes over.

she’s lethal and efficient and really always judging anyone around her while also being severely underestimated.

3: Leo Fitz (Beware, his is long)

speaking of complex characters. No denying that Fitz has been portrayed really well as someone real by Iain, who is perhaps the best actor on the show. Like Coulson, Fitz has a strong moral compass and is also not opposed to killing, but like May, only when deemed necessary. Out of all the characters, Fitz has changed the most (even against Daisy, who is practically the same, but I’ll get to that). In season 1, we see Fitz as a shy, awkward nerd who really only has eyes for Simmons (Which didn’t change at all). He doesn’t want to get his hands dirty, doesn’t want to pick up a gun and shoot someone, hence the ICERS (Or at this point, Night-Night guns) being developed.

The first time we do see him kill is when he shoots the HYDRA agent, an action that saved May. There was practically no time for him to feel remorse, besides the reaction we got from him during the event, with all the HYDRA business. During season 2, after his brain damage, his demeanour changes and we see an angsty Fitz who really misses Simmons. We see him putting so much on the line in order to help Skye and stop people from judging her and being afraid of her. We also see his close friendship with Mack develop. What interested me though was Fitz’s statement in Episode 3 ‘I’m not a killer’ and how that comes into play later. That statement was said right after he nearly killed Ward, after torturing him (In a way). We see his reaction to Gordon teleporting onto Fitz’s pole, something he no doubt felt responsible for.

While Fitz core principals stayed the same through season 2, we see a lot change in season 3. After losing Simmons (”losing”), we see him throwing everything he has to try and get her back, because if he couldn’t, he had nothing left to lose. Simmons is his rock, someone that keeps him grounded and sane. He puts so much on the line to save Simmons, becoming reckless and in a way, more confident as the season progresses. What really came as a shock, and something that was slightly out of character, was Fitz’s killing of Giyera.

As I said before, his statement in season 2 comes into play here. We see Fitz debate constantly with himself and his moral compass get tested. Fitz is hardly not the first Marvel Character to have what is called ‘moral ambiguity’. Daredevil could even be in this category.

Season 4 for Fitz is slightly different. He's back to being similar to season 1, he’s in a committed relationship with Simmons and all is good. In season 4, Fitz is doing what he does best, Science, and is more involved in both sides of S.H.I.E.L.D. rather than being more involved in the field agent side as it seemed he was in season 3.

Throughout all the seasons, Fitz went from shy engineer with his heart on his sleeve, to semi-confident field engineer with a lot of bottled up emotions. Pardon the long section, Fitz’s character is so complex that he needed a season by season breakdown (Not to mention being my favourite character)

4: Jemma Simmons

Simmons is an obvious INTJ in MBTI types. As an INTJ female myself, i understand her character in a way few overlook. she is less emotionally driven then Fitz, going through everything rationally and applying logic to everything she does. Simmons moral compass is skewed in a way, she wants to do the right thing but is one of those people that has the code of ‘the needs of many outweigh the needs of the few’.

We see her consumed by her revenge against Ward, however brief. Bakshi died because she was careless in a way that seemed out of character for her, but really, it wasn’t. One of the traits of INTJs is that they do have emotion, incredibly strong emotion, but are able to compartmentalise them to a point where they seem cold. Simmons loves Fitz, in more ways than one. At the point of Bakshi’s death, he was her best friend. She hated what Ward did to Fitz that she felt the need to find closure in the only way she thought how, killing Ward.

5: Daisy ‘Skye’ Johnson

Daisy’s character is simple. She’s the character the show tends to revolve around and so we see a lot of her character. In season 1, Daisy was carefree and cocky. Her intelligence didn’t go unnoticed, she didn’t want it to. Season 2, we see the start of her struggles with herself. In light of learning that her parents were alive and of her inhumanity, she begins to retreat back into herself, forming a wall around her that only few could get through.

Her friendship with Fitz seemed to get stronger during season 2, as he was the only one that didn’t push her away. Her relationship with Coulson is like a father and daughter, with Coulson seeing her as someone he could ‘raise’ in a way, to teach what was right and wrong and to see become a great person.

In season 3, we see the start of Daisy’s hate for prejudice against Inhumans, as she had begun to accept herself properly. We see her and Lincoln become something strong and great as she’s learning to trust again after Ward and after her mother. We also see Daisy’s vulnerability, her emotions running everything.

In season 4, Daisy’s broken and her character is something new. She feels responsible for everyone’s pain and Lincoln’s death. She’s willing to die to stop herself from feeling the pain and seemed to find herself situations in which she might not come back from.

6: Lance Hunter

I miss Hunter. Just saying.

Hunter was a jack of all trades, a comedian in his own right. his character was arrogant, sarcastic and was overall, a loveable asshole. His moral compass is perhaps the most grey out of all the S.H.I.E.L.D. characters due to his professional career as a merc.

7: Bobbi Morse

A truely strong female character. Bobbi’s manipulative, great a poker faces and a fighter capable of similar feats to May. She’s good at using other’s weaknesses to her advantage and how to play her cards right.

8: Mack

Mack is truely done with everything by season 4, if his continuous use of the shotgun/axe or reference to it is any indication. We know he’s done with everyone’s shit when we hear a reference to his special weapon.

All joking aside, Mack’s great a helping people, like he did Fitz. He knows enough techno-babble to become great friends with Fitz and Simmons while also being a capable fighter and leader to bond with Coulson and Daisy. He’s an allrounder, being able to do a bit of everything and it’s shown time and time again that without May or Daisy there, Mack’s the one that Coulson trusts the most to get other through.

9: Trip

Poor Trip...

Trip was quite a character. He was confident, witty and clever. He drew both Simmons and Daisy’s attention in similar ways. He was smart and took pride in the fact that his grandfather worked with Cap.

10: Grant Ward

The biggest asshole on the show!

Ward was a complex villain. In season 1, he prided himself on being a really caring agent hiding behind a wall of emotions. While that was all part of his cover, there was some truth to it.

