#viral style campaigns

[savealsaidifamily]

Urgent appeal to those with kind and loving hearts 🙏🙏

Hello, I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy.🙏

My family live in tents which lack the minimum standard of living. My father is now very sick, he had a heart catheterization operation before the war. Doctors recommended him to have healthy diet and life style but because of living in a tent, wet with rainwater, full of insects, lacking hygiene, and because of drinking contaminated water, as well as due to the inability to buy healthy food, now my father is very sick. The doctor told him that he has food poisoning and he needs urgent medical care. Do you imagine yourself sick and there is no clean place around you, no bed to sleep on, no warm drink to give your body strength, no medicine to relieve your pain, and no comfortable mattress to give you warmth?

Furthermore, my mother and our innocent little children have caught cold and infectious viral disease😞

Please, we have lost hope in this life, but don't let us lose hope in your humanity.🙏🙏 we just want to live in safety, and peace.

Your help, no matter how small, will save my family from death and disease and give them the happiness they have lost for a whole year of war.

My family campaign has received only £ 1,413 as of 5/10.

An important note: tumblr recently restricted my previous account from sending messages, i did nothing except that I want to save the lives of my family from this nightmare . I made different accounts, but my family name will not change which is Alsaidi family.

Vetted by @bilal_salah0, info here

and also vetted by @moayesh , info here on Gaza evacuation funds

@bulletbilltime @liphia @cyber2000 @zingay @binglam @somedudeoutthere @rooksongbird @frogbrainedfool @the-ending-of-dramamine @mossdeep @redsavesquare @uninvited-eon @frogbrainedfool @glenbot @ultimateumbreon33 @disastersim @airsigh @cowboy-queer @lapastelr0sa @sharingresourcesforpalestine @rebel-girl-queen-of-my-world @kropotkindersurprise @cruzwalters @la7ma-mafrooma @rosyish @bookskittychad @streakoflavender @gabajoofs @miraclemaya @devilofthepit @gay-yosuke @cometcrystal @corvidkusnos @nb-marceline @cicadaland @manletwizard @2blushie @antiauteur @acnologia-is-best-dragon @bitchmael @penelopiaad @hashiramashonkers @laughtracklesbian@legallymean @b0nkcreat @crapscicle @uwu-pinata @syntheticspades @momxijinping @longlivepalestina @saberboi-1 @martinmynster @nako-funky @trans-leek-cookie @vaticinatrix @moomoobug @narwa @twilightobservationtower @estrellasrojas @knxfesck @lakeeffectbitch @fatbitchneedsfoodbadly @no-thats-absurd @humanmorph @sandiwchirlinreal @tcda @misspiggyforvogueitalia @gamb0fficial @vincentspork @gemstonedraws @frankendykes-monster @mizoguchi @kos-mos @ryoki-ph @blackwoolncrown @commissions4aid-international @deathlonging @mazzikah @mahoushojoe @deepspaceboytoy @ana-bananya @rhubarbspring @pcktknife @sawasawako @wellwaterhysteria @post-brahminism @junglejim4322 @kibumkim @neechees @irhabiya @mangocheesecakes @kyra45-helping-others @7bitter @tortiefrancis @killy @toiletpotato @fromjannah @omegaversereloaded @vague-humanoid @evillesbianvillain @aristotels @riding-with-the-wild-hunt @kahin @ot3 @amygdalae @ankle-beez @lonniemachin @dykesbat @watermotif @stuckinapril @2violent2revolution @mavigator @lacecap @socalgal @chilewithcarnage @ghelgheli @sayruq @northgazaupdates2 @readingsquotes @bellybuttonblue2 @moonrisemoonchild @bees-fart-too @andiv3r-reblogging @ambidextrousarcher @fresh-bed-old-sheets @starless-gaze @esperantokomencanto @thinking-about-giraffes @blogtruenorth @cripsycremecuckery @mercurysreal @caffeinated-reverie @blueberryblowfly @mione-g @monstermashpotato @noble-kale @theultracharmingladynoire @nibeul @bignightengineer @khudrang @m-an-u @rdx-dcm @sleepyhomosexual @hussyknee @27moremoons @marine-bi-ology @longlivepalestina @fanonical @plaidos @metamatar @the-eldritch-it-gay @sabertoothwalrus @nogender-onlystars @Lufago @c-u- c-koo-4-40k @bixlasagna

Sorry if i bothered you in the mention

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also Preserved in our archive (Daily updates!)

What if the pandemic safety net cobbled together in 2020 had been a new beginning?

What if when Joe Biden came into office in 2021, the Covid-19 safety net he was handed had become a new floor?

What if that was his baseline—and the newly elected Democratic president, sold by his most ardent supporters as FDR 2.0, had used our Covid-19 response as the bare minimum of a new social contract with Americans?

What if the caring nature of the best aspects of the US Covid response became the map for international relations—leading not just to international cooperation on infectious disease, but on matters of war, climate and genocide?

What if, instead of dismantling the vaccine-delivery infrastructure—which, at its height, delivered some four million shots in a single day—the Biden administration built upon and made some version of it permanent, so that everyone could easily get annual Covid boosters, annual flu vaccines, or get specialty vaccinations during outbreaks of unusual viruses (such as for mpox during the 2022 summer outbreak among queer men) whenever they needed it?

What if the viral surveillance and communication mechanisms utilized for learning about SARS-CoV-2, treating it and telling the public about it were being used to address H5N1—a virus which has been moving from birds to farm mammals to humans with so little notice that dead cows were killed by the “avian flu” and left on the side of a road in California��s Central Valley, as “Thick swarms of black flies hummed and knocked against the windows of an idling car, while crows and vultures waited nearby—eyeballing the taut and bloated carcasses roasting in the October heat”?What if the leaders of the Democratic party had used Covid as a blueprint to make a national platform based on care?

What if all the ways Covid had made clear how farmers, industrial butchers, kitchen staff and other food workers are the most at risk people amongst us to viral infection led to meaningful, permanent protections, such that they were much less likely to contract not just SARS-CoV-2 but H1N1, H5N1, influenza, or any other existing or novel pathogens?

What if all the all the ways Covid exposed how unsafe industrial food production is (for the workers who make it and the people who eat it alike) had triggered safety reforms, instead of having these warnings ignored and leading towards record numbers of safety recalls for e-coli, Salmonella, and Listeria?

What if an airborne pandemic had led to indoor air being as filtered, treated and regulated as drinking water?

What if everyone with a child was still getting a $300 check from the US treasury, so that having a child was not a gambling-style risk, but a responsibility shared with all of society?

What if the paused-for-years student debts were forgiven, so that young people could actually begin their lives?

What if Biden built on Americans’ experience of just showing up somewhere to get the medical care they needed to create a universal healthcare system?

(What if Kamala Harris built upon Americans’ taste of not getting charged at the point of such service—and campaigned on Medicare for All?)

What if once the link between Covid and homelessness was established, the Democrats had pushed infectious disease as just one reason for an end to evictions and a robust, public-health-backed campaign to end homelessness and stop the United States from having more people living on the streets than any other country?

What if after the link between Covid and incarceration was established, the Democrats had pursued decarceration as a public health measure and—instead of throwing weed and cryptocurrency at us—had made reducing incarceration a centerpiece of the Harris campaign to earn the votes of Black men?

(What if after 100,000 Californians died of Covid and the links between Covid, homelessness and incarceration were clear, residents of the Golden State chose to allow rent control and to abolish legal slavery in prisons—instead of voting to ban rent control and to continue prison slavery?)

What if the leaders of the Democratic party had used Covid as a blueprint to make a national platform based on care?

Would we be in the lethal position we are now—with a genocide raging abroad, Covid deaths in the hundreds every week at home, a poisoned food supply, $17 trillion in household debt, oligarch goons ready to dismantle government regulations, and a sociopath heading back into the White House—if Covid had been the floor?

