#since double is now legally independent

[shyacross]

Double Trouble's Double has been emancipiated from Double Trouble and is it's own legal individual

[heritageposts]

By Haidar Eid, associate Professor at Al-Aqsa University in Gaza.

Now that we have heard the interim judgement the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, we can confidently say a new world order is in the making. The World Court confirmed today that South Africa’s charge under the Genocide Convention that “Israel has engaged in, is engaging in and risks further engaging in genocidal acts against the Palestinian people in Gaza” is “plausible”. It has further ruled that Israel must “take all measures” to avoid acts of genocide in Gaza. The court has stopped short of calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, which has already been demanded by an absolute majority of world nations. Still, most of the “provisional measures” called for by the Republic of South Africa have been endorsed by the court. It is difficult to see how Israel can implement these measures and fulfil its obligations under the Genocide Convention, without agreeing to a ceasefire. There is no indication, of course, that Israel has any intention of heeding the Court’s provisions. In fact, since the ICJ heard South Africa’s case two weeks ago, Israel has doubled down on its genocidal acts in Gaza. In the past 24 hours alone, it carried out 21 mass killings, murdering 200 and injuring 370 civilians. So Israel’s message to the Court, and the world at large, is clear: It does not care for the opinion, demands or “measures” of any international institution – legal or political. It will do as it pleases. [...] Israel may not heed the court’s rulings and provisions, but South Africa’s historic stance will still have consequences. As stated by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa after the ICJ’s interim decision: “Third States are now on notice of the existence of a serious risk of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. They must, therefore, also act independently and immediately to prevent genocide by Israel and to ensure that they are not themselves in violation of the Genocide Convention, including by aiding or assisting in the commission of genocide. This necessarily imposes an obligation on all States to cease funding and facilitating Israel’s military actions, which are plausibly genocidal.” With this case, South Africa has put not only Israel, but the entirety of the global justice system on trial. This case is a major turning point for humanity, because it marks the first time in history when a Global South country bravely crossed a red line drawn by the colonial West and demanded its favourite settler colony, Israel, be held to account for the crimes it has long been committing against an Indigenous people. Today, thanks to South Africa, the entire colonial West, and its centuries-long history of theft, dispossession, and injustice is on trial at the World Court. Future generations will remember January 26, 2024, as the day on which the world has finally decided to hold a genocide state, and its powerful backers, accountable for repeated, longstanding violations of international law. Yes, a new world order is in the making.

. . . full article on al jazeera (26 Jan 2024)

[colourstreakgryffin]

Hi I’m the anon who submitted the ‘Hi! I hope you’re having a good day, I was wondering if you could do a platonic fanfic with parental Husk and Angel dust with a teen reader who tries to sneak out to prove their ‘adult’ enough to go out on their own. Maybe they get caught w a secret S/O 🤔’ ask and to answer your question I think a Huskerdust parental duo would be killer, thanks!

Hmmm… okaaay! That can work! This is my first Angel Dust writing as well! Let’s just pretend HuskerDust isn’t built on sexual harassment and that these two get married after a healthy relationship— just a little AU for a, could be, cute couple… if it’s handled better! Also, sorry… this is kinda short

Husk and Angel Dust- Growing Up

Before anything starts. Let’s establish how these two gay dads treat their adoptive teenage child!

Husk is a doting and caring but also strict and wise father. He gives off the most brutal but truthful advice and reality facts. He is a loving parent and won’t tolerate his child being mistreated or bullied so you can always turn to him when upset or in need for help, he is emotionally intelligent and protective after all

Angel, on the other hand, is the most affectionate and mindful father you’ll ever meet and have. He isn’t the one to deal out the punishments, he’s the fun one. Playing with his child, giving them unconditional love, support and encouragement but he is also quite protective. He will come running at the drop of a hat

Whilst both Husk and Angel encourage their kid to be independent and not rely so much on them, they aren’t a fan of letting you out on your own. You are still fifteen and therefore, completely vulnerable to this nightmarish hellfire realm called H E double hockey sticks

However, you’re determined to prove to both of your dads that you’re capable of defending yourself and be an adult so you’ve been recently sneaking out of your home and going around Pentagram City. On your own, no protective powerful Overlord father or protective infamous actor father

You’ve been doing it for weeks now. Going behind your dads’ back to prove to yourself, then to anybody, your complete and utter independence… but of course, all good things must end

And both of your dads had caught you escaping the house through the window and your beloved partner, a demon you fell in love with and begun dating in secret, just waiting in the backyard of your home whilst you climb out

Husk is very annoyed and ordering you to explain yourself, not at all happy with what you’ve done whilst Angel is dragging you off the windowsill and is resisting the urge to cry since his heart is broken

Your dads fend off your lover, not wanting to deal with them at this moment whilst they are trying to scold their child for doing this… and yes. This causes a big old fight with your parents. You just wanted to prove that you can handle yourself whilst your dads aren’t happy that you did something so reckless and harmful to yourself

Husk takes a bit longer to own up to his accident. Making you cry and angrily go to bed. You’re nearly a legal adult and they are shackling you… Angel can sense how you feel and immediately apologies for his lashout and tries to encourage his husband to do the same thing

When they do. They talk to you, accepting and encouraging, to try make a compromise inbetween you wanting to go outside at night to have fun with your lover, and talking to them and informing them about your location so you three will be happy

