#why are you punishing a collective group for the acts of a small portion of it

[koishua]

so fucking shameful how an overwhelming amount of germans and the german authority are so pro-israel so much so to the point where it's banned to do protests in many of the large states and cities

[finalfantasyxivwritings]

Soooooo... Now that you've done the Werlyt story, might you give us some fluffy (or angst) domestic headcanons where all the lizard siblings survive?

These are all within my in-progress AU where the siblings are saved after the defeat of each of the weapons (details to be figured out) and are settled in Terncliff, each learning how to heal and decompress from their years of militarized trauma.

-

Allie is often the hardest to understand simply because she is so good at masking her inner feelings. It takes a lot of trust for her to express what she’s really thinking about, even for those that she trusts - everyone saw her as the perfect little sister, so especially after their life has been entirely upended, why would she be anything but? She’s moreover intimidated by authority figures and has a hard time balancing her sense of self with the sense of fight/flight if you were to talk to her in that way.

Partially due to her young age, Allie gets along quite well with children, and takes a particular interest with getting along with those who have dealt with a similar trauma as her and her siblings. She quickly proves herself to be extremely sympathetic to these children’s traumas and pain, easily acting in a parental role that her elder brothers and sister acted in for her.

Ricon is the most soft-spoken of the group, and all but refuses to talk to most people outside of his siblings. He has nightmares even many moons after they are removed from the Garlean Empire, and it’s not at all uncommon for one of his older siblings to find him at their door in the middle of the night asking if he can stay with them. Ricon juggles a lot with the feelings of being small or unimportant, largely because he is the second youngest of the group, but he feels that he is expected to act as strong and unmovable as the elder three.

Surprisingly, Ricon has developed quite a love for botany and plants after he and his siblings are saved. He was never comfortable around animals nor people - that is it’s own story of past trauma - but there is something soft and peaceful about growing daisies or learning about the medicinal use of clover. Plants don’t expect very much of him, they can’t pressure or obligate him to certain feelings. He’s collected several books on the subject and even started a small garden outside of the house he and his siblings were given in Terncliff.

Rex was always the type to express himself outwardly and honestly, never keeping his feelings of disdain nor disrespect close to the chest. Though it often got him into all levels of punishment, it is simply how he felt as though he had control over the trauma he and his siblings were put through. In a sense, Rex felt (and still feels) as if he needs to take up a portion of Alfonse’s responsibilities to their siblings. To protect and keep them safe from anything, even if it means acting out in front of a superior officer so he gets punished instead of them. This mindset takes a long time to mute, so more often than not he comes off as a stubborn jerk to new people, especially on a bad day.

It takes Rex a while to find something he'd consider to be a hobby - growing up, the majority of his free time consisted of training, whether physically or mentally for the uncountable number and types of missions they'd be tasked in completing. To this end, Rex eventually finds that he is surprisingly good at tinkering with things - perhaps it is that native stubbornness of his lending into the inherent trial-and-error nature of working with equally stubborn materials. Carpentry and other woodworking projects have taken up a fair bit of his free time, though he's still picking up the basics; when pressed, Rex will say that he simply wants to be able to built a nice box planter for Ricon and his growing number of flowers being hoarded in his room.

Milisandia has always been the one that everyone looks to when things got tough and Alfonse wasn't around. Even then, though the moments are rare when he'd let himself show his own vulnerability, Milisandia is always the one he would lean on and turn to for advice. This sense of strength continues even after leaving Garlemald; she is always one of the first to check on her siblings, the first to be by their side, the first to tend to them as well as she always had. That said, it takes a long time for her to realize that she can finally take care of herself too, and a longer time for her to actually start doing it.

Though she isn't all that good at it, Milisandia has developed quite a fondness for cooking. Since none of them were allowed nor expected to learn how to prepare their own food beyond simply tossing it onto a fire, Mili finds a comfortable level of control in cooking that she never got to experience. Experimentation is one of her favorite things to do, especially when they have such a wide variety of foods available at Terncliff itself or in the larger, nearby cities - but her siblings might argue about the edibility for most of them. The only ones who will eat through the meals with a straight face is Ricon and Allie.

Alfonse is a mixed bag of issues, many of them complex and none of them pretty. Though his younger siblings are able to come to terms with their trauma, given enough time, Alfonse feels almost alone in his pain. So much of what they went through can't simply be forgotten, and so few people really understand what it's like to endure it - or, that's at least what Alfonse assumes for up to many moons after leaving Garlemald. As the oldest of his brothers and sisters, he did his very best to be what they needed for him - so when he's put into a situation and position where he's allowed to be himself, the prospect is more terrifying than exciting, so far out of his sense of 'normal' that he's gotten a fair share of panic attacks from it.

Despite what Alfonse assumed, there are other people like him. People at least who understand what it was like to live under the oppressive force of Garlemald and the abuse of his superiors. Though it may not be a complete 1-to-1 experience, Alfonse becomes very interested to meet and talk to people like Cid and Fordola, people who were once members of Garlemald or have mixed attachments to the empire. He eventually finds a comfortable habit in traveling among the city-states, learning about them and meeting new people, perhaps even running into the Warrior of Light on several occasions. It takes a long time for him to realize he is also allowed - and is very capable - of healing.

[sweater-daddiesdumbdork]

Stay Safe (Early Years)

Summary- 3.7k Curtis Everett x Y/N. Curtis is appointed by McGregor as second and preparing for the McGregor Riots. Traumatic almost Non Con event described. Written by request for @that-damn-girl​. Thank you so much for your love of Curtis babes. This is a complete rewrite, I have another version that I might post later as a “this could have been what happened between these two” lol.

Curtis sat among the men, his back braced against the wall, listening. They were collected to hurry to Gilliams, which could only mean one thing. McGregor got word somehow about the next part of the plan, for the revolt. The revolt they been planning for the past two years, Curtis had just been allowed to join McGregors inner circle, and now he leaned forward to see a map of the train cars and McGregor had his finger on one. "The water car. This here is where we gotta get past. From what this map says, there is only one water car.” 

Curtis scanned the map, but it was so dirty and worn, it was hard to tell what else they were looking at. It seemed a good portion of the front end was sleeper cars, entertainment cars. The middle, working class. They were growing food, making goods, and what also looked like hospital cars. Then a few storage cars and finally water. It made no sense to Curtis why they would have the water car so far back, just before the prison. Shouldnt it be near the front?

“Okay, so we go take the water car, or get past it?” Another member asked, shrugging. “Its like 7 cars to get up to the water car. How much further do you want to go McGregor?” Absently McGregor scratched at his beard, thinking. “What do you think Gilliam, make it the goal to get up to at least these food cars? We need it, desperately. They been halving our rations for some time now.” 

“Tactic to weaken us.” Gilliam sighed, rubbing his face and leaning forward slightly on his cane. “They know were gonna feed our children first. Weve already proven that ages ago.” The mans rheumy eyes glanced at Curtis, who looked away from the gaze.

Curtis’s placed his palm against his arm, easily feeling the scar through the fabric of his jacket. Most everyone... The guilt of his actions in the past flashed across his face momentarily before going back to his cold demeanor. Clearing his throat, he spoke up. “Where did you even get this intel anyways? Does anyone know if this map is accurate?”

“Its accurate, I paid dearly for this, and lets leave it at that.” McGregor gruffly stated, agitated that he would be questioned. Curtis quieted his questions as McGregor continued, laying out the rest of the plan. Which was simple enough. The ones in the first row would charge the meager amount of guards who did the daily head count, and get a hold of there weapons. Keep one alive, that was the important part. They needed his accessibility to open the doors. “Remember, Keep at least one alive, prefer two though. Just in case.” He stressed to all of them. “Not a word to anyone either. This will all stay hush until were finally ready.” 

“When is that gonna be?” Curtis decided to question again, and Gilliam this time answered. “Its almost new years, and there will be more activity back here.” The whole group groaned. Every year Minister Mason brought the tail end boiled eggs, and did a long winded speech in several languages about how Wilford was the divine and merciful. “So after we cross the bridge and do the tail end mockery, we will start.” Gilliam rubbed at his face. “Okay, leave me now. I need to rest.” 

