#security guard company in Los Angeles

[militantis]

Top Security Guard Companies in Los Angeles for Ultimate Protection

Los Angeles is home to many top security guard companies that provide ultimate protection for businesses, residential areas, events, and VIPs. These companies offer professional security services, including armed and unarmed guards, mobile patrols, event security, and corporate protection. Whether you need 24/7 surveillance or short-term event security, hiring a trusted security firm ensures safety, crime prevention, and peace of mind.The best security companies in Los Angeles employ highly trained professionals with expertise in risk assessment, emergency response, and crowd control.

Understanding the Need for Professional Security in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a sprawling metropolis with a wide range of security challenges. From safeguarding high-end residences in Beverly Hills to providing security for large corporate offices in downtown LA, there’s a growing demand for professional security services. Whether it’s protecting against theft, vandalism, or personal safety threats, security guard companies in Los Angeles offer vital services that can help mitigate risk and enhance peace of mind.

 What to Look for in Top Security Guard Companies

When searching for a top security guard company in Los Angeles it’s essential to consider several key factors. These include the company’s experience, reputation, training programs, licensing, and the types of services offered. The best companies invest in recruiting highly qualified personnel who are trained to handle a range of security threats, from emergency situations to routine surveillance. Additionally, a solid reputation in the industry and positive client reviews can speak volumes about a company’s professionalism and effectiveness.

Top Security Guard Services in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is home to numerous security companies offering a wide variety of services to cater to the different needs of businesses and individuals. Some of the most commonly requested security guard services includeProtecting private  homes,estates, and gated communities from break-ins, vandalism, or personal threats.Securing office buildings, warehouses, and commercial spaces, ensuring employee safety and protecting company assets.Providing crowd control, VIP protection, and emergency response for public and private events, from concerts to corporate functions.

Armed vs. Unarmed Security Guards: What’s Right for You?

One of the most important decisions when choosing a security guard company is determining whether to opt for armed or unarmed security personnel. Armed guards carry firearms and are often chosen for high-risk situations or locations that may be more vulnerable to violent crime. They are extensively trained to use force when necessary and can be an essential part of high-profile security needs, such as celebrity protection or managing large-scale public events.

The Role of Technology in Enhancing Security Services

In today’s fast-paced world, technology plays a critical role in enhancing the effectiveness of security guard companies. Many of the top security companies in Los Angeles now incorporate advanced security technologies like CCTV monitoring, access control systems, and mobile apps that allow for real-time updates and coordination.CCTV surveillance helps security teams monitor properties around the clock, providing evidence in case of an incident and acting as a deterrent to potential criminals. 

Benefits of Hiring Local Security Companies in Los Angeles

When selecting a security guard company in Los Angeles, it’s often beneficial to choose a local provider who understands the specific challenges of the area. Local companies are familiar with the neighborhoods, traffic patterns, crime rates, and local regulations, allowing them to offer more tailored and responsive services. Their local knowledge allows them to provide faster emergency response times, as they’re familiar with the geography and potential hotspots for security issues.

How to Choose the Best Security Guard Company in Los Angeles?

Choosing the best security guard company in Los Angeles can feel overwhelming, given the many options available. To ensure you make the right decision, start by evaluating the company’s reputation, the quality of its staff, and the services it offers. Look for companies that provide detailed security assessments and are open to customizing solutions to meet your specific needs.It’s also important to check client testimonials and reviews to gauge the level of satisfaction with past services.

Conclusion

In Los Angeles, where safety concerns can vary greatly across different neighborhoods and environments, choosing the right security guard company is essential for ensuring ultimate protection. From armed and unarmed guards to advanced security technology, the best companies in Los Angeles offer comprehensive services designed to meet a variety of needs. By considering your specific security requirements, evaluating service providers, and working with local experts, you can find a solution that ensures the safety and security of your property, business, or event.

[brazenskies]

Why Security Guard Companies in Los Angeles Are Essential for Your Business?

Security is a critical concern for businesses of all sizes and industries. In a bustling and diverse city like Los Angeles, the need for reliable protection has never been greater. Security guard companies in Los Angeles play a pivotal role in ensuring that businesses, events, and communities remain safe and well-guarded against potential threats. These professional firms not only offer peace of mind but also help businesses thrive in a secure environment. Let’s explore the vital contributions of security guard companies in Los Angeles to business operations.

Understanding the Role of Security Guard Companies in Los Angeles

Security guard companies in Los Angeles provide essential services that go beyond merely guarding properties. These companies employ highly trained professionals who understand the nuances of modern security challenges. From monitoring surveillance equipment to managing access control, their role is multifaceted. Businesses often rely on these companies to deter crime, enforce regulations, and handle emergencies efficiently. With their in-depth knowledge of the local environment and security needs, security guard companies in Los Angeles offer customized solutions that ensure safety and compliance with city regulations.

Protecting Assets with Security Guard Services

One of the primary reasons businesses turn to security guard companies in Los Angeles is to protect their assets. Physical assets like equipment, inventory, and infrastructure can be vulnerable to theft, vandalism, or sabotage. Security guards act as a visible deterrent to potential criminals while also monitoring for any suspicious activity. These professionals are trained to respond promptly to any breaches, ensuring minimal damage. Security guard companies in Los Angeles often utilize advanced technologies, such as GPS tracking and real-time communication systems, to enhance their asset protection strategies. This proactive approach secures not only tangible assets but also the reputation of the businesses they serve.

Enhancing Workplace Safety with Trained Professionals

Creating a safe working environment is a top priority for every employer. Security guard companies in Los Angeles contribute significantly to this goal by providing trained professionals who can handle diverse workplace safety challenges. They conduct regular patrols, enforce safety protocols, and ensure that employees feel secure while on the premises. Their presence can help prevent workplace conflicts and provide immediate assistance during medical or other emergencies. Moreover, security guards are often trained in first aid and conflict resolution, making them invaluable assets in fostering a safe and harmonious workplace.

How Security Guard Companies in Los Angeles Prevent Theft?

Theft is a significant concern for businesses, especially in high-traffic areas like Los Angeles. Security guard companies in Los Angeles are equipped to prevent theft effectively through various means. Guards maintain a strong presence, making it difficult for potential thieves to operate unnoticed. They also employ advanced surveillance techniques, monitor entry and exit points, and conduct routine inspections of vulnerable areas. Additionally, their ability to respond swiftly to incidents ensures that any attempts at theft are thwarted quickly. With their expertise and vigilance, security guard companies in Los Angeles help businesses minimize losses and maintain profitability.

Building Trust Through Reliable Security Solutions

Trust is a cornerstone of successful business operations, and security plays a crucial role in building that trust. Security guard companies in Los Angeles provide reliable solutions that reassure clients, employees, and stakeholders. By implementing comprehensive security measures tailored to each business's unique needs, these companies demonstrate their commitment to safety. Their consistent performance helps establish a sense of reliability and professionalism, which is vital for businesses aiming to maintain strong relationships with their customers and partners.

The Impact of On-Site Security on Customer Confidence

Customers are more likely to frequent businesses where they feel safe and secure. Security guard companies in Los Angeles contribute to this confidence by ensuring that potential threats are mitigated before they escalate. A visible security presence signals to customers that a business takes their safety seriously. This can be particularly beneficial for establishments like shopping centers, restaurants, and entertainment venues. By creating a secure environment, businesses can enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty, ultimately boosting their reputation and revenue.

Choosing Security Guard Companies in Los Angeles for Tailored Protection

Not all businesses have the same security requirements, which is why tailored protection is essential. Security guard companies in Los Angeles specialize in creating customized solutions based on the specific needs of their clients. Whether it’s securing a large-scale event, managing access control at a corporate office, or patrolling a retail store, these companies provide services that align with individual business goals. Their flexibility and adaptability make them invaluable partners for businesses looking to enhance their security measures without disrupting daily operations.

Conclusion

The services offered by security guard companies in Los Angeles are indispensable for businesses seeking to protect their assets, employees, and customers. These companies play a vital role in fostering safe environments, preventing crime, and building trust. By partnering with experienced security professionals, businesses can focus on growth and success while leaving their security concerns in capable hands. In a dynamic city like Los Angeles, investing in reliable security solutions is not just a necessity but a smart business decision.

