#v: the tenth commandment

[intergalacticstarlight]

"Will I always wonder?"

( @sclfmastery sent a meme from here ) - ( H E L L O )

There comes a sharp and startled exhalation of breath through flaring nostrils as that voice echoes through the corridor, the reverberations halting Theta where he stands, one trainer poised centimeters from where it was about to land on the grating. The scent of burned starlight and bittersweet metallic fills his senses and at once he is transported.

Red fields. The lake. A youth spent in the wilds of Gallifrey, twin suns burning too brightly to survive it.

Every syllable of his counterpart's utterance slices into his flesh like the cold edge of a blade, and even in the agony he cherishes the wounds. Theta curls up with them and allows himself to be baptized at the altar of fire and ash. Destruction is his birthright, and it sickens him how he perpetuates it so frequently. So willingly.

So pleasurably on the ones that he loves the dearest.

The memories fade, broken and strewn about in the darkness as his mind transfers control to what he's come to call the 'co-pilot' setting, every biological function reduced to naught more than an aesthetic choice. Respiratory bypass engages and every muscle is taut and frozen in place, the very picture of what one might find in a wax museum. But there is one subtle yet striking opposition.

This effigy has two hearts, and they are both thundering forward beyond any measure of control. The rumbling of them is sure to be heard just as audibly as that damned question. His hair trembles from the strain of his muscles being caught in the place between immobility and the strongest, most delicious urge to run.

Petrification in its totality only lasts for mere seconds before that trainer is plunking down onto the grating with a thud, the sound reminding him of defeat and shame and regret. He can feel it sinking into his flesh, into his muscle and tendon and bones until he wants to scream his throat raw and bloody.

Alternatively Theta turns slowly, every hair on the back of his neck prickling upward in unison as he meets the Master's silhouette with widened umber-eyes containing centuries of fortuitous and absolutely horrifying memories. He is unsure which memories to call upon, now, each one tainted with a veil of the darkness inside of him- obscured and untrustworthy.

"Yes," he says the word on a rush of breath as his respiratory bypass disengages and his lungs begin to function properly once more. His telepathic signature begins to seep out through the cracks of his defenses, dripping thick and viscous down the walls of his mental barriers before coiling outward, the colour a deep and inky navy-black that feels heavier as it floats like a specter through the air.

His words are uttered in a hushed tone that sounds more like a devout prayer than a damning curse.

"At least I hope that you will, because wondering is better. Wondering is safe, and warm and full of fantasies that you can curl up with at night, hoping they'll come true someday, but finding out? Gaining that knowledge? Ooh.. Now that is savagery…" His voice transforms throughout the maundering, taking on a rasp that it had not carried before. "Savagery beyond even your wildest imagination. An entire reality splitting apart and being sewn back together again and again until everything is ragged and torn and screaming..."

Theta's body shudders as the memories cascade over his head like an inky wave, staining him with madness. He turns away from the Master, from the memories and ghosts and voices hissing through the ventilation ducts and moves to hurry down the corridor without another word, his face locked in a pained expression and his umber eyes watery.

[tlkfaerie]

Celebrations

༺☆༻ Pairing: Sihtric x reader ༺☆༻

Word Count: 4.1k

summary: a celebration in Uhtred's hall leads to a mutual confession in a river.

Author's note: heyyyyy. This is set in my imaginary peacetime lol. I would say end of S2 but also Sihtric's S3 hair because I love mullets.

MDNI! 18+ -͟͟͞☆ TW! : smut, loss of virginity, mentions of alcohol, slapping, crying, p in v, confessions of love etc

˚　　　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　　　 　 . ✦　　　 　˚

You were Uhtred's ward, so naturally, you followed him wherever he went. He had reluctantly taken you in as an oath after Leofric could no longer look after you. Your ancestry was a shoddy thing - it seemed everyone you had ever met was unaware of your origins. And yet, you had fallen into the care of Leofric, who had begged Uhtred to care for you in his final, forceful moment in battle.

Though you had begun as a pain in his side, he grew to love you deeply. You revelled in the sibling-like bond that the two of you shared, though sometimes it was hard to listen to him when he told you to do certain things. You had become his arseling. You were often confined to your room when thins became heated, hiding with Gisela or forced behind Finan's side, never allowed to be at the forefront of anything important.

You didn't mind entirely, however, because Uhtred's natural urge to provide for you meant that you were safe. And on nights like tonight, you enjoyed yourself the most. Ale was being squandered throughout Coccham's infamous Pagan hall, thrown in goblets and beakers to any man whose eager hands were willing to receive.

Uhtred warned you not to have more than one glass, but as there was no danger, you knew he wouldn't bother to keep an eye on you. He smirked as he had left you, somehow knowing that you would not follow his commands. Gisela, even, did not adopt on the somewhat maternal role she often forced upon you. You loved her as a sister, but tonight you knew you could not bump into her in your state.

After what could only have been your tenth glass, you observed Osferth sitting alone, looking rather sheepish. As someone you considered your greatest confidant, you slumped next to him, entertaining him with slurred conversation that you imagined was perfectly clear. As the two of you laughed, you were unaware of the conversation that had been brewing slowly across the hall.

Finan draped himself across one of the benches as he watched Uhtred turn serious, sniggering slowly at the man's mildly drunken state. He turned to Sihtric, who had been quiet for most of the night. Though he was always somewhat subdued, today seemed to pique a particular silence within him. Uhtred did not fail to notice. He had been observing how Sihtric ogled you for some months now.

"Good men have begun asking about my ward," he begun, taking a great chug from his cup. He could not hide his smile, knowing exactly what he was doing. The Dane immediately turned his absent head towards his Lord, envy filling his chest at the news. Sihtric wasn't surprised, however. He saw how oblivious you were to the stares around you. Though your position with Uhtred was close enough to scare of some men, others had tried to court you.

Your beauty was known throughout the land, praised above even royalty. As a result of this, you caused Uhtred many problems in his dealing and bargaining with other men, though he would never tell you that. He never ceased to remind you that you behaved like a wild pup, and that no man would consider you for marriage with branches in your hair and mud in your hands. He was teasing, of course, but this had urged your sense of independence so much that you hadn't even considered suitors.

None, other than Sihtric. As he did his work for his Lord, fought for him alongside other men, you couldn't help but feel drawn to him. He was a wonder to speak to, incredibly soft yet opinionated and strong. He let you do things like weave flowers into his hair, play with his sword (albeit very, very reluctantly) and helped you with chores. He had been nothing but kind to you, but his conscious prevented him from making any sort of romantic move.

"She is wild, she will need a strong man. A good man," Uhtred continued, eyeing Finan, who quickly chimed in. He knew he spoke slightly too ill of you in this moment, but it was for a greater purpose, and so he allowed himself the indulgence.

"I could happily take on such a task, Lord," the Irishman raised his glass, staring at Sihtric from where he sat at the very edge of his seat, eyes downcast. He felt ridiculous. He was a warrior in every sense of the word, stoic and observant. Why could he not simply find the courage in him to ask for more than your platonic company. He burned for you. For you to be his wife. To claim you as his.

Finally, Sihtric cleared his throat. "Lord, I wish to be with Y/N. I wish for her to be mine." he seemed almost tortured as he said the words, making Finan burst out with laughter. The two were a close pair, but Finan's laughter did not infect Sihtric as it usually did.

"I'd be able to see that even if I was blind, Sihtric," he began, walking over to his good friend, "she is a fine runt, I like her, but she won't stay idle forever, not with that face." Sihtric grinned slightly, reminiscing on the night that Finan had bestowed you with the glorious nickname 'runt'. After you'd confessed that Leofric was only some distant uncle, and that your parents could have been anyone, he'd stuck ale in your hand and branded you the group's pretty runt.

Sihtric laughed, shoving Finan off of his shoulders, telling him to go and find his own woman for the night, "or have you had every woman not claimed here tonight already?"

Without waiting for Finan's reaction, Sihtric returned his gaze to Uhtred and the other men at the table. Uhtred smiled, tearing copious amounts of bread in his hands and shoving them down. Sihtric declared his Lord a pig for the moment, earning him a slap to the back.

"You and Y/N are suited, I would see that she marries for love, not for convenience. You will allow her to be who she needs to be. I trust you, Sihtric." And with that message, he was gone, up to find his woman, and to enjoy the rest of the night with her. In truth, Sihtric had forgotten what they were even celebrating, content to watch you with Osferth, talking in your endearing manner. He decided now that he would have to make his move.

Your cheeks were red at this point, and you had been mindlessly listening to Osferth tell one of his stories, when a tall silhouette, forming into the figure of Sihtric, came and placed his hands on Osferth's shoulders. Delighted to see him, you opened a space for him on the bench, but instead, Osferth stood and left, wishing you goodnight. You hadn't realised just how late it was, but you didn't care - not when one of your favourite people was sat in front of you.

"Y/N, I hope you haven't exceeded Uhtred's ale limit tonight," he spoke sarcastically, tilting his head to meet your somewhat dazed eyes. His gaze alone made you sober up instantly. You felt the urge to pull him closer, to be around him constantly - even if he did call you a pup, and ruffle your hair as if you were truly Uhtred's dog.

"I can see as clearly as a sorcerer with his runes," you declare triumphantly, but no sooner than you lift your arms to prove yourself do you find yourself utterly drenched in ale. Uhtred's ale, to be exact.

"Did you see that coming, lady?" Sihtric swipes your chin with his finger, licking the ale off of his finger. You want to cry as you look at him, knowing he finds this funny but unable to see much of the humour in it. You had wanted to look nice for him tonight.

"Uhtred. . .you bastard turd," you begin, spewing insults at him, not caring that he loved every minute of it. Truly, he had not intended to disturb you and Sihtric, he had just been curious to observe how one of his most trusted men claimed his woman.

"I would have Sihtric wash your mouth for those insults, but I fear he would enjoy it too much." Uhtred spills more ale, holding your neck between his arm and chest, allowing you to heave more insults at him. When he finally lets you go, you glance once more at Sihtric before storming out of the hall altogether.

Gisela tuts at Uhtred, crossing her arms, "I told you that interfering would do nothing. The poor girl is drenched in ale," she exclaims, Uhtred now no longer smiling, pining after his wife as she walked away from him. Ever the patient man, Sihtric simply smiles, undeterred. If anything, your wet hair made him want you even more.

For now, however, he was a little concerned. You had a tendency to believe that you were entirely invincible, which normally he found adorable, but you had walked out of the hall barefoot, and with no furs on. If he did not find you soon, someone less kind would.

After what proved to be a very short search, since you had left all manner of footprints and a trail of the sweetest smell, Sihtric found you. He chuckled to himself, but that quickly stopped when he saw your clothes on the floor, and you in the river, washing your naked body.

