#this is becoming a watchdogs fan account

[yourreddancer]

Trump Won. Now What?

The United States is about to become a different kind of country.By David Frum

Donald Trump has won, and will become president for the second time. Those who voted for him will now celebrate their victory. The rest of us need to prepare to live in a different America: a country where millions of our fellow citizens voted for a president who knowingly promotes hatred and division; who lies—blatantly, shamelessly—every time he appears in public; who plotted to overturn an election in 2020 and, had he not won, was planning to try again in 2024.

Above all, we must learn to live in an America where an overwhelming number of our fellow citizens have chosen a president who holds the most fundamental values and traditions of our democracy, our Constitution, even our military in contempt. Over the past decade, opinion polls have showed Americans’ faith in their institutions waning. But no opinion poll could make this shift in values any clearer than this vote. As a result of this election, the United States will become a different kind of country.

When he was last in the White House, the president-elect ignored ethics and security guidelines, fired inspectors general and other watchdogs, leaked classified information, and used the Department of Homeland Security in the summer of 2020 as if it were the interior ministry of an authoritarian state, deploying U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Coast Guard “troops” in American cities. Trump actively encouraged the January 6, 2021, insurrection at our Capitol. When he left the White House, he stole classified documents and hid them from the FBI.

Because a critical mass of Americans aren’t bothered by that list of transgressions, any one of which would have tanked the career of another politician, Trump and his vice president–elect, J. D. Vance, will now try to transform the federal government into a loyalty machine that serves the interests of himself and his cronies.

This was the essence of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, and its architects, all Trump fans, will now endeavor to make it become reality. Trump will surely try again to dismantle America’s civil service, replacing qualified scientists and regulators with partisan operatives. His allies will help him build a Department of Justice that does not serve the Constitution, but instead focuses on harassing and punishing Trump’s enemies. Trump has spoken, in the past, of using the Federal Communications Commission and the Internal Revenue Service to punish media organizations and anyone else who crosses him, and now he will have the chance to try again.

Perhaps the greater and more insidious danger is not political repression or harassment, but corruption. Autocratic populists around the world—in Hungary, Turkey, Venezuela—have assaulted institutions designed to provide accountability and transparency in order to shift money and influence to their friends and families, and this may happen in America too. This is not just a theoretical threat. As loyalists take over regulatory agencies, filling not only political but also former civil-service jobs, American skies will become more polluted, American food more dangerous. As a result of this massive shift in the country’s bureaucratic culture, Trump-connected companies will prosper, even as America becomes less safe for consumers, for workers, for children, for all of us.

American foreign policy will also reflect this shift toward kleptocracy. In his first term, Trump abused the powers of his office, corrupting American foreign policy for his personal gain. He pressured the Ukrainian president to launch a fake investigation of his political opponent; altered policy toward Turkey, Qatar, and other nations in ways that suited his business interests; even used the Secret Service to funnel government money to his private properties. In a second term, he and the people around him will have every incentive to go much further. Expect them to use American foreign policy and military power to advance their personal and political goals.

There are many things a reelected President Trump cannot do. But there are some things he can do. One is to cut off aid to Ukraine. The Biden administration has three months to drop all half measures and rush supplies to Ukraine before Trump forces a Ukrainian surrender to Russia. If there’s anything in the American arsenal that Ukraine might successfully use—other than nuclear weapons—send it now, before it’s too late.

Another thing Trump can do is to impose further tariffs—and intensify a global trade war not only against China but also against former friends, partners, and allies. America First will be America Alone, no longer Ronald Reagan’s “city on a hill,” but now just another great power animated by predatory nationalism.

Around the world, illiberal politicians who seek to subvert their own democracies will follow America’s lead. With no fear of American criticism or reaction, expect harassment of press and political opponents in countries such as Mexico and Turkey to grow. Expect the Russian-backed electoral cheating recently on display in Georgia and Moldova to spread. Expect violent rhetoric in every democracy: If the American president can get away with it, others will conclude that they can too. The autocratic world, meanwhile, will celebrate the victory of someone whose disdain for the rule of law echoes and matches their own. They can assume that Trump and Vance will not promote human rights, will not care about international law, and will not reinforce our democratic alliances in Europe and Asia.

But the most difficult, most agonizing changes are the ones that will now take place deep inside our society. Radicalization of a part of the anti-Trump camp is inevitable, as people begin to understand that existential issues, such as climate change and gun violence, will not be tackled.

A parallel process will take place on the other side of the political spectrum, as right-wing militias, white supremacists, and QAnon cultists are reenergized by the election of the man whose behavior they have, over eight years, learned to imitate. The deep gaps within America will grow deeper. Politics will become even angrier. Trump won by creating division and hatred, and he will continue to do so throughout what is sure to be a stormy second term.

My generation was raised on the belief that America could always be counted upon to do the right thing, even if belatedly: reject the isolationism of America First and join the fight against Nazism; fund the Marshall Plan to stop communism; extend the promise of democracy to all people, without regard to race or sex. But maybe that belief was true only for a specific period, a unique moment. There were many chapters of history in which America did the wrong thing for years or decades. Maybe we are living through such a period now.

Or maybe the truth is that democracy is always a close-run thing, always in contention. If so, then we too must—as people in other failing democracies have learned to do—find new ways to champion wobbling institutions and threatened ideas. For supporters of the American experiment in liberal democracy, our only hope is education, organization, and the creation of a coalition of people dedicated to defending the spirit of the Constitution, the ideals of the Founders, the dream of freedom. More concretely: public civic-education campaigns to replace the lessons no longer taught in schools; teams of lawyers who can fight for the rule of law in courts; grassroots organizing, especially in rural and small-town America; citizens and journalists working to expose and fight the enormous wave of kleptocracy and corruption that will now engulf our political system.

Many of those shattered by this result will be tempted to withdraw into passivity—or recoil into performative radicalism. Reject both. We should focus, instead, on how to win back to the cause of liberal democracy a sufficient number of those Americans who voted for a candidate who denigrated this nation’s institutions and ideals.

[blazehedgehog]

Do you agree with Gaming Journalists and what do you think of gaming journalism in general?

What does this even mean, dude.

"Do you agree with gaming journalists"? On what?

Do I agree with Shacknews that Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a 10/10, and with Digital Spy that it's also a 7/10? Do I agree with Let's Clear Up Those Halo Battle Royale Rumors?

Like, I've gotten some bait on this blog before, but this is 2/10 stuff, man. This is some hot 2014 garbage. Like no matter what I say, you're gonna go all

"Very interesting. Then do you care to explain why..." No thanks.

My real answer: Something I learned during my time at TSSZ and being around a few people who were deeper into "the biz" than I is that everybody needs journalism more than they realize. Corporations are pushing for consumers to become their personal cheerleaders more than ever before, which makes criticism and the journalistic exposing of information seem villainous.

After all: Xbox is my friend now, so how dare you attack the Xbox. Behavior that used to be reserved for the most dedicated fanboys is now the expected room temperature. I've talked about "The Cult of Naughty Dog" before, and that's the same thing. If a corporation can get you to be parasocial with them, then they have won, and being parasocial with a corporation means shunning real investigative journalism that would otherwise undo them. Journalists and critics used to be marketing tools, but by undoing the press pipeline and talking directly to fans, journalists and critics are painted as untrustworthy for being wildcards that don't always toe the company line.

And there has been more than a decade of people with a "I choose to be stupid and ignorant on purpose" outlook, which just makes that more frustrating. We've all seen screencaps where some brainless rando tries to explain something to a person who is an expert in that field. The rando thinks they're flexing their brain, but in some cases they are arguing with the person who literally wrote the book on their topic of conversation. Some people don't want to know anything but still pretend like they know everything, when there are real people out there doing real work to uncover real truths.

Misinformation is the real problem. It should not surprise anyone that there are people out there deliberately eroding the foundation of journalistic integrity, because the less people trust journalism, the easier it is to get away with lying. The easier it is to lie, the easier it is to control the mainstream, the easier it is to scam people out of their money, so on and so forth.

And misinformation is more than just "this one news article is fake." There are long running campaigns to install people into news organizations themselves to publish false information for all manner of different goals, but it's all the same: nobody trusts anyone and it's making everyone dumber.

That's when we get crypto currency. And NFTs. And now people claiming that generative AI will save humanity. Grift after grift after grift where the people at the top of the snake oil food chain make off with billions of dollars while the rest of the world is left scratching their heads.

The law isn't going to catch them. If they do, it'll take years. Look at how long it took for Sam Bankman-Fried to get caught -- he operated for almost half an entire decade. The amount of damage somebody can get away with in five years is significant.

We need journalism. Real journalism. Good journalism. Watchdogs that keep an eye on things and blow the whistle when it goes bad. Somebody to enforce accountability that isn't a cop.

Where do you find that? That's the hardest question. I'm lucky enough that I know people I trust because they are long time friends, or friends of friends, and thus they've been properly vetted in my circle as The Real Deal. But there are a lot of outlets out there who claim to champion "truth" and "intelligence" in a way to prey upon insecurity. I mean, c'mon, Trump's social media platform is called "Truth Social" and is basically the furthest thing from the truth you will ever get from anyone, ever.

The more obsessively they try to convince you they're telling the truth, the less likely it is they actually are. Which in itself could be an attack meant to undo the foundations of trust in people who actually know what they're talking about. By casting doubt on the very concept of truth itself, they can lie with increasingly greater efficiency.

Any advice I give feels like it is incredibly circumstantial. Which is the point, and is why we're in the state we're in.

Here's a good pdf by The News Literacy Project that's probably a good place to start. The general gist is "you'll have to do a lot of fact checking for yourself" but that's unfortunately where we're at these days.

But by and large I would say life is a lot harder for real journalists right now than I think some of their critics have ever thought about. There are people out there trying to do actual good work and being a bubble-brained moron about it just makes everything harder for everyone.

[hazbinhoteloc-ninlil]

MASTERLIST;

Hazbin Hotel Oc: Ninlil

//OOC: Hello, I’m Nyx, I’m 25 years old and this is just a fun account to RP with some friends and other Fans of Hazbin. This is for the most part a 16+ kid safe blog, however, I will be tagging any mature stuff I create or draw as 18+, and I expect that to be respected. I will not be held accountable if one of you kids looks at it anyways and then gets in trouble with your parents.//

The Director of Purchasing and Revenue Manager for the Hazbin Hotel. The assistant to the Hotel Manager, Vaggie, and the Host, Alastor. Working together with them to assist her Highness, the Princess Charlie Morningstar with her Passion project; The rehabilitation of sinners.

She also works as an Extra layer of security, her many eyes help make sure there are no thievery or vandalism afoot.

Vlogs related to mine;

Friends and RP Buddies;

@sinner-master-adam

@luci-duckking

@pimpin-not-simpin-val

@voxtek-official

——————

My other blogs;

@velvetteofthevees-rp-blog

@theembodimentoflust-ozzie

All the Personal Info, Stories, Art and RP Masterlist is Under the Cut

Personal OC Info;

Base INFO

Full Timeline (Simplified)

Relationships & Interactions

Abilities

Emotional Weaknesses

Physical Weaknesses

Exception to the Sleep Weakness

Stories;

Backstory

Asking about Adam

Returning to Hell Home

Art;

Human Form, And Her Adam

Her Last Day On Earth (TW: Character Death)

Deserving Hell (TW: Blood & Murder)

Normal Form

Demon Form

Demon Form 2

A Social Exercise

Angel Dust

Tea Time

The Watchdog

Sinner Adam (by @dick-master-adam)

Learn How To Use People

Little brother

Damn It Valentino

Angel Ninlil

Ascension

Supercharged Adam (by @dick-master-adam )

Eve, (by @first--woman )

Lilith ( @lilith-duckqueen )

Adam ( @dick-master-adam )

Lucifer ( @luci-duckking )

Rubber Ducks

Ninlil and Valentino in the Painted Void

The Dawn Will Bring You Back To Me

A Nightmare for Adam Part 1

A Nightmare for Adam Part 2

Returning to Hell Home

Bat Wings

Bat Wings 2

Bat Wings 3

Bat wings 4

Bat wings demon form

Before and after

Before and after 2 (demon form)

IRL Ninlil

Rp;

Meeting the king

A large purchase request

An offer

Large purchase delivery

An argument

Hotel Maintenance

Two gifts

Lunch with Vox

Delivery for Husk

Meeting Adam

Telling Lucifer about Adam

Adam falls (Adam’s/Apple ship.)

