#hardship vermont

[modernwizard]

Hardshippers in…Mad Tea Party IV: “Prop Problems”

Allison and Marvin are not listening to Ebru, who is increasingly exasperated.

Leaning Tower of Pisa burger is from Rement. Mug with pan flag design [and many more Pride designs] can be found at PrintedByStovall. Be cool and purchase some for your dolls too!

@natalunasans @queen-of-meows @dollsahoy @pandorkful

#doll photostories #ebru #allison #alice in wonderland #ever after high #rement #marvin #dolls of color #dolls of color fuck yeah #stovallthedoll #black dolls #hardship #hardship vermont

[eretzyisrael]

by Rafael Medoff

Bernie Sanders says his new bill to restrict aid to Israel is a response to the deaths of civilians in Gaza. Yet he also proposed cutting aid to Israel more than four years ago. The current war, it seems, is just a convenient excuse for Sanders to slam the Jewish state again.

In the immediate aftermath of the mass slaughter, torture and gang-rapes of 1,200 Israelis by Hamas on October 7, Sanders briefly took Israel’s side. He called Hamas “barbaric” and rejected the demands by his political allies that Israel cease firing at the terrorists. That enraged friends such as his ex-press secretary, Briahna Joy Gray, who claimed there’s no evidence that Hamas raped Israeli women and called Sanders “the biggest political disappointment of our generation” for not agreeing with her.

It didn’t take long for Sanders to succumb to the criticism. He’s now the author of legislation to put restrictions on the supply of U.S. weapons that Israel needs to fight the gang-rapists.

But Sanders cannot pretend his motive is the current casualty toll in Gaza. In October 2019, addressing the annual conference of J Street, Sanders proposed reducing U.S. military aid to Israel—and he said a portion of the Israel aid should be diverted, “right now,” to Gaza.

Sanders said he was proposing that the funds to Gaza consist of “humanitarian aid.” But it has been well known for years that “humanitarian aid” such as concrete, ostensibly to build houses, was being used by Hamas to build tunnels. That is, the hundreds of miles of tunnels, underneath Gaza, where Israeli rape victims and other hostages are still being held to this day.

So it appears the new Sanders legislation represents nothing more than a political calculation. Impressing Briahna Gray and other rape-deniers is more important to Sen. Sanders than standing by Israel. And it’s not the first time that he chose to abandon Jews in their hour of need.

On May 17, 1988, then-U.S. Representative—today Senate Majority Leader—Chuck Schumer led a delegation of eight Democratic congress members to the Soviet Embassy in Washington to protest the Soviet regime’s persecution of Soviet Jews.

They were especially concerned about onerous new restrictions the Kremlin had imposed to deny requests for exit visas. Soviet Jews seeking to emigrate now had to prove that their departure would not cause financial hardships even for distant relatives. Invitations to Soviet Jews from relatives in America would no longer be accepted unless the relative was a parent, child or sibling. And not only were Jews who supposedly knew “state secrets” disqualified from emigrating, but now their spouses and children would be denied, too.

In addition, all families with children under the age of 17 would be denied exit visas until the children completed military service. That new rule was particularly cruel because it was a Catch-22: those who completed their army service were often then denied exit visas on the grounds that they had learned military secrets during their service.

Congressman Schumer said he was worried the Soviet Jewry issue would “be swept under the rug” in the name of pursuing détente between the U.S. and the USSR. He was right to be worried. Because his future Senate colleague, Bernie Sanders, was one of the ones doing the sweeping.

Two weeks after the Schumer protest, Sanders and his new wife, Jane, decided to spend their honeymoon with a group of Vermont political activists on a visit to the Soviet Union to promote friendly relations with the Kremlin. Upon their return, Sanders—who was then mayor of Burlington, Vermont—held an hour-long press conference with his fellow travelers to discuss their trip.

Sanders spoke first. He heaped praise on the “friendship and openness” of the “extremely generous and warm” Soviet officials who hosted them. He hailed the Soviet government’s cultural programs for youth, which, he said, “go far beyond what we have in this country.”

Sanders focused on the trains in particular. “In Moscow we were extremely impressed by their public transportation system,” he said. “In fact, it was the cleanest, most effective mass transit system that I’ve ever seen in my life…The stations themselves were absolutely beautiful, including many works of art, chandeliers that were beautiful, it was a very, very effective system.”

While Sanders had much to say about the efficiency of Soviet trains, he had nothing to say about the vicious mistreatment of his fellow-Jews behind the Iron Curtain. He never mentioned the plight of the three million Soviet Jews who were being persecuted and prevented from emigrating. He never spoke about the grueling new restrictions the Kremlin had imposed.

When Soviet Jews needed Bernie Sanders to raise his voice in protest, he abandoned them. Today, when the Israeli victims of Hamas rapes and torture need Senator Sanders to raise his voice on their behalf, he has chosen to abandon them, too.

#bernie sander #putz #jews #russia #hamas #gaza #bill to restrict aid to israel

[looz-y]

two years ago i was going through some hardships and had to take a trip to Vermont for family. i was stressing so much with packing and greyshis just hopped in w/o a worry in the world. he's always cheered me up like that.

ill miss catching him going into weird places to nap. in

#greyshis

[s-e-v-e-n-24]

I'm gonna preface this by saying this probably won't make sense and I'm just rambling about NE ships

I dunno what it is but NE ships are just so-

Like there's something sbput them. Something about the "I'll never admit I love you in any traditional way. You're the stupidest person I've met. I'd go to the ends of the earth for you if you asked. Just say the word"

Mass and Virginia! It's about the centuries of pining and drama and "Maybe he would love me if I wasn't me" And he already does! Mutual love they think isn't because of how differently they show love. Eventually realizing their different ways, and it dawning on them that yeah that idiots in love with them too. It's all the hardships and heartbreak and coming out the other side changed, but still in love. A quiet kind of love that was friends first.

Mass and York! They're literally so in love all the time. It's loud! Explosive! They'd kill for eachother. They'd rip out their own tongues before admitting it. Mass told him once "Nobody gets to kill you but me" And maybe it was taken as a threat but I can't stop thinking about the underlying "I will protect you. Please don't die". It's about the late night sessions, after one of them (York) has stumbled in drunken and bruised, and the other (Mass) Plays doctor and patches him up, and pretends theor heart doesn't ache that this is the closest they'll let eachother be. It and NY/NY it's about finally giving up being stubborn, and be vulnerable, or to suffer.