He was about to turn around to leave you, but you were quicker. You caught the back of him, calling his name boldly. Part of you didn’t realise what you had just done, seeing as you were fully exposed, your body hidden from Sihtric only thanks to the water. But you felt as though the moments before Uhtred had spoiled your night could be redeemed. You watched the man reluctantly walk over, unable to keep his eyes from your face. You were freezing cold, but welcomed the temperature. It made you feel alive, and encouraged you - although, that might have just been the ale.

“Y/N, you shouldn’t be out here alone. Not like this,” he seemed almost ashamed that he couldn’t look away. You had always noted his polite demeanour, always trailing behind everyone, making sure everything was well. Now, all you could notice was how handsome the man was. How big he was. His hand reached for yours, long fans being, attached to his enormous arms that were oh so unfortunately shielded by his furs. I want him to take those furs off, you thought.

Normally, a scolding from one of the men, Beocca or even Gisela would irk you. You were more than happy to do whatever you pleased on your own, you weren’t so delicate as to need protection wherever you went. But when Sihtric’s stern voice spoke to you, it made you weak at the knees. You quickly realised you’d listen to just about anything he said.

He was so lenient with you. . .so caring and, always there. You were a fool for not asking him about his feelings sooner. You needed to do it now.

“Y/N. . .”

“Sihtric. . .”

You both spoke at the same time, releasing breathy laughs as you stumbled over each other’s words. You wondered what he was going to say, swishing your hand in the water to keep yourself upright. He had kneeled down to your height by now, looking over you in a protective manner, as if shielding you from the real world.

“Y/N, this might be the wrong place to tell you, but I enjoy your company, more than I do anyone else’s,” he began, inhaling deeply before continuing, “and I would like you to be mine, if that is alright with you. I want you to be my lady, and only mine.” He looked you right in the eyes now, eyebrows tilted and mouth slightly open, off his guard entirely as he analysed your face.

You were beaming. The water no longer seemed quite as cold. Instead, you leapt from your position beneath him, leaning against the grass before kissing him. You were a mess, giving in entirely to him and his mouth. His hands instinctively went around your waist, calloused hands against soft flesh. The softest, he thought. He had become somewhat excited, his hands and lips moving faster. You could scarcely keep up as he took more and more from the deep kiss. Your torso was coming out of the water slowly, freezing cold air meeting your bare skin.

When he stopped for a moment, he realised your situation. He could not help his own smirk, realising his luck at the sight of your nakedness before him. Your hair clung to you, wet and dripping, as was the rest of your form (in more ways that one). But he soon snapped back into a sensible mode of thinking, removing his enormous black furs, letting them swamp your shivering body, holding you tightly to him.

“No other man shall see you the way I see you, if that is what you wish, of course,” he shook his head, realising how quickly he was moving. You revelled in the way his strength wrapped around you, taking the moment to watch his almost childish grin.

“I want only you, Sihtric,” you tilted your head back, sharing his happiness, unbothered by your current situation. Some men lingered, but were too drunk to notice the scene before them. “Please,” whispering into his ear now, you looked at him with adoration. Pure love. He reciprocated, scanning you with his eyes hand his hands, unable to shake the sense of pride that you were so small in his furs, and he, in his leathers, his chest burning for you. You just fitted against him so well.

“Come to my room, now,” he dragged you to his chambers, his hand swamping yours as he gripped tightly, walking faster than you had ever seen him walk. When you arrived in his home, you noted the flower crown you had weaved for him and all of the other men, sat on a nearby shelf. Uhtred had feigned disgust when he saw them, but he too kept his close to his chest when he fought. You had meant it as a silly gesture, but seeing that he had kept the fading flowers made your heart swell.

You soon realised your boldness may had landed you in trouble, as you had never been humped before, and by the looks of it - Sihtric knew exactly what he was doing. You had jokingly called Uhtred and Finan whores several times over the years, but never had you considered Sihtric would be right there beside them during their antics.

“Sihtric - I . . . I haven’t,” you started. Looking rather sheepish as the furs exposed your shoulders, falling down your frame. He came up to you, so close in fact that you felt his warmth, his breath fanning on your lips.

His eyes widened, not from shock, however, but more so from challenge. As if he found the whole thing amusing. “I know, Y/N. I will be gentle, if this is all truly what you want, lady.” The words stung with just a tinge of teasing, but you ignored it, as his eyes grazed over your lips and shoulders. His hands were under your chin, admiring you.

Just as quickly as you had decided, the furs were gone, and you stood entirely naked before him, his own form still fully clothed. The power imbalance felt strange, more apparent, but somehow incredibly arousing. He had full control of you, and you loved it.

“You are perfect, my lady.”

You blushed, feeling the best rising above your neck and into your very mind. Sihtric kissed you again, pulling you towards him. One hand travelled all across your body, landing firmly on your ass, and gripping tightly. You had never known someone so sweet to be so . . . commanding.

“Sihtric,” you moaned feeling his hand brush your inner thigh. It was so sensitive, and he hand evens done anything yet. Finally, his rough fingers padded against your clit, your legs spreading just slightly to accommodate him. He trailed his finger up and down slowly, curling ever so slightly, but stopping as your breath hitched in your throat. A quick kiss to your forehead and his fingers were inside, the distraction lasting no time at all. You felt so unbelievably full.

“Fuck,” he whispered, loving the feel of you. You were so warm, so irresistible. Another hand gripped your breast, his forehead resting against yours. Your eyes were screwed shut, unable to hide your small, constant whimpers. His thumb still remained outside, rubbing all of the right places. He was everywhere all at once.

“Fuck, on the bed,” he started, removing his fingers from you quickly, causing you to jolt. He was tender, but seemed altogether impatient. “Please, Y/N.”

You obeyed him, smiling to yourself as you laid on his sheets, touching your breasts, staring at his as the distance between you gave you the safety to tease. He removed his own clothing, admiring you, muttering things like ‘good’ and ‘beautiful’.

You shut your eyes for a moment, and when you reopened them, he was shirtless, his clothes strewn all over his wooden floor. He stalked towards you, a sweet smile mismatching his predatory gaze. You observed all of his scars, some fresh and some old, against his skin. You could truly think of nothing but him.

“Sihtric please, I need you.” You scrambled, wanting to put so many things into words but unable to, wriggling beneath him.

“There is no rush, Y/N. Relax, my pup.” There was the nickname again. You slapped his arm, knowing it would do absolutely nothing. He laughed, climbing to join you on the bed, intense gaze never wavering.

"Are you comfortable?" He asked, both hands on your hips, holding you like you were weightless. His bare chest was addictive, and you practically clawed to get a feel. All you could do in your desperation was nod.

"Tell me, love." this new term suited him well, causing you to whine louder than normal, not wanting to listen to him but doing so all the same. He was just so sweet. Biting his lip, he refused to do anything until you verbalised your thoughts, prolonging your teasing.

"Yes, Sihtric please, Gods," you moaned, begging for more, which he absolutely loved. He was willing to give you everything. Feeling a sense of enormous pride, he couldn't help the confidence that came over him - he was barely doing anything to you and you were a stuttering mess beneath him.

"No, love, the Gods are not here, it's just me," he stroked your throat, pinching your perky nipples, watching as your skin grew redder from the pressure, "you yield to me so sweetly. So well."

As he adjusted your placement underneath him, his arm muscles moved together, as though they were a flowing pattern, working with one another around him. He had been crafted with the most careful hand. You wanted him to devour you.

"I've wanted this for so long," you exclaim, which seems to catch him off guard, despite his role as a skilled warrior. He beams, his eyes shining as he takes another kiss from you, sloppy and rushed, but filled with passion that had been held back for so long. For years.

Before he speaks, he flips you over, onto your stomach, kneading the skin of your ass with one hand and bringing one of your arms behind your back with the other, restraining you somewhat.

"And I too, Y/N. Now that I have you, I will keep you forever. I truly love you," though he promised to be gentle, he slapped your ass, rubbing the soft flesh soon after, causing your frustration to rise.

"Sihtric, I love you too, but if you do not do something soon, I will have to ask another man to hump me," you groaned, knowing it would hit a nerve. You sensed that Sihtric always felt the need to be a good warrior, a great fighter. You wanted him to let loose entirely - to ravage you.

"Then you would have another man sent to an early grave," he came close to your face, pressed into the pillow. He gave you a quick peck to the chest, another slap to your ass, "perhaps filling you up will be the only way to remind you who you belong to."

And with that, he began to push himself inside of you. The pain was instant, his large cock practically tearing you apart, causing you to wince so hard you started to tear up. But this quickly turned into pleasure once he was fully inside, allowing you time to adjust as he stroked your hair a little.

Sihtric was mesmerised by how you took him. You were so unbelievably tight, clenching and squirming, ever the troublesome ward that he knew you as, though to see you give yourself to him in this moment impressed him. He was stripped from his own thoughts, however, when he heard you snivel, concern immediately telling him to check up on you.

"Y/N, my love, are you alright? Is the pain too much?" His concern made you smile, especially as he began stumbling over his own words, back to the Sihtric you knew. He clumsily leaned over to check your face, sighing as he recognised your smile. Though, he surprised himself a little at how much your wet checks turned him on. Your nose had grown red, drying hair all around your face in a tousled mess, your cheeks and eyes glossy. You looked a beautiful mess. Sihtric deemed you his wife then and there.

His aching cock throbbed inside of you, releasing a lengthy moan as he watched you nod and beg for him to start thrusting through the pain, hands barely fitting around his wrist as you grabbed for him.

"You are so needy," he mused unconsciously, beginning a slow rhythm which had you biting the sheets, "you fit so well underneath me. You were made just for me."

"yes, yes, please Sihtric, more." you yearned for his touch even while it was burning into your skin. He towered over you, feeling love and pleasure in excess as he quickened his pace, feeling you all around him, so tight and so eager. This was not how he thought his night would end, with you whimpering beneath him, begging for him and him alone.

You had not expected this either, to crave him so deeply. "More? Y/N, what has become of you?" He asked, taunting you with a chuckle and a pinch to the cheek. You joined him, but your laughter turned into moaning, as he continued with his words, "Anymore and I should have to lock you up, insatiable brat."

You smiled, the sheer size of him brushing up against you and your clit causing you to near the edge. He felt you clenching harder suddenly, basking in the tight muscle around him. You mumbled a pathetic please, and Sihtric almost retorted with something, but your further sniff reminded him to hold back for now. He would save that treatment for another time.

"Come for me, Y/N," was all he needed to say before you were coming for him, his free hand returning to your clit to guide you through the pleasure. You had truly felt nothing like it, understanding now why all those brutes out there cared so much for whoring and claiming their women. If it felt like this, you didn't know how anyone could leave their bedchambers.

