#virginia castro

[voidwritesstuff]

Long Way To The Truth

Cw:alcohol,discussions of therapy and grief.

Summary: Lucas finally reaches Washington and settled into Milton-Haven.

♡Chapter 8: Washington.

A/n: FINALLY DONE. Enjoy.

Soon he leaves the grand beaver state of Oregon, though its mountains and forest lines accompany him, hes greeted with small homes and rudementary brick Bridges.

Above him its a cool summer morning, a few clouds dappled here and there under the blue Sky. He taps his fingers on the steeringwheel just taking the Farmland in, and hes reminded of that cabin Rosemary had mentioned.

Lucas easily saw himself as a park ranger,he had grown up in Florida, explored the forests and knew how to survive in the wild. He hopes nobody has taken the job up until now, He'd be genuinely sad about it if so.

He lowers the sun visor,eyes catching sight of the picture hes got of him and Wheeler--Hey bud,see me as a park ranger?--He asked,mostly to humor himself while on the road.

And it makes him chuckle. "Yep,lost it" he thinks with a grin, just playing along to his boredom.

Eventually he does make it to Milton-Haven, the large entrance of almost this Greek looking style with two statues holding up this large wooden sign with faded colors.

The statues are of two greek gods,one is Morpheus god of dreams, and the other one is Psyche goddess of the soul.

His eyes quickly reads the wooden sign, "Welcome to Milton-Haven, The place that Will forever live in your mind" the faded pastel magentas, purples And blues swirl together in this oil spill pattern, beautiful but oddly...forboding.

People dont pay attention to his van as he drives into the town proper. Lucas feel relief wash over him, finally he had made it.

《It doesn't hurt me (yeah, yeah, yo)

Do you wanna feel how it feels? (Yeah, yeah, yo)

Do you wanna know, know that it doesn't hurt me? (Yeah, yeah, yo)

Do you wanna hear about the deal that I'm making? (Yeah, yeah, yo)》the radio plays, and he simply humms along. He loves this song.

He asks for directions to Elysium park and is quickly directed towards it. He drives over some Train tracks as he enters the greenery filled place, how does this small town have a train? For what purposes? Do they export something?

Or are they receiving something?

The van is left to be Parked outside the entrance of the place, before him is a large sign that reads "Elysium State Park". Its oddly charming,especially now that midday is coming up.

His eyes dont pay attention to the phone booth there either, he always saw them as very....ominous? Anyone could call one of them up and whoever picks it up could be subjected to one weird phonecall.

Lucas would rather not leave the van alone,but he cant drive into the park. So,he grabs his walkman and one of his mixtapes to listen as he walks, better to Keep his mind distracted.

And as he walks into the park, he simply takes the forest in,the crisp air and walks in silence. Few people at that hour of the day,at least for now

《You

It's you and me

And if I only could

I'd make a deal with God

And I'd get Him to swap our places

Be runnin' up that road

Be runnin' up that hill

Be runnin' up that building

Say, if I only could, oh》

He walks down the beaten path,dirt crunching underneath his boot. His body feels...somewhat light, relieved.

Finally,he had arrived to the place that has been haunting him. He can let go of some the worry,of the guilty.

"I'm already here,Al' just you wait" he thinks before Spotting a big map of the park. Just what he needed,perfect.

Summer breeze blows past him,hair and his green flannel blowing in the wind. The sunlight is warm against his tan skin, he checks the route and finds a visitors center.

--Hell yeah-- He mutters with a smile, and hey look-! The ranger cabin is right on the way to the center.

Off he goes then, feeling like a Man on a mission.

As he walks,the people around him dont pay much attention to him. Its good to not feel so exposed,he blends in and allows himself to just fully admire the forest.

Sunlight spills its light past the boughs of the trees,the leaves move,Sway and fall with the gentle summer wind that caresses them and runs past the branches Freely.

People sit under the shade, eating their lunch and talking. Birds fly over him, looking for food to snatch- Hes sure he saw a pigeon steal a piece of bread from a nearby picnic basket.

It reminds him of home a little, he was a big Outdoors person-Him and his family would go out Hunting. He wonders if Milton-Haven gets deer and other hunting game, perhaps he can go out to hunt sometime soon. That would be fun,and he could practice his aim.

He walks past the broken down ranger cabin,chunks of the roof are missing,some of the wood is old and rotten,some Windows broken by teenagers probably.

Theres an odd carving on one of the walls. 《J&L were here》. Yep,this Is the work of teenagers-And poorly maintained infraestructure.

--Charlie Foxtrot--He mutters under his breath,that house was a clusterfuck indeed.

Eventually he makes it to the visitor's center. Its a large Wood and brick estructure, designed to look like a cozy cabin. The large Windows, the earthy colors- He gets that feeling of nostalgic 60s architecture and 90s modernism.

He steps in and stops the tape in the walkman,he takes off his headphones and goes to the main desk.

Before him a woman,short red hair,deep brown eyes with freckles. --'scuse me?

The woman looks up at him, eyes tired but welcoming--Hello, what can I help you with?

Okay,now hes got to talk. Not good at that one...

--Came- came here for the ranger job- I- I saw a broken down cabin on the uh...way here?--He stutters,not sure what to say or how to say it. Its not exactly a job interview...

She nodds and smiles a little,trying to reassure him--Ah yes! The groundskeeper job right? Ill go get Miss Witherspon,she works at the parks department, you see? She can help out

So off the girl leaves,he doesnt know her name or how Long itll take her. Perfect,now to stand there awkwardly until something happens.

He sits at one of the nearby Chairs,fidgeting with his dogtags and just....existing mostly. As much as he liked the great outdoors,places Like this kind of throw him off.

Luckily theres not Many people around to judge him or stare at him,which hes thankfull for because he wouldnt know how to handle it.

When the girl returns,Lucas is met with whom she guessed is Miss Witherspoon. He sees a black woman, eyes a dark grey with her brown hair in Jheri Curls,held Back with a black headband, she wears a comfy suit of a deep blue.

--This Man is here for the groundskeeper job--The girl that manned the desk said,gesturing at the ex soldier.

--Lucas Cole--He extended his hand and Miss Witherspoon shook it.

--Sally Witherspoon, nice to make your acquaintance-- The black woman answered with a polite smile-- Can I ask what interests you about the job?

Hes good at lying through his teeth, so he shrugs and gives her a coy smile.--well I like the great outdoors,the greenery- And judging by the state of the Cabin back there...it needs some love--He makes a pause--A lot.

The woman infront of him snickers--Hah,it does--She agreed-- We've been needing a groundskeeper for a while- You have experience with that kinda job?

Lucas nodds, seeing the red haired girl return the the main desk. --Yes,actually--He replied,sounding all friendly-- Im originally from Florida you see? My family used to go out hunting,camping, ive grown around forests. And im a veteran so I know a thing or two about security--He jingles his dogtags.

Sally looks impressed--Well, I mean if you can fix up that old cabin then the Jobs all yours

He blinks a little confused--That easy?

The woman scoffs--we're in need of a groundskeeper,and that cabin is an eye sore,so yes.

--Well,perfect. Ill take you up on that offer--He replied,not looking a gift horse in the mouth.

--Great,I'll talk with my sueperiors and get the materials needed. You're just going to have to..

--Do the hard work?--She nodds a little sheepish-- hah,dont worry ma'am im quite used to it

After that she hands him the number of the parks department for him to call if hes got questions. And off he goes back to his van, figuring he ought to explore the town a little better.