Speaking of NY/NY, their rivalry is everything to me. Mass is the enemy, NJ is the rival. They brawl all the time, they patch eachother up. They're so shit and yet they're the sweetest in the world. Jersey calls him "Rosie" infront of everyone, and York has to pretend he hates it. Quietly, when he thinks Jersey is asleep he'll call him his soulmate in every language he knows except Italian. Sometimes they're doomed fron the start, an on/off relationship they wish was more. Sometimes they're sneaking around the house, pretending their relationship is secret as they drag each other off to do the dumbest shit.

NJ/MA/NY?? Perfection. NJ teasing them about being lovey dovey and immediately getting flirted with.

Rhode/Jersey? Honestly I see them as a QPR. They're the best friends that never really said they're life partners officially, but everyone knows. They're shit talking buddies, they gather blackmail together. They'd hide a body for eachother but won't pass the other a charger. Them <3

Vermont and NH are also very <3 Quiet and unnoticeable, vs the chaos man very determined on befriending him. Either no one realizes they're together, or NH carries him in every room loudly announcing they're boyfriends now. Vermont is the reason, but he is very quickly convinced into doing chaos. They go on camping dates. Vermont is still traumatized from NH driving

Maine/Alaska, two very quiet people, very soft in their affection. They're the kind that bond instantly and then panic over any hint of flirting. Maine is too aware of it, Alaska is oblivious to both their attempts. They have my whole heart.

NJ/Connecticut! The lawyer man and his client he has to tell to stop hiding bodies. They're a disaster. Jersey is openly flirting and Connecticut can't take it. They're dancing alone in their rooms at the dead of night to avoid prying eyes. They're lying together under stars whispering "I love yous".

Delaware/Rhode/(Jersey)! They deal with the same shit. They defend eachother fiercely. They're going on boating trips for date night. They're fighting over Delaware's ego one minute and making out the next.

PA/MA. They're literally mom and dad. They're the parents of the NE fight me. I know Mary is parent vibes, but MA is at least the mom of the New England states. They're ranting to eachother about their idiot kids who fight instead of talking, ignoring some time in the past they definitely did the same. They fall in love over movie nights and gently moving the other from a desk to a bed.

I know I probably missed some but I'm running out of word vomit

I have thoughts on other region ships if you want that too

#wttt ne #wttt massachusetts #wttt virginia #wttt new york #wttt new jersey #wttt new hampshire #wttt vermont #wttt pennsylvania #wttt rhode island #wttt delaware #wttt connecticut #welcome to the table #welcome to the statehouse #wttt #wttsh #the statehouse #the table #sev's rambles

[aroundtheworldwithphillyfogg]

Fixed: December 5th: Verne makes a detour to dunk on Mormons.

During the night of the 5th of December, the train ran south-easterly for about fifty miles; then rose an equal distance in a north-easterly direction, towards the Great Salt Lake.

Passepartout, about nine o’clock, went out upon the platform to take the air. The weather was cold, the heavens grey, but it was not snowing. The sun’s disc, enlarged by the mist, seemed an enormous ring of gold, and Passepartout was amusing himself by calculating its value in pounds sterling, when he was diverted from this interesting study by a strange-looking personage who made his appearance on the platform.

This personage, who had taken the train at Elko, was tall and dark, with black moustache, black stockings, a black silk hat, a black waistcoat, black trousers, a white cravat, and dogskin gloves. He might have been taken for a clergyman. He went from one end of the train to the other, and affixed to the door of each car a notice written in manuscript.

Passepartout approached and read one of these notices, which stated that Elder William Hitch, Mormon missionary, taking advantage of his presence on train No. 48, would deliver a lecture on Mormonism in car No. 117, from eleven to twelve o’clock; and that he invited all who were desirous of being instructed concerning the mysteries of the religion of the “Latter Day Saints” to attend.

“I’ll go,” said Passepartout to himself. He knew nothing of Mormonism except the custom of polygamy, which is its foundation.

The news quickly spread through the train, which contained about one hundred passengers, thirty of whom, at most, attracted by the notice, ensconced themselves in car No. 117. Passepartout took one of the front seats. Neither Mr. Fogg nor Fix cared to attend.

At the appointed hour Elder William Hitch rose, and, in an irritated voice, as if he had already been contradicted, said, “I tell you that Joe Smith is a martyr, that his brother Hiram is a martyr, and that the persecutions of the United States Government against the prophets will also make a martyr of Brigham Young. Who dares to say the contrary?”

No one ventured to gainsay the missionary, whose excited tone contrasted curiously with his naturally calm visage. No doubt his anger arose from the hardships to which the Mormons were actually subjected. The government had just succeeded, with some difficulty, in reducing these independent fanatics to its rule. It had made itself master of Utah, and subjected that territory to the laws of the Union, after imprisoning Brigham Young on a charge of rebellion and polygamy. The disciples of the prophet had since redoubled their efforts, and resisted, by words at least, the authority of Congress. Elder Hitch, as is seen, was trying to make proselytes on the very railway trains.

Then, emphasising his words with his loud voice and frequent gestures, he related the history of the Mormons from Biblical times: how that, in Israel, a Mormon prophet of the tribe of Joseph published the annals of the new religion, and bequeathed them to his son Mormon; how, many centuries later, a translation of this precious book, which was written in Egyptian, was made by Joseph Smith, junior, a Vermont farmer, who revealed himself as a mystical prophet in 1825; and how, in short, the celestial messenger appeared to him in an illuminated forest, and gave him the annals of the Lord.

Several of the audience, not being much interested in the missionary’s narrative, here left the car; but Elder Hitch, continuing his lecture, related how Smith, junior, with his father, two brothers, and a few disciples, founded the church of the “Latter Day Saints,” which, adopted not only in America, but in England, Norway and Sweden, and Germany, counts many artisans, as well as men engaged in the liberal professions, among its members; how a colony was established in Ohio, a temple erected there at a cost of two hundred thousand dollars, and a town built at Kirkland; how Smith became an enterprising banker, and received from a simple mummy showman a papyrus scroll written by Abraham and several famous Egyptians.