When he was captured by S.H.I.E.L.D. Ward tried to play to the teams weaknesses, trying to make himself seem genuine and willing to help. He seemed to believe his own lies and make me think that he had some sort of mental or personality disorder. One thing that interested me was the fact that he really did care for Kara.

In season 3, before he was killed, the only thing that seemed important to him was becoming the boss of a newly reformed HYDRA, with him as the head. It was interesting that he seemed to keep some habits from S.H.I.E.L.D., such as being called ‘director’ and the level system.

all and all, Ward was one cold bastard with a, albeit small, sentimental side.

Well now that’s done, if anyone has any thoughts on what I said, please do tell me, i’d really like to know what others have to say.

[thechasefiles]

The Chase Files Daily Newscap 5/17/2018

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Thursday, 17th May 2018. Remember that you can read full articles via subscribing to Nation News Online, purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN), via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS).

NOT MY DAUGHTER – It was an emotional Elliott Mottley who faced the media today to rebut allegations made against him this week by former Prime Minister Owen Arthur, and to refute suggestions that his daughter, Barbados Labour Party (BLP) leader Mia Mottley, was behind a near half-million dollar tax write-off for him back in the mid-1990s. The matter was first raised by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart when he told a meeting of his Democratic Labour Party at Carlisle House car park, The City on Sunday that the elder Mottley “had two judgments lodged against him for monies due and owing to the Income Tax Department upwards of $1 million. In 1998, I walked in the registry one morning and everyone had frowns on their faces. They were saying that here it is that we have to pay our taxes but yet over $400,000 of that tax obligation was being written off by the Owen Arthur administration”. Stuart also left the impression that the current BLP leader had something to do with it by by stating that Arthur had denied the request for the write-off, while he called on Mia Mottley, who acted as prime minister in Arthur’s absence from the island, to reveal who was behind the decision. But it was a clear-the-air explanation by Arthur at a news conference on Monday that angered the 78-year-old prominent Queen’s Counsel and former Member of Parliament, and brought a strong denial from the elder Mottley. Arthur, who was also Minister of Finance, had contended that Mottley had applied to him for a waiver of income tax arrears which would have required approval by both Cabinet and Parliament. This is believed to have happened in 1995. The former Prime Minister said he rejected the application on the grounds that Mottley’s daughter, Mia, was part of his Cabinet, and he was surprised when he learned of the tax write-off, which, along with interests and penalties, amounted to more than $1 million. However, flanked by his attorney Roger Forde, QC, and his sons Warren and Stewart, both lawyers, Mottley this morning told reporters at his Strathclyde law office that Arthur’s claims were “entirely untruthful and misleading”. “I, Elliott Deighton Mottley, categorically state that at no time did I ever apply to Mr Arthur for a waiver of arrears of income tax which I owed the Inland Revenue Department, as it was then called,” the former Consul General to New York said. He explained that what he applied for and received from the Minister of Finance was a waiver of the interests and not the penalties or the income tax arrears. Mottley admitted that he had owed income tax arrears for the years 1987 to 1993, including interests and penalties, and had two judgments against him for $20,587.91 and $1,031.284.37, for which he had made arrangements with the Ministry of Finance to settle. He provided copies of letters and memoranda of satisfaction exchanged between his lawyers and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and the Inland Revenue Department as evidence that the minister had waived the interest but not the tax or penalties. “Let me make it very clear that there was no need for the Cabinet to be involved in my application because it was made under the Income Tax Act and not the Duties, Taxes and Other Payments (Exemption) Act CAP 67B of the Laws of Barbados,” he stressed. A letter dated March 22, 1996 and signed by June Chandler for the Permanent Secretary and addressed to Mottley’s tax consultant, the late Blair Haynes, stated: “I am to inform you that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs has considered the application and it has been decided that Mr Elliott Mottley, QC, will be allowed a waiver of the interest payable in respect of outstanding income tax on the condition that the outstanding principal and penalty is cleared on or before March 1, 1997.” A subsequent letter dated March 7, 1998, also signed by Chandler and addressed to Mottley’s attorney Sir Henry Forde, QC, stated that the Minister of Finance had approved an extension of the time given to Mottley to clear his income tax liability and that he was being allowed a waiver of the interest payable. Other memos revealed that the then Commissioner of Inland Revenue Frank Forde had received various sums of money towards the interest due. Mottley broke down in tears as he denied that his daughter had a hand in any dubious actions aimed at benefitting him, prompting his son, Warren, to complete the prepared speech. “I also wish the public to know that at no time during the period 1994 and 1999 did my daughter, Mia Amor Mottley, ever act as Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs of Barbados. Copies of the Official Gazette will corroborate this statement,” Warren read. The 78-year-old’s attorney Roger Forde, QC, also hinted that Mottley would go after those who repeated “those mischievous and defamatory allegations”, sending the media a clear warning that they could be sued for defamation. “Arthur’s statements are likely to have further consequences which will certainly extend to others who repeat and republish the untruthful allegations. The public is warned that it is no defence to a claim in defamation to say that ‘I am merely repeating what some other person had said,’” cautioned Forde. Efforts to reach Stuart proved unsuccessful up until the time of publication, while Arthur promised to comment in due course.  (BT)

MOTTLEY SAYS DLP MANIFESTO "INSULT" TO PEOPLE – Leader of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Mia Mottley caused quite a stir by producing a copy of the Democratic Labour Party's (DLP) 56-page manifesto which is set to be launched tomorrow night. "Who put this in my bag? DLP manifesto 2018?" she asked pulling the book from her red handbag, much to the delight of the crowd gathered at a spot meeting at Cleavedale Road, Black Rock, St Michael. "They laugh at my mini edition . . . . . Stand strong, Barbados stand strong against the DLP. It got in nuff pictures. If they laugh at my mini-manifesto, then this is kindergarten," she said flipping through the document. Turning to page 29 of the DLP's manifesto, reading aloud she highlighted how the DLP intended to deal with tertiary education by "continuing to work with the University of the West Indies for funded education". Comparing that to the BLP's manifesto, she said: "I see in here mission critical, that immediately under No. two, debt profiling will allow us to pay for students at the University of the West Indies," she said to thunderous applause, noting that the manifesto spoke nothing of improved transport, accommodations for old people among other critical issues. "When I read this blue and yellow document I am mortified that I have to work every single minute of every day for the next eight days . . . .This document could not have been written by anybody in Barbados. It is a lot of techno babble and gobbley gook. . . . . Nothing in here meets your current realities in this country. It is gobbly gook intended for another country but not Barbados," she said, adding that if that was what they called a manifesto it was an insult to the people of Barbados.  (DN)

