#we hit over 230 followers

[kaijutegu]

I'm trying to come up with something clever to say here but I feel like I've been hit by a truck. In a good way. I never thought anything like this would pass in the Midwest, not even in a blue state like IL, because it's simply not the kind of thing anybody campaigns on or even talks about at the gubernatorial level.

This is honestly the perfect legal addendum to NAGPRA, and I'm thrilled it's at the state level. This type of legislation would be way too complex at the federal level, but the individual state responsibilities are manageable, and more importantly, doable.

Here's some of the highlights of what the law does:

It is now the state's responsibility to help return ancestral remains, funerary objects and other important cultural items to tribal nations

The state must follow the lead of tribal nations throughout the repatriation process.

Money must be allocated as part of the state Repatriation and Reinterment Fund to help with the costs of reburial, tribal consultation and the repair of any damage to burial sites, remains or sacred items.

Criminal penalties for the looting and desecration of gravesites are increased, and the law adds a ban on profiteering from human remains and funerary objects through their sale, purchase or exhibition.

Tribal nations must be consulted as soon as possible when Indigenous gravesites are unintentionally disturbed or unearthed — such as during construction projects. (We already had kind of a version of this, but it wasn't strong enough.)

IDNR must set aside and maintain land solely for the reburial of repatriated Native American ancestors and their belongings, as tribal nations have pointed to the lack of protected places for reburial in Illinois as among the highest barriers to repatriation.

Institutions that display human remains that are Native American and any items that were originally buried with those individuals (funerary items) cannot charge admission. You want to display looted grave goods? No money for you. (This is specifically targeting the Dickinson Mounds Museum, which is... well, it started as a guy's private display of Native American skeletons he personally looted. The state took it over in the 90s, but they didn't rebury any of the 230~ human skeletons.)

My favorite comment is this: When asked about what he would say to museums that may push back against the law, Illinois State Rep. Mark L. Walker said: “Too bad.”

[nerdylilpeebee]

So i been seeing your post recently and...well.....do you not think whats hapening in palestine is a genocide?

No, I don't.

Firstly, the numbers of how many have died comes from Hamas. And I refuse to believe they can name every dead kid but can't name how many hostages are alive. And even if we humor the idea they're telling the truth, 30k is an INCREDIBLY small number in terms of conflicts like this and most likely includes Hamas fighters, who are dressed as civilians and of whom Hamas does not differentiate when counting these numbers, so the civilian death toll is far more likely to be around 15k, and that's a generous high-roll. It's also not really possible they'd mostly be women and children. Cuz if they were, this would mean either every man in Gaza is a Hamas fighter (unlikely) or most men in Gaza has somehow avoided death. An incredibly unlikely option, especially given Pro-Pals insistence that Israel is "carpet bombing" Gaza. If you're carpet bombing an area, it's not possible that adult men could almost all avoid death. XD that's just not possible.

Secondly, Hamas has been proven to be lying. They lied about Israel bombing a hospital pretty early (they claimed Israel bombed the hospital and 500 people died, but in truth, one of their missile misfired and hit the parking lot of the hospital they claim was hit), and ever since I have either seen multiple lies from Hamas or Pro-Pals claiming this building or that was destroyed, but a quick Google search of the building either provided oodles of proof it was not destroyed or that it wasn't even in fucking Gaza. I refuse to believe the side lying their asses off will be accurate when calling something a genocide. This doesn't mean I think Israel has never lied, but they have not engaged in nearly the same level of manipulation that Hamas and the Pro-Pal side have.

Thirdly, Hamas has been launching unguided missiles into Israel for over 20 years. This necessitated the Iron Dome, and Israel in the areas that were bombed even has alarms in every neighborhood and a bomb shelter in every house. Even so they have killed thousands over the years in this campaign of slaughter. They then capped this off with October 7th, a terror attack that claimed almost exclusively civilian lives. They raped, butchered, and even recorded themselves doing these things (which is of course ignored by Pro-Pals). They had journalists involved who warned no one and even posed with Hamas leaders and took pictures of themselves with grenades. Apparently there were even members of the UNRWA involved, tho I haven't seen full proof of that bit yet. This was a terror attack that killed 1400 people, innocent people who were just taking part in a music festival. Then they kidnapped over 230 more innocent people, all civilians, many of which weren't even Israeli's, and while yes they gave SOME back during the ceasefire for hostage exchange, they kept a lot of infants (yes, INFANTS) they took, separating them from their mothers, and didn't give back all the hostages, rejecting the offer to keep the ceasefire going in exchange for them all. And now, they won't even name how many as still alive!

And after this terror attack they retreated to Gaza, even taking some corpses of the people they killed, and went into underground tunnels so any reprise against them would hit innocent civilians. They even said on live TV that they view Gaza as a country of martyrs they're happy to sacrifice. And yet despite all of that, we get to point 4.

Fourthly, Israel warns people before attacking. This is unprecedented. Militaries the world over call it a stupid move, cuz tactics-wise, it is very fucking stupid since inevitably Hamas gets the warnings too. But Israel does it anyway in an attempt to prevent civilian deaths, with Hamas refusing to let a lot of the civilians evacuate so they don't die. And the ones that did? They followed them to Rafah, bringing hostages with them, making Rafah, by law, a military target.

Fifthly, Hamas steals the aid that gets in, Palestinians have even testified to this, forcing Gazan civilians to starve and get desperate. The most recent consequence of this is the "flour massacre" in which starving Gazans swarmed an aid truck, and the aid workers inside ran a lot of them over in a bid to escape. Pro-Pals of course spread the lie that Israel butchered them all.

And finally point 6, having to do with the hostages: Hamas lies about the hostages. They claim they're treated well, even forged a thank you letter. But one interview with a released hostage demonstrates that this is a blatant lie, the family of the hostage the letter was from even said it was a lie!

I refuse to believe a genocide is happening when all of this is true. People facing genocide don't engage in this level of manipulation. They don't take innocents hostage, rape them and kill their families and neighbors.

Yeah, Gaza military-wise is weak compared to Israel. And their government has no interest in protecting them whatsoever. But one side being weak does not make a war a genocide. One side's government choosing to hide in underground tunnels, launch missiles from civilian buildings, hide weapons and hostages in hospitals, schools, and children's bedrooms does not make it a genocide.

What is happening is awful and it needs to stop. but it's a war, not a genocide.

[daresplaining]

Daredevil vol. 6 Annual #1 by Chip Zdarsky, Manuel Garcia, Chris Mooneyham, Rachelle Rosenberg, Le Beau Underwood, and Clayton Cowles

There's a part of me that says I should conserve the few Mike Murdock scenes that I haven't analyzed yet, because who knows when (or if...) we will get more? But it's also nuts to me that four years have gone by and I haven't posted about this scene yet, so screw it, I'm gonna talk about it now.

I've written a bit before about the way this issue emphasizes the concept of Mike barging into pre-existing spaces, observing things that had not been observed before by any pre-existing characters, and ultimately presenting a new path for readers to follow through Matt Murdock's life history. The creative team positions Mike not alongside his twin, but almost in opposition to him, through stark differences in their childhood experiences. Matt loved his father unconditionally, Mike's relationship with Jack was a bit more complicated. Matt tried to stay out of trouble in school, Mike beat up bullies without apology. And then we get this absolute bomb drop of a scene, in which Mike is present where no one was supposed to be, and as a result, is struck with a life-upending revelation that will not hit Matt until years later. This scene stunned me when I first read the issue, because no matter how much Real Boy Mike's story might have diverged from his brother's, I never expected him to have a different experience of this.

Daredevil vol. 1 #230 by Frank Miller, David Mazzucchelli, Christie "Max" Scheele, and Joe Rosen

In Daredevil volume 1 #230, Matt finds himself in a church basement being cared for by nuns after collapsing, near death, in the street. As he lies there, feverish and delirious, he eventually takes notice of a particular nun. Her presence, her smell, and the feel of the cross necklace she wears (which, as seen in the panels above, she ends up giving to Matt) conjure up a long-forgotten memory from the time of his accident. He recognizes this nun as a mysterious woman who visited him in the hospital, as he lay suffering from his newly acquired hypersenses.

Man Without Fear vol. 1 #1 by Frank Miller, John Romita Jr., Christie Scheele, Al Williamson, and Joe Rosen

It is an intimate moment, written almost like a dream; a calming presence in the middle of one of the most nightmarish experiences of his life. Adult Matt pieces together this sensory puzzle, the mystery of this nun, and eventually uncovers the truth: that she is his mother, who he had been raised to believe was dead. This revelation is the start of a long and winding journey through which Matt and Maggie carefully, nervously inch back into each other's lives and begin to build a relationship.

But in the 2020 Annual, this private little moment between Matt and the stranger he will one day come to know as his mother is private no more. It now has a witness, and we the readers have a new, messier perspective on this classic scene. Enter: the brother who wasn't supposed to be there.

In this new version of Daredevil history, Mike spends the night at the hospital, watching over Matt after Jack is forced to leave for work. As Daredevil fans, we have spent plenty of origin retellings and flashbacks inside that hospital room, but Mike stays on a bench out in the hallway, involved but still not fully immersed in what is happening-- an intruder, a spare (I love the detail that he and Matt are dressed exactly the same in this scene). Not once do we see Mike enter that room at any point. The closest he comes to it on-panel is standing uncomfortably in the doorway. And that is how he remains when Maggie arrives and makes her fateful visit: outside, unconnected. When Mike wakes up, she is already in the room with Matt. Maybe she took a moment, as she passed by, to reach out to her other son and he just wasn't awake to notice. We might never know, and neither will he. What matters is that Mike is forced to listen in, and by listening in, he reaches the same conclusion about Maggie that Matt won't until years later. And for Mike, it isn't a gentle, gradual, fever-softened understanding. It is a sudden, nightmarish jolt at the end of a long day filled with sudden, nightmarish jolts.

Mike bears this revelation alone and silently. He could have marched into that room and confronted Maggie. He could have gone in after she left, just to be closer to his brother in this moment of shock and uncertainty. Instead, he chooses to walk away. Later in the issue he reveals to Jack that he has found out the truth, but if the volume 1 continuity has remained intact, we can assume that he never tells Matt. Instead, he carries the burden of this secret knowledge himself, and allows his brother the freedom and peace of mind to not be hurt by the shattering of such a foundational lie.

[drysdaleknieslee]

hi can you please write smut with juraj? maybe shower sex? thanks gf!

OOH girly I've been thinking of how to write this all day and it's my first smut so bear with me but I hope you like this!

Juraj had been trying for the past few months to convince me to shower with him as it "saves water" but I've been denying it because I know the real reason. We've been dating for almost seven months and he's obviously seen me naked and me him, we just never tried the shower sex route.

He had an afternoon practice today so I ran a few errands and went for a quick little jog around our neighborhood in Montreal. I was a little sweaty of course from the running and the unusually warm weather, so when I got back I decided to take a quick shower before Juraj got home.

As I step in I don't even hear the front door open and close. I had just started to shampoo my hair when I hear the bathroom door creek.

"srdiečko (sweetheart)?"

"I'm in the shower Juraj" i say over the sound of the water and light music playing from the speaker near the sink.

"Oh great, we can shower together." I peek my head out momentarily to say "Don't you dare" trying to seem threatening to a 6'3 230 230-pound hockey player.

He gets that mischievous grin on his face and proceeds to remove his clothes. I duck my head back in the shower to avoid looking at him. No matter how many times I've seen him, he still makes me blush.

"Prečo si taký hanblivý drahý? (why so shy my dear)" he whispered behind me while placing his hands slowly on my waist. I continue to try to wash myself before he takes the washcloth from me as an offering to wash me himself. His left hand, holding the rag, gently washes my back while his right makes it's way to my vagina.

I sigh as he begins to gently stroke me and leave feather kisses from my right ear down to my neck and shoulder. "it's just me. Relax."

At that, I completely untense as he inserts his index finger into my entrance. I yelp as he curls it upward, hitting that spot making my knees weak.

"Turn around my love, let me see you." I slowly turn for him and he looks at me with hooded dilated eyes. He rakes his eyes up and down my frame before finally crashes his lips on mine. He swipes his tongue across my bottom lip, asking for entrance and I grant it. He's always been a good kisser. He places the rag behind me on the shower shelf and taps my bum signaling for me to jump.

I jump lightly, to avoid slipping, as he grabs me in his stronghold and my back meets the shower wall. Growing impatient I move my left hand from his neck and start reaching for his cock. He let's out a throaty laugh before saying, "I thought you said you didn't like shower sex."

"Shut up and fuck me Juraj," I say in a whine while growing agitated. He could tell how wet I was, even with the added water. "My pleasure" he growls.

He pumps himself a few times with my discharge and slowly thrusts into me. It always takes me a minute to adjust to him. He thrusts again adding more of him this time and he finds a rhythm. His thrusts are powerful but not enough to hurt me and his added grip on my ass wasn't helping.

"Faster" was all I could say as my mind already foggy from the steam from the shower and the heat from us alone. That alone was a signal for Juraj to go as deep as he liked.