The Elder’s story became somewhat wearisome, and his audience grew gradually less, until it was reduced to twenty passengers. But this did not disconcert the enthusiast, who proceeded with the story of Joseph Smith’s bankruptcy in 1837, and how his ruined creditors gave him a coat of tar and feathers; his reappearance some years afterwards, more honourable and honoured than ever, at Independence, Missouri, the chief of a flourishing colony of three thousand disciples, and his pursuit thence by outraged Gentiles, and retirement into the Far West.

Ten hearers only were now left, among them honest Passepartout, who was listening with all his ears. Thus he learned that, after long persecutions, Smith reappeared in Illinois, and in 1839 founded a community at Nauvoo, on the Mississippi, numbering twenty-five thousand souls, of which he became mayor, chief justice, and general-in-chief; that he announced himself, in 1843, as a candidate for the Presidency of the United States; and that finally, being drawn into ambuscade at Carthage, he was thrown into prison, and assassinated by a band of men disguised in masks.

Passepartout was now the only person left in the car, and the Elder, looking him full in the face, reminded him that, two years after the assassination of Joseph Smith, the inspired prophet, Brigham Young, his successor, left Nauvoo for the banks of the Great Salt Lake, where, in the midst of that fertile region, directly on the route of the emigrants who crossed Utah on their way to California, the new colony, thanks to the polygamy practised by the Mormons, had flourished beyond expectations.

“And this,” added Elder William Hitch, “this is why the jealousy of Congress has been aroused against us! Why have the soldiers of the Union invaded the soil of Utah? Why has Brigham Young, our chief, been imprisoned, in contempt of all justice? Shall we yield to force? Never! Driven from Vermont, driven from Illinois, driven from Ohio, driven from Missouri, driven from Utah, we shall yet find some independent territory on which to plant our tents. And you, my brother,” continued the Elder, fixing his angry eyes upon his single auditor, “will you not plant yours there, too, under the shadow of our flag?”

“No!” replied Passepartout courageously, in his turn retiring from the car, and leaving the Elder to preach to vacancy.

During the lecture the train had been making good progress, and towards half-past twelve it reached the northwest border of the Great Salt Lake. Thence the passengers could observe the vast extent of this interior sea, which is also called the Dead Sea, and into which flows an American Jordan. It is a picturesque expanse, framed in lofty crags in large strata, encrusted with white salt—a superb sheet of water, which was formerly of larger extent than now, its shores having encroached with the lapse of time, and thus at once reduced its breadth and increased its depth.

The Salt Lake, seventy miles long and thirty-five wide, is situated three miles eight hundred feet above the sea. Quite different from Lake Asphaltite, whose depression is twelve hundred feet below the sea, it contains considerable salt, and one quarter of the weight of its water is solid matter, its specific weight being 1,170, and, after being distilled, 1,000. Fishes are, of course, unable to live in it, and those which descend through the Jordan, the Weber, and other streams soon perish.

The country around the lake was well cultivated, for the Mormons are mostly farmers; while ranches and pens for domesticated animals, fields of wheat, corn, and other cereals, luxuriant prairies, hedges of wild rose, clumps of acacias and milk-wort, would have been seen six months later. Now the ground was covered with a thin powdering of snow.

The train reached Ogden at two o’clock, where it rested for six hours, Mr. Fogg and his party had time to pay a visit to Salt Lake City, connected with Ogden by a branch road; and they spent two hours in this strikingly American town, built on the pattern of other cities of the Union, like a checker-board, “with the sombre sadness of right-angles,” as Victor Hugo expresses it. The founder of the City of the Saints could not escape from the taste for symmetry which distinguishes the Anglo-Saxons. In this strange country, where the people are certainly not up to the level of their institutions, everything is done “squarely”—cities, houses, and follies.

The travellers, then, were promenading, at three o’clock, about the streets of the town built between the banks of the Jordan and the spurs of the Wahsatch Range. They saw few or no churches, but the prophet’s mansion, the court-house, and the arsenal, blue-brick houses with verandas and porches, surrounded by gardens bordered with acacias, palms, and locusts. A clay and pebble wall, built in 1853, surrounded the town; and in the principal street were the market and several hotels adorned with pavilions. The place did not seem thickly populated. The streets were almost deserted, except in the vicinity of the temple, which they only reached after having traversed several quarters surrounded by palisades. There were many women, which was easily accounted for by the “peculiar institution” of the Mormons; but it must not be supposed that all the Mormons are polygamists. They are free to marry or not, as they please; but it is worth noting that it is mainly the female citizens of Utah who are anxious to marry, as, according to the Mormon religion, maiden ladies are not admitted to the possession of its highest joys. These poor creatures seemed to be neither well off nor happy. Some—the more well-to-do, no doubt—wore short, open, black silk dresses, under a hood or modest shawl; others were habited in Indian fashion.

Passepartout could not behold without a certain fright these women, charged, in groups, with conferring happiness on a single Mormon. His common sense pitied, above all, the husband. It seemed to him a terrible thing to have to guide so many wives at once across the vicissitudes of life, and to conduct them, as it were, in a body to the Mormon paradise with the prospect of seeing them in the company of the glorious Smith, who doubtless was the chief ornament of that delightful place, to all eternity. He felt decidedly repelled from such a vocation, and he imagined—perhaps he was mistaken—that the fair ones of Salt Lake City cast rather alarming glances on his person. Happily, his stay there was but brief. At four the party found themselves again at the station, took their places in the train, and the whistle sounded for starting. Just at the moment, however, that the locomotive wheels began to move, cries of “Stop! stop!” were heard.

Trains, like time and tide, stop for no one. The gentleman who uttered the cries was evidently a belated Mormon. He was breathless with running. Happily for him, the station had neither gates nor barriers. He rushed along the track, jumped on the rear platform of the train, and fell, exhausted, into one of the seats.

Passepartout, who had been anxiously watching this amateur gymnast, approached him with lively interest, and learned that he had taken flight after an unpleasant domestic scene.