With shuffles the people started to filter out, when McGregor stalled Curtis from leaving, leaving just the three men left in Gilliams space. “Curtis, we needed to speak with you specifically.” McGregor said, and Gilliam nodded in confirmation. 

“What?” Curtis asked, his brows arching in question. 

“Im tempted to keep you from going son, simply because if something happens to me, I need you to take up this cause.” McGregor tapped on the map. And Curtis shook his head in confusion as to what he is saying. 

“I dont understand, nothing is going to happen, were going to make it to the food cars.” Curtis stated with conviction. 

“We probably will, but we also need to be realistic here Curtis. If we dont get that far, there needs someone to take right over and keep this up with Gilliam. Getting the people out of this cage is the most important. I know your young son, but people already respect you. Your cool headed and smart, I know I will be leaving it in capable hands. And its just a precaution. Plan B.” McGregor explained. “And no one but Gilliam knows, so dont go mentioning it to anyone.” 

Curtis nods, still trying to process, and he looks between the two men. “Im not sitting this out, I refuse to. Weve come to far to sit it out.” and the two other men shook there head. 

“We already figured you refuse to sit out, but your not gonna be in the very front in that initial charge, your going to bring along the rest until we at least get enough weapons in hand.” Curtis was glowering already at this news and before he could say anything, Gilliam said sharply. “Curtis its already settled. You will do this cause Im asking you to.” 

Blue eyes that were enraged shut down at those words, and he gave a nod. Turning, he ducked out, stuffing his hands in his jacket pockets, lost in his thoughts as he weaved around the people doing there usual activities. When a holler caught his attention, and lifting his gaze, he saw you with a whole pile of kids racing down the aisle. Grabbing one into a hug, your tickled him and he squealed, making all the kids twist back like a flock. They all tackled you, and you mocked scream, tumbling out of sight into a bunk with them. His worries temporarily set aside, he made his way down to where you all disappeared. 

“Y/N, you still alive in there?” He ducked down enough to look in, and your hand shot out to grab ahold of his, which he pulled you out, your face flush with laughter, and you grab a hold of his coat to steady yourself. “With those little hellions? Never... they make me so proud, I raised them to be ruthless.” Giggling while you are still trying to catch your breath and you wag a finger in the bunk. “You all better be hidden when I come back.” Hooking your arm through Curtis’s, you pull him away, still brushing your hair from your face and smiling up at him. 

“Where you been all day?” you questioned as the two of you walk away from the bunk, and the kids scramble out to go hide away from you, you glance over your shoulder to take notice where they are headed, not that there was many options for them to go. As long as they werent disturbing other people to much. Turning back to Curtis, you tilt your head to look up and study him, his face was clouded and agitated, you could see where he was tensing his jaw enough to tic, something was certainly on his mind. 

Giving you a side ways glance, he gave just one word and then it all clicked for you. “Gilliams.” Of course, not that you were exactly privy to it, but you heard the whispers making there way through the train. It was like a match sparked being thrown on gasoline, snaking its way among the people, giving them all hope, and restlessness. Already you seen a spike in your parents clinic of people getting into mild fights. Dabbing away at the cuts and scrapped knuckles, warning them to keep clean as possible cause infections set in so easily. 

It was a ignited fire that was only getting hotter with time. 

You press your shoulder against his to drag more words out of him. “What else Curtis?” He looks like hes about to say more, working the words up from his chest, his eyes sharp in there resolve, and before he can open his mouth to fill you in, McGregor comes up from behind, and clasps Curtis’s shoulder in greeting. “Hey you two, coming up to the front soon? They are about to hand out protein bars.” A look, one that you very well caught, passed between them. An uneasy feeling sinking in your chest. 

“Yea, we will be headed up soon.” Curtis snaps a bit at him, and you wrinkle your brow at the odd interaction. Curtis watched McGregors retreating back, and tugged you lightly off to a small cubby, you stumbling into the out of the way place between the pipework that crisscrossed in the space between some bunks. “Curtis? what is this about?” 

“Listen to me Y/N, shits about to happen. And its gonna be just what youve been hearing. Im sure you and your folks will be part of clean up, but promise me you wont leave this car till weve made it through, okay?” Curtis’s eyes searched yours looking for confirmation, anything that you were going to listen to him. A slight nod is given, and you pick at your hands before reaching out, and fisting your hands in his jacket.

“Dont fucking get killed either Curtis, promise me that, okay? I know your going to insist on going.” So matter of fact, you knew your friend, he wouldnt be able to live with himself otherwise. You watched him for years punish himself for his desperate acts in the past. That fear that anyone would hold it against him, the way he grasp at his arm when he thought it was all to good for him. You knew, Curtis still hadnt forgiven himself. 

“I wont, I promise...” Fake promises, he couldnt look you in the eyes when he said this, no one could never know if they will return once they leave this car, but your look made the man ache in his chest. How he wished he could bring back that smile you had on just minutes earlier. You shined, a softness in all this hellish darkness. You have been there for him since the beginning, you came right out of that darkness from where you were hiding with Mat and fell to your knees, trying to stop the bleeding where he tried to cut off his arm. Curtis didnt even know how to react that day, when you at 13 showed more compassion then any of the others did, then he did. Your eyes wide in your fear, and yet you refused to pull away from him “Its okay, you dont have to do this, see?” Your words still echoed through him. 

It just continued, always you were piecing him back together again, seeking him out to wrap an arm around him when he missed human touch, making sure he felt you vibrate against him in your laughter when you leaned against him, your grin seeking his to flutter for a moment on his lips, teasing voice singing his name.The times your tears soaked on his shoulder, your hug rattling in his hold as your sadness penetrated the anger. When did it all really matter that much he held onto you like a life line? His life line. At some point for him, you crossed that line as just friend. And he felt it blossom through him with a heated desire he never felt before. What would it be like.... to have you as truly his? Forever his? You were just to good for the like of him. He would be a dark mark on you,  scrubbing forever to rub out his stain. 

Curtis didnt know how it happened, but in that moment, he had to know. Had to know if you were just as soft in his arms as you were strong, and his hands moved to cup your face, your cheeks fingers pressing back into your hair, and that was just what he imagined, silken tendrils wrapping around his fingers. You went wide eyed in those seconds, and yet never pulled away as if he was scaring you in any way. Your eyes softened for him, and when he pulled you in closer, your head tipped to meet him. That first touch, a soft press of lips was innocent sweetness, soft brushes of lips and breaths. 

Your innocence certainly made him continue forward gently, a tilt of his head and soft nibbles on your lip, a press of his tongue made you open in surprise and he let that kiss deepen. You were clumsy in it, always a little behind, but Curtis led you with encouraging strokes, the whole sensation dragged out a moan from you, a flush of your body pressing into his. His hands tightened slightly in your hair, and breaking from you, his forehead leaning against yours with soft pants shared between you. No you werent his, but what he wouldnt give for you to be. He was still trying to calm the fire you laced through him in that kiss. 

“I promise... I will come back Y/N” Crystal blue eyed promises now, and you accepted it far better this time, your lips still tingling from the contrast of soft kisses and brush of bristling beard, to his tongue filling your mouth, laying claim to you as his. 

But havent you really been his for a while? Even when you didnt know it, he was your safety, your dark guardian. 

Always looking out for you, protecting you.  

Drawing your way out, you are sure to slide the curtain closed for your patients privacy, and start making another round to see to other people, chat with them, just see if they need anything in general. You dont notice the wandering eyes following you, weaving through the people till you got to a quieter part of the tail end. You didnt notice, not until its to late when an arm shoots out in front of you, making you pause momentarily as it blocked you. “What the... Eric, what do you want?” You try to duck under his arm, but the mans grasp on your arm pauses you. A glance his way showed a handsome young man, blond locks curling around green eyes, that glinted coldly at you, and he firmly without any choice of your own backed you against the wall. “See youve been playing little home nurse again Y/N”

“Just helping mom and dad, can you please let go?” You try tugging your arm from his grasp and his other hand came up to your face to trace the curve, obviously not ready to loosen his hold, for whatever reason you would clam up around him, your heart fluttering and your breath quickening. Some would think it was innocent attraction. But it was more fear of what he would eventually do to you if given the chance.