Sihtric came not long after you, pumping you full of himself. You felt the liquid drip from out of you, falling down your thigh and onto his bed. He remained inside of you for some time, helping you breathe as the two of you looked at one another. You truly were grateful for Uhtred practically throwing his ale onto you now. Sihtric was too.

BONUS: ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆

The next morning, Gisela and some of the servants brought out generous amounts of food for the burning heads of the men, smiling as she recalled how she had warned her husband not to take it too far. Osferth expected you any moment now, to sit beside him and ramble about something. When you came in, however, it was beside Sihtric, a slight, almost invisible limp to your walk.

Osferth felt a tinge of disappointment when your nonsense didn't attack his ears. Instead, Sihtric seated himself next to Finan, who smiled slyly at him when you placed yourself on Sihtric's lap. You slapped Finan when he proclaimed that Uhtred now owed him silver. And lots of it.

[xhxhxhx]

Going to try to write through it.

I.

As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a writer.

That's not true, actually. As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be President of the United States. Then my parents told me that as someone born in Canada to Canadian citizens, I couldn't.

And becoming Prime Minister of Canada, a country with about a tenth of the population of the United States, never seemed a particularly compelling value proposition.

II.

The Prime Minister of Canada is not a Constitutional office, at least as a matter of Constitutional text.

In the United States, "[t]he Executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States," art. II, § 1, cl. 1. It defines the chief officers of Congress, the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate. Id. art. I, § 2, cl. 5; id. § 3, cl. 4.

In Canada, "[t]he Executive Government and Authority" is "vested in the Queen." Constitution Act, 1867, 30 Vict. c. 3, § 9. The Queen is likewise vested with "Command-in-Chief of the Land and Naval Militia, and of all Naval and Military Forces." § 15.

The Queen exercises her "Executive Government and Authority" through her appointees, the Governors General of Canada, § 10, the Lieutenant-Governors of the Provinces, § 58, and such other officers as she or her delegates may appoint. § 14.

The Constitution doesn't recognize not a Prime Minister. The Constitution knows no such officer.

III.

It's not even clear where the Commons gets its power.

The Constitution does establish "One Parliament for Canada," Constitution Act, 1867, 30 Vict. c. 3, § 17, pairing an appointive Senate and an elective House of Commons.

As a matter of Constitutional structure, the Commons does have a power over money bills. "Bills for appropriating any Part of the Public Revenue, or for imposing any Tax or Impost, shall originate in the House of Commons." § 53.

By implication, the Dominion executive only has authority to spend at the direction of the Commons, the only elective part of the Dominion. Re Eurig Estate, [1998] 2 SCR 565, 582. It's the part of our Constitution that says "No taxation without representation." Id. at 581.

But that's not enough to make a Prime Minister.

The House of Commons had it under the Tudors and Stuarts, at least notionally, 3 Car. 1 c. 1, 5 Stat. Realm 23, without the Commons ever taking control of the executive. In the United States, the House of Representatives has always had this power, U.S. Const. art. I, § 7, cl. 1, and it can't exercise executive powers.

Set that aside. Take Parliamentary supremacy for granted. The Executive takes direction from the Commons. Stipulated.

Where does the Prime Minister come in?

IV.

The Prime Minister only comes in by implication.

The Constitution does create "a Council to aid and advice in the Government," appointed by, and removable by, the Governor General. 30 Vict. c. 3, § 11. And the Constitution does direct, at § 12, that the Governor General exercise executive powers only:

with the Advice or with the Advice and Consent of or in conjunction with the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, or any Members thereof, or by the Governor General individually, as the Case requires

That's it. That's the part that means the Prime Minister and the Ministers direct the executive power of the Crown. But it seems like a slender reed to rest a government on.

Especially when the exercise of powers by the Governor General is unreviewable. Reference re Proclamation of Section 16 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968–69, [1970] SCR 777; Black v Canada (Prime Minister), 2001 CanLII 8537 (ON CA).

V.

I didn't want to be the Prime Minister of Canada.

If I couldn't be President, I wanted to be an actor. It seemed like the next best thing. Because the President doesn't just have power. He has attention.

And as far back as I can remember, I wanted attention.

[rynnthefangirl]

I think that part of Jace never getting to rule is very important because as the entire saga shows, ruling is a complete beast only comparable to a hydra from which very few emerge complete.

Rhaenyra and Daemon's children are Disney princes, I don't accept discussions because that's what the book shows. Strong, kind and quite competent as well as fierce and loyal. That applies to the VB, the dragon twins and V&AThey loved each other, adored each other and would have given everything for each other without thinking twice, and they all seem at least intelligent, if not cunning.

((if you ask me that generation was too powerful and that's why they had to die, J&A to the tenth power)

But we see that when it comes to governing, everyone makes mistakes, makes mistakes, and faces difficulties. No matter how well you're trying to make yourself believe it, the gods are going to screw you over somehow with politics and knives in the dark.

The closest we have to Daemyra children are the Stark children. Specifically I want to focus on Robb and Jon, because they are both sons of Ned (let's not get technical) and were taught by him in equality, As ruler of the North Ned apparently had no problems and is loved by all to the point that his children benefit from the social capital Ned left them. But when Robb and Jon take the lead, it's interesting to see the traits of their father that they adopted, I'm thinking of one in particular: how they treat the people around them

CCat says that Robb rode out every day with one of his men and rotated them because that was Ned's MO to make his people feel heard and to be able to know the problems and what was going on. That's one of the things that made Ned loved by the people, but the way Robb did it and tried to live with honor leads him to make mistakes like forgetting that Theon is a hostage, not a friend. Robb got too personal and led with his heart.

Jon on the other hand remembers that a lord is no friend of his people, that there is such a division and he must maintain it in order to fulfill his duty. Consequently when we reach his era as Lord Commander Jon is placing people he knows are loyal and fair in positions of power... But he isn't talking to them, he has completely isolated himself from his friends and colleagues or has been alienating them and as a result he is left without people to watch his back and even his friends have started to consider him an idiot.

This is the same advice! The difference is that Ned had years to find his balance between the two approaches and even then we see him struggle with it.One of the first things he thinks is that he can't be despotic with the small council because everyone is equal there, but there is also a part of power that Ned didn't use because of that approach. In addition to the mistakes that are inherited, Robb does not know of the hatred that some lords have (cough Lady Dustin cough) and Jon has to deal with years of decay and hatred in the Night's Watch, (both like their father are also sadly ignorant of ambition and how far people will go for it)

Jace in times of crisis was doing pretty well, he didn't die for anything he did or didn't do, but that doesn't guarantee that his government was perfect, that there weren't obstacles of some kind at the time of promotion or later. We saw Jace display leadership skills, but we never saw him have to confront his fiscal policies.

Ah, sorry for taking so long to reply to this. Awesome analysis of the Starks though, thanks for that! I’m still pretty early in my first ever read through of the main books so I don’t really have anything to add about Robb and Jon, but I’m definitely looking forward to getting to Jon’s Lord Commander era and seeing him deal with the trials of leadership.

As for my area of expertise though (Targaryen history), I think another good example of a promising leader struggling with the curveballs of kingship is Aegon V. Aegon V pretty much had the best intentions of anyone who ever sat the Iron Throne (improving the rights of the smallfolk), and had a pretty solid plan to accomplish it through marriage alliances with his 5 children. But despite his good intentions and politically wise plan, everything still goes to shit. 4/5 kids break their marriage proposals, and he’s left with more enemies than friends, eventually leading to his doomed attempt to hatch dragons. Like Jace and Robb, Egg was as promising a king as you could hope for, and yet the main legacy of his reign was the tragic killing of most of his family (and I believe most of his reforms were gotten rid of in the years after his death).

This is also my basis for one of my gripes at S8 of GOT. Bran being King of Westeros and Sansa being Queen of the North are framed as these happy endings with the “right” people at last ruling, but neither of them have ever actually ruled anything before. And exactly like you said, ruling is it’s own beast, it tries you in ways you would never expect. So those two are propped up as more fit to rule than other characters in the show who have ruled imperfectly (Jon, Dany before she goes crazy, etc), but realistically they ALSO will be imperfect. They certainly have traits that I could see causing them issues in their reigns, and there are many conflicts I could see arising in Westeros after the show ends (ex. Iron Islands and Dorne declaring independence, anger from the Reach lords at a random Sellsword being made Lord of Highgarden). But by ending the show right before their reigns, our final monarchs Bran and Sansa get to be exempt from the trials and tribulations that have tested every other ruler in the show before them. If they are king and queen at the end of the books, maybe it’ll play out differently— but in the show I just found it frustrating that the “best” rulers are the ones who never actually ruled.

[mr-clow]

Prelude: The regrets of an imperatrix:

Notes from the author: I started writing a few months ago and defined a lot of historical events in my fantasy, this story goes over one of them and I had the idea to build the chapters as an Opera. Let's see how it goes. -------------------------------------------------------------------- The shared military and science station, Amanitore, had been peaceful for over a hundred years. Several species walk among the humans, but it was said that the station was shared because nearly 30% of the people living there were Kal’Hal. A 10% of the personnel that came and went on the passing ships were from other species. The station orbited between the ninth and tenth planet of the human solar system. In its four hundred years it had grown exponentially as one of the main stops orbiting the original human system and especially with the astounding amount of commerce conducted after we joined the Galactic Council a hundred and fifty years ago.

Jeanette Iceni was really happy with her life, she had gained a position as general two years ago, and she was raising a young daughter with her husband in the Amanitore station. Her skills have been proved as, maybe one of the best, political negotiator of the outer ring. Humans had been a recognized space faring species for the last eighth hundrish years, but only accepted as a significant governing self sustainable species in the last century and a half. And now, she was there, on the doors to all the vast space, handling human interactions and setting a peaceful example of how humanity could be a significant allied on the universe.

I walked into the command room of the station. This huge monster held almost half million souls between all the species that came and went and all the ones that lived here. A lot of familiar faces saluted me as I was in charge of all the military and security operations of this place. I told them to rest and Ictenia, a Kal’Hal that had gained her position as operation chief, dragged herself on her long tail with a data pad on her hand.

Ictenia – General Iceni, I have the list of the operations conducted during your absence since yesterday.

Jeanette – Thanks Lt Ictenia, is anything out of the ordinary, or it does require my attention?

Ictenia – Nothing immediate, but you should know that a Gubni ship asked permission to restock and refuel and is carrying a Gubni ambassador.

Jeanette – What? How I was not notified that an ambassador was travelling through our territory?

Ictenia – It wasn’t in any notice. How should I proceed?

Jeanette – Prepare the upper levels docks for a welcome ceremony and handle the communications with their ship to prepare for the event.