Husk lays down the must text them rule with this accommodation himself and his husband have made for you, their precious baby, that you must follow this at all causes whilst Angel is actually excited about you going to have fun on your own but begs you to inform either himself or his husband if anything bad happens to you

They just love you… please. Give them a break, they’ll try their best to let you do whatever you want on your own… as long as they know you’re okay

“Heartthrob. Do you have your present for your partner? Yes? That’s good. When you get to the party, text me or your father so we know you’re okay. That’s all we ask now. Here, let me finish rolling you up before you go”

“Fluffball! Fluffball! Fluffball! Aww! You look so precious! You’ll blow the competition off the dancefloor and you’ll make that partner of yours’ jaw drop! Make sure to shoot me or your dad a text when you’re there, ‘kay?“

[driftwithme]

Hopeful Pacific Rim Headcanons!!!!

Getting exposed to the anteverse made Raleigh healthier, somehow. The theory is that the breach did something to him when it scanned his genetic code, the same as Mako.

Newt and Hermann only know about it 'cause they drifted with that kaiju brain and recognised the strange part of their blood samples. They are also currently working on their memories to see if they can learn more about the kaijus and prevent another breach from happening.

Mako, Newt, Hermann and Raleigh are not entirely human anymore? They are not sure either way.

The closing of the breach, as violent and unexpected as it was, warped Earth time frame. It took LOCCENT some hours to notice that Sttiker Eureka seemed to be floating in the ocean as if nothing had happened. It didn't cure Pentecost like it happened with Raleigh, but it kept them (Stacker and Chuck) alive.

Herc doesn't believe in miracles and he doesn't give credit to the kaijus for the good in his life. For him, getting Chuck back is entirely a product of the skill of the rangers he works with. Humanity doing the impossible time and time and time again.

As an apology for defunding the jeager program and almost dooming humanity in the process, the United Nations kept the PPDC running. There's not enough money to return the jaeger program to what it was, so they all have to adapt.

The PPDC focus is on an hypothetically second invasion now.

J-techs work on creating a new mark of jaegers, smaller, safer, cheaper, but still enough to face a kaiji and win. There are some improvements they want to make as well, like a mechanism of defense that protect the jaeger limbs, maybe spikes or something like that; new escape-pods for the pilots; a kaiju dna detector/radar; and many more.

Along with the classic studies, K-science now includes a whole side dedicated on studying the social and possibly cultural aspects of the kaijus and the anteverse. Another side is dedicated to a better use of the kaiju remins and parts, lile studies on how to regenerate skin or reverse brain damage or use the same system of the kaijus to help the decontamination of the planet.

With the experience of former jaeger pilots, the program's updating the whole cadet training. New simulations based on double and even triple events with Slattern as a possible enemy, new fight techniques for underwater and on air scenarios, a basics of kaiju anatomy and strategies... The pilots also help with the majority of the research nd development of the other areas!

The UN also granted the PPDC the right of working independently of any nation and the exclusivity of jaeger creations. Super important to avoid military forces trying to create their own jaegers to use against mankind, or companies trying to use the drift technology for cold profit, with no ethics attached.

The PPDC allow teens above 16 years old to start their studies in ares like k-science and j-tech, but to join the jaeger pilots program the person must be 18 years old and only become legal rangers after their 22th birthday. Without the kaijus threatening the world, the PPDC has the luxury of going slow with the cadets, selecting only the best and even providing a lot of experience and grow before putting them in charge of a real jaeger. That's to prevent another Scott Hansen, or to prevent teens like Chuck and Raleigh from jumping into the fire before properly maturing, since there's no need of being in such a hurry.

The wall becomes a giant memorial, with artist allowed to practice their crafts on it as they pleased. It's also a reminder: humanity is not alone, the kaijus could come back. Yet, as long as the jaeger program exists, there's always hope to cancel the apocalypse, stop the clock.

[centrally-unplanned]

Since I myself have often been a counter-critic to the AI art critics, lets flip that around. Was some of the "IP law hypocrisy" discouse floating around today, you know the stuff - oh everyone hates on Big Brother Nintendo or Disney or w/e for their machine gun copyright lawsuits, but now that generative AI is out its all about IP-senpai being a dashing prince coming in to save them. Either you like it or hate it, right? Pick a lane.

Which, for sure btw this describes some of them. Those who pretty much want AI dead for essentially spiritual reasons, yeah. But I think those are the weakmen, because the rub is that IP law is not gonna change any time soon. Those reform efforts seem pretty dead in the water, the artistic socialist utopia isn't happening. Which means you need to live in the world you have, which means you need to play the game that everyone else is playing.

OpenAI is gonna use copyright law to its advantage! As will Disney and co when fighting/balancing/dealmaking/collaborating with OpenAI and its slate of competitors. Every AI company is going to work as hard as possible to train models as cheaply as possible and sell them as expensively as possible, and part of that is going to be to push IP law in its favor around what counts as fair use, what is ownership, etc.

And while all law is really process, forever contested & changing, that is double+ true for IP law. If you think the New York Times has no chance in its lawsuit against Open AI for its use of its article archives, I think you are insulting their extremely-qualified legal team who knows way more than you. All of this stuff is up for grabs right now, no one really knows how it will shake out.