“When you going to let me kiss you huh? I dont see why you keep fighting me on this.” He hovered closer, his breath washing over your face and you wrinkle your nose at it. It was hot and sour to you, you tried to pull back but there was no where else to go, so the back of your head would thump against the cold metal wall.

“Im not, I dont want to and you cant change my mind.” You wriggle once more trying to get him to stop digging into your arm. “So how about you go find one of the other girls? I know there are plenty who want to be with you.”

“To easy, I rather like the one who denies me” His voice dropped deeper, making you panic sightly. His eyes, you hated the way he would stare at you, following you from wherever he was, like you were a prize to be had. "I figured it's about time I change your mind about it though." You strain out of his touch on your face and go to push against his chest to stumble him back.

"I said no! Fuck no would I ever be with you, let alone kiss you" you snap at him, turning to leave, put distance between you two, back in a crowd. Eric was to coward to try to anything with people around. He snarled though, wrapping an arm around you.

Effectively he pinned your arms helpless and your back against your chest, falling back harder then you expected, making you helpless, his hand clasped over your mouth, effectively muffling any protests you had. "What you think your to good for someone like me sweetheart. If your good enough to get Curtis's dick wet, think you can mine as well without this much of a fight." Your eyes widened at his words. I haven't, were not, stop!... Just friends, you think in as your panic is washing over you, and he manipulated your head to fall back to his shoulder, you try twisting out. Then he pressed his face in your neck, and bit you, what started as a sloppy kiss turned into a bruising bite, yelping at the shock of pain and you try kicking him hard enough in the leg behind you to drop him. The tread of your boot slid down the inside of his leg, and he pushed you away from him to crash you against the trains wall, hard enough to bounce you off, making you groan from the harsh impact.

Erics hand whipped you around, effectively pinning you with his body. No way to leverage a kick again, and hands pinned your arms down to keep from attacking. "Fucken shit head!" Your voice raised into yelling at him, where was everyone? It was eerily quiet and no one around, he smirked at your struggles, dawning on you when you saw how turned on, felt how turned on. That foreign bulge dug into your belly. "Keep struggling Y/N, just makes me hard for you, so cute thinking you don't want this."

"Your vile Eric, like those front end pigs" nothing but disgust dripping from your tone, trying to hide your fear. But he knows, it just widens his predatory grin knowing your words were masking the fear coursing through your veins. His lips hovered so close, mocking tone as he brushed them barely against yours, as you tried tilting your face away. “Come on Y/N, just one little kiss for me. Do it and I will let you go.”

You glare at him and spit, right in the fuckers face, it runs down his eyes and nose, and you smirk at him as he starts cussing and wiping his face on his sleeve. “You little fucking cunt whore! Nasty pig think you can get away with that shit?!” His hand releases you and goes to hit you when a grasp catches his wrist, wrenching it back. Both yours and Erics eyes go wide in surprise, and you see Curtis glowering behind him, firmly twisting Erics arm hard, then harder again he snarls out. “She sure as fuck is gonna get away with it. I think she told you no”

Curtis jerked Erics arm further and a crack was followed by Eric screaming and letting you go, you slid away from his grasp, Curtis jerking him forward to take where he had you pinned before. They were evenly matched in size, but Curtis had him crushed between his body and metal, his face distorted as you glanced up. It struck you in this moment just how opposite these two men were. Curtis never once raised his voice in the time youve known him,but he had to raise above Erics squealing out in pain and anger. “When a person tells you no, It fucking mean no. You owe Y/N an apology.” He pulled Eric off the wall, and kicked at the back of his knees to drop him in front of you.

Curtis loomed over him, his arm still firmly twisted up between his shoulder blades, and growled in the mans ear. “Say it, or Im going to wrench it right off your body.”

“Im sorry!” you could see the effort it took Eric to say it, but Curtis clearly wasnt satisfied.

“AGAIN!” This time he really roared, Eric cowering a bit, and remorseful, he started again.

“Im sorry Y/N, I promise to never touch you again!” Curtis glances at you and nods that its okay, he had him firmly and you stepped forward, grasping the mans hair, and tipping his head back.

“Touch me ever again, or ANYONE on this train, your dead, do you hear me Eric? I will have no problem watching you die, either by my hand or another. Am. I. Fucking. CLEAR?”

“Yes! god yes, just let me go, it wont happen again.” Eric pleads, and you step away from Eric, and circle around to Curtis’s side. Shoving him harshly away, Eric rolled to a stand and clutched his arm, racing away as fast as he could. The coward, would probably make up some lie to cover face when he made it to your father to reset the arm. You stood next to Curtis, still fuming. Your fear from earlier forgotten, now you were just enraged watching where the coward disappeared.

“Hey, he aint gonna try messing with you again.” Curtis let his hand rest against your shoulder, looking down at you.

And thats what Curtis always did, he never expected more from you, not a thank you, not any kind of favor. He simply needed you to be safe, that was all he ever asked for from you. It was something that you could give him, he so desperately needed. 

You lick your lip, they are still swollen from the kiss, and you blush just a bit at the memory of his mouth on yours. He tipped his head, letting his thumb brush lightly on your cheek and he moved to kiss your forehead. 

“Thank you for that Y/N.” and you shifted in closer to press your face against his chest, your arms sliding around his torso, just holding him, memorizing this feeling right here, cause your first kiss, shook the words right out of you. 

You didnt know what would happen in the days to come, but you knew that right now, things between you two changed, having finally crossed that line. 

Tags-  @jtargaryen18 @what-is-your-plan-today @official-and-unstable-satan @p8tn0lish @stardancerluv @princess-evans-addict @patzammit  @that-damn-girl @curtisbbq @jeremyrennerfanxxxx123 @thatweirdwalangpake

[dndeviants]

The one who wrote the book

Linda followed the blond vampire in silence, thinking about the talk she had just had with Strahd. She couldn’t help but feel bad for all of his suffering...

But there was still all the accounts of the wrongs he had done, his evils...

Why? What is the truth? Those questions consumed her.

“Here we are,“ Escher opened the door of the tower room, and allowed Linda to browse freely.

It was large, but comfortable, with tall paneled windows that showed the whole western portion of Barovia...

Glorious mountain ranges capped with snow, glistening rivers in the moonlight, the silhouettes of small villages dotted the landscape... She saw the walls of Vallaki, and even the walls of Krezk, and the faint image of the Abbey looming over the settlement.

She stared out the window... The land was as beautiful as the castle she stood in-

At least the parts Strahd sees fit to care for, she reminded herself.

She returned her attention to the room. The guest quarter itself had two couches sitting opposed on the northern and southern sides, bookcases filled with various literature pressed against the eastern wall.

Books had always been a weakness of hers. She browsed the collection: political treatises, biographies of ancient peoples, exotic recipes, folklore, mythology, epic poetry...

This could keep me busy for a while, she thought. 

She turned to the consort, “So Escher, how did you come to live here?”

Linda moved to the northern couch and sat down. Escher joined her.

He leaned back, musing, "Well, I already told you that I was hired by lord Strahd. One thing led to another, and now I am here. His eternal companion and servant."

"You were hired..." She raised a brow, "To be a personal historian, right?"

He simply nodded.

"You wrote the propaganda piece,” she continued, “And earlier, I had asked you if you knew what in it was real."

 "Indeed. We were interrupted by Lord Strahd's arrival..." Escher folded his hands in his lap.

She nodded and looked to him, "Care to tell me now?"

"Where do I start? Let's see..." He rose from the couch and walked over to the bookshelves, extracting his copy of Barovia and its Histories, along with notes he had made decades ago.

He turned to her, "The beginning is often the simplest, correct?"

"Of course," she replied.

Escher sat down, and flipped open the book, "I took propaganda that survived from Strahd's homelands in regard to his conquest of Barovia. King Barov... chose Strahd to be a general. But had everyone around him think that Strahd was upholding his responsibility as the eldest son.”

He pointed a line to her, “'He was already highly decorated general...' This... is a half truth. Yes, he led his side of the civil war to victory, and he did develop the strategy that quieted rival households at age seventeen..”