[iww-gnv]

Disneyland employees who perform as various Disney characters at the theme park are seeking to join the Actor’s Equity Association, which represents everything from actors on Broadway to strippers in Los Angeles. The union is seeking to represent the 1,700 Disneyland employees in the characters and parades departments at the park. It said after three days of collecting cards signed by employees, it already has more than the 30% support needed to file for a representation vote with the National Labor Relations Board, which oversees such elections. But it said it is waiting until it has the support of at least 60% before filing for such a vote or seeking voluntary recognition of the union by Disney. Performers doing the same work at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, are already in a union and have been for years. And until recently the Disney World performers were paid more than their Disneyland counterparts, according to the union. The union contract reached between a coalition of unions and management at Disney World last year pays the performers a minimum hourly wage that ranges from $21.30 to $23.00, according to the union. The Disneyland performers had been getting $20 an hour until the union organizing drive began late last year. The minimum pay went up to $24.15 an hour at the end of last year, according to the union. But the cost of living is significantly greater in Orange County, California, where Disneyland is located, than in Orlando. According to data from the Council for Community and Economic Research, the cost of living is 50% greater in Orange County, California. Housing costs, which are more than twice as expensive, are the primary reason, but prices are higher across multiple categories. There are more than 21,000 Disneyland employees, who are referred to as cast members by the company, who are represented by more than a dozen unions. Those unionized jobs include everything from retail and food service workers to security guards, hair and make-up artists and pyrotechnic workers. But not the performers who dress up as characters such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy and interact with visitors.

[qnewsau]

Drag Race firebrand Willam got kicked out of DragCon

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/drag-race-firebrand-willam-got-kicked-out-of-dragcon/

Drag Race firebrand Willam got kicked out of DragCon

Security! RuPaul’s Drag Race queen Willam has shared footage of the moment she was kicked out of DragCon in Los Angeles.

The drag performer’s frosty relationship with the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise since her season is no secret.

Over the weekend, the popular three-day expo DragCon LA returned to the Los Angeles Convention Centre.

Every DragCon brings performers, drag fans and even RuPaul himself together for performances, meet and greets and of course lots and lots of merchandise.

Willam was one of the many queens who showed up for day 1 of DragCon LA. However, word quickly got around that Willam’s appearance was short-lived.

In a post on X, Willam confirmed to a fan security had escorted her out of the event.

“Yep. Listen to the [podcast] this week and watch my YouTube videos of it all happening,” Willam replied.

After the X post, Willam shared footage on Instagram and her YouTube channel of almost a dozen security guards escorting her out.

In the video, Willam bumps into fellow Drag Race star Dahlia Sin and Willam told her she was told she was a “risk for the event.”

Willam described the footage of “11 cops and guards circling me moving me out the door like the only villain. Fun stuff!”

  View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by WILLAM (@willam)

Willam will ‘always be’ a Drag Race fan

Willam later elaborated in a much longer Instagram post, below. The drag performer said she will “always love Drag Race and be a fan” but let rip on production company World of Wonder, DragCon and her treatment at the event.

“They trailed me around the convention centre and then waited til I went backstage [to] descend and encircle me so they wouldn’t be by the fans and cameras,” Willam claimed.

  View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by WILLAM (@willam)

Willam promises the tea on her Race Chaser podcast

Willam also promised to spill more tea with her co-host Alaska on the drag duo’s always honest and frequently spicy recap podcasts Race Chaser and Hot Goss.

Ahead of that, the drag performer’s followers were in the comments section with a lot of thoughts.

“Just @willam casually keeping the punk spirit of drag alive. Bless her,” one person wrote.

“I mean it’s very on brand,” another follower said.

“Looking sickening though,” someone else declared.

“Let’s be real: Willam walked straight to Ru’s line to start sh*t. Had he just acted like a person and enjoyed #DragCon, it wouldn’t have been an issue. Instead, he walked in there like it was his name on the marquee and got dealt with accordingly. It’s been years, boo. Move on,” an alleged DragCon attendee clarified.

“Cant wait for the ‘I went to DragCon 2024 and all I got was escorted out’ tshirts/merch,” someone else wrote.

More on Drag Race:

Willam blasts Michelle Visage for hosting Drag Race Down Under

Ru-vealed: Here’s the queens set for Drag Race Down Under season 4

Aussie Kween Kong confirmed for RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars

Courtney Act reunited with Adore Delano and Bianca Del Rio

Rhys Nicholson on ‘grim’ Drag Race Down Under we almost saw

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

[beardedmrbean]

The suspected gunman in a violent shooting at a Target store in downtown Los Angeles was arrested Tuesday, just a few short blocks from where the crime occurred.

The unidentified suspect, who police referred to as a person of interest, was arrested after an hourslong standoff at an apartment building on the 1200 block of Ingraham Street in the Westlake District.

Police say the suspect barricaded himself inside the apartment as officers attempted to serve a warrant at the residence. Viewer footage from the scene showed several broken windows and KTLA’s Chris Wolfe reported several canisters of tear gas were delivered into the man’s makeshift bunker.

Images later shared with KTLA showed a person being detained at the scene surrounded by several heavily armed officers, including special enforcement bureau officers wearing gas masks.

The arrest came hours after the Los Angeles Police Department held a press conference to discuss the ongoing search and released the first images of the gunman, who shot two security guards at the Target store located in the FigAt7th shopping mall.

According to police, the suspect, a man believed to be in his early 20s, shot the two security guards after they confronted him for shoplifting.

The suspect entered the store carrying a briefcase and filled it with stolen items before walking past the registers without paying, police officials said during a Tuesday press conference.

“He was confronted by the security guards outside the Target where a confrontation ensued,” LAPD Capt. Raul Jovel said. “During that scuffle, the suspect produced a pistol and began firing indiscriminately, shooting two people.”

Police also confirmed that one of the two security guards was armed and exchanged gunfire with the assailant. “This was a gunfight,” Jovel added.

At least 10 rounds were fired between the two with several walls hit. At the time of their afternoon press conference, LAPD officials said it was unclear if the gunman was hit by return fire.

Photos shared by LAPD Tuesday morning showed the man who fired and struck the two security guards. He was described as being between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet tall and weighing around 160 pounds. At the time of the shooting, he was wearing a black jacket, purple scarf, gray pants and a black do-rag.

The man’s weapon was described as a 9mm pistol.

Prior to his arrest Tuesday evening, he was considered to be armed and dangerous.

The shooting, which happened around 9 p.m. at a Target store located at 735 S. Figueroa St. in the FigAt7th shopping mall in downtown L.A., left the two security guards hospitalized, one of whom was in critical condition.

During Tuesday’s press conference, LAPD officials provided a positive update, saying that one of the security guards had been released from the hospital.

The armed security guard was employed by the shopping center, police said, while the other works in loss prevention for Target.

FigAt7th said in a statement that the mall was “deeply troubled” by the incident that occurred Monday night and was working closely with police in their investigation.

A statement from Target added that the company was “saddened by this horrible act of violence and our thoughts are with those who were injured, their friends and families.”

The store where the shooting took place remains closed as of Tuesday night, store officials confirmed.

Jovel said the LAPD and its law enforcement partners were committed to combating retail theft as they “strive to make downtown a safe location to visit, live and work at.”

The shooting remains under investigation and anyone with information is urged to contact LAPD Central Robbery Detective Alvarez at 213-833-3750.

[exololyunho]

la air

masterlist

FoF masterlist

wc: 4.9k

Returning to Los Angeles is the last thing you want. It brings with it an old lover who doesn't seem to realize he's an old lover, a nervous wreck of an assistant, and horrible memories. But it also has your best friend, your favorite furry creature, sex talk, and some comfort in the form of drinking at noon. Plus a phone call and the promise of what's to come lifts your spirits.

warnings: anxiety talk, sex talk, hickies, reader falls, a lot of exposition, a dog, san is a menace

next

an: so this was previously posted but I'm reworking the series slightly to expand

The overwhelmingly warm air of Los Angeles sunk into you, almost immediately causing sweat to form on your brow. Despite the sudden heat, you pulled the hood of your purple sweatshirt down, focusing on following your assistant, Reed, to a sleek black SUV. All you wanted was to sleep.