MIA UPSTAGES DLP MANIFESTO LAUNCH – Ahead of Thursday’s manifesto launch by the incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP), Barbados Labour Party (BLP) leader Mia Mottley took Barbadians by surprise on Wednesday night, as she pulled out what was said to be a copy of the DLP’s promissory election document. The unexpected development came during a BLP meeting at Clevedale, St Michael. Mottley, whose party’s 70-page manifesto released last Thursday has come in for heavy criticism, also proceeded to knock the plans contained in the DLP document, which she said lacked substance and described as “an insult” to the people of Barbados. “What is this technobabble and gobbledygook? What is it? When done, your children will be in the same position next year, the year after, and for each of the next five years as they are today,” Mottley said, in specifically attacking the DLP’s policy of making students pay tuition fees at the University of the West Indies. Mottley, whose BLP is promising to abolish those payments and also to increase non contributory pensions, suggested that the DLP document fell short in both respects. “What does this manifesto tell us about pensioners? Hold tight,” she said in rejecting the DLP’s policies outright, including those outlined for street vendors. She also dismissed the DLP’s promises to vigorously enforce laws pertaining to illegal dumping, while asking “How you gine do that if you don’t have garbage trucks?” She also expressed amazement that no mention was made in the manifesto of buses, even though the state-run Transport Board is currently faced with an acute shortage of vehicles. However, in a preview to Thursday’s event in Oistins, DLP campaign manager Robert Bobby Morris has promised that the manifesto for the May 24 general election will be a tough but responsible one. While dismissing the recently released BLP manifesto as unrealistic and unattainable, Morris further promised that the DLP document would be focused on fixing the island’s ailing economy. “Our manifesto launch is on Thursday night at Oistins and I don’t want you to be wary yet . . . but it will be a responsible manifesto. Don’t look for giveaways that are impossible,” Morris told the crowd gathered at the DLP’s spot meeting in Kingsland, Christ Church on Tuesday night. “If you have a flat roof we are not promising that we are going to make it gable. I don’t know how many there are and I don’t know what that would cost,” he said in poking fun at the BLP’s 70-page promissory document released last Thursday.And “I am not telling you that it makes sense moving from road tax paid by the individual to a tax of gasoline,” he said in reference to another BLP proposal, adding, “don’t look for an attempt to buy votes”.Release of the DLP’s manifesto comes against the backdrop of a 0.7 per cent contraction of the island’s economy for the first three months of this year.Delivering the disappointing news at his quarterly media conference earlier this month, Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes said the decline was due mainly to a slowdown in construction, a decline in tourism activities and the late start of this year’s sugar harvest. Haynes said while the island’s foreign reserves grew by $14 million to reach $423 million for the period under review, this was still below the 12 weeks import benchmark with decisive action needed to further drive down the national deficit, which declined by 1.5 per cent to reach 4.2 per cent between January and March this year. With this in mind, Morris, a former trade unionist and ex-Caribbean Community diplomat, maintained that even though Barbados had been through trying times, Government had made all the tough decisions in an effort to save the country. He cautioned persons that there was no easy fix to the country’s economic woes. “I hope that in your hearts and in your eyes you can say, ‘well done DLP’.  It has not been easy, but we are moving onto the Promise Land and after May 24, 2018, this DLP will tell you that if the things in the world remain as they are and don’t get any worse, then we in Barbados will see a new beginning.”  (BT)

DLP PROMISES RESPONSIBLE MANIFESTO – Campaign manager for the incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Robert Bobby Morris has promised that its manifesto for the May 24 general election will be a tough but responsible one. While dismissing the recently released Barbados Labour Party (BLP) manifesto as unrealistic and unattainable, Morris further promised that the DLP document would be focused on fixing the island’s ailing economy. “Our manifesto launch is on Thursday night at Oistins and I don’t want you to be wary yet . . . but it will be a responsible manifesto. Don’t look for giveaways that are impossible,” Morris told the crowd gathered at the DLP’s spot meeting in Kingsland, Christ Church last night. “If you have a flat roof we are not promising that we are going to make it gable. I don’t know how many there are and I don’t know what that would cost,” he said in poking fun at the BLP’s 70-page promissory document released last Thursday. And “I am not telling you that it makes sense moving from road tax paid by the individual to a tax of gasoline,” he said in reference to another BLP proposal, adding, “don’t look for an attempt to buy votes”. Release of the DLP’s manifesto comes against the backdrop of a 0.7 per cent contraction of the island’s economy for the first three months of this year. Delivering the disappointing news at his quarterly media conference earlier this month, Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes said the decline was due mainly to a slowdown in construction, a decline in tourism activities and the late start of this year’s sugar harvest. Haynes said while the island’s foreign reserves grew by $14 million to reach $423 million for the period under review, this was still below the 12 weeks import benchmark with decisive action needed to further drive down the national deficit, which declined by 1.5 per cent to reach 4.2 per cent between January and March this year. With this in mind, Morris, a former trade unionist and ex-Caribbean Community diplomat, maintained that even though Barbados had been through trying times, Government had made all the tough decisions in an effort to save the country. He cautioned persons that there was no easy fix to the country’s economic woes. “I hope that in your hearts and in your eyes you can say, ‘well done DLP’.  It has not been easy, but we are moving onto the Promise Land and after May 24, 2018, this DLP will tell you that if the things in the world remain as they are and don’t get any worse, then we in Barbados will see a new beginning.”   (BT)