He readjusted his hold on me briefly and gave one strong thrust that took the wind out of me. I could feel his pulse quicken as he started to hit my g spot each time. Words were now just whines and my eyes started to roll in the back of my head. Juraj had nothing but guttural groans. The knot in the pit of my stomach now too much to hold.

"I'm close Juraj," I say in broken syllables. His thrusts start to get sloppy and I know he's close too.

"Let's come together ok?" I manage a nod before he gives two more thrusts we both groan and come at the same time. Just then I hear a crack and the tub tilting slightly.

I look and see that somehow, we broke the shower. Juraj follows where my eyes go and starts to laugh. He lets me down and starts to clean me off and grabs us both towels.

As he helps me out the shower, I add, "And that's why I didn't want to have sex in the shower" before pecking his lips. How will we explain this to the landlord?

[larkral]

Oh, hi. Good news: I am not dead. Bad news: my spirit is perhaps just a little bit dead. Thanks @shrekgogurt and @hushed-chorus for the tags! And to everyone else who's been tagging me over the past while.

I've been too busy dealing with school's bullshit about my daughter's behavior for the past (checks watch) six weeks to have any energy to write. But! Last night I wrote 230 words for the epilogue of my Check Please fic!

Anyway, I've been feeling very much like the amalgamation of Natalie and Zadie in Finally, (already, always) that I'll be honest, I've always known I was writing them as. For a snippet of my life, please read the two following snippets from that WIP:

Natalie:

Simon's teachers call us up to say he's a nuisance in class, but they can never say what he's done. Is he loud? (No.) Does he throw things? (No.) Has he hit anyone? (No.) Does he speak out of turn? (No.) No, no, no. He's just a nuisance, Mrs. Stephenson-Shaw. (Ms. Shaw, actually.) He's disruptive. He has to go to the office. He's risking expulsion. He's seven. Just a boy. Thin shoulders, long back, freckles, blue eyes and a smile. A tumble of energy and adoration and enthusiasm. He's my Simon. He's stories by the window, and sitting on the floor next to his bed stroking his back as he falls asleep. He's chasing after ducks in the park, climbing trees, and an overwhelming enthusiasm for knights and dragons.  I love him every way I can find. Every day I find more. I'm spilling over with love for him and aside from Zadie, no one seems to be able to see it: the things we love. The ways he's loveable.

Zadie:

I wonder if he might have seemed trustworthy. If he'd been subtle, if he'd been politic, would I have seen the monster as readily?  "We will talk with Simon about it. And we can tour the school. And if he's interested, then we'll consider it." He purses his lips. "A tour will be difficult," he says. "It is impossible for a non-magical person to enter the gates of Watford." Of course. Well, it's as good a demand as any to finish the conversation with. "Well then, I suggest that you find a way to let prospective and current students' parents visit the school, or the answer will definitely be no." I stand up and start towards the door. Nat stands and starts down the stairs. We fall in together, present a united front as I usher to David Cadwallader out of our home.  "I'll be in touch ," he says.

<3 to everyone and tags under the cut

@stitchyqueer @thewholelemon @confused-bi-queer @raenestee @facewithoutheart @cutestkilla @hushed-chorus @sillyunicorn @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @basiltonbutliketheherb @ileadacharmedlife @asocialpessimist @bookish-bogwitch @aristocratic-otter @captain-aralias @petedavidsonscock @takitalks @artsyunderstudy @yeonjunenby @carryonvisinata @takenabackbytuesdays @martsonmars @nausikaaa @nightimedreamersghost @chen-chen-chen-again-chen @ionlydrinkhotwater @that-disabled-princess @shrekgogurt @forabeatofadrum  @palimpsessed @fatalfangirl​ @blackberrysummerblog​ @valeffelees @imagineacoolusername @orange-peony @j-nipper-95 @whogaveyoupermission @wellbelesbian @rimeswithpurple @youarenevertooold @emeryhall @mooncello @monbons @run-for-chamo-miles

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Oliver Milman at The Guardian:

A slew of falsehoods about Hurricane Helene, including claims of funds diverted from storm survivors to migrants and even that Democrats somehow directed the hurricane itself, have hampered the response to one of the deadliest hurricanes to ever hit the US, the nation’s top emergency official has warned.

Misinformation spread by Donald Trump, his supporters and others about the hurricane has shrouded the recovery effort for communities shattered by Helene, which tore through five states causing at least 230 deaths and tens of billions of dollars of damage. Many places, such as in western North Carolina, are still without a water supply, electricity, navigable roads or vital supplies. “It’s frankly disappointing we are having to deal with this narrative, the fact there are a few leaders having a hard time telling the difference between fact and fiction is creating an impedance to our ability to actually get people the help they need,” Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), told MSNBC on Monday. Trump has accused Joe Biden’s administration of “abandoning” people to the crisis and, baselessly, of being short of disaster relief funds due to money spent on undocumented migrants. Such claims are “frankly ridiculous” and creating a “truly dangerous narrative that is creating this fear” among affected people, Criswell said.

In multiple rallies in the past week, Trump has accused Biden and Kamala Harris of favoring migrants over disaster-hit areas. “They stole the Fema money, just like they stole it from a bank, so they could give it to their illegal immigrants that they want to have vote for them this season,” Trump has said. “Kamala spent all her Fema money, billions of dollars, on housing for illegal immigrants.” Trump added the places worst hit are “largely a Republican area so some people say they did it for that reason”.

JD Vance, Trump’s Republican running mate, echoed this theme on Monday, telling Fox News that Fema’s focus on migrants is “going to distract focus from their core job of helping American citizens in their time of need”. Last week, Stephen Miller, a far-right Trump adviser, said that “Kamala Harris turned Fema into an illegal alien resettlement agency”. Fema does, in fact, have a housing program that offers shelter to migrants leaving detention but this is separate from its disaster relief program. “No money is being diverted from disaster response needs. None,” the White House has stated. In remarks on Monday after speaking to Criswell by phone, Harris urged politicians to stop “playing games” with lives at stake. According to the White House pool, the vice-president said: “There’s a lot of misinformation being pushed out there by the former president about what is available, particularly for the survivors of Helene. First of all, it’s extraordinarily irresponsible. It’s about him, it’s not about you. The reality is Fema has so many resources that are available to those who desperately need them.” Congress recently provided an extra $20bn for disaster relief but Biden has warned that more funding will be needed to help the long-term recovery of places increasingly assailed by powerful storms fueled by global heating.

Other conspiracy theories and erroneous claims have swirled online and in areas affected by Helene, such as the assertion that Fema will give only $750 to individuals as a loan (it is, in fact, a grant, and can be followed by further claims for more than $40,000) or that the agency is seizing people’s land. Fema has, unusually, put up a web page to counter these claims, with a spokesman saying the misinformation is “extremely damaging” to response efforts as it deters people from seeking assistance. “We are going to continue to message aggressively so everyone understands what the facts are,” he said regarding the looming Hurricane Milton, which is set to hit Florida. Some social media posts spreading misinformation about the hurricanes called for militias to be formed to confront Fema workers, while other posts contained antisemitic hatred aimed at figures such as Esther Manheimer, mayor of Asheville, North Carolina, a city badly affected by the storm.

[...] So far, Biden has declared the federal government will pay for the entire cost of activities such as debris removal, search and rescue and food supplies for Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The president has also already approved disaster help for Florida ahead of Milton’s arrival. This approach has garnered some rare praise for Biden from Republican governors of affected states, with some Republican lawmakers calling for the conspiracy theories to abate. “Will you all help STOP this conspiracy theory junk that is floating all over Facebook and the internet about the floods,” Kevin Corbin, a Republican state senator for western North Carolina, posted on Facebook last week. “Please don’t let these crazy stories consume you or have you continually contact your elected officials to see if they are true.”

FEMA Chief Deanne Criswell calls out the dangerous misinformation about Hurricane Helene peddled by Donald Trump and right-wing media pundits. FEMA

[bratshaws]

through the hourglass 260. brb x oc

a/n: GUESS WHO'S BDAY IS COMING UP!!!! (comments and reblogs are super welcome and encouraged!)

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: none uwu

goodness gracious (pls read this one to know more what this fic is about!!)

chapter

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(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist! )

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @roosterschanelslut @wiipes @lcahwriter @novastories @gretagerwigsmuse @frenchtoastix @lizzie-rdj @fanboyluvr @atarmychick007 @comebacktoearthpls

@peachiicherries @mak-32 @lizziespidiepridie @roosterswifey @ollyoxenfrees @piceous21 @sqrlgrl22 @hofficoffi @lexhalstead3 @lorilane33 @legendarydreamersharkparty @luckyladycreator2

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-

“Roos!” 

Her smile is so big once she sees the Bronco parked in front of the bar that she almost forgets her bag. If it wasn’t for Penny calling her and letting her know about it, Beatrice would’ve left it there until the next day. Her husband is waiting outside the car, arms crossed and his mouth quirked in a little smirk.

He opens his arms immediately when Bea is within reach, letting her hug his torso and press her cheek to his shirt. He leans down to kiss her temple, nuzzling the brown hair that touches his nose, “Hmmm. You are touchy today.”

“I missed you.” she replies but then immediately turns her attention to Nicole who’s looking right back at her from the little booster seat, “And I missed Nikki!Hi baby!” Rooster lets her walk over to the passenger door, sitting down next to Nikki and cooing to her as her boss comes closer.

“Here.” Penny smirks, handing Rooster Beatrice’s gray bag, the xenomorph keychain was turning white because of age but it was still the same stuff she had when they first started dating, “You two are just too precious.” she says, “But that’s to be expected.”

As Penny's teasing remark hung in the air, Beatrice couldn't help but chuckle inside the car. 

Rooster leaned against the car door, a glint in his eyes as he watched Beatrice and Nikki interact.”Yeah,well…can you blame me?”

Penny rolled her eyes while walking back to the bar, “I guess not.”she waves at them, “Good night you two,drive safely.” she points to the sky, “There’s a storm coming so I wouldn’t stall here for too long!”.

Beatrice’s head popped out of the car before her body did, “Will you be alright?” she calls, seeing her boss walk back inside and smirk at her.

“Yep,I will. You two go home.” and she points at them again, “Don’t make me force you two into the car.”

As Penny disappeared into the dimly lit bar, Beatrice settled into the car seat beside Rooster, while Nikki was now giggling and reaching out for her mother's finger. Rooster watched them with a warm smile, before he closed the door himself.

The evening sky was slowly darkening, and the first drops of rain splattered against the windshield followed by the howling of winds. Beatrice glanced up at the ominous clouds, furrowing her  brows. "We should hurry, Roos. Penny's right; that storm looks like it's going to be a doozy."

Rooster hummed, clicking on his seatbelt before checking the way the trees moved because of the air around them, “We have…ten minutes before it hits.” he says, “The drive back home is around twenty- twenty five depending on traffic. We’ll get it either way but we’ll be alright.” The Bronco roars awake when he puts the key in the ignition. “I can choose a different route either way.”

The engine's growl filled the air as Rooster expertly maneuvered the Bronco out of the parking lot and onto the dimly lit street. Beatrice sighs quietly,while leaning back on her seat as she looks back at Rooster.

Her husband just smiles at her, “What?”

“Nothing.” she says, “I missed you.”

“As did we,gorgeous.” Rooster stole a glance at the rearview mirror, his expression softening as he watched the way Nicole appeared to be paying the utmost attention to their conversation  "She kept looking at your pictures. I had to tell her she had to wait for mama to come back…anyway, how was the bar? Packed I imagine.”

"It was busier than I remembered," Beatrice replied, her voice carrying a hint of weariness. "Penny had some music tonight, and it drew quite a crowd. But it was fun, you know? It's been a while since I've been tired like that. I mean,I don’t know if our babies are just saints but they don't leave me so tired? I mean, the twins are at the NICU still but…you know what I mean.”

“Yeah,gorgeous.I know.” he smiles, keeping an eye on the sky and relaxing when he notices the raindrops were slow and spaced, they still had time, “And the fake Sinatra guy? Did he leave or did he still make a scene?”

"He finally called it a night after a dramatic rendition of 'My Way.' I think Penny had to practically drag him off the bar. You should've seen it, Roos; it was like watching a soap opera. Shells probably has a video on her phone and Jessie was too horrified to do anything."

Rooster chuckled, his hands firmly gripping the steering wheel. "Well, I'm sorry I missed the show,I can always ask Shells to send me the video though."

Beatrice nodded, her gaze drifting to the road ahead as she leaned back further in her seat. "She definitely will, you know how she is…she also said ‘I wouldn’t be a good best friend if I didn’t record this so I could share with you later.’"

“Sounds like her.”

The raindrops began to fall more steadily as Rooster and Beatrice continued their journey home. The windshield wipers swayed rhythmically, creating a squeaky pattern against the glass. Nikki, nestled in her booster seat, seemed entranced by the motion, her little fingers occasionally reaching out to point the droplets on the window.

Rooster stole a glance at his daughter through the rearview mirror and couldn't help but smile at the sight. "Looks like someone's enjoying the rain."

Beatrice turned her attention to Nikki, a smile gracing her lips. "Yeah, she probably likes how it shines." she goes back to the former position and sighs, tapping her fingers together, “...man I’m spent.” she yawns, “And a bit sore.I might need a bath.”