I smelled something fishy. The Gubni came from a garden world, even they evolved from plants. Nothing made them more proud than the fanfare that came with political events, and here I had one that came without notifying half of the universe where he was going.

The rest of the day went normally, I learned that in three days the Gubni ship was going to dock. Some Sav’Jok made a scene and I had to handle the situation only because they didn’t understand that this was a human base, and they had to acknowledge our laws. A lot of others informs later, and I was done for the day. I wondered how my little girl did today at school while I took a v-train that went through several levels to fetch her.

As I arrived to the school, I already could see her outside chatting with her friends, one young LintNok that haven’t learned to fly yet and two Sanarin, which I was sure she befriended more because they resembled an earth feline than any other reason. As I came closer, Kluc, the LintNok youngling, puffed her feathers as a greeting and the other three turned around. Jazmine, my daughter, run to me and gave me a hug while the other two bowed as a signal of respect. I chatted with them a few minutes as they told how their day was at school and I parted home. Mike was going to arrive later, so I stayed in the living room playing with Jazmine and then sent her to do her homework.

I took the chance to read about the Gubni and after two hours the only thing I accomplished was being more unease than before with all this. My husband came and took me out of my data pad, distracted me for a while until my frown was gone and after the diner and having Jazmine finally asleep we talked about my suspicions until I calmed down.

The next day I focused on the preparations for the arrival of the ambassador. I managed to get as much military presence as was peacefully possible, and as much as the inner council that handled the station allowed me. I was part of that council as my rank required it, but that group of tight up old people reacted as if I was being paranoid. They couldn’t see something wrong in anything, never. This day was going to be long, so I made some time to let my husband know he needed to get Jazmine off school, and then they could come as a parade was going to be held for the ambassador.

Hours later, a lot of discussions in the middle, and after straining the last drop of patience of my subordinates with the promise of a day off in mind, all the preparations finished. Finally, I could meet with my husband and held my little girl in my arms. We took our seats on the front row and saw the soft polished Gubni ship as it softly reached for the dock. It was a majestuous sight, as the ship reflected the lights and look like a dagger that cut the sight of the station and moved very differently to other's ship, like it was weightless. No thrusters, windows, or decks on it, only the sober silver reflection. Suddenly, several lines appeared beneath the ship and the standard docking clamps appeared and with a soft touch it finally landed and grabbed itself to the station. The band started playing while another set of lines made themselves visible and the ramp stated emerging from the ship.

A chill went down my spine, something was wrong. I grabbed Jazmine and pulled my husband to start running. Mike followed me dumbfounded until a second later laser shoots were heard and all the screaming started. I was a general, a part of humanity first line of defence but right now I was a mother, so I ran, I needed to protect my baby.

The screams and shots followed us for a few corridors, and then the explosion started. It wasn’t a rogue ship, it was a full scale attack to the station. The strong wind that was making it difficult for us to move meant that the atmosphere was leaking, quick. As I arrived to the escape pods I turn around and saw my husband looking at me, lying on the floor, all his left side red from the blood, and with only one look I understood. He wanted me to keep going. I climbed to the pod, pushed the emergency button and put my daughter on a seat. She looked at me with big tear filled eyes, she was bleeding too. “It hurts mommy” were the last words I heard from her as the sudden jolt of the ejection threw me to the floor.

[pargolettasworld]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWW8lanUTbY

When you think of Yossele Rosenblatt, you get a particular sound style in your mind’s ear.  You naturally start to think of grand, elaborate hazzanut.  That was certainly what Rosenblatt was known for, and there’s some glimpses on this recording of just how good he was at that style.  But he was much more than just the greatest cantor who ever lived.  He could also lead a chorus in a piece that takes the text of the Tenth Commandment and turns it into a cantor-and-meshorerim version of lively German operetta with lashings of drinking song.

The Tenth Commandment is “Do not covet your neighbor’s property,” and is usually taken to mean something like “Do not pressure your neighbor into selling you or giving you something that your neighbor owns, that you want, that your neighbor really doesn’t want to give you.”  Don’t force a sale or a gift.  You can drool over the property all you want; just don’t pressure your neighbor into signing it over to you.

About 120 years ago, someone decided that this concept needed to be conveyed in as lively and beer-soaked a cantorial outing as possible.  And we are forever grateful for that.

[thejesusmaninred]

"The Divorce." From Mark 10: 1-7.

The words for wine press gatt and divorce, gett in Hebrew are very similar. Both are integral to what is called the Gether, or Cycle of the Winepress, in which we now find ourselves in this Tenth Chapter or Tenth Degree of the Gospel of Saint Mark. The Tenth Degree is called #623, איןק, or "incorporation."

So at this stage of the whir, which is another way the Torah Hebrew explains it, Jesus discusses the latter, the one called the divorce.

Divorce

10 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.

2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

3 “What did Moses command you?” he replied.

4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”

5 “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’[a] 

7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,[b] 8 and the two will become one flesh.’[c] So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

The above is an extreme departure from how the world has viewed the following words which have become the scourge of same sex couples for billions of years. The discussion below pertains not to sex and marriage but the ways the words and the flesh become one via a proper understanding of the many and varied ways the Hebrew language interacts with itself. One including the fact the gender dimension of certain words greatly impacts their final definition.

Let us look first at the rubric to the section, which states Jesus changed regions or "aspects of the animal nature". He moves from Judea to across the Jordan. In Torah terms locations, genders, up, down, north or south all of these elements combine to create the final messaging of the scripture called a Gemara, "or thinned out response" but first what is done is called a Mishnah, "or fattening up" which is what we are doing here. There simply is no way to understand Christianity, Judaism or Islam without knowing how Mishnah and Gemara are done starting with v. 1:

Crowds came: Crowds are irrational fears that exist between classes of people. We know this was a huge problem in Rome it is a gigantic one in the USA and elsewhere because the government will not protect our dignity or human rights from religious diabolics. Jesus spoke exhaustively about the importance of this:

"The noun οχλος (ochlos) means crowd or rather a dynamic multitude. It lives on in English in words like "ochlophobia" (an irrational fear of crowds) and "ochlocracy" (a mob-rule; a government by the wild populace, as opposed to the carefully structured people of a democracy). It stems from an ancient Proto-Indo-European root "wegh-", meaning to move or transport per vehicle — hence also words like way, away, always, convey, convoy, deviate, envoy, pervious, previous, trivial, vector, vehement, vehicle, vex, via, vogue, voyage, wagon, wave, wiggle, and even the name Norway.

Our word emphasizes both movement and multitudinousness, and was on rare occasions used to express annoyance or trouble (see the verb οχλεω, ochleo below). Otherwise, it was used pretty much the same as its English counterpart. It occurs mostly in the singular to indicate a whole bunch of moving-about people, but in plural it denotes huge thronging masses (either consisting of crowds or adding up to one: Matthew 13:2). On occasion it's used to discriminate between aristocracy and the "common crowd" (Matthew 14:5, John 7:12)."

The Value in Gematria is טבבט‎, tabbat, "the claimant."

Jesus is setting himself up as a plaintiff who is suing the government for the sake of the greater good, and the crowd is gathering to hear the case.

Recall Abraham and Sarah are the basis for civilized governments. If these two divorce we are in very big trouble. So Jesus sues, saying they have to stay together, lest ye be hard hearted.

v. 2-4: Some Pharisees came. Pharisees are scientists that study the interactions of social problems with the law. All of us think like Pharisees. Whether or not we find what we are looking for in the religion is another matter.

How the question is posed in Judaism is as important as how it is answered. In this case I keep whittling away at the verse by building it or performing a Mishnah to fluff up the words a bit more. This is absolutely necessary in order to cross the language barriers and filter out centuries of interpretation and create a modern Gemara:

They questioned and provided a ratoinale for their current understanding. Like us they think Moses would be willing to grant a divorce.

A divorce decree as I said is called a gett. In Judaism, a divorce decree is called a get (or ghet), and it is a document that ends a Jewish marriage. The get is a 12-line document written in Aramaic by a scribe, and it is presented by the husband to his wife. The get includes a short declaration that states, "You are hereby permitted to all men". 

"I am?"

"She is!"

This does not mean we have to leave the old bag for a new one, it means we are pressing forward. This is a big world and there is lots to learn. Moses was telling the people not to become attached to one way of listening or learning. So, a divorce can be good.

The number is 10366, יג‎וו, yagwa, "to find the serenity of God."

5. Because your hearts were hard. A hard heart is one that is underdeveloped, unenlightened, self-absorbed, selfish, uncouth, toxic, habitually self-destructive.

None of these things are found on the Ephod, the qualities God said must eventually be found within a student of the Torah. Should one attempt this, one will realize God did not alienate Adam from Eve or Eve from the rest of mankind.

The Number is 9490, טדץ‎,tadtz, "will compress." Just like the grape is compressed to produce the wine.

As I said above, the gender of the words must be mushed together with the rest of the definition in order to come up with the Gemara. There is no such thing as sexism in the Torah. This Jesus is trying to emphasize in this discussion with the Pharisees:

v. 7-9: What God has joined together let no man separate. The Number is 11868, hiacho, "L'Chaim", "Cheers."

The Law and the laws forbid the government from playing a role in the difficulties of others. This is what is really meant by a divorce and its bizarre analog in the Gospel called "incorporation."

We have a lot of work to do- Donald Trump and the Republican Party and their terrorist pit crews at Christian Broadcasting and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Church of England, the Catholic Church, the Family Researh Council and all the seminaries all of it have to be burnt to stubble as recompense for the evil they have done in the eyes of the Lord if we are to claim to believe in and understand the Torah of the Gospel.

Verily, no matter what we say we recognize the importance of this statement, of how companies can fire employees, employees can quit, but people cannot be too separate from their governments.

[vinceleemiller]

The Cost of Insecurity | 1 Samuel 8:10-18

Are you sure you want to do that?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are in 1 Samuel 8. I've titled this chapter "When Our Insecurities Define Us."

Today, our text is 1 Samuel 8:10-18, which reads:

So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking for a king from him. He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” — 1 Samuel 8:10-18

That sounds fun. Sign me up!

But as ironic as it is, that's precisely what God's people decided. Even though Samuel carefully itemized a number of things a king would take from them. Did you hear the list? Did you notice the repetition of the verb "to take"?

Samuel clearly delineated that a king would “take” their:

Sons (v. 11)

Daughters (v. 13)

The best of their fields (v. 14)

The best of their vineyards (v. 14)

The best of their olive orchards (v. 14)

A tenth of their produce (v. 15)

Their servants (v. 16)

Their young men (v. 16)

Their donkeys (v. 16)

Then Samuel closes with this hand-washing declaration, "And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

We all make foolish decisions. But when we make foolish decisions, conscious of the consequences, we make fools of ourselves. And then, as Samuel declares, there will come a day when we want salvation from our foolish decisions. At this moment, we will cry out like fools.

