#Manu hell alt

[randomnameless]

Shower thoughts,

On top of being the only one, bar player privilege, to know Seteth currently has a daughter and had a wife, the one who rushed to her death to save Flayn, and one of the ones who immediately went to Rhea's side after she ate missiles and is on death's door -

Canon Manu also knows the song of nabateans (some verses Rhea isn't usually singing).

Add to that her book lusting after male nabateans, wouldn't that make her in a world where the uwu hammer rusted and disappeared, something as close to a family friend the nabateans, with all of their need for secrecy, have ?

Manu honorary lizard confirmed

#Manu hell alt #Lizard family time? #One of the perks using the jp audio I guess #Fe16 #Eff nopes it shafted her

[sophusstensland]

Refleksjon om arbeidsmetoder og læringsutbytte under filmkurs

Da var altså semesterets første kurs over, med alt det inkluderer av sinne, glede, frustrasjon og andre kompliserte og sammensatte følelser en må gjennom i en læringsprosess.

Kursets struktur har vært forholdsvis klassisk – først tradisjonell tavleundervisning, så introduksjon av en oppgave som må løses med bruk av informasjonen som har blitt gjort tilgjengelig, samt instinktene våre. Den innledende undervisningen var definitivt informativ – jeg hadde for eksempel ingen anelse om hva en "akse" er, og eksempler på andres verk er alltid nyttig – men jeg må si at det mest effektive har vært selve arbeidet, altså "learning by doing", spesielt hva selve kameraet angår. Når en er vant med enkle speilreflekser kan mengden knapper og ekstrautstyr virke noe overveldende.

Når det kommer til selve arbeidsprosessen og metodene brukt der, har gruppa vært strukturert, hvilket utvilsomt kom som følge av et felles ønske om å få så mye kunnskap ut av prosessen som mulig. I både akse-oppgaven og kortfilmen dedikerte vi tid på forhånd til å skrive manus, samt lage shot-liste og storyboard. Vi gjorde også et hederlig forsøk på å få tak i eksterne skuespillere til kortfilmen, men etter å ha sendt e-post og besøkt drama-bygget uten hell, bestemte vi oss for å konsentrere vår innsats på selve filmen.

Som svetteperlene på bakken i Superhero touch vitner til, fikk jeg kjenne på kroppen hvor langtekkelig og slitsom en shooting-prosess kan være, særlig når en gjør egne "stunts". Noe som imidlertid skulle vise seg å være enda mer langtekkelig var post-produksjonen, da det tok solide syv timer å redigere sammen kortfilmen. Jeg har greie kunnskaper i premiere på forhånd, så mye av redigeringsprosessen kjente jeg til fra før, men vi beveget oss ut på ukjent farvann da after-effects dukket opp. Ved hjelp and trial and error og et hjelpsomt youtube-kurs tilegnet samtlige i gruppa seg nye ferdigheter.

Mye av arbeidet i filmkurset har jeg på en eller annen måte vært innom før, men som teksten over viser til, har det dukket opp nye kunnskaper her og der som jeg utvilsomt vil dra nytte av.

Akseoppgaven: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExPYjkjTJ14

Kortfilmen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZcBCVh4BFo

[alystayr]

Playlist musicale 2017 (2/2)

Liste des chansons (playlist 2017 - part. 2)

Mise à jour : 31 décembre 2017

playlist 2019 (part. 1)

playlist 2018 (part. 2), playlist 2018 (part. 1)

playlist 2017 (part. 2), playlist 2017 (part. 1)

playlist 2016 (part. 2), playlist 2016 (part. 1)

playlist 2015

0-9 #

16 Horsepower - Haw (1996)

A

AC/DC - Hells Bells (1980)

The Allman Brothers Band - Midnight Rider (1970)

alt-J - In Cold Blood (2017)

Anaïs - J'ai retrouvé mon mojo (2017)

Angus & Julia Stone - Chateau (2017)

Arcade Fire - Everything Now (2017)

Archive - Lights (2006)

Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know? (2013)

Louis Armstrong - Christmas in New Orleans (1955)

Arno - Dance Like A Goose (2016)

Arthur H - La beauté de l'amour (2011)

Audioslave - Revelations (2006)

Asaf Avidan - My Old Pain (2017)

B

Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)

Courtney Barnett - Lance Jr. (2013)

The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations (1967)

The Beatles - Eleanor Rigby (1966)

Beck - Girl (2005)

Benjamin Biolay - Volver (2017)

Birth Of Joy - Three Day Road (2014)

Björk - Violently Happy (1993)

Black Sabbath - Iron Man (1970)

The Blues Brothers (cover Robert Johnson) - Sweet Home Chicago (1980)

Blur - Girls and Boys (1994)

Bob & Earl - Harlem Shuffle (1963)

Georges Brassens - La mauvaise réputation (1952)

The Breeders - Divine Hammer (1993)

Jeff Buckley - Grace (1994)

C

Camille - Fontaine de lait (2017)

Jerry Cantrell - Bargain Basement Howard Hughes (2002)

Bertrand Cantat - Anthracitéor (2017)

Car Seat Headrest - Destroyed By Hippie Powers (2016)

Johnny Cash (cover Nick Cave) - The Mercy Seat (2000/1988)

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Stagger Lee (1996)

Ray Charles - What'd I Say (1959)

Louis Chedid - T'as beau pas être beau (1978)

Chelsea Wolfe - Feral Love (2013)

Cigarettes After Sex - Apocalypse (2017)

The Clash - The Guns of Brixton (1979)

Benjamin Clementine - Phantom Of Aleppoville (2017)

CocoRosie - Child Bride (2013)

Leonard Cohen - Almost Like the Blues (2014)

Cold War Kids - Hang Me Up To Dry (2006)

Alice Cooper - Poison (1989)

Elvis Costello - Alison (1977)

The Cure - Boys Don't Cry (1979)

D

Dead Kennedys - Holiday In Cambodia (1980)

Deep Purple - Hush (1968)

Mac DeMarco - Salad Days (2014)

Depeche Mode - Going Backwards (2017)

Fatoumata Diawara - Bissa (2011)

Dire Straits - Your Latest Trick (1985)

Beth Ditto - Fire (2017)

The Do - Gonna Be Sick! (2011)

Fats Domino - Blueberry hill (1956)

The Doors - Ghost Song (1978)

Bob Dylan - Ballad Of a Thin Man (1965)

E

Eminem - The Real Slim Shady (2000)

Endless Boogie - Vibe Killer (2017)

Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) (1983)

F

Piers Faccini - Cloak Of Blue (2016)

Faith No More - The Last To Know (1995)

Mylène Farmer - C'est Une Belle Journée (2001)

Mylène Farmer - Désenchantée (1991)

Thomas Fersen - Encore Cassé (2017)

Thomas Fersen - Hyacinthe (2005)

Foals - Inhaler (2013)

Foo Fighters - Run (2017)

Forest Swords - Thor's Stone (2013)

Franz Ferdinand & Jane Birkin (cover Serge Gainsbourg) - A song for sorry angel (2006-1984) 

The Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger (2006)

Future Islands - Ran (2017)

G

Liam Gallagher - Wall Of Glass (2017)

Richard Gibbs & Bear McCreary - Gayatri, Full Opening theme (from Battlestar Galactica) (2003)

Girls in Hawaii - Guinea Pig (2017)

Girls in Hawaii - Not Dead (2013)

Goldfrapp - Annabel (2013)

Jean-Jacques Goldman & Sirima - Là-bas (1987)

Gorillaz - Saturnz Barz (Spirit House) (2017)

Guns N' Roses - Civil War (1991)

H

Johnny Hallyday - Quelque chose de Tennessee (1985)

Johnny Halliday (cover The Animals) - Le pénitencier (1964)

Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals - Jah Work (1997)

George Harrison - Got My Mind Set On You (1987)

PJ Harvey - C'mon Billy (1995)

Heartless Bastards - Only For You (2012)

Jimi Hendrix - Freedom (1971)

Bernard Herrmann - Vertigo (from Sueurs froides - 1958)

Hoboken Division - Boilin Up (2017)

I

Idles - Well Done (2017)

Interpol - Obstacle 1 (2002)

Iron Maiden - Total Eclipse (1982)

Izia - Let me alone (2009)

J

Jack the Ripper -  White men in black (2005)

Michael Jackson - Thriller (1984)

Mick Jagger - Gotta Get A Grip (2017)

Jay-Z - The Story of O.J. (2017)

The Jesus And Mary Chain - Happy When It Rains (1987)

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - I love Rock n roll (1981)

Elton John - Nikita (1985)

Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart (1980)

Juliette - Nour (2013)

K

Karpatt - Encombrants (2016)

The Kills - Impossible Tracks (2016)

L

Kendrick Lamar - HUMBLE. (2017)

Lamb - Wise Enough (2011)

Mark Lanegan - Nocturne (2017)

The Last Shadow Puppets (cover Jacques Dutronc) - Les Cactus (2016/1967)

Last Train - Way Out (2016)

Bernard Lavilliers - Croisières méditerranéennes (2017)

Maxime Le Forestier - Né Quelque Part (1988)

The Libertines - Don't Look Back Into The Sun (2003)

Linkin Park - Lying From You (2003)

M

Madrugada - Salt (1999)

Mano Negra - Mala Vida (1988)

Mano Solo - Pas du gâteau (1993)

Manu - La dernière étoile (2015)

Marilyn Manson - The Beautiful People (1996)

Bob Marley - Burnin and Lootin (1973)

Mickey 3d - Respire (2003)

Moby - Natural Blues (1999)

Moonchild - The Truth (2015)

Morrissey - Spent the Day in Bed (2017)

Motörhead - Ace Of Spades (1980)

Muse - Dig Down (2017)

N

Nena ‎- 99 Luftballons (1983)

Nico Vega - Beast (2006)

Nine Inch Nails – Less Than (2017)

Nirvana - Heart-Shaped Box (1993)

Noir Désir - L'Appartement (2001)

O

The Offspring - You're Gonna Go Far, Kid (2008)

Les Ogres de Barback - Condkoï (2012)

P

Pearl Jam - Even Flow (1991)

Tom Petty - Free Fallin’ (1989)

Tom Petty - Learning To Fly (1991)

Pixies - Debaser (1989)

Placebo - Lady of the Flowers (1996)

Placebo (cover Talk Talk) - Life's What You Make It (2017-1985)

Prince - Batdance (1989)

Public Image Limited - This Is Not A Love Song (1983)

Q

Queens of the Stone Age - The Way You Used to Do (2017)

R

The Raconteurs - Consoler of the Lonely (2008)

Radiohead - I Promise (1997/2017)

Rage Against The Machine - Freedom (1992)

Raphael - Caravane (2005)

Lou Reed - Coney Island Baby (1976)

R.E.M. - Accelerate (2007)

The Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (1965)

Royal Blood – Lights Out (2017)

Olivia Ruiz - Dis-moi ton secret (2016)

S

Saez - Premier mai (2017)

Sex Pistols - Anarchy In The UK (1976)

Shaka Ponk - Gung Ho (2017)

Del Shannon - Runaway (1961)

Emilie Simon - Désert (2003)

Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al (1986)

Nina Simone - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (1964)

Frank Sinatra - Fly Me To The Moon (1964)