Adam falls. (Adam’s/Apple ship Part 2)

Lucifer and Adam reunite

Teaching Adam to Preen and Baking (this Rp was broken up into multiple parts, so it’s easier to go to notes and read from there.)

Scolding Lucifer

Catching up with Alastor

Alastor’s Special Delivery

Talking with Karaphim

Talking with Ollie

Talking with Eve

Telling Adam about Conner (this Rp was broken up into multiple parts, so it’s easier to go to notes and read from there.)

Lucifer returns to Adam and Ninlil and gets comfort. (This RP was broken up into multiple parts, it’s easier to go to notes and read from there.)

We Kill the Moth and Ninlil Ascends

Ninlil and Val in the Void

Ollie and Sera

Catching up with Eve

Telling a Mafia Story

Ninlil comforts Eve

Ninlil and God make a deal.

Ninlil tells Eve about the Deal

Eve talks about God, and Ninlil is there.

Ninlil and God talk

God becomes a bit more humanized

A mailman helps Ninlil check on everyone

A mailman helps Ninlil Check on Everyone pt. 2

Timeskip (Ninlil back in hell)

Talking with Lucifer

Talking with Asmodeus

Asmodeus, Val and Lucifer talk. (No ninlil)

Ninlil talking with Vox

Seeing Eve again

[bigprettygothgf]

Can we have your top 10 hardest FromSoft bosses (not including Armored Core)?

ngl this is really hard to rank for me now bc as a SL1 and general challenge run enjoyer ive become very familiar with the mechanics of most really hard bosses to the point that some like malenia and orphan of kos are piss easy for me now. but trying to look at it objectively (in no real order) (and also i still havent finished sekiro bc im a fake fan but i dont think that really counts as a souls game anyways) (and im not taking spirit ashes into account):

defiled watchdog of the old lords (dont even bother with this)

laurence the first vicar (this fight is tedious already but it is pure ass if you dont have the right weapons for it)

malenia (the first and only time ive ever yelled at a video game happened during a malenia fight and it wasnt even bc of her. its bc the guy that summoned me decided to stand right in front of me trying to attack on waterfowl startup so i couldnt dodge it. not relevant but its funny to bring up.)

orphan of kos (screaming)

malekith (even if not necessarily more difficult i honestly think this cunt is more annoying than malenia even if you know what youre doing)

four kings on NG+ and beyond (get ready to learn the joys of facetanking)

manus (once you figure out the spacing this honestly isnt that bad but if you dont have the patience for that this man will steamroll you. or just havel him to death that also works)

champion gundyr (but only if you havent played elden ring bc this guy was basically a precursor to elden ring bosses)

sister friede (this is one of the only souls bosses that stays fresh for me)

margit (this is with a heavy caveat. yes hes an early boss so there are harder bosses in the game but he is the most difficult first(ish kinda sorta) boss fromsoft ever put in a souls game. i know the point is that youre supposed to say "fuck this" and go level up to prepare for him but even so this guys moveset is so technical, moreso than the overwhelming majority of fights in the game, that i think he earns a spot over them)

this is all subject to change and all this was off the top of my head and im in the middle of playing fallout sorry

[mariacallous]

Not long after Elon Musk announced plans to acquire Twitter last March, he mused about open sourcing “the algorithm” that determines how tweets are surfaced in user feeds so that it could be inspected for bias.

His fans—as well as those who believe the social media platform harbors a left-wing bias—were delighted.

But today, as part of an aggressive plan to trim costs that involves firing thousands of Twitter employees, Musk’s management team cut a team of artificial intelligence researchers who were working toward making Twitter’s algorithms more transparent and fair.

Rumman Chowdhury, director of the ML Ethics, Transparency, and Accountability (META—no, not that one) team at Twitter, tweeted that she had been let go as part of mass layoffs implemented by new management—although it hardly seemed that she was relishing the idea of working under Musk.

Chowdhury told WIRED earlier this week that the groups’ work was put on hold as a result of Musk’s impending acquisition. “We were told, in no uncertain terms, not to rock the boat,” she said. Chowdhury also said that her team had been doing some important new research on political bias that might have helped Twitter and other social networks from preventing particular viewpoints from being unfairly penalized.

Joan Deitchman, a senior manager at Twitter’s META unit confirmed that the entire team had been fired. Kristian Lum, formerly a machine learning reacher on the team, said the “entire META team minus one” had been let go. Nobody from the team, or Twitter, could be reached for comment this morning.

As more and more problems with AI have surfaced, including biases around race, gender, and age, many tech companies have installed “ethical AI” teams ostensibly dedicated to identifying and mitigating such issues.

Twitter’s META unit was more progressive than most in publishing details of problems with the company’s AI systems, and in allowing outside researchers to probe its algorithms for new issues.

Last year, after Twitter users noticed that a photo-cropping algorithm seemed to favor white faces when choosing how to trim images, Twitter took the unusual decision to let its META unit publish details of the bias it uncovered. The group also launched one of the first ever “bias bounty” contests, which let outside researchers test the algorithm for other problems. Last October, Chowdhury’s team also published details of unintentional political bias on Twitter, showing how right-leaning news sources were, in fact, promoted more than left-leaning ones.

Many outside researchers saw the layoffs as a blow, not just for Twitter but for efforts to improve AI. “What a tragedy,” Kate Starbird, an associate professor at the University of Washington who studies online disinformation, wrote on Twitter. 

“The META team was one of the only good case studies of a tech company running an AI ethics group that interacts with the public and academia with substantial credibility,” says Ali Alkhatib, director of the Center for Applied Data Ethics at the University of San Francisco.

Alkhatib says Chowdhury is incredibly well thought of within the AI ethics community and her team did genuinely valuable work holding Big Tech to account. “There aren’t many corporate ethics teams worth taking seriously,” he says. “This was one of the ones whose work I taught in classes.”

Mark Riedl, a professor studying AI at Georgia Tech, says the algorithms that Twitter and other social media giants use have a huge impact on people’s lives, and need to be studied. “Whether META had any impact inside Twitter is hard to discern from the outside, but the promise was there,” he says.

Riedl adds that letting outsiders probe Twitter’s algorithms was an important step toward more transparency and understanding of issues around AI. “They were becoming a watchdog that could help the rest of us understand how AI was affecting us,” he says. “The researchers at META had outstanding credentials with long histories of studying AI for social good.”

As for Musk’s idea of open-sourcing the Twitter algorithm, the reality would be far more complicated. There are many different algorithms that affect the way information is surfaced, and it’s challenging to understand them without the real time data they are being fed in terms of tweets, views, and likes.

The idea that there is one algorithm with explicit political leaning might oversimplify a system that can harbor more insidious biases and problems. Uncovering these is precisely the kind of work that Twitter’s META group was doing. “There aren’t many groups that rigorously study their own algorithms’ biases and errors,” says Alkhatib at the University of San Francisco. “META did that.” And now, it doesn’t.

[signor-signor]

S3 Episode Summary Predictions (DEBUNKED!)

Over one month ago, I said I’d give S3 episodes their summaries, and after much deliberation, I replaced several titles with ones that might sound right (and came up with better summaries to go with them). The titles that are bolded are the tentpole episodes. Just something to tide everyone over while they wait 10 more days for the 8th anniversary of WOY’s REAL first episode, The Greatest (followed by The Egg).

I took into account the inclusion of Star Force Enforcement Force, the space ape, the Star Nomad bringing folks back to their planets, Major Threat being a regular, Dominator being in a “delightfully petty” situation, the backstory of Hater and the Watchdogs, Wander being tested, and more. It’s not quite perfect, but most of it is based on what I know about S3 so far. The rest is mainly fan-made speculation.

The Galactic Rebirth Wander and Sylvia, having explored the reborn galaxy, find a stranded space ape and bring him back to the formerly secret planet where a refugee ship is refurbished, renamed the Star Nomad, and used to take the refugees, including the ape, whom Wander names "Hubert," home. Peepers starts a fan club dedicated to Lord Hater, who is weary of his status as a hero, and when a team of space cops called Star Force Enforcement Force (comprised of Sheriff Goldheart, Lieutenant Iris, and Officer Sampson) show up, things get complicated.

The Cruise To make the ride on the Star Nomad more leisurely, Clancy and Nancy Shmancy set it up as a cruise ship as Wander tries to keep Hubert, the space ape, occupied. The Remaining Villains Lord Hater, Peepers, and the Watchdogs return to Suburbon V to retrieve their necessities, and when they find that the other villains had been hiding in a bomb shelter when Dominator showed up to destroy the planet, Hater tries to keep them trapped so he can conquer more of the galaxy.

The Trauma Taking a tip from Wander, Emperor Awesome visits Dr. Otmar Vunderbar to explain the PTSD he's had after his interaction with Dominator. The Stowaway Hubert finds his way into the Skullship and Barry, having been promoted to corporal, tries to get him out without Hater and Peepers noticing.

The Spy Guy Something the So-and-So thinks he's found his calling when Wander tells him that Stella Starbella's companion, Mittens, used to be a secret agent, so he goes on a mission to thwart the Scuzzbuckets' plans. The Escape Having been caught by SFEF back in the beginning of The Galactic Rebirth and imprisoned in one of the holding cells in their ship, Dominator looks for numerous ways to escape.

The Lost Dog With help from Major Threat, who's had experience with large animals before, Wander and Sylvia help Beeza and the Ballzerians look for Buster, who's been under the care of Ms. Myrtle since Dominator scared him off. The Karate Zbornak Worried her fighting skills aren't up to par, Sylvia meets Master Yisuko and learns to hone her skills just before Kragthar shows up to reclaim Yisuko's planet, Dokwontae.

The Evil Sandwich Sourdough, the evil sandwich, gets placed in the Blarpee's sandwich refrigerator to avoid becoming stale, plots revenge on Wander, and waits for a victim to inhabit. The Van Wander and Sylvia find that the Insurgent Generals had a robotic sentient van called Ivan before Lord Hater came around and attempt to break him out of a vehicle impound with Hubert tagging along.

The Haunted Planet Lord Hater attempts to conquer a haunted planet only to find that Dr. Screwball Jones has set up shop, and the two are frightened out of their wits by a cacophonous fruit bat called Dingbat. The Ghost Ship The Star Nomad and the Skullship come across a ghost ship, and when Wander, Sylvia, Hater, and Peepers are dragged aboard, they go on a surreal trip and desperately look for a way out together.

The Sibling Rivalry Determined to learn more about Star Force Enforcement Force, Lord Hater takes a reluctant Peepers along and meets up with the latter's big sister, Lieutenant Iris. Meanwhile, Wander and Sylvia meet the former's former companion, Sampson, as an elite member of SFEF and discover their main objective: forcing villains to reform without their consent, something that goes against everything Wander stands for.

The Supply Run While avoiding SFEF and with the assistance of Badlands Dan and his gang and the Motorhogs, Wander and Sylvia search for supplies on several planets to keep the remainder of the passengers on the Star Nomad fed and occupied. The Labyrinth Wander and Sylvia take the Lords of Illumination to a maze planet where they seek an orb to replenish their magical energy and fend off the Schmartians, and when Hater and Peepers show up to conquer the planet, they, Wander, and Sylvia must get the Lords out of the maze.

The Treasure Hunt Wander and Sylvia assist Neckbeard in seeking a special stone that grants the user multiple powers, but with Hubert's clowning around and Master Yisuko's insistence that physical work must be done instead of magic, delays are inevitable. The Cataclysm Little Bits has teamed up with the Troll, who is even bigger than ever, to seek galactic domination, so Wander, Sylvia, Prince Cashmere, and the Baa-hallans must convince the passengers aboard the Star Nomad to ignore the Troll's insults or Bits will take her exploitation too far.