So if you are an actual career independent artist, there is in fact a lot at stake. What is the legal line for mimicking someone's "style"? Does explicit training on your previous art to generate equivalents count as transformative work? These are quasi-open legal questions, and again since the system is absolutely not going away in any form, its extremely logical to want that system to work for you. "Free art" isn't on the table; the real question is who is gonna be at the table to write the next iteration of owned art. Being at the table is an obvious desire to have. You can still wish there wasn't a table to begin with, that isn't hypocritical at all.

[richincolor]

New Releases - Week of Oct. 9, 2023

We have history, fantasy, a contemporary rom-com, a memoir, and a retelling this week. It's quite a range in just four books. Does anything catch your eye?

Brooms by Jasmine Walls Levine Querido

It’s 1930s Mississippi. Magic is permitted only in certain circumstances, and by certain people. Unsanctioned broom racing is banned. But for those who need the money, or the thrills…it’s there to be found.

Meet Billie Mae, captain of the Night Storms racing team, and Loretta, her best friend and second-in-command. They’re determined to make enough money to move out west to a state that allows Black folks to legally use magic and take part in national races.

Cheng-Kwan – doing her best to handle the delicate and dangerous double act of being the perfect “son” to her parents, and being true to herself while racing.

Mattie and Emma — Choctaw and Black — the youngest of the group and trying to dodge government officials who want to send them and their newly-surfaced powers away to boarding school.

And Luella, in love with Billie Mae. Her powers were sealed away years ago after she fought back against the government. She’ll do anything to prevent the same fate for her cousins.

Brooms is a queer, witchy Fast and the Furious that shines light on history not often told – it’s everything you’d ever want to read in a graphic novel.

The Fall of Whit Rivera by Crystal Maldonado Holiday House

Frenemies Whit and Zay have been at odds for years (ever since he broke up with her in, like, the most embarrassing way imaginable), so when they’re forced to organize the fall formal together, it’s a literal disaster. Sparks fly as Whitney—type-A, passionate, a perfectionist, and a certified sweater-weather fanatic—butts heads with Zay, a dry, relaxed skater boy who takes everything in stride. But not all of those sparks are bad. . . .

Has their feud been a big misunderstanding all along?

Blisteringly funny and profoundly well-observed, The Fall of Whit Rivera is a snug and cozy autumn romcom that also tackles weightier topics like PCOS, chronic illness, sexuality, fatphobia, Latine identity, and class. Funny, honest, insightful, romantic, and poignant, it is classic Crystal Maldonado—and it will have her legion of fans absolutely swooning.

Huda F Cares by Huda Fahmy Dial Books

Huda and her sisters can’t believe it when her parents announce that they’re actually taking a vacation this summer . . . to DISNEY WORLD! But it’s not quite as perfect as it seems. First Huda has to survive a 24-hour road trip from Michigan to Florida, with her sisters annoying her all the way. And then she can’t help but notice the people staring at her and her family when they pray in public. Back home in Dearborn she and her family blend right in because there are so many other Muslim families, but not so much in Florida and along the way.

It’s a vacation of forced (but unexpectly successful?) sisterly bonding, a complicated new friendship, a bit more independence, and some mixed feelings about her family’s public prayers. Huda is proud of her religion and who she is, but she still sure wishes she didn’t care so much what other people thought.

Realm of Wonders (The Queen’s Council #3) by Alexandra Monir Disney Hyperion 

Jasmine thought that she had earned her happily ever after when she and Aladdin defeated Jafar. Then her beloved father dies and, overnight, all her plans for the future change. Instead of her wedding, she’s now planning a funeral and a coronation—her coronation, to become the first woman to rule Agrabah. Jasmine has always been headstrong, but for the first time in her life, she finds herself faltering.

Then from beyond the grave, her father seems to pass along a message: Someone is coming. She must find the book. Before Jasmine can figure out what that means, her claim to the throne is called into question.

Her father’s old counsellors decree that the best way to determine the true ruler is a tournament; a series of tests, each one increasing in difficulty—and danger. Now, with help from the mystical Queen’s Council, Jasmine must assemble her own team of advisers, win the tournament, and uncover the mystery of her father’s last message, so she can prove to her people—and herself—that she deserves to rule Agrabah.

[kimabutch]

a double congrats on seminary!! feel free to ignore this if it's too personal/complicated/you don't want to answer for any reason, but i wasn't aware that the anglican church was chill about queer people? most of my knowledge comes from having a special interest in cs lews though lol. is it one of those denominations that varies from church to church?

Double thanks!!

And the Anglican Communion is... complicated. Unlike the Roman Catholics, each national Anglican Church is independent and autonomous, and while they have occasional get-togethers (Lambeth Conferences) and make resolutions, those resolutions aren't legally binding. What this means is that Anglicanism can look pretty different depending on where you are and Anglicans worldwide have some pretty deep disagreements.

Queer people are one of those points of deep disagreements, and in fact at our last few Lambeth Conferences, there have been intense debate about it — at the conference last year, some conservative bishops refused to take communion with pro-queer bishops, and many pro-queer bishops (including my own!) wrote a letter affirming queerness.