Though first,he better get something to eat. So,he stops at the parks dinner for some lunch-He digs the rustic vibes of the place. His ordee is taken by an older woman around his age, the tag on her shirt reads "Olive".

Milton-Haven is quite small town like-He realized as he Walked around the place post lunch. Theres safety in numbers and hes happy to blend in with the people around him, jusr admiring the simple quaintness of the place.

He makes notes of a few interesting places,restaurants, cafés,a record shop and a bar. "Dyonisus Bar" read the neon sign that shines even at this early hour of the afternoon.

Out of Curiosity and mild boredom he steps in, the place is quite rustic with fake grapevines tangling around the beanpoles and the walls. Its a mix of 90s architecture with its ornate details in the scaffolding,the decorations of the walls and that rustic feel that seems to be a trend around the town.

--Quite early for a drink huh?--A Man behins the bar asks to another costumer. The ex soldier turns to see a guy in his 20s manning the bar, dark brown hair with a cobalt blue underdye, greyish green eyes and tattoos all across his arms.

Lucas sits to see if he can strike up a conversation with the guy,get some more information on the place. He calls the attention of the barkeeper and smiles politely.

--You too huh? Its not even happy hour--the brown haired Man says with a smirk.

--Hah, kind of. Just here to ask about the town, im uh- New

--I'd say,havent seen you before--Theres a small hint of a hispanic accent to the Man, his way of speaking is sing-songy-- Whats your name,stranger?--He asked,polishing a glass.

--Lucas, n you are?-- he finds himself Charmed by the guy, a lot of charisma clearly.

--Lazaro, call me laz

--Nice to meetcha,Laz-- the radioman answers--What can you tell me about the town?

--We're small, honestly. Quite boring--He replied,setting down the polished glass--Before I say anything though, whats your poison?

He chuckled--Gotta pay for information?

The Man chuckled--All in a days work,mate. Dont wanna be greedy but you know-Gotta make a living

--Fair enough, just a beer Will do-- he replied, not minding getting hustled.

--cool, we've got Budlight,Corona,budwiser and uhhh--He thinks for a moment, turning to the small fridge behind the bar-- Heineken

--Corona 

Lazaro nodds and goes to Grab a bottle,hes quick to return and pocket the metal cap once the bottle is Open-- good choice,Its my sisters favorite--He pushes the beer up to the other man-- Actually,sorry to be so forward but youre exactly my sisters type

His face blooms with deep reds,he coughs a little- Jesus, hes not used to this-- uhm...thanks?

The barkeeper snorts-- ill make you a discount for the discomfort-- the soldier chuckles, easing into the conversation-- As I was saying, we're a small town. Quiet,cozy,easy going

Lucas nodds--Any interesting history to the place?

--Not sure- Theres the icarus point,the lighthouse- Oh the church of the blessed eyes, thats pretty--He lists off a few places until he adds--Oh right,it slipped my mind- Fort Sonder! Yeah the old bunker at Elysium Park!

--The whatnow?

--Yeah! Its an old world war II bunker, havent been used in ages-- Laz replied, tapping on the counter-- ive seen some people around It- security probably I mean im sure the state doesnt want kids to vandalize it

--Fair- Fair enough-- answered--Anything else?

He thinks for a brief moment,pursing his lips--Sadly no- But I guess I can ask my dad- hes ex military. Might know a thing or two

Lucas eyes widen,a little surprised--Theres veterans here?

--kinda! Me and my family moved here around...three years ago. Mostly world war two, like my dad!--He chirped-- Ah,hold on-Now you opened pandoras box I love talking about my family

--Kid, i got nuthin but time. Ramble away--He answers,seeing the younger guy pull out a photo and handing it to him.

On the picture theres obviously Laz,though hes covered in piercings and dressed like a goth. Beside him is his younger sister,brown eyes and a gold underdye, bright green eyes full of mirth, shes dressed like a punk.

His eyes turn to the taller figures behind them both, his gaze turns...puzzled-- before you say anything, we're adopted-- Laz says with a slight smile at the other Mans confusion.

--I- sorry

--Dont be

Lucas returns his gaze to the  Man behind the siblings,taller and well built,covered in scars and marks over his eye and cheek and a lot of freckles on his coppery skin. Beside him is an even taller woman, probably around his own height (6'10),she has beautiful dark brown skin,her afro covers her eyes and shes built on the bigger side, her lips have a warm grin.

--This is Raymond,my dad--Lazaro points at the Man with thay Cooper colored skin-- And this is Eryz,my mamma-- he gestures at the woman with the afro-- Aaaaand~ This is my sister --He points at the smaller woman beside his photo self. He grins at the soldier.

Its clear Laz is just messing with Lucas, he plays along because its just a 20 something being a teasing dipshit. Hes been there before,did the same dumb shit and he just decides to play along.

--nice family--Lucas answers with a smirk-- Gotta say your dad doesnt look his age-you said he was in world war two?

The barkeeper nodds--Good genes,hes like... sixty five?

He could relate to being "old" and spry, so he doesnt say anything other than--Fair --And then he remembers something, now that hes here he might as well ask about that therapist--A friend of mine June,says she knows a guy whose sister is a patient of uh..doctor Wales I believe?

--Oh no way you know June?-- Laz exclaims,happy to be reminded of his friend-- yeah,its my sister who is a patient of his

--The world really is small,huh?

--Hah! Yeah it is

Lucas chuckles a little flustered-- You dont happen to have his number do you?

--Ill ask my sister and give it to you Next time you come around--He replied, non-chalant. Not his bussiness to know why would the Man need it.

--Thats, thats really nice

He shrugs-- we all need help,come by tomorrow and I should have it- I promise you wont have to buy a beer for it

The soldier laughs loudly, nodding along with joy. Perhaps he can make a friend out of Lazaro, he could use the company--Hah, thanks for that- I dont exactly have money comin' out of my eyeballs here

Lazaro snorts at the metaphor, turning his head a little-- Pff! Fair enough!

After his beer,he pays and leaves the bar. Soon he returns to his van and decides to spend the rest of the day walking around The park, he does notice the bunker,though he keeps the visor of his cap well over his face just in case.

The bunker is old,overgrown and with a Giant radio antenna coming out of It. Theres a big chance thats where the experiments are taking place, so close yet so damn far.

He doesnt linget just in case,but he does stay nearby one of the small lakes there to Journal and relax.

"Log entry:

Finally at Milton Haven, its a relief to be here after everything. Been mingling with the locals, the town seems...quiet. I like it.

Made contact with the park people here and met a barkeeper, he told me about Fort Sonder. I suspect thats where the experiments are taking place, probably where that Dr.James is holed up.

Progress,baby steps..

Im closer and closer to finally set the record Straight."

He closes his Journal just as the sun starts to set, a sigh leaves him and he starts walking back to the van,making sure to avoid the bunker.

Luckily,he doesnt have to spend too much time living in his van. Soon enough Sally finds him and tells him he can start with the repairs.

Not a week into his little home renovation proyect,he meets Lazaro's dad,Raymond. He had offered to help him out on the repairs since its quite a lot- Lucas saw no danger in it and he accepted.

--What brings you to Milton-Haven?--Asked Raymond, helping him to set the insulation in the walls.

--Following up on an old friend--Its the best he can answer, nervously pushing back the stray hairs that dont care for being hold back by the red bandana on his head--Last I heard hes here

--Maybe i can help,whats his name?