Do you know how you stop making foolish decisions? You get wisdom from wise men who know God and heed their instruction. So if you are insecure and need wisdom today, ask a man wiser than yourself!

#WisdomInAction, #GodlyDecisions, #BiblicalLessons

Ask This:

How have past decisions, driven by insecurity or fear, impacted your life, and what could you have done differently with the wisdom you have now?

Who are the wise men in your life you can turn to for godly advice, and how can you intentionally seek their counsel more often?

Do This:

Seek wisdom in every insecurity.

Pray This:

Lord, grant me the wisdom to seek and heed godly counsel in my decisions. Help me to trust in Your guidance and avoid the pitfalls of my own foolishness. Amen.

Play This:

Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me.

Check out this episode!

[bookoformon]

Ether 9, Part 2. "The Smear."

A secret society is thriving and now it gets worse: A man named Nimrah, "the Smear" takes over and he's worse than the kings and leaders that came before him. And the people love it. They are ready to go balls in for him:

7 And it came to pass that Akish began to be jealous of his son, therefore he shut him up in prison, and kept him upon little or no food until he had suffered death.

8 And now the brother of him that suffered death, (and his name was Nimrah) was angry with his father because of that which his father had done unto his brother.

9 And it came to pass that Nimrah gathered together a small number of men, and fled out of the land, and came over and dwelt with Omer.

10 And it came to pass that Akish begat other sons, and they won the hearts of the people, notwithstanding they had sworn unto him to do all manner of iniquity according to that which he desired.

A smear is a kind of profanity that is so sickening it qualifies as a cancer. It spreads fast, multiplies, and causes healthy tissue to starve and suffocate and succumb. Donald Trump, the Evangelicals, Mormons and their platform, the Republican Party are a huge smear.

The Gematria reveals in four easy steps how to create a smear:

v. 7:  And it came to pass that Akish began to be jealous of his son, therefore he shut him up in prison. The Value in Gematria is 3867, ג‎חוו‎ ‎ ‎"They saw it."

Jealousy is the root cause of all sin. Animals cannot control their jealousy and will attack and kill rivals. Civilized men do no such thing. So a man who is jealous is in prison with his animal passions and only the study of the Torah will teach him how to reprieve himself. Either that, or he will die:

v. 8:  And now the brother of him that suffered death, (and his name was Nimrah) was angry. After jealousy comes anger. And as in the case of Cain and Abel, anger leads to murder.

The Value in Gematria is 9269, טבוט‎, tabot, "A torus."

1.GEOMETRYa surface or solid formed by rotating a closed curve, especially a circle, around a line that lies in the same plane but does not intersect it (e.g., like a ring-shaped doughnut).

2.ARCHITECTUREa large convex molding, typically semicircular in cross section, especially as the lowest part of the base of a column.

The structure of the Torah mirrors the development of sentience and enlightenment. It is likened to up upward coiling spiral staircase. A torus is on the same plane and traps the brain in a never ending cycle of more of the same. This is what happens when anger and jealousy are allowed to pervade human civilization.

v. 9: And it came to pass that Nimrah gathered together a small number of men, and fled out of the land, and came over and dwelt with Omer. "The Smear left the Promised Land and dwelt with the Speaker, the chairman of the Secret Combination."

The Value in Gematria is 6015, סמך המשח עשר, "Based on the tenth anointing."

This means these men of ill repute self-annointed to become the Kings of Israel and this was of course the correct appointment. Because of mankind's immense corruption and deliberate defiance of the Torah and the Commandments, God has hidden the Annointing until such time as an appropriate candidate appears, one the Rab says will quality as Annointed rather than appointed:

"The Talmud (Horiyot 11b) explains that whereas all High Priests were anointed, a king was only anointed if he began a new dynasty or if there was some controversy surrounding his appointment. This is why, as we saw above, only a few kings were anointed throughout history. (Some controversy or instability existed at the time all the kings listed were anointed, such as King Solomon, who was opposed by his brother Adonijah.)

In addition, there was also a special “Priest anointed for war” (“mishuach milchama”) – who was anointed for the specific role of speaking to the troops before they went out to battle, both to encourage them and to excuse certain classes of people who were exempt from fighting. (See Deut. 20:1-9, Talmud Sotah 42a, Horiyot 12b.)

The special anointing oil which Moses prepared was hidden away by King Josiah towards the end of the First Temple era – when he hid the Ark of the Covenant and a number of other sacred items, knowing that the Temple was soon to be destroyed. From that point new High Priests were “anointed” simply by wearing the 8 garments of the High Priest and beginning to serve. (The later King Jehoahaz was likewise only anointed with persimmon oil (Talmud Horiyot 12a).)

In the End of Days when the Temple is rebuilt, the oil will be revealed from its hiding place – together with the Ark and other items – and both the future High Priest and the Messiah, the future king of Israel, will be anointed with it.

It should be noted that since oil was typically used to anoint people to greatness, the Torah occasionally uses the term to anoint (“mashach”) where it simply means to appoint to high position, without the use of oil (see e.g. I Kings 19:16,19 regarding Elijah’s appointment of Elisha as his successor, and Isaiah 61:1).

Likewise, the Torah occasionally uses the term “the anointed one” = “mashiach” / “messiah” to refer to any person appointed to carry out an important task. People sometimes mistake this word to refer to the Messiah proper, but the word is not limited to that definition. It simply means “the appointed one,” and very often from the context is clearly referring to someone else. See for example Isaiah 45:1 regarding Cyrus, Lamentations 4:20 regarding Josiah, and Psalms 105:15 regarding all of Israel."

v. 10: And it came to pass that Akish begat other sons, and they won the hearts of the people, notwithstanding they had sworn unto him to do all manner of iniquity according to that which he desired.

The Value in Gematria is 10502, י‎האֶפֶסב, yehapesab, "God is the Father of the Alphabet."

No you may not do whatever you want out of necessity, you do not take English translations of the Torah or the Gospels literally, yes you need to take the laws of the land literally, and they forbid corruption, they forbid Pro-Life and election fraud, sex with minors, rape, murder, and terrorism.

Yes the White House legally has to enforce these laws and get rid of corruption in the government, close down all organizations that are not in compliance and declare the land free of slavery, jealousy, anger, fear, oppression, and corruption.

[ancestorsofjudah]

2 Kings 23: 1-7: "The Echelon."

The High Priest convinces the people of Judah it is all right to celebrate Shabbat. He reports they are amenable back to the King.

As the Spokesperson for the people, the King takes over the role of the High Priest and rededicates the Temple. But first, he gets his broom out and sweeps the floor of any remaining varmints that feel a bit too comfortable spending time in with old men and women that do not know how to truly embrace life.

These are the Seven Inferior Offices, which pertain to the Echelon, the attainment to purpose in life, which can only be found via the removal of all ritual objects and practices that prevent one from operating in the world as a fully sane adult.

They are:

The Call.

Nature.

The Climb.

The World.

Differentiation/Personalization.

Critical Thinking.

Release/Liberation/Self-Realization.

Josiah Renews the Covenant

23 Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 

2 He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. 

3 The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.

4 The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the priests next in rank and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the Lord all the articles made for Baal and Asherah and all the starry hosts. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron Valley and took the ashes to Bethel. 

5 He did away with the idolatrous priests appointed by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the towns of Judah and on those around Jerusalem—those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations and to all the starry hosts. 

6 He took the Asherah pole from the temple of the Lord to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem and burned it there. He ground it to powder and scattered the dust over the graves of the common people. 

7 He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the temple of the Lord, the quarters where women did weaving for Asherah.

The Torah says we must think alike in many ways so we are able to coexist, but upon incororpation of the laws of coexistence, it insists on those that enforce independent existence. The combination gives birth the to the Self.

The Self is the most important aspect of religion. It cannot be explained, only witnessed. For the Self to reign, one must not only be disciplined, i.e., in charge of oneself, one must also think for oneself.

23:7 in the Melachim says the Self is a dividend that results form independent study and practice of the Torah is freedom from bondage to the Temple.

For the male archetype, which inclines towards making a boy's penis public property, this means he finally gets to be his own man.

For women, who "weave the law together" into the fabric of society, emancipation from the Temple gives her the right to live life according to patterns that are hers alone.

The above are expressed in Seven Days I call the Seven Inferior Offices as they explain why we give up rote rituals of religion in search of the Self in order to simply abide as the Self.

The Values in Gematria are:

v. 1: The King called. Self-sovereignty is the keenest desire all men share. It is called Malchut in Hebrew:

"The tenth and final sefira is called malchut. Malchut contains two completely opposite qualities, called hitnasut, meaning "exaltedness," and its opposite shiflut, meaning "humility". In the explanation of the sefira of keter, we noted that keter, the beginning, is wedged in malchut — the end.

The reverse is also true — that malchut is wedged in keter. We explained that this means that the final product, malchut, is the original intention of the entire process of emanation. When malchut is still contained in the original intention (that is, in keter), it is in a state of exaltedness. And when it descends to its place as the last of the sefirot, it is in a state of humility. However, it is not that malchut is in one state or the other; rather, it is in both states simultaneously.…

On one hand, malchut receives all that it has from the other sefirot and is described in Kabbala as "having nothing of her own"; thus, the Zohar compares malchut to the moon which has no light of her own.

On the other hand, malchut is the final revelation of the Divine Light for which the entire process began; it was for the purpose of malchut that all the sefirot were emanated. Thus malchut is both the receiver and the consummation of giving."

The Value in Gematria is 3043, גאֶפֶסד‎ג‎‎, gapesdag, "the plaster echelon." The Plaster Echelon is the desire to understand how creation works and find one's place within it. The quest begins with the Mezuzah, the Doorway, Baruch Ha Shem, Baruch Adonai, "I pay homage to One Who Knows All, I pay homage to He Who Houses and Feeds Us."

To profess the Mezuzah is the cure for the sin incurred in Eden, which is barred from re-entry lest one answer the two Archangels, Michael and Gabriel, "Who is God, He is the Almighty, the Most High."

One cannot be independent or know the Self unless one first pays respect to Ha Shem. Doing it our way has just never worked.

v. 2: He went up to the Temple: The Value in Gematria is 9226, טב‎בו‎ ‎ , his nature. We say we go up into the Higher Self, but that is also delusion, we really don't go anywhere and God can be found while one is going down quite easily nicely too, so what one needs to do through learning in the Temple is find one's total nature.

We can come to know the sinful nature without any trouble at all, but to know the fullness of the Self, we need help.

v. 3: The King stood by the Pillar: The Pillar is called the Talmud, the "the very best dew of the Torah" which is found in the first letter of the alefbeis, alef, which means "to learn."