Rooster's lips pursed, he had to go through the shortcut because the storm was right behind them, “Yeah,I know gorgeous. I can draw a bath for you.”

“Yeah?”

“Always,baby,” he smirks, “What sort of husband would I be?”

Beatrice smiles with a happy hum leaving her lips, then she looks back at the window with her eyes soft, “...how was your Call of Duty session with Jake and Coyote? Fun?”

Rooster nodded, keeping his eyes on the rain-soaked road as he navigated the winding path through the rain, the rain that now was getting stronger. "Yeah, it was a blast. Jake and Coyote were in rare form tonight. We even managed to pull off a few victories, despite Coyote's insistence on going for those risky sniper shots."

Beatrice chuckled, her fingers idly tracing patterns on her thigh. "I can only imagine the chaos."

"Hey, it's a great way to unwind," Rooster defended with a grin. "Besides, it's not like we get to do it every night. But it's always good to catch up with them...and win, of course."

As they continued to drive through the rain-soaked night, the view of their house finally appeared within sight and both sighed in relief. The sound of raindrops on the car's roof sounded more like gunshots than actual rain with how heavy it was.

And the rain showed no signs of letting up.

 Rooster's headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the wet road ahead as he presses the button to open the garage up. Beatrice yawned again, her exhaustion becoming more apparent.

"You really do need that bath," Rooster remarked, touching her thigh with his free hand.

Beatrice chuckled tiredly. "Yeah, I won't argue with that. And maybe some cocoa after…"

"Consider it done," he replied, his tone soft, “With little marshmallows, just for you.”

“Aw, you are so sweet.” she giggles, holding her back to her chest as she watches the Bronco slowly roll inside the garage, the sound of rain muffled on the outside. She sighs, closing her eyes as she lets the car’s vibration soothe her a bit.

Rooster looked back at her with his hands on his thighs, “You okay?”

“Mhm.”

Rooster watched his wife with a fond smile, the dim garage lights casting a soft glow on her face. She looked peaceful, even in her exhaustion. He knew how hard she worked, with everything, even if she didn’t say it. She deserved all the rest and pampering he could provide.

Gently, Rooster leaned over and planted a tender kiss on Beatrice's forehead. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she smiled up at him, her tiredness momentarily forgotten. "You always know how to make me feel better," she whispered.

He winked at her. "It's my superpower."

“So you are my hero then.”

One thing he adored about sleepy Beatrice was that she was just like drunk Beatrice. She was more open, she said things that made his heart flutter happily and that sentence was enough to make his cheeks hot. He laughs softly, dropping his head only to lift it back up,kissing her forehead, “Come on, time to go inside. I can get Nikki.”

Rooster's Bronco was now safely tucked away in the garage, shielded from the relentless downpour that had intensified during their drive home. Beatrice stretched her arms and legs, feeling the stiffness of the long car ride dissipate as she stepped out of the vehicle. Rooster was quick to open the passenger door for her, offering a hand to help her out.

As she stood beside the car, blushing a bit as she waited for him to grab Nikki. She couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over her. Despite the heavy rain outside, she loved hearing it hit the sidewalk and the roof above their heads.

The dogs, well Eleanor, started huffing and shuffling against the door that led to the inside. “Baby,” he calls and she turns to him, “You can go inside.”

But Beatrice shook her head gently, “No,I can wait for you two. No worries.”

“Alright.” he says as he opens the passenger door to unbuckle Nicole from her seat, their daughter babbling happily as her dad brought her up to his chest, locking the Bronco with his key and finally meeting Beatrice by the door, “Okay,done.”

“Mhm.” his wife replies and even in her tired state,she couldn’t help but pick Nicole from his hold and bury her nose in her golden brown hair, hugging the almost one year old close to her chest, “I’ll wait until you open…careful because Eleanor might come bustling out.”

“Yeah.” he mutters, “Are we sure she’s not just a rocket instead of a pitbull-akita mix?”

"Sometimes I wonder if she has a secret stash of energy hidden somewhere," Beatrice replied with a grin. "Could happen."

“Meanwhile her brother and mother are the chillest dogs I know.”

With that, he turned to the door leading inside their home and carefully opened it, peeking inside to ensure that Eleanor wasn't waiting to make a run for it. She was sitting close by…then immediately darted towards the garage to run in circles around the blue Bronco and Beatrice’s red jeep.

Rooster sighs, “...you know what, the garage is closed, it’s all good. I’ll draw your bath,gorgeous.”

-

“Madam.”

She chuckles, opening one eyelid as she watches her husband enter the room after she’s done with her bath. She stops rubbing lotion on her skin to see him holding her Ponyo mug with the hot chocolate steaming out of it at the door, turning her body a little bit on the bed to see him better “Your beverage of choice,madam. With extra marshmallows.”

Rooster offers a warm smile as he approaches the bed, presenting the mug to her as if it were a treasured relic. "I figured you could use a little warmth this evening."

Her eyes dance with delight as she accepts the mug, inhaling the rich aroma of the hot chocolate. The scent alone is enough to envelop her in a cozy embrace. "You know me too well, Roos." She takes a careful sip, savoring the creamy, chocolatey goodness. The marshmallows on top add a delightful touch of sweetness.

And they were colorful too.

"Well, after all these years, I'd hope I've picked up a few things."

She grins, setting the mug on the nightstand before patting the empty space beside her. "Come join me."

He gladly complies, sitting down and leaning back against the headboard. The room is dimly lit, with the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting a warm atmosphere, meanwhile the storm raged on the outside, “How is the hot chocolate,ma’am? Is it to your taste?”

She takes another sip of the hot chocolate, reveling in the velvety texture and the perfect balance of sweetness. "It's absolutely perfect, Roos," she replies, a contented sigh escaping her nose . "You really outdid yourself with those marshmallows."

Rooster chuckles, "I'm glad you like it," he says, his voice filled with genuine satisfaction. "I've been perfecting my hot chocolate recipe, just for you."

“N’aw.” she gently touches his cheek, “You are so sweet.”

He sighs as he gets comfortable on the bed, crossing his arms, the fabric of his shirt around his biceps curls up when he does so, “Nikki is fast asleep.” he checks on her only to see she had her eyes closed, savoring the hot beverage, “Checked on her a few minutes ago, she passed out when you were bathing.”

“I thought so, she got very quiet after.”

“Yeah…”

Beatrice looked back at him, her brows furrowed just a tiny bit, ‘...you ready to tell me what’s been bothering you?” she smiles knowingly and he chuckles, because of course she knew. 

He rubs his eyebrow and then sighs, dropping his hands on top of his legs. “...Mark has been annoying the recruits to the point they think we are friends.”

“...huh?”

‘Yeah,same.” he says dryly, “I don’t get it. The only thing we have in common is we are both pilots in the Navy and we’re from Virginia. I don’t know what the hell he wants…at least he hasn’t bothered me ever since the dinner…has Miranda shown up here?”

“No.” she answers, frowning, “If she did I’d tell her to leave.”

Rooster let out a dry laugh. "Talking to them would be like talking to a brick wall. Jesus. I just hope we’re not…deployed together." he pauses, “But now I think I jinxed and we are going to be there together,ugh.”

She reached out and gently squeezed his hand, rubbing his knuckles . "I know you’ll do a good job, even with him there." she replied softly. "You know why?”

“Why?”

She set the cocoa aside, then propped her chin on his shoulder, “Because you are the better man in this.”

Those big green eyes staring back at him were always his goddamn weakness. His own gaze softened and he gently brushed her cheek with his thumb, “...damn pretty girl, you got the prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen.” that made her smile more but he sighed, “Nah, you are right. It’s just this whole thing with him and Miranda…I dunno,kinda tiring.”

Beatrice shifted slightly, her chin still resting on Rooster's shoulder. Her fingers absentmindedly traced patterns on his shirt as she continued, her voice soft and soothing. "Yeah,I agree. Weird people, those two."

Rooster pondered her words, his gaze fixed on the raindrops hitting the glass pane. "Yeah, like he's trying to one-up me at every turn."

Beatrice chuckled, the sound like a gentle breeze in the midst of the storm,literally. "Well, you can handle a little competition, can't you? After all, you are the best pilot in the Navy, and you've got a heart of gold."

He couldn't help but smile at her words, her words managing to lift his spirits. "You are too cute." he coos, kissing the tip of her nose, “Wanna marry me?”

Beatrice nodded, her cheeks going red." Yes. Always.” and she kisses his lips once, ‘Oh!By the way!” she pulls out her phone from the nightstand’s drawer, “Since you are leaving after your birthday I’ve decided something.”

“Oh?”

“I just wanna ask you something,” she holds the phone to her chest, not letting him see what she was looking at, “Red or purple?”

Rooster raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Beatrice's sudden change of topic. "Red or purple for what?" he asked, trying to see what she was hiding.

“All I can say is that it’s a surprise for your birthday so,” she smiles more, “Red or purple?”

Rooster tsked, his eyes still locked on her as he tried to pry the secret out of Beatrice. "Come on, you can't just drop a question like that and not give me any hints. Red or purple for what? Is it a gift?"

Beatrice chuckled, her shoulders going up in a shrug. "No hints, mister. Just pick one."

Rooster pretended to ponder for a moment, tapping his chin in a mock-serious manner. "Hmm, let's see. Red or purple? Well, I think... I'll go with purple."

Beatrice grinned and nodded. "Purple it is. You have good taste, my dear." She tapped a few things on her phone and then locked it again, tucking it away in the nightstand's drawer.

"Now you've got me even more curious. What's the deal with this red or purple thing?"

Beatrice winked at him. "You'll find out on your birthday. It's going to be a surprise, remember?"

He hummed, dropping his eyes down her body for a brief second. "Alright,I'll be patient. But you do know how terrible I am at waiting for surprises, right?"

She laughed softly and gave him a peck on the cheek. "I know, but I also know you'll love it." and she placed her phone away to cup his face in her hands, “I promise you.”

[nordleuchten]

georges was really badly wounded during his military time, what was the injury??

Dear Anon,

Georges was indeed wounded during the first Battle of the Mincio River, also known as the Battle of Pozzolo on December 25 and 26, 1800. He was hit by three bullets and while this at first seems like grievous injuries, they really were not. La Fayette said so himself and he was not in the habit of making light of his children’s health. He wrote in a letter to his friend Joseph Masclet on February 17, 1801:

I have not this long while heard from you, my Masclet: sure I am, nevertheless, that you do not your friend, and that you have been pleased with George’s good fortune on the Mincio. He was in the wing, and under the general who fought and won the action. The eleventh regiment of hussars was the most distinguished. My son had for his share three bullets, but slight wounds. General Dupont tells me he had named him in the account of the battle. George insisted on the suppression of the mention made of him, unless the same was done in favour of his wounded comrades. His wounds would have been sooner cured, had he not remained with the regiment as long as there was something to do, which caused an inflammation and a dépôt in his arm. But when the eleventh hussars made the blockade of the forts of Verona, which put them out of the way of danger, George got into the city, where he was very well taken care of. When General Dupont saw him last he was in good train of recovery, although he yet wore a scarf. His side was still less damaged than the arm So that the danger of the battle, which has been great, being over we have had nothing to fear. and much to rejoice at. I give you those details as I know you will enjoy them. Here is a good, honourable, solid peace.

Jules Germain Cloquet, Recollections of the Private Life of General Lafayette, Baldwin and Cradock, London, 1835, pp. 229-230.

Georges had injuries to his arm and side, followed by an inflammation and swelling – nothing too pleasant but also nothing that put him in great danger. There is no mentioning of any permanent damage to his arm or upper body.

I hope I could help you and I hope you have/had a great day!

[ridenwithbiden]

Hundreds of targets have been hit in Gaza by Israel following the Saturday incursion from Hamas terrorists, the group that controls the Palestinian territory of Gaza. More than 200 targets were struck in Gaza by Israeli forces in just one day, according to authorities.

In Gaza, at least 900 people have died -- among them 260 children and 230 women -- and another 4,500 have been wounded since Saturday, according to the latest numbers from Palestinian officials.

In Israel, at least 900 people have been killed and 2,600 others injured.

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip say they are living in fear as Israel retaliates for the actions of the militant terrorist group, with nowhere for them go.

There are no bomb shelters for Palestinians to hide from airstrikes.

An Israeli airstrike hit nearby the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza on Tuesday for the second time in two days, according to the the interior ministry in Gaza said.

"Gaza is a closed zone. There's nowhere people can evacuate to -- there's no shelters," said Laila El-Haddad, 45, a Palestinian-American living in Maryland whose family is currently in Gaza.

She continued, "The borders are all controlled and shut and the one border bordering Egypt was bombed earlier today. You know, unless they plan to swim out -- but there's a naval blockade -- they really have nowhere to go."

For many, crossing into Israel amid the attacks is not an option.

"Even during normal times, we're not allowed to leave," said Jason Shawa, 55, a Palestinian currently living in Gaza with his wife and two daughters. "Very, very, very few people in Gaza that have permission to leave."