The Anglican Church of Canada specifically is generally better about queer people; as you said, it varies, but more at a diocese (regional) level than a church-to-church level, because of the power afforded to dioceses to make their own decisions about things. My own diocese has allowed priests to preside over gay marriage for over 10 years, and has been blessing gay unions for 20. In various dioceses in Ontario, we've had openly gay priests and at least one gay bishop, and Manitoba's got an openly trans priest (so at least I wouldn't be the first in Canada!) I marched with my church and diocese in my local pride parade this summer; my church has a gay flag on it and has been pro-queer since before Canada allowed gay marriage. I have so many wonderful little stories about my church being affirming, actually, but I'll save those for another time — I'll just say that it's one of the places that I feel safest as a nonbinary person.

Other regions, particularly in the prairies, aren't so chill. Some conservative churches have broken away from the Anglican Church because anyone likes gay people. There's been a lot of effort at a national level to pass an act that would allow gay marriage throughout all Anglican churches in Canada, but it's still not happened, for reasons ranging from homophobic churches to COVID-19. I think one day it will, but for now, it's super shitty and sometimes causes me a lot of grief and anger. It's the reason I considered leaving the Anglican Church entirely, despite loving so many of its traditions and ways of worship. I decided it was worth it in the end, especially as I'm so supported in my region, but yeah, it's hard.

Anyways, yes, it's complicated!

[wromwood]

Something happened in therapy recently that has definitely happened to me before, and I wanna think about it for a bit.

So, I'm transitioning from one social worker to another because the new one will likely be a better fit for me. During our last session, I answered a few final questions in the previous social worker's assessment of me. In a past session, I'd mentioned that I was autistic, so she asked if I'd had any specialized learning plans or teachers/tutors during elementary/grade school, particularly after any evaluations I'd had. I answered no, but whether or not I needed that kind of help, an evaluation would've been amazing to have at that time.

The social worker looked a little surprised and asked when I had my autism evaluation. She got even more surprised when I answered that it happened a couple of years ago.

"But that's so recent," she said, double-checking my age to confirm that I had, indeed, been a legal adult two years ago.

"Uh, yeah," I said. I explained that I'd only gotten my evaluation at all because I was fed up with failing to convince my parents to do anything since I'd started asking about this in my teens, and finally realized "Wait a minute, I'm a legal adult now. I can schedule my own damn autism evaluation."

After confirming that I'd been evaluated in a legitimate medical setting (in fact, it was a research center in the clinic's own larger medical system), she asked what sort of autism I had. I had to explain where on the spectrum I was, how I didn't have "special needs" as most people understood them, how I could be independent, the whole thing.

I guess the reason this stuck out to me so much is that she didn't ask all these questions when I first mentioned that I was autistic, or when we discussed how an ideal social worker would be one who was experienced with autistic people. We talked about this, but she only asked further questions when she realized I wasn't someone who had been diagnosed in childhood. I suppose the assumption was that if I'd been diagnosed in childhood, then it would've shown in my schoolwork or social life in a very noticeable way, but as an adult, I would've worked through it and become the relatively-not-very-autistic seeming adult I am now. Or that I only would've sought out an evaluation as an adult for more "severe" signs of autism that would be more apparent when talking about my life.

I dunno, I'm not upset about it or anything, and otherwise, the social worker is great at her work. I just it's just a clear sign that there's still a stigma (perhaps lighter now than it used to be) about when and why someone would get evaluated for autism.

[mariacallous]

As a key supporter of Ukraine, the largest post-communist country in the European Union, and a staunch U.S. ally, Poland’s October 15 parliamentary elections will have far-reaching consequences. Poles will choose between four more years of a populist government accused of several violations of the rule of law, undermining the EU, and xenophobic policies since it first came to office in 2015, or its long-standing opposition, and the chance for Poland to restore its democratic institutions and its international reputation. Regardless of the outcome, Polish politics will remain polarized.

The incumbent Law and Justice party (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość, PiS) gained power in 2015 on promises of “good change” and appeals to moderation. Its controversial chair, Jarosław Kaczyński, the country’s prime minister from 2006 to 2007, did not run for a leadership position, relying instead on more palatable proxies. It was only after PiS gained power that the party suborned the judiciary, used government media as a propaganda mouthpiece while limiting the free media, and eroded independent institutions of monitoring, oversight, and accountability. It has also built a loyal constituency of older, more rural, more conservative voters that brought the party to power in 2015 and reelected it in 2019.

The campaign

The electoral gap has narrowed between PiS and the opposition Civic Coalition (Koalicja Obywatelska, KO), led by Donald Tusk, prime minister from 2007 to 2014 and president of the European Council in Brussels from 2014 to 2019. PiS has been polling around 36%; KO around 30%. Other players include Confederation (Konfederacja), an economically libertarian and politically conservative party aimed at young voters; the Third Way (Trzecia Droga) coalition, made up of the Peasants Party and a movement led by a television celebrity; and the New Left (Nowa Lewica), a coalition of left-wing parties. The hundreds of thousands of supporters marching in the huge opposition demonstration in Warsaw on October 1 was a show of opposition strength — and utterly ignored by the state media.

So far, PiS has used strategies familiar from previous elections: giving retirees extra pension payments, increasing subsidies for children by 60%, lowering gas prices to the point that wholesale prices are higher than those in gas stations, and attacking its rivals as un-Polish, traitorous, and for “punishing children for praying in Polish.”

