#tinfoil alert

[ya-boi-rodgers]

lore theory ∆

not mine just wanted to reblog the lore

Sword of the Deepest Lore

Helphen’s Steeple recently caught my attention, this is the only item in the Elden Ring that suggests existance of the realm of dead, which is big, considering that all known beliefs about the afterlife in the Lands Between usually related to the rebirth: be it Erdtree’s Burial tradition, distant resurrection from Deathbirds or Ancestral Worship, in which life sprouts from death. But this sword introduces an actual world of death.

Greatsword patterned after the black steeple of the Helphen, the lampwood which guides the dead of the spirit world. The lamplight is similar to grace in appearance, only it is said that it can only be seen by those who met their death in battle.

霊界において死者の道標となる灯火の樹 ヘルフェンの黒い尖塔を模した大剣

その灯火は祝福に似て 英霊だけが、それを見ることができるという

What EN called “lampwood” 灯火の樹 can be also roughtly interpreted as “Tree of Lamplights”, but it’s very confusing and this convoluted wording translates through the sword’s design as it resembles both a pine tree and a tower. But what if Helphen is a lighthouse, considering that the sword in question drops from Tibia Mariner and death imagery in the Elden Ring is strongly water themed (Godwyn’s corpses, crabs, jellyfishes)? Another neat detail is red jewel decoration, red is a color of life and death in the Elden Ring, it’s a color of primordial gold of Crucible, but also is a color of Rune of Death and a blood star. I wonder if this one jewel is a red glinestone related to the thorn sorceries. Tibia Mariner doesn’t use thorn sorsery, but the color of his spells is red, the skeletons he summons are appearing the red light too.

(extra tinfoil alert: if the spirit world is a realm of the outer god of Deathbirds, could it be that all outer gods are inhabiting alternate dimensions, following Norse myth about original nine worlds of the universe? The Shattering broke the borders between dimensions, this is why we see Rot and envoys of Death along with ghost pine trees manifesting in the Lands Between)

Long story short, there is a spirit world of dead warriors with a giant tree-tower that guides ghosts of the fallen with lamplight similar to the grace of the Erdtree.

I think this is very interesting detail; Tarnished as a group are completely dependant on Marika’s grace, which is a pivotal part of her plan, it allows her to resurrect Tarnished, but also to guide them through the Lands Between. But let me speculate about possible DLC with new territories, which means that Tarnished once again will encounter the guidance of grace … or not. Marika’s plan is fulfilled in main story, how could you incorporate the grace mechanics without hijacking the main plot? By introduction of the alternative.

Now I want to talk about ethymology of the word Helphen, it’s similar to German “helpen”, to help; assist, while the first syllaby “Hel” might be a reference for the underground world Hel from Norse mythology, likewise “it can only be seen by those who met their death in battle” is a nod to Valhalla. Does it mean potential rematch with some bosses from the base game?

Personally, I’d like to imagine spirit world as a mirror image of the Lands Between, but with less terrain; it’s a sea of a ghostflame with Helphen on the place of the Erdtree. From a development perspective I can also see that releasing DLC in the size of legacy dungeon might be a little bit awkward, considering enormous size of the base game, but cheating the system with an archipelago of islands, while covering the map in ocean, is a neat way to keep it big, yet don’t waste years of work on downloadable content. Of course, everything I wrote is a really wild speculation.

What we can learn about spirit world, knowing how heavily Elden Ring is inspired by Norse mythology and this realm is most likely based on Hel/Niflheim?

Niflheim is one of the Nine Worlds of Norse mythology and the homeland of primordial darkness, cold, mist, and ice.

Seems fitting as the ghostflame of Deathbirds is always called cold and even bitterly cold. There is also an intriguing connection between cold and death sorceries without background sigils that I’m planning to investigate properly one day.

Another typical account is the journey of Hermod to Hel to attempt to retrieve Baldur, who had been killed by Loki. Hermod is a minor figure in Norse mythology. The meaning and etymology of his name aren’t entirely clear, but it seems likely that his name is either a variant of hermaðr, “warrior”

I’d like to say that we are going to save our own “Baldur “, but we already kind of revived Godwyn in Fia’s ending. 

The common elements in Snorri’s and Saxo’s accounts seem to be the following: Hel was located underground – down and to the north, the realm of cold and general lifelessness, down the trunk of Yggdrasil, the great tree that forms the central axis of the cosmos. It was reached by descending from a higher point with the help of a guide – an unnamed (dead) woman in Hadding’s case, and Sleipnir in the Prose Edda and the poem Baldrs Draumar (Baldur’s Dreams) in the Poetic Edda. After traveling through darkness and mist, the traveler would come to a river, perhaps a torrential river of water, but more commonly a river of clanging weapons.

Realistically speaking, it reminds me of Deeproot Depth, we already visited the base of the world tree, dream of a dead demigod and were guided by a deathbed companion. This my main concern about DLC predictions about Godwyn, his part of the plot is already more or less covered in the story. 

And before finishing my fanfic I want to go full on CSI on the Helphen’s design.

There is a skull or a golden skeleton figure near the base of the sword, similiar to the T-posing skeleton of the Golden Epitaph, Miquella’s sword:

A sword made to commemorate the death of Godwyn the Golden, first of the demigods to die. Infused with the humble prayer of a young boy; “O brother, lord brother, please die a true death.”

Cross-hatch pattern under “the entrance” reminds me of Radagon’s rune (not only his rune is the massive ??? already, considering consequences of its placements, but it’s also entangled with thorns).

The recembalance is far-fetched, for sure, but this post is from realm of pure fanfiction anyways.

P.S. I think I finally figured out something that was bothering me for a long time, I never understood how soulless demigods in mausoleums are duplicating remembrances from lore perspective. But if there is a spirit world of fallen champions with its own version of the Erdtree, which is implied by Helphen Steeple, we are probably using Helphen to create another remembrance for us with a help of soulless demigods.

P.P.S. Where is Radagon’s remembrance?

[huggywuggysuppy]

Notes on Scott’s Wild Life 3 POV

In summary: our gaslight king controlling the narrative as usual, what an icon.

Scott has very economical editing, having one of the shorter POVs, yet takes care to include several instances of being nice to Pearl (noticed this when he left in giving Pearl food, both at the beginning and when they were building the new castle together). However, he left out the session routine of chastising Impulse and Pearl for picking fights with Gem/Joel (seen in Pearl’s POV), only including warning a freshly yellow Pearl to not try to kill them.

Scott doesn’t die this episode. Notably, his main contributions to base building are simply moving materials from one chest to the other — a very safe activity when being pursued by a snail. Gem and Joel who also avoided snail death built in a wide open area, and the other no-snail-deaths generally forgoed building and dangerous activity altogether (although, RIP Lizzie for surviving mining only to be Skizz’d). All this to say: Scott wasn’t playing sweaty, he still took risks, but they were very small and calculated.

Scott doesn’t include a lot of the Spanners antagonizing GGGG. Partly because they failed and it’s not very interesting to just see Scott looking at the dirt for Mumbo and Grian digging, or warily watching Skizz from 15 blocks sway. But I also think he’s building a villain narrative for Pearl and Impulse and having other groups wrong GGGG would upset that balance. Though, this point is my most tinfoil hat theory.

