#they care about their garden and are defending tories

[moomin279]

when did my parents become so right wing

[buddha-in-disguise]

A full of fucking swearing long post about the shitstain that is Dominic Cummings. Plus where I can find them, at the end I will link fucking sources, just in case anyone wants to try and say otherwise.

Also, if you do start @ me over him, I'm blocking your fucking cunt of an arse. Clear enough?

Good. Then let's begin.

As a nation, we can be a fairly mild mannered lot. At least collectively. But as of now, the majority of Britons are a mass of anger. So much so, I've even agreed with pundits like Piers Fucking Morgan! That alone is distressing enough, but Dominic Cummings has pissed off just about everyone.

But first a little background on this heaping pile of shit.

Dominic Cummings was one of the main instigators of Leave Campaign in regards Brexit. Now for those who don't know or haven't cared until now, not only were they found to be in breach of the electoral law, Dominic himself was also found in contempt of Parliament when they tried to find out if Vote Leave used fake news to help achieve their goal.

To add to this, he took around 200k of subsidies from the EU for his properties. So a known lying fucking hypocrite.

Even before that, he was advisor to Gove, that spineless fucking weasel who has been out today spouting even more fucking bollocks over this. Funny that.

Don't think for a minute being Gove's Special Advisor meant Cummings was liked by others in the Tory Party. Cummings was pretty much despised by a lot in Government at the time. David 'Pig fucker' Cameron called him a career psychopath.

Fast forward to 2019. Cummings is now Special Advisor to another spineless fucking cunt known as the Prime Minister Boris Johnson. BJ was never in control. Anyone watching what was going on knew that the moment Cummings had Javid's one aide uncermoniously marched out of her job, using armed police no less.

Only problem was, he had no authority to do that.

But never fear, BJ decided to change the rules, so lo and behold, he didn't break any rules (seeing a pattern here yet?)

So fast forward to the last few days. Now newspapers were reporting that Dominic Cummings drove his COVID-19 symptomatic wife, with a 4 year old in the same enclosed vehicle, some 260 miles to his parents location in Durham.

Oh now comes the fun part, and why as a nation we are all beyond extremely miffed, and fucking pissed off!

The offical guidance was anyone in a household with someone displaying symptoms (tested or not) was to stay the fuck at home. There was one exception to this rule. One. Extreme risk to life.

So Cummings took the decision to go and drive for fucking childcare reasons.

A man with his wealth, privilege and even with family in fucking London, couldn't do it at his home, but had to drive (thus risking his own child because of viral load you're going to get in an enclosed vehicle), himself and others (because he had to stop. Tell me of anyone with a 4 year old in the car they wouldn't be stopping anywhere?)

So anyway, they take a fucking jolly jaunt up to his parents.

But hold on, a Minister recently resigned for breaking lockdown rules. So why in the ever loving fuck was Cummings not resigning or being fired?

I don't know what Cummings has on BJ, but I suspect it makes wanting to fuck a dead pig seem like child play. Because not only isn't he fired, good old Jolly BJ comes out and fully defends and supports his senior advisor (who is unelected as well, just to add salt to that wound).

So by following his fatherly instincts (the fucking laughable defence given, when BJ couldn't even say how many fucking kids he has) and acting with integrity, (someone please give these fucking morons a dictionary), Cummings was given a free pass.

And then a load of fucking MP's including cabinet ministers all piled in saying how great a father he is, how it was exceptional circumstances that made him do it, you're all overreacting you terrible ingrate you, blah, blah, more horse shit, blah!

So, now all of those families who actually followed the fucking rules, and did what the government said are now being told, oh sure. You could've attended the funeral of your loved ones. Gone halfway across country to get child care for your kids, and so on and so fucking forth.

So basically saying, hah the jokes on you.

A few grumbles came out from the odd Tory, who might not have grown a spine, but were looking less like jelly (jello) being nailed to the wall, and more like thick fucking custard. A little more substance to them, but still slopping around with no spine.

We have a bank holiday coming up, and unusually good weather forecast, because as every Brit knows, Bank Holidays are normally shit weather wise. And a lot of people saying, fuck me if Cummings can do this, so can we. And all pile into cars for days out as if nothing had changed! No masks, no social distancing. Zilch. Great innit.

No it fucking isn't! The virus doesn't take a holiday you fucking morons!

So back to the other mess. Cummings now gives a press conference in the fucking rose garden of No.10. Also likely in breach of the rules, but as we know, he really doesn't give a flying fuck about rules now does he.

First of all he was 30 minutes late (you would've been sanctioned , therefore getting no money, for weeks, probably months if on benefits and did the same thing thanks to this government). But he eventually rolls up, looking slightly less like he's been dragged through a hedge backwards, but still looking like a dogs arse. Actually sorry dogs, you don't deserve that comparison. I'm really sorry!!

Anyway, here he is, about to fill us with more bullshit.

The shit now isn't just hitting the fan. In the immortal words of Terry Pratchett, The Midden has now hit the Windmill.

Cummings is trying to explain why he did what he did, oh and now we have the added delight of him being caught going out to a location some 30 miles from the family home, which is another breach of the law!

He sat there, and said, the public aren't angry at me, they're angry because of how the media have reported it. Woe is me, they're making me out to be the bad guy in all this .... blah fucking boo hoo blah.

This was supposed to calm us down.

Dear reader.

It. Did. Not.

So journalist after journalist (Beth Rigby gave a fucking masterclass) actually didn't let him get away with it.

These weren't just questions or accusations. They threw proof at him! Despite the collective rage, it was glorious to see them do it. If this was when stocks were still in use in the town square, Cummings would've been covered in excrement and anything else to hand. That shit was blown back so fast, it was hard to keep up.

Anyway, without going into too much here, his excuses ranged from he didn't feel safe because of demos outside his home (unverified and strangely enough, no neighbours reporting any disturbances either. Funny that),

Then, having gone to great lengths to say he drove up to his parents to keep his kid safe, he explains the additional trip he got caught out on was taken to test his eyesight, which had been affected because of being unwell with Covid19.

So not only is it highly fucking illegal to drive while impaired (including if eyesight is impaired) in this country, you decided to take your wife and kid, who you wanted to protect, not for a little jaunt down the road, but on a 60 mile fucking round trip.

Oh, and he hadn't stopped on the 260 mile trip up there, but his kid needed a stop on the way home, so a less than 60 mile trip required a stop. Yeah. Strange how that works.

He still kept blaming the media. Still kept up the woe is me, it was exceptional circumstances, and so on. Must get sore lips there Cummings, with the amount of smoke you try to blow up peoples arses.

So, to end it all, he has flatly refused to resign. No need to even consider it. The public will be jolly good chaps in all of this and see my side of things.

No we won't, you motherfucking cunt!

So this morning, various people including Gove are still making excuses for this fucking shitstain.

I now wish Cummings is fired, but better yet, thrown out of our universe, so he can never ever be seen again. But I've seen more spine on a fucking snake that I have Boris Johnson, who is just as much to blame in all this.

Before I end, we also had an infamous Tweet from someone in the Civil Service, who knew they were torpedoing their career. I'm including a screen shot. It was taken down, but it was genuine. Whoever they were, you deserve all the applause and a fucking medal!

Oh and a few sources for this and the cuntface Cummings. But you know, just Google the fucker. You can find this and much more.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44856992

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47712040

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/aug/10/dominic-cummings-owns-farm-got-eu-subsidy

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/18/david-cameron-dominic-cummings-career-psychopath

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dominic-cummings-boris-johnson-cabinet-minister-aides-civil-service-sajid-javid-a9109836.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52782913

[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52553229

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-52792200

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52793991

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/dominic-cummings-trip-county-durham-18306147

https://www.gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rules

[mytitsareontheinternet-blog]

Being Jewish/Being Labour

My very first political experience came in Year 4 when I had to argue against Liverpool Football Club building a new stadium in Stanley Park, the iconic separator of Anfield and Goodison. Earning myself a lot of praise for my naturally argumentative streak and on a high from my first real debate, 9-year-old me wanted to be a politician for the best part of 3 hours. I recall my dad telling my neighbour of my new-found career path and said neighbour telling me to “always fight for the poor.” At the time I probably, definitely shrugged that remark off, now I see how that comment is representative of the city I grew up in. 

Welcome to Liverpool, a city built and repaired by the EU when Thatcher’s reign wanted to drive our city into the ground. A city that has fought and continues to fight tirelessly not only for the justice of the Hillsborough victims but to erase everybody’s misconceptions about a city of workers, artists, volunteers and activists that welcome the world with open arms. It is almost a moral obligation to vote Labour in this city, in more recent times “Did you vote Labour or Tory?” is becoming as common as “Are you a Red or a Blue?” You owe it to your city, to your family, to your friends and to your community to vote Labour in Liverpool, no matter who is in charge.

My second political experience came aged 10, completely unbeknownst to me. My grandad randomly goes silent and teary and takes our dog on her second walk of the hour. She definitely didn’t need to go out again, she wasn’t expressing any want to… Now I see my grandad just didn’t want us to see him break down. As I’ve gotten older, the more my family have opened up and the more honest the world has become around me, I learned that my grandad suffers from severe panic attacks. This is believed to be from the trauma of losing loved ones to the Holocaust and a series of antisemitic attacks that he has been the victim of a handful of times in his life. These revelations have made me angry, not only have my family lost loved ones and not only do we have to grieve family that could’ve been, we have to watch something that supposedly ended 75 years ago still snatch the livelihood from our nearest and dearest even now.

I’m in my last year of school, and everyone around me seems… weirdly excited about politics. It was almost like One Direction split up and British Parliament was the next best thing. I don’t know if there was something in the water or if Jeremy Corbyn’s rebranding of a rebranded Labour lit a fire up everyone’s arse, but knowing very little about him, I really liked him. He wants everyone in the country to have a garden? Oh, what a world. A wholesome, transparent and faultless politician? That is everything everyone ever told me an MP wouldn’t be, and there is nothing more exciting than being 17 and proving a boomer wrong. A year goes by and I’m still wooed by this man, sure he has a few haters by this point but who doesn’t… It’s not like Tories don’t have a reputation for saying and doing anything to protect themselves and as a Scouser, I knew that fact all too well.

Throughout the rise and fall of Corbynism, I turned 18, I started making my own money, I reconnected massively with my Jewish heritage and I was forming all kinds of relationships, I just wasn’t as invested in it anymore. I blindly voted based on a honeymoon-like misconception I had of a politician when I was a teenager. Coming up to the General Election 2019, I started to make some discoveries about Corbyn and the never dying anti-semitism accusations that came with his name. At first I thought these claims came from opportunistic Tories that would later turn their back on Jews when they got the outcome they wanted, and don’t get me wrong, a lot of it was just that, a lot of these accusations came from people that don’t care about Jewish people at all. I simply found it hard to believe that somebody who had it so right about every other aspect of my identity, could be so wrong about my ethnicity and religion.

Time proved me wrong. I quickly realised not all of these accusations came from fake allies riding on the back of Jewish activism to push their personal agenda. In fact, most of them never and I was confused. I confided in Labour Party members on multiple platforms about my confusion and upset and I simply just wanted people to be able to justify why the face of Labour called anti-Jewish terrorist organisations his “friends.” I wanted people to tell me why this man thought English humour was lost on British Jews. I wanted everyone who told me to support this man and his cause to explain why he was defending antisemitic caricatures and why he uses the word Zionist so loosely and why he can’t help but defend countless Holocaust deniers. I, myself, was met with the same abuse and anti-semitism that my grandad described. As well as what seemed like a reluctance of people coming to my defence, which left me more perplexed because this was unusual for Labour and its members when racism surfaces.