Frank Sinatra - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (1950)

Skunk Anansie - I Believed In You (2012)

The Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock (1993)

The Smiths - This Charming Man (1983)

Soan - Celui qui aboie (2017)

Alain Souchon - J'ai dix ans (1974)

Speedy Ortiz - Tiger Tank (2013)

Spoon - Inside Out (2014)

Vince Staples - Norf Norf (2015)

Stereophonics - Taken A Tumble (2017)

The Stooges - I Wanna Be Your Dog (1969)

The Stranglers - Golden Brown (1981)

The Strokes - Machu Picchu (2011)

System Of A Down - Aerials (2001)

T

Talking Heads - Burning down the house (1983)

Tame Impala - Feels Like We Only Go Backwards (2012)

Téléphone - Le jour s'est levé (1984)

Television - Marquee Moon (1977)

Têtes Raides - Qu'est-ce qu'on s'fait chier (2003)

Texas - Can't Control (2017)

Thee Oh Sees - Toe Cutter / Thumb Buster (2013)

Hubert Félix Thiéfaine - Les Dingues et les Paumés (1982)

Timber Timbre - Sincerely, Future Pollution (2017)

U

U2 - The Blackout (2017)

V

The Velvet Underground - After Hours (1969)

Veruca Salt - Seether (1994)

W

Amy Winehouse - Back To Black (2006)

Wolf Alice - Yuk Foo (2017)

Woodkid - I Love You (2013)

Wovenhand - Obdurate Obscura (2014)

Shannon Wright - Defy This Love (2007)

X-Y

Z

Zazie - Larsen (1995)

#Listes #Musique #Playlist #2017 #Rock #Pop #Electro #OST

[stlplaybox]

Top 10 Transformers of 2016

What a year 2016 was. However you may feel about the momentous events of the year, there’s one common, resounding sentiment across the Transformers community : 2016 was an amazing year for Transformers.

From official to third party there were many wonderful surprises that catered to the diverse pockets of the fandom. In its anniversary year, we saw Beast Wars get its deserved place in the Masterpiece line. Fans of comic fiction saw characters from the canonical More than Meets the Eye to the War Within receive loving representations in toy form.

Significantly the mainline Transformer toy line Titan Returns built on the momentum of Combiner Wars and elevated our expectations of what could be achieved with mass market deluxe, voyager and leader class figures. Cheap and hollow they may be but the engineering and playability of these releases captivated fans with their fun factor. The Masterpiece line underwent a newfound visual aesthetic that has divided some in the Masterpiece collecting community but no one can deny that Takara continue to engineer the hell out of these toys in a way no third party has come close to.

Even transforming relatives felt the love this year. GoBots received love in the Machine Robo line with 6 visually commanding releases while Diabattles unleashed an epic entry on the transforming toy collector community.

It’s with that tough context that I set out to try and name my top 10 Transformers of the 2016. Never has a limitation felt so unjust that I feel like a Quintesson handing out verdicts from my ivory tower on Quintessa. Firstly, a shout out to toys I failed to open last year. I expect some of you to be really loved in 2017.

Some Honorable Mentions:

Maketoys Pandinus was an event of the year. Unpacking it, beholding it’s beautifully sculpted glory, was nothing short of breathtaking.

Maketoys Striker Manus has yet to depart the coffee table. It’s not just his fun factor that keeps him there but also the freshness that he offers to an increasingly Masterpiece focused fandom.

MMC Impactor has been a long time coming. Perfect in every way except his transformation, he’s been a coffee table regular.

LG Springer was a repaint of one of the all-time great moulds from the Takara / Hasbro stable. It wasn't the last repaint that I derided then loved in 2016.  

In a regular theme of 2016, I underestimated Takara to my own peril. MP Hot Rod delivered cleverness and fun in untold amounts. So sure was I of disappointment that I only ordered one but after one play through, I went crawling back for seconds.

Gravity Builder delivered the perfect Devastator. Great in terms of scale but each and every individual bot was a beauty in their own right. So QC issues and fierce competition keeps it from the top 10 of 2016 but my eyes never stray far from its towering neo-G1 aesthetic.

I’ll have to end that list here otherwise, we’ll be here to 2018.

With its visceral yet heroic form, Vulcan was the culmination of Planet X’s cumulative learnings across their Fall of Cybertron Dinobots. Featuring some of the best implementations of light piping and transluscent plastics combined with awesomely articulated  alt mode and robot mode, the Dinobot leader was a mainstay of coffee table fiddlebots– a quality that proved decisive in this list.  

9. LG Blurr

Hasbro’s version of this wasn’t inspirational. It undermined the quality of the sculpt and engineering because it was so hard to look past that horrible palette of colours. Enter Takara and voila, Blurr blazed into the levels of stardom he deserved. Featuring amazing levels of articulation (wrist swivels!) and nuanced details like the raised crest on his head, you can’t mistake the labour of love poured into this figure. A figure I immediately want in my displays but also one I want on the coffee table, it’s fine affirmation of why I have that unhealthy habit of buying multiple TFs.

8. LG / Hasbro Wheelie

Hasbro or Takara, it doesn’t matter. A stunning example of what official engineering at its best can still offer. Not only does it have a beautiful head sculpt, an amazing transformation and two excellent alt modes – it has a cockpit play feature. All in the Legends size class! If coffee table occupancy is a critical metric of a figures success in 2016, Wheelie earns more points for being the perfect travelbot. He accompanied me on multiple holidays because his involved transformation and photogenic-self packs the right level of durability and fun.

Reported levels of varying QC on the Hasbro version are a shame as this, because this like Generations Springer, is one for the ages. Wheelie is what happens when ambition intersects with engineering brilliance.

7. Unite Warriors Technobots

Untie Warriors was an uneven set of releases that highlighted some of the problems with the design philosophies of the Combiner Wars era. Mixed with QC issues and the need for third party limbs, there was a certain readiness among the fandom to move on. 

Against this backdrop, the Unite Warriors Technobots were one of the last releases but they showcased what the line was truly capable of with a good coat of paint and loving remolding. Beautiful to the last bot and sexy to the last alt mode, the only thing that stopped this being higher was the need for the third party limbs to complete the combined mode.

6. Diabattles

This may not be a Transformer and after my retailer cancelled my preorder, I’d decided it’s something I could live without. But enter the age of enablement as the unbridled enthusiasm of pockets of the fandom (looking at @TFSquareOne here) along with a play with @itfdb’s copy forced me to reconsider. It may not be a huge figure but it’s amazing in the detail it packs and the playability it offers. Enabled by a sensationally focused engineering ethos, this figure dominated the coffee table for months and had me regularly diving into the accessories box under the sofa. Even now it’s gone into the non-TF transforming toy shelf but I’ve kept it at the front knowing full well I never want this to be far from reach.

5. Maketoys Cross Dimensions Despotron

Entering the business end of the top 10, I’ve come to realise I’m a neo-Gi collector at heart. I don’t want figures to be slavish to G1, I want them to be inspired by G1. As much as I adore Striker Manus, it is Despotron who shines. His sculpt oozes character in a way that reminds me of Animated and Transformers Prime toys. Every pose, every minutia of articulation all works towards accentuating the personality of our favourite Cybertronian despot. It’s a stunning achievement in design. Returning to my yardstick for success, this hasn’t left the coffee table since arrival. I expect it to stay there for awhile yet.

4. Titan Returns Triggerhappy

Having enjoyed many a top 10 of 2016 list, I can safely say, this guy is on most of them. And there’s a bloody damn good reason for that. Intuitive is a word that is often casually bandied around with transformations but I can’t think of a better bot that deserves that accolade. With its clever array of twists and folds, a beautifully shaped cockpit, incredible levels of articulation, two Takara compatible display stand ports, and  a stunning futuristic starfighter alt mode, Triggerhappy is an undisputed engineering marvel.

3. MMC Overlord

MMC Reformatted started the year strong with Impactor, Nova Prime and Turmoil and then went missing for the rest of the year until this. And boy was it worth it. Fiction has always been a key pillar of my love of Transformers and Overlord is a bold representation of what I consider a milestone in Transformers history: the Alex Milne and James Roberts era. 

Packing all the sadistic personality of his comic book persona and eye-catching sci-fi alt modes, MMC Overlord is a toy with presence and heft and three wonderful alt modes. His transformation suffers from some Maketoys moments but none of it is enough to displace this monstrous beast from a top spot.

2. SparkToys War Within Optimus Prime (Alpha Pack)

Every year, a few new players enter the booming third party market hoping to find their niche. Newcomer SparkToys promised love to the War Within series, one of the comics that brought me back to Transformers fold and ultimately Transformers collecting. Generally hesitant to try new third party companies until after its first release, SparkToys found the trigger to force me to break that rule. I won’t lie. I was a little apprehensive. I’ve seen too many train wrecks from newcomers. But my fears were misplaced. With it in hand, I couldn’t help but marvel at the stunning paint work and beautifully accurate sculpt that transported me to over a decade ago when I first fell in love with Transformers again. A love affair that’s led to the crazy collection I have today.

Not only that, but they dared to buck the trend. Their transformation is beautifully simple. There’s no near scrapes, tight squeezes or fiddily panels to navigate. While it may not have a Masterpiece moment, the simplicity is refreshing and ultimately FUN – a quality third party needs to aim for more rather than less. In its flawless futuristic alt mode or bulky heroic robot mode, it continues to dominate my coffee table much to my partner’s chagrin but it’s been there so long now, I’m convinced she’s starting to think of him as family.

1. Master Made Apollo

From their first release, Master Made have committed to their SD aesthetic: a unique niche that many a collector often does not have the budget, space or desire to invest in. Their penchant for quality and smart engineering has been undoubted from the start but what’s been amazing is how they continue to blow themselves away with each release.

Apollo was their last release of 2016 and it exemplified this. Unapologetic in its brilliance, Apollo exceeded my already high expectations. I remember the moments vividly as it was shared with good friend @itfdb. The moment you free it from its packaging and lift it out, the heft and quality of the sculpt bowls you over. All that before you begin transforming it, discovering its play features, and marvelling at its articulation! Apollo can be appreciated as a standalone figure but then you put him alongside some Iron Factory releases and you realise there will be no end to this figure’s playability.

He’s just been relocated from the coveted coffee table spot into my budding display setups but he’s right at the front because he’s a toy that I’ll never want far from my grubby little fingers. He’s what great toys should be and epitomises some of the key themes that I’m increasingly desire from my Transformers: inspired from G1, amazing articulation, fun transformations, beautiful sculpts and endless playability.

And that’s my 10.

We’ve just tiptoed into 2017 and it already promises to be another amazing year. One that may steamroll 2016 the way Megatron did Tarn and the DJD.

Hasbro and Takara look to be continuing their winning formula with a strong opening salvo in the form of Topspin, Quake and Krok. It’s also a movie year and I’m very curious how they’ll apply this design ethos to the movie line. The Masterpiece line will welcome more Beast Wars figures and will deliver arguably the most important release of the year: the despot we all want, but will it be the one we deserve?