Scott, Cleo, and Impulse half-heartedly warn Etho of an approaching creeper, sort of totally 100% causing his death. They all celebrate, Cleo and Impulse both breaking into delighted cackles, however Scott calls Impulse out on taking more glee from Etho’s death than the other two. He’s taking care to point out any villainous behavior in Impulse/Pearl, justifying his own negative behavior towards them and painting himself as a long suffering yet loyal teammate. He does this every season, and I eat it up every time — although he’s particularly negative towards Imp and Pearl compared to, say, Martyn.

Related, Scott is stressing how put together and connected GGGG is. He’s complimenting all of them and turning to the camera to gloat about how they’re not gonna fall apart. This session didn’t leave a lot of room for Impulse and Pearl to prove him wrong, but even then he’s doing the prep work to make it their fault if/when the divorce happens. This is made easier by his reputation as a good and loyal teammate combined with Impulse’s and especially Pearl’s fandom reputation as instigators. (And to an extent, yes, they are both consciously approaching WL with a “cause problems on purpose” mission.)

But I can’t ignore every time Scott badmouths their decisions to other people and denounces their actions as suspicious/villainous. That sort of behavior only makes him look better instead of strengthening his whole team: if he really believed in GGGG, he’d be lying on their behalf and definitely not calling them out for picking fights. Just as Cleo didn’t back up Pearl when she tried to poison Gem, Scott is actively making his teammates look worse. And I fear he might get away with it.

I love Smajor and watch his perspective as a fan! I think he intentionally plays “the social game” like this: partly to make it more interesting, and partly because he enjoys the chaos. And really, who doesn’t?

[honestlynervousnut]

Slight Angst alert

Yall wanna hear a weird 911 theory I had during class?

(Well not really a "theory" its more like something that could happen in s8)

So...*puts her tinfoil hat on*

We all know of the Buck/Daniel storyline and Buck's "defective" parts....

And we are all aware that there's a very high possibility of an helicopter crash happening...

So...considering this....and hear me out...

What if Buck's "parts" were defective for Daniel but are not defective for Tommy?🤨

Hear me out...I have never witnessed a plane/helicopter crash but I do know that they can be pretty serious.

So imagine if the helicopter crash actually happens and Tommy ends Up needing a urgent transplant.

(And also if god Tim decided to have mercy and makes Buck and Tommy the same blood type) so Buck ends Up being Tommy's donor.

Idk something about the paralel of Buck not being able to save his older brother VS being able to save his man seems very Buck coded and posibly canon to me (The way I would cry if It happened🥹)

What do yall think?

[annabelle--cane]

they wrap fancy chocolate in tinfoil so you can't eat it by yourself. they want to stop you having a little solo clandestine treat so they wrap it in "paper that coughs loudly every time you breathe on it" to alert everyone in a five mile radius that you're trying to be sneaky and eat a fancy chocolate that you didn't tell anyone about and didn't take out of your bag until you were alone in your room. they do this because of misogyny.

[corporatefrog]

╭₊˚ ๑︰Being a Youtuber who reports on South Park Superheroes

A/N: made a post about this the other day and can’t stop thinking about it. I just love the idea of making video essays about the superheroes while the city is destroyed everyday like it’s Gotham 

EDIT: this post is being turned into a SMAU that you can read here

- Being a university student in South Park, you’re simultaneously fighting Midterms and constant ridiculous levels of crime

- You grew up a few hours away from South Park so when you were offered a full ride to their university, of course you said yes 

- After threating to sue (and crying in the dean’s office for 3 hours), the university offered to help pay for housing in a more expensive building away from the center of the city 

- making youtube videos about the heroes and villains was a way to deal with the flabbergasting fact that a random dude in a tinfoil helmet is fighting a dude dressed like a raccoon on the daily 

- the account gains traction with other people in the town

- now you’re a niche internet microcelebrity all because you lost your house. yay...

- you were even able to interview Call Girl for a video! 

- after that, the coon started badgering you to make a video with him as well

- to which you said “no fuck off” 

- spoiler alert: he didn’t take that well

- next day you had a brick thrown through your window

- it was easy to figure out who it was 

- being neighbors with kenny, kyle, and stan gives you a place to go instead of waiting for the landlord to call someone to fix your window 

- you hadn’t known them too well before but when you said the coon had thrown a brick through your window, they both became insanely interested 

- turns out the don’t really like him either 

- “bro what do you mean your favorite is the human kite? a strong breeze would send him halfway across the city- he’s a flying squirrel made of plastic and delusion.” 

- definitely being a professor chaos stan. 

I kind of want to make this into a whole smau but idk if there would be pairings or anything, just silly interactions with an overarching storyline 

[menofchaos]

Coco x Reader

Note: Not sure where this came from but I'm not questioning writing inspo! This look holds a special place in my little heart. Shout out to @thesewickedhands for the gif and @spideyspeaches for the divider. Sexy warnings. Please enjoy and let me know what you think!

Her foot tapped anxiously against the floor, her eyes watching the clock on the wall as it ticked by, minute after minute. The playlist on her phone was on its third round, the mostly-melted candles on the table were put out only moments before. The street outside was silent, no rumbling of his bike engine alerting her of his arrival. She looked at her phone screen, tapping the screen to illuminate it again. No notifications still. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the prickling anger she felt in her veins. He had never stood her up before and was never late without an explanation. The hour hand moved to the 12 and she shook her head. He was officially three hours late. She cleaned up the remnants of their date, covering his plate with tinfoil and sticking it in the microwave. She considered how to approach him when he came home. While it was his first offense, it was their second anniversary. Two years of dealing with their own individual relationship traumas, the club, exes to get to the solid ground they found themselves on. Or so she thought. She entertained herself with going the toxic route. Texting him and telling him not to come home, locking him out or waiting up for him and blowing up on him as soon as he stepped foot through the door. Before she finished eating, her phone lit up with a call. From EZ. Fuck.

“Hello?” she answered nervously.

“Hey uh…Coco needs a ride home from the clubhouse,” EZ sighed, “Jesus, dude.”

She frowned, “Is he okay?”

“He’s wasted. We had some club shit run long and as soon as we got back, he hit the bar hard. Finished a whole bottle. He’s mouthing off to everyone. Can you take him home? He’s getting belligerent. Gilly and Angel said they’ve never seen him like this.”

She closed her eyes as she listened, hearing arguing in the background, “I’m gonna change and then I’ll be on my way.”

“Thanks,” he murmured, “The gate’s open, we’ll be here to help you get him in the car- bro, why don’t we go outside and have a cigarette? Your girl is coming over.”

She heard a voice she knew anywhere, slurring and harsh, responding to the suggestion.

“I’ll see you soon, E,” she sighed, “Thank you.”

“No problem,” he hung up and she pulled off her dress, changing into a pair of cotton shorts and one of Coco’s old flannel shirts. She slid some shoes on and grabbed her purse, the ride silent as she drove through the dark streets of Santo Padre. When she pulled up to the clubhouse, Coco and EZ were sitting on the porch steps. Coco was resting his head against the stair railing, a lit cigarette in his limp fingers. Chucky was cleaning the other side of the steps. Gilly walked outside as she got out.

“What happened?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Gilly scoffed, “But he better get it together. I almost knocked him the fuck out.”

“Fuck off,” Coco’s retort was raspy and low but lacked the usual bite.

Gilly rolled his eyes, “Come on, boy scout,” the two men picked up Coco, helping him into the passenger seat of her SUV. EZ handed her a water bottle after they closed the door, “He threw up already but he’s been quiet since. Hopefully he just goes to bed.”