When the Mormon had recovered his breath, Passepartout ventured to ask him politely how many wives he had; for, from the manner in which he had decamped, it might be thought that he had twenty at least.

“One, sir,” replied the Mormon, raising his arms heavenward —“one, and that was enough!”

#Around the world in 80 days #Jules Verne #Around the world in 80 dailies

[danonrealestate]

Afghan refugees to Vermont

Refugee migration to Vermont from Afghanistan has become a pressing issue in recent years, as a growing number of individuals and families flee their war-torn homeland in search of safety and stability. The situation is deeply worrying, as these refugees face a multitude of challenges as they attempt to start anew in a foreign land. Vermont, like many states across the United States, has seen an uptick in the arrival of Afghan refugees, and it is crucial that we as a community come together to provide the necessary support and resources to help them integrate and thrive.

The influx of Afghan refugees into Vermont is driven by the ongoing conflict in their home country, which has forced millions to seek refuge in neighboring countries and beyond. The situation in Afghanistan is dire, with widespread violence, persecution, and human rights abuses putting the lives of countless individuals at risk. For those who manage to escape, the journey to safety is often perilous, with many facing long and arduous journeys through multiple countries before finally reaching their final destination.

Upon arrival in Vermont, Afghan refugees are faced with the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from scratch. Many arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs, having left behind their homes, possessions, and often their families. The trauma of their experiences, combined with the challenge of adapting to a new culture and language, can create significant barriers to their successful integration into Vermont society. Moreover, the socio-economic situation of refugees in Vermont is another concern, as they often struggle to find suitable employment and housing due to the unfamiliarity with the local job market and housing regulations.

One of the most pressing issues for Afghan refugees in Vermont is access to necessary services and support. Many arrive with complex medical needs resulting from the physical and psychological trauma they have endured. Additionally, language and cultural barriers can make it difficult for them to navigate the healthcare and social service systems. It is crucial that we as a community work to ensure that these refugees have access to the medical care, mental health support, and social services they need to rebuild their lives and thrive in their new home.

Another major concern for Afghan refugees in Vermont is the education of their children. Many families arrive with school-aged children who have had their education interrupted due to the conflict in their home country. The process of enrolling in a new school and adapting to a new educational system can be overwhelming and daunting for these children, who often struggle to catch up academically and socially. It is essential that we provide additional support and resources to ensure that these children have the opportunity to succeed in their new educational environment.

Despite the challenges and hardships that Afghan refugees face in Vermont, it is crucial that we as a community come together to welcome and support them. By providing access to essential services, employment opportunities, and educational support, we can help these individuals and families rebuild their lives and contribute to our vibrant Vermont community. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that all refugees, regardless of their background or circumstances, are treated with dignity and respect as they seek safety and security in our country.

Photo by Julie Ricard on Unsplash

#world #politics #education #economy #economics

[tigermike]

Norman Rockwell's Thanksgiving. This painting was created in November 1942 and published in the March 6, 1943 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. All of the people in the picture were friends and family of Rockwell in Arlington, Vermont, who were photographed individually and painted into the scene.

The work depicts a group of people gathered around a dinner table for a holiday meal. Having been partially created on Thanksgiving Day to depict the celebration, it has become an iconic representation for Americans of the Thanksgiving holiday and family holiday gatherings in general.

The Post published Freedom from Want with a corresponding essay by Carlos Bulosan as part of the Four Freedoms series. Despite many who endured sociopolitical hardships abroad, Bulosan's essay spoke on behalf of those enduring the socioeconomic hardships domestically, and it thrust him into prominence.

The painting has had a wide array of adaptations, parodies, and other uses, such as for the cover for the 1946 book Norman Rockwell, Illustrator. Although the image was popular at the time in the United States and remains so, it caused resentment in Europe where the masses were enduring wartime hardship. Artistically, the work is highly regarded as an example of mastery of the challenges of white-on-white pain and as one of Rockwell's most famous works. The painting embodies nostalgia for an enduring American theme of holiday celebration.

[whistlekick]

Episode 804 - Master Kellie Thomas

Master Kellie Thomas is a Martial Arts practitioner, instructor and founder of the Taekwondo K.I.C.K.S in Vermont.

The reason why I’m teaching is to help people increase their self confidence and self worth because I lacked that growing up. I would share to my older students that I was suicidal high school through college. Taekwondo SAVED my life…

Master Kellie Thomas - Episode 804

Our guest today started her journey as a young kid because her father wanted her to learn self-defense. Master Kellie Thomas felt like an outcast in her own school but in the dojo, she felt she belonged. Master Thomas struggled in her life as a suicidal and according to her, she was saved by Taekwondo. She has a passion for teaching and a dream of having her own Taekwondo class but it doesn’t become a reality later in her life. Presently, Master Thomas is an instructor and founder of the Taekwondo K.I.C.K.S in Vermont.

In this episode, Master Kellie Thomas talks about her journey into martial arts and how it helped her with life struggles. With the hardships she overcame in life, Master Kellie Thomas continues to impart her wisdom with children whenever she teaches. Listen to learn more!

Show notes

You may check out more about Master Kellie Thomas and her school at tkdkicks.net

Check out this episode!

#martial arts #martial art #podcast #karate #tae kwon do #kung fu

[texasprelawland-blog]

Homelessness, Criminalization, And The Fourth Amendment

By Alexa Tierrafria, University of North Texas Class of 2022

April 4, 2023

When asked to describe homelessness, the average citizen may respond with their experiences of seeing individuals holding signs on the side of the road or inhabiting vacant buildings. Although these responses are not wrong, they are common perceptions that account for a small portion of the national homeless population.

In the United States, the homelessness crisis surged from “local financial hardship, housing markets, climate conditions, and available social resources” [3]. Many homeless found “homes” in urban areas, with others residing in suburban and rural regions [3]. There, they introduced campsites into public locations, which were available when shelters were not.

According to the 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 582,462 individuals were unhoused on any night [3]. This number has slightly increased by 2,000 since the last report in 2020, indicating that the population remained stable before the COVID pandemic.

At least 30 percent of the calculated homeless experienced chronic patterns of homelessness. Chronic patterns conveyed the conditions in which an individual experienced homelessness for more than 12 months or extended periods in the last three years [3].