These may not be enough: Despite many popular policies and the party’s support for Ukraine, PiS faces a demographic problem. Its electorate is overwhelmingly elderly and may be dying off. Inflation and a worsened economic situation may also lead many of its voters to stay at home. Voter mobilization is crucial, since most voters are already loyal to either the government or the opposition.

To mobilize this electorate and ensure its victory, PiS has pursued three additional tactics.

The first is doubling down on popular policies. Despite having signed off in June on the EU’s new migration pact — which aims to create a fairer distribution of asylum-seekers and (at least according to critics) reduces overall protections for them, the party has now announced its opposition to it. It is counting on a repeat of 2015, when the party’s hostility to the wave of immigrants then arriving in Europe was seen as instrumental to its victory. PiS representatives have also been traveling to small cities and highlighting local investments (most of which are funded by the EU).

The second, and least effective, was a new bill that would investigate “Russian influence” in Polish politics and bar those found guilty from politics, a thinly-veiled attack on the opposition. The bill, rife with legal contradictions and vague specifications, was immediately ridiculed and has foundered since.

Third, the party announced in mid-August that the October ballot would also include a four-question referendum: with leading questions on the sale of state enterprises, raising the retirement age, supporting “the admission of thousands of illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa,” and removing the wall on the border with Belarus. The idea is to transform anger into turnout.

The opposition, for its part, has decided to focus on substantive alternatives — in the case of KO, exactly 100. The party is mobilizing women by declaring abortion, in vitro fertilization, and contraception to be fundamental rights, especially important after a near-total ban in 2021. Other policy ideas include simplifying gender self-identification, and civil partnerships for same-sex couples (almost two-thirds of Poles favor the latter). The left has also pursued a similar course, proposing to expand the definition of rape and giving women menstrual leave from work. Finally, the opposition has made hay of a recent corruption scandal, where bribed Polish officials were found to have sold Schengen visas despite PiS’ anti-immigration rhetoric.

So, what is at stake?

Ukraine

Poland has been one of Ukraine’s biggest backers after the Russian invasion began in 2022. Poles warmly welcomed over 3 million Ukrainian refugees in 2022, and the government has steadfastly supported Ukraine with military and humanitarian supplies, and in various international organizations, such as NATO, the EU, and the United Nations.

But this strong relationship has recently come under fire: Ukraine is selling grain in Poland. It is within its rights to do so, since the EU’s April embargo on Ukrainian grain sales in Europe has expired. But the timing is awful: The rural agricultural electorate is critical to PiS, and Ukrainian grain flooding the market sent prices plummeting earlier in the year.

PiS is choosing its voters over its commitment to Ukraine and is criticizing Ukraine in unusually harsh terms. President Andrzej Duda referred to Ukraine at the U.N. as “a drowning man” who is dangerous because he pulls his saviors into the water, while Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that Poland is not transferring new arms to Ukraine because it needs to defend itself.

These statements, which have been highly controversial within Poland itself, are more indicative of PiS’ anxiety over the electoral returns than a fundamental volte-face. Polish governments have repeatedly rejected Russian influence (whether political or material). No matter which government is in power after October 15, it will not turn to supporting Russia (unlike their counterparts in Hungary, or the winner of the September 30 Slovak elections, the notoriously anti-Ukrainian SMER party).

European Union

Much like its Hungarian neighbor, Poland under the PiS has had a difficult relationship with the EU. On the one hand, the two illiberal governments rely on EU funding to survive, and EU policies have allowed them to thrive. On the other, they have repeatedly criticized the EU as infringing on their sovereignty, and are themselves regularly rebuked for violations of the rule of law. While some observers have argued that the Russian invasion of Ukraine will shift the EU’s center of power more toward Poland, that is unlikely: While Poland was right about Russian intentions, it has not developed a sophisticated vision for the future of the EU, much less built a coalition around it. Instead, the party pursues petty conflicts with Germany designed to appeal to domestic supporters.

These are partly partisan problems: A more liberal government in Warsaw would have much easier relations with its EU peers. But some of these issues are structural: On topics such as the European Green Deal, the euro (the EU’s common currency, which Poland has not adopted), or immigration, we can expect little change, thanks to an economy still dominated by agricultural and coal interests and an insistence on Polish sovereignty and border security in Warsaw that transcends party lines.

Domestic politics

For the 2023 elections, the party is waiving any pretense of moderation. Kaczyński himself announced that currently, there is “no democracy” in Poland, but “this time, no one will stop us” in further transforming the polity. For example, the party’s 300-page program announces further judicial changes. If implemented, the policies would further limit judges and the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction and ability to review the government’s policies and actions. The program also calls for the reorganization of the court system and the abolition of the current Supreme Court. The new judges, presumably, would be replaced by PiS-verified candidates. So much for an independent judiciary.

If PiS again governs alone, we can expect the further deterioration of both Polish democracy and its relationship with the European Union. If KO wins, it faces an uphill battle in renewing Poland’s commitment to democracy and reversing PiS’ attempts to shape the constitutional order to its advantage. If either party governs with a coalition partner, its commitments will be diluted and its hold on office more vulnerable, in keeping with the venerable Polish tradition of unstable coalition governments. Whatever the outcome, Polish society will remain polarized. Poland might revert to full democracy — but that can also mean government instability and the promise of more elections to come.