The Value in Gematria is 1321, בגבא‎‎ , "the eyebrow." The brow or eyebrow symbolizes one's ability to recognize all that emanates from Ha Shem through one's own eyes. We do not make ourselves or our souls, we groom them. We cannot likewise make the Self only bring it closer to what is recognizable by us.

Unlike other parts of the body, we do not shave our eyebrows. What grows around the eyes is kept lifelong. To learn all one can all of one's life is the only way to fulfill one's time here. If we could live forever, we would still not understand the meaning of forever. So we learn as much as can in order to obtain as much meaning as we can.

v. 4: The King ordered the priest to remove the articles from the Temple. These included the sun, the moon, Baal, the Asherah Poles and incense burners. How many times do you need to hear Jesus loves me, this I know, sang by some guy in a frock before you actually acknowledge the Maker of Heaven and Earth is real?

The verse says these things were burnt to ash and put in Kidron in Bethel meaning they were left behind in the darkness of the past so that the soul could come to interact with the rest of the world:

The noun בית (bayit) means house. It sometimes merely denotes a domestic building, but mostly it denotes the realm of authority of the house-father, or אב (ab). This ab is commonly the living alpha male of a household, but may very well be a founding ancestor (as in the familiar term the "house of Israel"). The אב (ab) may also be a deity, in which case the בית (bayit) is that which we know as a temple.

In the larger economy, a house interacts with other houses. These interactions are governed by the אב (ab), or "father" and executed by the בנים (benim), or "sons": those people living in the house, irrespective of any biological relation with the אב (ab). The "sons" combined add up to אם ('em), which means both "mother" and "tribe".

The Value in Gematria is 7055, זאֶפֶסה‎‎ה‎, "climbed."

At some point in time, just as Moses did, one has to slip away from Egypt to the mountain and climb to meet Ha Shem on his terms instead of those legislated by other men. He is real, He can be found residing in between heaven and the earth, right where He has said.

v. 5: He did away with the idolatrous priests. All priests deal in idolatry. Adam and Eve are idols, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Jesus, these are all figures of speech used to illustrate the path to the Supreme, who cannot be contained or fully explained by characters in a book.

Search as one might, one cannot find these things or evidence of them, only Ha Shem can ever be found. Once a Jewish person realizes this, that the Rabbi or Rabbini is but a snake oil salesman and only ever can be without Ha Shem, one understands one's Jewishness at last.

The Value in Gematria is 12630, יבו‎ג‎ אֶפֶס, yavog efes, "zero is fashion vogue."

v. 6: He took the Asherah Pole. The Asherah Pole is "a heathen's idea of happiness." Not all that a heathen does is bad, just most of it, the idea being it is probably not going to be in very good taste. Hence the comment about the common people, the unlearned.

The Value in Gematria is 10355, אאֶפֶסגהה‎ ‎, Aepsagaha, "proofreading somewhere."

This forum is a proofread of the Torah and the Tanakh. One cannot just read a scripture and then run amok. If one wants to turn the Inferior Office into a Superior Office, then one must read critically.

There are four ways to read the Torah etc. in order to ensure one is not struck by an inferior meaning in the text:

Peshat, the plain (simple) or literal reading;

Remez, the allegorical reading through text's hint or allusion.

Derash, the metaphorical reading through a (rabbinic sermon's) comparison/illustration (midrash)

Sod, the hidden meaning reading through text's secret or mystery (Kabbalah).

ex.

“Moses received the Torah from Sinai."

Moses means "water of freedom", Sinai means "to gather and store information for use by the human race as information technology."

A sermon would include ways to acknowledge without knowledge and learning, we are fucked, doomed to be servants or slaves to the mukluks like Donald Trump and the freaks that follow him.

The Value in Gematria is 1743, אזד‎ג, azad, ‎‎"the footstep, to pass by, to advance." We must follow Moses up the mountain and see Ha Shem for ourselves and become free of the superstition and religion, surpassing their ridiculous self-imposed fears and boundaries that do not contribute to the meaning or value of life on earth.

v. 7: He tore down the Quarters. We discussed this means we gravitate away from the corners and moves towards the Center, also called Ha Shem. As stated above, adolescent boys must be prostituted to the temple by their parents until they are in charge of themselves, then they are free to go.

The Value in Gematria is 10157, יאהז‎ , 10157, yahz, "will hold, but then release."

"The verb ישע (yasha'), probably originally meant something like to be wide or spacious (in Arabic it still does), and its counterpart is the verb צרר (sarar), meaning to be narrow, to bind or to be in distress. Our verb ישע (yasha') means exactly the opposite: to be wide, to be loose or delivered, and to be saved.

This root and its derivatives occur 353 times in the Old Testament. HAW Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament notes that deliverance indicates a movement from distress to safety, and generally must come from some somewhere outside the party oppressed.

The one who brings this deliverance is known as the "savior," and this may be a human agent delivering from any kind of earthly oppression, to God and man's deliverance from evil. However, any human savior is regarded as empowered by YHWH, and so, all deliverance comes from YHWH; the God of our salvation and deliverance (Psalm 68:19-20)."

Compare these to the Seven Superior Offices which are:

Affection.

Honesty.

Happiness.

Understanding.

Grace.

Humanity.

Peace.

The Inferior Offices named above are the path the purposes named in those I have called the Superior. Members of the Assembly of the Kingdom of Israel must be able to relay the importance of both types of offices to the public and their constituents.

[mylordmyfriendsposts]

Wrong Actions

A reflection on Hidden wrong-doings {sins}  from Joshua Chapter 7 verse 20 to 21.

V 20 “Achan replied to Joshua, “it is true. I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I did.”

V21″ when I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Babylon, 200 silver shekels, a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, I coveted them and took them. you can see for yourself, they are concealed in the ground inside my tent, with the money under the cloak.”

Achan had the sin of covetousness, which lead him to another sin of stealing.

Covet means: to want something enviously or eagerly, especially something belonging to someone else.

The book of Joshua is in the Old Testament and the Old Testament is covered by The ten Commandments.

The tenth commandment; You shall not covet your neighbors house, your neighbors wife or processions.

The eight commandment ; you shall not steal.

Joshua had just conquered Jericho {remember the walls that came tumbling down} which was a complete victory with The Lord help. Joshua now set his sights on Ai, however Joshua and his army were ambushed by the people of Ai.

Joshua turned and listen to the Lord to find out why things went so wrong. Joshua listens and hears that the anger of the Lord was against them, because after the battle of Jericho, someone had stolen forbidden plunder from the city. {Joshua 7 verse 10 to 12]

An inquiry revealed Achan was to blame. Achan admits his guilt and suffers the punishment for his guilt.

This story is clear in it’s purpose to explain one person’s offense has wider consequences. Greed is not just private and personal, it always effects community. a story like this should make us more alert of our responsibilities to our communities we belong to and effect.

We can all bring about change if we listen to Our Lord and Our Friend. Things can hold us back, but remember 1 John 1 verse 9:

“If we confess our sins. He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Again remember once we have accepted Christ Jesus, we have a clean slate, but we are still sinners {only now sinners saved by grace}.

Keep short accounts with Our Lord and Our Friend, so our work for Him will not be hindered.

Read the story about Achan in the book of Joshua and enjoy for yourself.

God Bless

O F J

[intergalacticstarlight]

well if you told me you were  d r o w n i n g i would not lend a hand i've seen your face before  m y   f r i e n d but i don't know if you know who i am

[istumpysk]

Operation Stumpy Re-Read

ADWD: Jon V (Chapter 21)

Bowen Marsh had urged him to move into the Old Bear's former chambers in the King's Tower after Stannis vacated them, but Jon had declined. Moving into the king's chambers could too easily be taken to mean he did not expect the king to return.

He's not entitled to your chambers, you stupid boy.

+.+.+

Jon washed and dressed and left the armory, stopping in the yard outside just long enough to say a few words of encouragement to Hop-Robin and Emmett's other charges. He declined Ty's offer of a tail, as usual. He would have men enough about him; if it came to blood, two more would hardly matter. He did take Longclaw, though, and Ghost followed at his heels.

You're surrounded by wildlings and dissenters, you stupid boy.

+.+.+

Marsh pursed his lips. "Lord Commander Mormont—"

"—is dead. And not at wildling hands, but at the hands of his own Sworn Brothers, men he trusted. 

+.+.+

Dolorous Edd had heard the entire exchange. As Bowen Marsh trotted off, he nodded toward his back and said, "Pomegranates. All those seeds. A man could choke to death. I'd sooner have a turnip. Never knew a turnip to do a man any harm."

+.+.+

It was at times like this that Jon missed Maester Aemon the most. Clydas tended to the ravens well enough, but he had not a tenth of Aemon Targaryen's knowledge or experience, and even less of his wisdom.

Check his temperature, he's delirious.

Thank god Aemon won't be anywhere near Jon when Daenerys arrives.

+.+.+

The Night's Watch has lost too many of its best men, Jon reflected, as the wagons began to move. The Old Bear, Qhorin Halfhand, Donal Noye, Jarmen Buckwell, my uncle …

. . . you.

Something feels off about him saying uncle instead of Benjen.

+.+.+

Half a mile south of Castle Black, Edd urged his garron close to Jon's and said, "M'lord? Look up there. The big drunkard on the hill."

The drunkard was an ash tree, twisted sideways by centuries of wind. And now it had a face. A solemn mouth, a broken branch for a nose, two eyes carved deep into the trunk, gazing north up the kingsroad, toward the castle and the Wall.

A twisted drunkard with a broken branch for a nose? Is this Tyrion gazing towards the Wall?

+.+.+

The wildlings brought their gods with them after all.

Good.

+.+.+

Jon glanced back at the face, wondering who had carved it. He had posted guards around Mole's Town, both to keep his crows away from the wildling women and to keep the free folk from slipping off southward to raid. Whoever had carved up the ash had eluded his sentries, plainly. And if one man could slip through the cordon, others could as well. I could double the guard again, he thought sourly. Waste twice as many men, men who might otherwise be walking the Wall.

Wild speculation within the fandom over who carved these faces. Was it Bloodraven? The children? A crow? Pretty sure it was wildlings being defiant, like the book suggests.

I thought it was widely understood Bran and Bloodraven don't need trees to see?

"Once you have mastered your gifts, you may look where you will and see what the trees have seen, be it yesterday or last year or a thousand ages past. Men live their lives trapped in an eternal present, between the mists of memory and the sea of shadow that is all we know of the days to come. Certain moths live their whole lives in a day, yet to them that little span of time must seem as long as years and decades do to us. An oak may live three hundred years, a redwood tree three thousand. A weirwood will live forever if left undisturbed. To them seasons pass in the flutter of a moth's wing, and past, present, and future are one. Nor will your sight be limited to your godswood. The singers carved eyes into their heart trees to awaken them, and those are the first eyes a new greenseer learns to use … but in time you will see well beyond the trees themselves." - Bran III, ADWD

+.+.+

A mile farther on, they came upon a second face, carved into a chestnut tree that grew beside an icy stream, where its eyes could watch the old plank bridge that spanned its flow. "Twice as much trouble," announced Dolorous Edd.