Compared to a decade ago, this increment is not as severe; however, to some extent, the population has now more than doubled in states like Delaware, Vermont, Louisiana, and Maine.

To reduce such patterns, efforts are being made to prioritize supportive housing. Supportive housing provides homeless with the services they need, while allowing them a comfortable place to live. “Housing First” as a program has seen “successful trials in Canada, Texas, and Florida,” but shortage of rental units has raised limitations for housing that do not always guarantee a home [4].

CRIMINALIZATION OF THE HOMELESS

Consequently, some states do not agree with these motions and have criminalized the homeless for their actions. Instead of “building more affordable housing and providing accessible services,” they have sent police to remove the homeless from their camps [1].

In Missouri, for instance, sleeping on state-owned land like streets, parks, and bridges has subjected the homeless to fines and jail sentences [4]. Local governments have even been forced to place these bans in lieu of losing state funds and services. Likewise, Tennessee has made public camping a felony. Individuals are subject to sentences of up to 6 years accompanied by voting privilege losses.  

As described previously, support services and homes are a few factors that can address homelessness, contrary to the limitation or deprivation of homeless rights. In the next section, the right to privacy and the Fourth Amendment will further be discussed.

FOURTH AMENDMENT AND RELEVANT CASES

How does the Fourth Amendment apply to the homeless? The Fourth Amendment seeks to provide protection against unreasonable search and seizure, especially within the home. The government can collect evidence or information without “trespassing or invading someone’s privacy” [2]. If the government wants to collect additional evidence or information, they must obtain a warrant. Homeless sometimes find this right difficult to maintain because they reside in public locations and not permanent homes.

Katz v. United States (1968) analyzes the protection of people and not places under the Fourth Amendment. A search can be conducted without physical trespass, as the individual expects to have reasonable expectation of privacy. Reasonable expectation of privacy means that the individual anticipates having privacy in their home or in what they are doing, while no reasonable expectation is unanticipated privacy.

Expectation and privacy are distinguished in the reasonable expectation of privacy test. There must be a “subjective expectation” that what an individual is doing is private and an “objective determination of reasonableness of that expectation” [2].

For the homeless, the expectation of privacy is often dismissed since curtilage does not support their privacy interest, and they are not legally allowed to camp in public locations without permission [1]. Curtilage is “the land immediately surrounding and associated with the home” [1]. It can be determined with four factors. These factors include “the proximity of the area claimed…, whether the area is included within an enclosure…,” the uses of the area, and the “steps taken…to protect the area from observation” [1]. It is here that then reasonableness is not a factor of focus; it is the idea of the violation of privacy itself. When there is an unlawful presence, privacy simply diminishes.

State v. Cleator (1993) touches upon this subject of unlawful presence. A trespasser has no expectation of privacy when placing their property in a location they have “no right to be” in because they have no “right to remain there” [1]. At any time, the individual may be ejected from the location. The placement of Cleator’s tent in a public location limited his expectation of privacy for his belongings within the tent, not for the tent itself or anything that could be stolen [1].

Similarly, in United States v. Sandoval (1913), Sandoval engaged in illegal activity and was camping in a public location. Sandoval was able to maintain “subjective expectation” and objective reasonableness as per the expectation of privacy test.

The expectation of privacy does not apply in cases like United States v. Ruckman (1986). Despite considering the cave his home, Ruckman had no expectation of privacy according to “open fields” and public lands. Public lands are easily accessible by the public and do not provide the same privacy as traditional homes or settings. Moreover, they cannot be used as a place of residence by the individual [1].

Finally, the rule of privacy to public activities and personal property outside of the home is extended in United States v. Jones (2012). Jones had experienced a physical trespass and search when officers attached a GPS to his vehicle found outside of his home in public. When relating this to homelessness, officers are required to know if the property left behind by the homeless is abandoned or unattended [2].

Overall, as an issue, homelessness is minimally addressed because of its uncertainty. Misunderstandings and the lack of education about homelessness raises mixed responses. What would be the proper first step? How could the number of homeless be reduced? Is criminalization an answer? Criminalization is often viewed as one of the easiest ways to “sweep” the homeless off public grounds and punish them. Perhaps deterrence will somehow lure them away from the homeless life. Homelessness should not be addressed in such a way that deprives or violates them of their rights. It should positively bring support to help homeless avoid the cycle of homelessness.

______________________________________________________________

[1] Parr, E. (2016). When a Tent is Your Castle: Constitutional Protection Against Unreasonable Searches of Makeshift Dwellings of Unhoused Persons. Seattle University Law Review, 42, 993-1017. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2594&context=sulr

[2] Reinbach, D. (2012). The Home Not the Homeless: What the Fourth Amendment has Historically Protected and Where the Law is Going After Jones. University of San Francisco Law Review, 47, 377-398. Retrieved from https://repository.usfca.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1427&context=usflawreview

[3] Security.org. (2023, January 25). Homelessness in America 2023: Statistics, Analysis, & Trends. Security.org. Retrieved from https://www.security.org/resources/homeless-statistics/

[4] Stone, J. (2023, January 18). “Rough Sleepers” – The Growing Problem Of Homelessness In America. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/judystone/2023/01/18/rough-sleepers--the-growing-problem-of-homelessness-in-america/?sh=319f491a8998  

[emilystatzjournal]

Consumption 02/05- Day 20

Today I had a down day, with not much to do so I decided to start a new show with my roommates. We sat in our living room, made dinner, and worked on homework while watching. We started Sex Life of College girls on hbo max. The show is about 4 freshmen roommates, at Essex College in Vermont, as they deal with the struggles and hardships of college and adulthood.

[modernwizard]

I have made many 1:6 scale sweaters out of socks over the years, so this miniseries shows how hilariously tacky they are.

Caveat is the store clerk. He finally got some ungloved hands! The first shopper is Dom, some DML action figure dude rerooted and repainted by @dollsahoy in the previous millennium. The shopper who can hear colors is Ghoulia, a repainted Mattel Claudette [?] head on an MGA Shadow High body. Sock sweaters are played by actual socks for 1:1 scale human beings that I used to make doll sweaters.

#doll photostories #custom dolls #custom action figures #hardship #hardship vermont #photostory #silly #funny #stupid #sock sweaters #where did all the shuz go?