Hundreds of apartments and homes have been destroyed in the Gaza Strip, including refugee camps, leaving more than 123,000 people displaced, according to the United Nations.

More than 73,000 people are sheltering in schools, while hospitals struggle to cope with the numbers of injured.

Shawa lives just miles from the city center where much of the shelling by Israeli forces is occurring. He has taken five other families into his home, which he said is safer than most because his house has a basement to shelter from the airstrikes.

"No one feels safe," said Shawa. "It happens everywhere, anytime. No warnings contrary to what we hear from Israel. My wife and I -- our major concerns are our two daughters ... They're very scared. Very, very scared."

Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that all food, fuel, electricity, and other necessities will be blocked from entering the Gaza Strip.

"Every single thing we eat, or drink or consume in terms of medicines, food or drink is strictly controlled by the Israeli military," said Shawa. "We have no control over that. So, as a result of their stringent control of Gaza, life has become literally unbearable. In Gaza, conditions are beyond horrible, and we have shortages in everything."

The land, sea and air blockade placed by Israel and Egypt restricts who and what is allowed in and out of the Gaza Strip under Hamas' rule, according to the United Nations.

The longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been ongoing, spurred by centuries-old disputes over land ownership in the region.

El-Haddad's childhood home in the city-center neighborhood of Remal was leveled Monday by Israeli-force bombings.

Much of her family still lives in Gaza and she was communicating with them to get first-hand accounts of the conflict in Gaza’s densely populated city center.

"Gaza is truly a pressure cooker and people are pushed into a corner," said El-Haddad. "No human being will be able to tolerate such conditions."

She continued, "When you understand the conditions that Palestinians are enduring, one might be left to ask not why this has happened, but why something like this has not happened sooner? And that is not to justify -- the loss of human life in any way, shape, or form is tragic. That is the question people should be asking: How can any human tolerate such conditions?"

[bookaddict24-7]

REVIEWS OF THE WEEK!

Books I’ve read so far in 2023!

Friend me on Goodreads here to follow my more up to date reading journey for the year!

___

229. Nectar of the Wicked by Ella Fields--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was me when I finished NECTAR OF THE WICKED and realized how in love I was.

Trust me, when I went into Fields's book, I was never expecting it to hit me in this way. I was aching for a dark fantasy that would capture me and hold me tight until it was time for me to let go. I was hoping for some cute moments and maybe some decent smut.

Yeah, I definitely got that and way more.

NECTAR OF THE WICKED is a dark fantasy romance with some intense smut scenes and a morally grey love interest. We have surprise identity reveals and a hunt for the truth. We get bickering and an intense enemies to wary lovers that leaves us on a tantalizing cliffhanger, our brains trying to decipher the truth from the lies and the idea that sometimes ignorance truly is bliss.

This poor MC goes on a journey full of anger, hatred, and a twisted sense of love.

I loved every moment of it and immediately bought a physical copy (thank you, KU, for existing.)

Read this if you want a love interest you love to hate and an MC who bites off more than she can chew.

Come for the smut and anger; stay for the character development and that sequel that comes out at the end of the year!

Also, I will say this put me in a mini-slump for audiobooks because I wanted to do nothing but keep reading off my Kindle. That is all.

___

230. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Re-read November 2023

Yes! I am finally at the last book I read back in 2012, everything from here on is something fresh and new. Also, I'm happy to have finally come across one of the characters I was thinking about when I first started my re-read.

I liked this one because we got to see a new side of Sookie, including some revelations as to why she is so appealing to so many supes. She's also badass in this with her tiger sidekick. Also, I've totally been spoiled for who she ends up with and some of the events in this book intrigued me because we're still so far from that final decision.

Also, glad that we finally see the end of one arc that started with a really annoying character--even though I could wholly sympathize with the family.

Onto the next one!

___

231. Ignite by Melanie Harlow--⭐️⭐️⭐️

IGNITE had some of my all-time favourite tropes:

✓ single parent ✓ age gap ✓ adorable kids ✓ sassy best friend/siblings

I loved all of the above, especially when the MMC underestimates the FMC because of her age. They also had some great spicy moments full of chemistry and wit. I loved that we got to see the FMC through the MMC's perspective because she seems a lot more carefree and daring when we don't have her internal thoughts questioning and under-estimating herself. It was hot and I was 100% here for it.

The daughters were hilarious and such a great addition to story. It's always sad when single parent romances don't have kids who showcase their own little personalities. There's so much opportunity there and Harlow definitely did her best to showcase this in IGNITE!

This is clearly a part of a longer series, which I have not read, and I can only imagine how long and extensive the stories are. I saw how woven into this story those backstories are, including that of the FMC's dad's similar romance story with her stepmom.

What I wasn't a huge fan of is how...instant the romance felt. One of my favourite single parent romances, MEET ME HALFWAY, is one of those single parent books that will forever set a standard for me. I love when couples take time to get to know each other and build that foundation. When the third act break-up happens, which is usually the case, sadly, I want to BELIEVE that there is enough of a reason for the FMC or the MMC to fight for that love they supposedly built up over the weeks. Why should I root for you two if you've only know each other for a short time? I know love grows in different ways, but that's always been my problem with insta-romance books. Especially when the MMC is so adamant on being single forever. It's gotta take more than a pretty neighbour being cute and adorable to break that ice, right?

And going off that, the lack of communication and self-sacrificing is always the bucket of cold water I never ask for when it comes to books like this one. It ruins the mood and sours a chunk of the book, tbh. I understand they're both jaded af, but the age difference is a lot smaller that it appears when they both are acting like children.

Anyway, I loved the tropes and the story overall, but those last few reasons are why I didn't rate this higher and why I didn't race out to buy the physical copy. I enjoyed myself for the most part, but I've read better. I do still recommend this, though, for fans of the tropes I mentioned earlier! Those sweet little girls give this book so much personality and I just want the world for them!

___

232. Egotistical Puckboy by Eden Finley & Saxon James--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sometimes I crave a really good hockey romance to take my mind off the world around me--or, to just be my gateway to spiralling into the deep, dark hole of romance that I usually fall into at least once a year. The moment October ended, I was immediately starting to crave something a lot lighter than the horror I'd been reading since late August.

EGOTISTICAL PUCKBOY scratched that itch I was getting and then some. First, I LOVE the trope of these two men absolutely hating each other, but secretly pining for one another. I am also a massive fan of the man who is relationshipphobic who is tamed by the one guy they never expected to like them or want them back. Add in hockey, hot smut, dirty talk, and a delicious tension and you've got a formula for something really, really fun and addicting.

The two MCs were different, but at the same time, they both dealt with similar hurdles to overcome. I loved that through time and proximity, they slowly started to figure each other out and not only survive as teammates, but also as something more. They helped each other out and grew together. There's something so enjoyable about two men just growing together and accepting that they're both worthy of love.

Eden Finley and Saxon James are two of the best when it comes to writing m/m hockey romances and whenever I see one of their books, I immediately fall in. This did not disappoint. And even though it wasn't my most favourite of their books, it was definitely a binge-able read.

___

233. Irresponsible Puckboy by Eden Finley & Saxon James--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I ran straight to this book after reading the first in the series because I knew who this one would follow and I am the biggest, biggest sucker for books that feature a man so far in the closet that he doesn't know which way is out. I also love a man who is the biggest and most lovable himbo. We get this in IRRESPONSIBLE PUCKBOY. Plus, we also get a great friendship and so much angst and a quiet love that grows and grows as the story progresses.

I loved how these two characters took care of each other and how, despite the impending heartbreak, they couldn't leave each others' sides. I liked that this one touched on stereotypes and the messy side of having such a public romance--especially a non-hetero one.

Much like with the first book, I couldn't put this one down and I was smiling so much at how silly the one character was. Bless his heart.

___

234. Generation One by Pittacus Lore--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Re-read in November 2023:

I went into this one with expectations because even though I remembered basically nothing about this book, I had this clear idea of what was going to happen. While it was definitely an adventure, it's wasn't as "whoa" as I remember it being. I just finished the original series, so naturally, I wanted to jump right into this one.

There was definitely some action and some very X-men type of powers. I enjoyed learning about the different abilities and how the world was being affected after the war. I just didn't feel that sense of urgency that I first felt with this series. I didn't have a "wow this is cool" moment.

It was weird not reading through the perspective of Four, but I also know that this new generation will have many adventures up ahead. While I did enjoy this for the most part, it didn't hold that same charm from the original series (for me) and I might postpone listening to the next book. We shall see!

I only took one start off to honour my initial review years ago.

___

235. Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I came across this book by chance at work and was immediately intrigued. Even though I did have that initial interest, I wasn't 100% sure how I would like STILL BEATING, considering how dark it was promising to be. Well, after binge reading the hell out of it, I can safely say that I loved it.

Years ago, I read a book called THE AIR HE BREATHES and while it dealt with vastly different themes, the level of emotional distress I felt while reading that book is the only one I think could be comparable to my experience reading STILL BEATING. Both books dealt with dark and taboo topics, and the guilt that comes from taking and accepting the only remedy for a destroyed heart.

One of the things I loved most about this book was how honest the characters were with each other when it came to finally coming to terms with what they needed to heal themselves. This isn't a cutesy read where the happy ending is straight forward--it's a book with characters who get a hard-fought-for HEA that carries a massive asterisk because even though they've survived, that PTSD and experience will always live with them.

I was recommending STILL BEATING to a coworker and I had to explain the massive trigger warnings for r@pe, because it IS something that happens. They are abducted by a monster who does horrifying things to the FMC. Though the scenes usually fade to black, or are alluded to, this can be incredibly triggering--so please, proceed with caution. There is no glorification of the attack. There is no glorification of the monster.

STILL BEATING is messy, dark, and frankly, terrifying with how surviving the nearly-impossible can still haunt you. As the characters often comment: you might have left the basement physically, but the basement will always be in your mind. While the taboo topic of this being a love story between the FMC and her sister's fiance is one of the big themes, it was their resilience, and their fight to survive that held my interest and love.

This isn't a book that will be begging a re-read any time soon, but it was definitely incredibly memorable. I look forward to reading another book by Hartmann in the future.

___

236. Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi--⭐️⭐️⭐️

In the defence of this book, I read this after my craving for horror books had already passed. But that's the only defence I'll give BOYS IN THE VALLEY.

I went into this expecting something terrifying and don't get me wrong, there were definitely some super creepy moments, but while I can objectively see why this book is so popular, I don't fully 100% understand. First, I didn't realize it would be so religious-based. While I do believe in certain things, I'm not exactly the biggest fan of books the spout religious content at me. Although, in retrospect, that could very well be one of the themes meant to incite horror in the reader.

While I enjoyed this for what it was, it was kind of just meh? I think I zoned out a few times while listening to the audiobook and I was just not very connected. I will, again, admit that me not being in the mood for this genre most definitely affected my interest. But having that argument, I wonder if this book had been more compelling, would I have liked it more?

You might like this if you're a fan of things that go bump in the night (and proceed to kill you in said night), and if you're cool with religious horror.

___

Have you read any of these books? Let me know your thoughts!

___

Happy reading!

[bnhaobservation]

Ramblings about BNHA chap 378

So now we are at 378…

…and I’ve mixed feelings for it.

Why?

Because it has plenty of things that are good… but also feels like… rushed and well, considering Horikoshi was hoping to end BNHA with the end of the past year, I can understand he feels like rushing it but still…

Also… the whole scene is broken more than once to switch back and forth to various groups. So, for simplicity sake I’ll actually jump and forth as well to connect all the pieces so that we’ll follow the fate of a character and than of another in a more ordered manner instead than jump back and forth.

So we start with…

THE ‘FIGHT’ BETWEEN LA BRAVA AND SKEPTIC

This fight should have been planned long ago because, back in chap 230, Skeptic has rejected Re-Destro’s accusations of having failed with Jin and has stated proudly he only failed once in his life, and that one with Jin wasn’t failure (yeah, sure he wasn’t, and AFO is just a harmless old guy) and now it turn out his failure was being unable to stop La Brava when, just for practice, she wormed her way into Feel Good Inc.’s server to replace their ads with images of cats. And, to add insult to injury, she informs Skeptic of her having been the one behind it.

So, you see, this was planned long ago, it’s not something that Horikoshi thought last minute.

But how the whole thing goes?

Skeptic is evidently still traumatized by it and by the huge financial hit they took back then and… and his battle with La Brava is… well, nonexistent as he immediately concedes defeat realizing she’s taking over every single one of his systems and take care to inform her he won’t let her take control of U.A. or the evacuation system as well that he’s fleeing so it doesn’t matter if she figured out where he is.

Flash forward into the chapter a bit and it turns out that actually La Brava has already gave away Skeptic’s location and there were conveniently a group of heroes nearby so Skeptic won’t even manage to escape. For him it’s a complete failure.

Meanwhile U.A. altitude is continuing to drop. Due to Skeptic? No, apparently the system got wrecked due to that last impact so La Brava should code a brand new program for it to keep working and keep U.A. in the air only there’s not enough time for her to do that.

So, okay, first break here.

This was a planned fight and I’m so glad La Brava is back and I don’t really like Skeptic and it’s an interesting idea to have a hacker fight a hacker to save the day but their whole fight is… meh.