The chestnut was leafless and skeletal, but its bare brown limbs were not empty. On a low branch overhanging the stream a raven sat hunched, its feathers ruffled up against the cold. When it spied Jon it spread its wings and gave a scream. When he raised his fist and whistled, the big black bird came flapping down, crying, "Corn, corn, corn."

Now a chestnut tree is reminding me of Theon.

Is this a Bloodraven or a Branraven? I pick Bran. Always Bran.

+.+.+

He wondered if they would all be reduced to eating ravens before the coming winter had run its course.

One boy will eat raven.

+.+.+

Just north of Mole's Town they came upon the third watcher, carved into the huge oak that marked the village perimeter, its deep eyes fixed upon the kingsroad. That is not a friendly face, Jon Snow reflected. The faces that the First Men and the children of the forest had carved into the weirwoods in eons past had stern or savage visages more oft than not, but the great oak looked especially angry, as if it were about to tear its roots from the earth and come roaring after them. Its wounds are as fresh as the wounds of the men who carved it.

Is this someone? Angry, freshly wounded face. . . Jorah?

I'm crazy. I'll stop.

+.+.+

Pig ignorance, Jon thought. The free folk were no different than the men of the Night's Watch; some were clean, some dirty, but most were clean at times and dirty at other times. This stink was just the smell of a thousand people jammed into cellars and tunnels that had been dug to shelter no more than a hundred.

[...]

There are wolves amongst these sheep, still.

Val had reminded him of that, on his last visit with her. "Free folk and kneelers are more alike than not, Jon Snow. Men are men and women women, no matter which side of the Wall we were born on. Good men and bad, heroes and villains, men of honor, liars, cravens, brutes … we have plenty, as do you."

She was not wrong. The trick was telling one from the other, parting the sheep from the goats.

Love how the show turned Jon's basic empathy into him wanting to be a wildling.

+.+.+

There were three women for every man, many with children—pale skinny things clutching at their skirts. Jon saw very few babes in arms. The babes in arms died during the march, he realized, and those who survived the battle died in the king's stockade.

That's fucked.

+.+.+

The tumult and the shoving died. Heads turned. A child began to cry. Mormont's raven walked from Jon's left shoulder to his right, bobbing its head and muttering, "Snow, snow, snow."

It's Mormont's raven? Why is Mormont's raven near Mole's Town instead of in Jon's room?

BRAN?!

+.+.+

"You crows eat good enough." Halleck shoved forward.

For now. "We hold the Wall. The Wall protects the realm … and you now. You know the foe we face. You know what's coming down on us. Some of you have faced them before. Wights and white walkers, dead things with blue eyes and black hands. I've seen them too, fought them, sent one to hell. They kill, then they send your dead against you. The giants were not able to stand against them, nor you Thenns, the ice-river clans, the Hornfoots, the free folk … and as the days grow shorter and the nights colder, they are growing stronger. You left your homes and came south in your hundreds and your thousands … why, but to escape them? To be safe. Well, it's the Wall that keeps you safe. It's us that keeps you safe, the black crows you despise."

"Safe and starved," said a squat woman with a windburned face, a spearwife by the look of her.

"You want more food?" asked Jon. "The food's for fighters. Help us hold the Wall, and you'll eat as well as any crow." Or as poorly, when the food runs short.

[...]

An old man with a turnip cradled against his chest said, "You kill us, you starve us, now you want t' make us slaves."

[...]

"You have to pick," Jon Snow repeated. "All of you. No one is asking you to take our vows, and I do not care what gods you worship. My own gods are the old gods, the gods of the North, but you can keep the red god, or the Seven, or any other god who hears your prayers. It's spears we need. Bows. Eyes along the Wall."

[...]

"The choice is yours," Jon Snow told them. "Those who want to help us hold the Wall, return to Castle Black with me and I'll see you armed and fed. The rest of you, get your turnips and your onions and crawl back inside your holes."

The word slave was not a mistake.

Notice how they're given a choice? Notice how they'll still receive food and land in the Gift if they don't assist the Night's Watch?

Daenerys Stannis didn't offer them true freedom, but Jon does.

+.+.+

Sigorn's father, the old Magnar, had been crushed beneath the falling stair during his attack on Castle Black. I would feel the same if someone asked me to make common cause with the Lannisters, Jon told himself.

Lol.

+.+.+

I will take any boy above the age of twelve who knows how to hold a spear or string a bow. I will take your old men, your wounded, and your cripples, even those who can no longer fight. There are other tasks they may be able to perform. Fletching arrows, milking goats, gathering firewood, mucking out our stables … the work is endless.

Those too old or young to be of use had been cast into the streets, along with the infirm and the crippled. - Daenerys I, ADWD

Both will be stabbed, but only one earns a ticket back.

+.+.+

And yes, I will take your women too. I have no need of blushing maidens looking to be protected, but I will take as many spearwives as will come.

Oh my god, the death of my ship. We'll never recover from this.

+.+.+

"And girls?" a girl asked. She looked as young as Arya had, the last time Jon had seen her.

"Sixteen and older."

"You're taking boys as young as twelve."

Down in the Seven Kingdoms boys of twelve were often pages or squires; many had been training at arms for years. Girls of twelve were children. These are wildlings, though.

You better get over that quick, I'm told you'll be falling in love with an 11-year-old.

+.+.+

A pair of striplings followed her, boys no older than fourteen. Next a scarred man with a missing eye. "I seen them too, the dead ones. Even crows are better'n that." A tall spearwife, an old man on crutches, a moonfaced boy with a withered arm, a young man whose red hair reminded Jon of Ygritte.

Lol.

+.+.+

The dam broke then. Halleck was a man of note. Mance was not wrong. "Free folk don't follow names, or little cloth animals sewn on a tunic," the King-Beyond-the-Wall had told him. "They won't dance for coins, they don't care how you style yourself or what that chain of office means or who your grandsire was. They follow strength. They follow the man."

And they don't follow Stannis.

+.+.+

By the time the last withered apple had been handed out, the wagons were crowded with wildlings, and they were sixty-three stronger than when the column had set out from Castle Black that morning. "What will you do with them?" Bowen Marsh asked Jon on the ride back up the kingsroad.

Hilarious. Three Jon foils.

Reek II -> Jon V

In the previous chapter, Theon convinces 63 ironborn to surrender, and escorts them to their death.

Along the rotting-plank road, wooden stakes were driven deep into the boggy ground; there the corpses festered, red and dripping. Sixty-three, he knew, there are sixty-three of them. One was short half an arm. Another had a parchment shoved between its teeth, its wax seal still unbroken. - Reek II, ADWD

Then Ramsay displays those 63 corpses on wooden stakes, which is a nod to Daenerys crucifying 163 Meereenese nobles.

Meanwhile, Jon recruits 63 wildlings to fight with him.

One of these things is not like the others.

+.+.+

The Lord Steward glanced back. "Women too? Our brothers are not accustomed to having women amongst them, my lord. Their vows … there will be fights, rapes …"

"These women have knives and know how to use them."

"And the first time one of these spearwives slits the throat of one of our brothers, what then?"

"We will have lost a man," said Jon, "but we have just gained sixty-three. You're good at counting, my lord. Correct me if I'm wrong, but my reckoning leaves us sixty-two ahead."

Marsh was unconvinced. "You've added sixty-three more mouths, my lord … but how many are fighters, and whose side will they fight on? If it's the Others at the gates, most like they'll stand with us, I grant you … but if it's Tormund Giantsbane or the Weeping Man come calling with ten thousand howling killers, what then?"

"Then we'll know. So let us hope it never comes to that."

Update: pomegranate still unhappy.

I don't envy Jon's position at all.

Final thoughts:

Sure, Jon's chapters may be agonizing, but think about how much fun it will be when it's Daenerys narrating her own downfall.

It's our reward after Ned, Robb, and now this.

-> return to menu <-

[thelustybraavosimaid]

your post about rhaegar and martells being POC can literally be debunked in few lines: 1. george PICTURES the martells as LOOKING mediterranean, but he also wrote martells with orientalist tropes, they are victims of westerosi discrimination/colorism and targ/valyrian imperialism (because he also said they were inspired by wales and palestine, people who resisted COLONIALISM) so theyre still the marginalized “other” (part 2 in next ask)

Okay, let's go through this in its entirety, because I think it would be very fun to pick apart.

Allow me to post the comment that George made here:

Why are you trying to argue with the author here? It is very clear to me that he has a specific look in mind when it comes to the Dornish. George mentioned Amok's version of Oberyn, pictured here:

And here is Magali's version of Arianne:

Neither of these artworks resemble PoC to me.

And speaking of Palestine, I think you misinterpreted what George was saying here:

[Source]

He said nothing about colonialism in this SSM.

Your second point makes no sense. Jaime was a knighted member of the Kingsguard. Rhaegar entrusted him to do his job. Are you trying to suggest that in a fictional world where ten year old Osric Stark and sixteen year old Jon Snow can become Lord Commanders of the Night's Watch but Jaime is completely and utterly incapable of protecting Elia and her children?

The day had been windy when he said farewell to Rhaegar, in the yard of the Red Keep. The prince had donned his night-black armor, with the three-headed dragon picked out in rubies on his breastplate. "Your Grace," Jaime had pleaded, "let Darry stay to guard the king this once, or Ser Barristan. Their cloaks are as white as mine."

Prince Rhaegar shook his head. "My royal sire fears your father more than he does our cousin Robert. He wants you close, so Lord Tywin cannot harm him. I dare not take that crutch away from him at such an hour."

Jaime's anger had risen up in his throat. "I am not a crutch. I am a knight of the Kingsguard."

"Then guard the king," Ser Jon Darry snapped at him. "When you donned that cloak, you promised to obey." (Jaime I, AFfC)

Jaime was a crutch, but not a hostage. The hostages were Elia, Rhaenys, and Aegon.

"Rhaegar met Robert on the Trident, and you know what happened there. When the word reached court, Aerys packed the queen off to Dragonstone with Prince Viserys. Princess Elia would have gone as well, but he forbade it. Somehow he had gotten it in his head that Prince Lewyn must have betrayed Rhaegar on the Trident, but he thought he could keep Dorne loyal so long as he kept Elia and Aegon by his side. The traitors want my city, I heard him tell Rossart, but I'll give them naught but ashes. Let Robert be king over charred bones and cooked meat." (Jaime V, ASoS)

No, he did not.