Third party continue their onslaught of amazing product. MMC’s stable is ready to burst with Kultur on the cusp of release and IDW Megatron due later this year. Maketoys have MP Jazz and Targetmasters on the way whilst pushing the aesthetic and action figure boundaries of the franchise with their Cross Dimensions line. Master Made will turn their eye to their next project after they finish Scorponok and Fort Max. SparkToys will deliver the follow up to their War Within Optimus Prime with Megatron and maybe even the King. Having wow’d us with what they can do at Legends scale, Iron Factory will deliver combiners and a six changer.

Our wallets might not be excited about 2017 but we definitely have a lot to be excited about!

Thanks for reading, all the best for 2017 and here’s to another amazing year for TF collectors.

#transformers #transformers idw #best of 2016 #toys #generation 1 #diaclone #takaratomy #hasbro #maketoys #mastermind creations #master made #titan returns

[torentialtribute]

Billy Vunipola slammed for anti-gay beliefs as Channel 4 axe rugby ace

Billy Vunipola was frightened off by Channel 4 on Friday night in light of his controversial commentary on social media in support of homophobic Australian Israel Folau .

Equality Activists, Twickenham

England No. 8, will be transported for RFU bosses early next week and should be banned after he has written that & # 39; the man was made for women to to reproduce & # 39; on Instagram. chiefs, his club Saracens, the Rugby Players & Association and Premiership Rugby condemned the opinion of the backroker but Channel 4 was the fastest by dumping him from their station.

England No. 8 Billy Vunipola, pictured last month, was shot down on channel night on channel 4

] Vunipola, 26, is one of the stars of the TV channel and promotes the Heineken Champions Cup range with videos behind the scenes during the season. But Sportsmail can reveal that Channel 4 has decided not to use it again.

A spokesperson said: & # 39; These views are incompatible with our values ​​as a broadcaster and in light of this, Billy Vunipola will not be used as a contribution to Channel 4 rugby coverage. "

[Wallabies] Full back Folau was slammed on a large scale and his contract with Australia Rugby and New South Wales Waratahs will be terminated for claiming his social media accounts awaiting hell & # 39; for & # 39; drunkards, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators.

Sean Maitland, Michael Rhodes Sean Maitland, Michael Rhodes Sean Maitland, Michael Rhodes Sean Maitland, Michael Rhodes Sean Maitland, Michael Rhodes and Test stars Manu Tuilagi, Ellis Genge and Faf de Klerk

It said: & # 39; So this morning I received 3 phone calls from people telling me that I & # 39; not & # 39; on the @ izzyfolau post This is my position here about.

& # 39; There is no such thing as & # 39; I don't think I'm perfect & # 39 ;. he doesn't like or doesn't like those people.

& # 39; He says that how we live should come closer to how God intended them to be. The man was made to reproduce, that was the goal, wasn't it? I am not perfect. At least I am everything on that list at least to a point in my life. It hurts to know that.

The Vunipola Club, Saracens, said: & # 39; The representatives and role models, Saracens players have a responsibility not only for themselves, but also for the club and wider society – the recent messages on social media from Billy Vunipola disagree with this and we take this issue very seriously, it is handled internally. & # 39;

The RFU, which supported the Rainbow Laces campaign in their international fall match against Australia in November, said: & # 39; Rugby is an inclusive sport and w e do not support these views. We will meet with Billy to discuss his posts on social media. "

Premiership Rugby added: & # 39; Inclusivity is one of the core values ​​of Premiership Rugby and we condemn any behavior that encourages discrimination. & # 39;

[19459004

Thirty-year-old Folau posted a message on Instagram this week encouraging homosexuals to convert "class =" blkBorder img-old Folau has shared a message on Instagram this week urging homosexuals to commit "/>

Thirty-year Folau repentance

And Stonewall – campaigning for the equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people all over Great Britain – were also noisy. -LGBT views and attitudes, & # 39; read their statement.

& # 39; This is wrong and perpetuates a myth. Faith and LGBT inclusion cannot co-exist. & # 39;

England could ban Vunipola from competitions. Under the World Rugby Code of Conduct, Regulation 20 states that players are not permitted to make any & # 39; acts or statements that discriminate on the grounds of religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, color, or national or ethnic origin & # 39 ;.

In 2016, World Rugby intervened when the Six Nations did not penalize Joe Marler after he sent Wales Samson Lee to & # 39; gypsy boy & # 39; cried in a test match. Marler was banned for two games and fined £ 20,000

Former England captain Will Carling added his vision of Vunipola.

& # 39; No matter how naive this may be – I believe Billy thought he supported Christian – his & # 39; I hate no one & # 39; summarize him – I think he has been so naive and simplistic, & he said on Twitter.

Ban them. Everything, actually, to take it all away from us.

The immediate response to Israel's Folau and Billy Vunipola is one of justified indignation and frustration. But in 2019 the urge to blame is when coordinated education is needed. Banishing individuals from society does not solve the problem.

But in the case of Billy Vunipola, the RFU

Rugby Australia had issued a previous warning to Folau and after his last swear his resignation was inevitable. and Saracens should feel before a crisis.

The intervention of Vunipola in the homophobia of Israel Folau in Australia is harmful and harmful to the LGBT community. Vunipola defended Folau & # 39; s claim that homosexuals are destined for hell. Vunipola refers to homosexual relationships as & # 39; forbidden territory & # 39; and argues that God has a moderate view of the same gender relationships. Many companies regard this as a reason for dismissal.

For the most generous understanding of Vunipola & # 39; s function, we must return to its roots. He grew up in Sydney, but more crucial is Vunipola the son of Tongan parents. His mother is a Methodist minister, Rev. Iesinga Vunipola, who was also the chaplain of the Tongan Community of the United Kingdom.

Homosexuality remains prohibited in Tonga.

In the midst of such forces it may be that Vunipola's point of view will never change. Yet Vunipola has the privilege of a platform that is given to him by England, the country has chosen to represent and this entails responsibility.

In civilized society, wrongdoing must have a path of rehabilitation. Vunipola must be offered the opportunity to grow. This requires a clear and transparent process.

The RFU must insist on a clear educational program, in collaboration with a progressive church and LGBT charities, which informs Vunipola about the damage to his words.

I should have heard from a government survey that 68% of same-sex couples avoid holding hands in public for fear of repercussions. An even greater percentage of LGBT people have kept their sexuality hidden. The dropout rate for homosexual teenagers from professional sports is considerably higher than for heterosexuals.

Vunipola must acknowledge these concerns and the power of his words. In the eyes of Vunipola, he is a victim. He believes his belief system is under attack.

Let us not say that this subject is limited to a few lonely voices of Tongan descent. Several English-speaking players found Vunipola's statement broader, while parents of children in faith schools in Britain were looking this year to prevent schools from introducing same-sex relationships to their syllabus.

Vunipola is not irreparable. Indeed, if he opens his mind, he may have something good. Whether he seizes the opportunity is entirely another matter.

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#Billy Vunipola slammed for anti-gay beliefs as Channel 4 axe rugby ace"

[wesonerdy]

As Verona burns and Benvolio’s execution nears, Rosaline searches for a way to save him while stopping Paris’ and Lady Capulet’s schemes. Get a sneak peek of this week’s Still Star-Crossed finale!

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alvarez

In “Nature Hath Framed Strange Fellows in Her Time” we watched as Rosaline and Benvolio fled Verona, chasing after Friar Lawrence, only to realize that the real danger is back in the city. Lady Capulet’s alliance with Paris has been uncovered and Rosaline realizes that her sister is in serious danger. On her way back to Livia (without Benvolio), Rosaline is intercepted and brought straight to Paris. Oh my…

“Hell is Empty and All the Devils Are Here” (Season 1, Episode 6) covers the same period of time, but focusses on what’s going on inside the city while Rosvolio/Ronvolio are gone. We literally rewind to the moment Lady Capulet sees Rosaline ride off with the Montague. She hides the letter Rosaline leaves behind and tells Livia that her sister has been kidnapped by Benvolio. Lord Capulet goes straight to Escalus and Isabella (back from her trip to Venice) with the news and everyone is scandalized, even Lord Montague, who is also present. Of course, the lords get into a major argument–Capulet spits on Montague’s offer to marry Rosaline himself, Montague demands the bride-price back, and Escalus shuts it all down. Finding Rosaline is the priority and he will shift all of guards to this mission.

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alzarez

Meanwhile, Paris starts to execute his own plans, first by returning to Mantua to reveal to his father that he is not dead. However, with Rosaline “kidnapped” he realizes an opportunity. If he’s able to get permission from Lord Capulet and Escalus, he can bring his own soldiers into the city under the guise of the search for Rosaline. This will also allow him to entrench himself further in Livia’s good graces. In any event, Paris promises to help Livia find her sister and they share a sweet kiss… all the while, Lady Capulet hides in the shadows, watching the exchange.

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alzarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alzarez

  I RUE THE DAY I EVER STARTED SHIPPING COUNTLIVIA! *CRIES*

Paris officially arrives in Verona the next day, apologizes for missing Juliet’s funeral, and offers Lord Capulet assistance with finding Rosaline. Lady Capulet makes a big show of lamenting the fact that Paris can no longer be part of their family… of course, Livia (who is serving them lunch) makes eye-contact with Paris. Does he really mean to marry her???

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alzarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alzarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alzarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alzarez

  Paris goes to Escalus with his offer, but Escalus declines, believing he can handle the search for Rosaline himself. Paris confides in Lady Capulet, who gives him the idea of creating even more insecurity in the city, so Escalus will have no choice but to accept Paris’ help. So, along with a hired hand, Paris goes to a church in the middle of the night and slaughter the people in attendance. It’s horrifying. And, as expected, Escalus feels so much guilt, he accepts Paris’ aid.

But what is Paris’ and Lady Capulet’s endgame? We eventually learn that Paris wants Verona for himself! He wants to depose Escalus, assume the position of Prince, and solidify his claim with a Capulet at his side…Livia! Lady Capulet aims to destroy the Montagues and, in the war to come, her House is more likely to be protected if a Prince Paris is on their side. And Lady Capulet wants both Benvolio and Rosaline dead for their role in Juliet’s marriage to Romeo.

Lord Capulet is still dealing with his own emotional burdens. When he finds out that Lord Montague has taken over the construction of his family cathedral, Capulet is livid. Is this the situation Juliet is warning him about? The idea that the Montagues would seize the Capulets’ crowning achievement like this… Lord Capulet can’t let it happen. And so he hires a man to go in to the cathedral and murder the Montague men working there and make it look like an accidental scaffolding collapse. Now no one will work there out of fear of a curse.

Lords Capulet and Montague face-off again on the Palace steps when Montague explicitly accuses Capulet of murdering his own architecht (which he did!). Their men get involved, trying to defend their lords and violence breaks out. Escalus chides them both… but Montague is still without workers. He decides to fabricate a miracle where the new statue of Virgin Mary cries blood. Surely there’s no curse, right?

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alzarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alzarez

  But just when Montague believes he can continue with construction, Capulet literally burns it all down to the ground. War is coming…

With Paris outside of the city search for Rosaline, the hired hand (Orlino Ruspoli) who helped him kill those church-goers comes to Lady Capulet to demand payment. Instead of money, she promises him and his family new titles once Paris is Prince. Instead, Lady Capulet frames Orlino for the whole slaughter and for being the masked vigilante who’s been causing destruction in the city. When Orlino is captured, Escalus demands answers. But the only think Orlino will say is that Escalus’ time as prince is coming to an end. “The Fiend is an army; the Fiend is everywhere. The new Prince is coming!”