The Songwriter Dominator gets an idea to convince Goldheart to let her go: turning the lyrics she wrote during her time in her holding cell into hit songs. The Playmate While Demurra and Dracor redecorate their castle, their children, Dorgan, Daintia, and Deliquette, find a shy plant-like being and try to invite it to play with them in the playground behind the castle.

The Blockbuster After another visit from Dr. Vunderbar, Awesome tries to make a comeback by working in the world of cinema, but the two Okeydokian movie directors give him suggestions that bring to mind the unpleasant experience he had with Dominator. The Watchdog Home World Wander, Sylvia, and Hubert come across a destroyed and reborn planet that once inhabited the Watchdogs and find a stash of old films recorded by Andy to learn more about them.

The Trespassers Janet and Maurice return from their honeymoon to find the galaxy had changed in their absence, and when SFEF arrive and set up base on Janet, Maurice sends a message to the Star Nomad to summon Wander, Sylvia, and Hubert to lure them away. The Pet-Sitter Lord Hater asks Ripov to watch over Captain Tim while he, Peepers, and the other Watchdogs attend a Watchdog convention secretly run by Iris.

The Heist When SFEF takes control of the Skullship's fuel station, Peepers and his team of stealthy Watchdogs go on a heist to take it back. The Missing Link Major Threat notices a resemblance between Hubert and Hater, so he tries to talk Wander and Sylvia into bringing the ape to Hater.

The Dawn of Hater and the Rise of Peepers In this musical episode, Wander learns from Goldheart that Hater once had a previous best friend, and after asking everyone on the Star Nomad what they previously knew about Hater, Sylvia asks Peepers to explain his "top secret origin story" in much greater detail. It's eventually understood that Hubert is a past version of not Hater, but Goldheart.

The Mentor Having lost Peepers to SFEF in the previous episode, Lord Hater asks Major Threat, who once had a right-hand man himself, to help him cope with his inability to conquer the galaxy. The Broken Wings When the Star Nomad flies through an asteroid field, its wings break off, so Wander and Sylvia enlist the assistance of the Flendarians and Master Yisuko to find a way to repair them.

The Game While aboard SFEF's ship, Peepers is tricked by Dominator into making a game in which the winner gets control of the ship and the loser stays inside a holding cell permanently. The Lone Shark After yet another visit with Dr. Vunderbar, Awesome gets another panic attack at a nightclub and frightens off everyone, including his Fist Fighters, and reluctantly heads back to his mother's place before having a run-in with SFEF.

The Zoo Having given up her habit of hunting, Ripov is encouraged by Ranger Flute, who just moved into the reborn galaxy, to find a new career at a newly established zoo where animals that lost their homes try to settle in. The Double Date The Black Cube and his new girlfriend, Tracy, look for a suitable place to celebrate their tenth date, but Brad Starlight and his wife, Princess Remora, keep getting ahead of them.

The Master of Puppets When the Star Nomad arrives on Destructor's planet, the children onboard are eager to see more of the performance of Destructor and his sock puppet, so Wander inspires them to make their own puppets. The Super Guy Something the So-and-So unlocks his full potential when he unknowingly recites the magic words from a spell book in the Star Nomad's library shelf and, in his attempt to apprehend a chicken bucket-ized General McGuffin, is almost arrested by SFEF.

The Discovery Sylvia visits her home planet to check on her family and she finds some secrets she never knew about her father, one of those secrets being that he was a part of SFEF before Sampson replaced him. The Homeless With almost everyone brought home, Wander realizes he still hasn't found the perfect home for Hubert, so he searches every jungle planet that is suitable for him.

The Bingleberry Bush After the Binglebops return to the galaxy, Wander, Sylvia, and King Bingleborp find all the Bingleberry bushes have disappeared, except one, so they start a farm to harvest Bingleberries. The Peacemakers Corporal Barry temporarily takes place as commander while Hater attempts to get Peepers away from SFEF.

The Star Nomad Legacy Goldheart begins to flicker out of existence because without Hubert (his past self) being placed sometime in the past, Star Force Enforcement Force would cease to exist and so would the Hater empire, Dominator's rise to power, and Wander and Sylvia's friendship. Hater and Peepers (who left SFEF) finally see Wander as a friend and they, along with the rest of the galaxy, assist him in sending Hubert back in time to set things right. (This true series finale may or may not be 44 minutes in length).

There’s still no denying the fact that the plans for Season 3 exist. Of course, my predictions may be different from what the crew planned in 2015, and because they still won’t tell us everything about it, I still have the drive to keep making those predictions. They have a true ending in mind and by golly I will see to it that it gets revealed before the end of time. We still deserve to know what happens after S2, especially after what the world has been through in the past 18 months.

One effort at a time.

[thewildomega]

Feral Red Dog ch. 1

 A/N: So I will say this again Trigger Warning. Also this Awesome Fan art of young Sakazuki is not mine, the artist to what I understand deleted their account so I hope they won’t mind me using their work. Anyways I hope ya’ll like it and if you could leave me some feedback it would make my day. 

Sitting on the cold, hard stone you winced at the ache of your backside and the burning pain of your wrists. Looking down at the cuffs binding your wrists together you noticed the red stain to your skin and tilting your head, you bit your lip at the sight of your now raw flesh, patches of flesh rubbed away by the rough metal. Sighing you pulled your knees up to your chest in an attempt to get more warmth to your near freezing body. The cave- like place those disgusting pirates deemed as a good hiding place was damp and cold, seeming to seem into your very bones. It had been days since you had seen the sun and even longer since you had eaten, you were pretty sure your body had given up asking for food at this point. You felt so weak, even if a chance to ever escape came you doubt you would be able to make it far in your state. Glancing up to the man currently posted as your watchdog you saw him sitting on the crate, his own eerie black eyes lifting from where he had been sharpening a blade to look at you. Dropping your head to your knees you let your heavy eyes slip close and took in a shallow breath, your broken ribs making it hard to get the air you needed.

Sleep almost had you under her spell when a loud boom filled the air and then the cave shook. Cannons. Snapping your eyes up you saw the man become alert as well, standing and holding his long blade in his hand while his other moved to his pistol on his hip. Men shouting and yelling echoed through the tunnels of the cave, one word making your blood turn to ice, "Marines!"

Scrambling to your feet you started towards the male, "Hey, hey come on you have to let me...Ahhh!" A hard smack to your left cheek sent you falling to the rocky floor, blood dripping from your lips. 

"Quiet girl!" He huffed. 

"JET, KEEP THE BITCH ALIVE! SHE'S WORTH A FORTUNE!" Another male voice rang from down the tunnel. 

Breathing heavily you could only listen as the marines began infuriating the cave. Gunshots and yelling bounced off the cave walls. The high pitch clash of swords and screams of those being injured or killed filled your ears. Your heart was soon to beat out of your chest like that of a cornered animal about to be slaughtered. Swallowing hard you felt your body begin to tremble as the heavy boots thumped on the cave floor. They were coming. Seeing the male that had been keeping watch of you yell out and charge forward you tensed. A blood curdling scream was heard before a body fell into your line of sight, a young man dressed in marine whites that were quickly turning red. The sound of a gun went off, a bullet ricocheting off the rock walls and more yelling. It was now or never. Either way you were most likely going to die, you wouldn't go down without a fight. Hurrying to the side you looked around the large bolder to see the man who had been watching you battling a marine. Snapping your eyes in the other direction you saw shadows of men on the walls. Licking your cracked lips you hear a gasp and looked to see 'Jet' cut the other man in the abdomen, the male falling backwards. Watching as the pirate lifted his gun, pulling back the hammer and aiming at the young male you saw a fallen sword laying by the dead male and acted quickly. Grabbing the blade you ran towards the male and shoved it through his shoulder blades as hard as you could. Watching him fall dead beside the injured marine you met the young beta's eyes for only a moment, shock filling his grey eyes before you took off down the tunnel. 

Skidding to a stop as more fighting broke out in front of you, you opted for running around them. Hearing what sounded like the captain of the pirates yell for someone to grab you, you kicked the man who went to grab you in the groin as you ran for the exit. A sharp pain in your thigh made you stumble, your leg falling out from under you and a broken cry leave your throat as you rolled to the ground and out of the cave entrance. Whimpering you grit your teeth and forced yourself to stand, your right leg now barely able to hold your weight. Seeing an open grass covered plain in the full moon's light you began limping as fast as you could for it. As the sound of the battle seemed to grow more distant you thought you may be in the clear before something was sending you falling towards the ground again and hard. Whimpering you let out a huff though your nose as you tried to push yourself up again. 

"Give it up, Pirate scum." 

Hearing the extremely deep male voice you pushed yourself up to your knees, the male's shadow falling over you as he came to stand in front of you.

Looking over the what he now knew to be female he watched as she struggled to get to her knees in the tall grass. Walking around to stand in front of her he looked down at her and noticed imminently the iron shackles around her wrists that were not marine grade. It was hard to tell in the moonlight but she looked like she had been through hell. As her tired eyes met his he scanned over her beaten face he quickly came to the assumption that she was not in fact one of those pirates but more likely a captive of theirs. Still though there was something wild in her eyes. Crouching down to get a closer look of her he was hit with a strong scent that made something primal in him purr with delight. he now knew why she was being held captive by them, this young woman was an omega. Reaching out to grip her jaw in his large hand dodged her attempted bite and dug his fingers into her skin a little as he tilted her face to each side, looking for any signs of pervious claim, seeing none he raised one brow. 

You knew him, oh God why did it have to be him? Vice Admiral Sakazuki. Fear, all you felt was fear and it was made worse by the overwhelming scent of his alpha hormones. How, how did it come to this? With you on your knees, wrists chained, with none other than the most feared vice admiral staring down at you with his hard, brown eyes, seeming to burn a hole straight to your soul. Holding the alpha’s stare you grit your teeth, "Well get on with it." you growled. If he was going to kill you you wished he would hurry it up. But to your surprise the male only let out a small huff of amusement before the corner of his lip lifted up, his next words changing the rest of your life.

"You'll do." he huffed. 

Furrowing your brows you felt your heart hammer in your ears. Watching him stand back to full height you wanted to ask what he meant but the world started spinning and other muffled voices were growing closer. Feeling very lightheaded you blinked your heavy eyes and saw him no longer focusing on you as he spoke to whoever else was there. Weakly you tried to move, pushing your body up to your wobbly legs but fell to the ground shortly after. Looking up at the stars as they twirled around the night sky you saw something dark block your view. Deep muffled voices sounded like thunder in your ears and then you were being lifted from the dew covered grass and an immense warmth was enveloping you. Trying to keep your heavy eyes open you parted your dry lips to speak when a deep voice cut through the darkness evading your mind. 

"Sleep omega." he told her and felt her small form fall limp in his arms. Carrying her back to his ship he made his way straight to the med bay and barked out for one of the doctors to come attend to her. Now in the light of he ship he saw she was small, frail even. Her dirty and matted hair looked to be a Crimson red and she was very malnourished, her torn and bloody clothing doing nothing to hide how skinny she was. Stepping back as the doctor went to work on her he crossed his arms over his chest. 

"Who is this woman Vice Admiral?" the doctor asked. 

"That is something I intend to find out. Treat her and keep me updated on her condition." he spoke deeply, leaving no room for discussion. 

"Yes sir." the woman said and heard the male's heavy footsteps grow faint as he left them alone. 

.............................

Hushed voices. Warmth. Pain. Groaning you felt your brow twitch and the extreme dryness of your throat. Attempting to swallow just to get some kind of moisture you flinched when something touched you. Feeling your head get lifted some and another pillow get moved behind your head you whimpered at the stiffness of your body. 

"Shhh, it's alright, you are safe. Here drink." 

Feeling something touch your lips you obeyed and swallowed greedily at the water the unknown woman was giving you. Once you had had your fill you turned your head slightly and felt her pull the glass away. Cracking your eyes open you instantly closed them again at the light that blinded you. Flutter your lashes open slowly you felt your eyes adjust and then blinked a few times before finally being able to look at the woman, the nurse as she was so obviously dressed. Casting a glance around the room you saw what looked to be a hospital room. White walls, white floors and white ceilings. It smelled clean as well. 