Despite what I was put through, how unwelcome and unheard I felt in a party bouncing with activism calling out social injustice, I felt like I would be a traitor not to have marked an X in the Labour box on my ballot. Part of me was saying you’re voting for a party, not a person. I thought about Steven Smith from Kensington being sanctioned, I thought about nurses and doctors and patients on corridors, I thought about the soaring numbers of food banks and rough sleepers. I thought about myself and the career I want to pursue in medicine and how I’m even going to get there when I know I’d struggle to make ends meet at university. The other part of me was reminded that I was now blacklisted from most Labour forums for being a Jewish Labour member with concerns, that Luciana Berger was forced out of her position as Wavetree’s MP as a Jewish woman because the anti-semitism that she received was so unbearable and of course, Labour’s leader wasn’t shy of antisemitic behaviour himself. This made me feel like a traitor putting X in the Labour box too. I couldn’t win. I did so on the grounds that I wanted a Labour government, I always had and I justified this on the basis that I would continue to to fight anti-semitism within the party, no matter how silenced I was. I wanted Jewish people to be able to access Labour and campaign with Labour without feeling either unwelcome or tokenised.

It was tough. It still is. It’s going to take a while to drain the party of antisemitism and it’s going to take even longer for Jewish people to be at the forefront again, but Labour isn’t inherently anti-semitic, it doesn’t have to be, there is a future for Jewish voices in Labour, but there is also a future where I will no longer advocate for a party that doesn’t advocate for me.

[for-a-flower]

The Truth

          Hours later, Asgore Dreemurr returned to the garden in full armor and a purple cape.  The flower turned to face him as he approached with a frown on his face.  "Seeing you like this . . . I wish things could be different," Asgore said.  "But I have been asking some of the monsters for suggestions and . . . none of them know what to do."

          "It's okay, dad.  It's not your fault,” said Asriel.

          Asgore stepped closer to the flower.  "And . . . even if I do not want to talk about it . . . it is only fair that you know what happened."  The king sat down beside the flower with a thump.  He paused a few seconds, pulling himself together before he started to explain.  "Toriel . . . was upset.  Because I . . . I told everyone in the kingdom that any human who enters this place must die.  I told them I would gathered enough human souls to break the barrier."  The flower listened quietly.

          Asgore looked away, his gaze focusing on the covered throne, which sat in shadows at the throne room’s far wall.  "Your mother asked me not to.  She begged me to find another way.  But . . . I had made a promise to my people.  And even though it was made in a fit of rage . . . I could not back out."  Asgore looked at his son, worry in his kind, brown eyes.  "The monsters needed hope.  They were so sad.  I know I may not have made the best promise, but I knew it would give them hope again . . . at least for a little while.  I had hoped Tori would understand . . . but . . ."

          "She didn't?" said Asriel.

          Asgore shook his head.  "She said that she would not speak to me unless I thought of another way.  And I did try . . . but there does not seem to be one."

          The flower tilted his head.  "Why wait so long?" he said.  "Why wait here and hope seven humans fall in just so you can kill them?  What if they're too nice for you to make yourself?”  Asriel leaned closer to his father.  “Look . . . you only need to kill one in order to pass through the barrier.  You can take that soul and use its power to find six more.  Then come back and . . ."

           Asgore raised a hand to stop him there.  "No, Asriel.  I do not want power.  I just . . . want the monsters to be free."

          "But you can't have one without the other," said the flower.  The king sighed, his gaze shifting down to the ground before him.  Asriel continued.  "What if . . . seven humans never fall down?  What will you do then?"

          This time Asgore’s tone shifted to an even softer, reluctant voice when he gave a reply.  "Six already have."

          "Oh . . .”  Asriel found this information to be disturbing.  It meant his dad had already destroyed six humans who fell into the underground.  Asriel scowled.  “So, you have six human souls already?  Just go and get one more.  It can't be that hard if you’ve already killed six," said the flower.

          The king shook his head, his hands resting in his lap as he sat by the flower.  "I . . . do not want to kill anymore."

          "But you're almost there.  How will monsters have their freedom if you don't do anything?"

          Asgore sighed.  "I do not know.  But I will not use the ones I have already . . . to gain power and go through the barrier . . . just to find and kill one more.  I . . . would rather wait.  It cannot be too much longer.  Besides . . . I made more than one promise."

          The flower sighed.  "I don't think that'll get you anywhere but . . . nothing I can do about it."

          There was a pause of silence before Asgore stood up again.  "I should water the garden," he said.  "It has been a few days since the last time."  He walked to the corner he had put the lantern earlier.  It sat near a water bucket, which the king took in his hand.  The flower watched Asgore begin watering the Golden Flowers around him.

          "So . . . I was thinking,” said Asriel.  “We should have a routine . . . something that I can expect or look forward to each day since . . . I can't exactly go places.”

          The king’s expression lightened some.  "Hm . . . that is a good idea.  What would you like to do?"

          "I was hoping you might have a few ideas."

          Asgore thought a few seconds as water splashed against the bright petals of flowers in front of him.  "Well, we could have tea . . . or play a game of catch . . ."  When Asriel didn't respond, Asgore paused to look at him from a few steps away.  

          The flower was staring . . . eyes narrowed.  “Do I look like I can do any of those things?” he asked.

          "Oh . . . never mind."  The king continued watering the flowers.  He was nervous about this.  It was obvious.  Asriel could hear the unsure tone in Asgore’s voice and could see the way his large hands trembled a little as he held the watering can.

          "I mostly just want someone to talk to," said the flower.  "Maybe we can tell each other stories."

          Asgore’s movements slowed when he spoke again, though he was still focusing on the flowers.  "Speaking of stories . . . would you mind telling me what happened after you left through the barrier?"

          Asriel paused.  He hadn’t expected his father to ask him about this so soon.  "I meant made up stories,” said the flower.  “But . . . I guess I can explain first.”  Asriel began with a small voice while Asgore neared the flower’s position.  "After I left the underground and approached the village, the humans saw me and the whole village attacked.  During their efforts to kill me, I just wanted to go home.”  Asriel frowned.  “But Chara wanted me to stay . . . wanted me to kill all the humans in the village to defend myself.  I couldn't make myself do it.  I held back and . . . left to come back here . . . ignoring Chara's wishes."  The flower glanced down.  "But the humans had already done a lot of damage.  It was hard to get back.  It took a lot of strength.  I . . . remember falling in this garden . . . right in front of you and mom.  Then things were dark.  I guess when I died, Chara's soul moved on.  She's . . . not part of me anymore.  And . . . I'm kind of glad . . ."  The flower looked up just as Asgore reached him, accidentally pouring water on top of him.

          The king paused with surprise.  "Oops!"  The flower was soaking wet, drooping over as water droplets ran down his yellow petals.  "Sorry, I was occupied with my thoughts," Asgore said.  He set down the water bucket.

          Asriel sighed and tried to shake some of the water from his petalled head. "I would like to know were Chara went though.  I know she's not the best person in the world but . . . she's my best friend.  And . . . I still think she can be a better person."

          Asgore pulled a soft rag from a pocket in his robe and knelt down to brush off some water from the flower's petals.  "I suppose that is true," he said.  When he was finished, the king stood up, peering down with a smile.  "There you are!  Nice and dry."

          The flower looked slightly annoyed.  "Thanks."

          Asgore was quick to change the subject back again.  "What you mentioned about telling stories . . . I like that idea.  I am happy to talk to someone else too for a change," said the king.  "We could also make up riddles or . . . tell jokes?"

          The flower's face lit up a bit.  "That's a great idea."

          "I can meet you here in the garden every morning and evening until we decide on something else.  I do have responsibilities to the kingdom that I must fulfill during the rest of the time but . . . this will be a nice change."  Asgore turned to head out.  He crossed the garden then paused to look back.  "Should I tell the kingdom about you?  Or would you rather them not to know?"

          "Go ahead and tell them.  Maybe some of them will want to talk to me and they can keep me company while you're away," said Asriel.

          "Do you not want any time to yourself?"

          "Yeah . . . but I have enough of that during the night.  I think I can keep myself occupied for that amount of time on my own,” said the flower.

          Asgore smiled and nodded.  "I will tell them then.  It would be hard for me to keep you a secret.  I will be back in a few hours.  Take care."  The king reluctantly turned to step through the metal gate into the hallway beyond, his cape flowing as he rounded the corner.

          The flower sighed.  He tried to move again by tilting his head left, right, forward, backward . . . nothing.  He yanked against his own, little stem a couple times.  Still nothing.  It seemed to be useless to him.  All it did was hold him to the ground and help him stay upright.  Asriel tried moving as if he had legs and toes.  He could feel something through his stem.  It was the dirt around him.  But he wasn’t sure how to move his stem or roots.  The flower sighed.  "I wouldn't try if I knew it was impossible," he told himself.  "I mean . . . I can already do a lot of things normal flowers can't.  There has to be a way to move around too."  He tried to move forward several more times but nothing happened.  He frowned.   "I . . . think."

<Previous  Next>

Full Chapter List

[atlanticcanada]

Party leaders spar over how to handle N.L. looming 'bankruptcy' at leaders debate

The dismal financial outlook in Newfoundland and Labrador was centre stage in an election debate Wednesday night, with party leaders sparring over what to do about the province's massive debt and spending problems.

Liberal Leader and incumbent Premier Andrew Furey said he disliked how his opponent uses the term "bankruptcy" to define the province's fiscal troubles. By using that word on the campaign trail, Progressive Conservative Leader Ches Crosbie was "already waving the flag" of defeat, Furey said.

"Mr. Crosbie is campaigning to be the last premier of Newfoundland and Labrador," the premier added.

The Tory leader hit back: "I'm a straight shooter. And that's why I use words like 'bankrupt,' because it cuts to the heart of the matter."

With a net debt of $16.4 billion, the Atlantic province of about 520,000 people has the highest debt-to-GDP ratio in the country. Debt-servicing costs are the province's second-largest expense after health care. Experts say with no sign of resuscitation in the local offshore oil industry, those costs will only get worse if drastic measures aren't taken.

The debate gave voters a look at Furey's fiscal priorities after a Liberal campaign defined largely by low-stakes announcements about community gardens and programs to unite youth and seniors.

Furey repeatedly brought up the troubled Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project, whose costs essentially doubled to $13.1 billion since it was given the green light in 2012 under a previous Tory government. Without a change in course, electricity rates in the province could also double, in order to pay for the project.

"We have to deal with Muskrat Falls first," Furey insisted as he defended himself against attacks from Crosbie, who said Furey didn't know how to get the province out of its fiscal hole. Furey touted the recent deal he'd struck with Ottawa, allowing the province to defer $840 million in financing payments for the project, emphasizing that talks with the federal government about the staggering costs and burden of the ill-fated project had only just begun.

"These are all the things I've brought to the table in the first five months -- gimme four years," he said.

The Liberal leader also had to fend off accusations from NDP Leader Alison Coffin, who said he wasn't willing to make the right investments to help struggling voters escape poverty.

Furey said "no magic bullet" is going to fix Newfoundland and Labrador's financial mess. He didn't give specific details on how he would pull the province out of debt, but said "mass layoffs aren't the answer."

"We didn't get into these fiscal issue because of the hard work of nurses," Furey said.