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alzarez

Escalus has had enough and decides to go searching for Rosaline himself. But Benvolio is also waiting outside the camp and attempting to save Rosaline too!

We return to Rosaline as she’s brought Paris. She’s adamant that she speak with Escalus, but you can tell Paris is trying to maipulate her. Even though she is clear that Benvolio never kidnapped her, Paris clearly wants Rosaline’s story to change and is willing to delay in order to make it happen. Paris actually threatens Livia. So when Escalus captures Benvolio outside of Paris’ camp and Rosaline is brought out, she is forced to say that Benvolio kidnapped her. Paris tells Escalus that Benvolio calls himself the new Prince of Verona, which Rosaline corroborates… UHOH.

  In tonight’s season finale, “Something Wicked This Way Comes” (written by Heather Mitchell, directed by Clark Johnson), Rosaline tries to save Benvolio:

THEY SAY THE TRUTH ALWAYS COME OUT—When Rosaline returns to Verona and tries to prove Benvolio’s innocence, Paris decides to take matters into his own hands. Meanwhile, Lady Capulet’s relationship with Paris comes to a head, and a shocking discovery about Lord Montague’s past is revealed. (via ABC)

The images and episode trailer (below) show us that Rosaline is going to have a really hard time of it. And even more chaos will be unleashed in Verona. If you look closely at the trailer, around the 0:22/0:23 second mark, you’ll see that Paris makes his move on Livia, and my shipper heart is simultaneously flailing and wailing. *SIGH*

And things are even more tenuous because it seems that Still Star-Crossed won’t be back for a second season… however, we’ll talk about that more in my recap/review of “Something Wicked This Way Comes”.

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alvarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alvarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alvarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alvarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alvarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alvarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alvarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alvarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alvarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alvarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alvarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alvarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alvarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alvarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alvarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alvarez

Courtesy of ABC/Jeronimo Alvarez

Rosaline is Benvolio's last hope. #StillStarCrossed pic.twitter.com/BsGBkEQujp

— Still Star-Crossed (@StarCrossedABC) July 23, 2017

  Watch the finale episode this Saturday, July 29 at 10p/9c on ABC and come live tweet with me!

PREVIEW: ‘Still Star-Crossed’ Season 1 Finale “Something Wicked This Way Comes” As Verona burns and Benvolio's execution nears, Rosaline searches for a way to save him while stopping Paris' and Lady Capulet's schemes.

#ABC #Anthony Head #Benvolio Montague #Count Paris #Dan Hildebrand #Ebonee Noel #Fria Lawrence #Grant Bowler #Hell is Empty and All the Devils Are Here #Juliet Capulet #Lady Capulet #Lashana Lynch #Livia Capulet #Lord Capulet #Lord Montague #Medalion Rahimi #Nature Hath Framed Strange Fellows in Her Time #Nurse #photos #preview #Prince Escalus #Princess Isabella #recap #Review #Romeo and Juliet #Romeo Montague #Ronvolio #Rosaline Capulet #Roscalus #Rosvolio

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News from the Mullet Wrapper -> Greg Gianforte, the Republican nominee in today’s special congressional election in Montana, has been charged with misdemeanor assault after allegedly “body slamming” a reporter for the Guardian.

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  Thank you, Mr. Fake News Typist, Ben Jacobs,  of the Guardian, for helping to elect Greg Gianforte! We could not have done it without you! Oh, and Donald Trump too!

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Five fresh setbacks for Republicans, who just can’t catch a break

Audio: Guardian reporter allegedly body-slammed by Greg Gianforte

BY JAMES HOHMANN with Breanne Deppisch

THE BIG IDEA: Republicans just cannot catch a break, but many of their wounds are self-inflicted.

— Greg Gianforte, the Republican nominee in today’s special congressional election in Montana, has been charged with misdemeanor assault after allegedly “body slamming” a reporter for the Guardian. Gianforte, who has been seen as the favorite in the race to succeed Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, faces a maximum $500 fine or six months in jail if he is convicted, Dave Weigel reports from Montana.

In an audio recording published by the Guardian, reporter Ben Jacobs can be heard asking Gianforte to respond to the Congressional Budget Office’s new score of the American Health Care Act. After Gianforte tells Jacobs to ask his spokesman, the candidate loses it and begins to scream: “I’m sick and tired of you guys! … Get the hell out of here! Get the hell out of here!”

A Fox News crew was in the room when it happened, and veteran correspondent Alicia Acuna has written a damning first-person account: “Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground behind him. At no point did any of us who witnessed this assault see Jacobs show any form of physical aggression toward Gianforte.”

Montana sheriff gives an update on Greg Gianforte incident

The unapologetic campaign released a defiant statement that attempted to slime the respected reporter as a “liberal.” His spokesman claimed that Gianforte asked Jacobs to lower the recorder before he got physical, but the audio tape and the eyewitness accounts undercut this version of events.

Two of the state’s largest newspapers quickly withdrew their editorial endorsements of Gianforte. “We’re at a loss for words, the Billings Gazette wrote. “And as people who wrangle words on a minute-by-minute basis, that doesn’t happen often.” The Missoulian’s editorial board said “there is no doubt that Gianforte committed an act of terrible judgment that, if it doesn’t land him in jail, also shouldn’t land him in the U.S. House of Representatives.”

This is the newspaper many Montanans are waking up to right now:

But, but, but: Heavy early voting means that Gianforte may win anyway. Perversely, a physical altercation with a reporter might also help him coalesce/gin up his base. (Donald Trump won Montana last November by 20 points.) “What turnout will look like in a special election is hard to predict, but if it’s similar to 2014, 62 percent of votes have already been cast early,” Philip Bump explains.

Bottom line: In many ways, it is now worse for national Republicans if Gianforte wins. If he loses, the NRCC can pretty easily explain it away by calling him a terrible candidate. The incident makes it harder for anyone to draw conclusions about the broader national political environment from the outcome. If he wins, though, Gianforte suddenly becomes another headache for Paul Ryan. The ongoing legal issue will be covered as a major story, and his every move in the Capitol will be tracked aggressively by the press. He becomes a liability for the party in 2018, especially if his new colleagues defend him.

Trump confers with Jeff Sessions last week. (Evan Vucci/AP)

ANOTHER UNFORCED ERROR:

— Jeff Sessions concealed his contacts with Russian officials when filling out his security clearance form to be the nation’s highest-ranking law enforcement official. Sari Horwitz reports: “Sessions came under fire earlier this year for not disclosing to the Senate Judiciary Committee during his confirmation hearing that … he met twice with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the presidential election … In March, Sessions recused himself from investigations related to the 2016 presidential campaign after The Washington Post reported the two meetings. … The security clearance form requires anyone applying for a security clearance to list ‘any contact’ that he or his family had with a foreign government or its representatives over the past seven years.”

CNN’s Manu Raju and Evan Perez, who broke the story last night, explain the DOJ’s damage-control effort: “Sessions initially listed a year’s worth of meetings with foreign officials on the security clearance form, according to (Sessions) spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores. But she (claims) that he and his staff were then told by an FBI employee who assisted in filling out the form … that he didn’t need to list dozens of meetings with foreign ambassadors that happened in his capacity as a senator. … A legal expert who regularly assists officials in filling out the form disagrees with the Justice Department’s explanation, suggesting that Sessions should have disclosed the meetings.”

Sessions was supposed to appear before two congressional committees this week, but he abruptly canceled both on Monday. This latest revelation may explain why the AG would want to avoid answering questions. He claimed an unspecified scheduling conflict, the Boston Globe’s Annie Linskey reports.

Mulvaney: Tax receipts ‘coming in a little bit slower than expected’

D’OH:

— It also came out yesterday that the debt limit will be reached way sooner than Republicans leaders planned/hoped for. OMB director Mick Mulvaney revealed that tax receipts are coming in “slower than expected” and that the federal government could run out of cash months before it had thought. A few hours later, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin echoed these concerns, telling a House committee: “I urge you to raise the debt limit before you leave for the summer.” Treasury is already taking emergency steps to suspend certain payments so that it can cover all of its bills, but it can do this only for a few more months. (Damian Paletta and Max Ehrenfreund have more.)

The House Freedom Caucus replied with a statement expressing opposition to any increase in the debt limit without further cuts to the budget. That threat means Democratic votes will likely be required to prevent the U.S. from defaulting, which gives Nancy Pelosi leverage.

More significantly, an intra-party conflict over raising the debt ceiling makes it harder for Republicans to pass bills they really care about. (Keeping the government solvent does not count as an accomplishment…)

Bigger picture, there is mounting concern among senior Republicans that, from a legislative standpoint, the party will have no big-ticket items to show off after a year of unified control.

Donald Trump’s full speech at the Carrier factory

ANOTHER BROKEN PROMISE:

— Carrier, the company Trump pledged to keep on American soil, just informed the state of Indiana that it will soon begin cutting 632 workers from its Indianapolis factory. “The manufacturing jobs will move to Monterrey, Mexico, where the minimum wage is $3.90,” Daniel Paquette reports.

Trump told Indiana residents at a rally last year that, if he got elected, there was a “100 percent chance” he would save these jobs at the heating and air-conditioning manufacturer. “It’s not like we have an 80 percent chance of keeping them or a 95 percent chance,” he said. “100 percent!!”

After the election, Trump claimed credit for rescuing the factory. He tweeted on Thanksgiving that he called the company’s leadership to cut a deal. Trump then flew to Indy in December to announce that, thanks to his brilliant negotiating, the jobs would stay.

The Carrier announcement is a symbolically significant blow to Trump’s credibility as a job creator who can reverse the decline in manufacturing. This was both a central rationale of his candidacy and a major part of his appeal in the industrial Midwest.

Trump looks to Paul Ryan and other House members in the Rose Garden during a ceremony to celebrate the House passing a health care bill on May 4. It is odd, putting it mildly, to celebrate legislation after it has passed just one chamber of Congress. Now it looks like they spiked the football before they got to the endzone, and dozens of members will be haunted by their appearance at this ceremony in 2018 campaign commercials. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

THAT ROSE GARDEN CEREMONY IS LOOKING DUMBER AND DUMBER:

— It is notable that the Republican candidate in Montana flipped out last night when he was asked about the CBO score. While mostly a window into Gianforte’s temperament, it is also a reflection of how bad the numbers are for Republicans. Many lawmakers walked the plank and risked their political careers to vote for the bill without waiting for the CBO, which is led by a Republican appointee who was picked by GOP leaders, to estimate how real people would be impacted.

Consider these four top-line projections from the CBO:

— 23 million: The House health-care bill would leave 23 million more Americans uninsured by 2026 than under current lay — only a million fewer than the estimate for the House’s previous bill, which was withdrawn because it didn’t cover enough people. Juliet Eilperin and Kelsey Snell report on the front page of today’s Post: “The new score, which reflects last-minute revisions that Republicans made to win over several conservative lawmakers and a handful of moderates, calculates that the American Health Care Act would reduce the federal deficit by $119 billion between 2017 and 2026. That represents a smaller reduction than the $150 billion CBO estimated in late March.”