[spiribia]

21 days left. this is the most outrageously successful makeship campaign i have ever seen in my life. i bet when the guy was like Can you make a plush of my viral m-- everyone in the makeship office's eyes bulged cartoon style and turned into dollar signs

[ryanhamiltonwalsh]

A Rick Rolls a Nation — a timeline of the JD Vance couch joke

July 15th, 2024: "can't say for sure but he might be the first vp pick to have admitted in a ny times bestseller to fucking an Inside-out latex glove shoved between two couch cushions (vance, hillbilly elegy, pp. 179-181)." — @ rickrudescalves (the now deleted tweet)

Arguably, this ground zero tweet overly complicates things. Soon, the "latex glove" element will be completely forgotten and JD will *only* be fucking couches "raw dog style" in almost all subsequent variations on the joke.

July 15th, 2024 - Present: The joke goes absolutely bonkers viral. Comedian Kathy Griffin, who famously overstepped in 2017 by posing for a photo with a model of Trump's bloodied, disembodied head, believes the joke to be true, boosts it as if it is.

July 24th, 2024: The Associated Press publishes a fact check of the "claim," which is inherently hilarious.

July 25th, 2024: The Associated Press retracts the piece, causing fans of the Vance/couch meme to go wild with delight, the joke being that they retracted it because there's actually something to it. “The story, which did not go out on the wire to our customers, didn’t go through our standard editing process. We are looking into how that happened" — AP spokesperson Nicole Meir

July 30th, 2024: Business Insider tracks down the originator of the joke and interviews him --->

"@ rickrudescalves hid the post within a week of publishing it, but the couch joke had already left an impression."

He says he was uncomfortable with the attention the joke received, and is mildly worried about being accused of election interference, but has no regrets.

Rick cites Werner Herzog, Jorge Luis Borges, John Fowles, and Hunter S. Thompson in explaining precedents for the form and details of the joke.

July 31st, 2024: JD Vance either intentionally makes a lame joke embracing (or trying to claim ownership of) the couch meme, or does so accidentally via free association. Either way, it falls totally flat and the man continues to dazzle America with his complete lack of charisma and his disgusting views on women's rights.

August 6th, 2024: Tim Walz is selected as Kamala Harris's Vice Presidential running mate. That night, in Philadelphia, Walz kills with a Vance/Couch joke.

August 7-8th-ish, 2024: The far right, led by Laura Loomer and Don Jr, makes an unfunny, clumsy, intentional attempt to do the same kind of joke with Walz by claiming...he...drinks horse cum? Because this is so...just gross—a classic over-escalation, you might say—and completely manufactured, this attempt seems to be dead on arrival.

August 9th, 2024: The non-GOP backlash officially begins. New York Magazine pubishes:

"Besides the tiresome-but-correct moral case, leaning on fake memes also just isn’t necessary, much as it may delight Democrats’ online base. Good political candidates have always known how to get vicious while staying within the lines of accuracy. This means homing in on opponents’ real weaknesses, a task the Harris campaign has thus far excelled at."

To which there was an excellent Twitter response:

Right. Who owns the joke? Is it democrats? Is it officials or citizens? The answer is no one, and therefore the idea it can be policed is itself a kind of joke, I think.

Where will it go from here? We shall see.

I wonder if we'll ever learn the identity of Rick, because, I agree, I think a joke made in mid-July may have altered history.

[velocitysedge-if]

"Velocity's Edge" dives into the riveting world of Formula 1, following the journey of you ,an enigmatic young driver, as they navigate the twists and turns of the racing circuit. Fueled by a mysterious past and an insatiable desire for victory, your rise to prominence is punctuated by intense rivalries, unexpected alliances, and a series of heart-pounding races that push both the limits of the track and the depths of your own character.

As the adrenaline-soaked story unfolds, secrets are unveiled, loyalties are tested, and the pursuit of the checkered flag takes on a life of its own, propelling the characters toward the finish line which is only the beginning of the ultimate race.

⚐ Customizable MC: choose your name, nickname, appearance, gender, and pronouns.

⚐ Romance: 5 males, 4 female, and 2 possible poly route.

⚐ If you don’t want romance, you could just make friends with everyone, or the opposite.

⚐ Win the race...that's all that matters.

Kieran "Kie" Patel

- Age: 27

- Nationality: British-Indian

- Role: Data Analyst

- Description: Kieran Patel is a brilliant British-Indian data analyst who plays a crucial role in analyzing race data and optimizing strategy for your racing team. His expertise lies in deciphering complex telemetry data and providing real-time insights to help the team make informed decisions during races. Kieran's calm demeanor and analytical mindset make him an asset in high-pressure situations. His unique perspective as a data-driven thinker often leads to innovative strategies that give his team a competitive edge.

Elena "El" Petrova

- Age: 25

- Nationality: Russian

- Role: Motorsport Journalist

- Description: Elena Petrova is a passionate and determined Russian motorsport journalist who covers Formula 1 races for a popular international publication. Armed with a deep knowledge of the sport and an insatiable curiosity, Elena strives to capture the human stories behind the races. She's always on the lookout for exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes glimpses that provide fans with a deeper understanding of the drivers and the sport. Elena's engaging storytelling style and dedication to her craft make her a respected voice in the motorsport journalism community.

Diego "Flash" Ramirez

- Age: 28

- Nationality: Brazilian

- Role: Social Media Manager

- Description: Diego Ramirez is an energetic and creative Brazilian social media manager who handles the online presence of your racing team. He's a master of crafting engaging social media content that connects with fans on a personal level. Diego's enthusiasm and knack for viral marketing campaigns have significantly increased the team's online following. He's known for his quick wit, pop culture references, and ability to turn even the most mundane moments into captivating social media stories. Diego plays a vital role in shaping the team's image and engaging with fans worldwide.

Mia "Pitstop" Reynolds

- Age: 29

- Nationality: American

- Role: Chief Mechanic

- Description: Mia Reynolds is a skilled and resourceful American chief mechanic who oversees the pit crew for your racing team. She's known for her lightning-fast pit stops and impeccable attention to detail. Mia's journey to becoming a chief mechanic was marked by overcoming gender stereotypes and proving herself in a male-dominated environment. She has a no-nonsense attitude, a strong work ethic, and a deep passion for getting the team's cars back on track as quickly as possible during races.

Jean-Luc "JL" Dubois

- Age: 45

- Nationality: French

- Role: Veteran Commentator

- Description: Jean-Luc Dubois, commonly referred to as "JL," is a charismatic and knowledgeable French commentator who has been covering Formula 1 races for decades. With a distinctive voice and a knack for providing insightful analysis, JL has become a beloved figure among fans worldwide. He's known for his catchphrases and colorful storytelling that bring the excitement of the race to life. JL's passion for the sport is infectious, and his commentating style adds an extra layer of excitement and engagement for viewers tuning in to the races.

Alex "Ace" Walker

- Age: 28

- Nationality: British

- Role: Formula 1 Driver

- Description: Alex Walker is a talented and charismatic British Formula 1 driver known for his incredible racing instincts and daring overtakes. He comes from a modest background and had to fight his way up through the ranks to reach Formula 1. He's known for his quick wit, sense of humor, and unbreakable determination. Ace is deeply passionate about racing, always seeking the thrill of competition and constantly pushing his limits on the track. His signature move is a fearless dive into the inside line during tight corners, earning him the nickname "Ace" among fans and fellow racers.

Sofia "Slick" Martínez

- Age: 26

- Nationality: Spanish

- Role: Rival Formula 1 Driver

- Description: Sofia Martínez is a fierce and calculating Spanish driver who is considered one of the main rivals to Alex "Ace" Walker. She's known for her strategic racing style, which involves preserving tires and fuel to make a late-race surge. Slick comes from a family with a rich motorsport history, and she's determined to continue their legacy. Her quiet confidence and ability to remain composed under pressure often unnerve her competitors. While her relationship with Ace starts as a rivalry, it evolves into a complex dynamic as they gradually gain respect for each other's skills and determination.