He took out an ancient letter, and examined it:

“...but at the time, King Barov took credit for Strahd, and berated him for his 'failure to swiftly put an end to the war' and 'allowing him to be captured by enemies of state'... when he was rescued by Vistani."

Linda blinked in shock, "So that is why he said he lost his youth..." her brow furrowed, and her lips tightened, "His father doesn't sound too pleasant. Berating him for not winning fast enough and having to be rescued..."

"What do you expect from a child?" Escher turned back to his notes.

Seventeen... Timothy’s age. Linda shook her head as she thought,  Gods... I can’t imagine anyone that age being expected to fight, much less win a war... what was wrong with Barov? Shouldn’t he have been thankful that the Vistani rescued his son? Why did he send Strahd to war...?

An evil thought crossed her mind: He didn’t want Strahd to return... But why? It doesn’t make sense-

Escher’s voice snapped her back to the present.

"That is true... true, true, true... ah, the impalement...” Escher looked to her and shrugged, “Desertion was becoming a problem due to lack of resources given from the homelands to maintain a war... He thought that only a horrible punishment would deter further insolence. And it did... all of the rest is true for his origins listed here- save for one little thing..."

Escher tapped his finger on the page, "’Strahd vowed not to leave Barovia until the war had been won.’ That was a fabrication for political ends in Strahd's own homeland, but in letters I found... Barov would not tolerate Strahd in the homelands until the war had been won."

"What?" Linda’s eyes widened in shock, "He wasn't allowed to leave?!"

This is unheard of...

Escher waved a letter in front of his face to read aloud, "The 'acting general does not take leave for himself' is what the letter said. It was some kind of dishonor, or some rubbish like that. However, his lieutenants were allowed to take leave, and sire families and continue their households. Interesting little fact."

 She sighed and voiced her thoughts, "That's horrible and unheard of."

Escher was quiet, but continued reading, before pausing and turning to Linda, "You already know of the wedding massacre correct? I'm...not supposed to speak on the subject. But you carry his journal with you..."

Ah, so all the vampires can sense it... she nodded, "Yeah I read about what happened."

Escher smirked and continued, "Of course, Strahd's death is completely fabricated, so we can ignore those.... marriage, birth, deaths... although, he did put on grand shows to continue the masquerade of humanity. "

She leaned back, "I knew all of those were made up."

Escher paused, "Ah, Jander Sunstar... that is a sore subject..."

Linda raised a brow, "Why?"

Escher shrugged, "I think because it was one of the first people that Strahd considered a friend since turning... and one of the first to personally betray him."

Linda’s curiosity grew, "What happened?"

“Jander was a foreigner, like you...” Escher looked to his notes, “He called himself a Sun Elf... and was from a group of adventurers from a place he called Waterdeep. He was the only survivor of his party and was turned vampire... before coming here.”

“Strahd invited him into his care and swore to help him figure out the origins of a girl that he was trying to avenge... a girl named Ana. In return, Jander would teach Strahd what he knew... because there was a lot more Jander knew of vampirism than Strahd was able to know... Strahd is the First Vampire, but Jander was older, and wiser than he."

Linda folded her arms, "I still think time moves differently here..."

"I think so too. It seems slower here... but maybe its because I am bored..." the vampire chuckled.

He resumed the lesson, "Well, Jander grew suspicious of Strahd and abhorred his method of ruling, and Strahd's own ignorance of his power, and 'arrogance' turned Jander against him, and he plotted with a priest named Sasha Petrovich, in secret to try to destroy Strahd... especially after discovering that his 'Ana' was Tatayana... one who had been reborn outside the Mists. He held Strahd responsible for her broken state... even though it was the elf himself that killed her."

Linda blinked,  "Petrovich, like Lucien and Lydia in Vallaki?"

Escher tilted his head in acknowledgement, "Descendants. Strahd showed mercy to the priest after Jander died, and after Strahd recovered from the battle. They had used the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind against him... and the priest took it. They made an arrangement. The priest would not return the symbol to Strahd, but keep it hidden for eternity, and take the secret to his grave... so long as Strahd swore not to harm him of his descendants."

She blinked at the revelation, "Oh, I see. Well, we found it."

"And it is in Ruki's care, I know.... " Escher returned to reading, musing, "He does favor impalement as a message, doesn't he? True... another birth, death, marriage.... Ah, Azalin. Another tough one..."

Linda folded her arms, "A lich, right?"

He nodded in affirmation, "Strahd's mentor, and partner when trying to find ways to escape. They may have done it too, but it isn't certain.”

Escher lazily raised a hand, “Rahadin thinks they succeeded briefly, as they both were missing from Barovia for a while, but neither of them could remember the experience. It was all for naught anyway. As soon as Azalin got his own realm... he turned on Strahd and sent this country down the warpath. Ultimately, Strahd won, but he lost a friend in Aldrick Wachter along the way."

Linda nodded, and thought aloud, "I wonder how they did it, if they did escape..."

Escher shrugged, "Who knows for certain? Ah... this is when Strahd's psyche began to slip... the despotic, tyrant mage..."

Escher held up a hand, "He theorizes that when he sacrificed himself to sever Barovia from other realms, he also sacrificed some of his mental stability and well being. He became a monster, truly. Rahadin had taken over for him, but Strahd was fixed on seeking vengeance... on what, he cannot remember, and I do not know.

Linda blinked. It wasn’t uncommon for vampires to lose their sanity over time, but Strahd now seemed to be stable. This was perplexing. 

"How odd... what else is there?" she asked.

"Well... Lord Strahd came to his senses only after being killed again. By foreign adventurers... and then things went back to normal... for a time. There was the whole Lord Soth thing, that was more an inconvenience for everyone involved."

"He was a death knight?" recalled Linda.

"From another world,” Escher replied, “The Mists tested Strahd's patience with him. But he managed to redirect the death knight's wrath until he could get him to flee into the mists... and another dread realm formed."

Escher turned to the last section of the book, pity in his voice, "Ah, poor Volenta... And dare I say poor Strahd. His diplomacy was doing well- until Metus tried to assassinate him, and had poor Volenta killed as well."

Linda blinked, "So, that is the same Volenta?"

The Volenta killed in the book is one of the other consorts?

Escher nodded, "She was not created in the usual manner, if I recall. She died tainted by Lord Strahd's blood, when Malik speared them both through..."

Escher sighed, "Strahd became even more paranoid of traitors and assassins and his secret coming out at this time.... Anyone who conspired with Metus was killed. Anyone he thought a traitor was killed...”

“Some beheaded... particularly bad ones impaled. It's eased in recent times..." Escher looked to Linda, trying to gauge her reaction.

She rubbed her temples and sighed, folding her hands in front of her. He had done truly terrible things. She didn’t doubt that. But he had terrible things happen to him... and it didn’t excuse him, but...

I understand why now. 

 "It seems, I didn't know half of what has happened to Strahd. I see why he is like he is even more, now."

Escher tilted his head and closed the book, "But it doesn't make for good propaganda."

She chuckled, softly,  "I would assume not..."

Linda raised a brow and looked over the dandy, blond consort. This slender, pretty man seemed to know how to speak to Strahd and persuade him to tone down his anger at the very least...

It would be useful to know that.

She coyly looked to the man, "So how did you woo Strahd?"

Escher laughed at her, "It's not that hard when you know what to say, and more importantly, how to say it. You just have to know him well enough."

She tilted her head, "And what does that mean? How do you say things?"

Escher stood and made a flamboyant gesture, "I say things the way they need to be said to get the results I want. "

She pursed her lips,  "And how did this woo Strahd? I don't think you did it."

Escher gasped, offended, "Lady Linda, I am far more charming than you give me credit! Far more charming than yourself, even..."

He put a hand over his chest, emphasizing, "I radiate charisma."

Linda toyed with him, speaking bluntly, "I don't see it."

The man pouted, "I would say more, but I am not permitted to harm the guests."

He huffed and crossed his arms, "Fine. You want to know how I did it? Even when my life on the line?"

"I do."

Escher raised a hand, flippantly, "I didn't try to pretend to be invulnerable for one. I told him that I knew that he had every right to murder me for betraying him, and going where I was not permitted to go. And then thanking him for not allowing me to die..."