He panicked and replied--Romeo-

--Dont know any Romeos,sadly--Ray answered,making sure to give the wall a good coat of spray foam.--havent been here long so maybe I just missed it

Okay,thank god hes not asked to elaborate--Maybe he moved,I honestly dont know

When the cabins all repaired,Raymond takes Lucas out for a beer at Dyonisus' Bar. They chat and slowly get into the talk about their service in the military.

Thats when Raymonds age start to show, he talks about world war two with a distant look in his eyes and bitter woe hid underneath his casualness.

Nothing Lucas hasnt seen before,he knows it first hand. So  return, he opens up about Vietnam,and a little bit about Wheeler.

《You don't wanna hurt me (yeah, yeah, yo)

But see how deep the bullet lies (yeah, yeah, yo)

Unaware I'm tearin' you asunder (yeah, yeah, yo)

Oh, there is thunder in our hearts (yeah, yeah, yo)

Is there so much hate for the ones we love? (Yeah, yeah, yo)

Oh, tell me, we both matter, don't we? (Yeah, yeah, yo》

Music fills the silence that forms when hes done talking about Wheeler's death. Of course he doesnt tell the full story,but its good to Open up about it somewhat.

--That sounds...rough--Ray says leaning on the bar with this look of...fatherly pity in his eyes.--im so sorry, kid.

Its that damn petname that really makes his heart squeeze and churn and hurt like hell. Yet he nodds,holding Back the tears that threaten to form and expose him.

--Its- ive been dealing with it--He replied, taking a swig from his beer-- I got to talk about it with a friend we both knew, she gave me this,actually-- He gestures at the red bandana he has tied on his left wrist.

--Talking helps-- The older Man said, figuring he shouldnt pry. Though his gaze lingers on his companions bleary-- Crying too,no shame in crying

Lucas feels a little exposed- Did his eyes betray him somehow?. He clears his throat and avoids telling Ray he sounds quite a lot like Wheeler did.

After that night,Lucas moves into the place, at least the basics like his radio equipment and his cot. But he sleeps a little easier knowing he has a place to call home for a while, its a nice upgrade from living in a van crammed with Gear.

When he gets a phoneline, he calls up Dr.Wales. he had the whole thing rehearsed,he Hated calling.

--Hello?--Says a Man, of a somewhat deep but welcoming voice.

--Morning Mr.Wales --Lucas tries his best to Keep his tone steady--Im a friend of Lazaro's, his sister is a patient of yours.. I-- he makes a pause, knowing this is the first step towards recovery. He just needs to set one foot after the other-- I wanted to schedule an appointment

--Yes, of course--Dr.Wales answers,seeminly going through his schedule given the fact that the sound of flipping paper can be heard-- I think theres a space for you Next month, sounds good? Im kind of pretty busy until the end of this one

--Yes- its uh,no Biggie.

They talk for a bit,just bureocratic things like scheduling and fee discussion. After that,Lucas sits on the one person sofá hes got and rubs his eyes.

Maybe he should call up Jane and tell her the news,Surely she'd like to know hes getting help. So,he does- And admits he misses her already.

Now that hes got a "Base of operations" he tries to Catch that frequency again, now that hes close this should make it easier to eavesdrop. And he could confirm or deny his suspicion that the bunker in the park held the lab.

The few times he catches things they sound...oddly muffled. Perhaps this Dr.James had been moved to the bunker and thats why the transmission sounds so...weak?

It leads him to create what he called a "Radio Beacon",A modified walkie talkie.Now he could tune in on the frequency from the bunker, Its just a little clearer with this. And,it gives him a good side proyect to Keep his mind occupied when hes not working as a groundskeeper.

He figures that going from soldier to Park ranger is a good change of pace. He gets to be there in the great outdoors,helps people out and its mostly left to his own devices-Great cover for when hes walking around the Park late at night.

Lazaro was right, this town is quite calm and quiet. He really likes it.

One night, as he returns from his day as a firewatch(he covered sometimes for the actual firewatch guy,Eliott) he finds a cardbord envelope in his doorstep.

Hes careful to both Grab it and Open it, within it he finds a white paper that seems to be the personal Log of Doctor...Rosemary james. Taped to the page was a simple note.

"I wont tell if you dont. -Spider"

Lucas chuckles and proceeds to read the document, nursing a cup of coffee as the radio plays.

《And if I only could

I'd make a deal with God

And I'd get Him to swap our places

Be runnin' up that road

Be runnin' up that hill

Be runnin' up that building (yo)

Say, if I only could, oh》

When hes done Reading,he goes to work on his board. He would like to think its not a conspiracy board but he can only lie to himself so much...

He finds humor in it though,and simply keeps working with what hes got. A few red threads here,some more notes over there...

In a sense,he finds pride in this work-In this mission he decided to embark on. A chance at vindication,right?

《Oh, come on, baby (yeah)

Oh, come on, darlin' (yo)

Let me steal this moment from you now

Oh, come on, angel

Come on, come on, darlin'

Let's exchange the experience (yo), oh, ooh, ooh》

--Lucas....Cole.... do you read?--Comes from his radio equipment. A garbled mess.

No,its not from the radio- its...

His head?

Lucas turns violently, seeing a woman behind him- or what he thinks is a woman. Shes covered in blue light and radio waves.

--Rosemary?--He asks,and just like that the visage is gone-- What the- no,cmon-- He runs to the equipment to try and tune into the frequency, though he finds no success in it.

To his credit,he really did try everything, even walking up near the bunker with his radio Beacon. But It seems that his luck had run out,for now at least.

《And if I only could

I'd make a deal with God

And I'd get Him to swap our places

I'd be runnin' up that road

Be runnin' up that hill

With no problems》

And that night,as he sits on his cot journaling his eyes drift to the picture hes got with Alphonso. He smiles with nostalgia and returns his gaze to his Journal.

He sighs with that same bittersweet air--Finally here Man.-- he takes the picture and plays with one of the edges of it-- Im making things right

Lucas rips out a piece of paper and writes on it for a few minutes. Then,he sets it on his nightstand, taking a few moments to read it before heading to bed.

"I pray for you,Alphonso,

As I do every night

That your soul May be at peaceful rest.

That you watch over your brothers,here amongst the living

Where you should be

If it were not for dire mistakes

And unfortunate circumstances.

I beg for your forgiveness and your help,friend.

Give me strength

To overcome those who seek to enslave our minds.

To shine a light to those in darkness

To restore faith in those who are lost.

Amen"

Lucas Cole had finally reached Milton Haven.

And he would set the record Straight.

#in sound mind #ism #ism lucas #ism desmond #lucas cole #ism allen #ism lucas cole #desmond wales #ism virginia #oc: lazaro castro/the decay #ism allen shore #ism max #ism max nygaard

[nodynasty4us]

From the December 22, 2023 article:

The case filed by Texas resident John Anthony Castro was dismissed because the judge found that he couldn’t demonstrate standing. Castro had described himself as a candidate for president and said Trump’s presence on the ballot would harm his chances.

U.S. District Judge Irene Berger found that the evidence submitted removes “any doubt that Mr. Castro’s purported ‘campaign’ exists as a vehicle for pursuing litigation, not votes.”

Berger wrote in a Thursday order dismissing the case that Castro could not prove any political activity aside from the lawsuit.

“The Plaintiff alleged that he is a candidate for the Republican nomination for President and anticipates being on the ballot in West Virginia. His complaint contains few specific factual allegations related to his candidacy,” Berger wrote.

(Via Ground News.)

#donald trump #14th amendment #west virginia #john anthony castro

[beefbloodcinnamonrolls]

American Historical photographs you won't see in school!