“Good luck,” Gilly nodded, “Text when you get home so we know you made it. We can come kick his ass if you need us.”

“I can handle him but thanks boys,” she smiled softly, “I’ll make sure he apologizes tomorrow.”

EZ laughed, “Want me to follow, just in case?”

She shook her head, “I'll call if there’s a problem. Good night,” she got in the car and started driving home. Coco’s eyes were closed and his head was against the door.

“You got anything to say?” she asked him a few minutes later.

He grunted, “Got a cigarette?”

She sighed, “In my purse.”

He reached down and opened her bag, lighting a cigarette and opening the window to let the smoke out. She waited for him to take a few drags, pulling up to a red light.

“Anything else you wanna say?” she looked over at him.

He rubbed his eyes, “We almost home? I’m fuckin’ tired.”

She scoffed, “Unbelievable.”

He narrowed his eyes, “What?”

The light turned green and she started driving, “You don’t call or text all day. You stood me up to get shitfaced with your brothers, who you pissed off so bad they almost beat your ass, and all you have to say is you’re tired?”

“Pretty much,” he grumbled.

“You can get yourself inside because picking you up is about where my hospitality runs out,” she snapped.

“I can walk,” he hissed, “I’m drunk, not paralyzed.”

She pulled into the driveway and got out of the car after grabbing her purse, slamming her door behind her. Coco stumbled out, following her up the path to the house. They went inside and he collapsed on the couch, closing his eyes.

“I don’t know where you get the balls to treat me like this, Johnny,” she glared, “I don’t know what your fucking problem is but I didn’t do shit to you. We were fine this morning, you were more than happy to let me suck your dick in the shower but now I get this drunk, pissy asshole who doesn’t even have the decency to let me know he’s gonna miss our anniversary dinner for what? Drinks with the guys? Something you can do literally whenever-”

“Celia has Letty doing fuckin’ porn.”

She froze at the admission, her eyes wide in shock as she watched his still form. She hadn’t heard his mother or daughter’s name since he first told her about their situation. They had been looking through some old boxes of his and a few pictures fell out of a stack of papers. One was of a newborn, her eyes big and her hair dark. His twin. It hung in his cell while he was inside. The other was a picture of 8 year old Coco next to a woman in a green dress, fixing his little matching tie. It was one of the few good memories he had of his childhood, the one event at school she attended. Celia had a sugar daddy and wasn’t on the corner or strung out. It didn’t last long and it wasn’t perfect, but at least he wasn’t cooking heroin to shoot into her veins. 

Question after question tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop herself, “Are you sure? How do you know? You talked to them? Why didn’t you tell me? Do you want me to knock Celia's ass out?”

She stepped closer when he didn’t respond. She rolled her eyes when she saw his chest rising evenly, “Pendejo,” she mumbled.

She moved a pillow behind his back to make sure he was propped up, then set a bucket on the floor near him. She watched him for a few minutes, his face soft in sleep. She took his shoes off and set his gun on the side table, then covered him with a blanket. She texted Gilly and EZ, letting them know they made it inside unscathed. She climbed into bed and tried to sleep but her mind was still going a mile a minute. Last she knew, Celia and Letty were living in Fresno and Coco’s only contact with his mother was when she needed money. She tossed and turned for a while until she fell into a very uneasy sleep.

She woke up alone with even more questions and even less answers. She heard movement in the kitchen and decided to let him come to her. She was checking her phone when the bedroom door opened to reveal Coco with a mug in his hand, showered and in different clothes.

“I wanted to let you sleep,” he explained and set the mug down on her nightstand.

“Thanks,” she sat up slowly, putting her phone down in favor of the coffee.

He sat on the side of the bed by her legs, “I made it the way you like.”

She nodded and took a sip, “Hungover?”

“Pretty bad one,” he smiled softly, “Guess I deserve it.”

“At least,” she murmured, taking another sip.

“Good?” he checked, motioning the mug. She nodded, “Look, ma. Yesterday was fucked. And that's on me, you know? You were right, you didn’t do shit but I took it out on you anyway. I’m sorry for that.”

She set the coffee down to tie her long hair up in a messy bun, “Thank you for apologizing but I still have a million questions.”

Beeping from the kitchen sounded faintly, “I gotta get that, I cooked you breakfast,” he stood up, “You wanna come eat? I’ll answer your questions.”

“I’ll be there in a few minutes,” she agreed.

He went to the door but paused, turning back around, “Can I kiss you or am I still in the doghouse?”

She couldn’t help smiling at his serious face, eyes wide and sad. She crooked a finger at him and he darted across the room, pressing a few hard kisses to her lips.

Coco headed back to the kitchen, taking a steadying breath as he fixed her a plate. His military training still had him up early, long night or not. He woke up on the couch alone, still dressed with a bucket on the floor. Memories of the previous day and night flooded back to him and he knew he needed to stop wallowing and talk to his partner. She was his queen. She always accepted, never judged and matched his energy effortlessly. She deserved better than how he treated her, which is how he found himself buying a bouquet of flowers at 7:30 in the morning, the cashier smirking knowingly. He cooked her favorite breakfast, texting apologies to his brothers when he had a free second. 

She joined him a few minutes later, sitting down with her coffee mug. He set their plates down, “How’d I do?” he asked.

“So far, you’re going in the right direction,” she admitted, taking a few bites, “This is actually perfect. You buy this?” she joked.

Coco laughed, “Damn, alright. I deserved that,” he lit a blunt, “So…the club and I were talking to Louie the other day and he told me he made a movie with my little sister but he didn’t know till she came back all pissed off about money.”

She frowned, “Shit. So it’s too late to stop it?”

“Already uploaded,” he murmured, letting the smoke out, “I saw the little picture thing. The thumbnail.”

“Coco,” her face softened, “Why?”

He shrugged, “I guess I was hoping he got it wrong, you know? Even though she threatened him with the club.”

“I guess he didn’t,” she took a drag of the blunt when he passed it over.

“It’s her. Remember when I got back late the other day? I found Celia on the corner,” he admitted, “Told her to arrange a meeting. I met them at a diner yesterday afternoon. Celia told Letty I’m her dad and she ran off with a trucker. I uh…I don’t know where she is.”

She set the blunt in the ashtray, “Baby…”

Coco shook his head, “Club shit went a little weird yesterday. Took much longer than we thought. I was so in my own head that time just got away from me. I know that’s a shit excuse but…”

She took another bite, “And the drinking?”

He leaned back in his chair, pushing his food around with his fork, “I was gonna have one and come home. It was like my brain shut off. Next thing I knew, I was throwing up on the stairs.”

“That’s heavy,” she held her hand out across the table, “You don’t need to deal alone anymore, my love. You know that.”

“I know, I know,” he squeezed her hand, kissing her knuckles, “I just…it’s Celia.”

She nodded, knowing his mom was one of his biggest issues, “So…we getting a bigger place?”

His eyes widened, “What?”

She stroked his hand with her thumb, “We don’t have a spare room for Letty, she’s what, 16? We aren’t gonna bring her here just to have her sleep on the couch.”

She barely had the sentence out before he kissed her with bruising pressure, holding her cheeks as she whimpered. They were breathless when he broke the kiss, their lips still brushing together.

