#40°C also should be illegal

[thatmintleaf]

Today I took a 6 hours long exam in 40°C

Should be illegal tbh

#6 hours long exams should be illegal #40°C also should be illegal #I passed with a nice grade but at what cost #I almost cried in desperation at some point #I don't want to see a thin section gor next 2 months at least #I also witnessed part 2 of said exam and apparently is not an exam but a 1+ hour long interrogation from the fbi #not very much looking forward to it but at least now I know what to expect #it will be what it will be ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[katy-133]

Rick Prime Theories

Gonna dump some theories relating to our latest Rick and Morty arc villain here.

Time Crystals

(First pointed out in this other post.)

Beginning as early as season 1, C-137 is seen using crystallised xanthenite (also called "time crystals") throughout the series. The context he uses them in varies, but the overlapping connection appears to be that Rick uses time crystals to access alternate timelines.

Despite saying that he hates the concept of time travel, Rick still uses time crystals and ends up messing with time in the process. Not to go back in time, but to see alternate timelines or split timelines.

Examples include C-137 using time crystals to:

Access interdimensional cable.

Detecting that a dimension's timeline has split.

Trying to shoot an alternate timeline version of himself.

Leave phone messages for alternate timeline versions of himself.

Merging split timelines back into one (the time collars in the season 1 finale).

Merging Morty back together after he split himself multiple times from reloading "save points" he created using the remote Rick invented. Note that every time Morty "reloaded," he reappeared in a cloud of pink smoke.

Time crystals are always pink.

(Note: Depending on colour perception, some shots look more purple than pink, but for the sake of avoiding another "the dress was blue not gold" situation, I'll just be using the word pink for this discussion.)

According to time cops, time crystals are illegal to obtain, but that hasn't stopped Rick nor (it seems) other characters from using them to mess with time.

The Bovians dunk Jessica in a pink substance that crystalises her and turns her into "a time god," suspended in animation and able to witness eternity in the Narnia world. While it isn't named in the episode, it looks like the pink crystal was xanthenite (meaning, xanthenite is the pink liquid, and crystallised xanthenite is a time crystal).

(Side note: Not sure why the writers chose the name xanthenite. Xanthe is the name of a a water-nymph in Greek myth, but I couldn't find an obvious connection. If anyone knows, feel free to comment.)

Prime could possibly be using xanthenite to:

a) Keep himself ageless, suspended in time in a sense, but still able to walk around. This would explain why he doesn't look older than he looked 40 years ago in flashbacks.

b) Split himself but somehow keep all split versions of himself within one timeline. This would explain how he's able to exist in multiple places at once.

There's also similarities between Prime's dialogue when he offers portal travel to C-137 and Jessica's explanation to Morty of what happened to her while she was in the crystal:

Prime: "You think it's cool being the smartest man on Earth, but once we give you this technology, you become the smartest thing in every conceivable universe. The Infinite Rick. A god."

Jessica: "I had nothing but time. Endless time. At first, it was madness. Then enlightenment. Then madness again. But perhaps it was a gift. I could see the life of time. And as I watched the life of time in all its fleeting, terrible light, I wondered, had I lived? Was I just the object in another's story? Was that all I ever was? Could I be more? I had nothing but time and still no answer. Time without purpose is a prison. I have glimpsed into the mind of eternity. Perhaps the mind of God. And found nothing but silence. I think we should just be friends."

Both talk about endlessness (infinity and eternity) and have god comparisons. Both also end in a rejection (C-137 rejecting Prime's offer to help him achieve portal travel, and Jessica rejecting dating Morty).

Prime is possibly using time crystals to become "the Infinite Rick."

The Colour Pink

Related to the previous time crystal theory, Prime's attack on C-137's family involves a weapon with a pink explosion. This gives Prime a connection with the colour, which plants the an association between him and time alteration (as time crystals are the same colour).

The device C-137 uses to track down Prime's lair has a pink light:

Plus, Prime wears a jacket with a pink stripe along it. This jacket is unique to this version of Rick.

Prime is associated with time alteration through visual shorthand.

The Central Finite Curve

(Based on this previous post.)

Prime: "You think it's cool being the smartest man on Earth, but once we give you this technology, you become the smartest thing in every conceivable universe."

Note that he uses the word "we" in this talk with C-137. Who is he referring to? The Citadel?

For some reason, in Rick's backstory (the version that he shows to Morty in season 6), Rick went looking for (whom we can assume are) the initial founders of the Citadel of Ricks. We can assume this because the red string wall has the R logo that the Council of Ricks wear as badges.