Leonid Brezhnev gives Jimmy Carter a smooch.

During a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Mr. Biden presents his opening bomb.

Jimmy Carter hanging out with a Cuban fellow.

Mario Fabbrini buries his frozen pizzas after the FDA suggest they're contaminated with Botulism-causing bacteria. They were wrong.

Journalist Charles H. Loeb defied the U.S. military's censorship regarding the deadly effects of radiation from the Hiroshima bombing.

When the town of Vulcan, West Virginia was denied by both the state and federal government to fix this bridge, their only entrance and exit, they called upon the Soviet Union who were only too happy to have an opportunity to embarrass the United States. The town ended up getting $1.3 million.

Richard Nixon and his Chief of Staff, H. R. Haldeman along with Charles Colson and Fred Malek, wrote up a list of Jewish employees in the Bureau of Labor Statistics in order to purge them because of Nixon's belief they were plotting against him. This photo is before the 1971 incident.

This is Ashley's Sack, given to a nine-year-old girl named Ashley by her mother Rose before they were separated forever during a slave auction. The embroidery was made by Ashley's granddaughter, Ruth Middleton.

Meet August Willich, the communist brigadier general of the Union Army during the Civil War.

Major Warning: This final photo is extremely graphic. View at your own risk...

Henry Kissinger Mines for Gold

#american history #history #politics #leonid brezhnev #jimmy carter #joe biden #fidel castro #mario fabbrini #charles h. loeb #vulcan west virginia #richard nixon #ashley's sack #august willich #henry kissinger #historical pictures #united states of america #us politics #critical race theory

[zvaigzdelasas]

[Al Jazeera is Qatari State Media]

A powerful Haitian gang leader has rejected attempts by foreign nations for an electoral road map and a path to peace as the country plunges deeper into violent chaos and armed groups control most of the capital following the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

Regional leaders of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) held an emergency summit last week to discuss a framework for a political transition, which the United States had urged to be “expedited” as gangs wrought chaos in the capital, Port-au-Prince, amid repeatedly postponed elections.

“We’re not going to recognise the decisions that CARICOM takes,” Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier, a former police officer whose gang rules vast swaths of Port-au-Prince, told Al Jazeera. Rights groups [including those funded by the NED] have accused his gang alliance of committing atrocities, including killings and rape.

“I’m going to say to the traditional politicians that are sitting down with CARICOM, since they went with their families abroad, we who stayed in Haiti have to take the decisions,” Cherizier said, flanked by gang members wearing face masks, adding that he rejected plans for a transitional council made up of the country’s political parties.

“It’s not just people with guns who’ve damaged the country but the politicians too,” he added.[...]

Haitian civil society leaders welcomed the resignation of Henry, an unelected leader who was named for the post in 2021 shortly before the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, as a long overdue step.[...]

While some political groups are putting their names forward for the council, seeing it as a way out of Haiti’s current power vacuum, Cherizier said he wants a revolution.

“Now our fight will enter another phase – to overthrow the whole system, the system that is five percent of people who control 95 percent of the country’s wealth,” he told Al Jazeera.

According to Robert Fatton, a Haiti expert at the University of Virginia, Cherizier likes to compare himself to historical figures like South Africa’s Nelson Mandela or Cuba’s longtime President Fidel Castro.

“And he likes to say that he’s essentially a revolutionary … and he’s going to redistribute wealth,” Fatton told Al Jazeera this week.

While Cherizier has distributed some food and resources to people in areas under the control of his G9 gang, “that’s hardly a vision of the future or some sort of revolutionary [act]”, he added.

Once a transitional government is in place it could pave the way for a multinational police force on the ground in Haiti, funded by the US and Canada.[...]

Kenya’s President William Ruto said his country would lead such a force, which Cherizier rejected.

The UN has estimated that gangs currently control more than 80 percent of Port-au-Prince.

Reporting from the Dominican Republic, Al Jazeera’s John Holman said the two rival gangs – the G9 and G-PEP – have formed an alliance called Viva Ensemble to try and prevent foreign troops from entering Haiti.

16 Mar 24

[gatheringbones]

[“Watching erotic films—movies that are driven forward by sex scenes—is different from looking at single photos, pictorials, snippets, clips. The medium, the experience of going all the way through an eighty-minute feature, is an entirely different ride than a momentary glimpse, a fast-forward.

To prove it, I started throwing living room movie shows for my friends. I would give away my screener copies and show segments of my favorites. It was like I was offering free rocket tickets to the moon. My neighborhood audience was fascinated—and completely inexperienced. The living room got a little bigger—I created an educational show-and-tell clips lecture called “How to Read a Dirty Movie,” and another one called “All Girl Action: The History of Lesbian Erotic Cinema,” which I started premiering at independent theaters like the Castro and the Roxie. I hit the festival circuit all over the world, including a daring mission by the British Film Institute to get my movies in, despite ironclad UK customs rules against them.

One college-tour memory stands out. In rural Blacksburg, Virginia, a closeted gay student got ahold of student union funds for Friday Night Fun! at Virginia Tech to bring me out there for one of my clips shows. This is a school with a history of devotion to Southern white boys and military service. The students weren’t even allowed to watch R-rated films on campus. I didn’t find out this history until I was moments away from the podium. My young sponsor looked like he’d just detonated a bomb and his face was covered in sweat. “My Dirty Movie” clips show started, which happens to begin with excerpts of two young handsome army cadets making out on a firing range. I thought the roof was going to cave in. Blacksburg boys were running for the doors, making vomiting sounds, screaming. The students who stayed in their seats watched a full spectrum of sexual and human emotion, delivered by porn’s finest auteurs. They got more sex education in one hundred minutes than they’d had in their entire lives.

The stunned president of the Young Republicans, a co-sponsor of Friday Night Fun!, took me out to a fast food dinner afterward. He told me that he found it curious that the scenes of lesbians making love had pleased him, while the scenes of gay men had given him a stomachache. I was impressed that he was calm enough to observe his own reactions.

“I don’t disagree with all of what you do,” he said, “but I think it’s entirely unjust that you receive checks from the government for your homosexuality.”

I stared at him with my mouth full of fries. “Oh, it’s not that bad,” I said, “I only get half as much because I’m bisexual.”]

susie bright, from the birth of the blue movie critic, from the feminist porn book: the politics of producing pleasure, edited by tristan taormino, constance henley, and celine perreñas shimizu, 2013

#susie bright #tristan taormino #currently reading #bi literature #history stuff

[logophile-18]

If you live in the USA.

North Carolina - Alma Adams, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Nydia Velazquez, Valerie Foushee

New York - Jamaal Bowman

Missouri - Cori Bush, Emanuel Cleaver

Indiana- André Carson

Texas - Greg Casar, Joaquin Castro, Veronica Escobar, Al Green, Lloyd Doggett

Florida - Maxwell Alejandro Frost

Illinois - Jesús "Chuy" Garcia, Johnathon Jackson, Delia Ramirez, Jan Schakowsky, Lauren Underwood, Sen. Richard Dubin

Washington - Pramila Jayapal

California - Barbara Lee, Maxine Waters, Mark DeSaulnier, John Garamendi, Robert Garcia, Sara Jacobs, Jared Huffman, Judy Chu, Ro Khanna, Tony Cárdenas

Pennsylvania - Summer Lee, Mary Gay Scanlan

Minnesota - Ilhan Omar, Betty McCollum, Dean Phillips

Massachusetts - Ayanna Pressley, James McGovern, Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Michigan - Rashida Tlaib, Debbie Dingell, Daniel Kildee

New Jersey - Bonnie Watson Coleman, Donald Payne Jr.