[tryst-art-archive]

Amherst College Essay

I don't remember if I got accepted into Amherst or not. I do remember that I reused lots of essays and things across the college applications I sent out. (We're now in December 2008, btw.)

It might seem odd that I'm including these essays, but I can really feel the degree to which I just did not fucking care about any of this. There's this resentment permeating every single essay scrap I find and getting worse as time counts down to my 18th birthday--something I had planned to not be alive for. There's something about that resentment I want to capture in the archive.

This essay seems to have been a "Here's some quotes, write a response to one" type. I don't have the quote in my files.

Essay I found in my files follows:

            At the moment, I am sitting in my best friend’s garage in southern Vermont, writing this essay as she takes apart and cleans a deer carcass that she recently found in the woods. The deer in question was most likely a victim of coyotes, based upon its general lack of flesh. However, the remaining gristle, fur, frozen lumps of blood, and the possibility of disease demand that the carcass be cleaned and later boiled. After all, my friend, Mare, has every intention of using this for her Form Study class at the [...]; it needs to be sanitized if it is to become artwork.

            William Hastie’s remark regarding difficulty resulting in actual achievement seems to apply perfectly to this situation. After all, Mare’s efforts with the deer carcass are difficult ones. Not only is it rather demanding in terms of dexterity with a knife and endurance of the scent of the thing (only improved somewhat by the fact that the carcass is frozen and, currently, defrosting), but it is also demanding in that Mare is a fairly squeamish person. Certainly, she can buck up and face the disgusting, but spending a Tuesday of her break from college dissecting a deer is not exactly her idea of a good time. Only her excitement about the projects she will be creating with the bones from this deer allow her to proceed with a process that elicits yelps of disgust from her every few minutes. Undoubtedly, this hardship will pay off. Rather than “foreshadow despair or defeat,” this rough patch will make the later success all the sweeter for the “obstacles surmounted.”

            Indeed, the vast majority of one’s achievements, great and small, are made all the more delectable for the difficulties one faces and overcomes in obtaining them. For example, the success tasted in finally, finally defeating the last enemy in Final Fantasy IX was that much more satisfying for the sheer difficulty of the battle and how long it took to win the fight.  Similarly, the joy found in triumphing over a particular piece of flute music is greater for the struggle with that especially difficult section of sixteenth and thirty-second notes that is filled with accidentals and mordents. While the simple drum beat may be satisfying in one’s ability to pull it off flawlessly, it is only the complex drum fill that provides true gratification after it has been attempted time and time again with success coming only on the three hundred thousandth try.

            Certainly, Hastie’s remark is entirely accurate when applied to daily life. Small challenges allow one to have pride in one’s minute accomplishments while large obstacles not only make the taste of success more succulent but also teach one a great deal, allowing one to, having fallen, pick oneself back up to meet the new day and overcome ensuing difficulties with a greater degree of dexterity. Indeed, difficulty rarely is the harbinger of “despair or defeat.” Rather, it is a most happy herald.

#writing archive #TrysKits work #prose #nonfiction #college applications #assignments #me #suicide #carcass #dead animal #00s #2008 #Age 17

[kuizoku1986]

Nevada Mailbox: Lviv was once a safe haven for Ukrainians fleeing the war. Now it's suffering too

Nevada Mailbox Lviv was once a safe haven for Ukrainians fleeing the war. Now it's suffering too by Nevada Mailbox on Sunday 27 November 2022 05:54 AM UTC-05 | Tags: #nevadamailbox nevada-mailbox Areas of Ukraine once considered places of refuge are staggering under the weight of caring for displaced people and experiencing their own hardships. Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York City NY New York New York NY North Carolina North Dakota Wisconsin Katie Oklahoma Goodfield Illinois November 27, 2022 at 02:39AMTags: * #nevadamailbox * nevada-mailbox Berwick Pennsylvania Brinklow Maryland Arena North Dakota Sedalia Missouri Mc Girk Missouri Robbins California Clark Pennsylvania Turner Arkansas Glenwood New York Sheldon Vermont Sweeden Kentucky Williston Tennessee https://unitedstatesvirtualmail.blogspot.com/2022/11/nevada-mailbox-lviv-was-once-safe-haven.html November 27, 2022 at 06:24AM Avalon Mississippi Whitewater Indiana Bernice Louisiana Braidwood Illinois North Clymer New York Blue Hill Maine Mays Landing New Jersey New Canton Virginia Greenvale New York https://bakersfieldcaliforniamailbox.blogspot.com/2022/11/nevada-mailbox-lviv-was-once-safe-haven.html November 27, 2022 at 06:37AM https://unitedstatescounselingcreditconsumer.blogspot.com/2022/11/nevada-mailbox-lviv-was-once-safe-haven.html

[newsmutproject]

Cunning Linguists Author Interview: Elizabeth A. Allen

Ethan: so what was this great discovery that you made about cave suckers?

huh huh huh???

Silence: I’m getting there. Calm down.

Ethan: how long will this take

where’s the climax?

Silence: Shhh! I’m still in literary foreplay mode: titillating you with suggestive foreshadowing ... giving just enough detail to inflame your desire for more, more, more, GOD YES, more ...

Ethan: aaaaaaah

the suspense

aaaaaaah

it’s like blue balls

but for a story

Silence: That’s the point. I’m building sexual narrative tension. >:}

Ethan: oh baby

is it getting hot in this story

or is it just me? ;)

-from “Cave Suckers” in Cunning Linguists

Elizabeth A. Allen edits for a living and writes for fun. She lives in Vermont, where she was born and raised. Hardship somewhat resembles the town she grew up in, albeit with more puns, witches, and intergenerational drama. Her work appears in Master Works, We’re the Weird Aliens I, Strange Horizons, Gender Who?, the Williston Observer, the Essex Reporter, Outside In Regenerates, and The Shadow of the Gallifreyan.

What inspired you to write this story?

Storytelling can be a lot like sex -- sneaky, seductive, entertaining, and, at its best, transcendent. What better way to celebrate that similarity than to write a story have someone seducing someone by telling stories about people having sex?

What's the favorite sexy word of one of your story characters?