Basically, as soon as La Brava showed up, she won the battle and, despite what Skeptic says, the reason why U.A. is dropping isn’t that he controls its system but that the system got wrecked by the last impact.

There’s no real battle, there even was a confrontation as Skeptic had no idea La Brava was there until she was and won. And while this brings over the idea that La Brava is oh so good as a hacker… well, it would have been good if it had more air to breathe.

So, great to have a confrontation with La Brava and Skeptic and La Brava being his only failure but… for me it needed more time. It needed Skeptic to try to fight and lose instead than basically concede he has lost the fight immediately. But maybe it’s just me.

Anyway back to the story.

THE POLICE

Back to where La Brava is, a nameless policeman with glasses, after hearing from La Brava she doesn’t have enough time to create a brand new program, complains that they shouldn’t have let their final defense line to Villains.

Tsukauchi hears him yelling such things and quietly says a crime is a crime and they can’t erase the past but it’s not always a lost cause. And when he says so he thinks to Aoyama.

And we go back to why this part is Very Good and why instead… it’s not.

It’s very good because it conveys how society is so prejudiced against Villains they would attack them even when it’s, to put it simply, plainly stupid.

I mean, La Brava wasn’t chosen to be there because she was a Villain but due to her impressive hacking abilities. If they picked her up, it wasn’t to be nice with a Villain, it was because they didn’t have a better person for the job… because if they had they should have just used it.

So if she can’t be fast enough to write the code, no one could have done it, regardless of them being Villains or not. Implying her inability to do it is just due to her being a Villain is stupid. She can’t because there’s no time. The nameless policeman is doing it solely because he’s prejudiced.

Tsukauchi acknowledging that yes, crimes are crimes and the past can’t be changed but trusting Villains isn’t always a lost cause, lays down the basis for finding a way to deal with Villains that isn’t just beating them and then jailing them. It’s basically the war’s very first verbal step to set up a plot in which Shigaraki (and possibly Himiko and Touya) are viewed not like lost causes but as something that could actually change page (well, actually Gori did so when he dealt with Gentle in chap 183 but it’s not bad to get a reminder right at this point of the story). I’ll flash forward a bit and say that Tsukauchi will continue saying important things like “No matter how far they’ve fallen, each villain is still a human being. It’s on us to recognize that about them. We absolutely have to” and “Deep within each of their hearts we’ll find their starting point- their origin.”

So yeah, the story is really using Tsukauchi to bring forward the idea that Villains aren’t just horrible, hopeless creatures as the jailers of Tartarus implied in chap 297.

Now, to be clear, the one of the jailers in chap 297 was a horrible mindsetting, they made clear they wouldn’t have minded if Gigantomachia was just killed as they didn’t see him as a human nor they saw as humans the prisoners they guarded and they have plenty of accusations of human rights violations.

And when we see how the prisoners are handled in Tartarus… well some are kept in a state that would make Arkham Asylum looks like a holiday resort.

So, back to this chapter, it’s good we finally have someone acknowledge this about the Villains. That they are human and that they aren’t hopeless. This is very good, as finally we’re going somewhere in this direction.

What’s not so good?

For start a recurring problem of BNHA, which is that the dark side of hero society is often unrepresented. The nameless policeman with glasses, who represents the people in the police who thinks Villains are hopeless is ONE mob character. He voices the prejudices of society but it’s no one we can hold as ‘representation’, especially against the majority of named and known characters who are actually good.

Tsuragamae was willing to bend rules so as not to get in troubles Midoriya, Shouto and Iida, we’ve heard what Tsukauchi says and I’ve already mentioned how Gori was overall nice with Gentle Criminal.

This ends up making it seem as if people who would react like nameless policeman with glasses are less of a problem because they hardly appear in the story, since they end up being represented by one background character.

And this isn’t the sole circumstance in which this happens.

We’ve learnt there are heroes who’re all but… however the near totality of heroes or heroes in training we see are good people who genuinely want to do good.

Slidin Go is negligible and his crime was basically to be aligned with the Meta Liberation Army and feeling himself overly important, nothing as dark as the people Nagant mentioned but we never had to deal with nor saw.

Nagant is represented as manipulated by the Hero Commission and ultimately rebelling to it, so again, she represents someone who was good, got manipulated but is still good deep inside and, if you allow me to jumpo forward again, in this chapter, will show she’s back with the good guys.

We don’t see Hawks doing something wrong beyond killing Twice, there’s the implication he too might have murdered like Lady Nagant but we have no info about it and the story paints him as a genuinely good person who actually wanted to save Jin even though he ended up deciding on killing him under the belief this would save more lives.

Endeavor is a terrible father but a very good hero and the story places him on a path of atonement/redemption, him having acknowledged his mistakes so, although many fans still hadn’t forgiven him… well, the story doesn’t want to paint him as someone we should hate.

Well, this leaves us without a hero who’s a terrible person and who’s okay with being terrible and is a problem the protagonists have to deal with.

We can say the dark side is represented by the Hero Commission… but the hero commission is soon disposed, actually it’s disposed before we’ll learn of its dark side, so we’re left with nothing.

The president of the hero commission who turned Nagant into a killer and would have killed her off if she resigned, was killed off before the story started, and madam president was represented as a tamer version of him (she didn’t want to kill Nagant and stuck her into Tartarus) and she’s also killed off rather quickly.

And the same goes for those who’re discriminatory toward Heteromorphs, the creature rejection clan being killed off pretty quickly. Yeah, the kids made some rude comments toward Shouji, but it’s mostly waved away with the kids being ignorant about how it was cruel to say such things to him (because city people don’t know about the plight of Heteromorphs) and them apologizing. And yeah, there were the guys who rejected the giant lady, but that can also be washed away with people being in panic due to the situation and, anyway, again, they were unnamed guys.

Someone gave Shouji’s scars, but all this is reduced into a quick flashback.

So we’ve these HUGE problems that plague society and cause people to turn into Villains or make hero Villains who however keeps on being labelled as heroes but… there’s no real representation for them, they’re just an information, a quick glimpse.

Why all this is relevant?

Because in a story you need all this to be represented by characters… to be visible.

When the Villains go and attack ‘hero society’ and there’s no one who’s the face of the dark side of hero society and all we see of heroes are nice heroes it kind of undermines the point the Villains are making.

Readers get feelings for characters that see and know. But here there’s hardly someone we know and we can feel angry/disgusted about so, even if we know some things are bad… we aren’t lead to feel them on an empathic level, we aren’t helped to care.

It’s much more heart wrecking and easy to remember how Stain hurt Iida’s brother than how there were heroes who pushed civilians into becoming Villains to then hunt them down so as to collect rewards, or how Nagant was deployed to kill people who were only talking about committing criminal acts.

Because through Iida we care about his brother (and if you’ve read “My Hero Academia: Vigilantes” you care about Tensei as he’s a recurring character there) than about those guys.

So this is a problem of under representation… which is actually pretty relevant because society is actually terrible.

I mean, Tsukauchi implied Aoyama too is technically considered a Villain, Aoyama, a teen who was blackmailed by the greatest demon lord of all due to something his family did for him.

I might understand if he had tried blaming his parents, as they knew what they were getting themselves into but Aoyama? Aoyama is a victim, a scared teen who fears he has no one to turn for help.

If society wants to see him as a Villain on par of willing murderers… well, there’s something seriously wrong to society.

But no, let’s focus on how Tsukauchi says positive things about Villains. Glasses guy will likely disappear in the background soon, after all, to leave us with the impression the world is moving in the right direction because Tsukauchi, thinking to Aoyama, has finally realized that Villains are humans.

And this also kind of feel rushed because the implication is that Tsukauchi came to feel so due to Aoyama (because this is actually such a dark world where it feels normal not to consider Villains as humans), so he made a huge leap but… the thing doesn’t really transition well because we don’t really spend time on it.

It feels as if Tsukauchi has transitioned from ‘Villains are hopeless monsters’ to ‘wait, Aoyama despite being a Villain isn’t a hopeless monster because he’s helping us, so all the Villains are also humans’ which is a way too abrupt 180° turn.

And even if we assume that no, Tsukauchi was already thinking so (but in chap 340, although he said he sympathized he still held him accountable for ‘turning his back on decent society’, you know, the one who doesn’t bat an eyelash to violation of human rights in Tartarus, to Endeavor abusing his family and which the hero commission built secretly sniping away whoever would damage its image) and Aoyama merely confirmed this idea… the fact that Aoyama is considered the proof a Villain can be a human and not hopeless still makes the whole thing weak. This 180° turn needed more time to take place. Not long ago All Might himself was waving off Touya as just ‘the madman Dabi’ [Chap 335] likely not referring just to how he was willing to burn himself to reach his own goal, because a better definition for it would have been ‘suicidal’ but just to how he was willing to turn against the father who abused him and society who supported his father.

And now we see Villains as humans and not hopeless?

It’s great but really, we need to explore how this jump in view came to be, otherwise it’s just jumped out of nowhere for the sake of the story.

Whatever, maybe it’s just me.

Back to the story we return to…

MIDORIYA AND SHIGARAKI

On top of panels depicting them in a parallel way we’ve what Shigaraki said previously.

“I am your villain. I don’t care if you don’t understand. That’s what makes us heroes and villains.”

It summarizes the situation but also the problem Midoriya has to overcome. He has to break the division, the idea there are two clear cut groups, one for the heroes and one for the villains and the only way to do so is through UNDERSTANDING Shigaraki. It’s the thing Shouto failed to do with his brother, deciding he would only try to stop him, and the thing both Midoriya and Ochako failed to do with Himiko and the think Hawks failed to do with Jin, we saw that it lead them to get 0 results, actually it only worsened the situation.

The less the Villains feel understood the harder they attack.

The scene though is interrupted again to show UA is still falling and about to crash, as well as filled with Twice’s clones when… someone appears. The scene is technically interrupted to show Skeptic being captured as I anticipated previously and, when we come back to it we discover said someone is…

GENTLE CRIMINAL

So Gentle Criminal is back, of course, and he’s here to save the day.

A flashback, which took place a month and a half ago, starts showing Muscolar freeing the prisoners in Mikuzu Prison, telling them that their lives were their own so they can live as they see fit. You might remember that when AFO began to free convicts we learnt that 7 prisons came under attack but prisoners didn’t manage to escape only from a prison… and this thanks to Gentle who, feeling regret for having walked down the wrong path, manages to stop them all.

As a thank you for this they allowed him to see again La Brava.

Now… it’s great that they had Gentle have his great moment but… he magically did it all on his own when previously he didn’t seem that stronger and, what’s more, he’s the only one Villain who actually try to stop the others. In a chapter that tries to bring forward the idea that Villains can change… the fact that only one prisoner stood up to stop the others, make it looks as if it’s exceedingly rare since the other Villains are all depicted as wanting to escape and do violent acts.

It would have worked much better if other prisoners were to join Gentle in his fight, proving Gentle isn’t the exception, that there’s more people like him.

Never mentioning Gentle wasn’t really a violent criminal or something like that, acting for the pleasure to hurt others, same as La Brava, same as Aoyama, so it seems to carry the message that the Villains who aren’t hopeless are the ones who committed minor, non violent crimes.

Muscolar, for example, is never shown having a good reason to be a Villain and doesn’t regret murdering people.

And if we go to Nagant, who did murder people, well, society would probably excuse her the way they did with Hawks murdering people, as those murders were for the better of society so… we really needed more to carry on the intended message.

But it’s easier and faster to focus just on Gentle and having solely him here so…

Anyway, back to present Gentle uses his power to make things elastic to turn air elastic and therefore catch the falling U.A. reminding us what was what lead him to become who he was, he wanted to become a hero and tried to save someone who’d fallen, but since he failed his life ended up ruined.

He was expelled from school, his parents grew desperate, he was targeted of bullying and chased away by his own family until he came to believe his dreams were dead and gave up on them, deciding to become a Villain. It wasn’t this great Villain origin story, but the core of it was he actually wanted to be a hero, and this time (likely combining his quirk with La Brava’s) he gets to save tons of people from falling and THIS IS GREAT.

Gentle wonders if Midoriya too is fighting for the happiness of other people, and Midoriya is touched by how Gentle came to his help.

So we’ve reached…

THE ENDING OF THE CHAPTER OR LADY NAGANT IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!

In fact the chapter ends with Shigaraki trying to use his quirk but Lady Nagant, with one of her bullets, basically rips his hand away (and all the while we have the previously mentioned scene of Tsukauchi saying “No matter how far they’ve fallen, each villain is still a human being. It’s on us to recognize that about them. We absolutely have to” and “Deep within each of their hearts we’ll find their starting point- their origin.”).

And by the way, it’s great to see Lady Nagant as well, I LOVE HER!, she’s all bandaged so she’s probably not well but it’s great to see her only it feels weird she had been quiet up until the story required her to act. I mean, what about saving Katsuki previously? But, who cares, I’m glad she’s back.