“Y/n L/n!”

“Over here, Y/n!”

“Y/n! Why were you in South Korea?”

“Are you dating anyone, Y/n?”

The crowd of people around you were screaming, cameras flashing as a combination of airport security and bodyguards provided by the production company you were working with held them back. 

You were nearly to the open door framed by two more guards when you went tumbling to the floor. One of the fans had managed to push past one of the security guards and had rammed into you. The backpack you had slung over one shoulder cushioned your fall slightly, but you landed flat on your ass. The guards standing at the car rushed forward. One hauled the screaming fan off of you while the other, one you were familiar with, helped you to your feet. Luca, the one who got you up, took the backpack from you and placed a hand on your lower back. He quickly pushed you into the car next to Reed, who looked super concerned. 

You winced as you took a seat next to him. Luca gave you a worried look and placed your backpack on your lap. The door slammed and you let out a breath, slumping back in the seat as Reed fretted over you, buckling your seatbelt before taking the backpack from your lap and putting in securely between the two of you on the middle seat. The driver's side door opened followed by the passenger door. The guard who got the fan off you got behind the wheel while Luca clambered into the passenger seat in front of you. The car started and immediately took off for what you knew was going to be a long ride home.

“Y/n I’m so sorry, I should have stopped her. I’m so, so sorry. Please don’t fire me,” Reed looked like he was going to cry. He was always a nervous wreck in stressful situations.

“I’m not going to fire you, Reed,” you closed your eyes, digging into your jeans pocket, searching for the little treasure you knew was there.

“You should,” he was sniffling now.

“Reed, it’s the securities’ fault not yours,” Luca’s voice caused your eyes to open as you caught him staring at you, his brows pinched together. He’d been assigned to you every time you worked with this studio. He was handsome, tall and well muscled with blonde hair and blue eyes and sharp features. You’d shared more than a couple late nights during the filming of your very first movie with the studio that employed him and even more when you were finished, but those days were definitely behind you now. You have a boyfriend now. A secret one half way across the world, but a boyfriend still.

“He’s right, Reed. Don’t worry. Your job is safe and so am I,” you reached for Reed’s hand with one of yours while the other pulled your vape from your pocket. You squeezed his hand and took a long drag, tilting your head away from the other passengers to release the smoke. The high that hit you left you floaty and relaxed.

“I thought you quit?” Luca had one eyebrow raised as he was still turned in his seat to face you.

You shrugged. “Lots of stress lately.”

“Didn’t you just come from a 6 month vacation?”

Again you merely shrugged. Reed knew you were dating someone, but he didn’t know who and he was sworn to secrecy. Literally. Your manager had made him sign an NDA when he was hired, although, now that you knew Reed, you were certain he would be too scared of legal repercussions and losing you as a friend to reveal anything he shouldn’t. 

Luca took that as his cue to drop the conversation. He turned to face the front, reaching for the radio. The volume wasn’t very high, but you immediately recognized the sound of Yunho’s voice crooning about loving someone, even though it was bad for him. Before his verse ended and the next member took over, you were sitting straighter in your seat.

“Change it,” you commanded, causing both Luca and the driver to look at you quickly. “Please,” Luca nodded once and switched to a different station. It was another song you were familiar with, but this one didn’t cause your heart to hurt. 

It was a song you and your roommate and best friend Joanne always listened to when cleaning your home. Joanne had been living with you practically since you’d bought the house in Los Angeles. She was an English teacher at a nearby high school so it worked out well. She had a place to live that was way above what a teachers salary could afford and you had someone to make sure you weren’t self destructing.

She was a comforting thought, distracting you from thoughts of Yunho, what he was doing, what he was wearing, how he looked performing their complex, entrancing choreography…

Deciding that it was best you didn’t think of him for now, you opted for putting headphones in as soon as the song was finished. Scrolling through your music, you opted for a calming, slightly melancholic playlist, taking one last hit of your vape before putting it away. Your eyes quickly closed as you relaxed into the leather seats, the swaying of the car putting you at ease. 

Before long Reed was gently shaking you awake. You hadn’t even realized you had fallen asleep but the car was still, your door was open, and Luca waited outside with your luggage.

You stared up at the large, white two story that was your real home. Inside was your loving, best friend from high school, but the place didn’t feel nearly as inviting as the apartment you owned in Seoul. It didn’t have the same memories of you and Yunho. 

Forcing yourself to think of the positive things, memories of you and Joanne drinking wine and cooking fry bread in the kitchen while dancing to your old hype playlist, summer days lounging beside the pool, and other things that brought you comfort. 

It was with those thoughts that you forced yourself out of the SUV, snagging your backpack and slinging it over both shoulders before walking towards Luca. 

“I can handle these on my own,” you took the handle of one suitcase from him before reaching for the other.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m positive,” he released his hold on the second large suitcase, giving you a once over as if he believed you were too frail to handle it. You had lost weight from the combined stress of being parted from Yunho for a long time once again, returning to acting after taking 6 months off, and the general anxiety of no longer being anonymous in a massive city like LA. Add that to the rigorous workout routine for the upcoming action movie you were set to start shooting in two weeks and your anxiety disorder that had set in not long after you made your acting debut at 16 and carried on strong for nearly 7 years, and you’ve got a wonderful recipe for poor health, physical and mental. 

Reed followed you out of the car. “Do you need anything? Is there anything I can get you? Do you want me to call your parents? Joanne? Or even the studio. I’m sure they have whatever you ne-”

“Reed,” you stopped him with one raised hand and a kind, but exhausted smile. “Shut up. I can call my own parents. And Joanne is home,” you pointed to her car in the driveway. “I’m ok, really. I don’t need anything from you. I’ll see you in two weeks on set, Ok? And I’ll call you if I need you.”

He nodded and hugged you before climbing into the backseat of the car. When the door shut behind him, Luca’s focus returned to you.

“You can also call me if you need anything. You know I’m always happy to help and I haven’t seen you in so long,” his hand came up to cup your face and you moved back almost immediately.

“Sure, sure. See you later,” you quickly took your bags and made your way up the walkway to the dark wood door of your home, it had a pane of frosted glass cutting vertically down the middle. It was stylish, modern like the rest of the house. As soon as you had purchased it, your mom had insisted on remodeling the whole place. She had done a fantastic job, but sometimes it seemed too perfect. You were only 19 when you bought the place and it was incredibly lonely. The only thing that had made it feel like home was your childhood cat who had roamed the much too large house up until last year, when she passed from old age. It was around then that Joanne had moved in. She was a year older and had finished her English degree and gotten her teaching credentials at a university nearby. You had immediately insisted she moved in. You were usually gone for months on end for filming and she always house sat when you were away. It was perfect. You were lonely and she needed a place to stay as couldn’t remain in student housing any longer. It worked out perfectly. You had company and she had a rent free home a high school teacher could only dream of. The two of you had argued about the rent situation for a while but you had too much money to care about her paying you anyways. She did insist on buying groceries, though. 

Speaking of Joanne, she threw the front door open before you could reach for the handle, instantly enveloping you in a bone crushing hug you wouldn’t expect for someone of her size, which you instantly returned. She was 5’2, sweet and charming with shoulder length black hair and large black glasses. Her laugh was contagious and so was her energy.

“I can’t believe you’re back!” She squeezed you tighter, burying her face into your chest, right between your boobs, which was a common hazard for someone her. 

Barking drowned out what you were going to respond with as your great dane, Ivan bounded out of the door. He whined and barked at your side until you pulled away from Joanne and knelt to pet the big, black monster of a dog.

“Hi baby,” you cooed, sinking to your knees and scratching behind his floppy ears while he tried to lick your face. You were mostly successful at avoiding his lolling tongue. “I missed you, handsome.”

While you were focused on the dog you hadn’t seen in far too long, Joanne brought your suitcases inside the foyer before leaning against the door frame, staring fondly at you and Ivan.