So the timeline appears to be:

The concept of the Citadel is created, and Prime was one of the idea guys (if not the leader).

Prime offers portal travel to C-137, who rejects it. Prime then kills kid!Beth and Diane.

C-137 goes on a revenge quest to track down Prime by hunting down every member of (the precursor of) the Citadel of Ricks.

C-137 gives up trying to find Prime and decides to help the other Ricks (who later become the Council members) build the Citadel.

This leads to the creation of the Central Finite Curve, created through a machine built underneath the Citadel.

C-137 crashes his ship in Beth and Jerry's garage (hoping to find Prime there), causing Morty and Rick to meet.

Prime does not appear to be associated with the Citadel by the series' start, so at some stage, he abandoned the concept of building it.

This also means that Prime was not directly involved with the creation of the Curve.

The Central Finite Curve

The Central Finite Curve is a portion of the multiverse where Rick became a scientist smart enough to invent interdimensional travel.

It walls off the rest of the multiverse, making it no longer possible to travel beyond it.

Until Evil Morty creates the dimension rift to escape of out it.

This directly leads to to Solaricks episode, where Rick is able to meet Prime.

So potentially:

a) The Council of Ricks built the Curve to keep Prime out (so that C-137 would never be able to resume his revenge quest--which led to many Ricks being killed in the crossfire). Or,

b) The Curve was built to fence Prime in, preventing him from being able to escape any further than dimensions where a Rick exists.

The Central Finite Curve was possibly created to keep Prime trapped in or locked out.

#rick and morty #storytelling #my text #long post #headcanon

[caliconnected]

How to Make Potent Weed Brownies

Cannabis edibles have been gaining popularity as they allow consumers to cater to their sweet tooth and cannabis cravings at the same time. It is a pleasurable method of consumption as it tastes delicious, doesn’t affect the user's lungs, and can be made at a mild or strong potency. The high comes on a little slower, and the strength can be dependent on how much food you have consumed before taking your edible. Edibles have also been well known to help those who suffer from insomnia as they produce a very relaxing high.

The original and most famous edible is none other than the Weed Brownie. THC brownies can sometimes be found at your local dispensary if you live in a legal state or have a medical card. If you live in a state where THC is still recreationally illegal, CBD brownies can be purchased online. For those who don’t have access to purchasing pre-made brownies, or would like a more cost-effective solution, the best thing to do is roll up their sleeves and make a batch. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a newbie in the kitchen, this guide is designed to make your weed brownie baking experience as smooth and enjoyable as your final product.

Ingredients:

Your favorite brownie mix

Vegetable oil or melted butter (as per your mix’s instructions)

Eggs

Water

Decarboxylated Cannabis

Pro Tip: If you would like to make a gluten-free or slightly healthier brownie, substitute your vegetable oil or butter with coconut oil. Coconut oil is not only gluten-free but also a fantastic fat for cannabis infusion. It has a high saturated fat content, making it excellent at absorbing cannabinoids. Plus, its subtle, sweet flavor complements the chocolatey richness of the brownies.

Supplies:

Mixing bowl

Strainer

Pot and lid

Baking pan

Parchment paper or Aluminum Foil

Importance of Decarboxylation

One of the most critical steps in creating potent and effective weed edibles, including our beloved brownies, is decarboxylation. This process might sound complex, but it's actually simple chemistry that makes a world of difference in your baking. Understanding the science behind it not only enhances your baking skills but also ensures you're getting the most out of your cannabis. Let's break down what decarboxylation is and why it's so essential.

Raw cannabis contains THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), which is non-psychoactive. This means that consuming raw cannabis won't give you the 'high' associated with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Decarboxylation transforms THCA into THC, the compound known for its psychoactive properties. Decarboxylation ensures that the psychoactive and medicinal properties of THC and CBD are activated. Without this process, your weed brownies might taste great, but they won’t deliver the effects you’re looking for. If you have the option to select your strain, this will dictate the effects of your weed brownies. Indica helps with relaxing, Sativa helps with uplifting, and hybrid for a bit of both.

How to Make Potent Weed Brownies

Step 1: Decarb your Cannabis

Break It Down: Start by breaking your cannabis buds into small pieces. This increases the surface area and ensures more even decarboxylation.

Spread Evenly: Spread the cannabis evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. This prevents sticking and ensures even heat distribution.

Low and Slow: Bake in a preheated oven at 240°F (115°C) for about 30-40 minutes. This time can vary depending on the moisture content of your cannabis. The color should change to a dark green color and be dry to the touch once finished.