"You are in the hospital on Marine headquarters." she told the woman in a kind voice. 

Snapping your eyes back to the beta female you tensed at the information. You could only stare at the brown haired woman as she went about telling you how lucky you were to be alive and how Vice Admiral Sakazuki had been the one to 'save' you. 

Noticing the woman's breathing pick up she reached out to touch her and saw her instantly recoil. "You are okay miss, you are safe here, no one is going to hurt you." She told her. "Can you tell me your name?" she asked but the woman wouldn't answer. "Are you hurting at all? I can adjust your medication...."

"No." you spoke, your voice cracking a bit. No you didn't want her to put you back to sleep, you needed to find a way out of here. 

"Well you must be hungry. I will go get you some soup and inform the Vice admiral that you are awake."

"Time..." you croaked out, glancing to the window and seeing little to no light. 

"It's almost dawn. He is likely not up yet but he was very clear that he was to be told when you woke." she spoke, adjusting the woman's blankets. "You just relax and I will be back shortly." 

Watching the woman walk out of the room, closing the curtain behind her to give you privacy you looked down to your body and saw you wore nothing but a simple grey gown.  Lifting your arms you saw your wrists wrapped in bandages along with a small one over the cut that had been on your forearm. There was an IV line in the top of your hand. Following the line up to the stand you saw two bags, one most likely fluids and the other medicine of some sorts. Taking a deep breath you bit your lip as you pushed yourself up into a sitting position, your muscles aching along with your side. Hooking a finger in the neck of your gown you saw your upper half wrapped in bandages as well. Pushing the blankets from your legs and lifting the gown up your thigh you saw a thick layer of gauze wrapped around your mid thigh, the gunshot. That would pose a problem in your escape. Turing to hang your legs over the bed you eased off the side and had to quickly catch yourself from falling to the floor. Panting you took a few minutes to adjust, pulling the IV out of your hand and tossing it to the bed. Stumbling to the curtain you peeked out and saw another bed on the other side, a sleeping man there. Noticing a neatly folded pile of clothes on the table you narrowed your eyes. 

After painstakingly pulling on the man's marine uniform you sun your hair around into a ball on the top of your head and tugged on the cap, tucking in any stray hairs. Walking to the opening the nurse had left through you peeked out and saw as another nurse, an older lady moved behind another curtain across the room. With a deep breath you started across the room and out to the hall, keeping your head down. Looking left then right you saw no one either way but could hear voices coming from the right so you chose left. Walking for some time you saw people coming towards you, two doctors by the looks of it. Panicking you grabbed the vase of flowers from the nurse's station counter and kept walking, holding the flowers over your face. 

"Morning officer." one of the doctors spoke. 

"Morning." you muttered, making your voice as deep as possible. Hurrying down the stairs you continued holding the vase until you got to to the main front desk and placed them down. Walking out of the hospital you started going down as many side streets as possible until before long you had no idea where you were and the sun was up in the sky. More people were out on the street now, marines and what you assumed were their families. Seeing a woman walking with two small children you swallowed hard and moved to her. "Excuse me miss..." When she turned to look at you you licked your lips, "I was wondering if you could help me out, I'm new here and well I'm a little lost. Could you tell me where the docks are?"

Smiling she tilted her head. "Of course, I was the same my first few months here. If you go down this main street you will see a sign that tells you to go right and you just follow that the whole way down to the docks." 

Nodding you gave her a small smile and thanks before following down the way she told you. Feeling your leg throb you bit the inside of your cheek and pushed on. If you were lucky you would be able to slip aboard a leaving ship and then play marine until you could slip away on the next island. Turning right like the woman said you were passing a storefront when something wrapped around your waist, a large hand coming up to cover your mouth before you could say a word. 

................................

Walking down the halls of the hospital, people moved out of his way per usual. Getting to the wing she had been in for the last four days he saw a nurse carrying a tray of soup and other small things towards her room. The young woman looked up at him and grinned politely. "Good morning Vice Admiral, I was just about to bring her something to eat." 

"So she is awake then?" he asked, moving to help open the curtain for the nurse so she wouldn't spill the omega's food.

"Yes sir she..." 

Hearing the young woman stop short and seeing her face turn to one of shock he quickly looked to the bed to see it empty. "WHERE IS SHE?!" he roared. 

Shaking at the alpha's loud roar she felt some of the soup spill to her front and quickly looked up to his eyes, shaking her head. Opening and closing her mouth a few times she swallowed hard, "I.. I don't know sir, she... she was just here. I only went to tell someone to inform you and then walk down to the dining hall to get her something to eat. I don't understand how she..." 

Moving into the room he saw the IV line on the bed and her discarded gown on the floor. Narrowing his eyes he pulled back the curtain of the next room and saw a male laying in bed, his head wrapped in bandages. Looking to the table he saw the man's clothes gone. She had taken them, she was impersonating an officer. Growling he walked past the nurse and out to find the omega he planned to make his. 

Marching through the streets he snapped his eyes ot every officer he saw, scanning their face. She was injured so she shouldn't have been able to get far but truth be told she shouldn't have been able to even get out of the hospital. It had been almost a week since he had found her and since then she had been out cold. The doctor on his ship had told him she had been lucky to be alive. Along with a gunshot wound to her thigh that had caused her to loose much blood she had many broken ribs and the wounds on her wrists from the cuffs had already begun to get infected. She had been kept on antibiotics and pain medication to help her catch up on the rest her body obviously needed. With all of that he couldn't lie that he was impressed by her determination and will but that changed nothing, she would be his. 

Continuing to look for her for sometime he was beginning to get frustrated when he heard his name being called and turned to see a petty officer running towards him, the young boy stopping to salute him. 

"Vice Admiral Sakazuki, you are to report to Fleet Admiral Kong sir." the young boy said. 

Sighing he nodded his head and watched the boy make his leave. Giving one last look around he grit his teeth, he hoped she wouldn't find her way off the island before he got finished attending to Kong. He still kept a look out for her the whole way but to his disappointment she was no where to be found. Knocking on the Fleet Admiral's door he heard the male's deep voice and opened the door. What he saw made him freeze. Kong was sitting behind his desk, his large arms crossed and his face as serious as always. Occupying the long couch in front of the desk was none other than Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Sengoku. Between the two large males, sitting with her arms crossed over her chest and a hard glare on her face was none other than the little omega he had been looking for. Meeting her eyes he saw a fire in them that was willing to battle with his magma. 

"Take a seat Sakazuki, we have much to discuss." Kong spoke and watched the male close the door. 

Walking over to sit in one of the two chairs on either side of the couch he looked again to the omega and saw her give him a heated glare before she turned her head and looked towards the window. 

"I will take it this is the 'surprise' you encountered while on your mission?" Kong asked. 

"Yes sir." he spoke. 

Humming he looked to the girl. "Would you like to tell us how you became a captive of pirates... Y/n?" he asked, noticing Sakazuki's brow twitch just the slightest amount. 

Remaining silent you continued looking out the window until you heard Sengoku speak from beside you. 

"Go on Y/n, tell the truth." 

Sighing stared out at the sea, "Got caught trying to sneak off their ship." you grumbled. 

"What the hell were you doing sneaking on a god damn pirate ship girl?! Didn't I tell ya to stay on that island and behave yourself?!" Garp yelled, smacking the girl in the back of the head. 

"Ow! I told you I didn't want to stay there! It was boring as all hell!"

"That was the point you little shit. We put you there because you would have been safe..."

"Safe my ass old man the slavers started coming around more and more. If I hadn't left when I did they would have found sold me to the dragons then and there!" 

"So you thought that you would do what y/n, hitch a ride with pirates to the next island and then go along your way? What then? What was your plan then?" Sengoku asked in that disapproving voice of his. 

"I don't know, just keep moving I guess." you shrugged, looking down to your lap. 

"Well look how well that turned out?" Garp scoffed. 

"You should be grateful Sakazuki found you when he did, if not then those pirates would have no doubt sold you to the highest bidder by now." Sengoku added. 

Continuing to ignore them you opted for looking out the window. "So what now, you all just drop me off at some island again?" you growled. 

"No." It had been the first time he had spoke through all of this and he saw as the omega....y/n's eyes snapped to him, a confused look on her face. 

"Sakazuki?" Kong asked. 

Looking over the omega he felt a strange pull towards her and blinked before directing his attention back towards the Fleet admiral and raising his chin. "I choose her, she will be my wife." he spoke in a deep voice. 

Shocked by his sudden claim you felt your mouth fall open a bit before an anger filled you and you let out a growl, "Go fuck yourself asshole!" you snarled. 

"Y/n! What have I told you about using that kind of language. Ladies do not.." Sengoku started but you cut him off. 

"I ain't no damn lady!" 

"Well that's for damn sure..." Garp grumbled

Listening as the three on the couch went on bickering Kong held the young vice Admiral's eyes for a moment, reading him. Taking a deep breath he looked back to the three and blinked. "Go wait outside with her. Sakazuki and I need a moment alone." 

Seeing Garp and Sengoku stand on either side of you and feeling them grab your arms you shook them off and stood on your own, stomping out of the room. 

Once they were left alone Kong leaned back in his chair and looked to Sakazuki. "You still have time you know, to choose a wife. Your promotion to an admiral has already been decided but it will not go into effect until the end of the year that gives you plenty of time to look around." 

"I do not need to look any further. I choose her." he said affirmably. 

Closing his eyes he thought on the matter. "You found her Sakazuki, by law the omega is yours to claim but I will warn you that she will not submit easily." 

"What is her story?" he asked. 

"We don't really know. When Rocks was defeated ten years ago Garp found her chained up at the bottom of on of his ships, she was just a child. She was badly beaten and half starved. She doesn't remember anything about her past other than the fact that Rocks had killed her entire village. From what we figured he took her as a pet or trophy of sorts. She hasn't ever opened up about her time on the ship and from the shape she was found in she may never. Once she was treated here for a time and her body healed she started to show signs of an omega and we made the decision to hide her away. I am sure you are aware of the Celestial Dragon's obsession with Omegas, most are taken from their families as soon as they show signs and sold to them. Given her past we knew she would never make it if subjected to that kind of treatment." 

"Do you know how old she is?" he asked. 

"No. We guess she was about eight or so when Garp found her and from what she could tell us Rocks took her when she was around five."  Kong told him. 

Grunting he saw Kong open his eyes and look to him. 

"You are certain, you know you will not be able to change your mind once you claim her?" The fleet admiral asked. 

"Yes sir." 

"Very well." he said with a sigh. 

Watching as Kong called for Garp and Sengoku to come back in he saw Garp currently holding onto Y/n's forearm as she hit and kick at him. 

"Let me go you geezer." you growled. 

"Geezer?! Keep on and I'll..." 

"That's enough." Kong spoke. Looking to the young woman he saw her giving him a hard glare. Taking a deep breath he let it out slowly, "Y/n, you will marry Vice Admiral Sakazuki."

"Like hell I will!" You roared. 

"It is not up for discussion!" he yelled, stopping her and both other men from speaking again. 

Breathing heavily you looked to the Fleet Admiral and then to the large alpha male sitting in the arm chair with his arms crossed. When he stood and walked over to tower over you, you lifted your eyes to actually look him over. The hood of his white hoodie was still drawn, a cap still on his head and a deep scowl on his face. 

Looking down at the omega he rose his chin and smirked at the look she was giving him. This would be interesting.

@lawlerek​

[newyorkprelawland-blog]

Fast Fashion, Slow Lawsuits: The Rise Of Copycats In The Fashion Industry

By Melanie Nolan, Skidmore College Class of 2023

February 9, 2021

On February 17th, Kim Kardashian attended the Hollywood Beauty Awards in Los Angeles wearing a vintage Theirry Mugler dress with cutouts from their 1998 haute couture Spring/Summer collection.[1] On February 18th, fast-fashion retailer Fashion Nova released the “Winning Beauty Cut Out Gown”  available for purchase on their website for $49.99. It appeared to be a nearly-exact replica of the hyper-specific vintage gown Kardashian wore the day before. Kardashian herself addressed the situation on Twitter. “Only two days ago, I was privileged enough to wear a one-of-a-kind vintage Mugler dress and in less than 24 hours it was knocked off and thrown up on a site — but it’s not for sale. You have to sign up for a waitlist because the dress hasn’t even been made to sell yet.”[2] In the span of mere hours since Kardashian was photographed in the dress, Fashion Nova had recreated it, shot it on a model, found a manufacturer, and uploaded it on their website for the public to purchase. Or did they?