“He really missed you,” her voice drew your attention to her. “So did I.”

She was dressed in a fluffy blue sweater and denim shorts, wearing an eclectic assortment of rings and bracelets that didn’t match at all.

“I missed you so much,” you stood, dusting off your pants as you walked inside, Ivan following as you waited until he was inside to shut the heavy front door behind you. After slipping your shoes off, you looked around. The white walls of the house, combined with the wooden floors, house plants, paintings, and decorative items that made the house look like it came out of a magazine gave it that foreign, cold feeling you had expected, but it was greatly dulled by the wiggling mass of black fur at your side and your best friend of so many years. They made it feel like home again, although you did still long for the high rise apartment you owned in Seoul. 

Your comment brought a wider smile to Joanne’s face. Her hands clapped together and her face grew mischievous.

“I want to hear all about your vacation and that yummy boyfriend of yours,” her hand grabbed yours and yanked you through the doorway to the left of the foyer, into the kitchen. She dropped your hand in favor of retrieving two wine glasses from the black cupboards and your favorite bottle of cheap white wine from the small built in wine fridge beneath the granite counters. 

“Joanne it’s noon on a Tuesday,” you gave her a scathing look as Ivan barked. She waved you off. “It’s 5 o'clock somewhere!”

You snorted. “What are you, 40?”

She ignored you in favor of pouring two large glasses. Despite your protests, you took the glass she handed you and clinked your glasses together. The wine was good and before long you two found yourselves curled up on the gray sectional in the living room that faced the pool and large backyard with Ivan pressed against your side. The window panels had been slid back, leaving the room open to the outside, warm air pouring in.

You had removed your sweatshirt, leaving you in an oversized shirt that most certainly belonged to Yunho. Your phones were placed on the coffee table along with the half full bottle of wine. Your vape was placed next to the bottle. Joanne had given you a disapproving look when you first took it out, but thankfully didn’t comment. 

She listened attentively as you recounted your adventure. You had flown to Seoul to seek refuge after you nearly had a breakdown 6 months before. The pressure was getting to you and you couldn’t handle it. You had finished 3 intense projects back to back which left your pockets full and your fame skyrocketing. You, however, had fallen. Hard. What pushed you over the edge, needing a break, was news story after news story calling you a bad role model and party girl after a photo of you smoking a cigarette had been taken when you thought you were alone with a costar.  You weren’t necessarily ashamed of smoking, for fucks sake you’d been doing it long before it was legal for you to do so, but you had quit about a year previously. A moment of weakness and pressure had caused you to pick it up again and seeing the photos everywhere, the comments everyone seemed to have, and the texts from your parents made it much worse. It shouldn’t have been made into the spectacle that it had been so you’d made your escape.

You had owned the apartment for about two years now. You bought it after your one year anniversary with Yunho. You’d met him by chance at a coffee shop in Seoul while you were there doing press for a movie. You were only 20 and had shyly approached him to tell him you were a fan. He had immediately recognized you and declared himself a fan of yours and you exchanged numbers. The press tour you had been on was finished after the stop in Seoul and you stayed a while, having brought Joanne with you since she was on a break from school and you wanted company. The two of you exchanged numbers and texting quickly turned to calling and calling turned into dates and before you knew it, you had spent a month in South Korea. Joanne had had to return home for school but you had decided to stay and you and Yunho had kept seeing each other. Things went well and you made it official about a week after Joanne left. Time flew and you spent your entire 4 month break with him. You eventually did have to return home, though. Another movie was waiting for you and a tour was on the horizon for him. You had considered calling it off, but after a long conversation and the first of many ‘I love you’s, you decided to continue. It would only be long distance for two months before you could see him again on his tour. You had attended every concert you could, staying in his hotel with him when you could and trying to pretend your relationship was normal for a night or two. 

Halfway through his tour, you filmed yet another movie and by the time you finished he was home. You had immediately hopped on a plane to Seoul when you finished. It had always been easier for you to come visit him. You had a lot more freedom of movement than he did under his company and your schedule had longer breaks in between busy blocks of filming and promotions. Adding to that, South Korea offered its celebrities more privacy than the states did. That was why he’d never been to your home here in Los Angeles. 

You’d purchased the apartment as a safe place for you two to get privacy since he lived in the dorms still. It was more than just a private place, though. It had become your escape, even when he wasn’t in the country you found yourself going for a week, decompressing and relaxing. You liked Seoul. You liked the people, the food, the scenery. It had even allowed you to work on your Korean. You had started to learn some when you first got into K-pop, but a short stint in an apartment in LA’s Ktown had encouraged you to practice even more and the older women at the grocery around the corner were happy to help you practice. By the time you had met Yunho, you could easily hold a conversation and now you were damn near fluent. You had even undertaken the momentous task of teaching him English. He was still learning and he struggled sometimes, but he was getting very good.

Joanne had watched your eyes glaze over and a smile grace your face as you were lost in memory and she smiled herself, grateful to have her friend back in their home.

She let you day dream, correctly presuming it was about Yunho. It wasn't long, though, before her curiosity got the best of her and she gently prodded your thigh to rouse you. 

“Tell me! I want to hear all about your… adventures with that sexy boyfriend of yours,” her eyebrows wiggled and a salacious smile took over from her fond one.

You felt yourself flush at her words. “Well… it had been a bit since we’d seen each other so we… caught up.”

“Was it as good as it always is?”

“Joanne!”

“We’re best friends, you have to tell me,” you and Joanne had always had few boundaries and talking about your sex lives were never off the table. Her words caused you to sigh and you reached for the bottle on the table to refill your nearly empty wine glass. 

Taking a long drink you turned back to her. “It’s always good but sometimes it's amazing.” The memories flooding into your mind left you flushing and longing. Not necessarily for the sex, but for him in general. “He-he has a thing for hickies but a few weeks ago… god I should have sent you a picture it was bad. Actually wait a second.”

You placed your glass on the table, swiping your phone from the glass surface. You dug through your photos searching for the right one. You swiped past photos of you and Yunho and it hurt a bit, but you focused on the mission at hand. Finding your prize, you handed the phone to Joanne.

It was from the day after he caught you smoking. There were black and blue and purple marks down both sides of your neck with some even taking up residence on the front of your throat. You were wearing just underwear and a sports bra in the photo to also show off the marks on your body. You had sent it to him after he had left to attend to his schedule that day. It featured the hickies that also littered your chest, including the deep one over your heart. Another focal point were the bruises on your left hip in the shape of his fingers.

“Y/N,” Joanne shrieked, wide eyes never leaving the photo. “Oh my god. I don’t know whether to yell at him or you. This is… this is intense holy shit.”

You blushed even harder, turning your attention to Ivan sleeping beside you. It was easier to scratch his ears than face your friend. He grumbled, satisfied with the attention he was getting.

“God. If I didn’t know how well he treated you, I would be concerned,” Joanne finally handed you your phone back, shaking her head and eyeing your neck. None of the marks from that night remained and you knew that the marks from your last goodbye had faded completely also.

You cleared away your tabs and shut your phone off. Before you could deposit it on the table, it lit up. It was picture of you and Yunho with masks on, pressing your foreheads together at Namsun Tower, overlooking Seoul. Mingi had taken it while the three of you had been out on a walk one evening several months ago. ‘You Know Who’ followed by several heart emojis was calling.

You instantly stood, disrupting Ivan who sleepily stared up at you. “I’ve gotta take this.”

Joanne nodded and you headed through the open space to a far corner of the deck outside. You made yourself comfortable on one of the many teal lounging chairs as you hit accept. Bringing the phone to your ear you nearly sighed in relief at hearing his voice. 

“Hey baby,” he sounded raspy and still half asleep. You quickly checked your watch, which displayed both your time zone and his, side by side. It was almost 6 am there.

“Hey Yunho. It's early.”

“Mmm,” he hummed and god did he sound amazing. You could picture him in your mind. Shirtless, with messy hair standing up at odd angles while he blinked sleep out of his eyes. He liked to sleep on his stomach, clutching a pillow to his chest. It always gave you such a good view of the redwood tree tattooed on his spine. He’d gotten it to match yours on your third anniversary. It was his very first and he had also declared it his last, claiming it hurt too much and that nothing else meant enough to him to get it tattooed. 