[wolfclaire]

I forgot to specify-

When I said 'blessed by divine powers' I think of it more as someone gaining enough to independently travel universe from universe at their own leisure using their own power with minimal to no damage to themselves, most of them were made already divine but weren't Gods or Saints. If I remember correctly, Celestials in some contexts are servants to Deities much like Angels, but I hc them as they were never alive in the first place and really don't have any obligation to Gods other than they were made by them and are supposed to be their servants but because of the number of Angels already there they basically just went 'Well, the Gods have much more servants than they can ever wish for' and fucked off to experience life

Simplified since I'm terrible at explaining:

(Most) Celestials were made by Gods to be powerful servants for them, eventually there were too many Angels that they were rendered effectively useless, so instead of staying up in heaven or wherever the God that made them was they decided to wander the universe and experience life for themselves

Okay, I think I understand now.

I honestly do not care about any religions (you believe in whatever you want, just leave me out of it) so I do have several blank spots when it comes to it.

I just know that if I do decide to do smt with the Celestials, their powers won't allow them to travel between universes all willy-nilly or however they want. HC-9 Gem can travel between Hermitcraft and Empires, but that's basically it. Even Witch Cleo needed to do a "not-so-legal" spell and needed those anchors to somehow get in her spirit form to the Double Life Cleo.

We can't have it simple here ;)

[accapitalmarket]

Trump Trade reignited, Gold faces deeper downside

Equities in Australia and Japan leapt over 1.0% higher today, with US equity index futures also rallying. Markets greeted Friday's soft PCE data with relief, as the data has taken the edge off the Fed's hawkish rate cut last week.

After the PCE data print, the US dollar remains steady, possibly benefitting from fresh inflows into the US bond and equity markets.

There was no solace for the UK as the underwhelming procession of economic data continued. UK final QoQ GDP flatlined at 0.00%, with the damage limited by QoQ business Investment rising a higher-than-expected 1.90%.

GBP/USD looks tenuous as it has continually failed at triangle resistance since late September. Although US dollar momentum has eased for now, GBP/USD remains just above multiple support layers between 1.2450 and 1.2500. Failure would initially signal a fall towards 1.2200.

GBPUSD

USD/JPY continues its slow rally after the Bank of Japan blinked and left rates unchanged last week. At 156.60, USD/JPY remains solidly anchored in the middle of its one-month rising channel and well above its 100 and 100-day moving averages. A couple of daily closes below 154.50 would be required to change the bullish technical picture, even if the double top at 162.00 looks like a bridge too far for now.

USDJPY

Gold could be the canary in the mine if readers were looking for a signal that the buy-everything Trump/AI trade has temporarily run out of momentum. Gold continues trading on the lower side of its triangle formation. Resistance is at $2,715.00 an ounce, but failure at $2590.00 (also taking out the 100-DMA) could trigger a deeper correction.

XAUUSD

Christmas Eve means markets are either closed, open in spirit only, or on half days across the globe today. China will release its one-year MLF decision, and the Bank of Japan and the Reserve Bank of Australia release the minutes of their meetings last week. I suspect Asia will be in for a quiet session, in any case.

The US releases Durable Goods and New Home Sales.

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[deer-fops]

Making a kobold alchemist for a P2E game.

Heres the current lore dump, subject to change

Degree Brix. Named after a method for measuring percent alcohol in wine (by hydrometer).

Tall for a kobold, 3’ 6” clever. Full of secrets. Hails from [City name here] a city that is now 60% kobold, 20% tallmen 10% dwarf 10% other

City was to doubled in size so the dragon Empyre hired a clan of dwarves to create a new kobold quarter thats well designed to work eat and live in an area, as well as develop the other side of the city for new arts, trading and some residency for taller humanoids.

Empyre is like “the Taylor swift of dragons” to kobolds. This is important because politically the city has elections where the % of power is distributed by % of votes. Most popular is president, second is vice, and after that its consolidated power of individuals who form boards and committees.

Point being this celebrity of a dragon always wins president and treats the govt work as secondary to being an artist. Vice goes to a board of tallmen merchants then its a kobold committee. Dwarves are now independent due to a reexamination of their contract with Emypre compared to the tallmen deal and there was a legal loophole that the land is to the dwarf clan and is considered a separate territory so they are now independent.

So on one hand the infrastructure is pretty good due to early developments but kobolds are being left behind since the “Taylor swift of dragons” spends more time on art than ruling the city.

Alchemist working for the Empyre, primarily for like wine and scalecare products but also a secret project division to either create a dragon or like turn a kobold into a dragon to either create a dynasty for Empyre or its like a way to uplift the kobolds into their own independence depending on how the technology is used. Doesnt have to be a violent revolution but the idea of a small dragon raised as a kobold with kobold ideals…. That could challenge the reign of empyre for popularity.

Brix will have a familiar lab assistant which looks like a kobold of average height, i can see this assistant either being a random bold, or a clone, or like Brix laid an egg and stole um genetic material from Empyre to create a kobold/dragon “half dragon”

Could go a few ways from a frankenstein approach to like a rocky horror vibe of creating the perfect draconic being.