“Why are you so fucking good to me?” he whispered, “I don’t deserve it. Especially after last night.”

“I’m good to you because we’re in this together,” she licked her lips, smirking when his eyes fluttered closed at the feel of her tongue, “And because you’re taking the day off to make it up to me. That’s not a request.”

A devilish smirk crossed his lips, “Does that mean I get to eat your pussy all day?”

Her eyes lit up, “I mean…at least.”

She laughed as he carried her over his shoulder back to their room, tugging her shorts down her legs and leaving them in the hall as the bedroom door slammed closed.

“Taking advantage while you can?” she joked as her back hit the mattress. Coco crawled over her, pushing her shirt up and kissing the skin he exposed before helping her out of her shirt, kissing her hungrily. She wrapped her legs around his, pressing closer to him. He groaned as he ran a hand down her side, slipping his fingers between her legs. She gasped, her hips rolling as he touched her. He kissed back down her arching body, his tongue and fingers moving slow and deliberate. Coco smirked when he sucked harder, his tongue speeding up on her clit. He loved eating pussy but there was something about hers that made him feel insatiable. Her taste, her smell, the needy sounds she made when she got closer. Her long nails were scraping his skin as she gripped his hair, moans getting louder as she fell over the edge. Hearing her cry his name over and over like a prayer had him grinding against the bed as he brought her over a second time. He looked up to see her trembling, her chest heaving as she collapsed back on the bed.

“So that was one?” he smirked, licking his glistening lips as she laughed. He didn’t wait for an answer before lowering his head between her legs.

[cigarettesandinevitablebetrayal]

Tinfoil Hat Time

Or Why Cigs Thinks Mount Hood is Still Alive

Okay, so, yeah, back before I deleted, I had a theory post about Sidestep being a re-gene that was mostly ignored and turned out to be true, so now I have a new wild theory for the modern age: Marshal Mount Hood is still alive.

Specifically, I am pretty certain Hood is alive and held captive in Hollow Ground's home. Bear with me. I have reasons:

Is it possible that HG is a double boost? Yeah. So why do I think that's not the case? Well, for one, it would be a narrative disaster. When writing a major antagonist, you want them to be powerful enough to be a threat, but not enough to feel like an overwhelming task for your protagonist. Having HG be both a tactile telepath and in control of seismic activity would put him into the latter category. It would put a lot of wrenches in the machine, especially given that HG is more of a secondary antagonist (read: not a minor antagonist).

HG likely wouldn't have wanted to get a second boost. Taking the Boost drug is incredibly dangerous and becomes more of a gamble the more you take it [5]. If HG started out with seismic control, why roll the dice on another boost? That's already an alpha level power. Similar reasoning if HG started with tactile telepathy. Why would you risk you life on a gambled second power when you have the ability to thread people?

HG is an incredibly private and cautious individual. They are hiding their telepathy so well that almost everyone we talk to thinks they have seismic-based abilities. The only way you can determine their telepathy is if you have extremely high telepathy yourself and meet them in person. They take a gamble on you to thread you - high risk but also high reward, and likely played with the knowledge that few people are powerful enough to catch their threading in the act [2]. This level of caution begs the question of why they would risk a second boost, but also:

If you follow HG after Parkview and botch it badly enough, HG notices you tailing them and turns around. But they head back to Parkview [3]. Why? That's an extremely dangerous place for them to be at this point. Charge was just there, there's a likeliness that other Rangers will be close behind, and it was their last known location. So why go back and risk being seen/caught? Unless there is something of extreme value at their home. Something that is worth jeopardizing their own capture rather than giving it away.

On that note, it is extremely difficult to play without alerting HG to the fact that you're a telepath [1]. It would make perfect sense for them to want you out of proximity of their home if you have the ability to pick up a particular mind in their house.

Now, regarding Hood himself. We know a few things about him, such as he was an alpha level seismic boost with full sleeve tattoos and a dislike for the stuffy bureaucracy of his position as Marshal. So why is it that when his funeral came around, he was dressed in a suit and had his tattoos covered? [7] There would be no reason for the city to go against a living will - something that likely all the major heroes in the city have - and I highly doubt Hood himself would have made either of those requests. So why would they have occurred at his funeral?

Finally, the scene that started it all: the Hollow Ground Retribution epilogue. In said epilogue, Hollow Ground mentions to Nocturne that they had to "deal with the old man" [4]. This could be colloquial for their father, but it's a little antiquated if it is, and that would be the perfect place to hide subtle hints without tipping off all of the readers. They also mention that seeing their mystery guest drains them [4], something we know is also a problem when they red-thread people.

[1]: Retribution - Chapter 20

Though mentioned again later in the code (spefically the Parkview meeting), Hollow Ground will know Sidestep is a telepath not only if they've been an open telepath in their villain career, but also if their pre-Heartbreak Sidestep reputation is equal to or higher than 30 regardless of whether or not they've used telepathy during their villain career.

[2]: Retribution - Chapter 23

In order to notice or avoid being threaded by HG, Sidestep must have either >80% Subtle Manipulations or >80% Force of Mind respectively.

[3]: Retribution - Chapter 25

$!{swear}. You pull out, but not in time. Below, you can see the car slowing down, making a turn, going the long way back toward Parkfield. $!{swear}.

[4]: Retribution - Hollow Ground Epilogue

 "You know I needed to deal with the old man today. I couldn't be stuck on the phone all morning." Hollow Ground swings ${hghis} legs over the side, pushing the sunglasses to ${hghis} forehead. [...] "Come on, Noe, can you blame me? You know it takes a lot out of me." Hollow Ground gets to ${hghis} feet, shrugging on a shirt before following her back inside.

[5]: Patreon Q&A 04/2021

What would happen if a boosted individual takes the drug again? Is there more risk involved?  Yes and no. Taking it again means pushing the odds, the body is already changed, but if the first boost power increased durability, the risk would be less. This is why Anathema survived the second dose.

[6]: Patreon Q&A 08/2021

Could Anathema have kept taking the boost drug repeatedly, or would something have eventually gone wrong? Something would eventually have gone wrong, there's a limit to how much the body can be twisted. If that would have ended in death is a different question...

[7]: Patreon Extra - "Four Funerals and a Wake"

You're not wearing a suit. Hood hated suits and wouldn't have been caught dead in one if he had a choice. Now he's dead and in a suit. [...] An open-casket funeral, you know you're supposed to say he looks just like if he was alive, but they covered up his tattoos...

[frostyreturns]

Yes the emergency alert thing should be concerning but anyone trying to panic you about the alert itself should be mistrusted. The issue is they want to make sure they can reach a mass number of people, which tells me they are planning something else and wish to control the narrative early.

However I see a lot of people panicking about the message itself. People talking about taking the sim cards out of their phones, turning off all their power...putting devices in the microwave in an attempt to stop the signal. This is crazy, the idea that the message itself is going to kill people or do anything to you was probably started by the same people who are sending the message. They want you to look insane and irrational, they want you literally wearing tinfoil because conspiracists have been right so consistently they need to discredit them again.

There are a lot of controlled opposition conspiracy theorists right now so do not trust someone just because they acknowledge some conspiracy theories you know are true. Like false prophets also beware of conspiracy theorists who give specific dates, the enemy doesn't announce their plans to the public in advance. The idea behind this is to tell people the truth somewhat but give fake dates, fake details so when these things don't happen the way they claim people start to dismiss conspiracies altogether. That way when your city is burned down by directed energy weapons people will be like yeah but you;re the same person who said fema was going to use 5g brain control to murder half the world on oct 4th with an emergency message.