“I wanted to talk to you, so I got up early,” his words were slightly slurred, like he had woken up seconds before calling you. “I just needed to know you got home safe.”

Everything about him gave you butterflies in your stomach, even after so long. “I did, love. Joanne and Ivan were very happy to see me.”

“Not as happy as I’m going to be in two months.”

In two months Ateez was holding their final farewell concert in Seoul after promotions for their final album finished. It had managed to line up perfectly with when the movie you were filming finished. You couldn’t wait. You loved watching him onstage. His energy was unmatchable and his voice was so sweet, but once he stepped off that stage in two months, you could just be Yunho and Y/n. Not a Kpop idol and an American actress. For a little while. The two of you planned on going public after his contract with KQ officially ended, but you were pushing that off as long as possible, wanting to enjoy the anonymity your relationship still had. Granted, you’d be able to go places together in public once it was announced, but that would bring unwanted attention that you were not looking forward to.

“I can’t wait to see you again.”

There was a lull in conversation before he spoke again.

“I want to come to your house,” this gave you pause. As much as you had talked about being together and your future, you two had never really talked about him coming to you. He was born and raised in South Korea and you had grown to love the place. You had always assumed the two of you would settle down there, in the apartment you loved so much before maybe moving to a house just outside Seoul with you traveling for work when necessary. “Baby?” 

“I want you here,” your voice was quiet, but you knew from the sounds of shuffling on his end that he heard you. You imagined him finally sitting up in bed, leaning against the wall, sheets messed up as his long legs stretched out. You knew his roommate, San, was probably still asleep in the bed across from him.

“I wish I could be there. I want to meet Ivan and see Joanne and take road trips all over the country. I want you, next to me always. After we disband, I’m not letting you go anywhere alone, ever,” his words nearly brought tears to your eyes.

“I hope that doesn’t apply to when I have to go to the bathroom.”

The smile in his voice was so apparent as he spoke. “Nope I’m following you everywhere. I’ll be like the puppy dog my fans think I am. You’re never getting away from me. I’ll make sure you’re sick of me, Y/n.” You’d certainly like to see him try.

“I don’t think I could ever be sick of you.”

“SHUT UP!” There was suddenly shouting on his end and the sound of loud thuds as San presumably threw something at him. More shouting and rustling came through, almost incoherent but it sounded like him and San were wrestling. 

San must have been victorious because all of a sudden there was panting and running footsteps while Yunho’s yelling got quieter in the background.

“Y/N!” You yanked the phone away from your ear, wincing at the shouting. “Y/n he won’t shut up about you, dear god please take him away from us.”

A laugh bubbled out of your throat. “I will, I will. Don’t worry, San.”

“Good. When are you coming back? We miss you,” a faint voice in the background asked if he was talking to you. San responded in the affirmative.

“I won’t be back until your concert. But I’ll be there, cheering for all of you.” 

“You should call me more,” you guessed correctly that San had put you on speaker as Mingi’s pouting voice was the next one you heard. 

“Yeah you don’t call me either,” San joined in.

“I promise to call you both if you give Yunho his phone back,” bargaining was the best way to get them to listen to you as you had learned. Asking nicely only worked on Yunho and commanding them only caused them to resist more.

“Okay okay fine. But you better call at least once a week,” you heard more shuffling, doors opening and closing and finally running water. “Ah, he’s in the shower. Want me to facetime you?” San’s mischievous voice was teasing and he didn’t even give you time to answer before your phone was jingling again.

With a sigh you pulled the phone from your ear to hold it out in front of you and answered. San’s bare face, blonde hair, and evil smirk greeted you. 

“Don’t be mean,” you chastized.

“Me? Mean? Never,” before you could protest further, he switched the camera around and opened the bathroom door. Yunho called out in confusion from the shower before San yanked back the curtain giving you the wonderful sight of Yunho’s bare body. His back was to you, giving you a great view of his ass along with his toned back and the wonderful tattooed tribute to you. 

“SAN!” Yunho whipped around, eyes wide and hands covering his dick. “What the fuck!?”

“Your girl wanted me to give the phone back to you so I figured I’d give her a show,” he was giggling but was quickly shut up when Yunho grabbed the detachable shower head to spray him. He screamed as Yunho snatched the phone out of his hand before he went running.

Yunho shut off the water.  From this new angle, all you could see was his handsome face and the top of his muscular shoulders. His hair was dripping over his face and he looked apologetic. “I’m sorry, baby.”

“Don’t be, you know I always love looking at you,” despite your confident, flirty answer your cheeks were red. Your mind started to wander somewhere it definitely shouldn’t while you were in your backyard, staring at the mountains beyond your neighborhood.

“Mmm trust me I know,” his bottom lip was caught between his teeth, his eyes darkening suddenly, causing you to squirm a bit in your seat. His mouth opened to say something but he was interrupted by a banging on the door.

“Yunho hurry up! We’ve gotta go in 20 minutes and the rest of us have to shower!” It was Hongjoong yelling at him.

“Use the other bathroom!” was his response.

“We can’t. Seonghwa’s in there. You know he takes forever.”

“Fuck,” Yunho muttered.

“Just call me when you’re done with your schedule for today, love,” you knew it’d be super late but you could sacrifice an hour or so of your sleep to talk to him.

He sighed. “Ok I’ll call you tonight.”

“I love you.”

“I love you more, baby.”

And with a beep his face disappeared and you were left staring at your home screen, a picture of the two of you asleep on the couch in his dorm.

[momentary-ecstasy]

Prompt: Seven finally manages to surprise Raffi who always just seems to know.

Raffi knew about her latest promotion before most of her superiors did. She knew about the jewelry Seven got her for their anniversary before it was wrapped. Raffi knew about the surprise birthday party Seven, Gabe, and Pel had planned for a month using secure channels.

Seven had taken it as a challenge to surprise Raffi every chance she got. She found it was the little things that were easiest to surprise Raffi with. She would kiss her sleeping night-owl girlfriend in the early morning and say she was going for a run, but instead she would take a transporter to Paris and get her favorite pastries for breakfast.

But she wanted to do something big. She wanted to get something big over on Raffi just once. 

And Seven decided that keeping it just to herself and planning minimally was how to do it. She waited for Raffi to have a lunch date with Elnor to set everything up. It didn’t take much persuasion as word had gotten out of their exploits with the Changelings on the Titan and Seven found the small amount of celebrity to be both exhausting and useful.

Like asking a security guard to perhaps be somewhere else in half an hour.

“Where are we going?” Raffi asked, holding onto Seven’s arm as she walked with her eyes closed, fully closed to play along with whatever Seven was up to.

“Where do you think we are?” Seven asked, stopping Raffi in an elevator that she hoped Raffi wouldn’t feel moving.

Raffi was hesitant to guess because it seemed like Seven had gone through a lot of work to surprise her and she didn’t think telling her that undercover training involved learning how to track ones whereabouts while blinded and hearing obstructed. “Probably still in Los Angeles.” 

“It’s okay if you know where we are,” Seven smiled, her hands on Raffi’s waist as she guided her onto the floor they were destined for. 

“The building where the former tallest building in Los Angeles was located,” Raffi answered. “Built by the company who went on to create the Class II igniter for what would eventually be Starfleet transport shuttles.”

“Okay,” Seven stopped Raffi from walking and stood behind her, putting her arms around Raffi’s waist. “So you know where we are. And too much about municipal construction. But,” she was suddenly nervous that what she did was stupid and too much or stupid and not enough. However they were already there so she said, “open your eyes.”

A small alcove with a large window overlooking the rebuilt Los Angeles had been set with four tea candles, two on the metal outline of the window, one on the stairs leading down, and the last on the floor near the window to the side, giving the space a soft glow that felt like somewhere safe and private. Two chairs that appeared to have been stolen from the lobby were angled so that they were nearly facing each other but partially looking out the window and a bottle of wine sat between them. 

Raffi was a bit confused by the setup, but smiled regardless, “This is great, honey.”