Max "Maxy" Nguyen

- Age: 24

- Nationality: Vietnamese-American

- Role: Up-and-Coming Rookie Driver

- Description: Max Nguyen is a young and enthusiastic Vietnamese-American driver making his debut in the Formula 1 scene. He's known for his fearless approach to racing, often pushing the limits of his car's capabilities. His eagerness sometimes leads to impulsive decisions on the track, but his raw talent is undeniable. Nitro's bubbly personality and infectious energy make him a favorite among fans and media, and he quickly becomes a rising star in the sport.

Isabella "Izzy" Williams

- Age: 32

- Nationality: Australian

- Role: Team Principal

- Description: Isabella Williams is a former Formula 1 driver from Australia who retired due to a career-ending injury. After her retirement, she founded her own racing team, determined to lead it to victory. That team is yours. Izzy is known for her strategic thinking, meticulous attention to detail, and unyielding dedication to her team. She's a respected figure in the paddock, often navigating the challenges of team management in a male-dominated industry. Her strong leadership inspires her team to constantly strive for excellence.

Luca Moretti

- Age: 50

- Nationality: Italian

- Role: Veteran Race Engineer

- Description: Luca Moretti is a seasoned Italian race engineer with decades of experience in Formula 1. He's known for his encyclopedic knowledge of race tracks and car mechanics. His calm demeanor and deep understanding of the sport make him a highly sought-after engineer. Luca has worked with numerous legendary drivers over the years and now finds himself mentoring Max "Maxy" Nguyen as the young rookie's race engineer. He often provides valuable guidance and insights both on and off the track.

____________________________________

ASKS WELCOME

[imdigitalvinod]

Tumblr Content Mastery: What Resonates with Users and Why It Works

Creating content that resonates on Tumblr involves tapping into the platform's unique culture and understanding what its users gravitate toward. Here’s a breakdown of content types that tend to perform well:

1. Visual Content

GIFs: Tumblr is known for its love of GIFs. Animated GIFs, particularly those that are humorous, relatable, or fandom-related, are highly shareable.

Art and Illustrations: Original art, fan art, and creative illustrations gain traction. Artists often find Tumblr a supportive place for sharing their work.

Photography: Aesthetic photos, especially those with a distinct style or theme (e.g., nature, fashion, architecture), are popular. High-quality images are more likely to be reblogged.

2. Fandom-Related Content

Fan Fiction: Writing stories related to popular movies, TV shows, books, or video games. This content is often reblogged by members of the fandom.

Memes and Fandom Jokes: Content that captures the inside jokes of a particular fandom can spread rapidly within those communities.

Fan Theories and Discussions: Posts analyzing plot points, characters, or future events in popular media.

3. Text-Based Posts

Quotes and Poetry: Short, impactful quotes, poetry, and micro-stories are widely shared. Posts with a strong emotional appeal tend to resonate well.

Personal Stories and Anecdotes: Posts that share personal experiences or thoughts, often with a touch of humor or vulnerability, can attract attention.

Tips and Advice: How-tos, tutorials, and life hacks are useful content that gets shared, especially if they’re presented in an easy-to-read format.

4. Niche and Subcultural Content

Subcultures: Tumblr users often rally around niche subcultures (e.g., goth, cottagecore, vaporwave). Content that caters to these subcultures can gain a dedicated following.

Aesthetic Blogs: Blogs that focus on specific aesthetics (e.g., dark academia, minimalism) are popular. They often curate content that fits a specific visual theme.

5. Social Justice and Activism

Awareness Posts: Tumblr has a strong activist community. Content related to social justice, environmentalism, and awareness campaigns tends to perform well.

Educational Content: Posts that inform or educate about various issues, especially when combined with impactful visuals.

6. Rebloggable Content

Relatable Humor: Funny and relatable posts, often involving text posts with tags, can go viral. Tumblr users appreciate humor that taps into shared experiences.

Interactive Content: Polls, questions, and posts that encourage participation (e.g., “Reblog with your favorite…”).

7. Music and Audio Content

Playlists and Music Recommendations: Curated playlists, music recommendations, and audio posts featuring new or obscure artists can attract music enthusiasts.

Audio Clips and Podcasts: Short audio clips, especially those tied to popular culture or fandoms, can resonate with the community.

8. Tumblr-Specific Trends

Tumblr Challenges: Participation in Tumblr-specific challenges or trends (e.g., reblog challenges) can boost visibility.

Seasonal and Event-Based Content: Posts tailored to specific events or seasons (e.g., Halloween, Pride Month) often see a spike in engagement.

Tips for Success:

Engage with the Community: Reblogging, commenting, and participating in Tumblr conversations can help increase your reach.

Tagging: Use relevant tags to ensure your content is discoverable. Tags should be specific to your post's theme or subject matter.

Consistency: Regularly posting and maintaining a consistent theme or aesthetic can help build a dedicated following.

Tumblr's user base is diverse, so experimenting with different content types and paying attention to what resonates with your audience is key.

[mariacallous]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Kremlin could not have asked for better publicity at a better time when Ben Swann, a self-described independent journalist who promotes conspiracy theories, released a 12-part video series he promised would reveal dark truths about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Swann’s flashy documentary-style videos were filled with innuendo, attacks on Zelenskyy’s character and commentary from guests sympathetic to Russia in its two-year war with Ukraine.

The series, titled “Zelenskyy Unmasked,” launched in April as Congress was debating increasing military assistance to Ukraine, and it quickly caught the attention of conservative social media influencers who hyped the project to their millions of followers.

Among those who promoted the series was Donald Trump Jr., the former president’s eldest son.

“Curious about the billions of dollars and weapons Congress sent Ukraine?” Trump Jr. posted on X, Truth Social and Threads. “You need to watch the first episode of the explosive 12-part series.”

Unlike other conservative media personalities who last month expressed shock upon learning they may have been secretly financed by the Kremlin, Swann has no such qualms. He’s worked for Russia’s state-owned media empire for years, with one of his companies earning millions of dollars for producing Kremlin-friendly shows.

The creation of “Zelenskyy Unmasked” and its viral spread reveal how widely Russia-backed talking points are traveling on social media — a trend that concerns current and former U.S. intelligence officials and disinformation experts.

An investigation by The Associated Press also provides insights into the shadowy and profitable world of political influencers who are not required to disclose who is paying them, raising transparency concerns about their political endorsements in the largely unregulated realm of social media.

Swann brought on a digital marketing firm to publicize “Zelenskyy Unmasked,” and at least one creator acknowledged he was paid to promote the series.

Dire warnings

The revelations about Swann’s work for Russia come as U.S. authorities have issued increasingly dire warnings about the threat posed by Russian disinformation campaigns. In addition to undermining Ukraine, the Kremlin is seeking to disrupt the presidential election and sow discord in the U.S. and elsewhere in the West, those officials have said.

U.S. officials are particularly concerned about Russia’s covert efforts to take advantage of unwitting Americans to spread Moscow’s message and use artificial intelligence to quickly tailor false content.

Russia’s influence operation also appears aimed at boosting support for GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has criticized Ukraine and praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, the officials said.

Trump has dismissed evidence of Russian influence operations, and he and many of his supporters have mocked the broader U.S. government’s effort to highlight Kremlin propaganda efforts.

Registered with the DOJ

Swann filed paperwork with the Justice Department two years ago to register one of his companies as working for Russian state media. In an interview with the AP, Swann said he has kept his work for Russian interests separate from what he produces for U.S. audiences. He has done this, Swann said, by operating two companies — one that generates content for Russian media and another that produces independent journalism, like “Zelenskyy Unmasked,” for U.S. audiences.

“The only connection is that I own both companies,” Swann said.

The AP, however, found that there was some overlap in how the two entities operated.

A handful of guests on “Zelenskyy Unmasked” also appeared on RT shows produced by Swann, according to a review of RT’s video archives and records filed with the Justice Department.

Swann’s shows for U.S. audiences and RT also have similar themes. The Zelenskyy series, for example, echoed Russian state media’s messaging that the Ukrainian president is a would-be autocrat who has duped the West into supporting a conflict that Russia will inevitably win.

A former TV anchor

Swann, 46, was a longtime TV journalist before he was fired from an Atlanta station in 2018 after promoting the debunked “Pizzagate” conspiracy that alleged Democrats were abducting children to serve as sex slaves.