Silence thinks that the word "research" is incredibly hot. Ethan tells her than this is just because she has the weird idea that research itself is sexy, and she says, "That too!"

What stories are you working on now?

Silence and Ethan star in many stories about queer doings in Hardship, Vermont. This is the first one to be published, but hopefully more will follow.

Cunning Linguists comes out May 18th, 2022! This anthology of language, literature, and lechery is available at

Gumroad (use coupon code NEWSMUTPROJECTFAN for $1 off)

Amazon.com  Amazon.co.uk  Amazon.ca  Amazon.de  Amazon.fr  Amazon.es  Amazon.com.mx   Amazon.co.jp   Amazon.it   Amazon.nl   Amazon.com.br  Amazon.com.au   Amazon.in

Smashwords

Support indie bookstores when you buy a paperback copy through Bookshop.org

Barnes and Noble

Indiebound (where you can arrange to get a copy through your local bookstore)

Book Depository

Alibris

Other retailers – Books2Read

And add it to your shelf on Goodreads and LibraryThing 

#Elizabeth A. Allen #folklore #queer folklore #episotolary

[techmomma]

Something you will find in pretty much any dialect though is how the culture associates particular variations, accents of regions and classes, with stupidity and intellect. 

Almost universally, lower class, or country accents, or working class accents will, in media, become a shorthand for “this person is stupid.” In America, the classic go-to for “this is a stupid character” is what we call hill-billy, which is generally a southern accent, usually Appalachian but can be from almost anywhere in the south, but it is always associated with how farmers, backwoods, and poor people speak. You see this occasionally with the typical new york accent (working class characters will be given the Noo Yawk accent, while the aristocracy have something more general without the broad tones and considered more “grammatically correct”), the boston accent, and in recent years, the California Surfer accent (associated with vagrants, homeless surfers, layabouts, and otherwise poor persons). The classic New York and Boston variants especially for the historical connection to manual laborers and dock workers and otherwise lower class jobs in those two cities.

Conversely, the dialects associated with the upper class often become the shorthand for “this character is intelligent.” In old Hollywood, this was the Transatlantic Accent, sort of this posh north-easten accent, so from somewhere like Maine or Connecticut or Rhode Island or Vermont, that had the lilts of British English. This is much less prominent these days, but you’ll see hints of it when intelligent characters are given an accent that’s hard to place, but one can usually assume the character came from some place in the Northeast, someplace close enough to send them to a prestigious (rich people) university like Harvard or Yale. 

This is all an example of classism and how it has affected cultures for centuries, and is something we have to be aware of when depicting characters, either from your own culture or another. How they may be perceived based on the way they talk, historical stereotypes regarding their regional variant, and how those can influence the character themselves; what kind of hardships or problems (or advantages) have arisen from a character being perceived as stupid for having a working class accent, or perceived as intelligent for having an upper class accent, so on and so forth.

[arcticdementor]

I love NYC. When I first moved to NYC it was a dream come true. Every corner was like a theater production happening right in front of me. So much personality, so many stories.

Every subculture I loved was in NYC. I could play chess all day and night. I could go to comedy clubs. I could start any type of business. I could meet people. I had family, friends, opportunities. No matter what happened to me, NYC was a net I could fall back on and bounce back up.

Now it's completely dead. "But NYC always always bounces back." No. Not this time. "But NYC is the center of the financial universe. Opportunities will flourish here again." Not this time.

"NYC has experienced worse". No it hasn't.

…

Three of the most important reasons to move to NYC:

- business opportunities

- culture

- food

…

Midtown Manhattan, the center of business in NYC, is empty. Even though people can go back to work, famous office buildings like the Time Life skyscraper is still 90% empty. Businesses realized that they don't need their employees at the office.

In fact, they realize they are even more productive without everyone back to the office. The Time Life building can handle 8,000 workers. Now it maybe has 500 workers back.

…

"What do you mean?" a friend of mine said to me when I told him 'Midtown should be called 'Ghost Town', "I'm in my office right now!"

"What are you doing there?"

"Packing up," he said and laughed, "I'm shutting it down." He works in the entertainment business.

Another friend of mine works at a major investment bank as a managing director. Before the pandemic he was at the office every day, sometimes working from 6am to 10pm.

Now he lives in Phoenix, Arizona. "As of June," he told me, "I had never even been to Phoenix." And then he moved there. He does all his meetings on Zoom.

I was talking to a book editor who has been out of the city since early March. "We've been all working fine. I'm not sure why we would need to go back to the office."

One friend of mine, Derek Halpern, was convinced he'd stay. He put up a Facebook post the other day saying he might be changing his mind.

…

People say, "NYC has been through worse" or "NYC has always come back."

No and no.

First, when has NYC been through worse?

Even in the 1970s, and through the 80s, when NYC was going bankrupt, and even when it was the crime capital of the US or close to it, it was still the capital of the business world (meaning: it was the primary place young people would go to build wealth and find opportunity), it was culturally on top of its game - home to artists, theater, media, advertising, publishing, and it was probably the food capital of the US.

…

In early March, many people (not me), left NYC when they felt it would provide safety from the virus and they no longer needed to go to work and all the restaurants were closed. People figured, "I'll get out for a month or two and then come back."

They are all still gone.

And then in June, during rioting and looting a second wave of NYC-ers (this time me) left. I have kids. Nothing was wrong with the protests but I was a little nervous when I saw videos of rioters after curfew trying to break into my building.

…

…

Summary: Businesses are remote and they aren't returning to the office. And it's a death spiral: the longer offices remain empty, the longer they will remain empty.

In 2005, a hedge fund manager was visiting my office and said, "In Manhattan you practically trip over opportunities in the street."

Now the streets are empty.

…

I co-own a comedy club, Standup NY, on 78th and Broadway. I'm very very proud of the club and grateful to my fellow owners Dani Zoldan and Gabe Waldman and our manager Jon Boreamayo. It's a great club. It's been around since 1986 and before that it was a theater.

One time, Henry Winkler stopped by to come on my podcast. He was the one who told me it had been a theater.

He said, "I grew up two doors down from here and used to perform in here as a kid. Then I went out to LA to be the Fonz and now I'm back here, full circle, to be on your podcast. This place has history." Things like that happen in NYC.