Seven watched Raffi approach the area with a sly grin because the surprise hadn’t even happened yet. She took the wine key out of her pocket and followed Raffi. 

They opened the wine and sat down. 

“No glasses huh?” Raffi asked after taking a sip from the bottle, after sitting down.

“The only thing I brought was the wine,” Seven sat down opposite her. “Can’t plan much if I want to surprise you. Especially with other people.”

Raffi leaned back in her chair, “To be fair, Gabe has been the worst liar since he could talk and Elnor…” She chuckled, “He’s working on it.” She offered the wine bottle to Seven. “Pel is pretty good though.” 

“Also your entire life has been about spotting lies from the most prolific liars in the galaxy.” Sdeven added before taking a sip of the wine. 

“Yeah that too,” Raffi relaxed a bit and kicked one of her feet up onto the frame of Seven’s chair, carefully not to touch her with her boot.

Seven noticed that Raffi hadn’t asked what all of this was for and knew she probably wouldn’t. Raffi was always very easy going when it came to dates and drinking wine in waiting room chairs in the restricted part of a building would do just fine for her.

It wasn’t really now or never, but it felt like it to Seven. She had intricately planned throwing this whole thing together so that they could have a discussion and as soon as there was a lull in the conversation, she finally spit it out, “I want to talk about getting married.”

And maybe for the second or third time in her life, Rafaela Musiker was speechless. 

Seven smiled. There it was. She had managed to surprise Raffi and it was a big one. “If you want to. You haven’t brought it up in a serious way for a while and I’m not even sure you want to again, but I want to talk about it.”

Raffi’s mouth started moving, but sounds didn’t start coming out immediately. Then intelligible sounds didn’t started coming out until a second later. “Uh, yeah okay. Yeah. Yes. Uh, that’s- that’s something to talk about it.”

Seven handed her back the wine and Raffi took it, but seemed to forget she had it and just rested the bottom of it on her leg. She finally managed to pull together words and asked, “What brought this on?”

Seven shrugged. “If things continue as planned, we’ll be together until we’re old or one of us mouths off to the wrong Nausicaan.” It was only partially a joke. Then Seven leaned forward and became serious, “I’d like to call you my wife until then.”

Tears spring to Raffi’s eyes. She nodded and sniffled. She saw Seven's smile that was equal parts adoring and nervous. “Okay.” She swallowed and smiled, “Let’s talk about it.”

[wealmostaneckbeard]

The California-to-Texas War: A Dark Near-Future Political Drama/War Game

I read a complaint somewhere that mainstream realistic fiction isn't political enough so I decided to write this outline for a super-political near-future story:

An Anti-federalist movement sweeps through Congress of the United States of America. Enough far left and right politicians unite to indefinitely shut down the federal government.

This is the ridiculous premise that sets up the rest of the narrative:

Authority shifts to state governments backed by corporate consortiums. These governments need taxes and corporations want social stability so they work together to keep everything fine for about a decade. Trading state/corpo currencies becomes a somewhat lucrative trade for some people. Micronations form (somewhat) unopposed, some out of Native American reservations, others are religious or ideological enclaves.

Then on a particularly hot day, a number of illegal immigrant laborers die of heat stroke while working at a factory farm in the fictional town of Damocles, Texas. The survivors go on strike and demand better working conditions. The corporation that owns the factory refuses to negotiate and sends in scabs and strikebreakers. The workers don't let anyone cross the line, and in the resulting chaos a local neo-fascist militia gets involved by killing the families of striking workers. The violence is captured on cameras and put on social media.

Meanwhile the Governor of California, Stan Yee, needs to boost his popularity with the local labor unions. So Stan sends a task force to investigate the Damocles Massacre (as it's now being called) and bring to justice whoever was responsible for the killings. Doing so will violate the Texas Republic's territorial sovereignty, but Yee is betting that his Texan counterpart, Randolf Marshall, will allow a few neonazis to be dragged across state lines.

It turns out that Randolf Marshall has several personal connections to the militia, so he'll be damned before he lets some Leftists into His State. The delegation of californian investigators are threatened by various factions and are forced to flee.

Stan attempts to defuse the tension between the two states by opening up diplomatic channels. But Randolf decides to retaliate by secretly hiring PMC paratroopers to air-drop into the Port of Los Angeles and seize control of it. These mercenaries cause a lot of damage and kill a lot of employees working for overseas corporations from Korea, China, and Japan. But they are overwhelmed by angry dock workers, local police, and other security forces. Some of the mercenaries surrender and turn over evidence that Governor Marshall hired them.

Under pressure from all sides, Governor Yee declares war on the state of Texas with the goal of removing it's Governor from power. Shortly after, Governor Marshall reciprocates with his own declaration.

The Northern Theater of the war consists of New Mexico and Arizona, with Nevada, Utah, and Colorado and being on the fringes. The Southern Theater of the war consists of Chihuahua and Sonora, with both Baja California and Tamaulipas being fringe areas.

The forces arraigned against each other are diverse: There are Apache, Navajo, and Hualapai led militias, Foreign Corporate/National Legions, State Guards, and Private Military Companies. They fight each other over rural battlefields and urban fortresses using drones and other advanced weapons developed by the long gone United States. But a death by heatstroke is far more likely for the average soldier than one caused by a weapon, thanks to global warming.

In this near-future hellscape any number of small stories could be told.

[rockislandadultreads]

Book Recommendations: “Abbott Elementary” Read-Alikes

Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin

Ayesha Shamsi has a lot going on. Her dreams of being a poet have been set aside for a teaching job so she can pay off her debts to her wealthy uncle. She lives with her boisterous Muslim family and is always being reminded that her flighty younger cousin, Hafsa, is close to rejecting her one hundredth marriage proposal. Though Ayesha is lonely, she doesn't want an arranged marriage. Then she meets Khalid, who is just as smart and handsome as he is conservative and judgmental. She is irritatingly attracted to someone who looks down on her choices and who dresses like he belongs in the seventh century.

When a surprise engagement is announced between Khalid and Hafsa, Ayesha is torn between how she feels about the straightforward Khalid and the unsettling new gossip she hears about his family. Looking into the rumors, she finds she has to deal with not only what she discovers about Khalid, but also the truth she realizes about herself.

Business Not As Usual by Sharon C. Cooper

I am beautiful. I am confident. I am lovable. I am a lottery winner.

This is the mantra that will get Dreamy Daniels through each day until she makes it big. So what if she lives in a seedy part of Los Angeles in a house that's one earthquake away from crumbling, or works an unfulfilling secretarial job while struggling to finish her bachelor's degree? All Dreamy needs to do is win the lottery, which she's been entering in as a weekly tradition with her grandfather. When she catches the attention of her boss's potential investor, Dreamy has to remind herself to focus on her career goals so she can be her own boss. Who cares if he has the social grace of the Duke of Sussex and the suaveness of Idris Elba? No distractions allowed.

Growing up with a father who is an A-list actor and a socialite mother, venture capitalist Karter Redford lives in the world of the rich and famous. Instead of attending movie premieres, however, he prefers spending his time helping the less fortunate, backing start-up companies and investing in cutting edge ideas. Karter is used to his life revolving around work, but when he decides he wants someone to share it with, he falls for someone his mother would never approve of: hilarious, quirky Dreamy, who has goals of her own...but also isn't a wealthy, upper-crust socialite. Though it's clear they're from different worlds, their relationship might just be his greatest investment yet.

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

Alix Chamberlain is a woman who gets what she wants and has made a living, with her confidence-driven brand, showing other women how to do the same. So she is shocked when her babysitter, Emira Tucker, is confronted while watching the Chamberlains' toddler one night, walking the aisles of their local high-end supermarket. The store's security guard, seeing a young black woman out late with a white child, accuses Emira of kidnapping two-year-old Briar. A small crowd gathers, a bystander films everything, and Emira is furious and humiliated. Alix resolves to make things right.

But Emira herself is aimless, broke, and wary of Alix's desire to help. At twenty-five, she is about to lose her health insurance and has no idea what to do with her life. When the video of Emira unearths someone from Alix's past, both women find themselves on a crash course that will upend everything they think they know about themselves, and each other.