He has since become a social media star who portrays himself as someone daring to ask uncomfortable questions on tough topics — revolving around unfounded claims such as whether the Sandy Hook school shooter acted alone, the coronavirus vaccine was a money-making ploy by big pharmaceutical companies, and Israel was a ”participant” in the massacre of Oct. 7, 2023.

Swann joined Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccine organization, Children’s Health Defense, in a lawsuit pending against several news organizations, including the AP, accusing them of violating antitrust laws by taking action to identify misinformation, including about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines.

Swann said he worked as a correspondent for RT America, a cable channel that was part of a Russian state media outlet, until it went off the air following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. RT officials then asked if he wanted to produce shows for the network to air outside the U.S., Swann said.

“I said, ‘Well, I can’t produce shows for the United States, but if these shows are for overseas, I’ll help you produce them.’ So I started doing that for them, and we’ve been doing that ever since,” Swann said in a July interview.

Producing RT shows

Swann said he produced 10 shows a week using RT America’s old studios in Washington, and he stressed that those shows don’t air in the U.S. or Western Europe, although they are visible across the globe on RT’s website.

Under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, individuals must register with the Justice Department when they seek to influence U.S. policy and public opinion on behalf of foreign governments. Not doing so can result in criminal charges.

Swann’s company, Rebel Media Productions, first registered with the Justice Department in August 2022, saying it worked for RT’s parent company and related entities. The disclosures show Rebel Media Productions was paid more than $6 million in less than two years by RT-related entities.

RT, formerly known as Russia Today, is a major player in Russia’s sprawling propaganda apparatus, and a target of U.S. efforts to block Moscow’s covert influence.

The Justice Department has said RT has links to Russian intelligence agencies, while the U.S. State Department recently unveiled new sanctions on Russian state media. The sanctions target RT’s parent organization, TV Novosti, which Swann contracted with for his Russia-related work.

In February, Swann stopped reporting Rebel Media’s work for Russia to the Justice Department, even as his company kept producing RT shows.

Swann said he ended that registration with the Justice Department because his attorneys told him it wasn’t necessary, despite his company’s continued work for RT. “They said, ‘Why are you making things more difficult for yourself?’” Swann said.

In response to the recent sanctions, Swann said his company last month severed all ties to RT.

“While we disagree with the censorship of our journalists, who were doing quality work on behalf of our client, we have and will continue to respect the rule of law,” Swann said in a statement.

The Justice Department declined to comment.

‘Assume they don’t like Zelenskyy’

Swann said he creates content — like the “Zelenskyy Unmasked” series — for American viewers through another company, Truth in Media.

Truth in Media, Swann said, isn’t profitable and is funded by wealthy U.S. individuals whom he refused to name. “Most of them own very large companies,” he said, “if not publicly traded companies.”

Swann said the large payouts he received from Russian state media had not influenced his work on “Zelenskyy Unmasked,” but he acknowledged Russia’s leaders probably liked the series’ tough take on Ukraine’s president.

“I don’t know, I assume they don’t like Zelenskyy,” Swann said.

Many of the guests interviewed in “Zelenskyy Unmasked” have been RT contributors and guests on its programs.

That includes RT contributor Tara Reade, who briefly moved to Moscow after accusing President Joe Biden of assaulting her in the 1990s; former Ukrainian diplomat Andrii Telizhenko, who was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury on allegations he had close ties to a “Russia-linked foreign influence network”; and Russell Bentley, an American citizen known to have fought with Kremlin-backed separatists and worked for Russian state media, who died earlier this year in Ukraine.

Another guest who has appeared on RT shows and in the Zelenskyy videos is Scott Ritter, a former U.N. weapons inspector sympathetic to Russia whose upstate New York home was raided in August by the FBI. Ritter told the AP that FBI agents in their questioning made clear that they were investigating his Russia-related work but did not ask specifically about his work with Swann.

Ritter provided the AP with a copy of an email he said was from a booking producer for Swann’s RT shows asking him to appear in the Zelenskyy series.

Ritter said an email invitation he received to participate in “Zelenskyy Unmasked” indicated that its executive producer was Sean Stone, who hosted an RT show and is the son of the filmmaker Oliver Stone.

Sean Stone did not respond to requests for comment, and Swann did not respond to a question about Stone’s involvement on the series.

Swann said his RT-linked company had passed along guest contact details to his business producing “Zelenskyy Unmasked.”

The two entities did not share staff, he said.

An ‘explosive’ series

Truth in Media began teasing the “Zelenskyy Unmasked” videos earlier this year on its website, writing the “explosive” 12-part series would answer “who is really benefitting from the $100 billion the U.S. has sent Ukraine.”

At that time, hard-right congressional Republicans were fighting a proposal to send more money and weapons to Ukraine.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Turner and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, both Republicans, said some GOP lawmakers had been heavily influenced by Russian talking points.

Turner said on CNN that some of those talking points were being ���uttered on the House floor.”

To promote “Zelenskyy Unmasked,” Swann said he paid for advertising on social media but believes the series received its most substantial boost in viewership thanks to promotion from conservative influencers. Swann’s videos that were embedded in X posts garnered tens of millions of views.

“When you have different influencers that you can send it directly to, who can watch it for themselves, decide if they like it, and then share it, that’s a pretty powerful tool,” Swann said. “That’s more powerful than the actual marketing of it on Meta or X.”

With the assistance of the tech firm Bright Data, the AP identified a core group of influencers who played a significant role in helping promote the series. Posts by those influencers were shared by at least 9,300 other unique X accounts that have 33 million total followers, according to an AP analysis of “Zelenskyy Unmasked” X data created by Syracuse University’s Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship.

Influencers promote videos

The spread of “Zelenskyy Unmasked” highlighted how such influencers are playing increasingly pivotal roles in politics, and many have become de facto campaign surrogates for Democratic and Republican candidates. Trump told a core group of conservative content creators — who met in a “war room” during the last presidential debate — that they “are more important than I am.”

Some of those same influencers promoted the series, using identical or similar language to what Swann or Truth in Media promoted online.

Chaya Raichik, the founder of the far-right Libs of TikTok social media accounts, echoed Truth in Media’s promotion of the series, tweeting: “Where did $100 billion of our tax dollars that Congress sent to Ukraine go? Watch ‘Zelensky Unmasked’ to find out!” Raichik did not respond to requests for comment.

When Truth In Media promoted the third episode in the series, it tweeted, “The list of rich and powerful people profiting off the war in Ukraine includes President Biden and his son, but they’re far from the only ones.”

A few days later, C.J. Pearson, co-chair of the Republican National Committee’s Youth Advisory Council, wrote the exact same thing in a tweet about “Zelenskyy Unmasked.”

Others who touted the series were former Trump campaign attorney Jenna Ellis; Morgonn McMichael, a young creator linked to the right-leaning group Talking Points USA; and Andrew Giuliani, a former New York gubernatorial hopeful and the son of Trump confidant Rudy Giuliani. Ellis, McMichael and Giuliani did not respond to requests for comment from the AP.

Conservative influencer Xaviaer DuRousseau, another member of the RNC’s Youth Advisory Council, said he was paid to promote ”Zelenskyy Unmasked” on X through Urban Legend, an influencer marketing firm led by a former Trump administration staffer.

DuRousseau did not disclose how much he was paid, said he was unaware of Swann’s work for Russian state media until interviewed by the AP and said he would carefully consider any future collaborations.

“Is there maybe an ulterior motive to you being against Ukraine? Potentially,” he said. “But I would stress myself out so much if I researched every single person in this industry that thoroughly, to be honest.”

Swann said Truth in Media hired Urban Legend to help with marketing, but didn’t know the details of its work.

“We didn’t know whether or not they were talking to influencers,” Swann said in a statement.

Urban Legend declined to discuss its financial relationships with specific influencers. The company said in a statement that it had been unaware of Swann’s ties to RT and would no longer work with Truth in Media.

Among Swann’s most influential promoters was the former president’s son, Trump Jr., who did not respond to requests for comment from the AP.