[dammit-theclown]

Wish i was still in academia… wish i could finally take specialized courses and have somewhere to go every day with people my age passionate about the same ultra-specific nerdy bullshit. I haven’t used my degree to have a fun conversation in months if not years and I can owe those few circumstances to my boomer-age coworkers in the education/advocacy field. Wish I had deadlines to cram and essays to write instead of nothing to do every day. I know people look down on me for not being in university right now and I don’t even have the energy or heart to tell them I genuinely legally can’t attend school or work right now. Been doing this shit my entire adult life and all i have to show for it is a decent-looking apartment and the same independence adultification I’ve been performing since before my age hit the double digits. Party

[hardynwa]

INEC Blocking Inspection Imo Electection Materials Despite Court Order - Achonu

The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Imo State, Senator Athan Achonu, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of frustrating his legal team’s efforts at inspecting the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other electoral materials used for the election despite getting a court injunction. Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Achonu said the election that produced Senator Hope Uzodimma as Imo State governor, was marred by several electoral malpractices which the party is prepared to prove at the tribunal. He alleged that INEC is deliberately placing obstacles on the path of the Labour Party in order to prevent them from pursuing their case before the Imo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. “What is happening now as I speak is that we went to the court, and got an order to be allowed to inspect the BVAS. This is a governor who claimed won the election by a landslide. There has been no celebration in the entire Imo State,” he said. “Imo Sate looks like a graveyard. But (when) the judgment for Owerri municipal came out the other day (in favour of) the Labour Party candidate, Clinton Amadi, Owerri erupted into joy. The whole streets were almost closed. “Now I begin to wonder how a governor who INEC has declared has won an election. INEC has refused to let us inspect the BVAS. As we speak, lawyers and experts we hired at a huge cost of N30 million are there. We are not been allowed to inspect them in spite of the court order. What is INEC up to? I don’t understand what is going on in my country.” Achonu’s allegation comes a week after he led his supporters to protest at the national headquarters of INEC in Abuja over its failure to issue them the true certified copy of the just concluded poll result. The LP candidate who was accompanied by the National Youth Leader, Kennedy Ahanotu, had accused the electoral umpire of playing a double standard at the November 11 off-cycle election where Governor Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress was declared winner. While Uzodimma polled 540,308 votes, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Samuel Anyanwu polled scored 71,503 votes. Achonu came third with 64,081 votes. Both the PDP and LP candidates have since rejected the outcome of the election and have headed to court to claim what they insist is their mandate. Read the full article

[frankterranella]

Being a patriot means showing respect for the Rule of Law

In 1776, Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet called “Common Sense” that laid out the arguments in favor of independence from England. Part of that argument was addressed to the dissatisfaction that American colonists had with their laws being made by a king who was thousands of miles away. Paine argued that Americans should be governed by laws made by Americans. He wrote:

“let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America the law is king. For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king; and there ought to be no other.”

And on that basis, Americans declared their independence from England. They pledged that in this country no one person would make the laws. They proceeded to form a government based on a rule of law. They wrote a Constitution designed to foster faith in the rule of law by guaranteeing a right to trial by jury, a right against self-incrimination, a right against double jeopardy, a right to due process, and a right to confront your accuser in courts of law. With this system in place, Americans came to have faith in their justice system. They came to accept the rule of law.

What has happened beginning about 40 years ago is that slowly the right wing of the Republican Party, in the guise of advocating smaller government, has denigrated the integrity of every branch of the government to the point that many Americans have lost faith in the rule of law. It has unfortunately become commonplace for Republicans, when faced with a prosecution or judicial decision with which they disagreed to not only attack the decision, but to attack the entire system as corrupt. Over time this constant drumbeat of conspiracy and partisanship has taken its toll.

Is it any wonder that now we have reached a point where instead of politicians simply denying wrongdoing and stating their faith that the system will find the charges unsubstantiated, they claim the entire proceeding is invalid and call for violent protests? We cannot maintain a rule of law society as the Founding Fathers intended unless people respect the laws. Unless everyone agrees to accept the rulings of the system, we are headed to anarchy or, just as ominously, to autocracy where one person decides the law.

What we need right now is some old-fashioned respect. We need respect for the law and for one another. We need to respect the fact that our American legal system, while flawed, is still the best system ever designed in the history of the world. We need to defend it, not attack it. That’s what true patriots do.

And we need to have respect for our fellow Americans. The dictionary defines “respect” as “due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights or traditions of others.” There has been a deficit of this kind of respect in this country for too many years. And if we don’t change our ways, the country that Thomas Paine and others envisioned in 1776 will be gone forever. And what will replace it will make Colonial America look like the Garden of Eden. If we are to avoid violence not seen since the French Revolution, we must show more respect for our government institutions. We can still Save Our System, but it’s going to take a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

[discet]

Odd thought but since you like to expand on Amphibia's worldbuilding, if Andrias were to just drop dead one day and the Core was for whatever reason out of the picture, who would most likely be next in line for the throne, assuming of course the answer isn't just no one and the kingdom ends up just dissolving on ethnic lines without its thousand year old centralizing figure?

Oh it absolutely is a fucking mess.

So to start there is no line of succession past Andrias. Things are stable now but I'm highly suspect of the truth of that 'Peacekeeper of 1000 Years' title. If anyone had a legal right to the throne Andrias would have been assassinated Centuries ago. No, a Leviathan must rule the kingdom, and if there isn't one, things get messy quick.