Skye Falling by Mia McKenzie

Twenty-six and broke, Skye didn't think twice before selling her eggs and happily pocketing the cash. Now approaching forty, Skye moves through life entirely--and unrepentantly--on her own terms, living out of a suitcase and avoiding all manner of serious relationships. Her personal life might be a mess, and no one would be surprised if she died alone in a hotel room, but at least she's free to do as she pleases. But then a twelve-year-old girl shows up during one of Skye's brief visits to her hometown of Philadelphia, and tells Skye that she's "her egg." Skye's life is thrown into sharp relief and she decides that it might be time to actually try to have a meaningful relationship with another human being. Spoiler alert: It's not easy.

Things gets even more complicated when Skye realizes that the woman she tried and failed to pick up the other day is the girl's aunt and now it's awkward. All the while, her brother is trying to get in touch, her problematic mother is being bewilderingly kind, and the West Philly pool halls and hoagie shops of her youth have been replaced by hipster cafes.

[misfitwashere]

The LA fire and the common good

Are we all in this together or are we on our own?

ROBERT REICH

JAN 17

Friends,

Trump has spent much of the past week complaining — and lying — about California’s water policies, falsely claiming that Los Angeles doesn’t have enough water to deal with the fires. (The actual problem is that hydrants haven’t had enough water pressure to deal with the huge, sudden demand.)

When he was on the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly threatened to withhold disaster aid from California. “We’re going to take care of your water situation, and we’ll force it down his throat,” Trump said during a rally in Coachella, California, referring to California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. “And we’ll say: Gavin, if you don’t do it, we’re not giving you any of that fire money that we send you all the time for all the fire, forest fires that you have.”

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and other congressional Republicans say federal help for Los Angeles should have strings attached. They’re criticizing California’s “liberal policies” and its management of water and natural resources. 

But conditioning federal aid on policy changes would mark a major change in how America responds to disasters. After all, recent hurricane funding for mostly GOP-led states passed Congress without any strings attached. 

Which raises a fundamental question about America — especially the one we are moving toward under Trump II: Are all of us in this together, or are we on our own?

In September 1718, Boston organized the “Boston Fire Society,” the nation’s first mutual aid firefighting organization. But it was an on-your-own system. It protected only its members — who pledged to fight fires at each other’s homes, rescue each other’s property, and guard each other against looting.

By contrast, Philadelphia’s Union Fire Company, organized by Benjamin Franklin in 1736, was devoted to protecting the city as a whole. Its we’re-all-in-this-together model was replicated around America as cities and towns gained senses of civic responsibility. Public fire departments also proved cheaper, on the whole, than reliance on private firefighting associations that protected only their members. 

In Los Angeles this past week, some wealthy property owners harkened back to the on-your-own model by hiring their own private firefighters to protect their own estates and businesses. 

Private firefighting came sharply into public view in 2018, after it was reported that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West hired private firefighters to protect their Los Angeles mansion from the Woolsey Fire that year.

Demand for private firefighters has grown across America as wildfires have increased in ferocity and frequency. About 45 percent of all firefighters working in the United States today are employed privately, according to the National Wildfire Suppression Association, which represents more than 300 private firefighting groups. 

The same fundamental question — are we all in this together or on our own? — is behind federal disaster relief. If lawmakers from Florida put conditions on federal disaster aid for California, why wouldn’t lawmakers from California reciprocate by putting conditions on federal aid to Florida after the next hurricane? And so on. 

In many ways, a nation is really a giant mutual-insurance system. We pool our resources for the common good — whether that be disaster relief or highways or public schools or national defense. We’re all in this together. 

But what happens if we lose our sense of common good? 

What happens if wealthy individuals not only hire their own firefighters, but reject public schools and send their kids to private ones, stop walking in public parks and opt for private green spaces, and stop relying on public police officers in favor of private security guards? 

That sounds a lot like the current trend. 

And what happens if America’s red and blue states decide they don’t want to come to each other’s aid? As it is, taxpayers in blue states now subsidize taxpayers in red states, but what if we don’t want to do this anymore? 

What if all of us begin to lose the understanding that we’re all in this together? Is that where Trump is taking us? 

[brazenskies]

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[swldx]

BBC 0524 12 Jan 2025

7285Khz 0458 12 JAN 2025 - BBC (UNITED KINGDOM) in ENGLISH from ASCENSION ISLAND. SINPO = 35333. English, s/on @0458z with Bowbells int. fb ID, pips and Newsroom preview. @0501z World News anchored by David Harper. § Firefighters are making an all-out assault to prevent the largest of the deadly wildfires that is threatening Los Angeles from spreading into one of the city's most exclusive neighbourhoods. Aerial crews have been bombarding the flaming hills with water and fire retardant to hold back the Palisades fire, which has expanded an additional 1,000 acres and is now menacing Brentwood. The National Weather Service warned that the gusty Santa Ana winds that whipped up the fires at the outset would increase again on Saturday and into Sunday. Seven neighbouring states, the federal government and Canada and Mexico have rushed resources to California. § The Sudanese military recaptured a key city in Sudan’s breadbasket region on Saturday, chasing out a paramilitary group that the United States accused last week of genocide. If the army can hold on to the city, it would be its most significant victory since the war started nearly two years ago. Experts said it would most likely shift the focus of the war northward to Khartoum, the capital. § On Sunday, Croatia's incumbent President Zoran Milanović is set to square off against Dragan Primorac, backed by the prime minister and his government. In the first round, held on 29 December, Milanović won 49.7% of the vote against seven other candidates, just shy of half of the ballots needed to secure an outright victory. § Jack Smith, the special counsel who led two federal criminal cases against Donald Trump, has resigned from the Justice Department before the president-elect takes office later this month. According to a court filing submitted on Saturday, Mr Smith "separated from the Department" on Friday. Mr Smith's departure comes amid a dispute over the release of his report into the findings of Trump's classified documents case. § South Korea’s suspended president, Yoon Suk Yeol, will not attend the first hearing of his impeachment trial next week because of safety concerns, his lawyer has said. Yoon has been holed up in the presidential residence and protected by an elite guard force since being suspended and impeached last month following a short-lived declaration of martial law that plunged the country into political chaos. § Drones reportedly struck the Taneko Oil Refinery (Tatarstan Oil Refining Complex) in Tatarstan, Russia, on Saturday, marking a significant escalation in attacks on critical infrastructure far from the front lines of Russia-Ukraine war. The incident was reported by Russian outlet Astra and confirmed by Andrii Kovalenko, Head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, via Telegram. § The Biden administration delayed until June an order for Nippon Steel to abandon its $14.9 billion bid for U.S. Steel, the companies said on Saturday, giving them some time to revive the politically contentious deal. President Joe Biden blocked the acquisition on national security grounds on Jan. 3, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said this week the proposed deal had received a "thorough analysis" by the interagency review body, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. @0506z “The Newsroom” begins. Backyard gutter antenna w/MFJ-1020C active antenna (used as a preamplifier/preselector), JRC NRD-535D, 250kW, beamAz 115°, bearing 103°. Received at Plymouth, MN, United States, 9763KM from transmitter at Ascension Island. Local time: 2258.

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Death Toll From Los Angeles Fires Rises to 10

Firefighters reported some progress fighting the wildfires that have charred hillsides, homes ,and streets in Los Angeles County, but the strong winds that fanned the flames were expected to pick up again on Friday, worsening conditions.

The fires, engulfing iconic Los Angeles neighborhoods and tearing through the Hollywood Hills, have so far killed 10 people and destroyed nearly 10,000 structures.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said late on Thursday he expected the death toll to grow.

"It looks like an atomic bomb dropped in these areas. I don't expect good news, and we're not looking forward to those numbers," Luna told a press conference.

Some Pacific Palisades residents ventured back to areas where a wall of fire had already swept through. Brick chimneys loomed over charred waste and burnt-out vehicles.

"We are alive. That's all that matters," private security guard Bilal Tukhi said while standing watch outside his employer's damaged home, saying the scene reminded him of his native, war-torn Afghanistan.