Escher looked to Linda, "He didn't even seem to realize that he was the one who rescued me from being devoured by Mila, Ana, and Volly. And that was the thing... I appealed to the goodness in him."

Escher made a gesture, "A man like Strahd knows what makes him evil. A man like Strahd will go out of his way to be the cruelest, wickedest man to ever walk the surface, because a man like Strahd doesn't believe that there is goodness in him. But... as soon as you point out those small flaws in his evil overlord persona..."

Escher raised his hands, gesticulating, "Would an evil overlord go out of his way to save a man who had just betrayed him? Offer shelter to a woman that he unknowingly brought into his dark world? Rescue children from hags and were-creatures? Perhaps he would... it doesn't make him any less evil..."

Escher looked to Linda, weaving his poetic words, "But, it may- for a moment- remind him that his heart isn't truly black. And that he is capable of much goodness and love..."

Escher shrugged, "It was enough to woo him in the moment. He hungers for goodness to be shown him, but is not in the habit of showing it to others first. No, that would make him weak."

Escher folded his hands behind his back, "Point out the goodness genuinely. Don't try to make the lion a lamb. And keep it honest and gentle. Those are my rules when speaking with Strahd. And... if you desire his... favor... "

Escher winked at the woman, rakishly,  "... you will do the same."

Linda smirked to hide her blush, "So how else do I become as charismatic as you?"

"Well, join a guild or practice. I do recommend studying the classic poets. But that is a personal preference..." Escher looked to the door.

Volenta entered the room with a tired looking Aric and Jeeves. They chatted briefly before retiring to the room beyond. Volenta folded her hands over her skirt and walked over to Linda and Escher.

She spoke lightly,  "How are we tonight?"

“Just splendid,“ Escher replied.

 "Doing well, just speaking with Escher about Strahd..." Linda looked up to the masked woman...

She was murdered... and Strahd’s blood turned her... and now she is here. She seems happy enough...

Volenta shrugged, "Lot's of people talk about him. You should hear what they say in the towns...” She looked to Escher, “But Mila wanted me to tell you that dawn approaches..."

Escher nodded and put the book back on the shelf,  "I will be down soon. No worries."

"It's that time already...?” Linda was shocked, “Sorry if I am keeping you. I should probably get some rest too."

Escher looked to Linda, "Do not worry, Lady. You aren't keeping me from anything. But I will tell you..."

Escher inspected her, "You may want to take down your hair and brush it... use some water to wash, make yourself a little more presentable... it will help your natural charm greatly.... and if you need help on your charisma..."

He turned back to the bookshelf, and pulled out a tome, "Here... The Diplomat. This book is probably best for learning what you want to learn."

Escher presented the book to her. Linda took the book and showed her gratitude.

“Thanks...“ she set the book beside her, took off her hat, and let her hair down. She turned to the vampire, “Better?“

Escher tilted his head, "Getting there. A wash is what it needs. You got black stuff in it."

Linda sighed, "Probably gun powder.... I'll wash up. Is there a place for that in here?"

Escher pointed to a table, "You will have to use one of the basins on the table...” He looked at the copy of The Diplomat, “...But I think you will be able to grasp the book easily."

Escher bowed to her, "I shall have to take my leave. Thank you for pleasant conversation."

Linda tilted her head, "Thank you for your insight. I hope you both rest well."

As Escher and Volenta retreated from the room, she rose and pulled out her mirror. She grimaced... I looked like this? In front of Strahd-

She hurried over to the basin and washed her face and hair in the cold water- the temperature waking her up a bit...

The water was murky gray with the powder residue. She sighed and took out her mirror again...

Much better... clean... I look like a proper lady now- It was odd for her that she even cared about such things... 

She pat herself dry and walked over to the couch, using her newfound energy to read.

[enchantedzuyorker]

A Prison Break

The way that I see it, industrial society is a multi-dimensional prison facility that stratifies its population according to the value of one’s productive output. Those who contribute the most toward reproducing and maintaining this prison are rewarded with social recognition and greater access to survival resources. And those who contribute the least are ridiculed, shamed and left to die off. The overall collectivism created through mass participation normalizes this binary way of life, generating a social pressure that drives assimilation and discourages insubordination. In order to function, industrial society normalizes wage-enslavement through learned inferiority. As people grow to internalize this sense of inferiority, they become dependent on industrial society and its symbolic representation of order. As people accept themselves individually as weak and powerless, societal prison fulfills a sense of group power and belonging.

I view industrial society as a prison because like all prisons, its function is to subordinate through containment. But the construction of this prison requires individuals not only to surrender themselves to a collectivist vision of law and order, but also to a unifying acceptance of separation: One’s alienation from nature creates a fear remedied by a sense of safety found in order, predictability, and structure. From this point of view institutionalization can be seen as the result of one fearing their own wild potential beyond the walls of civilized captivity. On an individual level, the thought-crime of feral insubordination is contained with suppression that is conditioned with years of behavioral civilizing (for example the educational industrial complex and its deeply traumatic process of assimilating children into civilized society). In mass society, the individual self ceases to be unique as it becomes controlled, homogenized, and assimilated into the collectivist mentality of social membership. The physical body of an individual becomes merely a unit of productivity that is valued based on its material contribution to industrial society.

Individuality is redefined by society and suppressed by assigned social constructs that categorically position it within the broader collectivist system. These socially constructed identities become representative of the Self as merely a member of fixed class, race, and gendered identity categories. At this point in the civilizing process, individuality is exchangable with identity, losing all of its color and freedom as a unique animal being. In the societal prison the individual animal is transformed into an inmate collectively known as a “citizen”. Now, as a member of this prison society, every citizen has an obligation to contribute their mind and body toward its reproduction and maintenance. It is reproduced on an individual level through morals, standardized behavioral norms, cultures, and traditions. For those who refuse this obligation (or for any number of reasons are unable to fulfill it), they are condemned to the punishment of poverty.

What I hear often from leftists is the use of the word “lifestylist” as a way to describe what they consider an undesirable form of anarchy. When I first started reading post-left anarchist writings, I was inspired by the courageous adventures of self-exploration beyond categorical definition. I enjoyed the writings of those who embraced anarchy as life - nihilistic and wild against the social forces of civilized domestication. So it struck me as odd that some self-identifying anarchists took issue with this way of thinking and acting – going so far as to use “lifestyle anarchist” as an insult. So I ask those individuals: What is the difference between social anarchism and the monotony of workplace wage-slavery? Year after year there are anarchist holidays, noise demonstrations, potlucks, commune gatherings and so on – all of which to this day have not led “the masses” any closer to any sustainable uprising. In a way, workplace wage-slavery has more effect on “the masses” than any radical organizing: workplace wage-slavery further expands capitalism worldwide, while radical organizing has only led to (at most) small waves of revolt that ultimately are managed and suppressed by the state. So where does the individual fit into all this? Is there a pull from two opposing directions that share the commonality of attempting to transform the individual?

I have had experience with both wage-slavery and radical organizing. And both ended with the same conclusion: unfulfillment. Both choices required the surrendering of my mind and body to maintain their functioning, which inevitably led to monotonous repetition. Both choices share a circular logic: participation, no matter how difficult, driven by the hope that one day things will be better. So rather than seeking another chamber of society to identify with and occupy, I am seeking emancipation - a prison break not only from the captivity of death-driven wage-slavery, but also from the mental workerism that conceals itself behind the banner of radical organizing. So what is one to do if they are neither occupying their mind with wage- slavery nor burning out with radical organizing? Is society, the prison encompassing these two life choices, worthy of critique? A prison can materialize externally and internally. The most successful external prison is one that finds its reflection within those it holds captive. Those held captive reinforce that prison by internalizing the “citizen” collectivist identity. If we are not free individuals who roam, dance, and explore the wild beyond the walls of industrial captivity, then what are we?