It's mostly boomers who have discovered conspiracies for the first time and don't understand technology trying to grasp whats coming. Yes be prepared for an emergency, but as much as you can't just uncritically trust the news you can't just blindly accept conspiracies either...because they've figured that out. Even when a presenter is trustworthy you never know when a guest is just an asset there to spread discord.

[rising-volteccers]

Puts on my tinfoil hat. These are just some miscellaneous thoughts on what I'd like to see happen in HZ023. Seeing that there's sparkles around this week's episode, I'm assuming that something big or significant will happen / be revealed.

I would love to see Friede and Amethio temporarily calling a truce, or briefly working together while they're trapped with Galarian Moltres. Personally I'd love to see them get affected by that stamina sapping aura (mostly cause I wanna see them both vulnerable on the ground) but generally seeing them having to work together would make me happy.

The kids alerting the rest of the RVT on what happened. I want to see them coming up with something that allowed them to head back inside the mine. I imagine the kids found a separate entrance, or Friede and Amethio busted their way out.

Friede revealing a third Pokemon. Seeing the recent release of Ceruledge and Armorouge in anime style, it would be fun if it was revealed that he had an Armorouge to be rivals with Amethio's Ceruledge. I'd prefer him to have more type diversity than another Fire-type but it'd be neat to see him have one. The last time they had the sparkles around the date was when they revealed Friede's Charizard to have Tera Dark, a week before the release of the new TCG deck + they gave us a Charizard a gift in game. I think they have the opportunity to release Armorouge as a gift too to tie it together.

Liko finding a way to calm down the Galarian Moltres. Seeing that there was a scene of Sprigatito on Charizard's head in the mines, I think those two would work together to come in close with the Moltres. Sprigatito knows how to utilize its Leafage depending on the situation (reminiscent of Agile and Strong Style from LA). We know that the scent it releases can make those around it relax or outright knocking a Pokemon to sleep. What I'm thinking is that Sprigatito would infuse its Leafage with that scent before firing it towards Moltres in the hopes of calming the Legendary down.

They have another scene with Lucius. Like how it was with Arboliva, the kids catch another glimpse of Lucius through Liko's pendant resonating with Moltres's Ancient Pokeball.

Moltres won't stay captured but it would come to their aid if needed. It'd be pretty fast paced if they already two of the six Heroes with them, even more so when one of them is a Legendary.

Sprigatito learns a new move or the kids' Pokemon evolve into either Floragato or Crocalor. We're 20+ episodes in so it won't be surprising if an evolution happens seeing that Goh's Scorbunny evolved into Raboot only after 13 episodes back in Journeys.

The other Explorers finding out about Amethio's insubordination. That, or Amethio skulks back into the shadows, considering his next move. Some kind of consequence for going against Gibeon's wishes would be interesting to see, or we get glimpses of the other Explorers again.

Getting a glimpse of Diana's look in the preview for HZ024.

Regardless of what happens, I'm just excited to see the end of this arc and see a preview of the next one. Where will they go next after coming across Diana?

[chadillacboseman]

Just had a brief tinfoil hat moment thinking about this FEMA alert and remembering Stephen King's "The Cell".

[thegreatdeceiver333]

tmc theory from a newbie

VOL. 4 SPOILER BELOW

[puts tinfoil hat on] what if Alternate Gabriel is trying to do with Adam what God was supposed to do with baby Jesus before Alt Gabriel jinxed it for him?

In Intruder Alert, the song playing in the background when Lynn finds Adam's missing is a version of the Ave Maria, Hail Mary. The empty cradle is quite the disturbing parallel to the manger baby Jesus was supposed to lie in.

We do know that a ton of other children have been going missing all over the neighboring counties, but have any of those been returned the way Adam did?

If they have indeed been returned, it would be plausible for Alt Gabriel to be in the process of slowly uprooting humanity by unleashing a whole generation of alternates into the world. It would make sense for Alt Gabriel to want to create his very own humanity, one that's not made in God's image but in his own. On top of that, this small army of alternates-at-birth would also function as Adam's "congregation" of followers in the future.

If they haven't been returned, were they all failed experiments and Adam was the only one that had what it takes for him to reverse the delusion?

[concentratedbitterness]

The Morning

Somewhere Near Houston, Texas : August 26, 2023

It’s convenient to be an early riser; the kind of person who wakes up refreshed and naturally alert at the ass-crack of dawn, most days before the alarm has even gone off.  Not that he’s ever been swayed all too much by fables praising early birds and worms or any of that other stuff old folks are always going on about, but in a practical sense Leroy has always found it more useful than not to be up before the sun.  It’s the best time to do chores and work, to tend to the horses; the best time to go for a drive and crank up the radio.  Best time to get a head start on the things that matter, in those quiet hours while the rest of the world is still sleeping.  Life’s too short as it is, no sense wasting the daylight.

Of course, not everybody sees it that way.  Lee smiles to himself and artfully slips out from under the tangle of pillows, blankets, and long blond hair, careful not to jostle the slumbering form at his side.  Luckily he’s had plenty of practice over the years; though in great contrast to the many who came before, this is as far from a one night stand as it gets.  He pauses briefly to pull the sheet back up over Hannah’s swollen belly, letting his hand linger there just a moment in hopes of feeling a tiny punch or kick.  None are forthcoming, as usual.  It would seem the twins take their beauty rest as seriously as their mother.  He leaves them to it.

It doesn’t take long for him to shower and throw on some clothes–he’s always prided himself on being a particularly low maintenance specimen–and dawn is still teasing the horizon by the time he shuffles into the kitchen.  Uncle Mal is already there, fussing over something on the stove.  “Mornin’,” Lee greets as he tosses his jacket on the table and sidles over to pour himself a cup of coffee, more chipper than anyone has any business being before the sun is up.

“--Is it?” Malcolm replies absently, glancing up from the pan as though he’s just been pulled from some deep thought that most certainly didn’t involve the pork sausage sizzling away at the end of his spatula.

Leroy only chuckles under his breath.  His uncle doesn’t sleep much, that’s nothing new, but in recent months he seems to have traded in passing his time in the laboratory for the kitchen.  This is where Lee finds him most mornings now, toiling over comfort food instead of alchemy.  Then again, maybe the two disciplines aren’t so different; one just involves a whole lot more butter.  “Quiet ‘round this place, since the ol’ man an’ that damn bird been gone.  Doc still here?” “No, Ig had t’ go take care of some things.” Mal replies almost wistfully.  “He won’t be back for a few days.” Lee resists the urge to make an inappropriate joke.  “So who the Hell ya’ cookin’ all that for?  Ain’t no one here can eat it ‘cept you, me, an’ Zad…an’ I ain’t gonna’ be hangin’ ‘round for breakfast.”

“I don’t know,” his uncle murmurs as though he’s only just considered the notion himself, and reaches for his coffee mug.  Lee is fairly certain whatever’s in it, it’s not coffee.  “Where are you off to, Leroy?” he asks after a moment.  “Shouldn’t run out on an empty stomach.  If you’re in that much of a hurry I can pack ya’ some t’ go.”