However… even though Lady Nagant ultimately agreed to help Midoriya by giving him info about AFO, she didn’t seem so into it she would stand up against AFO (and Shigaraki), so again, her deciding to be there feels rushed. And yes, maybe next chapter will devote a page or two about why she came there but still…

So, overall, there’s A LOT OF GREAT THINGS IN THIS CHAPTER but… I think they could have benefitted of being developed in more time.

But I guess we can’t have all and I’m glad to see that the story seems to be turning toward a point in which people will consider understanding Shigaraki as a way to deal with the conflict and save him instead than just beating him harder as a way to stop him or force him to comply.

I only wish the story had spent more time setting up the stage for how the characters acted here than how it tossed them here abruptly. But whatever, maybe that’s just me.

[dark-night-insomniac]

We recently hit 230 followers and the end of the year is coming soon so i though i would introduce myself again and thank you all

I used to write for twice over on instagram a few years ago but lost my interest for writing when i started university.

After 1 year at university covid hit and so did my queerness. I finally accepted who i was and came out as nonbinary, and im proud to say that recently i cane out to my whole family and that my parents finally seem to be accepting me.

Its also during covid that i discovered Dreamcatcher. One of my friend on instagram named Rose showed me their comeback scream back then, i remember watching the mv but not liking the song whatsoever, i was used to girly kpop from twice and blackpink so this was out of my zone. The thing is, i always liked rock, and when i came back to Dreamcatcher during Because, i realized that they were what i had been looking for and finally appreciated their sound. Im really not sure why i didnt like their sound back then, but i think as i got older, i got back to my roots of loving rock and Dreamcatcher was just perfect- combining kpop and rock.

I was still on instagram then, but i started reading dreamcatcher fics online, and often it lead me to tmblr. I rememher thinking that there wasn’t enough dc content when it came to fanfictions, i wanted more and so i decided to start writing again to provide insomnias with more dc content.

I always loved reading the fluffy stories, it made me feel less alone and loved, while it being about people i appreciate and look up too. Thats why i like to write fluff, to hopefully bring comfort to people as much as it does for me.

There was a time i found myself cringe for writing fanfictions, but i realized, this is just like any other form of writing- we just include people we admire in our stories

On tmblr i was able to share my stories with people who enjoy kpop like i do. I met many talented friends and everyone seem to be so kind unlike instagram.

Im sorry this is so long, i know i am rambling but i wanted to show my appreciation for all of you.

I never though i would enjoy writing again but here i am, theres so something so wonderful about this, it just makes my heart happy, especially because all of you are here with me.

As for a little unnecessary intro to my life, well like i said im in university and a lil nonbinary person- well im 5’10 but ill keep saying litlle.

When im not in school, working, or writing- most of my time is dedicated to working out and cooking. I started working out when my anxiety got the best of me, and to this day it is still the best way i can cope with the stresses of life.

Although i spend most of my time working out- out of the necessary activities of life, i do give myself time everyday for skin care and hair care. I do also enjoy videos games, i use to spend 24 hours playing them, but sadly im quite too busy these days.

I also always loved drawing and painting, these days life is too busy to keep those passions of mine alive. I like acting as well as music, wether id be creating or playing an instrument.

Arts just always find its way to my heart.

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[xtruss]

Exclusive: Imran Khan on His Plan to Return to Power

— By Charlie Campbell | April 3, 2023 | Time Magazine

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan sits for a portrait in his Lahore residence on March 28. Next to Khan are tear gas canisters he says were thrown at his house. Umar Nadeem for Time Magazine

Political leaders often boast of inner steel. Imran Khan can point to three bullets dug out of his right leg. It was in November that a lone gunman opened fire on Khan during a rally, wounding the 70-year-old as well as several supporters, one fatally. “One bullet damaged a nerve so my foot is still recovering,” says the former Pakistani Prime Minister and onetime cricket icon. “I have a problem walking for too long.”

If the wound has slowed Khan, he doesn’t show it in a late-March Zoom interview. There is the same bushy mane, the easy laugh, prayer beads wrapped nonchalantly around his left wrist. But in the five years since our last conversation, something has changed. Power—or perhaps its forfeiture—has left its imprint. Following his ouster in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022, Khan has mobilized his diehard support base in a “jihad,” as he puts it, to demand snap elections, claiming he was unfairly toppled by a U.S.-sponsored plot. ​​(The State Department has denied the allegations.)

The actual intrigue is purely Pakistani. Khan lost the backing of the country’s all-powerful military after he refused to endorse its choice to lead Pakistan’s intelligence services, known as ISI, because of his close relationship with the incumbent. When Khan belatedly greenlighted the new chief, the opposition sensed weakness and pounced with the no-confidence vote. Khan then took his outrage to the streets, with rallies crisscrossing the nation for months.

Photograph by Umar Nadeem for Time Magazine

“Imran Khan can communicate with all strata of society on their level,” says Shaheena Bhatti, 63, a professor of literature in Rawalpindi. “The other politicians are … not going to do anything for the country because they’re only in it for themselves.”

The November attack on Khan’s life only intensified the burning sense of injustice in members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, who have since clashed with police in escalating street battles involving slingshots and tear gas. Although an avowed religious fanatic was arrested for the shooting, Khan continues to accuse an assortment of rival politicians of pulling the strings: incumbent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif—brother of Khan’s longtime nemesis, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif—as well as Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Major General Faisal Naseer. (All have denied the accusation.)

In addition to bullets, Khan has also been hit by charges—143 over the past 11 months, by his count, including corruption, sedition, blasphemy, and terrorism—which he claims have been concocted in an attempt to disqualify him from politics. After Sharif’s cabinet declared on March 20 that the PTI was “a gang of militants” whose “enmity against the state” could not be tolerated, police arrested hundreds of Khan supporters in raids.

“Either Imran Khan exists or we do,” Interior Minister Sanaullah said on March 26.

Pakistan sometimes seems to reside on a precipice. Its current political instability comes amid devastating floods, runaway inflation, and resurgent cross-border terrorist attacks from neighboring Afghanistan that together threaten the fabric of the nation of 230 million. It’s a country where rape and corruption are rife, and the economy hinges on unlocking a stalled IMF bailout, Pakistan’s 22nd since independence in 1947. Inflation soared in March to 47% year-over-year; the prices of staples such as onions rose by 228%, wheat by 120%, and cooking gas by 108%. Over the same period, the rupee has plummeted by 54%.

“Ten years ago, I earned 10,000 rupees a month [$100] and I wasn’t distressed,” says Muhammad Ghazanfer, a groundsman and gardener in Rawalpindi. “With this present wave of inflation, even though I now earn 25,000 [$90 today] I can’t make ends meet.” The world’s fifth most populous country has only $4.6 billion in foreign reserves—$20 per citizen. “If they default, and they can’t get oil, companies go bust, and people don’t have jobs, you would say this is a country ripe for a Bolshevik revolution,” says Cameron Munter, a former U.S. ambassador to Pakistan.

Police fired teargas to disperse the supporters of the former Prime Minister as they tried to arrest Khan in Lahore, Pakistan, on March 14. Hundreds of Tehrik-e-Insaf supporters clashed with riot police as they reached Khan's residence. Rahat Dar—EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

“Our economy has gone into a tailspin,” says Khan. “We now have the worst economic indicators in our history.” The situation threatens to send the nuclear-armed country deeper into China’s orbit. Yet sympathy is slim in a West put off by Khan’s years of anti-American bluster and cozying up to autocrats and extremists, including the Taliban. He calls autocratic Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “my brother” and visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on the eve of the Ukraine invasion, remarking on “so much excitement.” Khan can both repeatedly declare Osama bin Laden a “martyr” and praise Beijing’s confinement of China’s Uighur Muslim minority. He has obsessed on Joe Biden’s failure to call him after entering the White House. “He’s someone that is imbued with this incredibly strong sense of grievance,” says Michael Kugelman, the deputy director of the Asia Program at the Woodrow Wilson Center.

Yet Khan can legitimately claim to have democracy on his side, with poll numbers suggesting he is a shoo-in to return to power if the elections he demands happen. “His popularity has skyrocketed,” says Samina Yasmeen, director of the Centre for Muslim States and Societies at the University of Western Australia. “No matter what he says, even if it’s irrational, the reality is that people are angry and taken by his message.”

“Imran Khan is the best bet we have right now,” says Osama Rehman, 50, a telecommunications engineer in Islamabad. “If [he] is arrested or disqualified, people will come out onto the street.”

The state appears to flirt with the idea. Police raids on Khan’s home in the Punjab province capital of Lahore in early March left him choking on tear gas, he says, as supporters brandishing sticks battled police in riot gear before makeshift barricades of sandbags and iron rods. “This sort of crackdown has never taken place in Pakistan,” says Khan. “I don’t know even if it was as bad under martial law.”

After Khan left his compound to appear in court on March 18, traveling in an armored SUV strewn with flower petals and flanked by bodyguards, the police swooped in while his wife was home, he says, beating up servants and hauling the family cook off to jail. He claims another assassination attempt awaited inside the Islamabad Judicial Complex, which was “taken over by the intelligence agencies and paramilitary.”

Police arrested 61 supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan during a search operation near Khan’s residence, in Lahore, Pakistan, on March 18, 2023. K.M. Chaudary—AP

The confrontation could remain in the streets indefinitely. Prime Minister Sharif has rejected Khan’s demand for a snap election, saying polls would be held as scheduled in the fall. But “every narrative is being built up [for the government] to justify postponing the elections,” says Yasmeen. On March 22, Pakistan’s Election Commission delayed local balloting in Punjab, the country’s most populous province, from April 30 until Oct. 8.

“Political stability in Pakistan comes through elections,” Khan points out. “That is the starting point for economic recovery.” From the U.S. perspective, he may be far from the ideal choice to helm an impoverished, insurgency-racked Islamic state. But is he the only person that can hold the country together?

“Never has one man scared the establishment … as much as right now,” says Khan. “They worry about how to keep me out; the people how to get me back in.”

It’s indicative of Pakistan’s malaise that its most popular politician in decades sits barricaded at home. But the nation has always been beyond comparison—a wedge of South Asia that begins in the shimmering Arabian Gulf and ascends to its Himalayan heights. It’s the world’s largest Islamic state, though governed for half its history by men in olive-green uniforms, who continue to act as ultimate arbiters of power.

The only boy of five children, Khan was born Oct. 5, 1952 to an affluent Pashtun family in Lahore. He studied politics, philosophy, and economics at Oxford University, and it was in the U.K. that he first played cricket for Pakistan, at age 18. Britain’s sodden terrain also provided the backdrop to his political awakening.

“When I arrived in England our country had been ruled by a military dictator for 10 years; the powerful had one law, the others were basically not free human beings,” he says. “Rule of law actually liberates human beings, liberates potential. This was what I discovered.”

Khan in his Lahore residence on March 28. Umar Nadeem for Time Magazine

On the cricket pitch, Khan was a talisman who knitted together mercurial talents and journeymen into a cohesive whole, a team that overcame extraordinary odds to famously lift the Cricket World Cup in 1992. There were glimpses of these qualities when Khan rose to become Prime Minister: running on an anti-graft ticket, he fused a disparate band of students and workers, Islamic hard-liners, and the nation’s powerful military to derail the Sharif political juggernaut. His crowning achievement remains the Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital in Lahore, which he opened in 1994 in memory of his mother, who succumbed to the disease. It is the largest cancer hospital serving Pakistan’s impoverished, boosting Khan’s administrative credentials.

Khan spent 22 years in the political wilderness before his 2018 election triumph. But once in power, the self-styled bold reformer turned unnervingly divisive. Opposition is easier than government, and Khan found himself bereft of ideas and besieged by unsavory partners, even kowtowing to the now-banned far-right party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan despite its support for the extrajudicial killing of alleged blasphemers. There were some successes: Pakistan received praise for its handling of the pandemic, with deaths per capita just a third that of neighboring India. His “Ten Billion Tree Tsunami” reforestation drive was popular, as was the 2019 return of international test cricket, the most prestigious form of the game, following a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team and a decade-long hiatus.

Khan’s private life has rarely been out of the headlines. His first wife was British journalist and society heiress Jemima Khan, née Goldsmith, a close friend of Diana, Princess of Wales. She converted to Islam for their wedding, though the pair divorced in 2004 after nine years of marriage, and her family’s Jewish heritage was political dynamite. (The couple’s two sons live in London.) Khan’s second marriage to British-Pakistani journalist Reham Khan lasted nine months. According to a 1997 California court ruling, Khan also has one child, a daughter, born out of wedlock, and he’s struggled to quash gossip of several more. In 2018, six months before he took office, he married his current wife, Bushra Bibi Khan, a religious conservative who is believed to be the only Pakistan First Lady to wear the full-face niqab shawl in public.