"Well I'm glad to hear we won't be cutting," Coffin told Furey. But, she added, the province should be spending more on public sector employees like nurses and paramedics. Front-line health-care workers are overworked and stressed out, Coffin said, adding that they need more support, not less.

Furey, who was an orthopedic surgeon before he became premier in August, reminded his colleagues that he was the only one in the room who had direct experience working alongside overburdened health-care workers.

Coffin also called for a $15 minimum wage and dismissed Furey's suggestion that raising the minimum wage would make the province uncompetitive. "We don't want to be known as the place where you can come and get cheap labour," she said.

Crosbie, meanwhile, said he wanted to go over the province's expenditures line by line to cut waste. "But that's only half of what is required," he said, adding that the province needs to increase economic growth.

With just 10 days left before the Feb. 13 vote, only one party -- the NDP -- had released a platform by Wednesday night. The Liberals and Progressive Conservatives have said they will release their platforms this week, though neither provided an exact date.

Heading into the election, the Liberals held 19 of the legislature's 40 seats, the Progressive Conservatives held 15 seats, the NDP had three and there were three Independents.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 3, 2021.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/2YFP6nJ

[x-enter]

Everything Coming to Disney+ in March 2020

We’re almost to a new month which means that streaming services are revealing what new titles are coming to them. The latest to reveal their new slate is Disney+ which reveals episode details for The Clone Wars as well as several other shows. For movies, Black Panther and Bedtime Stories are two that I really enjoy. What are you most excited for in March?

Available March 1

Doctor Dolittle 2

Ice Age

Available March 4

Black Panther

Available March 5

Bedtime Stories

Available March 6

The Finest Hours (Returning Title)

Three on the Run

Diary of a Future President

Episode 108 - “Matters of Diplomacy”

As she prepares for the big dance, Elena is shocked to discover she has a “mustache.” Attempts to fix it only make it worse, forcing her to “own” her look. Bobby and his buddies plan a prank for the dance, but when it doesn’t go the way Bobby expected, he lashes out at Liam. Gabi’s discomfort with her new relationship only grows when her mother invites the entire family over to meet Sam.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Episode 703 - “On the Wings of Keeradaks”

After their escape, Anakin Skywalker and the clones defend a local village.

Marvel’s Hero Project

Episode 118 - “Genius Gitanjali”

When Gitanjali discovered there were people living without clean water, she was determined to find a solution. Through rounds of trial and error, and the search for a lab that would let a middle schooler use it, Gitanjali invented a device that could test for contaminants in water. Spurred on to create new tools that benefit others, her blend of science and kindness is what makes her a hero.

Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings

Episode 204 - “Pandoran Wedding”

Patrice and Dontrell become the first couple ever married at Pandora, The World of Avatar. Alyssa & Scott honor generations of "ohana" at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, with a surprise performance by singer and guitarist Kina Grannis.

Shop Class

Episode 102- “Justin's Biggest Fan”

Teams are challenged with designing and putting their own unique take on Little Free Libraries.

Disney Family Sundays

Episode 118 - “Zootopia: Bracelets”

The Pyle-Lawrence ladies join Amber for a project inspired by Disney's "Zootopia."

One Day At Disney

Episode 114 - “Kris Becker: Animal Keeper”

For over 20 years, Kris Becker has provided top notch care to the animals of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.Through a unique and emotional bond, Becker is able to look after these exotic creatures through nutrition and wellness support.As she goes about her day, Becker is also able to interact with guests helping educate them on the animals and important conservation efforts.

Available March 13

Wicked Tuna (S3-8)

Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks (S1-6)

Zorro - Second Series (S1)

Stargirl

Premiere

“Stargirl” from Disney+ is a tender and offbeat coming-of-age story based on the critically-acclaimed, New York Times’ best-selling young adult novel about an unassuming high schooler who finds himself inexplicably drawn to the free-spirited new girl, whose unconventional ways change how they see themselves…and their world.

Diary of a Future President

Episode 109 - “State of the Union”

Elena is shocked to discover that Sasha wants to switch roommates for the Tallahassee field trip. Desperate to run from her problems, she misses the bus on purpose, only to be driven by Gabi – who’s fleeing from her own issues with Sam. Bobby, still confused by his behavior at the dance, tells his girlfriend that he loves her.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Episode 704 - “Unfinished Business”

Anakin Skywalker and the Bad Batch attempt to gain a victory for the Republic.

Marvel’s Hero Project

Episode 119 - “Astonishing Austin”

Austin knows what it’s like when food is scarce. It was one of those times when he decided to grab a handful of beans and plant a garden. He invited his community to pick what they wanted, and word spread. Nearby farmers and volunteers came to help him work the soil and now, this local hero has shown a whole city how to sow the seeds of hope and reap the literal fruits of their labor.

Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings

Episode 205 - “Made for Loving You”

Ana was missing her sister at her wedding, but Disney magic makes dreams come true, and Grammy award winning artist Tori Kelly performs. Melanie & Nathan reunite after decades with a ceremony aboard the Disney Wonder in Alaska.

Shop Class

Episode 103 - “Ramps & Champs”

Teams are challenged with turning iconic school items into skatepark obstacles.

Disney Family Sundays

Episode 119 - “The Muppets: Pom Poms”

The Crownholm family joins Amber for this craft inspired by The Muppets.

One Day At Disney

Episode 115 - “Leah Buono: Casting Director”

Leah Buono, Executive Director of Casting, takes us behind-the-scenes as she searches for the next Disney Channel star. Through casting calls, auditions and pure instinct, Leah is instrumental in the discovery of a new generation of young Disney Channel actors and actresses who will bring their talent, passion and drive to upcoming Disney Channel series and movies.

Available March 15

G-Force

Available March 17

Big Hero 6 The Series (S2)

Available March 20

I Didn’t Do It (S1-2)

Playtime with Puppy Dog Pals: Puppy Playcare (S2)

Vampirina Ghoul Girls Rock! (S2)

Diary of a Future President

Finale - Episode 110 - “Two Party System”

In Tallahassee, Elena has unresolved issues with Jessica, and she decides to take a Senator’s inspiring advice, to find a solution. Bobby struggles with expressing himself and finds comfort in Sam’s guidance. Gabi tries to pretend like everything is fine at work, despite her new normal with Sam.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Episode 705 - “Gone With a Trace”

Ahsoka befriends a pilot but must hide her Jedi past while trying to stop a dangerous droid.

Marvel’s Hero Project

Finale - Episode 120 - “High-Flying Hailey”

When Hailey realized her twin sister Livy’s ongoing medical care was putting a strain on her family’s finances, she leapt into action.Hailey founded a kids’ organization to reach out and provide community and support for families living with epilepsy, like hers. Now, Marvel makes her a true SuperHero, immortalized in her very own comic book.

Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings

Episode 206 - “Wedding GOALS!”

College teammates Joi & Lexie have a fairy tale wedding at Disneyland with World Cup champion Brandie Chastain and singing sensation Colbie Collait. Nathan surprises Krystal with a proposal in Paris and help from Adventures By Disney.

Shop Class

Episode 104 - “Bridge or Bust”

Teams are challenged with designing and building bridges that look great and can support weight.

Disney Family Sundays

Episode 120 -“Winnie the Pooh: Flower Pots”

The Ruvalcaba family joins Amber for a plant-tastic project inspired by Winnie The Pooh.

One Day At Disney

Episode 116 - “David Muir: World News Tonight Anchor”

David Muir, Anchor of ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir, sheds light on his responsibility as a newscaster. Inspired by the likes of Peter Jennings and Diane Sawyer, Muir believes it is his job to break through the chaos of today to deliver straightforward, relevant news to people around the world.

Available March 25

A Wrinkle in Time

Available March 27

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Episode 706 - “Deal No Deal”

Trace makes a rash decision after learning what they are transporting is for the Pyke Syndicate.

Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings

Episode 207 - “Te Amo, Mi Amor, Again!”

Hurricane Maria survivor, Gloriene surprises her husband of 13 years with a vow renewal and a sizzling performance by Latin Grammy winner Pedro Capo. Brieanna & Tyler celebrate a fairy tale with an Alice in Wonderland themed wedding.

Shop Class

Episode 105 - “Boulder Bash”

Teams are challenged with putting a modern twist on the classic picnic table.

Be Our Chef

Premiere - Episode 101 - “Bibbidi Bobbidi Bon Appetit”

In this “Cinderella” inspired challenge, the first two families, the Merrill family and Robbins family, are asked to magically transform a classic comfort food into a gourmet meal.

Disney Family Sundays

Episode 121 - “Ratatouille: Chef Hat”

source https://geektyrant.com/news/everything-coming-to-disney-in-march-2020

[celticrune]

and for u the uneven numbers of the oc questions thing!!

…boiUnder a cut for length

1. Your first OC ever?From the OCs on my ask page, that’d be Morana. I created her for my first DnD campaign, when I needed an npc to beef up the party. She’s grown a lot since then, especially since I started playing her as a PC, but yea she’s fun.

My first OC ever is more difficult. I think the technical first would be a fan oc I made for an rp, Arya. Wait no that’s wrong she’s the second. The forums were taken down so I can’t check, but I’m pretty sure the first rp I joined there was a dinosaur rp, where I played like a velociraptor also called Arya (I was very creative). I might’ve written some stuff before that but I don’t remember, so I’ll count this.

3. Have you ever adopted a character or gotten a character from someone else?nope

5. If you could make only one of your OCs popular/known, who would it be? oh jeez. don’t make me choose between my children

7. Are your OCs part of any story or stories?Well, do DnD campaigns count as stories? I’ve also written oneshots for various characters, and I’ve got a giant college au with @spitaverse-burr and @kima-ladyofvord​ that features all our character which could count as a story.

So yeah basically all of them.

9. Would you ever be willing to give any of your OCs to someone else?why?? that’s the main question I have for adoptable OCs just why. not in a judgey way, i just genuinely do not understand

11. Is there any OC of yours you could describe as a “sunshine”? Tanwen. She’s the only pure character I have, all the rest are assholes. Tanwen is an actual ray of sunshine she’s great

13. Do you have any troublemaker OCs? Keiji, 100%. Whisper as well, if it’s something "cool” or if she was dared to. Though, Whisper is still pretty nervous about actually breaking the law, so it depends a bit on what it is.

Raya is not an active troublemaker so much as she has a casual disregard for these odd rules of civilization. She lives in forests like 99% of the time give her a break.

15. Do you like to talk about your OCs with other people?yes

17. Any OC OTPs? oh boy do i ever. Morana and Lux’ Rorik, Temperance and Lux’ Chal, Val and Tori’s Lytte, Keiji/therapy (maybe also Keiji and Lux’ Wyatt), Raya/trees, Tanwen and Lux’ Ghilli (they’d be so cute..)

19. Introduce an OC that means a lot to you (and explain why)All of them, honestly. They’re all a part of me and they’re all very lovely assholes

21. Your most artistic OCNone of them really have a defined artist thing in their canon, but Keiji likes carving little wood birds to keep his hands busy during long watches and the like. Tanwen loves reading sappy romance novels, and in the college au she’s definitely written some terrible friendfiction (it’s like her one big secret, apart from the sister thing). 

23. Introduce OC that has changed from your first idea concerning what the character would be like?this is difficult damn. I think maybe Keiji? The first concept I had for him was “a monk who’s had to leave their order, and is v bitter and angry about it”. His backstory hasn’t changed, but his way of dealing with it has. I ended up dumping a bunch of my issues on him, and now he’s far more betrayed than angry, and he hides it all behind humour and snark. 