Part of him wonders if he’ll ever get used to the man who looks and sounds just like his father speaking to him so gently.  It’s unsettling in a warm, fuzzy kind of way that makes him sad all the same.  “--Yeah, guess that’d be alright,” Lee relents, not because he’s hankering for a breakfast burrito so much as it’s hard not to appreciate the sentiment behind it.  “Been workin’ on somethin’ down by the creek.  Figure after I turn out the horses I’ll put a few hours in there ‘fore Hannah wakes up.”   

There’s a soft clank of cast iron as Mal sets the pan down and hobbles over to the cupboard to fetch a bit of tinfoil.  “Workin’ on what?”

Lee flashes his signature lopsided grin.  “Just somethin’ special.”

A distinctly skeptical look is tossed his nephew’s way, but Malcolm doesn’t pry.  “If you say so.”  He turns back to the counter to assemble the burrito, and Lee doesn’t miss the way his fingers tremble as he piles the fillings high and rolls everything neatly in a foil cocoon.  “Need a hand?”

“Nah, I’m good.  Gonna’ drag Zad along,” Leroy explains, draining the last swallow from his coffee cup before swooping over to snatch the oversized to-go meal from his uncle’s hand.  He grabs his jacket off the table as he walks by.  “You seen ‘em this mornin’?”

“Reckon’ they’re probably out on the front porch.”

“Aight,” Lee waves back over his shoulder, already heading for the door, “Catch ya’ later, Uncle Mal.  Thanks for breakfast.”

“--Wait, Leroy.  Hold up a minute.”

He stops and turns around, looking expectantly at his uncle.  “Yeah?”

Malcolm stands beside the table, holding something in the palm of his hand.  “This musta’ fallen outta’ your jacket,” he drawls, and lets his fingers unfurl to reveal a small ring; a simple white gold band adorned with an unusual stone that sparkles brighter than any star in the sky even in the dimly lit kitchen.  “Is it what I think it is?”

Lee shrugs, padding over to pluck the ring from his uncle’s hand and tucking it back into his pocket.  “Depends what ya’ think it is.”

A tight frown pulls across Mal’s lips, and he sinks into the nearest chair.  “Jesus Christ.  Toni’s gonna’ shoot you again.”

“Why’s everybody always sayin’ that like it’s normal behavior?”

“Normal’s relative.”

One of Santiago’s old cuckoo clocks chimes faintly from the hallway, drawing Lee’s gaze in that direction.  The first rays of dawn are beginning to pour through the windows, painting lines of light across the Spanish tiles on the floor, and he stares at them for a long moment.  The morning’s wasting.  “Guess so.  Listen, I get you’re fixin’ t’ go off ‘bout how I’m a selfish fuckin’ peckerbrained imbecile an’ all, but it’s gonna’ have t’ wait cuz’ I ain’t really got time for another lecture right now—”

“No lecture,” Malcolm interrupts, folding his hands neatly on the table in front of him, “but I have got somethin’ I need t’ say.”  His reading glasses are sliding down the bridge of his nose, and there’s grease from the frying pan splattered onto his shirt, but the deeply thoughtful expression that’s settled over his face is far more composed.  “I love you an’ I’m proud of you…”  

Lee’s shields are up, ready to deflect, but the words fly right through the defenses and hit him square in the chest where he feels every syllable like a shot through the heart.  “Just said I ain’t got time for…you’re…wait, what?”

“I ain’t your daddy, I know that, but he’s not here t’ say it an’ you need t’ hear it.  I’m sorry you haven’t heard it enough.” His uncle continues, soft spoken yet earnestly.  “You’re a good man, Leroy.  You’re gonna’ be a good father, an’ Hannah’s as lucky t’ have you as you are t’ have her.  You both deserve t’ be happy.”

Lee is silent for what feels like a moment that stretches on and on and on.  There was a time–most of his childhood, really–when he would have given anything he had for little more than a kind word from his own father.  It’s been years since he stopped asking himself why; and maybe he’s never fully come to terms with the hand he’d been dealt, but he can’t say it’s ever occurred to him that he’s been carrying the crushing weight of someone else’s burden all along.  “Uncle Mal,” Lee ventures finally; voice tight and throat burning.  Hesitating again, he swallows thickly, and hopes it’s enough to hide his sniffle.  “That’s gotta’ be without a doubt the gayest shit you’ve ever said t’ me.”  

Malcolm huffs a quiet laugh under his breath, and shakes his head.  “Yeah, well, next time I’ll try sayin’ it straighter.”

Slowly, that same lopsided grin pulls its way across Leroy’s face once more.  “Thanks for sayin’ it.”

[pikslasrce]

Kate i dont follow any mcr blogs to protect myself from mentall illness so if we get mcr5 today u need to alert me . i am so so hopeful (^doesnt even know why ppl think today is tje day)

lets make tinfoil hats together <3

[starseedfxofficial]