In a tweet on April 5, Trump Jr. hailed the series as “explosive” for exposing “the truth behind the war in Ukraine!”

The social media platform’s users added a community note to his tweet that noted Swann’s ties to Russia and said his claims “are likely to be disinformation.”

The warning did not seem to deter Trump Jr. A few days later, he again took to X to praise Swann’s work — in identical language.

[cherryflavoredgloss]

13 Going on 43

Luke Hughes x fashion editor! OC

Meet Satine Li aka Sally

AU Masterlist

→ Satine was born May 7, 2002 to a business mogul father and actress/model mother in Monte Carlo, Monaco!

→ She went to boarding school when she was young and actually graduated pretty early due to her stellar grades and performance (she graduates around 16 years of age)!

→ Later moves to the east coast to pursue a higher education. She attends UPenn, Wharton Business School for two years and then goes to Parsons in NYC for a year!

→ Her name is Satine, but her nickname that everyone calls her is Sally-> it’s just a shortened version of her full name

→ She’s nearing her 20th birthday when she gets the opportunity to work directly under Anna Wintour! Later it evolves into her getting a fashion editor position! (Clarification that Anna Wintour is the editor-in-chief of Vogue and Satine is just a fashion editor so she doesn’t actually replace Anna!)

→ She’s modeled extensively (nepotism🫣..) before becoming a fashion editor and has met a lot of her long time friends from it (Kaia Gerber, Bella Hadid, Amelia Gray andmore)!

→ Likes to cover a lot of areas of fashion and art! She’s known to create very creative spreads and lends her talent to vogues around the world! However, she’s really more well known to also merge fashion and sport together! She helped Louis Vuitton create THE well known Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo campaign and is known to help F1 racer Lewis Hamilton with his outfits during GP’s in the paddock and official events. She’s become Lewis’s unofficial stylist at this point!

→ Also because she is from Monaco, when she was younger she was and still is friends with the Leclerc family! Since Arthur and Charles are both racers- she also offers her fashionable expertise to them!

Random Facts:

→ If you guessed correctly her name is inspired by Satine of moulin rouge! I just love the name so much and it’s still pronounced “sa-teen”

→ She LOVES to cook! Her love language is cooking. Making homemade meals for those she loves is such a special thing for her. She regularly hosts dinner parties for her friends!

→ She’s known to be a fashion icon- but she doesn’t stick to any set style! She likes to dabble in random styles and doesn’t care about anyone’s opinion!

→ Seems intimidating because of her background, but is a total sweetheart!

→ Has a tik tok where she regularly goes viral because she posts a lot of pranks and dance videos with her friends! Not to mention her friends are superstars like Lewis Hamilton so she’s giving people CONTENT 😭

→ Also has a private tik tok account with no followers so she can favorite edits of different people (SHE’S ONE OF US!!)

Anyways…please enjoy some background on Satine!

[topnotchquark]

Mat Oxley is so right for this because I'm trying to imagine a world with these guys where their psychopathy was allowed to exist freely in the world.

Anyway, psychos out in real world headcanons:

1. Vale would be a politician. His ministerial portfolio would be something that always keeps him in the news, maybe commerce, or health, imo. Spokesman for his party. He's young and positioning himself well to gun for the big leagues (ahem head of state ahem). Of course his office is involved in a financial scam, of course his financial affairs come to light, of course he denies it and calls it a smear campaign, of course he comes up with a gimmick political road show type thingy to gain the trust of the people back, of course he succeeds and comes back stronger.

2. Marc would be a CEO. Either pharmaceuticals or one of those cultish SF tech companies. He would thrive in the environment. He would start out on the lower rungs and build himself up to be bigger while edging out any competition. His company would be indicted for financial irregularities. He would get away with it though. The money fraud bit was never the focus, they were just moving it around to get some technology approved that wasn't ready, and Marc was smart enough to hide it well.

3. Bezz would be tried for Arson. No loss of life tho only property damage. His mugshot would go viral mugshawty style and people would send him letters in prison. He would come out without having served full sentence because of model conduct.

4. Luca would be running those cybersecurity crypto ass scams. Lowkey, makes a bunch of money. Company is registered in Togo, he never gets caught. Puts all his money into a shell account in Isle of man. Gets a nice second home in South America.

5. Fabio Q would definitely be purchasing expiring patents and manipulating that to make boatloads of money. He will eventually be exposed and people would joke about his hair or clothes on twitter. Twitter would be kinda mad but not overly, they would think he's a hilarious dude with a fucked moral compass. He will go to prison for under a year and then come back and use his new found fame amongst extremely online people to become a very successful twitch streamer.

Feel free to add your own or send me a name lol

[ask-the-clergy-bc]

Not really an ask(im still trying to pick a good one to ask), but i was going thought my notes i wrote down for your blog and i found this, this whole situation is so funny to me.

-Somewhere, outhere there is a photo/video of Rain, completely naked, full ghoul form, doing the bigfoot pose in from of a lake that he was ready to swim in. Yes, it was taken by some teens that were trespassing, yes it ended up on some 'strange creature caught on camera' videos, yes he gets a mag/tshirt with that photo every year for Halloween/summoning day.

Too bad, because this is so hilarious I HAVE TO ADD TO IT! XD

Rain Being Caught as a Cryptid

~Rain was shitting his pants when this first happened because he thought he was going to get in big trouble. All he wanted to do was use the lake saved for water ghoul recreation! How was he supposed to know someone had a CAMERA?

~But he wasn't blamed, because this occurred on Private Ministry Grounds. The teens were definitely trespassing and were hunted down immediately.

~Unfortunately, they had posted the video of Rain onto the internet. Aside from destroy the phone that held the pictures and video; there was only so much the Clergy could do as a cover up.

~The video went viral so fast. Rain was dubbed "The Lake Merman Cryptid".

~What ended up happening was a stressful, week long campaign of exposing the videos and pictures online as 'fake'. When the teens were found the Ministry made sure that the uploading account 'come out' about 'the truth.' That the videos of Rain were "TOTALLT JUST MAKE UP EFFECTS GUYS! SORRY!! THIS WAS JUST AN ART PROJECT LOL". Luckily, the internet bought it. No one is sure what happened to the teens, but no one really cared.

~Rain is not ashamed of his appearance or being caught nude... but man, he has NOT lived this incident down.

~The rest of the band find it hilarious. Sodo loves it the most. Every time the tour bus passes a lake or a beach Sodo will IMMEDIATELY look at Rain. "Don't let the humans catch you bare assed AGAIN!!"

~Every time someone online makes merch of this Internet favorite 'Hot Mermaid Cryptid' the other ghouls will buy it. The ghouls especially love that it went viral because that means Rain gets drawn in all styles of fanart. They have stickers, art prints, and even one well made keychain of the "Lake Merman" and Bigfoot high fiving.

~Every anniversary of the internet video posting they get Rain a new piece of merch. Sodo likes to call it BARE ASS LAKE DAY!! Rain both loves and despises it.

[beardedmrbean]

In the winter of January 2020, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), a member of the party’s informal left-wing House bloc dubbed “The Squad,” temporarily backed away from the campaign of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in the lead-up to the Iowa caucuses, after enthusiastically supporting him.

Among the reasons she reportedly “grew less interested in helping Sanders’ campaign” was Joe Rogan.

Sanders’ campaign had touted a quasi-endorsement from the wildly popular podcaster, who has a record of inviting controversial guests on to spew conspiracies and bigotry while dabbling in both himself, apparently unnerving Ocasio-Cortez and her team in the process.

Four years later, the Democratic nominee for president, Vice President Kamala Harris, who has Ocasio Cortez’s fervent backing, is in discussions to appear on Rogan’s The Joe Rogan Experience.

It marks a dramatic 180 from the Democratic movement’s response to Sanders merely noting Rogan’s praise four years ago.

Reuters reported Monday that Harris campaign officials were in talks with Rogan’s team about having her on the show, which former president Donald Trump has said he plans to appear on before election day.

The arguments for and against appearing on Rogan remain little changed.