Fashion watchdog Instagram account @DietPrada fired back at Kardashian. They posted a screengrab of the knockoff Muegler dress on a FashionNova model, taken days before Kardashian had even worn the piece. “Fashion Nova Mugler knockoff shot 4 days before Kim wore it on 02/18/19. Kim, you’ll never fess up to your sneaky lil collaborations, but we got all the receipts.”[3] This finding by @DietPrada raises a few questions. Not only does it call into question Kardashian’s previous statement, but it also raises questions about if Kardashian was in on this grift the whole time. If the eagle eyes of @DietPrada are correct, it means that Kardashian (or a stylist) has been tipping off FashionNova about her outfits before she wears them. If they are incorrect, it means that somehow FashionNova guessed that Kardashian was going to wear a hyper-specific vintage piece, shot it, styled it and manufactured it, all before Kardashian even wore it. Then, when Kim unveiled it on Instagram they uploaded it to their website a day later. Fans speculated in the comments about what seemed more likely. Again, Kardashian defended herself on Twitter, swearing that she had nothing to do with it, and condemned retailers like Fashion Nova for ripping off small designer’s works.[4]

To be fair, Kardashian has battled with fashion retailers about copyright before. She filed a $10 million dollar lawsuit against Missguided for using her “name and image without permission in order to generate interest in their brand and website.”[5] However, she made no move to file such action against Fashion Nova. Was that an admission of guilt? Or, was it simply because of the ties Fashion Nova already has to her sisters?[6]

The jury is still out on Kardashian, but she is hardly the only one to be caught up in copyright issues with garments. There is a complicated history with fashion’s relationship with the law, and items of clothing often wrestle with complicated questions about what can be recreated, what can’t and how to take action about those who do.

Oddly enough, the debate and the laws about fashion start mainly with a lawsuit against two cell phones companies. The case was complex, but it boils down to this: in 2011, Apple sued Samsung for “slavishly” copying its products, namely cell phones and tablets. Apple argued that due to their patents, they were entitled to Samsung’s profits, and Samsung needed to promptly stop production of their infringing products.[7] Normally, a case like this would not be such a big deal for law, specifically law about fashion. But the patent that Apple claimed Samsung was infringing on was a design patent. A design patent is very different from a utility patent. A utility patent which protects what something does. A design patent protects the way something looks.[8] By filing this lawsuit, Apple claimed that their product’s design was getting ripped off, and thus they were wronged. Apple won.

Design patents protect the functionality of an object, but they also protect decorative aspects of it as well. As Fashionista described it, “If you have a shoe that has an interesting molded or sculptural heel that doesn't have any particular special function, but is part of this otherwise functional item, the shoe might have design patent possibility.”[9] Nike is by far the king of design patents. They filed for 867 patents in 2018, which is oddly only the second-most in the company's history.[10] But Nike, as a sneaker company is the perfect fit for something like a design patent. Their products clearly serve a function, yet there are clear decorative aspects as well that are unique to the brand. Handbags are another item that bears well to design patents, and the decorative hardware can also serve as the “ornamental piece” of a functional object. However, despite these useful instances of design patents working in their favor, many brands don’t use them. Instead, they focus their efforts on protecting their trademarks.

Patents are expensive. Trademarks are cheaper. To patent the design of a shirt can be up to $6,000-$8,000 just to start. To pay to trademark a little logo in the corner is much cheaper, and it can be incorporated into overall branding as well. This is all fine and good for big brands, like the aforementioned Nike who employs (and can afford) an army of lawyers to protect their designs. But some can’t, and in the age of Instagram this has become a massive, gaping problem.

For Madeline Pendleton, it’s just another day at the office. Only, her office is her garage, and her work is her small brand, Tunnel Vision.[11] Madeline and her best friend, who she dubs an “unofficial partner” run the brand, quite literally out of her home in Eagle Rock. They do small orders and small batches, and almost all of the designs on the website are Pendleton’s own original art. “I design ethically, and thus have a significantly lower profit margin than sellers of the sweatshop-produced copy, so it stings quite a bit knowing people make more money than I do off of my own artwork by just selling copies of it”[12] Pendleton isn’t the only one struggling with this. Many small businesses are routinely burned by the fast fashion market, and struggle to make ends meet while also battling with overseas manufacturers who often rip items almost as soon as they are created. But until then, she and other countless small designers will simply have to keep working, and try to keep up.

______________________________________________________________

[1] https://www.elle.com/fashion/celebrity-style/a26390312/kim-kardashian-vintage-thierry-mugler/

[2] https://twitter.com/KimKardashian/status/1097903684527091712

[3] https://www.instagram.com/p/BuDB6RxlPab/

[4] https://twitter.com/KimKardashian/status/1097903481518616576

[5]https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/kim-kardashian-sues-style-copycat-website-using-her-image-permission-1188517

[6] https://www.fashionnova.com/collections/kylie

[7] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/24/business/apple-samsung-patent-trial.html

[8] https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1502.html

[9] https://fashionista.com/2016/12/fashion-law-patent-copyright-trademark

[10] https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2019/01/07/nike-continues-torrid-patent-pace.html

[11]http://www.uscannenbergmedia.com/2016/02/25/how-one-sustainable-fashion-brand-resuses-vintage-clothing/

[12]http://www.uscannenbergmedia.com/2016/02/25/how-one-sustainable-fashion-brand-resuses-vintage-clothing/

Photo Credit: VOGUE Taiwan

[kpopfic-recs]

♡ nct twitter au rec masterlist ♡

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(Last update 4/1/20)

Key: Fluff (❀) Angst (☆) Smut (☾) Personal Favorite (♡) Completed Series (✓) Incomplete Series (✗)

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Markhyuck

[untitled] by daehwient II ❀ ✓

Summary: Donghyuck starts getting weird messages from a number already saved in his phone as “Soulmate.”

Length of story: 58 parts

Warnings: None

[untitled] by 127vevos II ❀ ✓

Summary: Donghyuck runs a secret fan account for Mark and Mark's apparently not that dumb.

Length of story: 59 parts

Warnings: None

[untitled] by neoulture II ❀ ✓

Summary: Mark is a photographer that travels the world and Donghyuck is just getting on a plane to get away for a summer.

Length of story: 76 parts

Warnings: None

[untitled] by dreamysuns II ❀ ☆ ✓

Summary: Twitter stan Lee Donghyuck wakes up in an alternate universe where he’s a member of his favorite band.

Length of story: 149 parts

Warnings: None

[untitled] by hyuckieee II ❀ ✓

Summary: Donghyuck confesses to his crush, Wong Yukhei, using song lyrics. The catch? It was the wrong number.

Length of story: 156 parts

Warnings: None

[untitled] by hyuckios II ❀ ☆ ♡ ✓

Summary: Where Mark has grown up knowing that Santa Claus is just make believe, but his perspective begins to change the night he comes home to find a boy with pointy ears bouncing around his kitchen, and there’s no way that’s a fucking Christmas elf.

Length of story: 158 parts

Warnings: Drinking, drugs, violence

[untitled] by hyuckieee II ❀ ☆ ✓

Summary: Donghyuck and Mark are enemies at Hogwarts, but a potion accident one day turns Donghyuck into a cute child who only clings onto Mark (because he was the first person he saw after the event) for a week. But when Donghyuck is back to normal it’s suddenly hard for Mark to treat him as usual. (Harry Potter!AU)

Length of story: 174 parts

Warnings: Bullying

[untitled] by seokmykiss II ❀ ☆ ♡ ✓

Summary: Mark is a famous rapper who happens to stumble across a beauty guru, Donghyuck, on Instagram. They quickly befriend each other, but there’s something the public doesn’t know about Donghyuck: he’s deaf. (Sequel is here, but discontinued)

Length of story: 199 parts (includes sequel)

Warnings: Mentions of abusive relationship

[untitled] by hyuckios II ❀ ☆ ♡ ✓

Summary: In a world where technology is advancing, Mark begins to hate the way his eyes change color according to his emotions, and now he has to worry about his hair always standing up - cause his new roomie at the research facility is literally full of static electricity.

Length of story: 215 parts

Warnings: Experimentation (?), kidnapping

[untitled] by hyuckoi II ❀ ☆ ✓

Summary: Donghyuck is the king of nerds and the president of the science team at school and Mark is the captain of the basketball team and they hate each other's guts until something really unexpected happens the same day of the decathlon and basketball finals. (HSM!AU) (Sequel is here)

Length of story: 458 parts (includes sequel)

Warnings: Drinking

watchdog by hyuckios II ❀ ☆ ♡ ✓

Summary: President’s son and certified troublemaker Lee Donghyuck hates every aspect of his private lifestyle, just until he meets Mark Lee: his newly hired watchdog, who drinks too much coffee and doesn’t smile very often, and yup, Donghyuck is intrigued. (Second and third installments)

Length of story: 486 parts (includes additional installments)

Warnings: Underage drinking, suggestive content

  ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

Yuwin 

[untitled] by eyeronicmuch II ❀ ☆ ✓

Summary: Yuta is a famous yet deaf piano prodigy and Sicheng is a time traveler.

Length of story: 58 parts

Warnings: None

[untitled] by eyeronicmuch II ❀ ✓

Summary: Yuta is a devil and Sicheng is an angel, who dislike each other but they both get assigned to watch over a human child.

Length of story: 145 parts

Warnings: None

  ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

Johnten

  [untitled] by ritokki (+ Dojae, Luwoo, 2Tae, Markhyuck & Yuwin) II ❀ ☆ ♡ ✓

  Summary: Johnny is an angsty writer that doesn’t believe in soulmates. Ten has an ink allergy and hates the medical room. “Hi Mr. Soulmate, can you stop? I have an ink allergy.” (In which your soulmate writes on their skin and it appears on yours.) (Dojae spin-off, Luwoo spinoff, 2Tae spinoff)

Length of story: 972 parts (includes spin-offs)

Warnings: Mentions of homophobia, bullying, death, drugs & sex, drinking, light violence

  ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

Johnyong

[untitled] by yeehawlix II ❀ ✓

Summary: Where Taeyong was turned into a roach a year ago and has had to live as one since then and Johnny just happened to recently move to Taeyong’s old apartment where he still lives but as a cockroach.

Length of story: 54 parts

Warnings: Sexual content

  ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

Johnjae

[untitled] by eyeronicmuch II ❀ ♡ ✓

Summary: Johnny and Jaehyun are neighbours, and Jaehyun owns a fat cat. Oh, and also it can talk.

Length of story: 54 parts

Warnings: None

  ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

Nohyuck

[untitled] by hyuckieee II ❀ ☆ ✓

Summary: Jeno and Donghyuck are enemies. Determined to annoy him to the fullest, Donghyuck spams Jeno’s number, causing him to block Donghyuck. Undeterred, Donghyuck uses Jeno’s number as a rant space. What happens when Jeno unblocks him — or didn’t really block him in the first place?

Length of story: 151 parts

Warnings: None

  ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

Renhyuck

[untitled] by eyeronicmuch II ❀ ✓

Summary: Renjun is a conspiracy theorist trying to deduct unsolved theories and cases about aliens and Donghyuck is his sidekick, who is an alien.

Length of story: 100 parts

Warnings: None

  ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

Johndo

[untitled] by yeehawlix II ❀ ✓

Summary: In which Johnny owns a Twitter account where he posts his dog— Nyoom’s pictures and Doyoung is a stressed singer who just wants to play with said dog. But one day after Johnny posts a face reveal, maybe Doyoung wants more than to play with Nyoom.