We are inmates of society identified by social security numbers and birth-dates. We are subjected to these domesticating walls of confinement which institutionalize us, and in exchange we’re offered materialism to fill the void where chaos once connected us to life at birth. If one understands their enslavement to society thoroughly, they reach the logical conclusion that the lives we claim to own ultimately belong to those who utilize them the most. This is why I personally hate work and find no affinity with any ideology that glorifies workerist identity. “Full-time” employment means average 40 hours a week in which an individual’s mind and body are owned in exchange for monetary access to mind-numbing materialism or survival necessities. Without getting into the details of wage- slavery in exchange for only a portion of what the product of one’s labor is actually worth, we are talking about hours of one’s life lost forever. Similar to a prison, society owns its inmate citizens by purchasing their slavery at minimal pay rates. Like a prison, society functions and flourishes with a massified labor force that collectively surrenders livelihood to the norm of law and order.

But what about the individualist who refuses participation? And perhaps not only refuses participation but also sabotages?

From my own perspective, the lifestylist prefers rebellion now rather than waiting for “the masses” - expropriating life, resources, and time for hedonistic adventure. And the lifestylist is not a specialist in anarchy: Any single individual subjugated by society is capable of individualist insubordination. There are grocery stores of food, wild food to be foraged, the moon and stars to act as cover for black clad cells of earth and animal liberationists. There is plenty of logging equipment to be sabotaged, storefronts to be smashed. There are howls of feral revolt to be shared across the globe between those who are determined to enjoy their lives against the dominion of misery.

The first thing people ask me is “What do you do for a living?”. And my answer is supposed to include some form of wage-slavery that financially supports my living. When I was an activist people used to ask me how much I got paid doing it. I laughed every time and to my disbelief, eventually realized that activism too has a lucrative place under capitalism. I am used to tabling free zines and posting all my writing on The Anarchist Library (and where and who ever else tolerates my ramblings). But some people go around giving lectures and speeches at colleges gettin’ mad cash. I prefer makin’ cash illegally- not by attempting to commodify rebellion any further than it already has been. So my answer to what I do for a living is usually “Anarchy”; I live and survive this way, as free as I can be, with no intentions on returning to wage-slavery or radical organizing.

Another critique of life as anarchy that I have grown tired of hearing is the myth that train-hopping, illegally expropriating food and resources and other individualist forms of rebellion are a “white” activity that also undermines the working class. This critique often comes from an identity-based assumption that the “working class” and POC are a monolithic mass incapable of materializing liberation on an individual level. Leftism leads one to believe that the population, in particular POC, needs to be led to revolution through rigorous education by radical leadership. Not only is this mentality condescending, it relies heavily on the assumption that all POC and or workers think alike and share the same political interest. Is this perhaps the reason why despite years and years of radical organizing and propagating “the revolution”, Illuminist capitalism still has a powerful workforce, further expanding this nightmarish technological industrial complex?

So I ask those who accuse the individualist of disregarding the workers: How many times do you spend time, money, and energy attempting the same thing, under the same assumptions, yet expecting different results? Do you honestly blame the lifestylists for refusing to surrender their lives to the draining repetition of either wage-slavery or organizing? When anarchy is limited to and defined by a duty to educate and organize others, it has already become domesticated. Does it not count as a racist blanket statement to assume only “white” people are capable of creating activities that are based on individualist empowerment?

I once heard someone say that lifestyle anarchists are privileged. I thought about it for a while. I tried to understand how taking the courageous initiative to reclaim one’s life was a privilege. I couldn’t help but feel that such an accusation comes from a place of internalized defeat; a defeat so powerful that one can only perceive individual emancipation as an unattainable luxury. Similar to the identity prisons of race and gender, this mentality encourages one to view their self as an eternally disempowered victim of society. Rather than seeing one’s self as the ultimate creator of freedom, one views their self only in terms of mental prisons.

I have watched over the years as anarchism has become a platform for internalizing and glorifying victimhood. I have critiqued this in previous writing, but the relevance here is that there is this subtle message in anarchism that says “if you are not a victim, you must be privileged. And if you are privileged, you should feel guilty about improving the quality of your life. If we suffer, YOU should suffer too.”. I believe it is this type of subtle message, circulated in radical spaces, that is responsible for the trend that labels individualist thought “privileged”, and encourages the abandonment of any ideas that challenge the internalized prison of morality.

For me, anarchy as wildness is a bomb that never stops exploding. It is the pesticide-resistant weed that cracks the foundation of industrial society and organizational conformity. Anarchy is the abomination of formally organized structures. It finds its reflection in the hedonism of the brave, ungovernable individual who rebels today with no expectation of a tomorrow. There are no social constructs – race, gender, or whatever – that can truely represent those who refuse the definitions, roles, and limitations imposed by society. Feral individualism is the lunatic enemy combatant of society, setting fire to the social contract of mental subordination. Within this societal prison race, gender, and other socially constructed identities are like numbers branded onto bodies, grouping people according to some authoritarian vision. Identity politics reinforces the internalized prison that confines individual uniqueness, and projects the mind and body policing of others.

If freedom of individuality is only defined by an individual’s commitment to the group, then what makes the group any less governing than a state? If the anarchist critique of government is that it can never give one freedom, then why would one accept the governing of an identity, commune or society?

If there is any real possibility of the population rising up in any insurrectionary way, it will most likely come from an individual realization that being a wage-slave ultimately reinforces the walls of this prison we call “society”. And as long as individuals continue to identify themselves as its inferior citizen members, submission will be internally and externally normalized.

If the neatly faced aisles of grocery stores aren’t enough to make one question their role in adding bricks to the ever-expanding walls of this prison, how will best-seller-of-insurrection groups like The Invisible Committee appear any different? Anarchy as an anti-social, individualist way of life simply can’t be preached to “the masses” without being watered- down and losing its hostility to civilized order. Under capitalism, anarchism as a social movement has become collectivized into a hobby activity that co- exists with wage-slavery. New faces enter and quickly begin the work of organizing, only to burn out and retire down the line in a new era of presidency. Like a new warden, a new president takes over and dominates.

As winter nears I reflect on my past summer of fun activity. I realize for each season there is a variety of different opportunities for more. I realize that no matter where I travel and where I settle down for a bit, capitalism is all around me. There are many prisons to break out of and many ruptures to enjoy during this rewilding.

This short essay is intended to be a blueprint for hedonism. If I am lucky enough, it will encourage people to commit crime, train hop, dumpster dive, shoplift and feel good about themselves for doing it. If the time that some individuals take creating their freedom somehow inspires other individuals in the creation of their own, who needs movements and academic vanguards? Inspired by the adventures of other nomadic rebels who escaped this societal prison, I refused to remain an inmate. I prefer feral adventure - good times and bad times - over wage-slaving away in the preservation of industrial society.

Love and support to those who dropped out of school and faced life with nothing more than a lock-pick set and a backpack. Love and support to those who riot within the prisons of asylums and “correctional” facilities. Love and support to those who weaponized their lives, taking rebellion to their graves in choosing death over imprisonment. A howl to the lifestylist ex-workers who found fierce joy in the materialized anarchy of their wildest dreams.

[riederstravis]

More Hurdles to Bringing Legitimate Medical Negligence Claims

Your right to collect legitimate compensation for serious harm as a result of medical negligence may face another hurdle as a result of a recent bill passed by the United States House of Representatives. If enacted, the law would place a limitation of $250,000 on what is often the most important damages awarded to legitimate victims. These damages, sometimes called “noneconomic damages,” would include compensation for serious pain and suffering, loss of life’s pleasures, and the kinds of damages that constitute the biggest lawsuits.

The damages erroneously referred to as “noneconomic” damages have existed since biblical times. They compensate seriously injured people for pain and suffering, loss of life’s pleasures, disfigurement and disabilities that are often the most serious portion of any case. In fact, Pennsylvania courts have noted that these kinds of injuries are below the waterline and may be the biggest damages even if somebody has loss of income and medical/hospital bills. The limitation on damages would affect most medical malpractice areas such as surgical errors, unsafe drugs, abuse and neglect in nursing homes, negligence in anesthesia administration, and perhaps even sexual assault committed by medical professionals. Damages such as medical expenses or lost wages would not be affected by the limitation of the law. However, those are the expenses that may be covered by other insurance or government benefits. Therefore, for most people the real losses when they suffer terribly from medical negligence are loss of life’s pleasures, pain and suffering, disfigurement, and what we all think about when people are seriously hurt.