Beside him, Morana has also changed. I introduced her as a quiet, pragmatic npc character. Since I started playing her she’s gotten a lot more emotional and she’s found a temper (and a tragic backstory)

25. The OC that resembles you the most (same hobby, height, shared like/dislike for something etc?)As mentioned above, Keiji has a lot of my issues, mainly the selfdestructive habits and never talking about your feelings or being honest about them ever. 

Raya has my love for nature and natural magics. Morana has my curiousity, the love for knowledge and the need to know (even if it comes at the cost of summoning a devil). Whisper has my protectiveness, and subsequent troubles with communicating it. 

Honestly, they all have parts of me, cause well that’s just what happens when you create characters. and i love them all they’re good

27. Any OCs that were inspired by a certain song? nope

29. Which one of your OCs would go investigate an abandoned house at night without telling anyone they’re going?Keiji. Whisper would only do it on a dare so there’d be other people involved. Morana definitely would, because she’s dumb and reckless and in search of cryptids. 

31. Pick one OC of yours and explain what their tumblr blog would be like (what they reblog, layout, anything really)ohohohoho. I recently found the conversation where Lux, Tori, and I talked about this for the college au.

Morana has a blog devoted to cryptids, but she also reblogs all history posts she can find. (she corrects them and adds sources if necessary). Surina isn’t technically in this au, but I could see her running like a fitness blog. Raya has a gardening blog, with tips and logs about her own plants. Val would have a lot of selfies w Lytte (and more pictures of just her), a lot of backstage pics from theatre, actual journal posts on recommendation of their therapist, and a truly worrying amount of posts about how to hide various weapons on your person.

Tanwen would run one of those cutesy study blogs, with prettily coloured to do lists, pictures of an organised workspace, and lots of self care tips for exam week. Keiji has various sideblogs. He has a fitness blog which is also about his martial arts studies, a shitpost meme blog (his main), an edgy aesthetic blog (bruised knuckles, people smoking on top of buildings, that kinda thing), and probably more.

Whisper would run like a proper blog blog, with logs from her many scouting trips and like mountain climbing adventures. Also a lot of pictures from those. Temperance isn’t really interested in going through the hassle (cause y’know blind), and Mokir is a cat. There is a tumblr and a linked twitter account dedicated to every sighting, and pictures and applause whenever he’s attacked someone.

33. Your shyest OC?Either Tanwen or Whisper probably, though neither of them are that bad. Tanwen can speak up and is stubborn enough to defend her opinion when it counts (which is often), and Whisper overcompensates with bluster and rambling.

35. Any sibling characters? Nope. I mean, some of them have siblings, but i don’t have two characters who are siblings

37. Introduce an OC who is not quite human Morana and Temperance are tiefling. They’re a race which used to be human, until they were corrupted by demons, and now they look various levels of demonic. Surina is a dragonborn, so definitely not human. Val is a half-elf, though they’ve passed as both elven and human. Raya is a woodelf. Mokir is a rakashan, so basically an anthro cat. He’s based off like norwegian forest cats, so he’s an already burly and tall man who’s then like 50% fur it’s hilarious. 

39. Introduce any character you want Well in that case let me introduce the characters from The Roles We Play, since they’re not on my blog. Astra is a highelf wizard and she’s adorable. She’s quite shy, but she loves talking about the stars and magic, and someone else always needs to be on watch with her because she will without fail be distracted by watching the stars.

Nira is a human paladin of the Raven Queen. Her family didn’t quite agree with her choice to go study, but she found a second family with the order. She loves adventure, and she’s always the one most eager to explore ancient ruins and dangerous-looking caves.

Rémi is a half-elf bard. He’s the mom friend of the team, armed with exasperation and fond amusement, always ready to talk his friends out of jail. He also carries at least four instruments on his person at any given time.

Vengeance is a tiefling ranger with an owl companion called Hope. They go by Ven, most of the time, and they tend to be a voice of reason. They favour dry humour and snark, and they often spend long watches carving wooden figurines. 

41. Has anyone drawn fanart of your OCs? If yes, maybe show a picture or two here (remember sources & permissions!)Yes! Lux is a gift to god’s good earth and they have a lot of amazing art here, including some of my characters~

43. Do you have any certain type when you create your OCs? Do you tend to favour some certain traits or looks? It’s time to confessWell, one thing I noticed recently-ish is that almost none of my characters tend to be honest with their feelings. Keiji’s the most obvious, but Tanwen, Morana, Surina,  Whisper, Val, Temperance, they all have an element of acting, of being various levels of two-faced, of pretending you’re fine always. They all do it in different ways, but yeah.

Another thing is that I tend to make low charisma characters? like so many of them have cha as their dump stat. I also find it difficult to play low-int characters, so they all tend to have a higher intelligence.

45. A character you no longer use?Not from the characters on my oc page, but there are a shitton of characters from my rp days who I’ve abandoned.

47. Has anyone ever (friendly) claimed any of your OCs as their child?..probably. Can’t recall any specific examples rn, but I think Val’s been adopted more than once, same with Whisper. Val and Lux’ Chal also have a fun au where Chal adopts Val and runs away with her, and they become a family and travel together and it’s all fun and good until Temperance’s assassins manage to chase them down. 

49. Which one of your OCs would most likely enjoy memes Keiji. 100%

[reomanet]

Universal Credit 'Ditches Fast-Track Claims For The Terminally Ill'

Universal Credit ‘Ditches Fast-Track Claims For The Terminally Ill’

Families In Need Of Cannabis Oil Say Doctors Still Associate It With ‘Street Skunk��� Six Puppies Stolen In Armed Manchester Raid Have Died Facebook Removes Iran-Linked Accounts Targeting May And Corbyn Doctor Defends ‘Acid-Proof’ Make-Up Amid Animal Testing Fears Politics The Waugh Zone Theresa May Jeremy Corbyn Tories Brexit Labour Chancellor To Announce £1.5bn Support Package In Budget For Crisis-Hit High Streets As A Passionate Student Socialist, I Cannot Stand By And Watch The Tories Ruin This Country – It’s Time For A People’s Vote Labour’s Student Wing Demands Referendum On Final Brexit Deal Britain’s #MeToo Scandal Reveals How The Law Is Failing Victims Of Abuse Entertainment Celebrity Celeb Galleries Film Music TV Drama Daytime TV Binge TV Entertainment Insider Strictly Bake Off’s Sophie Faldo Accuses Explorer Anthony Middleton Of Mansplaining In Row About Women Serving In SAS Olly Murs Suggests He Might Not Be ‘On Talking Terms’ With Simon Cowell Over ‘X Factor’ Snub ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Star Claudia Kim Speaks Out After Backlash Over Her Casting Courtney Act’s ‘The Bi Life’ Hailed For Breaking Down Bisexual Stereotypes Lifestyle Health Mental Health Humankind Sourced Fitness Dating & Relationships Food Wellbeing Women Men Everybody Travel Home And Garden What To Do With Your Extra Hour When The Clocks Go Back ‘Fit Got Real’ Is The New Campaign Empowering Women To Exercise Their Way Sydney’s Same-Sex Penguin Couple Become Dads This Lipstick Shaped Vibrator Talks Back At You. Yes, You Heard That Right. Tech Reviews Gaming Space Apple Innovation Tech For Good Sustainability Ebay Takes Aim At Amazon With Lawsuit Accusing Them Of Illegally ‘Poaching Sellers’ YouTube Back Up And Running After Overnight Outage You Can Now Check How Much Money Political Groups Are Spending On Facebook Ads Forza Horizon 4 Review: A Racing Game For People Who Don’t Like Racing Games – HuffPost Verdict Parents Parents-To-Be New Parents Family Family Time Thriving Parents Parent Voices This Is Why You Should Give Kids Scary Stories To Read Scottish Tory Leader Ruth Davidson Gives Birth To Baby Boy Scottish Tory Leader Ruth Davidson Gives Birth To Baby Boy 6 Things Expectant Mothers Need To Know About Induced Labour Video MORE Comedy Style What’s Working Parent Voices Women Who Made Me Featured Digital Life Downtime Move For Health Backed By Let’s Talk About It NEWS 25/10/2018 22:36 BST | Updated 6 hours ago Universal Credit ‘Ditches Fast-Track Claims For The Terminally Ill’ System to speed up claims of those with just weeks to live “has been removed”, charity says. DWP denies claim. 1.7k By George Bowden Angela Raine Angela Raine, pictured beside her two children, received a terminal breast cancer diagnosis last year. Terminally ill people moved onto Universal Credit are continuing to suffer delays to first payments even when a doctor certifies they have just weeks to live, a leading charity has warned. Thousands of cancer patients are among those affected by the lapse, which could mean people die before receiving money to fund end of life care, Macmillan Cancer Support said. Under the older benefits system, such as Employment and Support Allowance, payments could be “fast-tracked” and paid at the highest rate if a doctor certified a person likely had less than six months to live. The apparent absence of a fast-track scheme on Universal Credit means those at the end of their lives – who are being transferred onto the new system, or are new claimants – now wait longer than ever for financial support, the cancer charity said. The issue was raised in a HuffPost UK report in December, in which one campaigner said: “We’ve seen people who are terminally ill dying before their Universal Credit is processed.” But the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) strongly hit back at the fresh claims, saying: “It is simply not true that the fast track process for terminally ill claimants has been removed under Universal Credit.” Yet Macmillan, one of the UK’s leading cancer support charities, warned on Thursday that up to 26,000 people with cancer face a perilous five-week wait without any money when they transfer to the crisis-hit scheme. The in-built delay is applied to those who are already receiving benefits but who are transferred to Universal Credit as it continues a nationwide roll-out. It comes as pressure mounts on the government to plough billions back into the beleaguered welfare reform in Monday’s Budget. Grandmother Angela Raine quit her job last year after receiving the news she had incurable breast cancer. “Trying to apply for benefits has been a complete nightmare. I can’t explain quite how stressful it is,” the 55-year-old from Stanley, County Durham, said. “I want to cry just thinking about it.” “Navigating the system is a nightmare, that’s quite honestly the only way I can describe it,” she added. “The whole system is utterly inflexible and doesn’t take into account individual circumstances.” PA Viral News UK Cancer patients are at risk under Universal Credit, charity Macmillan has said. Macmillan’s chief executive, Lynda Thomas, called on the government to fix Universal Credit before it is rolled out to thousands more people in Angela’s position. She said: “People with cancer should be able to focus their energy on their health, not worrying about how to make ends meet when they are too unwell to work. “It is unacceptable to force patients to risk infection at Job Centres, log onto computers from hospital and wait more than a month for vital financial support, even at the end of their lives. “The system is failing people with cancer and we urge the Government to fix this benefit, before tens of thousands more vulnerable people are put at risk of hardship.” HuffPost reported last year how, unlike some of the benefits it replaces, Universal Credit does not have a dedicated team helping those nearing the end of their lives. Instead, terminally ill people were assigned “work coaches” and made to undergo meetings and visits at home. Universal Credit replaces six existing benefits into a single monthly payment and is gradually rolling out to all those who claim benefits across the country. The Department for Work and Pensions added in its full statement: “We’re determined to ensure that people living with terminal illnesses get the support they need through this difficult time and this continues to include fast tracking Universal Credit claims for claimants with a life expectancy of less than six months. “These claimants will also be awarded an additional amount of Universal Credit from the first day of their claim. “We have a visiting service for claimants with serious barriers. Claimants who are terminally ill and unable to make their claim for Universal Credit online, or attend a Jobcentre, are able to make their claim by telephone, or request a home or hospital visit. “At the visit, a DWP Visiting Officer will support the customer to make their claim for Universal Credit and verify the customer’s identity, enabling their claim to be progressed as quickly as possible. “Universal Credit (UC) replaces an out-of-date, complex benefits system. We brought in improvements which include increasing advances to 100%, removing the 7-day waiting period and paying people’s Housing Benefit for two weeks while they wait for the first UC payment, so no one needs to be without money during the first five weeks of a claim.” Do you have an experience relating to this story? Have we missed something out? Use this form , email George.Bowden@huffpost.com or WhatsApp +44 78968 04043 . SEE ALSO Revealed: Universal Credit Requires The Terminally Ill To Meet ‘Work Coaches’ What Is Universal Credit? At Our Foodbank, We Are Seeing The Flaws Of Universal Credit Suggest a correction George Bowden Reporter, HuffPost UK

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[republicstandard]

Kipling, Lawless Britain and Legal Jihad

The much maligned British bobby has had a rum deal of late, and I'm afraid it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better, this article included. British society is spiraling into an entirely predictable and polarized future, which has flat-footed the flatfoots (flatfeet?) and their handlers in Whitehall.