Length of story: 57 parts

Warnings: Sexual content

  ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

Luwin

[untitled] by eyeronicmuch II ❀ ✓

Summary: Yukhei is a rather peculiar chef and Sicheng is a poor victim of his creations. Chaos ensues.

Length of story: 81 parts

Warnings: Vomit

  ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

Jaesung

[untitled] by amaryllaus (+ Markren) II ❀ ☆ ✓

Summary: Jisung works at the local movie theater. One day he sees a crying Jaemin in an empty theater and Jisung who just wants to go home offers free popcorn to him. Ever since then Jaemin would talk to him everyday.

Length of story: 128 parts

Warnings: Toxic relationship

  ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

Nahyuck

[untitled] by hyuckieee II ❀ ☆

Summary: Bad boy Jaemin and cold guy Donghyuck get roped into the K-Drama world because the Higher Ups are done with them treating love like shit. What better way to make sure they learn their lesson than being trapped in a world full of love cliches?

Length of story: 154 parts

Warnings: None

  ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

Markhyuckhei

[untitled] by hyuckieee II ❀ ✓

Summary: Donghyuck is a Taeyong fanboy who rants about his problems in Taeyong’s DMs, not expecting him to open them. It all changes when Donghyuck mentions a boy’s name and suddenly, Taeyong is invested (or in which they become bffs as Taeyong tries to help Donghyuck with his love life).

Length of story: 117 parts

Warnings: None

  ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

Doyuil 

[untitled] by eyeronicmuch II ❀ ✓

Summary: Yuta and Doyoung drunkenly dress up as a bus and try to cross a vehicle only bridge at 4 AM and Taeil is the police officer who arrests them.

Length of story: 57 parts

Warnings: Drinking

  ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

Multiple Pairings

[untitled] by hyuckieee (Donghyuck x Renjun, Jeno, Jaemin & Lucas) II ❀ ☆ ✓

Summary: Donghyuck is tired of his members not showing him any affection unless he initiates it first so he decides to take a short break, oblivious of the complete and utter chaos that will ensue.

Length of story: 139 parts

Warnings: None

[realitv]

media’s unseen audience: a very late and disorganised meta i guess? but also a deep dive into media’s fried little brain

i always write media as having an inner dialogue wherein they address the ‘viewer’ when emulating hosts and other television personalities. originally, this was an address to the reader themselves - a very explicit way for me to break the fourth wall and have media speak in a metadiegetic context (in having media address the reader, the reader becomes a piece of a narrative within the narrative of the thread); but over time, this has become more than just a break in the 4th wall. it has now become a question of ‘who watches the watcher?’ 

this address is both metadiegetic, and is also diegetic in nature; meaning that this choice i’ve made through writing now also occurs within the narrative of media’s world and media’s character. this address is not only for you, the reader, but to an audience within media’s world. media’s characterisation and the way i write media deals with the paranoia and fears that come with the innate feeling of being watched. media watches us, media is very open about it. but we watch them too. just as media consumes us, we consume them. it’s mutual. when media addresses this audience when i write, there is one watching them. where else is media’s one lazy eye looking towards? just where else is media focusing on? their audience.  i took a lot of inspiration from the way fleabag interacts with the camera and speaks to us, the audience when i was trying to think of how to explain this choice in my writing. media is able to interact with both us and their audience in replies; they can acknowledge us and them, speak to us and them; even control what we and they see, but no other character within the narrative - be it a muse from another fandom, or a character within american gods; like shadow or wednesday - can see or interact with this audience. they may see media interacting with this audience, they may hear media interacting with this audience; but will not see it. media cannot see the audience either, but they know that the audience is tuning in, and must always keep an eye on their audience and their reactions. to date, media has been booed numerous times, and is in very low approval with the diegetic audience.  with that in mind, media is always being watched, just as they are always watching. by the consumer, by watch dogs, by us. everyone. there is no aspect of themselves or their life that is not made fit for public viewing and consumption. most everything that they do, say and encounter is broadcast to this audience, as media is never - was never? - meant to be a private institution. to adhere to regulations, audience expectations, and to keep watchdogs quiet, media must heavily regulate how they do and go about things. it’s an enormous amount of pressure upon media to constantly adhere to a strict set of rules on what is, and what is not quality broadcasting. in order to adhere to those rules, media runs on a script. while media can be impulsive by nature, most of what they do and say is already written out for and by them on a strict script that not only they keep to, but a script that anticipates the responses and actions of others based on a series of tropes, common plot threads and lines, and characteristics. the more media knows about a person, the more accurate their script will be to them; but that script cannot account for human, god, or their own behaviours. when someone goes off of media’s script, media becomes extremely irate, and will deviate from their own script as their emotions get the better of them. and with that in mind, media is not a fan of change. ironic, considering the changes they have undergone in order to remain relevant. they’re fine with larger changes as a whole; but small things -- say, their coffee cup which one resided on the top shelf was demoted to the bottom shelf, or a program they enjoy moved timeslots, the paper now publishes at a slightly earlier time, a change of relationships or a sudden lack of something (or someone) that is always there -- they cannot deal with that change and often have trouble coming to terms with it; as everything in their world is already hinged and set on that series of established tropes and plotlines. 

and so to recap this word vomit fuck hell    - media is indeed addressing you, the reader when i write “hello, viewers!” and the like in replies.    - media is also addressing a diegetic audience that exists in their own narrative that is constantly watching them. media exists watching and to be watched. it is a strain.     - in order to please this diegetic audience and keep the approval they need to survive and function, media must adhere to broadcasting rules and quality control     - media runs on a script based on tropes and recycled plotlines, for what sells better than nostalgia?     - do not deviate from media’s script, it makes them sad.     - media is very bad at dealing and coping with change. 

pic related it’s media not only looking at the person they’re addressing, but also focusing on the audience (us!) and their diegetic audience. :) 

[inhumansforever]

Inhuman of The Day

August 16th - Mosaic

Morris Sacket.  A latent Inhuman whose transformation was caused by exposure to the Terrigen Cloud.  Terrigenesis took from Morris his corporal form, changing him into a spectral being who can only take form being possessing the bodies of others.  He can take over other peoples’ bodies, leaping into them when they are in his immediate proximity.  By way of this possession, Morris gains control of the individual’s physical function as well as absorbs their various skills and knowledge.  Morris retains a good deal of this knowledge and skill even after he vacates the possessed body.  For instance, if a given individual Morris possesses speaks multiple languages, Morris retains the ability to speak and understand these different languages even after he has vacated the body of that individual.  

Prior to his transformation, Morris had been a vastly successful professional basketball player and social celebrity.  After becoming an Inhuman, Morris has come to learn that much of his former life was predicated on lies and manipulation.  His father and manager has only seemed interested in enhancing his q-rating and longterm earning potential; and his poster girlfriend was actually hired to be with him so to improve her own career and make Morris more attractive to a broader demographic.

Following exposure to the Terrigen Cloud, Morris spent a prolonged time within his Terigenic Cocoon.  During that time, Morris’ father ‘Pops,’ had the cocoon relocated to a specialized wing hospital wing where his status was monitored by operatives of a shadowy organization known as The Brand Corporation.  When Morris finally emerged, his body had been transformed into a large, lithe being with blue skin and glowing eyes.  

Morris’ girlfriend was there at the time and she was so unnerved by the site of Morris’ new form that mistakenly believe he was attacking her and struck back, capping Morris was a taser.  The electrical shock caused unexpected results.  It caused a ghostly version of Morris to leap out from his body and crash through the bay window of the hospital suite.  He fell to the street below, landing on and into a young man.

This teenager is named Fife.  He was a huge fan of Morris and had come to the hospital to stand vigil for his idol.  By making contact, Morris was able to possess Fife, share his memories, feel what he felt and know what he knew.   Gradually learning the extent of use of his powers, Morris embarked on a wild adventure, jumping from possessing one body to another.  It was only after he possessed the form of The Amazing Spider-Man that he was able to utilize Spidey’s scientific intellect and experience with the super powered beings that Morris was finally able to comprehend that he is an Inhuman and his spectral possession of others was a facet of his new Inhuman powers.  

Having gained a greater degree of mastery over his powers, Morris journeyed he way back to his corporal body.  Along the way he made some highly discouraging truths about his life.  He learned that his romantic relationship had been a shame, engineered by his father so to augment his popularity and earning potential.  Even more harrowing, Morris discovered that his dad had made an arrangement with the Brand Corporation to sell Morris as property to be studied and desiccated in the pursuit of developing weapons and medicines.

 Morris had been identified at an early age as possessing genetic abnormalities (his Inhuman genes) and he sold the rights to Morris to Brand.    Morris’ attempt to confront his father over this terrible matter resulted in his ghostly form being captured and rebounded with is corporal form.  The Brand Corporation was planning on moving the body to a more secure location outside of the city where it would be taken apart, studied and repurposed in the hopes of creating lucrative weapons and other devices.  Morris escaped and a large scale fight erupted that resulted in an explosion that engulfed much of the top floors of the Brand Corp downtown office building.  Morris ultimately chose not to save his father’s life; although his dad did manage to survive (albeit in very rough shape, comatose with severe burns over much of his body).

In the aftermath, Morris attempted to recover his original body but was unable to do so.  Itself he ended up possessing the body of the inhuman watchdog, Lockjaw.  

This lead to Morris making his way to New Attilan where he was introduced to the Inhuman Royal Family.   With the assistance of The Human Torch, Morris learned how to make his ghostly form visible to others around him.  Hearing his story, Queen Medusa suggested that his old life had come to an end and he must now embrace his new life as an Inhuman.  To this end, she suggested he take on the new name ‘Mosaic,’ changing his name as a symbol of embracing his new life.  

Morris was initially reluctant to the idea, but ultimately accepted the notion and has gone by the name Mosaic ever since.  Shortly after coming to New Attilan, Mosaic was recruited into taking part in a scheme to strike back at Tony Stark.  As Iron Man, Stark had invaded New Attilan and abducted the young Inhuman known as Ulysses.  Queen Medusa felt it essential that a car message of retribution be sent so to dissuade anyone else from thinking New Attilan vulnerable.  Mosaic snuck into StarK Tower and possessed the body of Stark chief financial officer.  Controlling the mind and body of the Stark CFO, Mosaic then drained the majority of Stark’s monetary accounts, leaving Stark ostensively broke.  

Later, Mosaic was once more recruited into assisting The Inhumans during the Inhuman/X-Men War.  Accompanied by Reader, Mosaic was transported to the X-Men based and tasked with possessing Magneto so to ascertain from him the whereabouts of the captured Inhumans.  The mission proved quite difficult, but Mosaic was eventually able to achieve his goal.  In so doing, Mosaic leaned the truth of the extremely dire situation facing Mutant-kind.  He learned that the Terrigen Cloud was dissipating and binding with the nitrogen in the atmospheric environment… were this to occur the earth would be made entirely uninhabitable to all Mutant life.  

In the face of this terrible realization, Mosaic and the other new Inhumans decided to assist the X-Men.  Moon Girl and Forge created a device that would destroy the Terrigen Cloud and the control unit to engage the device was given to Queen Medusa.  Having learned the consequences facing The Mutants, Medusa chose to trigger this device and the Terrigen Cloud was destroyed; the Mutant populace had been saved, yet it came at the cost of dooming the future of the Inhuman race.

The gloomy atmosphere of New Attilan following the destruction of the Terrigen Cloud wasn’t much to Mosaic’s liking.  Mosaic had grown close with his fellow Inhuman, Iso, and she asked him to stick around and help her in guiding the Inhumans in traversing this difficult time and uncertain future.  Mosaic’s fondness for Iso notwithstanding, he just didn’t see himself as a joiner and ultimately opted to leave New Attilan and strike out on his own.  

This eventually led to a harrowing adventure where Mosaic had to battle the villainous alchemist known as Diablo.  Mosaic was able to prevail and defeat Diablo, but the experience led him top realize that depending on others was important and that being absolutely self reliant made for a lonely and unfulfilling existence.  

Later, Mosaic assisted The Secret Avengers in taking down Hydra during the Secret Empire ordeal.  He was last seen residing among his fellow Inhumans on New Attilan.    