— 14 million: The CBO projects that the number of uninsured Americans would jump by 14 million in the first year after the House bill became law. Direct quote from the report: “Although the agencies expect that the legislation would increase the number of uninsured broadly, the increase would be disproportionately larger among older people with lower income—particularly people between 50 and 64 years old with income of less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level.” Here’s a breakdown:

— 850 percent: “That’s the CBO’s estimate of how much insurance premiums would rise for elderly, poor people over the next decade if the second version of this Republican bill became law,” Amber Phillips notes. “In a report filled with brutal numbers for Republicans, this may be the most brutal. (Just like it was in the first estimate.) Republicans said their bill will make health insurance cheaper. Except, they’ll have to figure out a way to explain why, under Obamacare, 64-year-olds making $26,500 a year are on track to pay $1,700 in annual premiums in 2026. And under the GOP bill, they would pay anywhere between $13,600 to $16,100.” Here’s a breakdown:

— One-in-six Americans could lose coverage for pre-existing conditions: “Amendments in the bill allow states to opt out of key ACA provisions such as protections for people with preexisting conditions. The CBO predicts that states accounting for about half the U.S. population would take advantage of these, and similar, opportunities to roll back the ACA,” Kim Soffen and Kevin Uhrmacher report. “As part of those changes, states would be able to change what benefits marketplace insurance plans must offer. Under the ACA, these ‘essential health benefits’ range from covering hospitalizations to mental-health care to prescription drugs. One-sixth of the population resides in states that the CBO expects to drastically alter the preexisting-condition requirement. Predictably, in states that shrink or eliminate that requirement, insurance plans are expected to provide narrower coverage. In other words, the value of insurance, measured as the percentage of a person’s medical expenses that are covered by insurance, would go down.” Here’s a breakdown:

(Read the full 41-page CBO score for yourself.)

Washington reacts to the GOP health bill’s budget score

— The numbers above underscore how hard it will be to pass a bill through the Senate.

After the CBO score popped, several Senate Republicans from states that have expanded Medicaid under Obamacare dug in even further against the House bill because it showed that millions of their constituents would be left in the lurch. From Paul Kane: “The $119 billion in savings that the CBO found was mostly because millions of fewer people would be covered under Medicaid. ‘That’s tough to swallow,’ said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who has 180,000 constituents relying on the Medicaid expansion for insurance coverage. Capito, part of a bloc of 20 Republicans from Medicaid-expansion states, has been a vocal opponent of the House bill for too quickly transitioning away from that ACA benefit. She says this updated estimate puts steel in the spines of those Republicans, including Sens. Rob Portman (Ohio), John McCain (Ariz.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska). ‘It strengthens my resolve,’ Capito said. ‘To say, what are we doing to people here, particularly to our most vulnerable or those that don’t have the wherewithal?’”

Mitch McConnell has begun to temper expectations, telegraphing that a big bill might never materialize. “I don’t know how we get to 50 [votes] at the moment, but that’s the goal,” the Senate Majority Leader told Reuters earlier in the day. “Exactly what the composition of [our legislation] is, I’m not going to speculate about because it serves no purpose.”

South Carolina’s senior senator spoke for many Republicans in the conference when he said the current system may need to fail before action is taken:

Welcome to the Daily 202, PowerPost’s morning newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter.

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING:

The FBI used an unreliable intelligence document in the Clinton email probe

THERE IS A BEAR IN THE WOODS:

— “How a dubious Russian document influenced the FBI’s handling of the Clinton probe,” by Karoun Demirjian and Devlin Barrett: “A secret document that officials say played a key role in then-FBI Director James B. Comey’s handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation has long been viewed within the FBI as unreliable and possibly a fake … In the midst of the 2016 presidential primary season, the FBI received what was described as a Russian intelligence document claiming a tacit understanding between the Clinton campaign and the Justice Department over the inquiry into whether she intentionally revealed classified information through her use of a private email server. The Russian document cited a supposed email describing how then-Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch had privately assured someone in the Clinton campaign that the email investigation would not push too deeply into the matter…

“Current and former officials have said that Comey relied on the document in making his July decision to announce on his own, without Justice Department involvement, that the investigation was over. That public announcement — in which he criticized Clinton and made extensive comments about the evidence — set in motion a chain of other FBI moves that Democrats now say helped Trump win the presidential election…

“But according to the FBI’s own assessment, the document was bad intelligence — and according to people familiar with its contents, possibly even a fake sent to confuse the bureau. The Americans mentioned in the Russian document insist they do not know each other, do not speak to each other and never had any conversations remotely like the ones described in the document. Investigators have long doubted its veracity, and by August the FBI had concluded it was unreliable.” (Read the whole article.)

Kellyanne Conway, now a counselor to the president, and Paul Manafort, then Trump campaign chairman, talk during a roundtable discussion about national security issues with Trump at Trump Tower last August. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters)

WHERE THERE’S SMOKE:

— U.S. spies collected information last summer revealing that top Russian officials were discussing how to exert influence on Trump through his advisers. The New York Times reports: “The conversations focused on [Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn] … Both men had indirect ties to Russian officials, who appeared confident that each could be used to help shape Mr. Trump’s opinions on Russia. Some Russians boasted about how well they knew Mr. Flynn. Others discussed leveraging their ties to Viktor F. Yanukovych, the deposed president of Ukraine living in exile in Russia, who at one time had worked closely with Mr. Manafort. The intelligence was among the clues — which also included information about direct communications between Mr. Trump’s advisers and Russian officials — that American officials received last year as they began investigating Russian attempts to disrupt the election…

“By early summer, American intelligence officials already were fairly certain that it was Russian hackers who had stolen tens of thousands of emails from the Democratic Party and Clinton’s campaign. That in itself was not viewed as particularly extraordinary by the Americans … But the concerns began to grow when intelligence began trickling in about Russian officials weighing whether they should release stolen emails and other information to shape American opinion — to, in essence, weaponize the materials stolen by hackers.”

THE CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION:

— Manafort has submitted hundreds of pages of Russia-related documents to the House and Senate intelligence committees. Tom Hamburger reports: “Congressional staff have not fully reviewed the new Manafort documents, but people familiar with them said they include calendar entries, speech drafts and campaign strategy memos that mention Russia or individuals from Russia. They also cite some specific meetings, including two large group sessions that involved Russia’s ambassador to the United States — one at the Republican National Convention and the other at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington when Trump gave his first major foreign policy address.”

— Months after the FBI began examining Manafort, he phoned Reince Priebus and urged him to push back against the mounting controversy. Politico’s Kenneth P. Vogel reports: “It was about a week before Trump’s inauguration, and Manafort wanted to brief Trump’s team on the alleged inaccuracies in a recently released dossier of memos written by a former British spy for Trump’s opponents that alleged compromising ties … ‘On the day that the dossier came out in the press, Paul called Reince … and said this story about me is garbage, and a bunch of the other stuff in there seems implausible,’ said a person close to Manafort. Manafort had been forced to resign as Trump’s campaign chairman five months earlier, but he had continued talking to various members of Trump’s team, and had even had at least two conversations with Trump.”

— The House Intelligence Committee will likely issue subpoenas to Flynn as soon as this week, the panel’s top Democrat says, after he failed to provide requested documents. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said he would “explore whatever compulsory process that we would need to use” to get the documents, which the former national security adviser is also refusing to turn over to the Senate Intel Committee. Schiff said he thinks there is openness to citing Flynn for contempt if/when he doesn’t comply. (Karoun Demirjian)

Police: Manchester attacker was part of ‘a network’

MANCHESTER PROBE EXPANDS AMID FEARS OF FOLLOW-UP ATTACK:

— The investigation into a suicide blast that killed at least 22 people at a pop concert has dramatically widened, with security services on two continents rounding up suspects amid fears that the bombmaker who devised the bolt-spewing source of the carnage remains at large. Griff Witte, Karla Adam and Sudarsan Raghavan report: “The arrests stretched from the normally quiet lanes of a northern English town to the bustling streets of Tripoli, where Libyan officials said they had disrupted a planned attack by the suspected bomber’s brother.But by day’s end, British authorities acknowledged that they remained vulnerable to a follow-up attack, with the nation’s state of alert stuck at ‘critical’ — the highest possible level. The sight of soldiers deploying at London landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street underscored the gravity of the threat.”

Authorities said this morning that the bomber, 22-year-old Salman Abedi, had been in Dusseldorf just four days before the bombing. “Authorities were investigating whether he was meeting with extremist contacts in Germany, or whether he was simply transiting back to Britain from his family’s home in Libya,” Griff, Karla Adam and Souad Mekhennet report.

Police continue to carry out raids across Manchester: The cops apprehended the bomber’s older brother, Ismail, as well as another suspect carrying “a suspicious package” about 20 miles west of Manchester. Last night, authorities also arrested a female suspect in Manchester and a man in the English Midlands town of Nuneaton, bringing to seven the number of people detained in Britain in connection with the blast. “It’s very clear that this is a network we are investigating,” said Greater Manchester Chief Constable Ian Hopkins.

— In the Libyan-British community where Abedi lived, he was known as a university dropout and loner – and members of the community had warned authorities about signs of possible radicalization more than a year ago. Rick Noack, Souad Mekhennet and Sudarsan Raghavan report: “Abedi was born in Britain to parents who had fled Libya during the four-decade dictatorship of Moammar Gaddafi, and moved back [several years ago] … Residents described Abedi as an ‘awkward’ young man and an ‘isolated, dark figure’ who talked to few people and traveled back and forth between Britain and Libya. Abedi’s father, Ramadan, asked two of his sons to move from Britain to Libya several weeks ago, said a friend of the family … ‘The father said he was afraid that something would go wrong if they stayed in Britain,’ said the friend.” British security authorities have acknowledged that they were aware of Abedi, but said that he was not considered a major terrorism risk.

— Loose lips sink ships. The Brits are incensed that information on the investigation keeps getting leaked, and it’s having consequences:

Sean Hannity gestures in National Harbor, Md. (AP/Carolyn Kaster)

GET SMART FAST:​​

Three sponsors have pulled their ads from Sean Hannity’s TV show after he pushed a debunked conspiracy theory about a murdered DNC staffer. Paul Farhi writes that “the accumulating chaos” leaves Rupert Murdoch, 86, with his biggest management challenge since Fox News’s inception.