So for the sake of keeping as many X factors out of the way, let's say that Andrias bites it like a year prior to the girls arrival to Amphibia. So here's the map of the general authorities at the time of Andrias' death

So short term fallout. Without Andrias, the capital is basically left in a succession crisis that, in all liklihood, is going to get nasty. There is probably a cabal of old nobles who are all jockeying for authority and a chance for the crown. Without a guiding hand, this gives the Toad Lords the opportunity many have been itching for: to declare independence and strike their own colors. However, since none of them are capable of obtaining the warhammer, they become rivals rather than a united front.

We eventually end up with a map like this

The Core: City State of Newtopia

The bickering nobles sequester themselves in the castle where plots are constantly being spun, political alliances spun and betrayed on the daily. Nothing is getting done, and the army is largely left leaderless. The toad armies does not phase them, they will be double crossing each other until right up until the moment the toads end the discussion for them.

The population grows restless and as the toad armies circle in to claim the jewel of Amphibia, our two favorite newts make their move. With Yunan's support Olivia settles the debate with a military coup. She dissolves the noble class, as most of their lands are now in open revolt. With this unification Yunan is able to lead an effective defense of Newtopia and expel invaders to the outer ring, and securing farmland and access to the outer sea. Surrounded on all sides by enemies, Yunan cannot commit to any expansion.

Once the crisis has ended, Olivia, first of her name, is crowned it's queen. Yunan is crowned Queen Consort. To appease the people, a council is set up of elected officials from each borough of Newtopia, with Olivia at the head of it. Establishing what is effectively a constitutional monarchy.

In the decades following Newtopia remains the jewel of Amphibia, lost technology allowing them an economy that keeps coppers, mercenaries, and talent flowing into the city and keeps them a major player, despite their size.

The South

Toad authority here falls apart pretty much immediately here. There's no easy way to say this y'all, Grime was a fucking travesty as a leader. He wasn't charismatic and he wasn't well liked even by his own soldiers. He was cruel and a capable fighter which is valuable in an enforcer and not at all in a Warlord. Grime tries to make the same bid in the south as the other toad lords would, but without legitimacy and discontent already wide spread enough that all it took was one spunky human to kick off a revolutionary fervor, Grime and the toads are overthrown. This starts in the Valley and Spreads to the other settlements.

Each corner creates its own little frog principality with a royal family established of the rebel leaders from each territory. While they are full monarchists, I think their power of succession would be a tanistry. Cause I think it fits frogs, and also think its just a fascinating way to decide of succession.

Tanistry, very quickly, is a way of choosing an heir that goes like this. Only members related to the king can succeed them. However, who among the family is the heir is determined by election. Traditionally by the heads of family, though in the spirit of democracy I think all adult citizens would get a vote. Once the heir becomes king they are king for life, and a new heir is elected. Every decade or so another election is held unless the heir dies or dishonors themselves to the point where they are removed.

The principalities are on roughly equal footing with each other and have an alliance pledging to defend one another should the need arise, and it has, a few times. The valley, despite being one of the smaller principalities holds a position of honor among them as the ones who set the example for the rest of them to follow.

Each principalities has an army, but most of the time they act as hunters to subdue the rather wild south.

The North and East: The Toad Lords

The first of the toad lords to rise against the capital. Aldo and Bufo created an alliance with the aim of rushing in and capturing Newtopia. While they gained a great deal of territory, this plan failed. The new nation(?) stood on rocky footing until Aldo, ancient toad that he was, died leaving Bufo as the sole leader of this territory. Though only until he is overthrown

What is born out is effectively a mobile court, with the Warlord of the hour traveling the lands and beating any sign of dissent into submission. While the army is feared, internal politicking between Toad Families prevent the kind of unification to become a serious threat to Newtopia, or even the Frogs. Anytime a warlord tries to set off on conquest, their rivals at home will use the chance to raise arms against them.

The Newtopian city state largely encourages this state of affairs, because a truly united Toad Lands would be absolutely a force to be reckoned with. For now the Toad Lands are in a near constant state of upheaval. It suuuuucks to live there. Either your a peasant who is constantly harassed for tribute by whichever asshole has proclaimed themselves warlord this week. Or your a warrior who is dying for whichever asshole your family has declared for.

The West: The Rising Tide

Beatrix is not her brother, she was able to keep the toad army together despite a major defeat and in the face of Andrias' wrath in canon. She is shrewd and careful along with brash and With no rivals and the largest fleet of any state, she goes about securing the seas for her own realm.

Beatrix starts building up the cities and controls most of the trade in the world. Keeping her army well armed for any plans she has. She maintains power by establishing a more traditional kingdom, building out the tower into a fairly impressive citadel.

Beatrix, instead of focusing on the still settled areas of the world, instead uses her forces to reclaim the wilderness, dotting landscapes long abandoned with new towns.

It's stable and safe, but the toad nobles who maintain the settlements are as cruel as they have been for the last millenia.

The Seafoam Isles:

Honestly don't have a lot to say, the eastern islands were abandoned in the tumult of Toadland politics and largely just established their own government to keep things organized. Might be a democracy? They aren't major players and mostly just doing their own thing, largely isolated.

The Wilderness

Vast stretches of land are lost to the dangerous wildlife of Amphibia in the chaos. towns lay abandoned across the stretch of the continent. The whole South west is lost, the Eastern part of the continent is abandoned so the toad lords can focus their efforts.