STUART CANNOT BE TAKEN AT HIS WORD, SAYS TOPPIN – Barbados Labour Party (BLP) St Michael North candidate Ronald Toppin has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, suggesting that the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) leader cannot be taken at his word. Speaking at a BLP meeting in Redman’s Village, St Thomas on Tuesday night, Toppin specifically accused Stuart of reneging on a promise made over six years ago not to abolish free tertiary education. “He stood [before] a graduating class at the Barbados Community College on November 24th, 2011, and said that tertiary education would remain free. “His words were, ‘I firmly believe that it would be a retrograde step if we were to dismantle free education in Barbados.’” Toppin said. However, the BLP spokesman charged that about 20 months later the Prime Minister sat in silence as Minister of Finance Chis Sinckler stood on the floor of Parliament in his 2013 Budget presentation and imposed the tuition fees on Barbadian students attending the University of the West Indies. “When he was pressed by us he said, ‘in life things change’, [but] if you can’t trust the word of your own Prime Minister, whose word can you trust?” the St Michael North representative asked, while suggesting that Stuart was hypocritical. “This man who always professes his humble origins and saying that they [the DLP] understand the importance of education, after he gets through, he kick down the ladder. “I’m not only talking about the sheer incompetence of Freundel Stuart because that is well known, I am talking about the untrustworthiness of his words . . . . Without people trusting the word of their leader, they can never go forward,” he cautioned, while complaining that the current DLP-led administration had left the country in its worst position ever. “We cannot say that we are better off today than we were ten years ago. The failure of this country has to do with the leadership of this country over the last eight years or so,” he said before suggesting that the public could have a trustworthy leader in Mia Mottley. “We have Mia Amor Mottley whose words can always be trusted when it is given.” (BT)

SINCKLER RUBBISHES MARSHALL’S HILTON CLAIM – Absolute rubbish! That was how Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler described an alarm raised by Barbados Labour Party (BLP) spokesman Dale Marshall this evening that Cabinet was set to go through with the sale of the Hilton Barbados Resort before the end of this week, without the approval of the shareholders. Sinckler told Barbados TODAY Marshall’s concern was nothing but garbage, while explaining that there was a step-by-step process that had to be followed in order to sell the property.“That is absolute rubbish. It can’t be done until there is a shareholders meeting and a recommendation is made to Cabinet. It can’t be done. The shareholders have to meet and then make a recommendation to Cabinet,” Sinckler stressed, going on to state that Cabinet would meet briefly tomorrow, but there were absolutely no plans to deal with the Hilton sale. It was at a news conference at the BLP headquarters in Roebuck Street, The City this afternoon that Marshall told reporters he was reliably informed that the matter would come up for discussion at tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting, the last by the current Freundel Stuart administration before the May 24 general election, and he feared the sale would get the go-ahead. Marshall explained that while the Companies Act required that a company intending to dispose of its assets must first obtain approval from its shareholders, there was no law that required the approval to be sought before the agreement for sale is reached. It was on this premise that the former attorney general raised concerns that the Stuart Cabinet could approve the proposed deal before getting the shareholders’ approval. Needham’s Point Holdings Ltd (NPHL), the owner of the Hilton Barbados Resort, is established under the Companies Act of Barbados, with Government being the largest shareholder. The National Insurance Board (NIB) and the Caribbean Development Bank are minority shareholders. Marshall’s concern came a day after a meeting scheduled for Monday to approve the proposed sale of the resort was abruptly called off. “The Barbados Labour Party has been made aware that the Cabinet of Barbados is to be moved tomorrow by way of Cabinet papers, to agree to the sale of the Hilton Hotel by Needham’s Point Ltd. This notwithstanding that the meeting of the shareholders which was scheduled for Monday, May 21 has now been cancelled,” he told the news conference. “The essential point is that the agreement, once made between the parties can be enforced, even though at the time it was signed, the shareholders had not as yet met. It is enforceable even though the shareholders might not so approve, unless a court later decides to set aside the agreement under the oppression provisions of the Companies Act. In other words, the fight against the sale of the Hilton Hotel is not yet over so long as this Government remains in office and remains resolute to its sale at this gross undervalue,” he stressed, while charging that Government was proceeding “with indecent haste to commit the country to a sale of this asset” at US$80 million, far less than what it is worth. However, Sinckler said the sale could not take place as easily as Marshall suggested. He explained that while Cabinet would agree as a matter of policy to sell the property, it was NPHL that was responsible for negotiating its sale. “Needham’s take charge of the process, they negotiate with the [buyers], they settle on a price, which they inform Cabinet of the price, Cabinet says, ‘fair enough, that seems reasonable, go to the next step’. The next step is the shareholders meeting. That meeting, which was scheduled for May 21, then would be held, that decision is taken ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ and they come back to Cabinet and say, ‘at the meeting of so and so Y resolution was passed approving the sale of the Hilton for the following price under the following condition’, then Cabinet would note [and pass the resolution]. Until that meeting happens, the shareholders meeting, the Hilton cannot be sold,” Sinckler explained. One media house reported earlier this week that the NIB was seeking to stop the shareholders’ meeting in order to avoid a showdown between the insurance scheme and NPHL. Meanwhile, addressing a BLP meeting at Wellington Street, The City last night, party leader Mia Mottley contended that Government was forced to back down after she revealed details of the pending meeting at a rally in Oistins, Christ Church on Sunday night, at which she said the sale must be stopped “at all cost”, and called on supporters to turn up in their numbers, if needed, to prevent Monday’s meeting from taking place. However, Sinckler told Barbados TODAY the decision to call off the shareholders’ meeting was taken several weeks ago because of the “political environment” that developed after the announcement of the general election. “Once the elections were called a decision was taken to call off that [shareholders meeting],” Sinckler said. At Sunday’s meeting in Oistins, Mottley produced a document which she said was a copy of a memorandum from the NPHL giving notice to shareholders of a meeting at 10 a.m. on Monday,  May 21 at Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre to “consider a shareholders’ resolution” on the sale of the hotel. The document, purportedly signed by NPHL Corporate Secretary Henderson Williams, is dated April 30, 2018, four days after Stuart called the election.  (BT)