Cool Down: Allow the cannabis to cool after removing it from the oven. It’s now ready for use in your edibles.

Pro Tip: If you have the time, put your weed in a metal tea holder, coffee filter, or strainer and boil it for 5 minutes before decarbing. This removes any dirt and contaminants and will ultimately lead to a better-tasting oil or butter without any earthy taste and aroma. You must remove the herb from the boiling water, put it in ice, and form it into a ball to squeeze out any moisture. Please note that you may need to decarb at slightly higher temps for longer. Some may think that boiling the weed would decrease potency, but it does not and your brownies will come out just as potent and much better tasting.

Step 2: Infuse Your Oil or Butter

Now that your bud has been decarboxylated, it is time to infuse it with your oil or butter. Infusing your oil or butter is where your weed's potency gets transferred to your brownies. Mix your decarboxylated cannabis with your choice of fat (oil or butter) and gently simmer for 2-3 hours. This slow infusion ensures maximum THC absorption. Once done, strain the mixture to remove the plant material.

Step 3: Strain Your Canna-Oil or Canna-Butter

This is the messiest step, but is essential in removing the small pieces of herb from your oil and butter. Simply pour the butter through a strainer and press any pieces of weed to extract any last drops of oil or butter that the herb has absorbed.

Step 4: Mix Your Brownie Batter

Mix your brownie batter as per the package instructions, substituting regular oil or butter with your cannabis-infused version. Stir well to ensure even distribution of the cannabis oil.

Step 5: Bake and Enjoy

Pour the batter into a greased pan and bake as per the brownie mix instructions. Once baked, let them cool (the hardest part is waiting!), cut them into even pieces, and enjoy your homemade weed brownies.

Tips to get the most out of your weed brownie experience.

Do not consume food two hours before eating your weed brownie. This ensures your stomach will only be focused on digesting your weed brownie and the THC and CBD inside of it.

If you are worried about the strength, you can find potency calculators online, which will help you determine the number of milligrams in each brownie. A single dose is 5mg, so beginners should start there and gradually eat more. The strength will be largely dependent on the user's weight and food consumption prior to ingesting the brownie.

Pair your brownie with a nice beverage. Coffee, milk or wine are all beverages that paid exceptionally well with weed brownies due to their effects and taste.

Invite some friends for a helping hand with preparing and enjoying the brownies. Chances are you’ll want some help with the prep, cooking, and cleaning as making weed brownies can be laborous, but very rewarding. Who better to show off your new recipe and share the fruits of your labor with than close friends!

Store your leftovers in a cool dry place and airtight container. If you made more than you can consume in a week, it is recommended to freeze them and defrost them a few hours before you’re ready to consume them for the most freshness.

Potent Weed Brownies: Wrapping it Up

We hope you enjoyed our guide to making potent weed brownies. Whether you're baking for a party, for medicinal purposes, or just to relax on a weekend, these weed brownies are sure to be a hit. If brownies just aren’t your cup of tea or you are ready to make new canna-infused desserts and dishes, check out our How to Make Potent Cannabis Cookies and High Cuisine: Recipes for a 4/20 Four-Course Feast blogs for more cannabis-infused recipes. Happy Baking!

[beardedmrbean]

Last week the Head of the Customs Service told VRT Radio 1 that  the police should provide more support to the Customs Service. This request is now being heard again, after two dock workers were robbed, gagged and threatened with knives at a customs depot at Antwerp's Waasland Dock on Friday. The knifemen were quite possibly drug criminals searching for a consignment of seized drugs. The Antwerp public prosecutor's office is refusing to comment on whether the criminals managed to recover their drugs.

Recently customs officers have been confiscating a large amount of drugs. Mr Vanderwaeren told VRT Radio 1’s morning news and current affairs programme ‘De ochtend’ that "This amounts to almost 40 tonnes per month. Often 10 tonnes at a time," The drugs seized kept in storage and later destroyed. However, greater protection is urgently needed for those involved in the seizure, storage and destruction of drugs. 

Keep length of time cocaine is storaged time to a minimum

Kristian Vanderwaeren stresses that the length of time that cocaine is stored should be kept to a minimum. "This is currently not easy when large quantities are involved. First, the cocaine must be removed from the container, which is often not so easy as the drugs may have been well concealed. This must be done in a safe place. Once the cocaine is taken out an inventory must be made. This is forwarded to the public prosecutor's office and they then issue the order to destroy the drugs. Even then the drugs cannot simply be thrown into the incinerator. They must be prepared and only then can they be destroyed."