[orbemnews]

On Sports and SPACs A sporting chance Professional athletes can sell almost anything, from soda to sneakers to car insurance. But lately they’ve used their star power to sell SPACs, the blank-check acquisition vehicles that have raised more than $90 billion this year. Amid frenzied competition for merger deals, about a fifth of SPACs launched since last year have brought athletes on board in hopes of standing out when pitching to start-ups they hope to take public, Matthew Goldstein and DealBook’s Lauren Hirsch report. Alex Rodriguez is one of the highest-profile athletes in the SPAC business, and he stands out because unlike many of his peers merely adding their names to someone else’s SPAC, he founded his own. Slam Corp, established by the former baseball slugger and the hedge fund manager Himanshu Gulati, has met with more than 70 potential targets since it raised $500 million in a February I.P.O. Mr. Rodriguez could sit on the board of whatever company it acquires. He and his business partner spoke with Lauren about their plans — below are exclusive excerpts from their conversation. On running a public company … Mr. Rodriguez formed the investment firm A-Rod Corp in 1996, but a listed company brings a new set of responsibilities. Is he ready? “I think you do it collectively, you do it with the team,” said Mr. Rodriguez, pointing to his frequent communication with Mr. Gulati. And when it comes to understanding the fiduciary duties involved, he said that his long career at the Yankees brought him experience at “the ultimate public company,” where the shareholders, so to speak, were the outspoken fans of the storied franchise. On the ups and downs of investing … Last year, Mr. Rodriguez’s $1.7 billion bid for the Mets lost out to Steve Cohen’s $2.4 billion offer. “The silver lining for me is the trust that people put on us, and that doesn’t go to waste just because you didn’t win,” Mr. Rodriguez said, referring to himself and the pop star Jennifer Lopez, who joined him on the bid. “I think that’s something that brings tremendous credibility.” On the S.E.C.’s warning about SPACs pitched by celebrities … The U.S. securities regulator recently told investors not to buy shares of a SPAC simply because boldface names are attached to it. Many SPACs bring celebrities on as directors or advisers, Mr. Gulati said, and “they’re just there to kind of help them raise capital.” At Slam Corp, he said, “Alex is the C.E.O. — what he’s done at A-Rod Corp should not be understated.” “I just want to stand up for the athlete community, because there’s so many smart young men and women. I would be lucky to have them as partners,” Mr. Rodriguez said. “We have a reach, and it’s not just domestic, it’s global,” he said, in reference to himself and Ms. Lopez. HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING WeWork is going public via a SPAC. The office sharing company agreed to a deal with the blank-check company BowX Acquisition that values WeWork at $9 billion. That’s less than a quarter of its valuation in 2019. The venture firm behind the SPAC counts Shaquille O’Neal as an adviser. It may take weeks to unblock the Suez Canal. Salvagers are struggling to free the container ship that has been wedged in the vital waterway since Tuesday, creating a huge, costly traffic jam that exposes the world economy’s reliance on just-in-time supply chains. Lawmakers get few direct answers when grilling tech C.E.O.s. At the five-hour hearing on disinformation, Twitter’s Jack Dorsey acknowledged that his platform bore some responsibility for the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, while Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Google’s Sundar Pichai disagreed on whether regulatory changes were needed. Lawmakers were unimpressed: “There’s a lot of smugness among you,” said one. Chinese consumers boycott several foreign brands. H&M, Nike, Adidas and others face retaliation from shoppers — egged on by the Communist Party — after they joined calls to avoid using cotton produced in the Xinjiang region, where Beijing has waged a repression campaign against ethnic minorities. Shares in Chinese apparel brands with ties to Xinjiang have rallied. Banks can resume buybacks and raise dividends this summer. After the Fed’s next round of stress tests ends in June, most institutions will be allowed to resume share repurchases and increase dividends that were frozen during the pandemic, assuming they have sufficient capital. A TV debut (on the public markets) Over its nearly 20-year history, Vizio has become one of the biggest names in flat-screen TVs. But as it began life as a publicly listed company yesterday, its founder and C.E.O., William Wang, was eager to convince investors that its biggest business is in streaming on its smart TVs. Lockdowns were good for Vizio. With people stuck at home and movie theaters closed, TVs have been in high demand: The company shipped 7.1 million units last year, up 20 percent from 2019. More important from Vizio’s perspective, it saw a 60 percent increase in accounts for SmartCast, its platform for connecting to streaming services like Apple+ and Netflix. “I think the biggest impact of the pandemic is forcing people to look at home entertainment again,” Mr. Wang told DealBook. Why streaming is important for the company. TVs are a low-margin commodity, particularly as prices continue to fall. But Vizio is betting that its popularity — it is the second-biggest TV brand in North America by market share — can help it tap into the boom in online video services. SmartCast made up 7 percent of the company’s revenue last year, reaching 12.2 million accounts. Becoming a smart-TV player has been challenging. In 2017, Vizio paid $2.2 million to settle charges that it collected and sold users’ data without their knowledge or consent. It doesn’t offer every streaming service — it’s missing HBO Max, for example — and faces competition from Roku, Apple TV and other smart TV makers. The time was right for an I.P.O. Vizio tried to go public in 2015, but called it off after agreeing to sell itself to a Chinese rival (only for that deal to fall apart). Now that it makes money from both TV sales and streaming, Mr. Wang said, Vizio is more attractive to public-market investors. That said, the I.P.O. priced at the low end of its expected range, and fell 9 percent in the first day of trading. The C.E.O. put a positive spin on it: “We’re probably the leader in the space in consumer electronics. I believe sooner or later people will appreciate that.” In the papers Some of the academic research that caught our eye this week, summarized in one sentence: Weekend reading: How can I help you? A few years ago, Susan McPherson, the founder of the P.R. firm McPherson Strategies, identified a growing problem. Technology was helping more people connect, yet the ties seemed superficial: Instead of seeking meaningful bonds, people appeared to be transacting, simply trading likes and follows. As a “serial connector” since before the internet, she decided to write “The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships,” which was published by McGraw-Hill Education this week. Ms. McPherson spoke to DealBook about making connections during a pandemic that has physically estranged so many. The interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. DealBook: Has your view of technology changed? Ms. McPherson: The past year helped us all understand how much we miss human connection when we don’t have it. Some days I‘ve showed up at a team meeting and a part of me just felt like crying. So I’ve learned to expose more of that vulnerability and how to be more empathetic and compassionate online, which freed up my team, too. Now, I think we can be better stewards of technology and make those deep connections if we’re intentional about it. Do you still see a problem with quantifying social networks? If we’re using the numbers to measure our value but we’re not having deep, meaningful relationships then we don’t get the real benefits. There is data in my book that shows deep ties help people live longer and be more professionally successful. Introverts will be happy to know that it isn’t about quantity — it’s about the quality of ties. And for businesses, connectedness fosters productivity. How do people truly connect if they’re still physically apart? Be direct. Be intentional. Don’t think of what you’ll get. Just offer help. Indirectness is time-consuming. We’re in a state of collective grief after this difficult year. There’s no time to waste. Reach out and ask, “How can I help?” Take time to listen and follow through on what you say you’ll do. Dependability and trustworthiness are critical to meaningful connection. Don’t assume that you don’t have anything to offer someone, whoever they are, at your company or beyond. THE SPEED READ Deals Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp bought Investor’s Business Daily for $275 million, a return to acquisitions after years of sales and streamlining. (NYT) Britain’s competition watchdog is worried about the “supply of GIFs” after Facebook’s acquisition of the animated-image site Giphy. (Reuters) Are the bond vigilantes back? (NYT) Politics and policy The S.E.C. has opened an inquiry into the SPAC craze, asking underwriters about their risk-management processes. (Reuters) Georgia Republicans passed sweeping voting restrictions, drawing the ire of President Biden. (NYT) The Supreme Court made it easier for consumers to sue companies, ruling that it doesn’t matter if a manufacturer has a substantial presence in the state where an injury happened. (NYT) Tech The crypto token linked to a Times column sold at auction for $560,000, with the proceeds going to charity. (NYT) A labor board said Tesla illegally fired a worker involved in union organizing and ordered Elon Musk to delete a threatening tweet. (NYT) Best of the rest “Using Shame, Lending Apps in India Squeeze Billions Out of the Desperate” (NYT) The actress Jessica Walter, who played Lucille Bluth, the martini-swilling matriarch of a dysfunctional business family on “Arrested Development,” died at 80 in Manhattan. (NYT) Will the popularity of five-star meal kits from fine-dining establishments persist after the pandemic? (Bloomberg Opinion) We’d like your feedback! Please email thoughts and suggestions to dealbook@nytimes.com. Source link Orbem News #SPACs #sports

[signor-signor]

Greetings! After seeing my name in the description, you might recognize me on Twitter and Facebook. So, let me give you readers the rundown of the (Walt) Disney TV Animation resurgence:

Animated series that first aired on Disney Channel…

Phineas and Ferb, 
4 Seasons, 
222 Episodes, 
Loose ends tied: Yes - We know how the titular stepbrothers came to be, when they adopted Perry the Platypus, and what made Dr. Doofenshmirtz tick before abandoning the life of evil and becoming a member of OWCA. We also got to learn more about the commonly seen characters and watch Candace go from trying to bust her brothers to having a friendly chat with them and their friends at the end of the last day of summer.

Fish Hooks, 
3 Seasons, 
110 Episodes, 
Loose ends tied: Pretty much - It’s about small aquatic creatures during high school years at a pet shop, so it makes sense to start with picture day and end with a graduation. Plus, the connection between Bea and Oscar that we’ve looked into in the beginning becomes romantic at the very end. No cliffhanger to be seen, so there’s no turning back. Besides, it wasn’t really popular enough to have merchandise.

Gravity Falls, 
2 Seasons (That’s exactly what was planned.), 
40 Episodes (No plans to continue it - what more do they want?!), 
Loose ends tied: Yes - I cannot emphasize the answer enough. The origin story of the two Stans’ involvement in the mystery of the titular town is revealed, Dipper and Mabel go from preteens to teens and experience some life-changing moments, Bill Cipher, the true main antagonist of the show, is eradicated, Soos goes from repairman to manager of the Mystery Shack, and Stanley (Grunkle Stan) and Stanford (Grunkle Ford) make amends before going on adventures together. And did I mention the whole show takes place during summer vacation? What’s more, it has a beginning, a middle, AND an end.

Wander Over Yonder (first aired on Disney Channel before being moved to Disney XD after first few episodes of S1), 
2 Seasons (so far), 
79 Episodes (plus 11 1-minute shorts between S1 and S2), 
Loose ends tied: N, O, no. For the life of me, I cannot understand why most Disney XD viewers, especially GF fans, would avoid watching it - it’s created by Craig McCracken, the same genius who brought up two hit shows on Cartoon Network. Sure, Lord Hater stopped Lord Dominator and saved the galaxy so he could conquer it just as it’s being restored, but the animatic in the S2 finale heavily implies that Craig and his crew were not done telling the whole story. Although we do know why Wander seeks to help, how he and Sylvia met, and what motivated Lord Hater to get into villainy, there are other things that have not been covered as of today. Where did Hater come from? When did Commander Peepers and the Watchdogs start working for him? What’s in store for the extraterrestrial formerly known as Lord Dominator? What’s worse than galactic destruction? Who put the bounty on Wander before Sylvia went from bad to good? And although we know Stella Starbella, Ripov, and Major Threat have ships, the ships’ whereabouts remain unclear, so we can’t expect the galaxy’s inhabitants to remain stuck on the (formerly) secret planet, right?
The bottom line: Wander’s mission of befriending Lord Hater is not yet accomplished.

What else? There are other cartoons exclusive to Disney XD I thought I’d mention. They were around before I got word of the bad news about WOY.

The 7D - Although it supposedly takes place in an alternate universe, it’s still very enjoyable. You can’t go wrong with a cartoon with references to fairy tales and nursery rhymes. No particular story arc to be had, though.

Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero - This amazingly animated show has a pretty cool concept of filling in for heroes and villains in different dimensions. Like WOY, it doesn’t get the same amount of respect GF gets. Fortunately for the fans, it got a much needed satisfactory ending.