…

I love the club. Before the pandemic I would perform there throughout the week in addition to many other clubs around the city and in the past few months, clubs in: Chicago, Denver, San Jose, LA, Cincinnati, all over the Netherlands, and other places.

I miss it.

…

That said, we have no idea when we will open. Nobody has any idea. And the longer we close, the less chance we will ever reopen profitably.

Broadway is closed until at least the Spring. Lincoln Center is closed. All the museums are closed.

Forget about the tens of thousands of jobs lost in these cultural centers. Forget even about the millions of dollars of tourist and tourist-generated revenues lost by the closing of these centers.

There are thousands of performers, producers, artists, and the entire ecosystem of art, theater, production, curation, that surrounds these cultural centers. People who have worked all of their lives for the right to be able to perform even once on Broadway whose lives and careers have been put on hold.

I get it. There was a pandemic.

But the question now is: what happens next? And, given the uncertainty (since there is no known answer), and given the fact that people, cities, economies, loathe uncertainty, we simply don't know the answer and that's a bad thing for New York City.

…

My favorite restaurant is closed for good. Ok, let's go to my second favorite. Closed for good. Third favorite, closed for good.

I thought the PPP was supposed to help. No? What about emergency relief? No. Stimulus checks? Unemployment? No and no. Ok, my fourth favorite, or what about that place I always ordered delivery from? No and no.

Around Late May I took walks and saw that many places were boarded up. Ok, I thought, because the protesting was leading to looting and the restaurants were protecting themselves. They'll be ok.

Looking closer I'd see the signs. For Lease. For Rent. For whatever.

Before the pandemic, the average restaurant had only 16 days of cash on hand. Some had more (McDonalds), and some had less (the local mom-and-pop Greek diner).

Yelp estimates that 60% of restaurants around the United States have closed.

My guess is more than 60% will be closed in New York City but who knows.

Someone said to me, "Well, people will want to come in now and start their own restaurants! There is less competition."

I don't think you understand how restaurants work.

…

If the restaurants are no longer clustered, fewer people go out to eat (they are on the fence about where so they elect to stay home). Restaurants breed more restaurants.

And again, what happens to all the employees who work at these restaurants? They are gone. They left New York City. Where did they go? I know a lot of people who went to Maine, Vermont, Tennessee, upstate, Indiana, etc - back to live with their parents or live with friends or live cheaper. They are gone and gone for good.

And what person wakes up today and says, "I can't wait to set up a pizza place in the location where 100,000 other pizza places just closed down." People are going to wait awhile and see. They want to make sure the virus is gone, or there's a vaccine, or there's a profitable business model.

Or...even worse.

…

If building owners and landlords lose their prime tenants (the store fronts on the bottom floor, the offices on the middle floors, the well-to-do on the top floors, etc) then they go out of business.

And what happens when they go out of business?

Nothing actually. And that's the bad news.

People who would have rented or bought say, "Hmmm, everyone is saying NYC is heading back to the 1970s, so even though prices might be 50% lower than they were a year ago, I think I will wait a bit more. Better safe than sorry!"

And then with everyone waiting... prices go down. So people see prices go down and they say, "Good thing I waited. But what happens if I wait even more!" And they wait and then prices go down more.

This is called a deflationary spiral. People wait. Prices go down. Nobody really wins. Because the landlords or owners go broke. Less money gets spent on the city. Nobody moves in so there is no motion in the markets. And people already owning in the area and can afford to hang on, have to wait longer for a return of restaurants, services, etc that they were used to.

Well, will prices go down low enough everyone buys?

Answer: Maybe. Maybe not. Some people can afford to hang on but not afford to sell. So they wait. Other people will go bankrupt and there will be litigation, which creates other problems for real estate in the area. And the big borrowers and lenders may need a bailout of some sort or face mass bankruptcy. Who knows what will happen?

…

I lived three blocks from Ground Zero on 9/11. Downtown, where I lived, was destroyed, but it came roaring back within two years. Such sadness and hardship and then quickly that area became the most attractive area in New York.

And in 2008/2009, much suffering during the Great Recession, again much hardship, but things came roaring back.

But...this time it's different. You're never supposed to say that but this time it's true. If you believe this time is no different, that NYC is resilient, etc I hope you're right.

I don't benefit from saying any of this. I love NYC. I was born there. I've lived there forever. I STILL live there. I love everything about NYC. I want 2019 back.

But this time it's different.

One reason: bandwidth.

In 2008, average bandwidth speeds were 3 megabits per second. That's not enough for a Zoom meeting with reliable video quality. Now, it's over 20 megabits per second. That's more than enough for high quality video.

There's a before and after. BEFORE: no remote work. AFTER: everyone can remote work.

…

Everyone has spent the past five months adapting to a new lifestyle. Nobody wants to fly across the country for a two hour meeting when you can do it just as well on Zoom. I can go see "live comedy" on Zoom. I can take classes from the best teachers in the world for almost free online as opposed to paying $70,000 a year for a limited number of teachers who may or may not be good.

Everyone has choices now. You can live in the music capital of Nashville, you can live in the "next Silicon Valley" of Austin. You can live in your hometown in the middle of wherever. And you can be just as productive, make the same salary, have higher quality of life with a cheaper cost to live.

…

Wait for events and conferences and even meetings and maybe even office spaces to start happening in virtual realities once everyone is spread out from midtown Manhattan to all over the country.

The quality of restaurants will start to go up in all the second and then third tier cities as talent and skill flow to the places that can quickly make use of them.

Ditto for cultural events.

And then people will ask, "wait a second - I was paying over 16% in state and city taxes and these other states and cities have little to no taxes? And I don't have to deal with all the other headaches of NYC?"

Because there are headaches in NYC. Lots of them. It's just we sweep them under the table because so much else has been good there.

NYC has a $9 billion deficit. A billion more than the Mayor thought they were going to have. How does a city pay back its debts? The main way is aid from the state. But the state deficit just went bonkers. Then is taxes. But if 900,000 estimated jobs are lost in NYC and tens of thousands of businesses, then that means less taxes unless taxes are raised.

…

What reason will people have to go back to NYC? 

#james altucher #linkedin #new york city