NICE MOVE MIA – The privately owned transport sector is welcoming a recently announced campaign promise by the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to grant the sector concessions on clean energy vehicles. Head of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) Roy Raphael has called the promise a step in the right direction, as the sector continues to be encumbered by aging fleets.However, Raphael told Barbados TODAY a BLP Government would have to do much more than simply placing the offer on the table, as most operators would need to warm to the idea of going green. “We will be happy with any form of duty-free concessions, but I want to clearly state that we have to educate our operators on clean energy vehicles such as electric vehicles. A lot of them are not yet comfortable with the idea, so we need to do a pilot project with electric vehicles before we can embrace it,” Raphael said.  During the BLP’s manifesto launch at Kingsland, Christ Church last Thursday night, candidate for St Philip South Indar Weir explained that PSVs would be given incentives in order to fast-track plans for making Barbados 100 per cent green and carbon-free by the year 2030. “We will give duty-free concessions to PSV operators to import vehicles powered by clean energy and alternative fuels,” Weir said, while also promising that all Government vehicles and street lights would run on clean energy by 2025, should the BLP be elected to office in the May 24 general election. However, the Raphael explained that with the entire PSV fleet in operation running on fossil fuels, the offer of duty-free concessions on green vehicles was a medium-term solution, and more immediate action was required to assist the sector.  “We would want to discuss our proposals with a new administration because 100 per cent of our fleets are fossil fuels. We still need assistance with getting vehicle parts in the interim in order to maintain the efficiency of our operations,” Raphael said, adding that the BLP’s plan to replace the road tax with a tax on fuel would assist the sector greatly in the short term.  “The idea of abolishing the road tax is something that we welcome and would have talked about before. We recognize that the PSVs use the road more than normal vehicles, [but] . . . we won’t have to find a lump sum payment for road tax,” the AOPT boss said. Raphael drove home the point that PSV owners had to contend with annual payments of over $2,000 for road tax and permit fees, as well as approximately $30,000 for insurance. He argued that while operators may have to pay more at the pumps it would be less burdensome, especially if the permit fees were removed.  “If they remove the permit fees as well then at the end of the day we will not feel it as much if they take it out at the pump. So it is something that we welcome and we also believe that we can look at a toll at the bus terminal instead of the permit,” he recommended. (BT)

NEW TERMINAL ‘MIGHT NOT CHANGE VAN CULTURE’ – While some commuters and public service vehicle (PSV) operators are ecstatic about the opening of the new Constitution River Terminal, they say it may not change the “culture” of the van stand as expected. Over the years, rowdy behaviour, poor lighting, flooding and disorder have painted a negative picture of the terminal. During a tour of the facility in 2015, Minister of Transport and Works Michael Lashley announced that the new facility, which cost $3 million, would bring about a major change in operations and with that, the bus stand would be a safer and more orderly place of business. However, when a DAILY NATION team returned to the terminal yesterday after its official opening on Tuesday, some PSV operators, vendors and commuters said there were other serious matters that needed to be addressed. Michael Brathwaite, a conductor of over 30 years’ experience, said more security was needed. He added: “Most of the street lights don’t work, so it is not safe for people to walk in here at night.” Brathwaite also said some PSV operators needed to be more professional in their work, which would help raise the standards of the industry. Owner of Jacob Juices Fusions, Jerry “Jet Li” Taylor, who sold natural drinks in the terminal, said the area needed more than a “facelift” to change the atmosphere there. “It is great, it is okay, but I hear it may be bad for some vendors as some of the shops have to move to accommodate shelter. “And out here needs to be raised because as li’l rain falls, out here is flooded. That is dangerous, especially since some of the light poles get lick down and electricity still runs to the base, so you could get shocked,” he said, adding that “loiterers” needed to be banned from the stand as they “cause confusion”. Dereck Maynard, who has been working on the Bush Hall route for more than 19 years, said he could not understand how the facility, which was built for public usage, was officially opened on Tuesday yet it was not “opened to the public”. Commuter Yvette Davis, who lives in Silver Sands, and Jason Boxhill of Dover, both in Christ Church, agreed with Maynard, adding they had to wait and see if the facility would generate a sense of order as was promised. Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate for St Michael North East, Patrick Todd was also spotted in the terminal. Just before hopping into a Route 11 ZR to go to a function, he said he was pleased with what Minister Lashley did.  (DN)

VANDALISED POSTERS NO BIG DEAL FOR Grant – Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate for St Michael South East Rodney Grant is not fazed by what he believes was the deliberate vandalism of his posters in the constituency. "Posters never win an election yet! Tear them down because after the 24th I won’t have to pay nobody to take them down for me,” he said while speaking at a spot meeting on Monday night at Factory Avenue, Wildey, St Michael. The first time political hopeful told party faithful that even if the action continued, it still wouldn’t stop him from carrying out the mandate which he has had for the past 40 years. “I know you can’t stop me from going in the people’s houses and talking to them and as Bob Marley said ‘you have fi tired fi see me face but yuh can’t get me out of the race’. Don’t be misguided; don’t get side-tracked; don’t be disillusioned because you may not see my posters. You have seen me for the last 40 years, more than you can say of my opponent. So decide what you want and decide not only what you want now but what you want after the 24th,” he said. While touting his intentions to USE sports and culture to empower constituents and Barbadians at large, Grant urged the public not to get caught up in the “ism and schisms” contained in the Barbados Labour Party’s manifesto,  which he criticised. He charged that the BLP had not outlined a vision that spoke to moving the country forward post 50 years Independence.  “Where is the vision in all the giveaways. . . ? How will we change and create a new dynamic of the education that moves us into the global future? These are the things that are missing. So don’t live for now. Your future cannot be contained in a now, a handout, a $100, a fete, a party, a picnic, next day yuh brek, yuh hungry, yuh can’t pay yuh bills, can’t send school yuh children. We are greater than that and we are worth more than that. So if you want to give away your life [and remain trapped in your history] for a $100- go right ahead . . . ."  Though he expressed confidence of a victory, Grant maintained that whatever decision is made come May 24, he would be comfortable because he has stayed true to the people of the constituency  “Win or lose I here to stay . . . . I know I have done my tour of duty not as a Member of Parliament but as somebody who cared about this constituency, somebody who is committed to this constituency and I don’t have to be a representative to care about my people or to represent them. "I’ve built houses in Lower Burney, sent to school children, supported education, supported businesses, trained people in music – I’ve done it all and I’ve never been a Member of Parliament. I have come to this point to say to you, give me your stamp I can do more for you than I have done before – simple as that.”  (DN)