The Hidden Magic Behind WTI Triple Bottom: Finding Gold Where Others See Dust Picture this: You're trying to buy oil, but instead of barrels, you're getting a face full of financial whiplash. Yeah, we've all been there. You know, the feeling when you buy into a trade thinking you’re about to hit pay dirt, only for the market to slip away faster than that amazing shoe sale you just missed out on. Welcome to the unpredictable world of Forex. But wait, what if I told you there’s a lesser-known signal buried beneath the chatter of moving averages, waiting to make you the hero of your trading group chat? Say hello to the WTI Triple Bottom. The WTI Triple Bottom pattern is the market's way of waving a white flag before it surges upwards, sort of like a bad sitcom character redeeming themselves in the last episode. It’s where the price bounces off a similar level three times before deciding, "Okay, enough is enough! I’m going up from here!" Think of it as the oil market's way of throwing a diva tantrum—only with way more lucrative consequences if you know how to read it. Triple Bottoms: Why Most Traders Swipe Left Too Soon Most traders are like that one friend who’s always ignoring the red flags in their love life—they can’t spot a great setup when it's literally bouncing in front of them. A triple bottom pattern is more than just three similar price dips, it’s an underground trading signal akin to spotting a vintage Rolex at a yard sale. It’s underappreciated, yet incredibly valuable. The main reason why traders ignore the WTI Triple Bottom? Impatience. We live in a world where everyone wants instant results—if you’re waiting for a third touch, you might as well be asking people to wait 30 seconds for a webpage to load (gasp!). But here’s where the pros outshine everyone else—patience pays dividends. In Forex, it can pay Ferraris. The Hidden Formula Only Experts Use Okay, so let’s break down the secret sauce. When it comes to WTI Triple Bottoms, the trick is not jumping the gun. Here’s the typical three-stage setup you need to wait for: - First Dip – Testing Waters: Prices fall to a support level, bounce back up. It’s a classic reaction, no surprises here. Some overly excited traders might start pulling their wallets out at this point, but hold your horses. - Second Dip – Confirmation: The price hits that support level again, just like running into an old friend at the same café. Coincidence? Not likely. This is your first indicator that something big might be brewing. - Third Dip – The Make-or-Break Moment: When the price tests support a third time, and the level holds, it’s like fate sealing the deal. If the price bounces off again, get ready—this setup has teeth. By now, you've watched it like a reality show with too many cliffhangers, but the payoff is so worth it. Here’s where the real magic lies: volume. Keep an eye on the volume during each dip. High volume on the rebound? That’s the market whispering sweet nothings about a potential bullish reversal. No volume? It’s more like your crush leaving you on “seen”—not worth the investment. The Forgotten Strategy That Outsmarted the Pros Here’s a ninja tactic that even the self-proclaimed trading gurus tend to overlook. If you spot a WTI Triple Bottom forming, don’t just sit around waiting for the price to shoot up. Stack your chances—enter a laddered buy order. This means gradually scaling into your position as each of the bottoms confirms itself. The beauty of this method? You’re hedging your risk while also standing to gain big if the market finally gives in and makes that dramatic jump upwards. It’s like spreading your bets on multiple horses in a race. Not every horse will win, but when one does, you’ll be laughing all the way to the bank. Contrarian Alert: Triple Bottoms and the Herd Mentality Here’s a little-known secret: the best traders are contrarians. They’re not wearing tinfoil hats or conspiracy-theorizing about market manipulation (well, most of them aren’t), but they do understand one key truth—trading against the herd can lead to massive wins. When most traders are abandoning ship on WTI, citing volatility or news-induced panics, a triple bottom can be your lifeboat. Think of it this way—if everyone is running from a supposedly sinking ship, it’s likely there’s just a hole that can be patched, and when it gets patched, you’re the only one left holding the winning ticket. Next-Level Strategy: When to Really Hit “Buy” So, you’ve spotted a potential WTI Triple Bottom. You’re feeling that itch to buy, but how do you really know when to pull the trigger? Wait for the Neckline Break. A triple bottom is not truly confirmed until the price breaks above the previous high between the bottoms, known as the neckline. It’s like waiting until your cake’s fully baked before pulling it out of the oven—otherwise, you’re left with a sad, goopy mess. Once the neckline breaks, you have your go signal. Place your buy orders just above that level, and tighten up your stops beneath the most recent low—this way, you’re protecting your position like it’s the last slice of pizza at a party. Advanced Insights: Indicators and Volume Signals For a bonus round, try pairing your triple bottom analysis with indicators like the Relative Strength Index (RSI). If RSI is showing oversold levels while your triple bottom is holding up, that’s the equivalent of getting a wink from Lady Luck herself. Also, keep an eye on the On-Balance Volume (OBV) for confirmation. Rising OBV with a stable triple bottom is a chef’s kiss signal for a strong uptrend on the horizon. Real-World Example: WTI 2023 Rebound Take the 2023 WTI market as a case study. Three significant dips were seen around $67 per barrel. Analysts were split, with the bears screaming “DOWN!” and the bulls quietly observing. But what unfolded was a classic triple bottom leading to a robust reversal that caught many traders off guard—those who waited saw profits soar past $80 per barrel. Patience, in this case, didn’t just pay off, it made entire trading months. Why Most Traders Get It Wrong (And How You Can Avoid It) It’s not enough to spot a triple bottom; you need to avoid overcommitting at each dip. The fear of missing out (FOMO) makes people think, "This is it, the market has to reverse here!" Spoiler alert: the market doesn’t care about your feelings. Set those laddered buys, monitor volume, and never go in guns blazing at the first dip. How to Predict Market Moves with Precision Patience, precision, and a bit of wit are all you need. While others panic or hop on unreliable signals, you’re out there waiting for that third confirmation. When you see it? Well, that’s when you start the clock on your big move. But Remember: Have a Plan Never jump into a trade without a well-thought-out plan—which is why you should check out our free trading plan to keep your strategy on track, avoiding those impulsive moves that leave you with the same regret as buying a pet rock in the 70s (but with more financial repercussions). Stay ahead of the curve, educate yourself, and always remember—it’s not about finding that next quick win, it’s about positioning yourself where opportunity meets preparation. With tools like our smart trading tool and access to the StarseedFX community, you can learn elite tactics and never miss out on the next WTI opportunity. So, have we learned how to read the WTI Triple Bottom like a pro? It’s not just about recognizing the three dips—it’s about patience, volume analysis, and strategic laddering. For those wanting more, the StarseedFX community is there to help guide you with expert analysis and insider tips. Remember: you want to be that trader everyone envies in hindsight. —————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated   Read the full article

[witerary]

nvrgunaluze

conversations in your dreams persisting through a slumber which we occupy together i believe no other ever comes before the beauty i see an item; troublesome for those who don't grasp the subtleties daily, i am mindblown by the resource of encouragement you honed to a tee if i laid between two disposals and one crusher i believe you would refuse to lay with me i believe your hand would firmly grip onto mine and pull me out of whatever funk my mind is in bring me to your world of dreams where my kushty place next to yours is reserved to the comfort of knowing where we are as we drift off as we talk in our sleep, tinfoils hats bridging the gap of our conscious barrier pillow fighting with feathery sandbags that may never break our flesh locking lips the instant you say something i like hell, you would never speak again this sanctuary i speak of is not a nature reserve, nor is it manmade it is not fabricated, designated or imaginative it is simply existent and when my eyes are wired shut from fatigue or sprung open as an alert i exist in the place you created we created we inhibit

[newstfionline]

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

The Movie ‘Civil War’ Echoes Real Political Anxieties (NYT) One subject seems to be unifying the right and the left today: Disunion. From the multiplex to social media, the prospect of America collapsing into armed conflict has moved from being an idea on the tinfoil-hat fringes to an active undercurrent of the country’s political conversation. Voters at campaign events bring up their worries that political division could lead to large-scale political violence. Pollsters regularly ask about the idea in opinion surveys. A cottage industry has arisen for speculative fiction, serious assessments and forums about whether the country could be on the verge of a modern-day version of the bloodiest war in American history. And “Civil War,” a dystopian action film about an alternative America plunged into a bloody domestic conflict, has topped box office sales for two consecutive weekends. Of course, the notion of a future civil war remains a mere notion. But, as another presidential election approaches, it has suddenly become a hotly debated one, reflecting the bipartisan sense of unease that has permeated American politics. In polls and in interviews, a segment of voters have said they fear that the country’s divides have grown so deep that they may lead not just to rhetorical battles but actual ones.

Historical Markers (NPR) The United States has over 180,000 active historical markers throughout the country, but little in the way of a national policy or code regarding what and who ought to be considered historical, or for that matter what actually happened that was commemorated. For instance, three separate states claim to have the site of the invention of anesthesia, two states claim to have Daniel Boone’s bones, two states claim to have sent the first telegram, and Texas inexplicably claims to be the site of the first successful airplane flight. Not to mention that some are barely history to begin with, including 14 markers memorializing a ghost, two markers about a witch, one about a vampire, and one about a wizard. California had one commemorating a dead mastodon that, upon further analysis, turned out to be a dead circus elephant.

Haitians scramble to survive as gang violence chokes the capital (AP) Life in Port-au-Prince has become a game of survival, pushing Haitians to new limits as they scramble to stay safe and alive while gangs overwhelm the police and the government remains largely absent. Some are installing metal barricades. Others press hard on the gas while driving near gang-controlled areas. The few who can afford it stockpile water, food, money and medication, supplies of which have dwindled since the main international airport closed in early March. The country’s biggest seaport is largely paralyzed by marauding gangs. “People living in the capital are locked in, they have nowhere to go,” Philippe Branchat, International Organization for Migration chief in Haiti, said in a recent statement. “The capital is surrounded by armed groups and danger. It is a city under siege.” Phones ping often with alerts reporting gunfire, kidnappings and fatal shootings, and some supermarkets have so many armed guards that they resemble small police stations.