The Trump administration’s push to deport more MS-13 gang members has alarmed officials in El Salvador, who fear that the returning gangsters will exacerbate violence in one of the deadliest countries in the hemisphere. (Joshua Partlow)

A Baltimore defense attorney has been charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly trying to dissuade a rape victim from testifying against his client by telling her that Trump would deport her if she did. He also allegedly offered her $3,000 to skip court. (Baltimore Sun)

As Trump expands his “sanctuary city” crackdown, the city of Denver is fighting back by reducing the maximum sentences for petty infractions – thus stopping offenders from ending up on the radar of immigration officials. (Samantha Schmidt)

A new study on physician-assisted suicide suggests that “existential distress” — not pain — is the reason why terminally-ill patients choose to end their lives. “They are mostly educated and affluent,” one researcher said of the patients who inquired about assisted suicide. “[It’s] people who are used to being successful and in control of their lives, and it’s how they want their death to be.” (Ariana Eunjung Cha)

Marijuana extract “sharply” reduces violent seizures in young people suffering a severe form of epilepsy. A new study, the first to demonstrate the use of medical marijuana in a scientific way, is a breakthrough for parents of sufferers who have been clamoring for access to the medication. (Lenny Bernstein)

A Christian school in Maryland is under fire after banning a senior girl from walking in her graduation ceremony because she got pregnant. The straight-A student is not being banned because of her pregnancy, the school’s principal explained, “but because she was immoral” by having premarital intercourse. Many pro-life folks believe, rather than being punished, she should be celebrated for keeping her baby. (Joe Heim)

The Trump International Hotel in Washington is not tracking the foreign money it takes in, as Trump promised it would. Will they be able to get away with it? (Alex Brandon/AP)

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:

— “Despite his promise to donate all profits from foreign-government sources at his Washington hotel and other businesses, recently released internal documents reveal that Trump’s private company has made only a limited effort at identifying foreign funds,” Drew Harwell and Tom Hamburger report: “An undated document sent throughout the Trump Organization … says asking guests to identify whether they are connected to a foreign government would be ‘impractical’ and ‘impede upon personal privacy and diminish the guest experience of our brand.’ ‘It is not the intention nor design of this policy for our properties to attempt to identify individual travelers who have not specifically identified themselves as being a representative of a foreign government entity,’ the document says.” The company pamphlet shows the ease with which foreign money could be paid into the president’s business interests. Ethics advisers have warned that such payments could be used to curry favor with the president and could run afoul of the emoluments clause.

— A Mar-a-Lago employee is quietly working for the government to help prepare for Trump’s trip to the G-7 Summit in Italy – an unconventional arrangement that further blurs the line between his business empire and the White House. Buzzfeed’s Tarini Parti reports: “Heather Rinkus, the guest reception manager, is working with the president’s advance and logistics team, while Trump’s exclusive club, Mar-a-Lago, closes for the summer. She has an official White House email and government-issued phone … She is married to a twice-convicted felon, Ari Rinkus, who is known to brag about his wife’s access to the president as he trawls for investors and pursues government contracts on behalf of a foreign company. Her dual role is the latest example of how closely intertwined the president’s inner circle is between his business and government. … It also raises questions of whether other Trump Organization employees are quietly employed by the White House, as the administration struggles to staff up amid a chaotic few weeks.”

Ben Carson plays pool at a public housing project in Miami last month. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

PERSONNEL IS POLICY:

— HUD Secretary Ben Carson called poverty a “state of mind” in a Wednesday radio interview, pointing to habits and a “certain mindset” that poor children supposedly take from their parents. Jose A. DelReal reports: “I think poverty to a large extent is also a state of mind. You take somebody that has the right mindset, you can take everything from them and put them on the street, and I guarantee in a little while they’ll be right back up there,” he said during a radio interview. “And you take somebody with the wrong mindset, you can give them everything in the world, they’ll work their way right back down to the bottom.” He added that he believes this “state of” mind is a “product of negative parenting habits and exposure.” He said he believes that government can provide a “helping hand” to people looking to climb out of poverty but warned against any programs that are “sustaining them in a position of poverty. That’s not helpful.” Carson’s comments came one day after Trump’s budget proposed cutting more than $6 billion from HUD’s budget.

— Joe Lieberman appears to have slipped out of contention in the search for a new FBI director. The search team is resetting its search after Lieberman’s law partner signed on to be the president’s main outside counsel on the Russia probe, and Democrats on the Hill made clear that they’d fight the ex-senator hard. CNN reports: “At one point, Lieberman … was considered a leading candidate. But Trump has since decided he wants to see a broader range of candidates for the job. … Concerns about the former vice presidential nominee … centered on the fact that without experience as a federal prosecutor or an FBI agent that Lieberman ‘simply does not have the right experience to lead the FBI.’ ‘People inside the FBI, along with former FBI officials, believe Lieberman simply was not the right choice,’ the source said. [This is spin. That’s not actually why they’re dropping him.] A source … said discussions said that Lieberman was someone who intrigued Trump but others inside the White House were not supportive of the choice.” Sessions has been interviewing candidates for the job. Remaining finalists include acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, former congressman and retired FBI special agent Mike Rogers, and Bush-era Homeland Security adviser Fran Townsend.

— Betsy DeVos repeatedly refused to say whether her office would ever withhold any federal voucher money from private schools that openly discriminate against students. Valerie Strauss reports on the Education secretary’s testimony before a House committee yesterday: “Her comments came after Rep. Katherine Clark gave an example of a private school in Indiana that receives state vouchers but denies admission to those with LBGT parents – and asked what she would say if a voucher school were not accepting African-American students and the state ‘said it was okay.’ ‘Is there a line for you on state flexibility?’ Clark pressed. DeVos declined to answer the question directly. All she would say is, ‘We have to do something different than continuing a top-down, one-size-fits-all approach. And that is the focus. And states and local communities are best equipped to make these decisions.’”

— The Education Department’s top student financial aid officer quit, warning his staff in an email about brewing management problems within the agency. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel reports: “I am incredibly concerned about significant constraints being placed on our ability to allocate and prioritize resources, make decisions and deliver on the organization’s mission,” James Runcie, an Obama-era holdover, wrote in an email to his staff. He continued: “We have dozens of pages of decisions that have been typically made within Federal Student Aid that are now required to be elevated to the Department level. Once at the Department level, the decision making framework and process is not clear to anyone at FSA.” Runcie said in the letter that the student aid office is contending with pressing projects. Among them: weighing a student-loan-servicing contract bid … building out the expansion of the Pell Grant program, [and] tending to loan forgiveness for defrauded borrowers … He said his team has asked DeVos to hire staff for additional help but has yet to receive a response.”

— Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue broke with Trump on his plan to slash the SNAP food stamp program, reaffirming Wednesday that he still does not believe the system is “broken” or requires fundamental change. Caitlin Dewey reports: “Perdue affirmed his position on SNAP during a meeting of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, when [Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.)] asked him about statements he made to the Agriculture Committee just last week.  ‘You stated — and this is a quote — ‘SNAP has been a very important and effective program,’’ DeLauro said. ‘And that as far as you’re concerned, quote, ‘we have no proposed changes. You don’t try to fix something that isn’t broken’ … Do you still feel those words to be true?’ ‘Absolutely,’ Perdue answered. He later added that he supported stricter work requirements, which are a lesser component of the administration’s cuts.”

— Charmaine Yoest, a top official at the Department of Health and Human Services, pushed the totally discredited theory that abortion increases a woman’s risk for breast cancer as recently as 2012, and she just declined an opportunity to recant her claim. Michelle Ye Hee Lee revisits a widely-shared New York Times story from five years ago: “Does Yoest still hold this position? We couldn’t readily find instances after 2012 where Yoest publicly repeated this claim. We reached out to her, but she would not answer whether she still believes in this alleged link. Instead, she offered this written explanation: ‘As far as my comments on this, I hope that you will note that the wild accusations that I have said ‘abortion *causes* breast cancer’ are false. I have not said that and would not say that.’”

— Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin privately assured Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee that he and Trump are both against Paul Ryan’s border-adjusted tax. From Bloomberg: The remarks they described in private were stronger than Mnuchin’s public comments about the plan to tax companies’ imported goods while exempting their exports. Judy Chu, a California Democrat on Ways and Means Committee, said she asked Mnuchin directly during a private meeting Tuesday if he supports the border-adjusted tax. ‘He actually said straight out that he doesn’t support it and the president doesn’t support it,’ Chu said, adding that Mnuchin cited concern from businesses about price increases for consumers. ‘Unless he was lying to us yesterday, I really felt it was dead on arrival,’ Chu said.”

— Trump nominated George Nesterczuk to be director of the Office of Personnel Management. Eric Yoder reports: “Nesterczuk was a senior adviser at OPM during the Reagan administration and went on to positions at the Defense Department and Transportation Department.” He served as chief of staff to a House subcommittee overseeing the federal workforce in the late 1990s, and returned to OPM as a senior adviser in 2004.

Trump and Melania visit the Sistine Chapel after a private audience with Pope Francis. (Osservatore Romano/Reuters)

DAY SEVEN OF TRUMP’S FOREIGN TRIP:

— ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THE KREMLIN: Russian aggression will not be a topic discussed at Trump’s first NATO’s meeting — not because Moscow has improved its behavior (it certainly hasn’t!) but in order to keep the Putin-friendly U.S. president happy. Buzzfeed News’ John Hudson reports: “The alliance is so anxious about pleasing [Trump] that it tailored its first major meeting with him around topics that touch on his long-standing criticisms of the 28-member organization rather than the Kremlin’s latest provocations. Russia, which dominated NATO’s previous two summits in Wales and Warsaw, will not be a formal agenda item for the alliance’s meeting in Brussels this week, [a NATO spokesperson said]. ‘The meeting will be short, and focused on two main topics: stepping up NATO’s role in the fight against terrorism, and fairer burden sharing.’

“Russia’s absence, European officials explained, is a tacit acknowledgment that the alliance’s most immediate crisis is currying the favor of the leader of the world’s most powerful military — a man who had previously called the organization outdated and ‘obsolete.’ ‘You’ve got to remember that Trump still hasn’t explicitly stated his support for Article 5,’ said a European official, referring to a clause in the alliance’s charter that requires NATO members to come to the defense of an ally. ‘First things first.’”

— European leaders clearly don’t think Trump knows that much about the world. From Phil Rucker’s pool report this morning about his meeting with E.U. leaders: “The first encounter came as the three presidents stood posing for photos. Tusk told Trump: ‘Do you know, Mr. President, we have two presidents in the EU?’ Trump replied: ‘I know that.’ Juncker chimed in: One too much.’”

— SPICER SNUBBED: Trump was flanked by staff during his Vatican trip yesterday, an entourage that included Hope Hicks, Dan Scavino, and former bodyguard Keith Schiller. Noticeably missing was Sean Spicer – a devout Catholic who had been eagerly anticipating the chance to meet Pope Francis. CNN’s Kevin Liptak and Jeff Zeleny report: “Asked about Spicer not being included in the group that met the Pope, a source close to the White House said: ‘Wow. That’s all he wanted,’ adding it should ‘very much’ be seen as a slight. Two [senior White House officials] said the Vatican was ‘strict’ on the number of people who would be allowed to join the talks. But previous administration officials who helped orchestrate meetings between US presidents and the Pope said that high-level Catholic staffers who expressed interest in attending the papal sessions were regularly accommodated.” This is another petty move by the president, and it shows how totally undercut Spicer has been in the West Wing pecking order — he technically outranks the staffers who got to meet the Pope — despite sacrificing his personal reputation to help advance the Trump agenda.

‘It’s frankly a lie’: GOP lawmaker on Trump’s budget math

TRUTH BOMB:

— Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.), who belongs to the House Freedom Caucus, ripped Trump’s budget for being based on “a lie.” During a hearing yesterday, he sharply challenged the assumption the budget makes that the economy will grow at 3 percent a year for the next 10 years. That’s just not going to happen, experts agree, which means the deficit and debt will balloon even more than the White House acknowledges.