MARSHALL SOLICITS SUPPORT FOR GOODING-EDGHILL – Former constituency representative for St Michael West Central Rommell Marshall, is asking constituents to throw their weight behind Barbados Labour Party hopeful Ian Gooding-Edghill. "Ian Gooding-Edghill was always with me. He worked from dusk to dawn to make sure the benefits were there for you all. Ian has served this constituency well. I want you to make sure Ian wins in every box, and you give him all the assistance," he said to the growing crowd gathered for the spot meeting at Cleavedale Road, Black Rock, St Michael. The constituency he said had ten polling districts that both he and Gooding-Edghill were able to transform after the Urban Development Commission was introduced in 1994-1995. Adding that he had won the constituency by margins of 163, 1 000 and over 800 votes, he urged the people to put their 'x' in the right place next Thursday. "I know we lost some supporters over the years, but think about the good old days you had. Then think of the bad days you are having, and rid St Michael West Central of James Paul on May 24, and make sure Ian is victorious by over 2 000 votes," he said.  (DN)

WELFARE OFFICERS NEED 'ATTITUDE CHANGE' – A major problem is facing Barbadians who are recipients of the island's welfare services. According to ex-Minister of Social Transformation in a previous Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration Hamilton Lashley, it is the systemic discrimination by some welfare officers. Lashley made the charge on Monday night as he endorsed the candidature of Democratic Labour Party (DLP) hopeful Rodney Grant for the St Michael South East riding. The social activist, who served as MP in the same constituency for four terms, posited that Grant was the right man to correct this injustice. “There are some welfare officers in this country that leave a lot to be desired. The way they treat poor people, the way they belittle poor people, leaves a lot to be desired,” he added. While calling for a change in the attitudes of these people, Lashley maintained that government was not to blame for this. Particularly, not the DLP Government, which he said has always argued that Barbados is more than an economy. He said: “It is about caring for people. We have to care. You can’t treat people as chattel or animals and then pun a Sunday you gone long to church or pun a Saturday and praise God and feel that God gine hear you. And then pun Monday you wake up and [hurt] people. You can’t do that, you got to get serious. For all of you who have become victims of the social system in this country, that will be corrected because I have faith and hope in this young man [Rodney Grant]. “I have been called many things. I have been called a traitor, I have been called a grasshopper, I have been called many things but one thing that nobody can call me is being a traitor to the people of this country. People come first [after God],” Lashley added.  (DN)

NO GAY PUSH – Less than a week after the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) released its May 24 election manifesto in which it explicitly states that it has no policy on same-sex unions, the party’s St Thomas candidate, Cynthia Forde, is assuring that if elected, the BLP will not be pursuing any gay agenda. “Nobody in the Barbados Labour Party is interested in any same sex marriage. We have neighbours that believed in same sex. They were discreet, both man and woman, we tolerated them, we have learned to tolerate people, [but] I am not interested in any man marrying a man or a woman marrying a woman. That is their private life. Do what they feel like in their bedrooms, but do not bring that as part of the Barbados Labour Party’s agenda. “We are not interested and we are not pursuing it as a Government at all,” Forde assured during a political meeting at Redman’s Village, St Thomas on Tuesday night which followed the release of the party’s 70-page manifesto last Thursday in which the BLP said it had no policy on same-sex unions and that the matter would have to be put to a national referendum. “We have said that repeatedly. We believe that no 30 people should be allowed to make decisions on issues that go to the heart of the nation’s collective values. This issue can only be determined by the outcome of a referendum,” the BLP manifesto states. However, while responding to comments made by Minister of Environment and Drainage Dr Denis Lowe on the controversial topic, Forde either intentionally or unintentionally ended up articulating a similar position to that of Lowe, who, in putting the issue of same sex marriage squarely before the electorate in the lead up to next week’s poll, declared stiff opposition on his part and that of the incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) to any such unions. “I stand in opposition to any attempt to legalize same sex marriage in Barbados. I stand firmly against it. If you want to do that [be involved in a same-sex relationship], do it in the privacy of your home. Don’t tell me there is going to be a law that will tell me I have to be subjected to that,” he said during a meeting at Carter’s Gap, Christ Church on Monday night. It was not the first time that Lowe was publicly denouncing what he saw as advocacy to legally wed persons of the same gender. However, on this occasion he went to greater lengths to explain his strident position on the issue, over which he had warned exactly a year ago that “there is an attempt in certain quarters to advance a legislative call for same-sex marriage, and I do not have any intention, within or without the legislator to support any such notion because I still believe in the biblical way of life”. To that he added a further caution that “there is to be no law in Barbados saying that I have to be subjected to two men walking up an aisle, one in a wedding dress and one in a tuxedo. “I don’t want to live in that kind of Barbados and that is what we are fighting right now,” he said. “I don’t want them telling me how to live in my society by creating a law in the statutory books saying that I have to accept a man marrying a man. I am not doing it and I don’t care who don’t agree with me, that is my personal opinion,” the Minister of Environment and Drainage stressed. However, while accusing Lowe of being fixated with the subject, Forde suggested that there were much more urgent matters – including the current shortage of garbage trucks – for the Cabinet minister to attend to. “I don’t know how that [same-sex unions] got in his agenda or the Democratic Labour Party’s agenda . . . . His mantra is that Barbados under the Democratic Labour Party’s watch will not have same sex marriage . . . . That is all he saying all the time.” However, she said her party was far more interested in dealing with the issues that matter to the people. “We are focusing on the NSRL [National Social Responsibility Levy] that is killing the people. We are focusing on him [Lowe] coming in for ten years and has not bought a sanitation truck and every six weeks we got to be picking up garbage, the rats, the bush and everything that bad in rural buses,” the St Thomas candidate said. She also blasted the DLP for not having enough conversations with the people on critical decisions. “When we [BLP] were looking at gambling we had to have a referendum on it. When it came to abortion we had to go across the length of Barbados to discuss it. When it was capital punishment we had to go in Barbados and open up the dialogue. That is a part of the agenda that Ms Mottley has in our manifesto that we have dialogue with people,” Forde stressed.  (BT)