Khan, left, lifts elder son Suleman while his ex-wife Jemima carries younger son Qasim during a march towards the U.N. offices in Islamabad in 1999. The Khans led some 100 demonstrators in an anti-Russian rally protesting against attacks in Chechnya. Reuters

It all fed Khan’s legend: the debonair playboy who grew devout; the privileged son who rails against the corrupt; the humanist who stands with the bloodthirsty. His youth was spent carousing with supermodels in London’s trendiest nightspots. But his politics has hardened as his handsome features have lined and leathered. He provoked outrage when in August 2021 he said the Taliban had “broken the shackles of slavery” by taking back power (he insists to TIME he was “taken out of context”) and has made various comments criticized as misogynistic. When asked about the drivers of sexual violence in Pakistan, he said, “If a woman is wearing very few clothes, it will have an impact on the men, unless they’re robots.” Khan has refused to condemn Putin’s invasion, insisting, like China, on remaining “neutral” and deflecting uncomfortable questions onto supposed double standards regarding India’s inroads into disputed Kashmir. “Morality in foreign policy is reserved for powerful countries,” he says with a shrug.

Khan in the 1992 Cricket World Cup. Pakistan won under Khan's captaincy this year. Fairfax Media

At the same time, Khan’s ideological flexibility has not stretched to compromises with opponents. He claims it was the military’s unwillingness to go after Pakistan’s influential “two families”—those of Sharif and the Bhutto clan of former Prime Ministers Zulfikar and Benazir—for alleged corruption that caused his relationship with the generals to fray. “If the ruling elite plunders your country and siphons off money, and you cannot hold them accountable, then that means there is no rule of law,” he says.

Yet analysts say that it was Khan’s relentless taunting of the U.S. that torpedoed his relationship with the military, which remains much more interested in retaining good relations with Washington. To journalists and supporters, he has accused the U.S. of imposing a “master-slave” relationship on Pakistan and of using it like “tissue paper.” To TIME, he insists that “criticizing U.S. foreign policy does not make you anti-American.” Still, by 2022, the generals no longer had his back. The common perception among Pakistan watchers is that Khan’s fleeting political success was owed to a Faustian pact with the nation’s military and extremist groups that shepherded his election victory and he is now reaping the whirlwind.

Cricket captain turned politician Imran Khan shakes hands with supporters during a rally in October 2002 in Shadi Khal, Pakistan. Paula Bronstein—Getty Images

He appears to relish in the perceived injustice, the walls closing in. On March 25, Khan addressed thousands of supporters in central Lahore from a bulletproof box above a green-and-red flag with the initials of his PTI emblazoned on a cricket bat—once Khan’s weapon of choice, though now he wields words with similar potency.

“I know you have decided you wouldn’t allow Imran Khan back in power,” he said. “That’s fine with me. But do you have a plan or know how to get the country out of the current crisis?”

If Pakistan’s economic woes are reaching a new nadir, the trajectory was established during Khan’s term. A revolving door of Finance Ministers was compounded by bowing to hardliners. (After appointing renowned Princeton economist Atif Mian as an adviser, Khan fired him just days later owing to a backlash from Islamists because Mian is an Ahmadi, a sect of Islam they consider heretics.) In 2018, Khan pledged not to follow previous administrations’ “begging bowl” tactics of foreign borrowing, in order to end Pakistan’s cycle of debt. But less than a year later, he struck a deal with the IMF to cut social and development spending while raising taxes in exchange for a $6 billion loan. Mismanagement exacerbated global headwinds from the pandemic and soaring oil prices.

Meanwhile, little was done to address Pakistan’s fundamental structural issues: few people pay tax, least of all the feudal landowners who control traditional low-added-value industries like sugar farms, textile mills, and agricultural interests while wielding huge political-patronage networks stemming from their workers’ votes. In 2021, only 2.5 million Pakistanis filed tax returns—less than 1% of the adult population. “People don’t pay tax, especially the rich elite,” says Khan. “They just siphon out money and launder it abroad.”

Instead, Pakistan has relied on foreign money to balance a budget and provide government services. The U.S. funneled nearly $78.3 billion to Pakistan from 1948 to 2016. But in 2018, President Trump ended the $300 million security assistance that the U.S. provided annually. Now Pakistan must shop around for new benefactors—chiefly Saudi Arabia, Russia, and China. When Khan visited Putin last February, it was to arrange cheap oil and wheat imports and discuss the $2.5 billion Pakistan Stream gas pipeline, which Moscow wants to build between Karachi and Kasur. More recently, China has stepped in. In early March, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China approved a $1.3 billion loan rollover—a fiscal bandaid for a gaping wound.

Khan in his Lahore residence on March 28. Umar Nadeem for Time Magazine

But if Khan recognized the problem, he did little to solve it. After his election in 2018, he was in an uncommonly strong position with the backing of the military and progressives, as well as the tolerance of the Islamists. Now, with all the bad blood and open warfare among these factions, even if he claws his way back, “he’ll be in a weaker position to actually effect any reforms,” says Munter, the former U.S. ambassador, “if he had any reforms to begin with.”

When asked for his step-by-step plan to get Pakistan back on track, Khan is light on details. After elections, he says that a “completely new social contract” is required to enshrine power in political institutions, rather than the military. If the army chief “didn’t think corruption was that big a deal, then nothing happened,” Khan complains. “I was helpless.” But the path to this utopia remains murky. Asked how he plans to turn his much trumpeted Islamic Welfare State ideal into a reality, Khan talks about Medina under the Prophet and the social conscience of Northern Europeans. “Scandinavia is probably far closer to the Islamic ideal than any of the Muslim countries.”

But the military looms large in Pakistan partly because national security is a perennial issue. Many assumed that the newly returned Taliban would stamp out all cross-border attacks from Afghanistan. But Pakistan recorded the second largest increase in terrorism-related deaths worldwide in 2022, up 120% year-over-year. “It was Khan who was pushing for talks with [the Taliban] at all costs,” says Kugelman, of the Woodrow Wilson Center. “That embrace is now experiencing significant levels of blowback.”

That Pakistan is moving away from the U.S. and closer to Russia and China is a moot point; the bigger question is who actually wins from embracing Pakistan. The $65 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was supposed to be the crown jewel in President Xi Jinping’s signature Belt and Road Initiative, linking China via roads, rail and pipeline to the Arabian Sea. But Gwadar Port is rusting and suicide bombers are taking aim at buses filled with Chinese workers. Loans are more regularly defaulted than paid. Today, even Iran looks like a more stable partner.

Ultimately, competition with Beijing defines American foreign policy today, meaning Washington prioritizes relations with Pakistan’s archnemesis India, which is a key partner in the Biden Administration’s Indo-Pacific Strategy to contain China. Toward that imperative, the White House turns a blind eye even to New Delhi’s continued close relationship with Putin. The U.S. kinship with India may mean Pakistan was always destined to move closer to China. But after the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan, Pakistan is not the strategic lynchpin it once claimed to be—and memories are hardly fond; Pakistan secretly invested heavily in the Taliban. “Lots of Americans in Washington say we lost the war in Afghanistan because the Pakistanis stabbed us in the back,” says Munter.

What happens next? Many in Khan’s PTI suspect the current government may declare their party a terrorist organization or otherwise ban it from politics. Others believe that Pakistan’s escalating economic, political, and security turmoil may be used as grounds to postpone October’s general election. Ultimately, all sides are using the tools at their disposal to prevent their own demise: Khan wields popular protest and the banner of democracy; the government has the courts and security apparatus. Caught between the two, the people flounder. “There are no heroes here,” says Kugelman. “The entire political class and the military are to blame for the very troubled state the country finds itself in now.”

It’s a crisis that Khan still claims can be solved by elections, despite his broken relationship with the military. “The same people who tried to kill me are still sitting in power,” he says. “And they are petrified that if I got back [in] they would be held accountable. So they’re more dangerous.”

—With reporting by Hasan Ali/Islamabad

[vgckwb]

P5R: Rebel Girl (A FeMC Story/P5R Rework) Chapter 230: Camisado

As Akechi was following Makoto on her way to her destination, he managed to keep a safe distance. This is my only chance. If things go belly up here, that bastard might be out of the game for good. As much as I loathe that man, I need him alive. He continued on.

As Makoto arrived at the courthouse, Akechi found a spot to keep hidden away as he looked over to see who The Phantom Thieves really were. Let’s see. Obviously, there’s Makoto. Ren’s there too, just as I suspected. Sumire’s there too. I guess it makes sense. They are dating. There’s that Yusuke fellow. And Jose’s there too. Hmmm. Haru Okumura is here. And there’s Futaba Sakura. There’s Ryuji, and Ann, and… He went pale. …Lena?

Akechi was stunned. Before he could collect himself and approach them, The Phantom Thieves disappeared into thin air. “Huh. That’s…new…” He walked over to where they were. He outstretched his hand at the point they disappeared. His arm was still there. “How peculiar.” He pondered this for a second before returning to his original thought. “So…Lena is a Phantom Thief, huh. What do I do?”

He started pondering the streets. “On the one hand, The Phantom Thieves are the only thing standing in the way of me and my revenge. On the other hand, I wanted Lena at my side as I ushered in this golden age of mine.” He smiled ever so slightly. “It will be glorious. But alas, things have just gotten even more complicated.”

As he kept walking, he overheard two cops having a conversation. “So, the idea is that we’re going to go to Director Ono’s house, find him dead, and arrest Sae Niijima for his murder?”

Akechi hid himself. Shido’s men!

“Yeah, that’s the gist,” the other officer said.

The first officer sighed. “Well, I’m just glad we don’t have to kill anyone this time.”

“Don’t tell me you’re getting cold feet now?” the other officer said.

“No no,” the first officer replied. “There’s just a lot to deal with when we have to make someone disappear. Pleading family members, snooping investigators, it’s just a headache.”

“Well we won’t have to deal with that for long,” the other officer said. “We gotta hold out till the election. And even then, the only person we’ll have to kill is that Akechi kid. Shido says he doesn’t have any family, and he’s so famous he doesn’t have much of a social life either.”

“Heh,” the first officer chuckled. “I can’t wait. That little upstart thinks he’s so much better than us. If I pay for dinner that night, will you let me do the honors?”

“Just one dinner?” the other officer said. “Don’t you think I’m chomping at the bit too?”

“Fine fine,” the first officer said. “I’ll pay for dinner for one week.”

“NOW you’re talkin’!” the other officer said.

As the officers continued on their way, Akechi stood there in stunned silence. He then cracked a smile. He started laughing. “Of course. Of course! Of COURSE he had a contingency for me! That fool doesn’t trust ANYONE who he can’t control! Well, like father, like son, I suppose. It’s actually kind of refreshing to know he’s worried about me. Ah HA HA! Hooo boy. Well, I guess this is what it means to be caught between a rock and a hard place.”

“Want an escape?” Eris said, appearing behind him.

“Gah!” Akechi said, turning to face her. He quickly became curious. “Who are you?”

“My name is Eris,” she said, introducing herself. “I have a habit of getting people out from between rocks and hard places.”

“Well, my name is Akechi,” he reciprocated.

“Oh, I’m aware,” Eris informed him. “I know all about you. I know you’ve been at odds with The Phantom Thieves for quite some time now. I know you’re out for revenge against your pathetic excuse for a father. And I know you’ve just been hit with some alarming revelations.”

Akechi was impressed. “Well, I’ve never liked small talk all that much anyways. So, what’s you’re ‘out’?”

Eris took out her apple. “I can give you the power to solve all your problems. The Phantom Thieves. That horrid man. All you have to do is take a bite.”

Akechi looked at the apple. “What’s in it for you?”

“Well, for starters, I don’t like Shido either. He’s just a dreadful person,” Eris informed him. “Giving you the power to fight him will be the easiest decision I’ve had to make yet. Besides, we’ve both got a bone to pick with The Phantom Thieves."

Akechi realized something. “By chance, are you the person who corrupts the other people that are mentioned in The Phantom Thieves’ calling cards?”

Eris giggled. “Do you know everything about me as well?”

Akechi shook his head. “That was just a deduction on my part.”

“Ah well,” Eris shrugged. “Does that mean you’re not interested? Because I don’t have to tell you, but there is no shortage of people who despise Shido, and thus people I could give this power to.”

“No no, I’m interested,” Akechi said. “But I don’t wish to kill him yet.”

“Oh don’t worry about that,” Eris said. “I’m just giving you the tools to claim victory over him and The Phantom Thieves. How you do it is up to you.”

Akechi was normally a cautious man. However, nothing about tonight was normal. He found out his girlfriend was lying to him, The Phantom Thieves possessed supernatural powers, and that he was on the precipice of getting backstabbed before he could backstab and exact his vengeance. His goal was in sight. He was so close he could almost taste it.

He grabbed the apple, and took a bite. Once he swallowed, his inhibitions were released, and he was ready to fight The Phantom Thieves and Shido for the sake of the future he wished to build. “I gotta say,” Akechi said, “I can understand why people buy into this.”

Eris chuckled. “Glad you like it. Well, I’d hate to keep you waiting.” She vanished.

Akechi smirked. He headed over to the Diet building. He knew Shido would still be in his office, so it was the perfect time to negotiate the terms of their contract. Once he reached the door to Shido’s office, the guard outside stopped him. “Woah woah! It’s WAY past Representative Shido’s open hours.”

“It’s alright,” Akechi assured him. “I have urgent news for him.”

The guard was skeptical. “He’s…having a rough night so far.”

Akechi was curious. What’s going on? Still, he tried bluffing. “It’s about that! I came as soon as I heard!”

“You know you could just call or text him,” the guard said.