To be honest, it is not the street constable at fault- after all, they can only enforce the laws in the manner in which they are trained, not to mention the brutal conflation of relentless migration and slashed funding and staff levels with which they have to suffer under. Even so, it is surprising that so much evidence of the double-standards of law enforcement in the United Kingdom has come to light so swiftly.

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Police at #speakerscorner have just confirmed we are living in a 2 tier policing system it's 1 rule for us and no rules for the religion of peace the United kingdom has fallen https://t.co/gdDtC4NYjH pic.twitter.com/XccKOdx9wZ

— #IAMTOMMY (@TRobinsonOnline) April 2, 2018

This video is a clip of a much longer piece that illustrates the two-tier system in place in the United Kingdom. When the concerned citizen reads the letter of the regulations, the police officers shrug and say it is being looked at higher up. Despite religious gatherings and worship being strictly banned from the park, the police do nothing- because the worshippers are Muslims. This video is nearly a year old, featuring a Kurdish Christian convert from Islam being physically attacked by a mob of Muslims.

Based on the actions of the state lately, it might suggest that Britain is merely following the rules of the great game, despite the public expressing their desire to seriously curtail immigration through the Brexit vote. One might be forgiven for seeing an ulterior motive in the way the negotiations have been handled by a decidedly Europhilic Tory party. It would be a shame, though surprising to none if the UK Power Elites take the line that less EU migration to the UK simply means more space for non-EU workers.

The UN itself demands it.

#Migration is: • inevitable • desirable • necessary this Easter, let’s not forget those who are caught in crises around the world 🌎 pic.twitter.com/e7fT1FE0D1

— IOM - UN Migration (@UNmigration) April 1, 2018

The Britons will simply have to put up with it all though they are suffering their own crisis, right now. Right now this global government is advocating for the demographic replacement of Britons, and no one in power in Britain seems to care. The Tories don't care. Labour definitely doesn't care. Ann-Marie Waters seems to be the only politician to give a damn though her nascent party has barely begun, and holds no seats. Female Genital Mutilation can be openly advocated in the United Kingdom, though the practice has been criminal for years. Not one person has ever been convicted of FGM in the country, and there has been only a single case brought before the court. Ever. I do not think that this will change, despite more people from cultures that circumcise little girls coming into the United Kingdom.

We know for sure that the police will do nothing as despite needing zero complaints to pursue and ultimately convict Mark Meechan of teaching a dog to respond to "Gas the Jews", the South Wales Police are unwilling to consider that advocacy of genital mutilation within their jurisdiction might be worth looking into.

It's just not a priority. The long arm of the law becomes short indeed when there is the possibility of being called a racist- so utterly craven are the British Constabulary today.

We have to stand up for ourselves. No one else will. The Establishment is not our ally. De-facto Sharia law is not our friend #SpeakerCorner #freedom pic.twitter.com/mgaHkoMN1J

— Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins) April 2, 2018

I invite you to think for a moment what is really going on in this video. How you interpret this video might depend very much on your opinion of Katie Hopkins, the much-derided firebrand who unlike most of her critics, puts her money where her mouth is. She goes to places to see for herself the carnage that is headed our way. For saying that the crowd of Muslims are not her culture or her people, that British people need to stand up for their own culture, she is jostled, insulted, kicked and pushed by a crowd of Muslim men. Not because she is bigoted, or because she is a racist, but because she is right; and I think deep down everyone knows it. This is the reason why Hopkins receives death threats and this is why Hopkins can easily be physically harmed and her attackers will not receive retribution.

"Who can we look to defend us if we can't look to you?" Bob the Builder - a regular at #SpeakersCorner - questions the @metpoliceuk on why they are not enforcing the law for certain individuals despite being presented with video evidence of a crime being committed. pic.twitter.com/NdUDTAErC3

— l u c y b r o w n (@lucyfrown) April 3, 2018

Meanwhile, genuine racism from the followers of the warlord Mohammed goes unpunished and uninvestigated by the Police. Muslims can call a black person "nigger" on camera and there will be no prosecution, no investigation, not even a conversation. Assaults can be carried out on the Kuffar with impunity. Perhaps the policemen are scared of a large group of religious fanatics that they know are better armed than the police themselves.

Speaking of implements of violence, gird yourselves, dear readers, to be startled at the fiendish cache of deadly weapons unearthed by the brave police in Barnet.

Officers from @MPSBarnet were over in @MPSEnfield on #opsceptre found these items in ponders end recreation ground #saferEnfield pic.twitter.com/W5jHd7AVw5

— MPS Barnet (@MPSBarnet) March 20, 2018

Yes, a kitchen knife and some gardening tools have been safely removed from the streets of England. Sleep well, citizens. Don't pay attention to headlines about Pakistani rape gangs or Black youths murdering their way across the capital. It's all a bad dream. The worst you have to worry about is racist tweets and gardening shears. Go back to sleep.

For ages now @WestmonsterUK has been highlighting the ongoing crisis on the streets of London. There has been little outrage. Last night a 17-year-old girl was shot dead, 16-year-old boy was shot & 15-year-old stabbed. This is an emergency. https://t.co/M2GNw0nb01

— Michael Heaver (@Michael_Heaver) April 3, 2018

It appears that we are running out of enough narrative to wrap the truth in. The dream is cracking at the seams, the joins aren't so well papered over in this version of reality. The holes in the plot are too jarring, the suspension of disbelief breaks and we are shot out of the story, dismayed and disillusioned.

All that is left to do is prevent all conversation, make all dissent illegal, and become more Orwellian than ever before- except with Sharia-flavored liberalism as the despot.

You can't say it, so you are discouraged from thinking it. You can't think it, so you are discouraged from seeing it. Restrictions on speech rapidly escalate into an attack on perception itself.

— The Stoic Emperor (@TheStoicEmperor) April 1, 2018

I find myself often thinking of Kipling lately. His words, almost always conveying a story of the British Empire, today are perhaps our most valuable treasure-trove of descriptions about ourselves. Rivaled (and in some way succeeded) only by Orwell himself, who explored the being of us as a people in a different way, Kipling often wrote in patriotic terms.

We may not speak of England; her Flag’s to sell or share. What is the Flag of England? Winds of the World, declare! ~ Rudyard Kipling, The English Flag

The year before Kipling died, in 1935, he spoke at the annual dinner for the Royal Society of St. George, specifically noting on patriotism and "deploring the loss of ancestral virtues." The Spectator of the 10th of May 1935 disagreed strongly. In their view, pacifism and globalism were the future.

The roots of modern pacifism lie far back in the history and character of the British people. They were willing to fight for constitutional liberty because they wanted liberty, and went to prison to establish the right to freedom of thought and expression. In the past, they have willingly granted asylum to aliens on British soil, partly because they believed that freedom of movement and trade were profitable, but partly also because their standards of conduct were based on a conception of the personal rights of every individual as an individual, and not merely as a Briton. Citizenship of the world is a notion which can be more easily entertained by the British than by other people. The conception of citizenship which can be widened out to include the native inhabitants of countries once subject and now becoming increasingly free makes us less insular than we once were, and certainly more ready to respect citizen rights in foreign countries.

If this catalogue of British virtues may seem to savour of complacency, it should be noted that we are endeavouring to name only those virtues which belong to the British brand of patriotism—a brand of patriotism which is peculiar in that it minimizes the warlike elements in love of country, and makes us not, as Mr. Kipling suggests, soft in our championship of peace, but competent to take them lead in spreading the peace idea in the world.

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I do not think Rudyard Kipling would have taken any pleasure at all in being proven correct. I invoke this review of Kipling's perennial correctness to make a point- it is not a new thing that our very identities as Britons has been under assault. The brand of patriotism suggested by The Spectator was and remains a feckless perversion; framed as the sole alternative to the bellicose and imperial patriotism of the Victorian era, it misses the point of Kipling entirely. His patriotism was not the equally false my country right or wrong kind that is so easily twisted by the demagogue. Kipling was in love with his country, but not blinded by it so much that he could not criticize it. I too have learned to love England, and I take my lead in this from Kipling himself. We are lucky to have such a teacher available to us.

We thought we ranked above the chance of ill. Others might fall, not we, for we were wise— Merchants in freedom. So, of our free-will We let our servants drug our strength with lies. The pleasure and the poison had its way On us as on the meanest, till we learned That he who lies will steal, who steals will slay. Neither God’s judgment nor man's heart was turned.

Yet there remains His Mercy—to be sought Through wrath and peril till we cleanse the wrong By that last right which our forefathers claimed When their Law failed them and its stewards were bought. This is our cause. God help us, and make strong Our will to meet Him later, unashamed! Rudyard Kipling, The Covenant. 1914

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[adamburt1984]

2017!

Well another year ended. Like any year it has it’s up and down. There moments I never forget and some I want to forget. I’m 33 and still living with my parents. Feel depress on what will future hold. This year been interesting. 2016 by most people say it worst but some people will say 2017 or 2015 is their worst year or good year. But there life and there ups and downs.

Postive:

My Holiday in Sussex, I stayed in hotel in Hastings, unlike in 2016 didn’t see much Hastings, but for 4 days staying there see much of the town include Hatsings Castle, some museum and Hastings park, even check the area me and my famliy use to stay. Also on that holiday get to see Bodiam Castle (which I was unable to see in 2016), Battle of Hastings battlefield & Abbey (which also unable to see in 2016), Chichester cathedral & market cross and Seven Sister cliffs (As well as Eastbourne, last famliy holiday we had there).

After holiday in Sussex & back home, went on day out, (on May) Monday-Blackpool, went on Tower trip, Tuesday went to Ilikey, visited Cow &  Calf Rocks & Ilikey Moor, On Wednesday, Penshaw Mounment, also check out Sunderland, tell you about Thursday last and get to see Thirsk.

Visited Hull, City of Culture 2017, four times. First, visited Humber Bridge, The Deep, Hull & East Riding Museum, & City centre, Second, Humber Bridge, third, went inside Spurn Lightship & Arctic Corsair and fouth, visited Maritime Museum, Hull City Hall (Didn’t went inside there did seen it few times) & Hull Minster.

On February, on frist week off of the year, visited Byland Abbey, Yorkshire Air Museum and Brimham Rock.

On October, My last week off, visited Holgate Windmill (in York), in Halifax- The Piece’s Hall & Halifax Minster and In Salture, a cat and Salture Mill.