First, there’s the baggage.

Rogan falsely claimed “activists” were behind California wildfires and touted a conspiracy theory associated with climate change denial that claims shifts in the earth’s magnetic poles bring about natural, apocalyptic catastrophes like the flood in the biblical story of Noah’s Ark.

Nearly 300 doctors, physicians and science educators wrote to Rogan's distributor, Spotify, when he spread Covid-19 information, including claiming young people didn’t need to get vaccinated and promoting the taking of veterinary drug ivermectin to treat the disease.

In 2022, he apologized after a compilation of clips of him repeatedly saying the N-word went viral.

Among his past guests are Gavin McInnes, founder of the far-right neo-fascist group Proud Boys, and Alex Jones, the malicious conspiracist who waged a years-long campaign against parents whose children were murdered in the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre.

It could be pointed out that Howard Stern, the reformed shock jock whose show Harris appeared on last week, has a decades long archive of sexist and racist broadcasts. But Stern has backed away from his past antics in recent years—though he’s also paid his way into the Democratic fold, attending top dollar fundraisers.

But, unlike Stern, one need not reach years into the past to find Rogan’s controversies. Earlier this year, his Netflix standup special Burn the Boats was criticized for his mocking trans people and preaching vaccine skepticism—and, arguably more important for a standup special, it was also unfunny, reviewers agreed.

But then there is the case for Rogan, for which the Sanders campaign made a compelling argument for in 2020.

Rogan has a giant audience—tens of millions of subscribers across Spotify, YouTube, Instagram and X. That audience skews heavily male (81%) and young (56% between 18 and 34), demographics relatively immune to legacy media (only 12% of Rogan’s audience says they trust newspapers).

The best way to reach them—agree or disagree with all of their views—is on their turf. If some of them join the Democratic fold and help defeat Donald Trump, great.

Sanders, in fact, had already appeared on Rogan’s show months before the endorsement controversy. In his interview, he took advantage of Rogan’s deferential interview style—part of the reason why right-wing guests on the show frequently make crazed claims without being challenged—to hammer home his message of economic justice directly to the host’s massive audience.

“The goal of our campaign is to build a multi-racial, multi-generational movement that is large enough to defeat Donald Trump and the powerful special interests whose greed and corruption is the root cause of the outrageous inequality in America,” the Sanders campaign told Vanity Fair in 2020. “Sharing a big tent requires including those who do not share every one of our beliefs, while always making clear that we will never compromise our values.”

Sanders was pilloried by Democratic aligned organizations like MoveOn and the Human Rights Campaign. They may yet issue similar reprisals if Harris does ultimately agree to appear on Rogan.

[forseokgyu]

Seventeen’s Mingyu on His Personal Style, Being a Dior Ambassador and That Calvin Klein Campaign

The 27-year-old K-Pop star is ready to 'Spill The Feels' on his big year in the world of fashion: "I've learned that outfits can be a channel to express myself, but it doesn't equal me in and of itself."

BY NICOLE FELL | NOVEMBER 8, 2024 5:00PM

Mingyu of Seventeen in Dior. COURTESY OF DIOR

It takes mere seconds of scrolling through K-Pop fan spaces online to stumble upon Seventeen‘s Mingyu.

The 27-year-old rapper, a member of hit K-Pop boy group Seventeen, is an online favorite for his charming personality and cool Instagram posts. Seriously, social media account Pop Base has to presumably break out a dictionary every time he posts a photo.

Seventeen is in the midst of the U.S. leg of their “Seventeen [Right Here] World Tour,” hitting five cities including two stops in L.A. Before heading out on the road, Mingyu chatted with The Hollywood Reporter on Zoom, taking a break from his hectic rehearsals for the tour and the 13-member group’s latest EP, Spill The Feels.

“It’s currently 11:00 a.m. in Korea, and my entire body is aching,” the rapper cheekily tells THR of the preparations for the album and tour. Mingyu explains the rather intricate schedule of preparing for tour, releasing the album, performing the concert in Seoul.

Mingyu (left) with fellow Seventeen members Joshua, Dino, and DK last week at The Empire State Building in New York City. PHOTO BY EUGENE GOLOGURSKY/GETTY IMAGES FOR EMPIRE STATE REALTY TRUST

The tour wraps in L.A. this coming weekend, where the group will perform two sold-out shows at BMO Stadium. It’s an exciting weekend for the group. Today, Mingyu’s bandmate Joshua, an L.A. native, accepted a certificate of appreciation on behalf of Seventeen from the L.A. City Council. The group also has a major pop-up planned in the city for the tour’s finale.

In the midst of an already booked and busy year for Seventeen, Mingyu has dipped into the world of style. Earlier this year, he secured a brand ambassadorship with luxury fashion house Dior. In a social media post announcing Mingyu’s new role, Dior referred to him as “the perfect embodiment of Dior’s aesthetic.” He also starred in a new Calvin Klein campaign, showcasing his range in a variety of denim looks.

Below, Mingyu opens up about his own personal style onstage and offstage, his style inspirations and how he feels about his viral Dior Paris Fashion Week appearance.

How would you describe your style at the moment?

I’m a sportsperson. I like working out, and I’m also an energetic person, and my job is a singer who dances on stage, so I think I tend to go for casual outfits and comfortable outfits.

How do you feel about your onstage style versus your offstage style? As you said, you’re a bit more casual offstage, and onstage your style is, presumably, a bit more exaggerated.

I think it’s very difficult to compare my style onstage and offstage. Like you said onstage, obviously, you have to be full of glitz and glamour. Whereas, offstage, I tend to go for styles that don’t really stick out and is understated [but] is uniquely me.

How do you feel your style has evolved over the years?

To be honest, I think earlier in my career, right after we debuted, I think I used to overdo things because I was really eager to show myself and to show off what I had. I think I was in the process of discovering who I was. Whereas, now, I have learned, I found out that what fits me best is things that are casual and natural. I’ve learned that outfits can be a channel to express myself, but it doesn’t equal me in and of itself. But, even now, there are days when I feel like I want to reach for flashy, showy outfits.

Mingyu of Seventeen for Dior. COURTESY OF DIOR

You had what is fair to call a viral moment at Paris Fashion Week at the beginning of this year with the Dior show. Do you remember what you were feeling in that moment? How were you feeling after seeing that your appearance got such a good response?

Fashion week is a thing that I’ve always longed for and wanted to be a part of since I was very young. I was more than excited to be there with the Dior team, and I think I enjoyed every moment. I had a great, fun experience, from the moment I entered, until the moment I left after the show was over. It was an honor because I know that it counts for a big part of Paris’ culture. After learning that the video went viral and that I was coming under a lot of attention, I was a little shy and embarrassed. But it was a very inspiring experience because watching the show and thinking about what were the creative thoughts and processes behind each of the outfits and what kind of significance each of the garments carry was very inspiring. It was almost like watching an exhibition, so I think I would like to say that every little part of the experience was very exciting and inspiring.

Congratulations on the ambassadorship. Why do you feel Dior was the place for you in that space?

Dior has been one of my favorite brands since forever with its casual, its simple, yet natural, graceful and glamorous vibe. In that way, this is something that the brand Dior, and I have in common. Realistically speaking, I think the day that I went to the Dior women’s collection… I mean, that moment was not just an inspiring moment for me, but a good starting point for both of us.

What are you hoping comes from the ambassadorship? Do you have something that you’re really hoping to do while you’re an ambassador for the brand?

The number one thing that I’d like to do right now is to go to the men’s collection show. This time around, I went to the women’s collection. I’ve done a lot of photo shoots with Dior, and I made sure that I wear a Dior at important occasions, but I haven’t been to a men’s collection yet. I haven’t met Kim Jones (creative director of Dior Homme) in person, so I would love to meet him and talk about his creative process. That’s number one for me right now.

It seems like a rite of passage for celebrities to do a Calvin Klein campaign. How were you feeling when you found out you were going to do one? What were you excited or nervous about going into it?