INSURANCE COMPANIES SAGICOR AND HARMONY MERGE – Locally-based firms Sagicor General Insurance Inc and Harmony General Insurance Company Limited have announced a merger of their businesses in a deal whose value has not been disclosed. In an agreement dated December 8, 2017, but which was only made public this week, the two companies agreed to establish a new business, Sagicor General Insurance Inc. Sagicor General’s President and Chief Executive Officer Keston D Howell announced the deal to policyholders in a circular dated May 14, 2018, but said the merger was awaiting Financial Services Commission approval.    “Sagicor is presently rated by A M Best as ‘A-Excellent,’ which is a financial-strength rating measuring Sagicor’s ability to pay claims. Harmony is not presently rated,” the document cementing the merger states. The agreement governs the corporate structure of the proposed amalgamated company and as such will not affect the operation of the businesses of the merged firms. Policyholders have also been assured that their rights would not be affected by the changes made to the articles and by-laws of both companies or to the board of directors on the proposed amalgamation. “On the proposed amalgamation of Harmony and Sagicor there shall be no transfer of any contract by an insurer to another company,” the agreement reads. It also explains that the property of each company becomes that of the merged firms and that the absorbed institution would be liable for the obligations of each prior independent business. Canadian actuaries said the policy liabilities consist of a provision for unpaid claims and adjustment expenses on the expired claim liabilities and a provision for future obligations on the unexpired part of the premium liabilities. “For Harmony General Insurance Company Limited, the method and assumptions used to estimate the policy liabilities are reasonable and appropriate to the circumstances,” Cynthia M Potts, a fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries said. “For Sagicor General Insurance Inc, the methods and assumptions used to estimate the policy liabilities are reasonable and appropriate to the circumstances,” Potts added.

(BT)

FLYING HOSPITAL ARRIVES IN BARBADOS – For the first time ever, the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital has landed in Barbados. And for the next two weeks the world's only United States accredited Teaching Hospital on board an MD-10 aircraft, will provide training for local ophthalmologists, anaesthesiologists and other medical practitioners. This is thanks to an invitation from the Opthalmological Society of the West Indies, supported by the Ministry of Health and hosted by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. During the opening ceremony at the Grantley Adams International Airport this morning, acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George, thanks the Orbis international team for bringing what he described as a "unique experience "to Barbados. "First proposed by the Opthalmological Society of the West Indies in 2016, the suggestion was embraced by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Ministry of Health threw its full support behind this endeavour," George said during his speech on behalf of ministry of health John Boyce. "Two years later, here we are exhibition launch of the Orbis international regional skills training conference," he added.  (DN)

GUNNED DOWN – A Christ Church family is today in a state of shock over the untimely and unexpected death of 51-year-old Winston Bynoe, who was gunned down a short distance away from his St Matthias home last night. Bynoe was at the residence of a friend when two masked men pounced around 11:30 p.m. Police say the unidentified gunmen entered the gate of the home and fired gunshots, causing both the victim and his friend to run for cover. However, when the commotion subsided, it was discovered that Bynoe was injured. He was transported to the Accident & Emergency Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by private vehicle and was later pronounced dead. Today, when Barbados TODAY visited the deceased man’s home at Block 4C, St Matthias Housing Area, family members, including his parents Winston and Yvonne Bynoe, were in no position to speak. However, one community spokeswoman, who requested anonymity, told reporters she was startled by last night’s deadly incident. “I hear somebody say, ‘gunshots’ and I say, ‘gunshots?’ I ain’t looking for no gunshots to be out this side,” she explained, adding that to her further surprise, the victim was someone she knew and loved dearly. “Afterwards, I heard someone say, ‘Trevor get shoot’. I say, ‘Trevor get shoot?’” she said still in disbelief over the incident, which has also rocked his close-knit community. “I didn’t know what to do,” the grieving neighbour stressed. And while suggesting that his shooting death may have been a case of mistaken identity, she was adamant that Bynoe was no troublemaker. “He don’t get into no trouble and he is a nice painter. That is all I can say about Trevor. He would do anything for anybody out here. You could call Trevor and he would go anywhere for you. A very nice person, I have nothing bad to say about him.” Today, the two main political candidates contesting the May 24 general election in Christ Church West, where last night’s tragedy occurred, also expressed profound sympathy to Bynoe’s family. “We regret this loss of life and we hope the perpetrators are brought to justice,” said Democratic Labour Party candidate Verla De Peiza, while the Barbados Labour Party’s William Duguid called for an end to gun violence on the island. “I am very saddened by what has happened in the Pleasant Hall, St Matthias area. I have been to visit the man’s family and obviously they are extremely distressed. “I join with the rest of the community in condemning this senseless violence that continues to plague our country and I hope and look forward to a time where we can get back to law and order in this country, where we no longer have this violence perpetrated,” Duguid said. There have been a dozen killings so far this year, compared to 31 for all of last year.  (BT)