“I have looked every which way at how you might get there, and you can’t get there,” Sanford said. “I think it is just disastrously consequential to build a budget on 3 percent growth. The Bible says you can’t build a house on a sandy foundation. What it does is it perpetuates a myth that we can go out there and balance a budget without touching entitlements. It’s not only a myth, it’s frankly a lie, and if it gets started at the executive branch level it moves from there.”

“What this does is it [prevents] real debates from happening,” the former South Carolina governor continued. “For us to have a real debate, we have to base it on real numbers. I would also say it’s important because I’m a deficit hawk, as you well know, and if you’re wrong on these numbers, it means all of a sudden we’ve created a $2-plus-trillion hole for our kids and grandkids here going forward.” (Mike DeBonis has more.)

Republicans flounder to explain Trump’s sharing of classified information

MORE DAYLIGHT:

— Do you trust President Trump’s judgment on major decisions? It’s a very simple question, but for Republicans in Congress, it’s a difficult one to answer (at least on the record). Sean Sullivan posed it to more than a dozen GOP lawmakers across the ideological spectrum this week: “Most of them weren’t eager to address the subject head-on. They diverted and demurred. They paused contemplatively before answering. Some grew visibly uncomfortable. Others declared their conviction in Trump — but then qualified their words or expressed confidence in the people around him. Only one of those interviewed offered an unqualified yes.”

“I’m not answering questions like that,” said Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) after hopping off an underground tram shuttling him from the Capitol to his Senate office building. “That’s ah … ” he trailed off as he walked toward an elevator. Four seconds later, the easygoing Arizonan picked back up: “The president is overseas. I don’t think we’re allowed to ask any questions while the president’s overseas.”

Sally Yates describes finding out about Trump’s travel ban

PROFILES IN COURAGE:

— Sally Yates spoke about her refusal to defend Trump’s travel ban (before it was struck down by the courts as unconstitutional) during yesterday’s Harvard Law School class day ceremony: She said she thought her time as acting attorney general was going to be filled with “a lot of long, boozy lunches,” Katie Mettler reports. But “there wasn’t time for lunches at all,” she sighed, “boozy or otherwise.”

“The defining moments in our lives often don’t come with advance warning,” she said. “They can arise in scenarios we would have never expected, and they don’t come sometimes with the luxury of a whole lot of time to go inside yourself for some serious introspection.”

The travel ban, she explained, was “illustrative of an unexpected moment, when the law and conscience intersected and a decision had to be made in a very short period of time.” She reviewed the legal challenges, read case law and conferred with Justice Department lawyers before deciding that defending the ban would force her people to argue it “was not intended to disfavor Muslims,” even though the past words of Trump and his surrogates implied otherwise. “I believed that this would require us to advance a pretext, a defense not grounded in truth, so I directed the Department of Justice not to defend the ban,” she said.

She said she grappled with whether to resign or have Trump fire her: “I believed then and I believe now that resigning would have protected my personal integrity, but it would not have protected the integrity of the Department of Justice.”

“The arc of the moral universe does indeed bend toward justice, but it doesn’t bend there on its own,” she concluded. “And so I would urge you to grab hold of that arc and not let go because the people of our country and indeed the entire world are counting on you.”

Homeless man describes pulling nails from children after Manchester bombing

Chris Parker, 33, rushed into Manchester Arena after Monday’s attack.

IN THE FACE OF HORROR, UNLIKELY HEROES EMERGE:

— Two homeless men who were outside Manchester Arena at the time of the blast – one begging for change and another sleeping – became the unlikely first responders in the first moments after Monday’s attack. Their daring actions, which included pulling nails from children’s faces and holding wounded victims in their final moments, are now being rewarded – though both men say they are haunted by the devastation they encountered. Peter Holley reports: “There was people lying on the floor everywhere,” said 33-year-old Chris Parker, who came to the venue hours earlier as an anonymous beggar … “I saw a little girl … she had no legs,” he added. “I wrapped her in one of the merchandise T-shirts and I said, ‘Where is your mum and daddy?’” There was also a wounded woman — “in her 60s,” he guessed — whom Parker tried to comfort. “She passed away in my arms,” he said. “I haven’t stopped crying.”

He was joined by Stephen Jones, a former bricklayer who had been sleeping before he rushed inside the arena to help. “Just because I am homeless doesn’t mean I haven’t got a heart,” Jones said, adding that he “wouldn’t be able to live with [himself] walking away and leaving kids like that.” “I’d like to think someone would come and help me if I needed the help,” he added. Since then, crowdfunding campaigns for both men have raised thousands of dollars.

A life-size replica of Noah’s Ark is pictured Williamstown, Ky.  (Luke Sharrett /For The Washington Post)

WAPO HIGHLIGHT:

— “A giant ark is just the start. These creationists have a bigger plan for recruiting new believers,” by Karen Heller: “At the sight of the wooden vessel, tourists — decidedly more than two-by-two, a caravan of buses surrounding the site — gasp in wonder. Christian school students storm the ramps, many completing science quizzes based on anti-evolutionary teachings. The founder of Answers in Genesis, an online and publishing ministry with a strict creationist interpretation of the Bible, employed 700 workers to erect the $120 million Ark Encounter, which is five stories high and a football field and a half in length, and packs a powerful whoa punch. He had the massive boat designed by a veteran of amusement park attractions, commissioned an original soundtrack to enhance the experience, and stocked the interior with an animatronic (and freakishly real) talking Noah … And he saw that it was good. Now, the 65-year-old Australian and his partners … have launched an ambitious 10-to-12-year plan to re-create a walled city from the time of Noah and a 1st-century village from the time of Jesus. Also, a Tower of Babel, concept snack shacks, a 3,200-seat amphitheater and a 10-plagues-of-Egypt thrill ride. Instead of building a church, Answers in Genesis is sharing its teachings through a controversial biblical theme park designed to attract believers and nonbelievers alike.”

SOCIAL MEDIA SPEED READ:

Everyone on Twitter was talking about Montana:

Buzzfeed’s Alexis Levinson was there:

Democrat Rob Quist, Gianforte’s foe:

From Sen. Orrin Hatch’s communications director:

Lots of chatter about Ben Carson’s statement that poverty is a “state of mind“:

Democrats seized on the bad CBO score. From a candidate for Virginia governor:

Paul Ryan looked at the bright side:

Nancy Pelosi replied directly:

This vignette is making the rounds:

A photo of Pope Francis not smiling during a photo opp with Trump quickly became a meme. Religion reporter Sarah Pulliam Bailey rounded up some of the funniest ones:

This was the president’s takeaway from their meeting:

Many reporters lamented that Spicer, a devout Catholic, was excluded from Trump’s meeting with the Pope:

Not fake news:

A fun Throwback Thursday — to 1848:

Baltimore Orioles legend Cal Ripken is dating Laura Kiessling, an administrative judge for the Anne Arundel County, Md., circuit court, the Reliable Source confirms. This picture prompted Emily Heil to reach out to Ripken:

GOOD READS FROM ELSEWHERE:

HOT ON THE LEFT:

“Restaurant: ICE Agents Ate Breakfast, Then Detained Employees,” from the Daily Beast:“Bree Stilwell of Sava’s Restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan [said] three to five ICE agents sat down to eat breakfast before apprehending three immigrant men working at the restaurant and taking them away on Wednesday. Stilwell said that the employees have proper documentation, but didn’t have it on their persons this morning. ‘One ICE agent was stationed at the back door, and one at the front,’ Stilwell said. ‘They apprehended one of our employees taking the trash out to the back alley and immediately put him in handcuffs.’”

HOT ON THE RIGHT:

“White women’s burrito shop is forced to close after being hounded with accusations it was ‘culturally appropriating Mexican food and jobs,’” from the Daily Mail: “Two white women have been forced to close their pop-up burrito shop after they were accused of cultural appropriation. Kali Wilgus and Liz ‘LC’ Connelly opened Kooks Burritos in Portland [after traveling to Mexico in December]. For the first few months, the weekend pop-up shop housed in a taco truck was a smash hit. But that’s when the trouble started for Wilgus and Connelly, after quotes they gave to the Williamette Week led to them being accused of stealing their success. Explaining their trip, Connelly told the newspaper: ‘I picked the brains of every tortilla lady there in the worst broken Spanish ever, and they showed me a little of what they did.’ Those comments were latched onto by a food blog in the Portland Mercury, which accused Wilgus and Connelly of ‘preying’ on the women they met in Mexico.”

  QUOTE OF THE DAY:

Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Tex.) said Russia may not have interfered in the congressional investigation during a CNN interview, hinting on air at the debunked conspiracy theory that a DNC staffer gave Wikileaks information before his murder. “There’s still some question,” he said, “as to whether the intrusion at the server was an insider job or whether or not it was the Russians.” CNN anchor John Berman interrupted and asked if he was referring to the story Fox had retractd. “Again, there’s stuff circulating on the Internet,” the congressman said, defending himself. (Phil Bump’s story; Video of the segment) 

  NEWS YOU CAN USE IF YOU LIVE IN D.C.:

— Expect on-and-off showers throughout the day. The Capital Weather Gang forecasts: “Steady rains are likely to taper off early in the morning, but showers could linger into mid-morning. The sun is likely to break through by early afternoon, but that may not be a blessing: Highs warm to the mid-70s and help set off some t’storms later in the afternoon. There is an outside chance that a storm or two could be strong enough for some hail and/or high winds, so keep an eye out for that.”

— The Nationals beat the Mariners 5-1.

— The Nationals are moving up today’s series finale against the Mariners to 12:05 p.m. because of the weather.

— Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is planning to sign 209 bills today, as he closes out what is believed to be his eighth and final bill signing ceremony of the 2017 session. Ovetta Wiggins reports: “The list includes a package of measures to address the state’s growing heroin epidemic. But missing from the hundreds of bills are several high-profile measures that are awaiting action from Hogan, including a top priority of Democratic legislative leaders that requires employers to provide paid sick leave benefits to their workers.”

— Heading out of town for Memorial Day? Leave a little extra time for travel in your itinerary – forecasters are predicting the busiest travel weekend in 12 years, with about a million area residents expected to hit the roads. (Luz Lazo)

VIDEOS OF THE DAY:

Seth Meyers made fun of Trump’s meeting with the Pope:

Trump’s Cruel Budget Breaks His Campaign Promises: A Closer Look

Donald Trump’s Private Pope Meeting, Marathon Proposal – Monologue

Colbert also made jokes about the visit:

Cartoon Pope Francis Roasts Donald Trump

And he talked about the budget:

A Math Problem For Donald Trump

Stephen did a skit based on The Washington Post obtaining the transcript of the Trump-Duterte call:

Trump’s Odd Call With New BFF Rodrigo Duterte

Jimmy Kimmel also focused on the Pope-Trump session:

Jimmy Kimmel on Trump’s Visit with the Pope

Winter is coming! This summer:

Game of Thrones Season 7: Official Trailer (HBO)

Jacoby Ellsbury made a spectacular play on the very first pitch of the Yankees’ 3-0 win over the Royals on Wednesday, crashing into the center field wall after a long sprint to rob Kansas City’s Alcides Escobar of an extra-base hit. However, the veteran outfielder paid a heavy price on the play, suffering a concussion that sent him to the disabled list. Click to watch:

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News from the Mullet Wrapper -> Greg Gianforte, the Republican nominee in today’s special congressional election in Montana, has been charged with misdemeanor assault after allegedly “body slamming” a reporter for the Guardian. News from the Mullet Wrapper -> Greg Gianforte, the Republican nominee in today’s special congressional election in Montana, has been charged with misdemeanor assault after allegedly “body slamming” a reporter for the Guardian.