It’s very difficult to say what exactly because the whole thing was exciting, and I felt nervous and excited about the whole thing. I think that Calvin Klein is a brand that everybody, regardless of age, loves and enjoys. I know what a strong presence the brand has in front of the general public, so I was really nervous about whether I could be the best fit for the brand, and whether I could embody the identity of the brand properly.

Do you have a favorite moment from either the shoot or after? Did anyone in your life react when they saw the photos?

When we were doing the photo shoots… showing some skin was something that was very unique to me this time around. There were a lot of staff there on set from the global Calvin Klein team, which was also a little nerve-racking, but exciting. They were very kind and encouraging. I tried to be cool-headed and think about whether I really was doing well objectively. After we were done with the photo shoot and the campaign, it was a little strange, but very exciting to see it be playing around, not just on people’s mobile phones, but on billboards and all the department stores all across the country. It was a very, very rewarding experience. I had a great time. But I haven’t seen the billboards or the ads in person, but I’ve heard a lot about it, so I’d like to go see it in person one day.

Mingyu of Seventeen for Dior. COURTESY OF DIOR

Do you have someone that inspires you in terms of fashion?

I think I’m inspired by models who are working overseas because I wouldn’t call myself someone who really packs a lot of personality in my style. I’m also inspired by NBA basketball players, what they wear to the court. I consider outfits as a piece of art, and I love imagining which outfits would be the best choice at a fancy dinner or when I go to the traditional market because I believe that there are outfits that can really highlight that moment and add an extra layer of energy in certain points in time. I try to imagine myself in different situations depending on the outfit.

Do you have anything you’d like to say to Carats [the name for the group’s fanbase] at the moment or just as you’re getting ready for this next chapter?

We are going to celebrate our 10th anniversary soon. We have been dropping a new album every year. We’ve been touring, going on tours a lot as well. So, just going forward, we just want to keep paying attention to the smallest details when it comes to our albums and promotions.

And to the fans, Carats, who have been sending us a lot of love and support, I just want to say that we will try our best to pay back all the love and energy through great stages and performances.I just want to see them and reach out to them as regularly and frequently as possible, so, even if we get to see each other for one hour, and I have to get on a 30-hour flight, I wouldn’t hesitate to do that because I love them so much.

[phatburd]

Title: The Marshal’s Court

Genre: Romantic Dramedy (In the style of Bridgerton)

Setting: The First French Empire, Napoleon’s Marshals as the central characters

Season 1, Episode 6: “Explosions, Eclairs, and Confessions”

Episode Synopsis:

Tensions explode both on the battlefield and in the hearts of the Marshals in Episode 6 of The Marshal’s Court. Davout and Bernadotte’s feud finally reaches a boiling point, threatening the unity of Napoleon’s forces, while Junot teeters on the edge of a mental breakdown, though Soult’s surprisingly kind gesture gives him a brief moment of calm. Meanwhile, the Bessimu ship officially sets sail as Murat and Bessières share a long-awaited kiss—but the aftermath is anything but smooth as Bessières is overcome with guilt and runs to confession. In a comedic subplot, Eugène reappears yet again, but the Marshals (and viewers) are still puzzled by his presence.

Opening Scene: Davout vs. Bernadotte – The Confrontation

The episode opens with Davout and Bernadotte in yet another heated argument, this time in front of Napoleon and several other Marshals. The tension that has been building throughout the season finally erupts. Bernadotte, feeling threatened by Davout’s increasing influence over military decisions, accuses him of being too rigid and controlling.

“Perhaps if you weren’t so obsessed with perfection, we might actually win these battles faster,” Bernadotte snaps.

Davout, ever the ice-cold professional, glares back. “Or perhaps if you spent more time preparing your troops and less time playing politics, you’d understand what it takes to win a real campaign.”

Napoleon watches with growing amusement, but when Bernadotte takes the insults too far, accusing Davout of being a “soulless machine,” Davout finally loses his cool. The usually composed Marshal lunges forward, and the two are only barely separated by Lannes and Ney.

Masséna and Augereau, watching from the sidelines like the show’s own Statler and Waldorf, exchange snide remarks.

Masséna smirks, “At this point, we should just let them fight. It’d be faster.”

Augereau shrugs. “My money’s on Davout. The man’s a walking cannon.”

Fan Reactions: The long-awaited Davout vs. Bernadotte confrontation does not disappoint. Fans are thrilled by the intensity of the scene, with #TeamDavout and #TeamBernadotte trending again. One fan tweets, “Davout would have ended Bernadotte if Lannes hadn’t stepped in, and you know it!” Another meme shows Napoleon smirking in the background, captioned “Just another day in the life of Napoleon’s drama factory.”

The Masséna and Augereau commentary remains a fan favorite, with fans calling them “the MVPs of snark” and flooding social media with gifs of their sarcastic remarks.

Junot and the Eclair: A Sweet Moment in a Storm

Junot is clearly struggling, his mental state continuing to decline. He’s been erratic throughout the episode, mumbling to himself, pacing in circles, and staring blankly at walls. His friends, particularly Lannes, are increasingly concerned, but no one seems to know how to reach him.

Enter Soult, who, in a surprising twist, decides to send Junot an éclair as a small gesture of kindness. He has noticed Junot’s odd behavior but doesn’t press him—he just sends the pastry along with a simple note: “You looked like you needed something sweet today. – Soult”

When Junot receives the éclair, he pauses for a moment, looking down at the pastry with an expression of confused gratitude. After a few beats, he takes a bite, and for the first time in the episode, a small, contented smile appears on his face. It’s a brief moment of calm in the storm, but it’s enough to suggest that Junot hasn’t completely lost himself—yet.

Fan Reactions: Fans are touched by this unexpected moment of kindness from Soult. Memes of Junot smiling while eating the éclair quickly go viral, with captions like “Sometimes, all you need is an éclair.” One fan tweets, “Soult didn’t just bake an éclair; he baked a lifeline for Junot.” The #SaveJunot movement picks up steam again, with fans hoping that Soult’s gesture might be the first step in turning Junot’s fate around.

The Kiss: Murat and Bessières Finally Kiss

The Bessimu ship sails gloriously in Episode 6, as Murat and Bessières finally share the long-awaited kiss that fans have been clamoring for. It happens during a quiet moment after another formal event, when the two Marshals find themselves alone in the palace gardens. Murat, ever the charismatic and daring one, moves in closer to Bessières, who seems torn between his feelings and his sense of duty.

“Murat, we can’t,” Bessières mutters, his voice shaky.

But Murat gives him that roguish smile and replies, “I think we already have.”

The tension builds as Murat gently touches Bessières’ cheek, and finally, the two share a passionate kiss under the moonlit sky. It’s tender, heartfelt, and everything fans hoped it would be—until Bessières pulls away suddenly, his face stricken with guilt.

“I… I can’t,” Bessières says, almost panicking, before running off toward the palace. Murat is left standing alone, clearly frustrated but not surprised.

Fan Reactions: The Bessimu kiss breaks the internet. Fans flood social media with reactions, artwork, and theories. #Bessimu trends immediately, with fans celebrating the moment while also expressing heartbreak over Bessières’ reaction. One fan posts a meme of Bessières running to the palace with the caption, “When you kiss Murat but remember you’re Catholic.” Another meme shows Murat watching Bessières flee, captioned “Murat: ‘What did I do?’ Bessières: ‘What did I just do?!’”

Bessières’ Confession

The aftermath of the kiss sees Bessières spiraling into guilt. Overcome by his religious convictions and internal conflict, he rushes to a nearby church and immediately seeks out a priest for confession. The scene is somber and intense, with Bessières kneeling in the confessional, his face filled with torment.

“Father, I’ve sinned,” Bessières whispers, his voice heavy with emotion. “I’ve let myself be led astray.”

The priest listens quietly as Bessières pours out his guilt, but the scene ends with the priest offering no easy answers—just silence. Bessières leaves the church, still deeply conflicted.

Fan Reactions: The confession scene adds layers to Bessières’ character, and fans react strongly. #ConflictedBessières trends as fans debate whether Bessières will ever reconcile his feelings for Murat with his deep Catholic faith. One fan tweets, “Someone get Bessières some therapy because he’s not okay!” The kiss and the confession create a whirlwind of fan theories, with many speculating that Bessières’ struggle is far from over.