Rhaegar had put his hand on Jaime's shoulder. "When this battle's done I mean to call a council. Changes will be made. I meant to do it long ago, but...well, it does no good to speak of roads not taken. We shall talk when I return." (Jaime I, AFfC)

He had always had plans to depose his father, even before the Tourney at Harrenhal. I posted a passage before, of how it was speculated that Rhaegar put forth a large amount of gold for prizes so that he could have an impromptu Great Council to discuss what to do about Aerys. I'll post it again for you.

This is known: The tourney was first announced by Walter Whent, Lord of Harrenhal, late in the year 280 AC, not long after a visit from his younger brother, Ser Oswell Whent, a knight of the Kingsguard. That this would be an event of unrivaled magnificence was clear from the first, for Lord Whent was offering prizes thrice as large as those given at the great Lannisport tourney of 272 AC, hosted by Lord Tywin Lannister in celebration of Aerys II's tenth year upon the Iron Throne.

Most took this simply as an attempt by Whent to outdo the former Hand and demonstrate the wealth and splendor of his house. There were those, however, who believed this no more than a ruse, and Lord Whent no more than a catspaw. His lordship lacked the funds to pay such munificent prizes, they argued; someone else must surely have stood behind him, someone who did not lack for gold but preferred to remain in the shadows whilst allowing the Lord of Harrenhal to claim the glory for hosting this magnificent event. We have no shred of evidence that such a "shadow host" ever existed, but the notion was widely believed at the time and remains so today.

But if indeed there was a shadow, who was he, and why did he choose to keep his role a secret? A dozen names have been put forward over the years, but only one seems truly compelling: Rhaegar Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone.

If this tale be believed, 'twas Prince Rhaegar who urged Lord Walter to hold the tourney, using his lordship's brother Ser Oswell as a gobetween. Rhaegar provided Whent with gold sufficient for splendid prizes in order to bring as many lords and knights to Harrenhal as possible. The prince, it is said, had no interest in the tourney as a tourney; his intent was to gather the great lords of the realm together in what amounted to an informal Great Council, in order to discuss ways and means of dealing with the madness of his father, King Aerys II, possibly by means of a regency or a forced abdication. (The Fall of the Dragons—The Year of the False Spring, The World of Ice and Fire)

About Jorah...

Authors do not include lines like that for fun. They are specifically there to show similarities between characters, even characters that we do not know much about. Again, we know what kind of person Lyanna was like just by reading Arya's POV chapters and gauging her behaviour. George deliberately makes them literary mirrors.

We also know what kind of person Rhaegar was through Ser Barristan. Especially when he makes comparisons between Dany and Rhaegar. He wasn't being biased, as he had no qualms of telling Dany that her father was mad.

"His father's son?" Dany frowned. "What does that mean?"

The old knight did not blink. "Your father is called 'the Mad King' in Westeros. Has no one ever told you?"

"Viserys did." The Mad King. "The Usurper called him that, the Usurper and his dogs." The Mad King. "It was a lie."

"Why ask for truth," Ser Barristan said softly, "if you close your ears to it?" He hesitated, then continued. "I told you before that I used a false name so the Lannisters would not know that I'd joined you. That was less than half of it, Your Grace. The truth is, I wanted to watch you for a time before pledging you my sword. To make certain that you were not..."

"...my father's daughter?" If she was not her father's daughter, who was she? (Daenerys VI, ASoS)

I'm curious on where you got the idea that Aegon was born as Elia was bedridden, because I cannot find anything that says that.

Some claimed that the crown prince was planning to depose his father and seize the Iron Throne for himself, whilst others said that King Aerys meant to disinherit Rhaegar and name Viserys heir in his place. Nor did the birth of King Aerys's first grandchild, a girl named Rhaenys, born on Dragonstone in 280 AC, do aught to reconcile father and son. (The Targaryen Kings—Aerys II, The World of Ice and Fire)

Elia went on bedrest for half a year, or close to a half a year.

After the birth of Princess Rhaenys, her mother had been bedridden for half a year, and Prince Aegon's birth had almost been the death of her. (The Griffin Reborn, ADwD)

Rhaegar left Elia and their children in King's Landing in 282 AC, so how was Elia still on bedrest?

Elia always had a frail disposition, but she was not *sick*. She simply had fragile health.

I don't consider Littlefinger and Rhaegar parallels just because they muttered a woman's name. That's silly.

I have no idea what Jon has to do with refuting stupidity. Your entire post was about headcanons on top of headcanons with no passage from the series in sight.

[amethystmpress]

JON SNOW APPRECIATION MONTH 2022: ↳ Day 6: Familial Relationships (jon and aemon, worry and loss pt. 3)

Jon knew he had to eat, but it was company he craved, not food. A cup of wine with Maester Aemon, some quiet words with Sam, a few laughs with Pyp and Grenn and Toad. Aemon and Sam were gone, though, and his other friends… "I will take supper with the men this evening." - jon iii, adwd

If he does return. Jon feared for Sam and Maester Aemon. Cotter Pyke had written from Eastwatch to report that the Storm Crow had sighted the wreckage of a galley along the coast of Skagos. Whether the broken ship was Blackbird, one of Stannis Baratheon's sellsails, or some passing trader, the crew of the Storm Crow had not been able to discern. I meant to send Gilly and the babe to safety. Did I send them to their graves instead? - jon v, adwd

It was at times like this that Jon missed Maester Aemon the most. Clydas tended to the ravens well enough, but he had not a tenth of Aemon Targaryen's knowledge or experience, and even less of his wisdom. - jon v, adwd

I remembered that, so I allowed myself to hope... perhaps I wanted to... we all deceive ourselves, when we want to believe. Melisandre most of all, I think. The sword is wrong, she has to know that... light without heat... an empty glamor... the sword is wrong, and the false light can only lead us deeper into darkness, Sam. Daenerys is our hope. - sam iv, affc

You are doing him a great wrong. Jon Snow was Lord Mormont's own steward and squire. He was chosen for that duty because the Lord Commander saw much promise in him. As do I." - jon ix, asos

He spoke of dreams and never named the dreamer, of a glass candle that could not be lit and eggs that would not hatch. He said the sphinx was the riddle, not the riddler, whatever that meant. He asked Sam to read for him from a book by Septon Barth, whose writings had been burned during the reign of Baelor the Blessed. Once he woke up weeping. "The dragon must have three heads," he wailed, "but I am too old and frail to be one of them. I should be with her, showing her the way, but my body has betrayed me." - sam iv, affc

the first piece is meant to show aemon with his arms around a young jon's shoulders as they look out from the wall. in the second piece, aemon can no longer physically be with him, but jon, who misses aemon dearly, sees an apparition of aemon as he looks out over the wall. in turn, aemon watches down on what remains of his hope 🥲 even without knowledge of jon's family connection to him, aemon sees promise in him, and aemon's desire to show dany the way will be carried out by jon in his place ♥️

[usafphantom2]

Thailand interested in the F-35

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 01/01/2022 - 18:02 in Military

Thailand wants to maintain its status as the main air force in Southeast Asia, but for this it needs new fighters and the fifth generation F-35 emerges as an option.

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is actively preparing to replace the last Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II and a partial replacement of its Lockheed Martin F-16A/B Fighting Falcon fleet.

A very satisfied user of Gripen C/D, RTAF so far seemed to be walking naturally towards the Gripen E of the Swedish SAAB. But a recent cost analysis shows that the Saab Gripen E costs $85 million each, while the Lockheed Martin F-35 now costs just over $70 million. Lower hourly costs is another argument used by RTAF.

According to RTAF commander-in-chief Napadej Dhupatemiya, a first purchase of 8 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters is planned, with a second later batch of 4 four aircraft. More aircraft can be purchased later. For RTAF, older F-5 and F-16 aircraft have been in service for more than three decades and, as aircraft age, maintenance costs and safety risks tend to increase, as the commander told the Bangkok Post.

The F-35 fighters, manufactured by the American company Lockheed Martin, emerged as an attractive option, now that costs have fallen below $80 million per plane, compared to $142 million when the model was originally launched, Dhupatemiya added.

At the same time, Napadej Dhupatemiya explains that the F-35A could be purchased along with a small fleet of Boeing Loyal Wingman drones. The duo would form an unprecedented force multiplier in the region.

Also according to the RTAF commander, the budget planning of a project for the acquisition of the F-35 will be launched during fiscal year 2023 and that the country's air force is ready to answer all questions if it chooses to continue with the purchase. A proposal will be submitted to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for consideration, when finalized by RTAF. According to the initial plan, the new F-35 fighters would be deployed from Nakhon Ratchasima air base.

In 2017, Thailand wanted to retire 14 Northrop F-5E Tiger II aircraft after the purchase of Gripen C/D. This improvement would allow RTAF to withstand even a better acquisition. On the one hand, of the 14 F-5 jets, only 4 were taken out of service. All this while waiting for a new hunt.

The fleet of 55 F-16 jets has also been modernized and should be able to be maintained by 2035 with the APG-68(V) radar, a new IFF AN/APX-113 interrogator from BAe Systems, and a new transponder. Device protection has not been forgotten, with the AN/ALE-47 countermeasure dispenser, as well as Terma System's AN/ALQ-213 electronic warfare management system. Not to mention the arrival of Diehl BGT Defense's IRIS-T missile.

Thailand also has a fleet of Saab Gripen fighters. RTAF celebrated the tenth anniversary of the operations of its Gripen fighter fleet at Surat Thani Air Base in early 2021.

At the same time, RTAF is involved in a plan to modernize its 11 Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D multifunctional fighter aircraft to the latest MS20 standard. The contract is valued at $20.84 million.

The need to upgrade to the MS20 standard has been desired since 2018, in order to keep the Gripen C/D fighter fleet at a high operational level. According to the available information, RTAF's goal is to provide the Gripens with the most modern capabilities available for the aircraft. The purchase of additional weapons, such as the MBDA Meteor long-range missile and the update of AMRAAMs and several bombs, will be carried out later with another equipment program.

The modernization to the MS20 standard of Gripen C/D covers the following systems: A new electronic architecture to deal with evolving threats and electronic warfare to come. The arrival of the PS-05 Mk4 mechanical antenna radar is the latest development of the PS-05 radar. A new configuration and a new "backend" complete and allow you to reinforce performance in terms of operation and detection range. This new version of the mechanical antenna allows the current version of Gripen to charge the MBDA Meteor missile and the latest version of the Raytheon AIM-120C7 AMRAAM.

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter stealth jet was commissioned by four American allies in the region: Singapore, Japan, Australia and South Korea.

Tags: Military AviationF-35 Lightning IIGripen C/DRTAF - Royal Thai Air Force/Real Thai Air Force

Fernando Valduga

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