[randomnameless]

Who's your favorite pairing/couple with a Nabatean?

Manu and Seteth !

I'm on copium trying to deal with Nopes sinking that ship lol

(Nopes AU : Manu is actually a spy using theater troupes and spectacles to smuggle intel about the Imperial army ?)

But more seriously, Manu is the idiot who charged headfirst against the Death Knight to save Flayn, she started to sing after hearing Rhea (even if she thinks it was the goddess) and she treats her after the nukes in SS and VW, obviously not put off by the fact that, uh, Rhea turned into a giant lizard to protect them all.

Also I love her supports with Seteth, she's her living disaster self and yet from all of his support partners (Billy excluded bcs avatar status - even if he doesn't tell her about his daughter in the supports, it's only in a paralogue!), she's the only one Seteth feels comfortable/trusts enough to reveal he has a daugher and could envisage settling with someone else after the death of his wife.

And I'm a sucker for "grumpy/flirty" duos

Also, the possibilities for nabatean nonsense is endless with Manu, poor Seteth will have to deal with his daughter "Brother did I tell you how awesome King Dimitri is? BTW, I have to pose for Ignatz today, he's going to make an awesome and fierce and cute painting, see you later!", his sister "Cyril grows up so fast, I used your shirt and trimmed it to craft him a new shirt! Why should I care if you don't have any shirts left? Go and buy some, oh, and btw, I took your purse to buy sweets" and Manu "instead of grading papers we could maybe drink a little, and then a bit more, and then we could talk about a possible partner for you? Like the woman standing in front of you? Who cares about paperwork, let's fu-"

#zevfern #FE16 #fodlan nonsense #poor seteth #manu hell alt #they're perfect for each other i either expect christmas seteth this year to mention her in FEH or i riot #she goes along with nabateans why should she pick SB? #sure Manu buys Adrestian propaganda about the monastery being between all three countries #and in AM she becomes an assassin like why is this never explored #i really wanted a church staff/knight of seiros route #imo they're more interesting than 70% of the students

[randomnameless]

Math time :

Manuela is 34 in 1180.

So she was born around 1146.

Per her bio, she joined mittelfrank in 1158.

She peaked as a diva in 1161.

It means Manu joined Mittelfrank when she 12, did things she’s not proud of to reach her status as a diva at... 15.

But sure, Rhea BaD for making children who enrolled in a military academy fight, while Mittelfrank good for providing to some nobles “rising divas” to comfort them.

Granted, Doro bio paints something similar so maybe, if Doro and Manu think being old makes them unattractive, it’s because their youth was lusted after in the Opera troupe, and while I don’t want to call Mittelfrank an organisation that provided to some people “young and pure” girls to talk to...

Nobility BaD? I’m not sure Rodrigue, Matthias or even Lorenz’s dad would hump the first 12 years old they meet, but apparently, it is common enough in Adrestia that at least two “divas” had to talk to influential people before becoming famous.

Current Adrestia is absolutely fucked up, and I’m not sure this has anything to do with the Crust System or the Church of Seiros.

#Adrestia stuff #FE16 #imagine if the games focused on Adrestia instead #how corrupt it was and how Supreme Leader genuinely works at least for a moment to save her people from this mess #and then she becomes arrogant and thinks she can save the rest of the world even if they never asked anything from her #manu hell alt #poor manu #she still likes singing and the opera and all the spectacles she did #but it comes with a part of darkness #her support with flayn is very nice in that regard #even if Manu thinks Flayn is too young to understand #Flayn understands it better actually #Manu's age is 34 in the datamine #Hanneman saying he's around 15 years older than her is a lolcalisation exclusive line #to make up for the jp one where he's angry because she called him an old bearded man

[randomnameless]

Even here he can't run away from Manu's rants :(

#Fe heroes #fodlan nonsense #Manu hell alt #Cyril is puzzled by her outfit #It's for a new festival ?

[randomnameless]

She was told to bring her swimsuit !

No swimsuit, no party !

#fe16 #fe heroes #Fodlan nonsense #heroes nonsense #Manu hell alt #She wants to join the summer fun !

[randomnameless]

Manuela sings the Song of the Nabateans in jp? Even more implication of it being Rhea who inspired her to sing, and it was already heavily implied.

Her lyrics are different, but it's the same tune (albeit, not the part Rhea is humming when she's singing her lullaby).

Just like the Enbarr/Gritnea and Saias is Arvis's kid, it is not said so it is not canon, but Manuela, as you pointed out, is heavily implied to have heard Rhea sing, and in turn, Rhea inspired her to sing.

Which is why, imo, Manu joining SB or being part of the Imperial forces in AM is sad - the known Nabateans have inspired her/can become her friends, but their ears being pointy means that in Nopes, she will always fight against them.

It's even more baffling because in Nopes, we learn more about Mittelfrank and we even learn that one of their plays is about some sort of interspecies romance between a human and what is implied to be a Nabatean...

Manuela could have meaningful interactions with Nabateans, and know they are not evil because of their ears - but Nopes being what it is, Manu was eggtivated to sell even more Hresvelg Tea.

Pour one (or pour the first one) for Casagranda.

#anon #replies #manu hell alt #FE16 #Nopes #maybe i'm biased bcs shipping googles but #she can A support Flayn #End up with Seteth #and has some sort of ties to Rhea where Rhea inspired her to become what she is today #but no lizards bad church bad #She will always oppose lizards in Nopes #what kind of fuckery #or maybe Manu was manipulated by a lot of information campaigns #still it's odd

[randomnameless]

(voice line anon) I AM FINALLY BACK AFTER HOURS UPON HOURS OF SUFFERING. The Manuela Lines(tm) you've been waiting for are hot and ready to be served. I'll first start with the Rhea interactions. Manuela says this when engaging her in battle: "Please forgive my impertinence, Lady Rhea." And this when she defeats her: "Please forgive me, Lady Rhea." (she sounds very guilty in this one) She also has unique praise: "Your power knows no bounds, Lady Rhea!" (1)

Yay, welcome back, voice line anon!

I hope Supreme Bullshit wasn't so hard on you, if I had any youtube video editing talents I'll make a video swapping the audio of the last scene where Rhea and Thales rekt each other with the audio of that scene in the Captain Falcon anime, when Captain Falcon punches his nemesis, Dark Shadow, with a falcon punch and the planet explodes or something and they both disappear in the light.

Complete with the banger OST - Searching for the Truth!

Anyways, back to voicelines :

Thanks!

Yeah, as I suspected, Manu seems to be more playful with Seteth than with Rhea, but given how we know she knows when to get serious or not...

Just like the lines Rhea has with Cyril and Catherine, I don't think those lines were thought to be lines said during a real battle, but maybe during a training session or something?

It's still a damn shame she got stuck with Supreme Bullshit - Nopes is basically telling us she is close - at least close enough to have battle (training) lines - to Rhea'n'Seteth, but she can't join them? Really?

Does she have battle lines with other characters too, or it's just those two?

#voice line anon #replies #thanks! #manu hell alt #Nopes did her so dirty by making her stick to Supreme Bullshit #She talks to Nabateans in the first game she had A supports with nabateans #her opera had plays about nabateans #but now you want me to believe the nurse who befriends nabateans would join Supreme Leader? #pff #3 Nopes

[randomnameless]

Favourite Seteth pair?

Manu, for comedy but also...

The game wants us to believe that Manuela - the woman who laments when people end up in her infirmary, when people died, the woman who risked her life to save Flayn - would buy the "eww lizards" propaganda, become an Adrestian General and side with the people starting the war?

This Manuela?

Now, AM!Manu - if she is not recruited - is an assassin. Was she forced to become one else the Mittelfrank company would be Hubert'd or not?

Turning Manu the nurse to Manu the Assassin... Idk what happened in AM's timeskip, or why it only happened in AM's timeskip, but... it was something that mad Manu, the nurse who opens a school in her epilogue, in an Assassin.

We will never know what that "something" was though and it makes me sad.

Edit :

lel, again, something that aged like milk thanks to Nopes !

Which is even more ridiculous, given the new books Nopes itself gave us, like an old opera play where a human falls in love with "someone who can transform in a beast", but maybe Manu thought it was an old kinky play about bestiality, or just, didn't read that one when she was in Mittlefrank.

meh

#necroposting my own drafts #rip to manu #Manu hell alt #as far as i'm concerned Manu!Nopes defects to the Kingdom for some reason #maybe because the opera in the jp version isn't something she's fond of and she bails out #or maybe because Varley promoted shit and it's not the faith Manu followed and loved #FE16 #3 nopes

[randomnameless]

Dunking on Manu :

Maybe it was to avoid the reference to kouhai/senpai, but why did they had Doro made a joke about her drinking habits, it's supposed to be a serious scene, not a "Manu isn't drunk? Truly this is the end of the world lol".

It's kind of sad because I like the parallel and links Manu and Doro can have, and in this battle quote (the same regardless of the path chosen, if Doro is with Billy or if Doro isn't with Billy) we have a rare moment of them bonding, Manu being given a chance at being more than Doro's senior in the diva business, but just, Doro's senior who could sway her.

Oh well, given what Nopes did to Manu, this angle was doomed to sink, but I can dream!

#fodlan nonsense #FE16 #lolcalisation issues #? #Manu hell alt #the more i type about her the more i realise i dislike doro as a character #granted in this line we had a rare moment of doro depth #that was erased for a 'lol drunk' lolcalisation #sure the rest of the dialogue is kind of similar #but why adding this 'lol manu loves to drink' tidbit in a battle quote?? #way to kill the mood!

[randomnameless]

Can you imagine Rhea and Manuela having supports? They can confirm whether or not Rhea is the one who inspired her to sing and Manuela gets to bond with another member of the lizard squad. (Manuela: "I thought I heard the goddess singing back then". Rhea: "..I'm her daughter, if that counts?")

Rhea - having flashbacks of her time as Seiros the Warrior when she ofen hummed songs while bathing in ponds, with dozens of Adrestians on the shores wanting to "share a spiritual moment" with the Goddess's envoy -

"People often mistaked my singing as the Goddess's, but my Mother was a better singer than I would ever be."

Manu wonders, what is even the link between her Mother and the Goddess?

Still, they sing together, and when Manu suggests they could organise a spectacle for the people in the Monastery, but Rhea refuses, she doesn't feel young enough to sing naked in ponds anymore.

Manu is even more confused but think it's a weird joke - they ultimately decide to open "singing classes" for children and students interested in learning, Flayn immediately joins.

(Seteth huffed and puffed but joined when Flayn did).

Sadly, when they could finally have their first recital, Clownya axed Jerry :(

#anon #replies #fodlan nonsense #lizard family time? #manu hell alt #Anette and Doro were part of the gang #Lorenz too to Manu's dismay #way later after the war Manu asks Seteth what was that nonsense about singing in ponds #he just sighed loudly