Wisconsin - Mark Pocan

Maryland - Kewisi Fume, Jamie Raskin

Virginia - Donald Beyer, Jennifer Weston

Arizona- Raul Grijalva

Georgia- Henry "Hank" Johnson, Nike Williams, Sanford Bishop Jr.

Vermont - Becca Balint, Sen. Peter Welch

New Mexico - Gabe Vasquez

Louisiana - Troy Carter

Mississippi - Bennie Thompson

Alabama - Terri Sewell

Colorado - Diana DeGette

Oregon - Sen. Jeffery Merkley

This is a list of all the senators and represenatives (61 as of December 7th) that have voted against Biden's campaign of giving the Israeli people more weapons to fight innocent Palestinians.

A big old thank you for these sensible people, doing what they can. A ceasefire is the bare minimum.

#house of representatives #senate #free gaza #free palestine #save palestine #palestine

[cmesinic]

This is a long shot. Castro does not have a history of being taken seriously.

#cmesin

[gonzalo-obes]

IMAGENES Y DATOS INTERESANTES DEL DIA 16 DE ABRIL DE 2024

Día Mundial de la Voz, Día Internacional contra la Esclavitud Infantil, Día Mundial del Emprendimiento, Día Internacional del Síndrome de Wolf-Hirschhorn, Semana Mundial de la Creatividad y la Innovación, Año Internacional de los Camélidos.

San Amilcar, Santa Anastasia y Santa Potenciana.

Tal día como hoy en el año 2016

Ocurre un terremoto en Ecuador de 7,8 grados en la escala de Richter con epicentro en Esmeraldas, causando 670 víctimas mortales y numerosos daños materiales.

2014

Se hunde el transbordador surcoreano MV Sewol cerca de la Isla Jindo, en el que mueren 304 personas. Acaba provocando una serie de críticas contra el gobierno y los medios de comunicación.

2007

Ocurre la Masacre de Virginia Tech, en Blacksburg (Estados Unidos), donde un joven mata a 32 estudiantes en el campus de la universidad, incluyendo a él mismo. Además 29 personas resultaron heridas.

1961

Fidel Castro anuncia el carácter socialista de la Revolución Cubana (enero de 1959), durante el entierro a las víctimas de un bombardeo estadounidense. Este hecho provocará un intento de invasión a la isla ordenado por el presidente de Estados Unidos J. F. Kennedy.

1948

Con el fin de restablecer la economía de Europa después de la II Guerra Mundial, 16 países europeos fundan la Organización Europea de Cooperación Económica, que más tarde pasará a llamarse Organización para la Cooperación Económica y el Desarrollo, con sede en París (Francia). Éste será uno de los primeros pasos buscando la unidad en Europa que culminará en la futura Unión Europea. (Hace 76 años)

1917

Con el país inmerso en el caos debido a la I Guerra Mundial y a la abdicación del Zar Nicolás II, Vladimir Ilich Lenin llega a Petrogrado (Rusia) desde su exilio en Suiza para tomar el control de la revolución. Aunque primero exiliado en Siberia y después huido a Europa debido a sus actividades políticas y revolucionarias, Lenin conseguirá reforzar el Partido Bolchevique mediante sus escritos y su fluida oratoria. Siete meses después de su regreso, y bajo la dirección de Lenin, los bolcheviques se harán con el poder. Lenin supervisará la creación de la Unión de Repúblicas Socialistas Soviéticas y dirigirá el país hasta su muerte en enero de 1924, tras haber sido tratado contra la sífilis el año anterior. (Hace 107 años)

1912

Harriet Quimby, intrépida aviadora americana, se convierte en la primera mujer en cruzar el Canal de la Mancha, al tripular su moderno monoplano, fabricado por el pionero francés de la aviación Louis Bleriot, a través de una espesa niebla desde las costas de Dover, en Inglaterra, hasta las playas de Hardelot, en Francia. Fallecerá en julio en un accidente aéreo. (Hace 112 años)

1746

En la batalla de Culloden, Escocia, el ejército inglés derrota a las fuerzas escocesas bajo el mando de Carlos Eduardo Estuardo, poniendo fin al levantamiento Jacobita para tratar de restaurar a la Casa de Estuardo al trono de Inglaterra. Ésta será la última batalla librada en suelo británico hasta la fecha. (Hace 278 años)

1582

En la actual Argentina, Hernando de Lerma, gobernador de Tucumán, cumpliendo órdenes del virrey del Perú, Francisco de Toledo, funda la ciudad de San Felipe de Lerma en el valle de Salta, con el fin de crear una escala en las comunicaciones entre Lima y Buenos Aires. La población más adelante pasará a llamarse sólamente Salta. (Hace 442 años)

1531

En México, fray Toribio Paredes, natural de Benavente, España, a quien los nativos llaman "Motolinía" ("pobrecito" en lengua náhuatl, por su vida sencilla), funda la ciudad de Puebla, en el Valle de Cuetlaxcoapan, en la margen oriental del río San Francisco. Por su situación, será paso obligado del comercio y prosperá con rapidez. (Hace 493 años)

[goalhofer]

2024 Arizona Diamondbacks Roster

Pitchers

#19 Ryne Nelson (Henderson, Nevada)

#23 Zac Gallen (Somerdale, New Jersey)

#24 Kyle Nelson (San Francisco, California)

#29 Kenneth Kelly (Scottsdale, Arizona)

#30 Scott McGough (Plum, Pennsylvania)

#32 Brandon Pfaadt (Louisville, Kentucky)

#35 Joe Mantiply (Bland County, Virginia)

#37 Kevin Ginkel (San Diego County, California)

#38 Paul Sewald (Las Vegas, Nevada)

#40 Bryce Jarvis (Brentwood, Tennessee)

#47 Tommy Henry (Portage, Michigan)

#50 Miguel Castro (La Romana, Dominican Republic)

#57 Eduardo Rodríguez (Valencia, Venezuela)*

#65 Luis Frías (Río San Juan, Dominican Republic)

#81 Ryan Thompson (Turner, Oregon)

Catchers

#14 Gabriel Moreno (Barquisimeto, Venezuela)

#16 Tucker Barnhart (Brownsburg, Indiana)*

Infielders

#2 Geraldo Perdomo (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)

#4 Ketel Marte (Nizao, Dominican Republic)

#6 Jace Peterson (Lake Charles, Louisiana)

#9 Blaze Alexander (Ft. Myers, Florida)**

#18 Kevin Newman (Poway, California)*

#28 Eugenio Suárez (Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela)*

#53 Christian Walker (Norristown, Pennsylvania)

Outfielders

#3 Joc Pederson (Palo Alto, California)*

#5 Alek Thomas (Chicago, Illinois)

#7 Corbin Carroll (Seattle, Washington)

#12 Lourdes Gourriel; Jr. (Ciudad Sancti Spíritus, Cuba)

#15 Randal Grichuk (Rosenberg, Texas)*

#31 Jake McCarthy (Scranton, Pennsylvania)

Coaches

Manager Torey Lovullo (Santa Monica, California)

Bench coach Jeff Banister (La Marque, Texas)

Hitting coach Joe Mather (Phoenix, Arizona)

Assistant hitting coach Jacinto Easley (Lakewood, California)

Assistant hitting coach Drew Hedman (Redding, California)

Assistant hitting coach Rick Short (Elgin, Illinois)

Pitching coach Brent Strom (San Diego, California)