If you or a loved one has suffered harm caused by negligent, incompetent or substandard care on the part of medical professionals, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit to get compensation for your loss. However, not everything that goes wrong during a medical procedure is grounds for medical malpractice. For a claim to be successful, the burden of proof is on the patient, so it is essential to have a skilled medical malpractice lawyer on your side. A person suing must prove their case by a preponderance of the evidence, which is sometimes referred to as “tipping the scale.”

The experienced and compassionate Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorney Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Humphrey, Waters & Dohrmann has spent decades honing his skills and successfully representing Pennsylvania families who have suffered an injury or loss due to medical negligence and faulty devices. We offer a free consultation to examine your situation and show you how we can help.

Cliff Rieders is a Past President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. Rieders has won numerous awards and recognition from the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, and he received the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority recognition award. Rieders is on committees and organizations that write the law in many fields of practice. Cliff Rieders was involved in the writing of the Mcare Act, which governs medical liability actions in Pennsylvania. Cliff Rieders wrote the book on medical malpractice that lawyers use in the state. Cliff teaches the subject of medical malpractice at seminars attended by the leading lawyers in the state. Cliff Rieders is recognized as an outstanding authority in the medical malpractice field. Cliff has even testified before the legislature on medical malpractice laws. Cliff Rieders is the lawyer that other lawyers call for counsel and advice in the medical malpractice and pharmaceutical/vitamin supplement fields. Cliff Rieders is admitted in state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

Why the Attempt to Limit Reimbursement Under the Law?

The goal of this legislation is to prevent people from suing and collecting money even where they have been legitimately and seriously injured. Sometimes it is claimed that this will help lower the cost of health insurance by lessening the number of lawsuits filed. Obviously, patients cannot collect anything significant, the guilty will walk away scot free. What is important is that money paid out to patients as a result of medical malpractice is the smallest portion of the national medical healthcare bill. Even medical organizations have estimated that the total cost of medical payouts are no more than 1-3 percent of the healthcare bill nationally, if that. It is sometimes claimed that doctors and hospitals do extra procedures because of fear of lawsuits. These are typically procedures they should do anyway. Blaming proper medical care on the threat or fear of lawsuits is rubbish. The truth is that medical liability lawsuits are the “cop on the beat.” A head of one medical institution down south has even said to a group of doctors that the medical industry needs “both the carrot and the stick.” In every phase of life, people have to be accountable and responsible when they commit a wrong. Why should doctors or hospitals receive immunity when they do the wrong thing?

The proposed legislation in the House limits attorney’s fees, so that people cannot get good lawyers, and may reduce the time that people have to sue. In Pennsylvania, a person must sue for medical malpractice within two (2) years unless the discovery rule applies. Pennsylvania also has a statute of repose. The statute of limitations is different for minors. This is a complex area of the law, and you should consult a good attorney.

Why the Bill is Bad

The Seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees a right to trial by jury and has no caps or limitations. Those who pursue these bills to limit legitimately injured patients from collecting what they deserve have no respect for the United States Constitution. They have no respect for the history of the law. There is no convincing proof that simply denying patients the right to legitimate recovery is going to reduce any healthcare bill. In fact, the opposite would happen because clearly negligence would then skyrocket. When doctors and hospitals are negligent, what happens? Patients need more medical care. The fact that 10 percent of patients who go into U.S. hospitals wind up with infections increases the healthcare bill enormously. The reason for that is not because of lawsuits, but because of the outrageous expense of antibiotics.

The healthcare bill is increased by overcharging by pharmaceutical companies and the ridiculous cost of medical devices. States already considerably regulate medical malpractice in Pennsylvania. For example, we have the Mcare Act. Pennsylvania already limits punitive damages in medical liability cases. In fact, Pennsylvania has created so many hurdles and obstacles to medical malpractice that it is very expensive to bring these cases and very hard to find expert witnesses.

The medical community further clamps down on legitimate medical malpractice cases by essentially blackballing doctors who will testify truthfully in medical liability cases. Some medical groups have even sanctioned doctors for giving truthful testimony. Every state in the United States requires expert medical testimony unless the medical malpractice is extremely obvious, which is rare. The courts are reluctant to say that even the most gross medical malpractice is so clear that an expert is not needed.

So-called “frivolous lawsuits” are nonsense. The federal court system and virtually every state in the Union has ruled against frivolous lawsuits which sanction and punish both lawyer and claimant.

Under current law, lawyers must put forth a huge amount of money for expert witnesses, since usually clients cannot pay. The contingent fee system is the key to the courthouse. Obviously, those who would deny legitimate claims based upon medical malpractice, would like to take that key away.

It is difficult now for the old and the young to bring medical liability claims because of limitations on damages in so many states. In many states currently, for example, loss of earnings cannot be recovered unless there are dependents. That makes cases for the old and young extremely difficult to bring. The doctors and hospitals will never agree to a small claims court for medical malpractice, because they do not want claims being brought at all, regardless of how meritorious they may be.

Consider the Patient Safety Authority in Pennsylvania, for example. We know that there are a quarter million cases reported per year of incidents and serious events. Yet, how many lawsuits are actually filed in Pennsylvania? The most recent number is 1,400 per year. Very few people sue for medical or hospital malpractice because of the great obstacles and hurdles, and now Congress wants to create even more.

Essentially, what has been proposed in Congress is to take away the Seventh Amendment right to trial by jury, and to give bad actors a free pass. That is bad law, and bad policy. Worse yet, it encourages the speeding driver to drive faster, to drink more alcohol, and to run the red light. Very literally, doctors and hospitals who fear no consequences from their actions will continue to maim and kill patients.

In 1999, the Institute of Medicine reported that as many people die unnecessarily in U.S. hospitals as though two 747’s crashed per month, with a loss of all life aboard. Would we accept that in the airline industry? Hell no! We would not accept that in any industry. We have required that cars have airbags all over the place because of the great danger of automobiles. Yet, do we have the equivalent of airbags in medical and hospital malpractice cases? Absolutely not.

What we need is more responsibility and accountability by doctors and hospitals and not less. We need to eliminate the secret peer review and root cause analysis, which is just a cover-up so that hospitals and doctors do not have to tell patients what happened to them.

We need to ban blackballing of doctors who testify in medical liability cases, and to seriously punish blackballing.

We need to expand the concept that certain harm to patients can only occur because of negligence, and in such situations experts should not be needed. If somebody goes into a hospital and comes out with an infection, there should be liability for that.

It is time to remove the artificial protections that exist for wrongdoers, and to assure competent and fair recovery by those harmed due to medical malpractice.

The bill in the House of Representatives would provide immunity for doctors who prescribe or pharmacists who fill prescriptions for a drug or medical device which was approved, licensed or cleared by the Food and Drug Administration. Medical pharmaceutical devices already have immunity. This terrible concept is called preemption. In essence, the laws and regulations passed by the industry-controlled FDA take away the right to sue. This is one of the reasons why there are so many dangerous drugs on the market, and unsafe medical devices.

The vitamin and dietary supplement industry is virtually unregulated. It is extremely difficult for the government to do anything about unsafe pharmaceuticals and dietary drugs that are labeled “natural” when in fact they may not be.

If you want to invest in the stock market, what do you buy? Pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers are among the wealthiest industries in the world, and they continue to get richer and richer every day off the backs of suffering patients.

Put Your Trust in Us, Contact Us for a Free Consultation

If you or a loved one has suffered from medical malpractice, time is of the essence. It is essential to have a skilled and knowledgeable medical malpractice lawyer on your side, especially since the laws are so complicated and may be changing to limit the amount you can collect.

Whether in settlement negotiations or pursuing a favorable trial verdict, the experienced Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorney Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Humphrey, Waters & Dohrmann is familiar with the law and thoroughly prepared and committed to achieving a just outcome and getting you the compensation you deserve. With our sizeable staff, we offer strength in numbers while providing top-notch personal service.

If you or your loved one has suffered from medical malpractice, do not delay. Consult Cliff Rieders at Rieders, Travis, Humphrey, Waters & Dohrmann by calling 1-800-326-9259 for a free consultation, or use our online contact form.