Star vs. the Forces of Evil - Nowadays, I think of it as the new Phineas and Ferb (with its slated total of 4 seasons) or the new Gravity Falls (since it’s being treated as Disney XD’s flagship show). This, P&F, and GF are considered more profitable than many other shows (yes, that includes the creative, clever, funny ones, like WOY), which is why you’ll see them every week.

Pickle and Peanut - I wasn’t sure how it would fit in with the entire Disney library when I first watched an episode or two, and it already has two seasons. I got word that all will be said and done after the second season, so I’m sure a lot of people will be none the sadder and neither will those who do like it, since the definite ending was put into effect.

Truth be told, unless you’re Dan Povenmire, (P&F, Milo Murphy’s Law), Jeff (Swampy) Marsh (also P&F, MML), Alex Hirsch (GF), Daron Nefcy (SvtFoE), or some other creator of an animated series that Disney seems to like best, you might not stand a chance in the business of Disney TV Animation (or Disney TV in general). As a Cast Member of Disneyland, however, I make it my mission to make The Walt Disney Company much more enjoyable and respectable. If it weren’t for Wander Over Yonder’s influence on me, I wouldn’t have gotten into the Disney College Program.

I have an account on Tumblr because my contribution to the SaveWOY campaign needs to be bigger. Also, there are still many other people who have absolutely no knowledge of Wander Over Yonder, and even if they did, most of them wouldn’t do a thing to save it. Thankfully, we have a petition nearing 50,000 signatures to get Disney executives to change their minds. For the past 18 months, I’ve put up with that one cliffhanger, so I’ll do what I can to motivate other Wander fans (and non-fans) to try even harder to persuade Disney to give WOY one more season. You won’t be getting clips, screenshots, or GIFs from me, but I’m always here to provide analysis, logic, and fan material whenever necessary.

I am well aware of @crackmccraigen’s status with Disney - he’s worked on a pilot for his fourth show, which is said to be inspired by Peanuts, Dennis the Menace, and Tintin, but there’s no telling if it’ll be picked up. And with some of the other folks involved in WOY still working on Disney-related material, namely @suspendersofdisbelief, @owner-of-wendys, @atalkingmagpie, and @noveltymusicservices, everyone associated with SaveWOY will do whatever it takes to succeed. Even if we end up getting half-hour/4 quarters/half-hour/4 quarters/half-hour/4 quarters/hour, we’ll be happy, just as long as the show gets closure Craig’s way and not Disney’s way.

Count me in, @peepsqueak!

[wazafam]

Mary Cosby's church ties are being questioned once again by skeptical fans. After last week's episode of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, some fans voiced their concern over Mary's role as a "spiritual leader."

While Jen Shah has brought the most drama, Mary Cosby has brought the most controversy to the premiere season of RHOSLC. Before the show even aired, Mary was making headlines for her unconventional arranged marriage to her step-grandfather. While on the show, Mary revealed how it was her late grandmother's desire for her to marry her second husband in order to inherit the family's church. While that made many scratch their heads, things only got more peculiar when the First Lady revealed she drives to multiple 7-Eleven's if she sees Black people standing out front. To make matters worse, audio leaked of her calling her congregation poor for not giving her the amount of birthday money she expected to receive.

Related: Real Housewives of Salt Lake City: 10 Best Quotes From Season 1

In last week's episode, Mary showed off more highlights from her home and church life. But, after watching, many fans took to Reddit to share how "disturbed" they were by Mary's lifestyle. "This is different than the wacky women we often see- this woman is a “spiritual leader” but seems like a little girl pretending to know what she’s doing," a Redditor said in a thread titled after the Bravo star. "Bossing, falling all over herself with the pastor histrionics, walking around her empty house with fancy clothes," they added before sharing their suspicions of Mary's hidden secrets. "Between that grandmother, her husband, her religion - my feeling is this is a deeply damaged human being. It makes me uneasy," the fan added.

The strong opinion comes after Mary's seemingly hypocritical views while boasting about her role in the church. Other fans joined the thread and shared their opinions of the reality star while comparing her church to a cult. "Looking at the watchdog (IIRC) database of cults in America was both surprising and affirming," said one Redditor. "So many small 'churches' that are really just cults in disguise, basically ruining people’s financial health." The comment came after one fan shared information about an Instagram account that did a deep dive on Mary's church. The allegations appeared to have increased skepticism of Mary's church and lifestyle.

"I have empathy for Mary, but at this point I still don’t think she’s an innocent victim," the fan continued. "I’m sure it started out that way, but how she stepped into becoming 'god' moved her from victim to abuser in my mind." There have been rumors that Mary might not return for another season. However, nothing other than season two has been confirmed. One thing's for sure, Mary has the fans talking.

Next: The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City: 10 Memes That Have Fans "Engaging"

Source: Reddit

RHOSLC: Why Fans Aren't Buying Mary Cosby as a 'Spiritual Leader' from https://ift.tt/3d2mn5g

[multipleservicelisting]

More Arrests Made Amid New Calls for Investigation of Capitol Attack

One week after an angry mob stormed the Capitol, Congress struggled on Wednesday to make sense of the most serious incursion on its home in more than two centuries as lawmakers called for new investigations and federal authorities fanned out across the country, taking into custody several more suspects, including two police officers from Virginia and a firefighter from Florida.

The flurry of arrests and appeals for inquiry came as the House brought a historic second impeachment charge against President Trump and federal law enforcement officials continued to examine whether the assault on the Capitol included coordinated efforts by small groups of extremists and was not merely a mass protest that spiraled out of control. All of this took place as official Washington remained in a defensive crouch, with much of the city surrounded by protective fencing and armed troops camped inside the Capitol complex.

Led by Representative Mikie Sherrill, a New Jersey Democrat and former Navy pilot, more than 30 lawmakers called on Wednesday for an investigation into visitors’ access to the Capitol on the day before the riot. In a letter to the acting House and Senate sergeants-at-arms and the U.S. Capitol Police, the lawmakers, many of whom served in the military and said they were trained to “recognize suspicious activity,” demanded answers about what they described as an “extremely high number of outside groups” let into the Capitol on Jan. 5 at a time when most tours were restricted because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Separately, the inspector general’s office of the Capitol Police said it was opening a potentially wide-ranging inquiry into security breaches connected to the siege. The Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan federal watchdog agency, signaled that it would look into what role, if any, members of Congress may have played in inciting the mob of Trump supporters who breached metal barricades and shattered windows on Jan. 6, seeking to overturn the results of the election.

Banned last week from Twitter, Mr. Trump issued a brief statement on Wednesday, calling on Americans “to ease tensions and calm tempers.” But high-ranking officials, including some at the Pentagon, have maintained that they are profoundly worried about Inauguration Day, when President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. is scheduled to be sworn in.

Seeking to keep their local counterparts informed, Christopher A. Wray, the director of the F.B.I., and Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, a senior official at the Homeland Security Department, briefed more than 5,000 law enforcement officials on Wednesday about potential threats across the country. They stressed in particular that violence could erupt this weekend at all 50 state capitol buildings around the country.

For the first time since the riot in Washington, Jeffrey A. Rosen, the acting attorney general, issued a public statement, saying in a video released overnight Tuesday that he would not tolerate violence or other any criminal behavior and that Mr. Biden would, like all of his predecessors, take office on Jan. 20 in a peaceful transition ceremony. Mr. Rosen also vowed to hold those who stormed the Capitol accountable for what he called an “intolerable, shocking and tragic episode,” and asked the public to share with the F.B.I. whatever it knows about the assault.

The federal investigation — an inquiry of widening scope that has already ensnared more than 70 people — continued apace on Wednesday as charges of disorderly conduct and entering a restricted space were filed against Officer Jacob Fracker and Sgt. Thomas Robertson, two members of the Rocky Mount Police Department in Virginia who attended the riot while off-duty.

According to a criminal complaint, the two men broke into the Capitol last week and posed for a photograph underneath a statue of John Stark, a Revolutionary War general, posting it on a social media. The complaint mentioned a subsequent post by Sergeant Robertson who wrote that the photo showed “2 men willing to actually put skin in the game and stand up for their rights.”

The Houston police chief, Art Acevedo, said in an interview on Wednesday that one of his officers, an 18-year veteran of the force, was also under investigation in connection to the Capitol attack and was likely to face charges.

Capitol Riot Fallout

Updated 

Jan. 13, 2021, 9:36 p.m. ET

“It absolutely is clear that he penetrated the Capitol,” Chief Acevedo said, “and we fully anticipate him being charged federally.”

Federal agents made more arrests on Wednesday in New York, Maryland, Texas and Florida, among them a firefighter from the town of Sanford, near Orlando. The firefighter, Andrew Williams, was charged with unlawful entry and disorderly conduct, and his lawyer, Vincent Citro, told a Florida news channel that Mr. Trump was to blame.

“The president and the Capitol Police encouraged despicable behavior,” Mr. Citro said. “Mr. Williams took part in none of it.”

New charges were filed as well against one of the most widely seen figures from the riot: a bearded man photographed inside the Capitol in a sweatshirt emblazoned with the logo “Camp Auschwitz.”

The man, Robert K. Packer, 56, was taken into custody in Newport News, Va., and was charged with unlawful entry and the disruption of official government business. In a complaint filed in Federal District Court in Washington, prosecutors said that a witness identified Mr. Packer because he wore the anti-Semitic sweatshirt regularly as he went about his errands in Newport News.

As more people are charged in connection with the attack, it has become clear that many of those who went to Washington last week were not only angry but heavily armed and, in some cases, dangerous. That point was driven home by court papers filed on Wednesday in the case of Cleveland G. Meredith Jr., who wrote in a text message that he wanted to put a bullet in the “noggin” of Speaker Nancy Pelosi on “live TV,” prosecutors said.

According to the papers, Mr. Meredith drove across the country with a Tavor X95 assault rifle, a 9 mm pistol painted to resemble an American flag and about 2,500 rounds of ammunition, including at least 320 armor-piercing 5.56 caliber rounds. Prosecutors say Mr. Meredith, who has a history of drug abuse and mental illness, also threatened to kill Mayor Muriel E. Bowser of Washington.

“I may wander over to the Mayor’s office and put a 5.56 in her skull,” he wrote in a text message, the court papers said.

This mood of outrage found an echo in the tumultuous congressional debate on impeachment, which stretched throughout the day. The sense of recrimination went beyond the boundaries of Washington as local politicians in other states lobbed accusations at each other.

A group of Arizona state lawmakers released a letter on Wednesday that they had sent a day earlier to Mr. Rosen and Mr. Wray, calling for an investigation into two of their own colleagues, Mark Finchem and Anthony Kern, who, according to social media posts, were at the riot at the Capitol.

The lawmakers also mentioned that two congressmen from Arizona, Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs, both Republicans, had planned the rally that preceded the riot with the organizer of the so-called Stop the Steal movement, Ali Alexander. A spokesman for Mr. Biggs has denied that he had any role in organizing the rally. Mr. Gosar appeared to be on friendly terms with Mr. Alexander, frequently tagging him in Twitter posts. At a rally last month outside the Arizona State Capitol at which Mr. Gosar spoke, Mr. Alexander called the congressman “the spirit animal of this movement.”

“It is vital to any current or future federal investigations, and ultimately to the Arizona public they represent, that we learn what these elected officials knew about this planned insurrection and when they knew it,” the letter from the lawmakers said.

A similar desire for answers — and for justice — was voiced by Representative Jason Crow, a Colorado Democrat and Army veteran who led the call for the investigation into whether any of his colleagues in the House played a role in instigating the Capitol assault. At least five people died during the attack and accompanying protests.

“To the extent there were members of the House that were complicit, and I believe there were, we will pursue appropriate remedies including expulsion and a prohibition from holding elective office for the rest of their lives,” Mr. Crow said in an interview. “They will, of course, be subject to criminal investigation and prosecution if that’s what the facts of the investigation show.”

Adam Goldman and Manny Fernandez contributed reporting.

from Multiple Service Listing https://ift.tt/2XFeBoM