Assistant pitching coach Dan Carlson (Portland, Oregon)

Bullpen coach Mike Fetters (Honolulu, Hawaii)

Bullpen catcher Sharif Othman (Riverside, California)

Bullpen catcher Jose Queliz (Valencia, Venezuela)

1B coach Dave McKay (Vancouver, British Columbia)

3B coach Tony Perezchica (Mexicali, Mexico)

#Sports #Baseball #MLB #Arizona Diamondbacks #Celebrities #New Jersey #Michigan #Arizona #Nevada #Kentucky #Dominican Republic #Tennessee #Virginia #Pennsylvania #Oregon #Venezuela #Indiana #Florida #Louisiana #Washington #Texas #Cuba #Illinois #Hawaii #Canada #British Columbia #Mexico

[jfk-blown-away-blog]

fully operational x japan Full Cassette Rip

police line do not cross

naveed

la tarea

homo sapiens

castro

for the last time

me, a raygun

tropic of cancer

moon chute

out

i am a taco

various figurines of greco-roman wrestlers

all we'll need

i hate goodbyes

fully operational x japan

charlie wilmoth: guitar, vocals, bass, viola, tamberine.

peter wilmoth: drums. maracas.

all songs by charlie except "all we'll need" and "for the last time" by charlie and peter. copyright 1996. recorded at home, march - august 1996

(Tape Also Including A Hand Written Letter) Dear Mr. Santo, Here is a tape we thought you might enjoy. We have worked pretty hard on it, and we're proud of it. People seem to think that #6, #8, #12, and #14 are the best. Anyway, I would probably call it a pop/indie/rock type thing (not indie-pop, and mostly not indie-rock). I know a review of this will be on the Demo Universe or in AP eventually, so I should probably make writing it easier for you by giving you some information. Here's the deal. We're two kids from West Virginia. I'm 16 and Peter's 11 (this is not a joke). In West Virginia all there really is to do is join the football team or play music, and we both picked music because we're too scared of getting the crap kicked out of us. Obviously, West Virginia is not the most progressive place music - wise - most kids have been too caught up in Bush's latest to notice us, so we were hoping that with positive reviews from influential people like you, we could get some attention, either at home or in Pittsburgh. Thanks, and please listen to the entire album before you review this - each song is reasonably different from all the others.

Sincerely, Charlie Wilmoth FULLY OPERATIONAL X JAPAN 4 Highland Park Wheeling, WV 26003 (304) 242 - 6325

#196 #/r/196 #r/196 #r196 #music #youtube #cassette tape #audio rip #full album #demo tape #rare media #rare music #Youtube

[boaringoldguy]

Sadly, a blow against Free Speech!

ntd.com

Judge Rejects Trump’s Latest Bid to Dismiss Lawsuit Seeking to Bar Him From Colorado’s 2024 Ballot

NTD

5–6 minutes

Former President and 2024 Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump holds a campaign event at Club 47 USA in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Oct. 11, 2023. (Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump’s latest attempt to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to keep him off Colorado’s 2024 Republican primary ballot was dismissed by a judge on Oct. 12.

In her 22-page opinion (pdf) published Thursday, Second Judicial District Judge Sarah Wallace denied President Trump’s attempts to dismiss the lawsuit, effectively paving the way for a trial on the matter to go ahead at the end of October.

The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed by a liberal watchdog group called Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, on behalf of a group of Republican and unaffiliated Colorado voters.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which was filed in September, argue that President Trump is disqualified from serving as president under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars people who have “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” or have “given aid or comfort to the enemies” of the Constitution while under the oath of office from holding office.

They cite President Trump’s alleged effort to challenge the results of the 2020 election and his role in the events of Jan. 6, 2021, as reasoning for his proposed disqualification and have thus asked the court to remove him from the Colorado Republican primary.

Trump Claims Protections Under Anti-SLAPP Law

His lawyers have further argued that a Colorado law protecting individuals from being sued over exercising their free speech rights shields him from the lawsuit; pointing specifically to the state’s anti-SLAPP law, which protects individuals from Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation.

The measure, enacted in 2019, safeguards the “constitutional rights of persons to petition, speak freely, associate freely, and otherwise participate in government to the maximum extent permitted by law” and protects them from lawsuits that harass them for First Amendment-protected speech.

President Trump additionally contends his statements regarding the 2020 election did not amount to insurrection.

However, in her 22-page opinion, Juge Wallace dismissed President Trump’s anti-SLAPP motion, writing instead that it is in the public’s best interest, regardless of their political affiliation, that “only constitutionally qualified candidates are placed on the ballot” and “only constitutionally qualified candidates can seek to hold the highest office in the country.”

More States Move to Get Trump Off Ballot

“The Court, again, has little trouble finding that it would. It goes without saying that, in the abstract, ensuring that only constitutionally qualified candidates can seek to hold the highest office in the country, particularly when the disqualification sought is based on allegations of insurrection against the very government over which the candidate seeks to preside, seeks to enforce an important right which confers a significant benefit to the public.

“For the above stated reasons, the Court holds that the anti-SLAPP statute does not apply to this matter and for that reason denies the motion,” Judge Wallace concluded.

President Trump is currently leading the GOP field, holding a significant lead over competitors including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, ahead of the Nov. 5, 2024 elections, according to multiple polls.

Similar lawsuits seeking to remove President Trump from the 2024 Republican ballot have also been filed in Michigan, Minnesota, and West Virginia. A separate one filed in Oklahoma by presidential candidate John Anthony Castro was dismissed on Thursday, The Oklahoman reports.

“We are pleased with the court’s well-reasoned and very detailed order, leading to a thorough decision, and look forward to presenting our case at trial,” the attorney for the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Mario Nicolais, said in an emailed statement to Courthouse News Service.

The Epoch Times has contacted a spokesperson for President Trump for comment.

From The Epoch Times

#The left is disgusting

[realityhop]

Political Radicals Discover Mental Illness

from Madness in the Streets: How Psychiatry and the Law Abandoned the Mentally Ill (1990) by Rael Isaac & Virginia Armat —

For the political radicals of the New Left, championing the rights of the mentally ill was also attractive. There was considerable tension, certainly in the early 1960s, between the counterculture and the New Left. Their affinities were obvious—the rebellion against authority, the disdain for all institutions, the passion for expressive behavior. And the overlap in membership between the two was enormous. Nonetheless, to many in the counterculture the possibility of remaking the world and achieving liberation through political action was an illusion, an absurd irrelevance in the cosmic scheme that drugs opened up to human understanding. Timothy Leary said that there was no difference between Fidel Castro (then the New Left’s idol) and Ronald Reagan (then governor of California, and its bete noire), for both were hung up on power politics. Some in the counterculture felt the simple experience of ultimate reality through LSD would produce the millennium—if only enough people, and most especially the world’s leaders, could be induced to “turn on.”

For political radicals, the mentally ill were useful on several counts. First, they could help score rhetorical points. Thus, New Left father figure Herbert Marcuse in his 1968 book Negations declared that established society is insane and those who function normally in it are themselves sick. At a 1967 conference, he described psychiatry as “one of the most effective engines of suppression”; he called upon it to become a “subversive undertaking,” preparing the ground for struggle on the political level.

On a more mundane level, the mentally ill were a group to be “liberated” along with blacks, Hispanics, and Third World peoples. The mentally ill were an especially attractive cause because they were imprisoned, not in the invisible institutional complexes of law and custom but in the concrete mortar and brick of the asylum: incarcerated, their every moment regulated, often mistreated. Psychiatry was portrayed not as a healing profession but as capitalism’s invention to suppress dissidence (as indeed it has been frequently used in the Soviet Union).