Second time to Blackpool, to Star Trek Exhibion

Of course, having one week in February, two weeks in may and one week in October.

Manchester United won Uefa Cup and League Cup in season 2016/17

Seeing movies at cinema, Justice League, Star Wars The Last Jedi, Churchill, Lego Batman, Spiderman Homecoming, The Guarden of the galaxy & few others.

10th Anniversary of Hatsune Miku

10th Anniversary of Kagamine Rin

Person/People/Characters/Animal/Animals of 2017

Wendys, Wendys is a mascot of Wendys Fast food resturant. Seen alot of workarts of her I fell in love with her.

Hatsune Miku,  Her 10th Anniversary

Kagamine Rin, Her 10th Anniversary

Starlight Glimmer, She star of the MLP Season 7 and also appear in Equestria Girls

Twilight Sparkle, Star of the movie

Princess Skystar, notice her in MLP Movie. She such a friendly and wanted to be friend character. Into her, as most into Tempest.

Tempest, even I like Skystar, I like her too. She awsome..

Sunset Shimmer, she look new in new custiume.

BB8, into that character since 2015, was looking forward see this character in The last Jedi.

Porgs, like the characters even before I seen the movie.

Ginger Cat, we lost our beloved Stray Cat, Felix in 2016, since 2017 we had cats that show up in our garden, this Ginger Cat show up alot.

Bus Stop Cat, called him/her that cos he/she (Not sure it’s male or female) hang around the bus stop. Sometime it like to get stoke, other time it run away when going near it. Miss the cat as I don’t see it lately.

Negetive

Someone/thing took money from my bank account, but bank stop it and renew my card. Worst bank sent messgae on my mobile about it I’m at work and phone at work. It fear me, fear it may happen again.

Parents agrue, hear my mum went mentle and dad moaning. Can’t stand it.

Football, Manchester City think they’re Barcelona. Even, won two trophies, European Super Cup was dissappointing  and after good start of 2017/18 season, things turn not good, lost to Hudderfield, Chelsea and worse, Manchester Sh**y (And over celebrating) and failed to defend League Cup, lost to Bristol City. Arsenal keep winning FA Cup. Also lost a match at Champions League. Thought Manchester United doing well, but not yet. Also annoying to hear negative toward Manchester United both Haters, non-fans & fans. And people saying England not winning the World Cup and saying Germany be winning the cup and knowing how to win.

Leeds (& other UK Cities) disqualified from Europe’s Captial of Culture. Made me mad and even tweet about it and some f***ing remoaners start make excuses for EU.

Craziness of Brexit haters, stop Brexit blur blur blur, EU flag everywhere.

Craziness of Tramp Haters, what can I say, bunch of arogants what happen if Trump gone? Think they can get rid if him, they are the ones ruining America.

P** off with some Bus Services . Also one time driver went pass our stop, not sure I press the bus stop button.  Bus drivers and service been p*** me off as always.

Have swelling gum.

Terror Attack in Manchester & London.

Big Ben be slient for 4 years.

Got new sofa, I don’t like. It’s two person sofa and can’t lay on it.

Seeing some statues taken down in America and protesters wanted them down.

When listening to stories on Youtube, some upset/annoyed me.

A** of 2017

Brexit Haters, They been p***ing me off, thinking they going to stop brexit, flying EU Flying, bother us about it. Even make excuse for EU on why UK cities can’t be Europe’s Capitial of Culture, bother me on tweeter, p*****.

Trump Haters, include Antif***ers & Refuse Facisum, They are Bull****.Blocking roads like stop people going to work or place the want to go. Do they support terrorists , drug dealers or murders? And Women Marchers are joke like leave signs or letters everywhere and even don’t mind a guy slapping a woman and siding with a guy, B******. Think it okay to interfree with Trump Supporters’ meeting. They don’t even want to be interviews, it show how arogant thery are.

Theresa May, useless for being Prime Minster. Betry the Brexiters we voted out. Not my Prime Minster.

EU Governement who threating us. They don’t scared me.

European Commissom, wankers who withdrew Leeds from become 2023 Europe’s Captial of Culture.

Linda Sarsour, can’t stand her and she arrogant.

Diane Abbott

Anna Soubry

Madonna, want to blow the iconic Building?

Joy Villa, a fraud, she scientology. She fill complain against somone spanking her bum then she tweet picture of herself spanking male bum. It okay to do it to a guy not to woman. Pathetic. She support Trump is all fake.

Ken Clarke, not suprice he against Brexit.

Tony Blair, think brexit can be stop. Prick.

Tory trailtors

Labour Party, don’t trust them

Wankers who put Nick ‘Little Boy’ Clegg to be knighted.

John Bercow, believe wankers in Parlienament are not trailtors.

Manchester City

Real madrid

Bristol City fan was interview on radio and say Manchester United stand no chance with Bristol City, when it ust they were lucky. It p*** me off hearing it.

Afuahirsch, want Nelson's Column & Sir Winston Churchill to be taken down.

New Neighbour, Have bad feeling about them.

Anon Bitch who anon message me on Tumblr.

Foyld Mayweather

Also on 2017

Got a shed

New Sofa & chair

New Dentist

New Doctor (Haven’t book yet)

In Doctor Who, The Doctor become a Woman.

2018

At moment, not sure. There movies to look forward and planing a holiday and planning which places to go. Also World Cup, Don’t care England win the World Cup f*** anyone who disagree.

2017 in Pictures

York Minster

Byland Abbey

Spitfire

Hurricane

Brimham Rocks

Idol Rock

Ginger Cat

Kitten in the garden

Bus Stop Cat

BB8 tsum tsum

Boba Frett tsum tsum

Humbe Bridge

Unicorn near Humbe Bridge

The Deep

Hasting Pier

Bodiam Castle

Market Cross, Chichester

Chichester Cathedral

Battle (Town)

Battlefield

Unicorn in Battle

Hastings Castle

County Park

Seven Sisters

Eastbourne Lighthouse

Shard

Blackpool Tower

Cow & Calf Rocks

Illkey Moor

Penshaw Mounment

Humber Bridge

Hull Minster

Thrisk Clock Tower

Spurn LightShip

Arctic Corsair

Holgate Windmill

The Piece Hall

Hull Minster

Hull City Hall & Martime Museum

Inside Hull and East Riding Museum

Salt Mill

Cat in Salture

Porg Plush

Wendys

Hatsune Miku

Kagamine Rin

Starlight Gillmmer, (Art owened by it owner)

Twilight Sparkle

Sunset Shimmer

Princess Skystar

Tempest

Churchill Movie

Porg and BB8

RIP Adam West

#RIP Sir Bruce Forsyth

[cold-b-writing]