“Well, this is so important,” Akechi reasoned. “I couldn’t risk this going over the phone.” The guard was still not convinced. He started reaching for his gun. However, Akechi drew his gun. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” The guard raised his hands in the air. “Hm. You know, it didn’t have to be like this. You could have just let me in. Speaking of, be a dear…” The guard opened the door. “Thank you.” Akechi walked in.

Shido was on the phone. “What do you MEAN you can’t find her?!”

“It’s just as I said,” the person on the other line said. “There seems to be no trace of her!”

“Keep LOOKING!” Shido demanded. “She couldn’t have gotten far!”

“Yes sir!” the person said. They hung up.

Shido sighed. Akechi approached his desk. Shido looked up. “I didn’t summon you here.”

“I came on my own volition,” Akechi informed him.

“I don’t need this,” Shido said. “That Niijima woman slipped through our grasp. I don’t need any more trouble.”

“Well too bad,” Akechi said. “Because trouble is what you’re GETTING!”

Shido was stunned by Akechi’s fervor. “I beg your pardon?”

“Hm hm hm,” Akechi chuckled. “I overheard two cops talking. You know what they said? They were discussing killing me after the election.” Shido grew alarmed. “As you can imagine, I’m not taking that well.”

Shido grimaced. “Those blabbermouths…”

“I have to say though,” Akechi said, “you were right to be weary. I was using you from the start.”

Shido was confused. “Why are you telling me this?”

“I just need you to know where you are at this moment,” Akechi said. “See, I don’t like you. I’ve hated you for as long as I’ve been alive. And right now, I’m getting my revenge.”

“What’s stopping me from killing you here and now?” Shido demanded.

“Hm. Nothing,” Akechi said. “Go ahead. Try.”

Shido knew something was up. “What is your angle?”

Akechi chuckled. “I knew you weren’t THAT stupid. Are you familiar with the concept of a dead man’s switch? See, I know a LOT of secrets you keep. And I have a message that goes out to some people that details EVERYTHING I know. It’s scheduled to go out every day, but I postpone it. And if you kill me, all of that becomes public.”

Shido sneered. “We’ll intercept it before it goes public! We control everything!”

“ALMOST everything,” Akechi said. “I don’t think anyone else knows who The Phantom Thieves are.”

Shido grew alarmed. “You KNOW who The Phantom Thieves are?!”

“Well, until tonight, it was just a guess, but yeah,” Akechi answered. “And if I hadn’t overheard those cops, I might have given you that information, but, well, here we are.”

“Hm,” Shido huffed. “What’s in it for you?”

“Quick on the uptake,” Akechi said. “I need you alive to exact my revenge. Once you get elected, it won’t be you making the decisions, but rather me. You know, unless you want me to go public with everything. Oh, and as for those Phantom Thieves? I’ll take care of them for you, you son of a bitch.”

“How dare you!” Shido protested. “My mother was killed!”

“Well guess what?!” Akechi said. He slammed his hand on Shido’s desk. “So was MINE! BY YOU!” After a tense staredown, Akechi let go of Shido’s desk. “Don’t invite me to your pity party, unless you like being upstaged.” He stretched. “Well, I guess this conversation is over. I’ll see you around, I suppose. Oh, and don’t forget, you’re my little puppet now.” Akechi walked out.

Shido flopped in his chair. He stared at the door Akechi just left through. “I’m not down and out yet. I just need to figure out how to deal with HIM on top of all of this.”

Meanwhile, The Phantom Thieves just finished up eating dinner. “Boy that was good!” Ryuji said.

“Thanks for the meal Boss!” Ann said.

“Delightful, as always,” Haru remarked.

“I must agree,” Yusuke said. “Tonight’s meal tasted even sweeter than before!”

“Yeah!” Futaba said. “You really knocked it out of the park this time, Sojiro!”

“It was really delicious!” Lena said. “I might want a copy of the recipe. But this is a business, so I doubt I can get it…”

“Maybe you could be a guest teacher for the cooking students at Kosei,” Jose remarked. “It was really good!”

“Hm hm,” Sumire giggled. “I’m used to fine cooking, but you really outdid yourself tonight Boss!”

“It was really good,” Makoto said. “But I think we should get going.”

“Wait,” Sae said. “Are…are you going to be OK?”

“Well, I’ll have Eiko,” Makoto said. “But it will feel different without you. But we can always come visit.”

Riko grew determined. “If you don’t mind,” she said, “I can stay over. You know, if it’ll put your mind at ease.”

Sae smiled. “Thanks Riko. I appreciate it.”

Riko giggled. “It’s the least I could do.”

Makoto nodded. “Well then, I guess we’ll be on our way. Goodnight!”

“Goodnight!” Sojiro called out. People started leaving.

Morgana walked up to Ren who picked him up. “Man, Sojiro knows how to pick his fancy tuna!”

Ren looked up. “Morgana loved his food as well.”

“What about you?” Sojiro asked.

“I have to agree,” Ren said. “The food was excellent.”

Sojiro smirked. “Well, I gotta clean up a little.”

“I…can take care of that,” Sae offered.

Sojiro was surprised. “Really?”

Sae nodded. “I mean, you’re letting me live here. I should pay you back somehow.”

“Eh, don’t worry about it,” Sojio said. “I can handle it.”

“Are you sure?” Sae said.

“Positive,” Sojiro replied.

“Very well,” Sae said. As she was about to head up, she remembered the envelope she had. “Oh, uh, Amamiya!” Ren looked back. Sae came over and gave it to her. “This was addressed to you. I found it taped to the bottom side of the counter.”

Ren took the envelope. “Huh. That’s weird.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say it looks like Akechi’s handwriting,” Sae said.

“Could be,” Ren replied. “He comes here from time to time. Alright, I’ll check it out. Goodnight!”

“Goodnight!” Sae responded. Ren left. Sae turned around and headed upstairs. As she got up there, she looked at the room. It was small, rustic, and plain, but serviceable. “I guess I’m calling this home for a while.” She headed over to the bed, laid down, and went to sleep.”

Meanwhile, as Ren entered her room, she went to her desk and opened the envelope. Inside was a letter. When she read it, she was perplexed.

“Dear Ren, If you are reading this letter, I assume you’ve gotten my death text. At the time of writing this, I am only 85% certain you are a Phantom Thief, but even if you aren’t I’m sure you can get it to them. The reason I’m writing this letter is not just to reiterate that you guys should take on Shido, that should be self-explanatory. You have all of his misdeeds in my message, which should be more than enough. The reason I’m writing this is to say that even though I’m no longer here, I appreciated your friendship a lot. I don’t get many genuine people to cross my path, so honestly, it was nice talking to you about everything and nothing. I’ll honestly miss that until it’s your time to join me. But if you manage to take down Masayoshi Shido, then I can say I have lived without regrets. -Goro Akechi”

Ren was stunned. “What?"

[the-firebird69]

There are a few things going on and yes I'm speaking it's Thor and we are she says and Freya.

-there's a few people in the neighborhood who are very upset and they don't know what to do some of them are walking around yelling yeah and you just heard someone he just heard someone. They're bringing more up another 400 million the warlock Holst 400 million today and part of early this morning a total of about 800 million before this additional group. And they don't think it will work and their leadership is down to about 17.5% and the warlock lost 300 million and called 400 million and there are better fighters they're down to 33% globally. Same thing happens elsewhere.

-the pseudo empire is being attacked in the Western hemisphere above grounds and below the Eastern hemisphere below ground most basis are still being attacked over there. They have incurred some damage they have increased by twice plus another 30%. So it is 230% of what it was yesterday. And they have reached several nothing huge to report only about five bunkers out of five clusters so one each I mean that's in Northern Midwest and part of the Midwest Tennessee belt and really overseas they haven't really done that. There's other news

-we are requesting that people not bother us and it's not being followed at all so we have to stop them somehow and we're trying to do that all the time it's not really helping these or others who are having them do it at all it is their plan

-we noticed that they're missing people here they went out into combat and they are women they're about 10 of them from 10 different houses and they wanted to try and do something. There were about 97 households and five of them are gone thus far tonight it's 92 households now and there are about five more of them and 10 more households with two to three people who have gone out and are still out there we expect half of all of them to not come back there's other areas that are having this soon occur and but the regions are here but generals are out there which is odds the regions should be in their areas and they're not working and not helping people and it's kind of just lying just to wait to hit themselves almost we had to ask what it was it's very bizarre and it was really quite wrong it's not much of an approach and it keeps coming up the rulers are stupid and they'd rather not go against them and they're making bad decisions.

-couple more things are occurring there are a hefty number of people who are we can threats and rude comments all the time about our son most of these two idiots here we're going to have to pull them out tonight they are bloodthirsty for their own people and not trustworthy to do anything right in any way. I'm sending the orders now everyone check into it please if you don't get the orders or if you want to see if it's enough.

-Jason is watching the storm and that's why they're getting uppity here it is starting to head this way almost the whole thing no it's going to be from the edge of the eye about 15 miles away but the storm is about 40 miles wide so we'll be on the outer edge of the whole thing it's not that bad but it's not that great and the tide will be coming in shortly that's how it gets here by the time it gets here but the rain is going to be minimal and it's kind of needed however

-her son and daughter pointed out that the water is very warm in the water lines and people are not using as much water and it's sitting there getting warm which is kind of dangerous and they're flushing lines all the time down here and sending things down the line back antibacterial they are going to increase doing that mostly it never gets to the households so we're watching that and the temperature is warm he says it's very warm he's trying to turn it down and he's had this experience before during the summer but he doesn't think it's this warm and people say it's it's really actually a lot warmer and the water is warming and it's coming off the ocean warm from the Sun and the ships and the Earth is warming and it's going downwards and it's causing the fecal matter to rot and quickly and a lot of it and in the harbor water river water and estuaries in the canals it's heated up and it is becoming a cesspool it is dangerous and the water is toxic I was going to be washed out to degree very soon this morning a little bit. And tomorrow afternoon these things will happen shortly in other news

-we have run out of time tonight but these articles need to be released

Thor Freya

Olympus

[qnewsau]

Brisbane's radio husbands Tony and Jasper got married

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/brisbanes-radio-husbands-tony-and-jasper-got-married/

Brisbane's radio husbands Tony and Jasper got married

Tony Tranter and Jasper Manfield, Brisbane’s radio husbands, have made it official and married each other in a one-of-a-kind wedding on their 15th anniversary.

Tony is a host on Redlands-based radio station Bay FM 100.3 and is also the artistic director of Bay Pride, which debuted in Wynnum last year.

Last month, Tony and Jasper and their 230 wedding guests travelled to a farm just outside Brisbane. Celebrant Lisa Laker married the couple 15 years to the day after they met.

The couple turned their wedding into a three-day festival that was both unconventional and deeply traditional at the same time.

“Our marriage is already a non-traditional event, so for the wedding, we wanted to throw out anything that doesn’t really resonate with us,” Tony told us.

“We brought in different celebrations from different religions and spiritualities and cultures.

“Lisa was so accommodating of everything we said we wanted to do.”

Image: Thomas De Weger

Tony and Jasper’s unique wedding ceremony

Jasper and his groomsmen wore Scottish kilts, and he and Tony wore intricate henna tattoos for their nuptials. Instead of a wedding aisle, the couple had a wedding circle over 30 metres wide.

“We didn’t want an aisle dividing people in half, because they’re all our family and friends,” Tony explained.

Around the wedding circle, the couple and guests hung strips of fabric, a Celtic tradition called cloots (above), which act as prayers and well wishes for their union.

  View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by Lisa Laker Marriage Maker. she/her (@lisalakermarriagemaker)

“We did a handfasting, a Scottish tradition. During our vows, we interlocked our hands and pieces of fabric went over them,” Tony said.

“After the I do’s, we slid our hands out and pulled the fabric into a knot. It’s where the expression ‘tying the knot’ comes from.

“The knot included tartan from Jasper’s kilt and some of my grandfather’s ties. We’re going to have it framed.”

An ancestors table at one end of the circle allowed guests to light candles or incense to pay respects to those they’ve lost.

“We’ve always loved the weddings that do things a little bit differently,” Tony said.

“We wanted people to feel like they weren’t just guests, they were actually participating and taking part in it.”

  View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by Lisa Laker Marriage Maker. she/her (@lisalakermarriagemaker)

Wedding banquet and late-night party

Following the wedding ceremony, the couple hosted a banquet as well as a late-night dance party in a century-old barn, hosted by DJ Richie Lestrange.

The space was decked out with “excessive” rainbow lights and pride flags, Tony said, all borrowed from Bay Pride which he directed as part of Wynnum Fringe last year.

You can listen to Tony Tranter on Bay FM 100.3 on the south-east’s bayside. Tony is one of the hosts of G’day it’s Saturday from 8am, and co-hosts So Bae Party Mix every Sunday from 6pm with Callum Cantrill.

In November, Bay Pride was a big hit and is now up for a Queens Ball Award in Brisbane this weekend (June 29).

Planning is also underway on the second annual Bay Pride when Wynnum Fringe returns later in the year.

Big congratulations to Tony and Jasper!

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  A post shared by Wynnum Fringe (@wynnumfringe)

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, and community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.