Mexico’s leading presidential candidate stopped by masked men who ask for help in stemming violence (AP) Masked men stopped a vehicle carrying Mexico’s leading presidential candidate while she was traveling between campaign stops Sunday to ask that she address the violence in the southern state of Chiapas if she wins the June 2 election. Former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, the governing Morena party’s candidate, remained in the front passenger seat of the vehicle listening calmly with her window down. Masked men filmed the interaction on their cell phones and one shook her hand before letting her move on. The men, who identified themselves as local residents, said they felt “powerless” because the government has not done enough to provide security. They asked her to take action as president so that their township, Motozintla, along Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala, does not become a “disaster” like other communities in the region.

Ecuadorians vote overwhelmingly in referendum to approve toughening fight against gangs (AP) Ecuador’s fledgling president got a resounding victory Sunday in a referendum that he touted as a way to crack down on criminal gangs behind a spiraling wave of violence. An official quick count showed that Ecuadorians overwhelmingly voted “yes” to all nine questions focused on tightening security measures, rejecting only two more controversial economic proposals. Among the measures approved are President Noboa’s call to deploy the army in the fight against the gangs, to loosen obstacles for extraditing accused criminals and to lengthen prison sentences for convicted drug traffickers.

UK prime minister pushes for Rwanda deportation bill over objections from unelected upper chamber (AP) British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is calling on the unelected House of Lords to stop blocking legislation allowing authorities to deport some asylum-seekers to Rwanda, as he seeks to make good on a campaign promise to “stop the boats” that bring migrants to U.K. illegally. Sunak has scheduled a news conference for Monday morning to make his case directly to the public after vowing last week that Parliament would remain in session until the legislation is passed. The elected House of Commons will take up the bill later in the day, followed by consideration in the House of Lords. The bill has been stalled for two months as it bounced back and forth between the two houses of Parliament, with the Lords repeatedly offering amendments that were then rejected by the Commons. The Lords don’t have the power to kill the legislation, but they must give their assent before it can become law.

Chinese general takes a harsh line on Taiwan and other disputes at an international naval gathering (AP) One of China’s top military leaders took a harsh line on regional territorial disputes, telling an international naval gathering in northeastern China on Monday that the country would strike back with force if its interests came under threat. The 19th biennial meeting of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium opened in the port city of Qingdao, where China’s northern naval force is based, providing a vivid backdrop to China’s massive military expansion over the past two decades that has seen it build or refurbish three aircraft carriers. The four-day meeting has drawn representatives from partners and competitors including Australia, Cambodia, Chile, France, India and the U.S. and comes amid heightened tensions over China’s assertive actions in the Taiwan Strait and the East and South China seas, and as China’s navy has grown into the world’s largest by number of hulls.

April Showers Bring Historic Flooding in Guangdong (NBC News) The province of Guangdong, located in China’s southeast, is facing the threat of massive floods as a spike in rainfall has threatened to overwhelm local dams and reservoirs. The region has been pounded by heavy rainfall over the past week, with one neighborhood in the provincial capital of Guangzhou experiencing four inches of rain in just five hours. Today, some areas are predicted to see 10 inches of rain over 24 hours. Local officials have called the situation “grim.” Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated in the face of floods at the time of writing, and nine rivers are currently at risk of overflowing their banks. 1.16 million households in the region have had their power cut off so far, and over 1,100 schools have canceled classes today.

Papua New Guinea leader takes offense after Biden implies an uncle was eaten by cannibals (AP) Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape accused Joe Biden of disparaging the South Pacific island nation by implying that an uncle of the U.S. president had been eaten by “cannibals” there during World War II. The president spoke at a Pennsylvania war memorial last week about his Army Air Corps aviator uncle Ambrose Finnegan, who was shot down over Papua New Guinea, which was a theater of heavy fighting. “They never found the body because there used to be—there were a lot of cannibals for real in that part of New Guinea,” Biden said, referring to the country’s main island. Marape said in a statement on Sunday that Biden “appeared to imply his uncle was eaten by cannibals.” “President Biden’s remarks may have been a slip of the tongue; however, my country does not deserve to be labeled as such,” Marape said.

Israel Planned Bigger Attack on Iran, but Scaled It Back to Avoid War (NYT) Israel abandoned plans for a much more extensive counterstrike on Iran after concerted diplomatic pressure from the United States and other foreign allies and because the brunt of an Iranian assault on Israel soil had been thwarted, according to three senior Israeli officials. Israeli leaders originally discussed bombarding several military targets across Iran last week, including near Tehran, the Iranian capital, in retaliation for the Iranian strike on April 13, said the officials, who spoke on the discussion of anonymity to describe the sensitive discussions. Such a broad and damaging attack would have been far harder for Iran to overlook. In the end—after President Biden, along with the British and German foreign ministers, urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent a wider war—Israel opted for a more limited strike on Friday that avoided significant damage, diminishing the likelihood of an escalation, at least for now.

A Slap On The Wrist And $26 Billion (Guardian) For the first time ever, the U.S. is preparing sanctions against the Israel Defense Forces. The sanctions will target the IDF’s Netzah Yehuda battalion, which operates in the occupied West Bank. The battalion has been accused of committing serious human rights violations against Palestinians, including torture and mistreatment of prisoners. According to ProPublica, the U.S. State Department has received a dossier full of such abuses by multiple Israeli military and police units, but Secretary of State Antony Blinken has declined to take action on that information. While one part of the U.S. government worked on preparing those sanctions, the House passed a $95 billion foreign aid bill that had been stuck in the lower legislature for weeks. $26 billion of the aid will go to Israel, though 37 left-wing Democrats opposed the funding because there were no conditions on how Israel should use the money. On Sunday, just one day after the House passed the funding bill, Israeli airstrikes pounded the southern Gaza city of Rafah, killing 22 people including 18 children.

Nearly 300 bodies found in mass grave at Gaza hospital (CNN) A mass grave with nearly 300 bodies has been uncovered at a hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, Gaza Civil Defense workers said Monday, following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area earlier this month. Col. Yamen Abu Suleiman, Director of Civil Defense in Khan Younis told CNN Monday that “today, 73 bodies were recovered” in the courtyard at the Nasser Medical Complex which brought the “total number to 283.” Suleiman alleged that some of the bodies had been found with hands and feet tied, “and there were signs of field executions. We do not know if they were buried alive or executed. Most of the bodies are decomposed.” CNN is unable to verify Suleiman’s claims and cannot confirm the causes of death among the bodies being unearthed.

A Palestinian baby in Gaza is born an orphan in an urgent cesarean section after an Israeli strike (AP) Sabreen Jouda came into the world seconds after her mother left it. Their home was hit by an Israeli airstrike shortly before midnight Saturday. Until that moment, the family was like so many other Palestinians trying to shelter from the war in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah. Sabreen’s father was killed. Her 4-year-old sister was killed. Her mother was killed. But emergency responders learned that her mother, Sabreen al-Sakani, was 30 weeks pregnant. In a rush at the Kuwaiti hospital where the bodies were taken, medical workers performed an emergency cesarean section. Little Sabreen was near death herself, fighting to breathe. Her tiny body lay in the recovery position on a small piece of carpet as medical workers gently pumped air into her open mouth. A gloved hand tapped at her chest. She survived. At least two-thirds of the more than 34,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza since this war began have been children and women, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.