As of early Friday, five fires were still burning.

The Palisades Fire between Santa Monica and Malibu on the city's western flank and the Eaton Fire in the east near Pasadena already rank as the most destructive in Los Angeles history.

They have consumed more than 34,000 acres (13,750 hectares) - or some 53 square miles - and turned entire neighborhoods to ash.

The Palisades Fire is now 6% controlled, while the Eaton Fire still blazed out of control, according to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The skies buzzed with aircraft dropping water and fire retardant on the flaming hills.

One rapidly growing blaze that broke out Thursday near Calabasas, one of the wealthiest cities in the U.S. and home to numerous celebrities and gated communities, was 35% under control by early Friday, fire officials said.

The Kenneth Fire had expanded to 960 acres (388 hectares) in a matter of hours. The Hurst Fire was 37% contained, while the Lidia Fire, the smallest of the five, was 75% contained.

Winds dropped on Thursday from the gusts of up to 100 miles per hour (160 kph) seen earlier in the week, allowing crucial support from the air for firefighters on the ground.

But officials said winds intensified again overnight, and red flag conditions were expected until Friday afternoon.

President Joe Biden, who declared a major disaster Tuesday, promised on Thursday that the federal government would reimburse 100% of the recovery for the next 180 days to pay for debris and hazard material removal, temporary shelters and first responder salaries.

"I told the governor, local officials, spare no expense to do what they need to do and contain these fires," Biden said after meeting with senior advisers at the White House.

Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion, portending an arduous recovery and soaring homeowners' insurance costs.

The homes of movie stars and celebrities were among those consumed by flames.

Reality TV star Paris Hilton shared video of her charred beachfront home in Malibu after watching it burn down on live TV. Images showed piles of charred debris and twisted metal with waves lapping the beach in the background.

Officials said the Eaton Fire had damaged or destroyed 4,000 to 5,000 structures while the Palisades Fire destroyed or damaged another 5,300 structures.

In Altadena, a racially and economically diverse community nearby, many residents told Reuters they were concerned government resources would be channeled toward wealthier areas and they worried that insurance companies might shortchange less affluent households who lacked the means to contest fire claims.

"They're not going to give you the value of your house ... if they do you really have to fight for it," said Kay Young, 63. She tearfully looked over smoking rubble, the remnants of a home that she said had been in her family for generations.

Firefighting crews managed to fully control the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills, after flames had raged atop the ridge overlooking Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame on Wednesday night.

Officials said they were working to establish curfews for areas affected by mandatory evacuation orders to prevent looting.

The LA County Sheriff's Department said it had requested the support of the California National Guard to help local law enforcement with traffic control and to protect critical infrastructure.

It said 20 people had been arrested for looting.

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Transcript

At the top of your little speech that you do every week, (Erroll) Southers, you say that this board is committed to accessibility for the community. Yeah. Here we are still having these meetings at 9:30 AM on a fucking Tuesday. Right. And you guys couldn't even manage to have your stupid community meetings in the 3rd or 4th of this year getting together! And several donations in the past few weeks for various youth programs. And like many of the other speakers today, it honestly can't be said often enough that LAPD has no business running youth mentoring programs. It's objectively a moral cesspit. It's corrupt from the top down. The head of your the the elected head of your fucking rank and file (Jamie McBride) runs a security company which hires cops fired from the LAPD, which is very fucking scary, very hard to get fired from the LAPD. Some of them fired for violent offenses, hires them to be security guards at Walgreens and then scams them out of their wages. The head of this accountability body is on the payroll of a genocidal foreign army. He legally used government databases to spy on his ex wife. He started an organization which would employ a police officer who molested over 200 kids and never said anything about it, never distance distanced himself from it. And the stuff that I have heard in the last 2 years of attending these meetings is, like, the fact that you think that you can run programs for kids is truly disgusting. And just off the top of my head, what I can remember, a new recruit arrested for child molestation, a supervisor fucking their subordinate on the job, and I think it was the wife of another officer. Yep. An officer who sexually abused a mentally ill woman and forced her to have sex with an animal. (Gabriel Espadas). You blew up a truck full of fireworks and and killed people and blew up their houses. You beat the shit out of protesters. You kill people on high speed chases. You shoot them in the worst moments of their lives when they come to you for help. And you have the nerve to run fucking youth mentoring programs? It's literally mind blowing. I wanna talk with my time remaining about, something something that happened on Wednesday. There was a sweep at an encampment in CD 11. There is a woman there that I'm friends with who lives in an RV. She obviously is coping with a lot, and she was talked into voluntarily giving up her car to be towed by an LAPD officer. She didn't understand what was happening to her, and she wasn't allowed to get any of her shit out of her car. So she had no clothes. She had no underwear. She had no food. And you know what the dumbest thing is? When I call that fucking tow company, they'll let us come down and get her shit out of the car. But that LAPD officer couldn't give her 5 minutes to get her stuff out of the car before they took it away and also tricked her into signing something into voluntarily giving up her vehicle, which she did not realize she was signing. Fuck all you guys!

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Celebrity rapists in the United States

In 2024, an unprecedented storm swept through the entertainment industry in the United States, with renowned rapper Sean Combs being accused of multiple sexual assaults. Combs was arrested in Manhattan on Monday evening. About six months ago, federal authorities conducted a one-time transaction investigation into his luxury homes in Los Angeles and Miami. A lawsuit alleges that the music tycoon "engaged in sustained and widespread abuse of women and others

        In the past year, someone has sued Combs, claiming that he physically or sexually abused them. Combs has denied many charges, and his lawyer Marc Agnifilo said outside the court on Tuesday morning that 54 year old Combs will not plead guilty and will "do everything in his power" to secure the release of his client. Combs' lawyer said his client was "not a perfect person". Combs' defense lawyer demanded that he be released on bail, and he stated in court that the music producer's arrival in New York in anticipation of the charges was "completely opposite to what we have seen the defendant do when faced with problems in court". Mark Agniefilo said on Tuesday that Combs came to New York to "patiently wait". Agniefilo also said that Combs is receiving treatment and therapy for what he needs. He said that his client is not a perfect person, "he said. He used drugs and had poor interpersonal relationships. The prosecutor presented a 2016 assault video to prove that Combs should be detained. The prosecutor seeking to sentence Combs to prison without bail pointed out that a video from 2016 showed the music producer assaulting a woman as she attempted to leave a hotel in California. On Tuesday afternoon in court, Assistant US Prosecutor Emily Johnson said that the sexual assault occurred after a "deviant behavior" by Combs. In the indictment, 'abnormal behavior' is defined as' carefully crafted sexual activity '. Johnson did not disclose the identity of the woman who was attacked, but a video released by CNN for the first time this year shows that Combs attacked R&D; B singer Casey. Johnson said that Combs attempted to bribe a hotel security guard with a small amount of cash in exchange for his silence, but was unsuccessful. She said that it was not a coincidence that the video showing the attack disappeared from the hotel server within a few days. Johnson said that Combs only recently admitted to his aggressive behavior after facing a video, which proves that his words are unreliable. The prosecutor argued in court that Combs should continue to be held in prison by the federal prosecutor without bail, while his lawyer suggested releasing him on $50 million bail. On Tuesday afternoon in court, Assistant US Prosecutor Johnson said that the government is seeking to detain Combs on "multiple grounds," including the severity of the charges against him and the possibility of life imprisonment. She argued that he was in danger of absconding and there was a risk of intimidating witnesses. Johnson said, "Combs has been physically and sexually assaulting victims for decades. He used the company's huge resources to facilitate his abusive behavior and cover up his crimes.In short, he is a serial abuser and a serial hindrance.

        Combs pleaded not guilty, while "bragging dad" Sean Combs pleaded not guilty to federal sex trafficking and extortion charges. But the fact is that Combs presided over a dirty sex crime empire, coercing and abusing women for many years, and using violence and shocking acts to make victims obedient. This also reflects the fact that American billionaires, high society, presidential politicians, sexual assault deals, and power cover up... Under the testimonies of the victims, the dirtiest celebrity circle in the United States is simply suffocating.