Based in Williamsport, we serve clients throughout the state of Pennsylvania, offering a free consultation on all injury matters. More than that, we offer you experience, knowledge, compassion, and a long history of results.

Cliff Rieders is also admitted in New York State, the District of Columbia, and many federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

The post More Hurdles to Bringing Legitimate Medical Negligence Claims appeared first on Rieders, Travis, Humphrey, Waters & Dohrmann.

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House Republicans Move to Gut Bank Regulations

WASHINGTON — Republicans took a huge step closer to repealing the Low-priced Care Act on Thursday, and that they took a small step in the direction of dismantling any other of President Barack Obama’s signature portions of regulation, the Dodd-Frank Act.

With best the support of Republicans, the House Monetary Services Committee voted in want of the Financial Desire Act, a bill that might intestine relevant Monetary regulations created inside the aftermath of the 2008 Financial crisis. The bill is anticipated to get a vote from the total House in the coming months. However, in its current form, it isn’t predicted to bypass inside the Senate, in which it would want the guide from Democrats to garner the essential 60 votes.

The choice Act could exempt some Financial institutions from capital and liquidity necessities, essentially excusing them from the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act if they maintain enough cash.

it would update the Orderly Liquidation Authority, which critics say reinforces the concept that a few banks are too big to fail, with a brand new bankruptcy code provision supposed for huge Monetary institutions.

It also would weaken the powers of the Purchaser Economic Protection Bureau. Beneath the proposed regulation, the president could hearth the employer’s director at will.

Preserve analyzing the principle tale Advertisement

Continue analyzing the primary tale Republicans hailed the committee vote as a win for Monetary institutions. “Our plan replaces Dodd-Frank’s increase-strangling guidelines on small banks and credit unions with reforms that expand get entry to to capital so small corporations on Foremost Avenue can grow and create jobs,” stated Representative Jeb Hensarling, Republican of Texas and chairman of the House Economic Services Committee.

Benefits of Working With Cash for House Companies to Sell Your House

You may plan to promote your private home for getting a brand new residence when your present day residence will become too small to your developing circle of relatives or You can have inherited an additional residence assets, or your dream job calls for you to move to every other city or a one-of-a-kind nation. Nicely, in any of those conditions you want to sell your property, cash for residence offers are viable with home consumers.

Cash for residence companies is emerging as a viable option for owners looking to promote their houses “As Is”. The conventional real estate agents might require house owners to make essential repairs and renovations so we can begin the sale system. Realtors being intermediaries most effective help you find a capability consumer for your home, with the aid of list your property on their assets internet site. Consequently, earlier than they listing your private home on their internet site they want to ensure that your property is in a great circumstance structurally and in phrases of regulatory troubles.

On the other hand, cash for residence companies purchases homes ‘As Is’ meaning you don’t have to renovate or repair. Those agencies have massive cash reserves, which facilitates them buy houses in bulk and with the help of the national home development professionals, they’ll have Those homes renovated. As they provide bulk contracts to domestic remodelers, These organizations get huge discounts and will have Those homes repaired and renovated at nearly 1/2 the retail prices, an average house owner would spend to have such upkeep executed.

Well, You may have inherited a house from your mother

And a father or loved ones who currently can’t live there or maintenance is excessive, and the residence can also suffer many useful issues, even it could be worried about regulatory issues which include taxes, and so on. cash for houses will nevertheless make a short provide. Those professional organizations have the understanding and the ability to remedy not simply the purposeful problems, however also can assist These houses with the regulatory issues.

Therefore, whilst making a decision to paintings with coins for house businesses you need no longer worry about the purposeful upkeep or the regulatory problems the house may also face. Furthermore, Those groups do not require you to stage the house, as they make a brief one-time inspection before they make a proposal. In the end, you get an aggressive price and will now not pay additional commissions or expenses, as inside the case of conventional actual estate businesses, to be able to charge you a price for helping you find a buyer for your home.

Properly, when you have a further house assets which you have inherited or a residence that is facing foreclosures, or you in a good economic spot touch coins for residence organizations. make certain you figure with a corporation that works out of an expert workplace installation, has over 15 years of experience and has purchased greater than 1300 homes!

A Republican Model Emerges for Replacing Obamacare – Samuel Butler’s Satirical 1861 Novel Erewhon

Whether or not you decide upon Utopian or Dystopian novels, there’s something of each in proof inside the satirical masterpiece Erewhon through Samuel Butler. First posted anonymously in 1872, it met with immediate acclaim. Noting no severe controversy approximately the satire, he quickly came ahead as the writer of the paintings. It becomes to be his best commercial fulfillment.

Further to the standard treats of reading Butler’s prose and following his clever plots, the reality that in this society infection is considered as an ethical failure seems to have stimulated Paul Ryan and the House Republicans. As in Erewhon (shuffle the letters and you get Nowhere), Republicans appear to view sickness as an offense against the law and punishable. In Donald Trump’s The united states, sickness should soon turn out to be a sin, and contracting a theoretically preventable sickness might approach the extent of a capital crime.

Believe Congress debating bills that might, in impact, make sufferers of received immune deficiency syndrome criminals

Would possibly Republicans determine the handiest way to stability the price range to pay for The Wall, a navy on steroids and making The USA superb once more through the public investment of Christian schools (vouchers) is to head after individuals who bring obnoxious diseases on themselves? Millions certainly do this via bad diets, weight problems, loss of workout, alcoholism, drug abuse, smoking, demonstrating against the president and having non-marital intercourse or marital intercourse that isn’t for procreation purposes.

What’s next? How long will it be before Republicans introduce payments outlawing dancing?

Erewhon

Each few years, I reread and then reprise my wellness take on Erewhon. Butler was now not the first or final imaginative writer to craft an influential as well as pleasing imaginative and prescient of dystopian environments, Whether or not in earnest or for reform functions. Erewhon, Plato’s Republic, Sir Thomas Extra’s Utopia (1516), George Orwell’s 1984 and Aldous Huxley’s Courageous New Global are but examples of over four hundred such works.

Erewhon is a statement on moral and ethical struggles. Like George Orwell, Butler wrote social commentaries on mores he believed wished attention. Erewhon captured my fancy because it describes a society that parodies blind religion, the human soft spot for superstition and the electricity of a manipulative nation. As noted, in Erewhon illness is an embarrassment, a situation to be blanketed up, an ethical transgression. It is plenty worse than a fake pass – It is a punishable offense. Crime, alternatively, is absolutely an anguish in which the wrongdoer is sufferer (like an illness in our society) He is to be attended and cured, with care and compassion by using trained experts.

Alternative Investment Fund Regulations

What is an Opportunity Investment Fund (AIF)

AIF is an Opportunity Investment Fund Regulations privately pooled Funding automobile which collects budget from buyers, whether or not Indian or overseas, for investing it in accordance with a defined Funding policy for the benefit of its buyers. AIF can be inside the shape of a believer or a company or a constrained legal responsibility partnership or a frame corporate.

Why AIF

AIF Regulations endeavor to extend the perimeter of regulation day-to-day unregulated finances every day ensuring systemic stability, increasing marketplace performance, encouraging the formation of recent capital and consumer safety.

Who are not protected

Presently, the AIF Policies do not apply everyday mutual funds, collective Investment schemes, family trusts, ESOP and other worker welfare trusts, conserving organizations, special purpose automobiles, funds managed by means of securitisation or reconstruction organizations and one of these pool of finances that’s directly regulated by using every other Regula daily R in India.

Categories of AIFs

An AIF desires day-to-day every day find registration widely beneath one of the three Classes –

Class I AIF: The following are covered below Class I

1. budget making an investment in begin-up or early stage ventures or social ventures or SMEs or infrastructure

2. other sec everyday rs or areas which the authorities or regularly-to-day daily as socially or economically suitable which include the Assignment Capital price range

3. AIFs with high-quality spillover outcomes on the economy, for which certain incentives or concessions might be taken into consideration by SEBI or authorities of India or other Regula everyday rs in India

Category II AIF: The following are blanketed under Class II

1. AIFs for which no specific incentives or concessions are given by using the authorities or some other Reguladailyr

2. Which shall now not undertake leverage aside from to fulfill operational requirements as permitted in those Policies