Bound Together: Part 10

Skywardsister: "My.... my child?" The quaking voice slapped Flowey in the face. "Why would you do these things?" Toriel felt herself on the verge of crying once more. It seemed as if the drama would just not leave her be. Frisk wore a regretful expression. "I'm sorry, Mom," Frisk said. "You had to find out some day." Utadukeeus: "What a sick joke." Toriel choked. "It can't be, there's no way he's my son." "How do I put this?" Frisk muttered. "Flowey, has what's left of Asriel in him, but he can't feel certain emotions as Flowey. Flowey can't feel love....compassion.....and selflessness. Asriel is sort of trapped in that body.....he can't control Flowey's actions. It's like two people trapped in one body, for lack of a better word." "How long did you not know about this?" Toriel asked. "Since......since before the barrier was destroyed. He had me promise not to tell anyone who he is." "Why?" Toriel asked Flowey. "Why?" Tears began flooding down her cheeks. Skywardsister: Sans watched them unfold almost dumbly; what could he do about this? He knew all this information the whole time as well, but didn't want to drop any hints as to not hurt Toriel either. He had no clue what to do with this kind of situation, as the truth was out, and not much could be done to fix it. Flowey glared at Frisk, who remained looking at their mother, dismayed. All were silent. Utadukeeus: "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!?" Toriel whimpered. "WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY ANYTHING!? WHY WOULD YOU DO ALL OF THIS, ASRIEL!?" "What was I supposed to tell you?" Flowey asked. "Hey mom! It's me! Your dead son! By the way, I'm a flower now!" Skywardsister: Frisk grimaced. "Well, you could approach non-threateningly, for starters," they mumbled bitingly beneath their breath beside Flowey. He heard the comment and snapped his head towards them for a moment, then reasserted his attention on his devastated mother. His emotions were confused; he didn't want to feel it, but he felt muted dismay. Utadukeeus: "What a sick joke...." Toriel cried, hiding her face in her palms. "My son, all this time, was you...." The other monsters didn't know what to do. Habriel got up and hugged Toriel and gently pet her head. Frisk hugged Toriel from under and gently patted her back. The lady could only take so much before finally breaking. All sorts of emotions welled up in the goat lady. Joy that her son can be saved, sadness that her son became Flowey, anger that this truth was kept hidden from her for so long, guilt for all of the times she'd attacked the flower without hesitation. All of these emotions built up and broke out of her eyes. Skywardsister: Sans stepped towards the pitiful plant once more. The urge to call him a 'weed' ground behind his teeth, but died away momentarily as he knew it would do no good; there was enough said already. He just hoped that he could help set things right between the family and quell Flowey's need to hurt others in the long run. Utadukeeus: "Not to rub salt on the wound, but...." Alphys stuttered. "w-we still have the man back at the ruins to worry about." Habriel got up and looked at Alphys dead in the eyes. "Oh, don't you worry." Habriel said. "I'll take care of him, and maybe get some answers." He held out his hand and clenched his fist as violet electricity scattered all around his hand. "you aren't gonna kill 'em, are ya kid?" Sans asked, unsure of what the kid was thinking. "I don't plan to." Habriel said. "But I sure as Hell won't be gentle." Skywardsister: Frisk called out to Habriel and moved out from behind their depressed mother. "Hey, wait!" Habriel stopped and turned around to look at Frisk. "If you're going to do that, why don't I come with? Or at least don't go alone!" "yeah, i can keep ya out of trouble, kiddo." Sans offered. Utadukeeus: "I don't know...." Habriel said. "If any of you get hurt...." "kid, if you go out there by yourself and get killed...." Sans said. "toriel have our heads." Habriel paused and giggled at the pun. "You're right." he said, smiling. "Anyone who wants to come with me, give me a thumbs up." He held his right hand up and gave a thumbs up, waiting for everyone's response. Skywardsister: Frisk and Sans looked at each other uneasily. Sans nodded his head back towards Toriel, distraught, and Frisk shrugged, looked at Habriel, and nodded. Without communication, they came to a decision. "the kid's gonna stay behind with tori," Sans stated decidedly on the matter. "i'm a little more experienced. i'll come with ya." Frisk slowly walked back to Toriel, wrapping themselves in her arms again to comfort her. Utadukeeus: Sans held his hand out and gave a thumbs up. Habriel heard someone clearing their throat and saw Undyne giving a thumbs up, as well. "What, you think I'm just gonna let you two go?" Undyne asked. "You'll need me!" "Thanks Sans....and Undyne." Habriel sad. He waved his arm, motioning them to follow him. "Let's go." "Be careful, my child." Toriel muttered. Habriel didn't hear her.... Skywardsister: Frisk waved goodbye to them as they left the area to go search for the cloaked man in town. Frisk held on to their mother. By now, Flowey had disappeared into the depths of the soil beneath the flower garden his mother had taken so much time to care for. Utadukeeus: The three fighters made it back to the ruins, after boat ride and a short hike through Snowdin. "Here we are." Habriel said. He slowly opened the stone doors, making his way in. "Wait.." he said as soon as he entered. He looked down the hallway, the place was dimly lit, but he could make out something was off. He soon realized what was hidden in the shadows. "Dust..." he said. Skywardsister: Sans stepped in front of Habriel and bent down to look at the small pile of dust that sat on the ground. He shivered. The man Habriel was looking for must be there, or had been there previously. He warned Habriel and Undyne to be careful and to watch for movement. The man could be watching them, and they wouldn't know. Undyne strode beside the boy with a spear in hand, ready to defend him if need be. Utadukeeus: "Well well....." a deep voice said. "Never thought you'd still be alive." Everyone tensed up as they saw a figure approach them from the other side of the hallway. "I'll be damned. This is just one big reunion of old friends...." the figure stepped out of the shadows and revealed himself to be the hooded man who tried to kill Habriel earlier. "Isn't that right?" "What are you doing here?" Habriel barked. "I came back here to find your body." the man said. "I want your soul." "Why?" Habriel growled. "Boy, what am I supposed to do?" the man said. "Reveal my master plan? No, I won't. Besides, when I'm done here, you'll find out anyway." Undyne took a couple steps in front of Habriel. "Careful, lady." the man said. "You wanna watch where you point that thing, you might hurt him again." "Shut up!" Undyne snapped. "You're dead!" "Then again, given the boy's history...." the hooded man said. "It wouldn't be the first thing that stuck in 'em." Without warning, Habriel waved his hand and shot a beam of violet light at the man. However the hooded man saw it coming and formed a blue shield to protect himself. " "Shut up!" Habriel shouted. "What's the matter, boy?" the hooded man smiled. "I thought you liked playing with toys...." Habriel jumped in front of Undyne with his eyes glowing. "I said shut up!" he shouted. "Gotcha...." the hooded man said. He lifted his hand and a long blue arm reached out from the sleeves and grabbed Habriel by the throat. Before anyone could do anything the man pulled the arm back and Habriel went flying towards the man, Habriel flew in the air towards him. The hooded man punched Habriel in the mouth, knocking him on his back. Habriel screamed in pain as Sans and Undyne tried to rush over. However, the hooded man formed a blue wall, blocking their way. "kid!" Sans shouted. "Don't worry." The hooded man. "The boy and I just have some catching up to do." he knelt down to the boy covering his bloody mouth. "Ain't that right, Habriel?" "Screw you!" Habriel spat blood into the man's face. The man went to wipe it off, but Habriel grabbed his feet and swept them off the floor. The man fell on his back and looked up to see Habriel running out of the hallway and into Toriel's house. The man got up and reached into his cloak and pulled out a gun. "Could have done this the easy way." the man said as he flipped the safety and cocked it. He looked over at Sans and Undyne, who couldn't get past the wall. "Don't worry." he said. "You'll get him back." Undyne pounded on the wall as hard as she could. It wasn't budging though. "Not sure if you'll recognize him, though." the hooded man smiled and walked down the hallway towards Toriel's house. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flowey burrowed his way down, away from the garden and in front of Toriel's house. 'What's taking them so long!?' Flowey thought. 'There should be-' before he could finish his sentence, he saw Habriel burst through the front doors of the house and a hooded man behind him, shooting at him. Habriel ran in zigzags away from the house and towards the bridge puzzle. The hooded man took one final shot and Flowey heard Habriel scream. He turned and saw Habriel running down the hallway, with one hand on his shoulder. The hooded man, paying no attention to him, moved on after Habriel. He stood still and lined up the perfect shot to take out Habriel, but when he pulled the trigger, the gun simply clicked. "Hmmm.....guess I got a little too excited." the man said. "Just means I have to do this the ol' fashion way..." The man tossed the gun to the side, reached into his cloak and pulled out a machete. He slowly made his way down the hallway, after the boy. 'Not even paying attention to me!?' Flowey thought. 'Alright, then.' He burrowed his way underground, on his way back to Undyne's. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Habriel limped over to where a bridge puzzle was supposed to be, but instead all he saw were scraps of metal floating along the river. "I'm not a patient man, boy!" the hooded man shouted from behind. "So why even bother running?" Habriel jumped into the water and swam across as quickly as possible, letting go of the wound, there was a large trail of blood in the water. He reached to the other side and pulled himself up, leaving bloody hand prints on the ground as he got up and continued to limp away. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frisk, still hugging Toriel bounced up when they saw Flowey pop up in front of them again. "What are you doing?" Frisk asked. "Look, there's not much time..." Flowey sighed. "And don't think I'm doing this because I care, I don't. That guy had the nerve to ignore me, so I'm getting payback." "What's going on?" Frisk asked. "If either of you are good at healing, I suggest you run over there now." Flowey said. "Habriel's been shot." "What!?" Toriel gasped. "Did I stutter?" Flowey asked. "The man in your home, trapped Sans and Undyne, pulled out a gun and shot Habriel. He's alive, but limping away into a corner." Before Toriel and Frisk cold say anything else, the flower burrowed back underground on his way back to Undyne and Sans. Skywardsister: Flowey erupted from the ground before Undyne's feet, making her jump "Hey, you may wanna hurry, ol' Cloaky's gained ground on the kid," Flowey warned sarcastically. Utadukeeus: Habriel limped down the corridor and into the flower garden. He stopped to catch his breath but he heard loud footsteps coming from behind. He turned and saw the hooded man right behind him swinging the machete at him. Habriel raised a hand and formed a violet shield around him. The hooded man, laughing started making the blade glow blue, it soon started to slowly eat away at the shield. Habriel could feel his strength slowly drain away, he soon got too tired to keep the shield raised. The shield gave out and Habriel jumped back and landed on his back, trying to crawl away. The hooded man quickly caught up to him and shot a beam of blue light at the bullet wound. Causing Habriel to collapse. "You know, boy..." he said. "This little game of yours, is getting real old, REAL QUICK!" He stomped on Habriel's right knee, causing a popping sound, Habriel couldn't believe the amount of pain coming from it. He couldn't even scream, it was so painful. "At least you won't be running anymore..." The man knelt down, holding the machete up to Habriel's face. "As I said, kid. I'm not really a patient man.....but for you..." he gave the most demonic smile Habriel's ever seen. Not even Flowey's most threatening face could compare. "I'll make an exception!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After Flowey burrowed back into the ground, both Frisk and Toriel got up and sprinted back to the ruins, hoping to get there before something terrible happens. "Not again...." Toriel panted while running with Frisk close behind. "Not again. Not again. Not again!" she continued to pant as tears welled up in her eyes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The hooded man stuck the machete in Habriel's mouth and slowly pulled it out, slowly cutting his tongue. Habriel, too scared to move, worried that if he does, the man might kill him. "You boy..." the hooded man said. "are just like me...." "No!" Habriel snapped. "I'm not like you at all!" "Are you sure?" he asked as he kicked Habriel in the gut. "You, like me, are a murderer. You came into our shelter and we provided you what you needed. A home, food and clothing." "You call that prison a home?" Habriel asked. "Nothing's perfect, boy." the hooded man said. "That man, in charge of taking care of you, provided everything you needed. You couldn't so much as give him something he wants? No, you kill him and run away." "Screw you!" Habriel spat. "Screw you and your twisted logic. You didn't have to hold me like a prisoner, you didn't have to do all those other things! That's not how you take care of a child! So why? Why do you do it?" "That's a reason I can't disclose, boy." the hooded man said. "These monsters, boy. Are made of Compassion. If they so much as hurt a fly, they'll cry about it for a week. You think they'll ever accept people like you in? After you just go ahead and kill someone?" "SHUT UP!" Habriel shouted. The man kicked him in the face and Habriel cried. "Let's prove you wrong." the hooded man said. "If they care about you so much, why aren't they here saving you? They don't care. Go on, cry for help." Habriel started to whimper and sulk. "Someone!" the hooded man said. "Anyone! Help" he held a hand out by his ear. "But nobody came...." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Frisk, my child." Toriel said. "Go back to Dr. Alphys. It won't be safe for you there." "But mom-" Frisk said. "Child, please..." Toriel said. "Do it for me." Frisk nodded her head, turned around and ran back to Undyne's house. Toriel made it back to the ruins and saw Undyne and Sans struggling to get past a blue wall of light. "What's going on?" Toriel asked as she approached them. "nothing good, tori!" Sans said. "guy trapped Habriel, i can't teleport past this wall. he pulled out a gun!" It took the combined effort of Sans', Undyne's and Toriel's attacks to finally break down the shield. They ran upstairs through her home and down the hallway. Undyne spotted something while they were running. "Look!" she pointed. There were drops of blood and bloody hand prints on the walls. It went further on until they went over to a pool of red water. "My child..." Toriel gasped with tears running down her eyes. "here, grab on to me." Sans said. Undyne and Toriel grabbed one hand each and Sans teleported to the other side of the pool and they continued running. They kept on going, faster and faster until they saw the hooded man looming over the boy, machete in hand. Skywardsister: A ball of flames appeared and hit the man in the back, causing him to dash away from the boy on the ground. Flowey had gone to Undyne's house and told Toriel what was happening, and she had come to stop this man. Frisk remained at Undyne's house under their mother's orders. The man whipped around to see a furious goat woman in purple robes standing near Habriel. "How could a monster like you torture such a poor, innocent youth?!" She reared up to send more fire. Undyne and Sans ran up to the group as well, prepared to fight. Utadukeeus: The man turned around to look at who attacked. Him, he knelt down, started giggling, then slapped his knee and started laughing hysterically as he took a couple steps back. "Seriously!?" he laughed. "You!?" he continued to laugh. "Being called a monster by a monster!" he continued to laugh. "Him? Innocent? Lady, he's had more action than all of us combined!" he laughed hysterically. Skywardsister: "You're wrong," Toriel gritted her teeth. "He did what he had to do to live!" She bore her teeth at him, flaming orbs forming in her upturned, open palms. Sans held a bunch of bones in hand, ready to send them flying at the man's head. Undyne stood taut with her spear raised at her side. Utadukeeus: "What are you talking about?" The man said. "Killing? I wan't referring to that...I was referring to something else." He clicked his teeth and winked an eye. Toriel realized what the man was referring to. She was ready to engulf the man in flames for making fun of Habriel being raped. She raised her arm but paused as the man grabbed Habriel by the hair and raised his machete. "Now now..." the man said. "We don't wanna be reckless, now do we?" Skywardsister: Toriel quickly lowered her arms, but the fire still burned beneath her palms. "let go of the kid," Sans commanded. "you have no idea what you're about to get yourself into." He threatened the man, but the man's expression did not waver; he did not believe that the small skeleton could possibly put up a fight let alone take him down. Undyne snarled at the situation. They were stuck. Meanwhile, Alphys caught wind of the intense action and decide to go over to Undyne's house to accompany Frisk while they waited for some type of signal that things were safe and they could return home. Utadukeeus: Habriel looked up at the man with deep resentment. He lifted a finger and a violet beam of light shot up from the ground and knocked the machete out of the man's hand. "Why you little-" the man said. Before he finished, Habriel lifted his finger and another violet beam struck him in the throat. The man fell back down and reached for his machete, Habriel took that opportunity to roll away. He turned around to face the man and lifted a hand in the air, glowing violet. The man got up and raised his machete. However, Habriel shot the spell coming from his hand. Causing the man to fly back into the wall and Habriel to slide across the ground towards the monsters. Sans wasted no time. He summoned a Gaster blaster and shot a gigantic beam at the hooded man. The hooded man, formed a blue shield around himself, soaking most of the attack. "You think it'll be that easy?" the man said, raising a machete. "You're gonna have to try a little harder than that!" Skywardsister: Toriel formed large cross-sections of fire that swept across to envelope the man, but this attack also was futile against the blue shield surrounding his body. She sent fireballs flying wildly towards the man, making sure to avoid her son. Sans continued to form Gaster Blasters to shoot the man's shield with; he thought that with enough force, perhaps they could crack it. Undyne rained sharpened blue spears from above the man in a line. So far, the man smirked as he stood inside his seemingly impenetrable shield. Utadukeeus: They continued to hit the shield with everything they got. Unaware of the fact that the hooded man teleported behind them, smiling he lifted his machete, ready to finish one of them off. Habriel turned around saw this and teleported behind Toriel before he slashed her across her back. He took the blow for her. The man slashed Habriel across the chest. Skywardsister: Toriel screamed, careening around Habriel's body and slashing the man's torso with her claws. He stumbled backwards. Undyne pulled Habriel off to the side away from the fight and held his body in her arms. She tried to determine how long he had before he passed out or worse with difficulty, glancing up and back down every minute to check to see if they were still safe for the moment. Sans shot a stream of bones out at the man, trapping him in a cage-like structure, allowing them to attack easier. Utadukeeus: The man raised his machete and sliced the bones into pieces. Toriel threw countless balls of fire, but he raised his arm. A blue arm came out of his sleeve and pushed her back into a wall. Sans used another Gaster blaster but the man teleported away from the beam and in front of Habriel and Undyne. 'Now for the climax...' the hooded man thought. Just before the man swung his machete. A violet beam of light pierced through his chest and heart, coming from Habriel, almost unconscious. Everyone paused as the man started laughing and coughing blood as he took a couple steps back. He dropped to his knees. "All this time I was laughing...." he said. "and the joke....was.....on me......." The man fell back, unresponsive. Habriel's LOVE has increased. Skywardsister: They all watched the man fall limp on the ground silently, frozen. Was it all over? Or had this merely been a messenger for someone else who was after Habriel, too? Undyne carried Habriel's body over towards Toriel and Sans, and Toriel fell to the ground in exhaustion. She shuffled over to his body sluggishly; she didn't have much energy to spare from the battle. Sans also came over with materials to help heal her son. Undyne stood by them, still paranoid of their surroundings. She half expected more people to come out and attack them; she was still high on the adrenaline rush. She panted and glanced around the decimated flower garden. Utadukeeus: "I'm sorry....everyone..." Habriel muttered. "I failed...again....to be with all of you....I'm not worthy...." Skywardsister: "No, no, my child, we are not worthy," Toriel said softly, propping his head and shoulders up on her knees. "We are not worthy to have someone as merciful and as kind as you in our lives... and it will be okay, I promise..." She kissed his forehead, trying not to get tears in his hair. Sans began to use magic to try to heal his major wound as he became limp in his mother's lap. Undyne wanted to look away; hot tears rose up in her eyes against her better judgement, and she clenched her fists hard as she watched them.