BECKLES FINALLY OWNS UP TO ROBBERY – For his role in trying to put a plastic bag over a man’s head and robbing him, Junior Nathaniel Beckles was sentenced to 12 months at HMP Dodds. On his previous court appearance, the 54-year-old, of Combermere Street, St Michael, had pleaded not guilty to robbing Tyrone Beckles on April 17, 2018, of a Samsung J2 cellular phone valued $500, along with $910.88 in cash and a watch valued $80. However, when he returned to the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court today, he changed his plea and owned up to the offence. Prosecutor Sergeant Cameron Gibbons told the court that the complainant was socializing at a bar in Nelson Street, and around 3:10 a.m., he asked for a ride to his home in Beckwith Street. As he sat in the passenger seat of the parked car, the accused and another man tried to put a plastic bag over his head. A struggle ensued and the complainant was cuffed in his face. The accused then pushed his hand through the window and took the cellular phone, the money and the watch before running off. The matter was reported to police and the accused was subsequently picked out in an identification parade. “I plead guilty because I did it . . . . I don’t normally walk in court and plead guilty. I really sorry about this case. I am sincerely sorry for this one,” he told Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sergeant. “I would like you to be lenient on me and look at giving me probation.” However, the magistrate stopped him in his tracks, telling him he would have to spend some time in prison. “Don’t ask for a fine, community service or probation because you do not qualify. You know where you will continue to reside,” she said. When told that she was considering a sentence of 18 months, the repeat offender sighed. “At 54 [years old], 18 months too long for me,” was his response. The magistrate then sentenced him to 12 months in prison with the month he has already spent on remand to be taken into consideration.  (BT)

ALLEYNE SENT OFF TO ‘MENTAL’ – A 42-year-old man, who threatened to stone two people, has been admitted to the Psychiatric Hospital. After pleading guilty to unlawfully assaulting Yvette Layne-Walcott and Jervis Holder, as well as to damaging a car belonging to Sabrina McClean this morning, an incoherent Vincent Allan Alleyne stood babbling in the dock of the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court. When the magistrate asked the barefooted and unkempt Alleyne, who has no fixed place of abode, if he had anything to say, in a barely audible voice he began to babble. After giving him several opportunities to explain himself, Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant remanded him to the Black Rock mental institution until June 6. In presenting the case, prosecutor Sergeant Cameron Gibbons said Layne-Walcott was exiting her car at the entrance of the court when the accused approached her with a rock in his hand and said, “I would hit you wid this rock. You feel I mekking sport.” When a security guard came to her assistance, Alleyne aimed the rock at him and said, “I going to burst your face with this rock.” He was seen by police, but ran off in the area of Walrond Street with lawmen in pursuit. It was then that he broke the left side mirror of McClean’s car which was parked in the car park of the Supreme Court.  (BT)

HOWARD ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING ANOTHER MAN – Davino Shakell Howard can consider himself lucky not to have spent the night in jail. Howard, 24, of Foul Bay, St Philip, was granted bail after he pleaded not guilty to assaulting Lamar Wilkinson on April 28, 2018, occasioning him actual bodily harm. And while there was no objection to bail by the prosecution, Howard had failed to provide a surety by the time the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court had closed for the day. However, instead of remanding him, Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant ordered him to return to court tomorrow. “If you do not come to court tomorrow I will issue a warrant for your arrest and when you come to court you won’t be getting any bail,” she warned. “Yes ma’am. I will be here at 9 o’ clock tomorrow morning sharp,” was Howard’s reply before rushing out of the courtroom.  (BT)

SOUR DEAL – In desperate need of a car loan, Alicia Sargeant thought she had found a saviour in Johan Fernando Nekens Prescod. Unfortunately for her, Prescod turned out to be a con man. The good news for her though, is that Prescod has agreed to pay back the $2,000 he stole from her between October 18, 2017 and March 2, 2018. Prosecutor Sergeant Cameron Gibbons, in presenting the case, said the complainant had hired several vehicles from Prescod in the past. However, unable to secure a loan because of her length of employment, Prescod promised to help her and as a result she gave him $2,000. That assistance never came and the complainant asked for her money back. He promised to repay, but never did. She made a complaint to the police and he again agreed to repay the money, but on the agreed date he sent a message saying he had been involved in an accident and was at the hospital. Frustrated, the complainant made another complaint to the police and he was eventually arrested. Prescod told Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant his mother had agreed to pay $1,000 on Friday and the remainder in installments. But after revealing to the magistrate that he had started a new job and was being paid bi-weekly, she ordered him to pay $500 every payday until the balance was cleared. “Go and take your money and put it back on the financial institution you got it from,” the magistrate told his mother. She then adjourned the matter until May 31, when Prescod is to return to court with $500.  (BT)

ZULU AND MOLE PLEASED WITH RESPONSE – He has one of the most popular songs for 2018, Do It For Daddy and Bashment Soca artiste Mole said he is humbled by the overwhelming response that he has received from Barbadians. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of Zulu International’s inaugural cruise dubbed Apollo 13, Mole said that it is a good feeling to know that people are listening to and appreciating his music. “It is great that people actually like my material and when I come out to perform, they actually want to hear it. It makes me feel really good,” he said. With Crop Over 2018 fast approaching, Mole said he will soon be releasing new material. “Crop Over is we thing. I love it, it does be nuff fun. I like a lot of wukking up . . . but I have a lot of material coming out for Crop Over, some sweet, some Bashment and some groovy,” he said. When asked about the new rules to the Bashment Soca competition, Mole said he agreed with everything, despite the winner taking all the winnings. Public Relations Officer for Zulu International Andre Wharton said the inaugural cruise will be bigger and better next year. He also thanked Barbadians for continuing to support Zulu International’s events. “It has been a fantastic night thus far. This is our first official cruise and the response has been overwhelming. We could not have asked for a better turn out from Barbados. We are happy for your support and we want everyone to continue to believe in the brand Zulu International and grow with us, because next year it is going to be bigger and even better,” Wharton said while adding that the Crop Over band has sights on the regional and international markets. “We have plans to go into the Caribbean and to take it a little further as we have partners in the UK and Guyana and we’re just about ready to speak with some partners in Trinidad as well. So we want to take the brand further but we are also cognizant of what needs to happen in Barbados as well. Home drums beat first for Zulu International,” he said. (BT)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 228 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles  #dailynewscapsbythechasefiles