Finally, anti-psychiatry appealed to the New Left because it was anti-science and anti-technology.

#law #power #rights #science #technology #reality #authority #madness #mental illness

[nymphsandspace]

Berna, 19 junho 1946 - quarta-feira

Fernando,

Sua carta me surpreendeu tanto! Eu tive a impressão de ter caído numa coisa assim: de jogar verde para colher maduro ou de ir buscar lã e sair tosquiada, ou dois e dois são quatro -eu escrevi para vocês no Rio, na sua casa, e você me respondeu de Nova York. Eu sabia que vocês estavam lá por alguém que veio dos EEUU e passou por Paris -estive uns 15 dias em Paris- mas pensei que era a passeio. Não cesso de imaginar vocês em New York e não sei como. Como é que Heleninha fala no meio da cidade? E você trabalha de noite num arranha-céu? e os arquivos? Só agora é que vejo que vocês no Rio eram uma das garantias que eu procurava. Por que é que todo mundo quer sair do Brasil? E você é espírita, é, Fernando? Então como é que você me pergunta o que eu faço às três horas da tarde? Ou já falamos sobre isso? às três horas da tarde sou a mulher mais exigente do mundo. Fico às vezes reduzida ao essencial, quer dizer, só meu coração bate. Quando passa, vêm seis da tarde, também indescritíveis, em que eu fico cega. Se o telefone toca eu dou um pulo e se me "convidam" eu pareço criança ou cachorrinho, saio correndo e enquanto corro digo: estou perdendo minha tarde.

Mas eu tenho ido de tarde à biblioteca pública. E, por estranho que pareça, estou estudando cálculo das probabilidades. Não só porque o abstrato cada vez mais me interessa, como porque eu posso renovar minha incompreensão e concretizar minhas dificuldades gerais. Estivemos em Paris andando desde manhã até de noite. Aquela cidade é doida, é maravilhosa. Não consegui absorvê-la, ter uma idéia só. De volta fomos diretamente para um apartamento novo, ainda novo, tudo encaixotado, estranho, desarrumado. Encontrei cartas de casa e vários recortes de jornal, artigo de Reinaldo Moura, nota de Lazinha Luiz Carlos de Caldas Brito..., várias notinhas, referências a você e a mim em Sérgio Milliet, e em vários. E nota de Álvaro Lins dizendo que meus dois romances são mutilados e incompletos, que Virginia parece com Joana, que os personagens não têm realidade, que muita gente toma a nebulosidade de Claricinha como sendo a própria realidade essencial do romance, que eu brilho sempre, brilho até demais, excessiva exuberância... Com o cansaço de Paris, no meio dos caixotes, femininamente e gripada chorei de desânimo e cansaço. Só quem diz a verdade é quem não gosta da gente ou é indiferente. Tudo o que ele diz é verdade. Não se pode fazer arte só porque se tem um temperamento infeliz e doidinho. Um desânimo profundo. Pensei que só não deixava de escrever porque trabalhar é a minha verdadeira moralidade.

Afinal arranjei emprestada uma empregada que em um dia deu ordem na desordem -ela era uma verdadeira mulher. Uma grande mulher, sem dúvida, chamada Rosa, italiana, que Deus a abençoe.

"Chorei de desânimo e cansaço; só quem diz a verdade é quem não gosta da gente ou é indiferente; tudo o que Álvaro Lins diz é verdade"

Hoje passei o dia lendo; às três horas li de novo sua carta e o bilhete de Helena. Diga a Helena que na primeira vez em que nos encontrarmos ela ganha de mim uma caixinha de música. No mesmo dia em que recebi sua carta, recebi uma do Paulo. Carta pequena, cautelosa, quase silenciosa.

Fernando, procure em Nova York, no Consulado, Araújo Castro. Ele é ótimo. Vai lhe parecer calado e fechado, de início. Ele é muito, muito inteligente, bom, e de boa espécie.

São nove horas da noite, mas parece seis da tarde. E eu brilho, brilho sempre -isso deve ser brilho. Na verdade deve ser apenas adaptação ao novo apartamento. Não se pode deixar uma janela aberta, voa tudo; é um lugar onde ainda estão construindo, sem muitas casas. A rua chama-se Ostring e eu sou a pérola de Ostring, não vê? Vocês pretendem mandar buscar Eliana? como vão fazer? Quanto tempo na realidade vão ficar nos EEUU? Paulo diz que vocês vão ficar seis meses apenas... Desejo muita felicidade a vocês. Sejam muito felizes: estou com vontade de dar conselhos grandiosos, dizendo: custa um pouco adaptar-se a um lugar novo etc. Fernando, você tem trabalhado? e Helena, o que é que faz? Acabei de passar uma semana das piores em relação ao trabalho. Nada presta, não sei por onde começar, não sei que atitude tomo, não sei de nada. Digo a mim mesma: não adianta desesperar, desesperar é mais fácil ainda que trabalhar. Me mande um conselho, Fernando, e uma palavra bem amiga. Desculpe esta carta tola. Respondam depressa e eu mandarei uma muito boa, muito calma. -Quem tinha me falado de "Sagarana" era o Escorel (1), elogiando. Não sei mais nada. E as notícias que recebo do Brasil são as piores. Até pão falta. Vocês devem estar experimentando agora a tristeza de estar num país onde mesmo lentamente tudo tende a melhorar e receber notícias constantes desse jeito. Dá vontade de ser um grande homem e fazer alguma coisa. Certamente teremos alguma revolução. Até o ar lá está precisando disso.

Fernando, Helena, um abraço grande. Me escrevam, agora que vocês sabem quanto pode valer uma carta e sobretudo certas cartas.

Dei um ar de tristeza? não, dei um ar de alegria (2).

Clarice

1. Lauro Escorel, escritor e diplomata, amigo nosso.

2. Tive o cuidado de conferir esta frase manuscrita na carta original, para confirmar a vírgula depois do "não" -cuja inexistência inverteria por completo o seu sentido. Vai como pequeno exemplo dos equívocos até mesmo tipográficos a que os escritores se expõem. (fonte Folha de Sao Paulo)

[redwoodwv-hq]

Congratulations to the following for you've been accepted to join TheFinalHourHQ. We're looking forward to meeting your characters and see how they grow (or not) within the community. Please be sure to take a peek at the checklist. I'll be waiting for your messages ;)

Jake Hawk played by Koi Isaac Apatow played by Maggie Orion Carnell played by Dove Tristan Miller played by AJ Cassandra Brookes played by Z Matthew Kington played by AJ Gabriella Lopez played by AJ Micah Foxmen played by Niki Sehwan Lee played by B Renee Brandon played by Court Beatrice Murray played by Hannah Virginia Park played by Ally David Alexander played by Court Emine Anand played by Luna Elena Castro played by Liv Sol Reznik played by Hannah