Eugène: Still Here, Still Confusing

In another comedic subplot, Eugène appears yet again, wandering into the Marshals’ strategy session with no apparent reason for being there. As usual, the other Marshals barely acknowledge him, except for Lannes, who shoots him a confused look.

“Why are you even here?” Lannes asks bluntly.

Eugène shrugs, clearly unsure himself, and responds, “I thought I could be of help.”

No one responds, and the scene cuts to Masséna and Augereau once again, exchanging glances.

Masséna mutters, “Does anyone actually know what he does?”

Augereau grins. “I’m starting to think he’s a ghost.”

Fan Reactions: Fans love the ongoing mystery of Eugène’s presence. Memes flood social media with captions like, “Eugène: The man, the myth, the mystery,” and “Eugène: Here for moral support and… what else, exactly?” The character’s repeated but unexplained appearances spark a fan theory that Eugène is a stand-in for the audience, someone just as confused by the Marshals as the viewers are.

Closing Scene: Tensions Rise

The episode ends with a tense scene between Napoleon and his Marshals, where he addresses the growing fractures within his inner circle. Davout and Bernadotte stand on opposite sides of the room, glaring at each other, while Bessières looks deeply troubled after his confession, and Murat avoids looking at him altogether.

“I need unity,” Napoleon declares, his tone sharp. “Not petty squabbles. Remember, gentlemen, we are here to conquer Europe, not each other.”

The camera lingers on the strained faces of the Marshals as the tension in the room builds. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, leaving viewers wondering how long this fragile unity will last.

Fan Reactions: The ending leaves fans buzzing with anticipation. Speculation about the growing tension between Davout and Bernadotte is rampant, with many fans predicting an all-out confrontation in future episodes. The Bessimu kiss dominates online discussions, with fans debating whether Bessières will be able to reconcile his feelings for Murat or if this will tear them apart.

One meme shows Napoleon watching his Marshals with the caption, “Napoleon: I didn’t sign up to be a babysitter.” Another popular theory suggests that Junot’s situation will soon become central to the plot, with fans eager to see how the Marshals will handle his decline.

Teasers for Episode 7:

• Junot’s mental state worsens, and the Marshals must decide how to intervene—before it’s too late.

• Murat struggles with his feelings for Bessières, while Bessières seeks guidance on how to move forward.

• Davout and Bernadotte’s rivalry takes a dangerous turn, and Napoleon is forced to step in with drastic measures.

• Soult faces an unexpected challenge that threatens both his military career and his newfound role as the group’s resident chef.

The teasers leave fans on the edge of their seats, eager for more drama, romance, and the inevitable conflicts that are brewing within The Marshal’s Court.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Gareth Sturdy

Published: Jun 21, 2023

If you need any more proof that gender ideology is warping British education, look no further than a recent incident at a state secondary school in East Sussex. A teacher there branded a 13-year-old schoolgirl ‘despicable’ in front of other pupils and threatened to report her to senior staff. Her offence? Saying that women have vaginas and men have penises and expressing scepticism about a fellow pupil’s self-identification… as a cat.

The exchange, which took place at Rye College, was recorded by the schoolgirl involved. Her mother then published it on social media.

The teacher was speaking to Year 8 pupils after a ‘life education’ class. Referring to another child, who wasn’t present, one pupil is heard in the recording saying to the teacher, ‘I just said that if they want to identify as a cat or something then they are genuinely unwell’. Another pupil backs her up. The teacher then launches into a tirade, accusing the pupils of questioning the child’s identity, and then asks, ‘Where did you get this idea from, that there are only two genders?’. She tells them this is ‘not an opinion you can have’.

The pupils try to reply that they should be allowed to hold opinions that differ from those of others, but the teacher continues her self-righteous rant. She accuses them of saying that unless you ‘identify with the gender of the sexual organ you were born with… you’re weird. That’s basically what you’re saying, which is really despicable.’ When one of the pupils tries to suggest that her mother would disagree with the teacher’s view, the teacher responds, ‘Well that’s very sad as well’.

She then gets more and more enraged and even suggests that the schoolgirls should find another school. ‘I’m not having that [view] expressed in my lesson’, she concludes.

The recording has since gone viral, leading more reports to emerge of UK schools letting pupils identify not just as cats, but also as dinosaurs, horses and even planetary moons.

The government has now intervened. The Department for Education has warned headteachers that allowing children to identify as animals will be treated as a safeguarding issue.

But the most disturbing aspect of the Rye College recording is not that kids are self-identifying as animals. It’s that teachers are refusing to countenance any criticism of identity politics, especially gender identity. This is not an isolated case. There have been other cases recently where pupils have been disciplined or driven out of school for expressing gender-critical views.

This is not just a sign of the prevalence of gender ideology among school teachers. It also shows that schools are confused about their purpose. They seem to have given up on the idea that they exist to transmit established, well-defined bodies of knowledge through expert teachers.

Instead, schools increasingly see themselves as instruments of social engineering. Their job is not to inspire kids to learn, but to inculcate the correct worldview. As campaign group Don’t Divide Us showed in Who’s In Charge?, a report about the role of racial thinking in the classroom, schools have willingly invited political activists in through the gates. And they have surrendered large sections of the curriculum to these ideologues in the process. This is changing the purpose of teaching – from education to indoctrination. The result is precisely the type of incident we’ve just witnessed at Rye College – children being castigated for expressing wrongthink.

Rye College has now apologised for its teacher’s handling of the incident. But it’s too late. Stopping this new style of teaching by reprimanding individual teachers is like trying to force toothpaste back into the tube. This mode of ideological ‘education’ has already spread like a contagion across our schools. Classroom argument is being forbidden and dissent is being met with punishment and threats of expulsion. Now that really is ‘despicable’.

It’s high time parents and (sensible) teachers united to return our schools to sanity.

==

When the students are the grown ups and teacher is the petulant child.

"Gender critical" is a euphemism for "biologically accurate."

If you're reading this, you are not a cat and you cannot ever be a cat, no matter how you "identify." Words I should never have to type, but here we are.

I identify as exhausted.

[doctorpuppet]

Rick reviews music on YouTube. He doesn't get a lot of views but that's fine - he just loves music. Everything changes when he reviews an old vinyl record and discovers a strange message hidden in a track. His video review goes viral and Kacy, a documentary filmmaker, begins to follow Rick as he tries to uncover the meaning and origin of the message. They both get more than they bargained for when Rick unearths more records, more messages, and an enigmatic label called Henge, which disappeared in the 1970s, leaving behind only 12 albums and a dark secret.

Spiral to the Center is a fictional investigative documentary with a sci-fi twist. It will include interview segments, archival footage, motion graphics, and found-footage style filmmaking. We plan to shoot Spiral to the Center in Newcastle upon Tyne, England in early 2023, making use of various locations around the city - including record shops! The completed film will be approximately 20 minutes long. We expect to finish it in Spring 2023 then premiere it at a film festival later that year.

At its core, Spiral to the Center is a celebration of music. In particular the psychedelic, prog rock, and electronic music of the 1970s. The film features original tracks by Scott that are entirely authentic to the era. We want you to feel like you’re listening to some forgotten, dusty records you just pulled out of your uncle’s attic. Most of the tracks are already written and many contain hidden messages. 

The campaign ends tomorrow! Help us finish SPIRAL TO THE CENTER!

[gay-jewish-bucky]

I just saw someone accusing the author of This is How You Lose the Time War of creating an alt account to carry out a viral marketing campaign to make their book into an amazon best seller

why? because this person thought the prosaic and unstructured writing style was long winded and boring, so clearly this is a bad book that couldn't possibly have been recommended on it's own merits.

at no point do they explain why there aren't hundreds of bad reviews or people widely complaining about it on social media if it were really so bad...

Like I personally really dislike flowery, disjointed writing so I've skipped out on this, but come on, not everything we dislike is some secret conspiracy!!!!