[thegoodenoughblogger]

Falklands/Malvinas: the neurotic conflict

I was recently in Buenos Aires for the umpteenth time and had the umpteenth (and umpteenth+1) conversation about the Falklands/Malvinas.  The Argentine position, which is always offered with the utmost courtesy, usually follows one of two courses: a) Britain is morally wrong to maintain sovereignty, but who cares, it happened a long while ago, let sleeping dogs lie, or b) forget about the morals, Argentina has a legal right to sovereignty and Britain should get off its imperial high-horse and start negotiations.

I am instinctively a defender of most things Argentine, even their vices, and I can’t stand British jingoism, post-colonial privilege, Thatcherite flag-waving etc.  On the other hand, you’d be wise to read that last sentence as protesting too much – I am British, after all.

But still, neither of these positions makes sense to me.  The first seems rather passive aggressive; and I struggle to see the basis of the second. My simple-headed response has always been that both Galtieri and Thatcher were on their knees in 81/82, both wanted a military victory to distract their people away from domestic woes, so morally both were as bad as each other.  Still, this is not much of an argument.  I feel like I’m hedging - or worse, that I’m falling for my own country’s propaganda.  

So I’ve done a bit of reading.  What I’ve come up with may be equally wrong-headed, so please disagree or point out errors or facile assertions.

I will use the words Falklands and Malvinas interchangeably. Neither, it seems to me, is objectively right or wrong, and it is parochial to insist on one or the other.

But before I start, here’s a fascinating fact.  When Thatcher came to power in 1979 and embarked on a programme of public sector cuts, the new government took one look at the costs of governing the islands and recommended they be handed back to Argentina.  The negotiations that followed failed, and we know what happened next.  But in principle, the Tories had, at first, no great interest in retaining the Falklands – their interest only peaked when they realized that the islands could win them votes.

So, how does each country stake its claim to these wild, inhospitable, unprofitable, windswept islands?  In a nutshell…  The UK maintains it has continuously occupied the islands since 1833, and that the islanders (who mostly want to stay British) have the right to self-determination. Argentina says the islanders don’t have such a right: the British invaded and took by force the islands of a sovereign state who had acquired the islands from the Spanish following independence.  Before this invasion, the British had not stepped foot on the islands for 60 years.  In effect, Britain has illegally occupied the islands for 180 years.  As Malcolm Deas eloquently puts it, “a nation cannot invade another’s territory, settle it with its own people, and then demand that the will of the colonisers should settle the status of the territory.”

The Argentine position has another trump card: that the British never governed or occupied East Falkland, where Port Stanley is.

But whatever the arguments on each side, one can’t help thinking: isn’t this really about something else?  There’s a famous quote that every Argentine would give his or her life to secure the Malvinas, but none would actually want to live there.  And equally, why would the UK put the interests of 2,000 islanders above diplomatic relations with a whole continent?

Malcolm Deas again: “[this is] like a neurosis, in that [it is] worse when the damage is suffered in infancy, as in the case of the infant Argentine republic.  [Neuroses] are a nuisance, a bore, they can be alleviated by fresh air and exercise and keeping the house in order and the mind on other things.  But they come back.”

But let’s put one thing to bed.  Here are two big, sometimes bullying power, each with their own imperial / colonial interests.  For the word “colonial” to be applied only to the UK is unjustified.

The only way out of the morass of title deeds is via a timeline. The key dates here are 1774, 1820-23 and 1832 – but a few dates either side of those will give some context. Obviously, this is all set against a backdrop of the second Hundred Years War between France and Britain.

1690 – the British Captain John Strong arrives on the islands, but with no intention of claiming the islands as British.  Consider it more of a pitstop.  So forget those “we got there first” arguments - 1690 is pretty much irrelevant for this discussion.

1764 – Antoine Louis de Bougainville, with the consent of the French government, lands at West Falkland, then East Falkland, takes formal possession, and starts building a colony.  Spain protests that this goes against the terms of the Pacto de Familia between the Bourbon kings.

1765 – Commodore John Byron makes landfall on West Falkland and takes formal possession of all the islands in the name of George III.  He leaves no settlement, but his surgeon does plant a little garden.  The British claim they got there first.

1766 – France yields to Spain’s protests, and hands the islands over to Carlos III the following year.  Meanwhile, Britain beefs up its own claims on the islands by building settlements.

1769 – we now have two main settlements: Port Louis, or Soledad, on East Falkland, controlled by the Spanish; and Port Egmont, on West Falkland, controlled by the British.  Each starts to warn the other not to get ideas above its station – a kind of stiff-upper-lipped “get orf moy land”.

1770 – a large Spanish expedition arrives and, with the threat of violence, expels the British settlement.  But neither state is really up for war, and after much diplomatic toing and froing, Port Egmont is restored to the British the following year. However, this restoration does not, repeat not, give any formal sovereignty to the British.  The sovereignty debate is left somewhat up in the air, as is often the case with diplomatic resolutions.

1774 – KEY DATE ALERT!  The British leave Port Egmont and West Falkland.  They leave a plate and a flag, but there is no indication of any intention to return.  And indeed, they do not return for another 60 years.

Over the next 30-40 years, the Spanish build more settlements on the islands, with no protest from Britain – let’s recall that Spain and Britain had a common enemy at this stage – France – so the main goal was to stop the islands getting into French hands.  And we ought to mention an obscure but significant detail: in 1790, as part of the Nootka Sound Conventions signed by Britain and Spain, Britain agrees not to claim any establishments on “the eastern and western coasts of South American and the islands adjacent”.  This is equivalent to saying, “we renounce any claim to the Malvinas”. According to the English legal doctrine of “estoppel,” one cannot claim something which one has already formally renounced.  I don’t know if this has ever formed part of the Argentine argument, but even though it is academic and somewhat ancient, ALL of this debate is academic and ancient – so it seems important to bear in mind.

Lots more activity in the first quarter of the nineteenth century:

1816 – on 9th July, the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata (modern day Argentina, Uruguay and part of Bolivia) declare their complete independence from Spain.  Obvious why this is important: if Spain had practical and legal sovereignty of the islands on 8th July, the Provinces inherited that sovereignty the following day.

1820 – KEY DATE ALERT!  The US mercenary David Jewitt lands on the islands and formally claims them on behalf of Argentina (though given that Argentina had 24 governments that year, it’s questionable how concrete and official that claim is).

1828 – Louis Vernet, a German merchant who had relocated to Argentina, settles in the Falklands and builds a settlement, having sought approval from both the British and Argentine governments.  Vernet was really only there for his own business interests, but Argentina – unable to provide him with any formal defensive assistance – appointed him as Commander of the islands.  It was only then, in 1829, that Britain lodged a complaint.

1831 – Vernet had tried to establish a monopoly on seal hunting and captured any boats which tried to hunt around the shores of the islands.  The US were mighty miffed by this, and in 1831 Captain Duncan of the USS Lexington enters Port Louis / Soledad, arrests Vernet’s lieutenant, takes a number of prisoners, and declares the islands free of all government.

A power vacuum had been created which, as we will see, the British filled a year or so later.  But what of the rights and wrongs of this period?  Malcolm Deas suggests firstly, that David Jewitt was an official representative of the United Provinces and that his claim in 1820 does therefore mean something (especially as it wasn’t countered by the British); secondly, that even the British government’s legal officer acknowledged that Vernet and his lieutenant Matthew Brisbane were “acting in execution of the orders of a regular and acknowledged government; and thirdly, that the USS Lexington incident was unofficial, piratical, and cannot be held to have any legal consequences.

In 1832, the British invade the islands and reassert British authority.  Argentina protests the legitimacy of the invasion, and has done ever since, but did not formally (i.e. militarily) intervene until 1982, by which time both the sheep farming and the shipwreck trades, and the population of the islands, had dwindled.  Since then, the economy has opened up somewhat – to tourism, fishing, oil exploration.

Britain’s argument, certainly during the last 70 years or so, has been arrogant and effective: if Argentina starts getting rowdy about the Malvinas, it must be going through one of its populist phases – better not to indulge such grandstanding.  And when things quieten down, well, that’s a sign that Argentina is in one of its mature political phases – better not to upset the apple-cart by mentioning the Malvinas.  Either way, they remain British, with the apparently unanswerable claim that that’s what the islanders want.

I wouldn’t say that claim holds much water – legally, I’d say Argentina’s claim is the superior one.  But why does it matter so much?  Why have I just written 1,722 words on the subject?