#tfh.accepted

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 4.5

823 – Lothair I is crowned King of Italy by Pope Paschal I. 919 – The second Fatimid invasion of Egypt begins, when the Fatimid heir-apparent, al-Qa'im bi-Amr Allah, sets out from Raqqada at the head of his army. 1242 – During the Battle on the Ice of Lake Peipus, Russian forces, led by Alexander Nevsky, rebuff an invasion attempt by the Teutonic Knights. 1536 – Charles V makes a Royal Entry into Rome, demolishing a swath of the city to re-enact a Roman triumph. 1566 – Two hundred Dutch noblemen, led by Hendrick van Brederode, force themselves into the presence of Margaret of Parma and present the Petition of Compromise, denouncing the Spanish Inquisition in the Seventeen Provinces. 1614 – In Virginia, Native American Pocahontas marries English colonist John Rolfe. 1621 – The Mayflower sets sail from Plymouth, Massachusetts on a return trip to England. 1792 – United States President George Washington exercises his authority to veto a bill, the first time this power is used in the United States. 1795 – Peace of Basel between France and Prussia is made. 1818 – In the Battle of Maipú, Chile's independence movement, led by Bernardo O'Higgins and José de San Martín, win a decisive victory over Spain, leaving 2,000 Spaniards and 1,000 Chilean patriots dead. 1862 – American Civil War: The Battle of Yorktown begins. 1879 – Bolivia declares war on Chile, and Chile declares war on Peru, starting the War of the Pacific. 1902 – A stand box collapses at Ibrox Park (now Ibrox Stadium) in Glasgow, Scotland, which led to the deaths of 25 and injuries to more than 500 supporters during an international association football match between Scotland and England. 1910 – The Transandine Railway connecting Chile and Argentina is inaugurated. 1922 – The American Birth Control League, forerunner of Planned Parenthood, is incorporated. 1932 – Dominion of Newfoundland: Ten thousand rioters seize the Colonial Building leading to the end of self-government. 1933 – U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs two executive orders: 6101 to establish the Civilian Conservation Corps, and 6102 "forbidding the Hoarding of Gold Coin, Gold Bullion, and Gold Certificates" by U.S. citizens. 1933 – Andorran Revolution: The Young Andorrans occupy the Casa de la Vall and force the government to hold democratic elections with universal male suffrage. 1936 – Tupelo–Gainesville tornado outbreak: An F5 tornado kills 233 in Tupelo, Mississippi. 1942 – World War II: Adolf Hitler issues Fuhrer Directive No. 41 summarizing Case Blue, including the German Sixth Army's planned assault on Stalingrad. 1942 – World War II: The Imperial Japanese Navy launches a carrier-based air attack on Colombo, Ceylon during the Indian Ocean raid. Port and civilian facilities are damaged and the Royal Navy cruisers HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire are sunk southwest of the island. 1943 – World War II: United States Army Air Forces bomber aircraft accidentally cause more than 900 civilian deaths, including 209 children, and 1,300 wounded among the civilian population of the Belgian town of Mortsel. Their target was the Erla factory one kilometer from the residential area hit. 1945 – Cold War: Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito signs an agreement with the Soviet Union to allow "temporary entry of Soviet troops into Yugoslav territory". 1946 – Soviet troops end their year-long occupation of the Danish island of Bornholm. 1946 – A Fleet Air Arm Vickers Wellington crashes into a residential area in Rabat, Malta during a training exercise, killing all 4 crew members and 16 civilians on the ground. 1949 – A fire in a hospital in Effingham, Illinois, kills 77 people and leads to nationwide fire code improvements in the United States. 1951 – Cold War: Ethel and Julius Rosenberg are sentenced to death for spying for the Soviet Union. 1956 – Cuban Revolution: Fidel Castro declares himself at war with Cuban President Fulgencio Batista. 1958 – Ripple Rock, an underwater threat to navigation in the Seymour Narrows in Canada is destroyed in one of the largest non-nuclear controlled explosions of the time. 1966 – During the Buddhist Uprising, South Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Cao Kỳ personally attempts to lead the capture of the restive city of Đà Nẵng before backing down. 1969 – Vietnam War: Massive antiwar demonstrations occur in many U.S. cities. 1971 – In Sri Lanka, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna launches a revolt against the United Front government of Sirimavo Bandaranaike. 1976 – In China, the April Fifth Movement leads to the Tiananmen Incident. 1977 – The US Supreme Court rules that congressional legislation that diminished the size of the Sioux people's reservation thereby destroyed the tribe's jurisdictional authority over the area in Rosebud Sioux Tribe v. Kneip. 1991 – An ASA EMB 120 crashes in Brunswick, Georgia, killing all 23 aboard including Sen. John Tower and astronaut Sonny Carter. 1992 – Alberto Fujimori, president of Peru, dissolves the Peruvian congress by military force. 1992 – Peace protesters Suada Dilberovic and Olga Sučić are killed on the Vrbanja Bridge in Sarajevo, becoming the first casualties of the Bosnian War. 1998 – In Japan, the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge opens to traffic, becoming the longest bridge span in the world. 1999 – Two Libyans suspected of bringing down Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988 are handed over for eventual trial in the Netherlands. 2007 – The cruise ship MS Sea Diamond strikes a volcanic reef near Nea Kameni and sinks the next day. Two passengers were never recovered and are presumed dead. 2009 – North Korea launches its controversial Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 rocket. The satellite passed over mainland Japan, which prompted an immediate reaction from the United Nations Security Council, as well as participating states of Six-party talks. 2010 – Twenty-nine coal miners are killed in an explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia. 2018 – Agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid a slaughterhouse in Tennessee, detaining nearly 100 undocumented Hispanic workers in one of the largest workplace raids in the history of the United States. 2021 – Nguyễn Xuân Phúc took office as President of Vietnam after dismissing the title of Prime Minister.

#Events

[mariacallous]

Another SCOTUS opinion day is upon us. Starting at 10am they'll release opinions from the remaining cases to be decided before their summer recess. It is possible that we will not get all 4 opinions today and that they may still add another opinion day later this week or into next week (the latter is unlikely I think).

The 4 cases still to be decided:

West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (argued Feb. 28): A challenge to the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases. One question before the court is whether the Republican-led states and the coal companies have a legal right to bring the case to the Supreme Court at all when the lower court’s decision is on hold until the Biden EPA issues a new rule. If they do have that right, a second question before the justices is whether the lower court’s decision violates the “major questions” doctrine — the idea that if Congress wants to give an administrative agency the power to make “decisions of vast economic and political significance,” it must say so clearly. Torres v. Texas Department of Public Safety (argued Mar. 29): Whether Congress has the power to authorize suits against states, without their consent, under its constitutional war powers. Biden v. Texas (argued April 26): Whether the Department of Homeland Security must continue to enforce the Migrant Protection Protocols, a policy begun by President Donald Trump that requires asylum seekers at the southern border to stay in Mexico while awaiting a hearing in U.S. immigration court.

Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta (argued April 27): Whether a state has authority to prosecute defendants who are not Native Americans, but who commit crimes against Native Americans on land that Congress historically reserved for Native people.

I read someone say that they thought SCOTUS might dismiss Biden v. Texas as improvidently granted which I suppose I could potentially see? But otherwise, based on the questions I think there’s a good chance of a 5-4 vote in favor of the administration.

Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta (a refining of McGirt from the previous term) I was thinking there might be a 5-4 ruling, but based on the other rulings I don’t know that Gorsuch is in the majority, and he’s sort of become the Court’s point person for cases involving tribal law and tribal issues.

Torres v. Texas Department of Public Safety I could see a 5-4 or 6-3 decision in favor of Torres, with the 3 liberal justices joining Kavanaugh and Barrett (and maybe Roberts).

and for West Virginia vs. Environmental Protection Agency…I think a 5-4 against the EPA is likely, based on the way that the major questions doctrine came up during the hearings and the way the Court has gone with other decisions involving the major questions doctrine (the OSHA vaccine mandate and the eviction moratorium) but the justices were a bit all over.