In an ideal world drugs would be destroyed on the day on which they are seized as is the case in The  Netherlands. This is possible there as incinerator capacity is readily available.  However, there is only one place in the whole of Flanders where drugs can be incinerated. Furthermore, that incinerator is used for other tasks than destroying illegal narcotics. 

Three incinerators with a combined capacity of 100,000 tonnes. The Public Flemish Waste Company OVAM  currently uses a system of time slots for its incineration plants. OVAM says that it currently has no waiting times. The three ovens have a combined capacity of 100,000 tonnes. 

OVAM’s spokesman Jan Verheyen "This is hazardous waste and we must be able to guarantee that it is incinerated 100%. The waste is incinerated at temperatures of more than 1,000°C. The flue gases that are emitted are also post-burned to ensure complete combustion. of the waste and that no residue is released through the chimney."

#nunyas news

[eretzyisrael]

A “Dear Europe” Letter

Negotiations are underway between Israel and the European Union for Israel to sell natural gas to Europe, which wishes to end its dependence on Russia for fuel. Italy and Germany presently get 40% and 35% of their gas from Russia, respectively. Russia recently informed Finland – which just announced that it would like to join NATO – that it would stop selling it gas. The dispute is officially about a Russian demand to be paid in rubles, and it represents only a small amount of Finland’s energy supply, but the political overtones are unmistakable. The delivery of Israeli gas, via Egypt, could begin as early as this coming winter.

Naturally, I welcome the idea that Israel will be able to help the Europeans in their time of need. It can get very cold in Europe in the winter. So I have prepared a draft of a letter that our government could send to the EU in order to get the ball rolling. It’s warmish now at the end of May, but Berlin, for example, is located at 54.5 north latitude, and temperatures there in January average 1 degree C. So let’s get started!

Dear European Friends and Allies,

We in Israel are excited to hear of your interest in buying some of our natural gas. We’ll be happy to sell it to you. But there are a few small bumps in the road to iron out first. So here they are:

We demand that you reverse your blatantly racist decision to demand that Israeli products from Judea, Samaria, the Golan Heights, and eastern Jerusalem be labeled according to the ethnicity of the producer, and not as products of Israel (see 16 here).

Your subsidizing of illegal construction by Palestinian Arabs in Area C of Judea and Samaria, a zone which by international treaty is supposed to be under full Israeli civil and security control, is an egregious violation of Israeli sovereignty and international law, and must stop immediately.

Your continued financial support, which amounts to millions of Euros annually, to subversive Israeli NGOs, terror-linked organizations in the Palestinian Authority, Gaza, and other locations, and NGOs promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories as well as BDS and lawfare against Israel, constitutes non-military warfare against the Jewish state. We demand a halt to this activity.

Your consistent support for our enemies in the UN in their efforts to deny and obscure the Jewish history of sites such as the Temple Mount, despite the overwhelming archaeological and historical evidence, demonstrates bad faith or cowardice, and is not consistent with a desire for good relations.

Your desire to reach an accommodation with Iran that will allow the regime to have nuclear weapons is not only threatening to Israel, it is dangerous to yourselves, who will soon be in range of Iranian missiles.

We understand that you have strong feelings of guilt for your colonialist past, and for the collaboration of many Europeans with the Nazi effort to liquidate the Jewish people. But it’s absurd, even pathological, to try to ameliorate these feelings by helping the heirs of the Nazis, whose leaders included Hitler’s associate Amin al-Husseini and the Father of Terrorism Yasser Arafat, to continue the Nazis’ genocidal program. We suggest that you apply some of the millions – perhaps billions – that you will save by ending your financial and diplomatic war against Israel to actual humanitarian causes.

We also understand that a growing segment of your population is Muslim, and that the great majority of them are anti-Zionist, even antisemitic. Pandering to these attitudes can be useful for short-term political gain, but you should understand that they are also anti-Western. Appeasing them is much like feeding a crocodile in the hope that he will eat you last (apologies to Winston Churchill).

We are looking forward to working to provide you with a warm winter, just as soon as you reverse your irrational anti-Israel policies!*

Israel

___________________________ * I’m not holding my breath.

Abu Yehuda

#Europe and Israel #Information War #Iran #Terrorism

[weblink-india40]

Exclusive plastic container set – Reasons to select it for daily life use

Plastic containers and their production are today one of the most industrialized sectors of the economy. It can be said that almost every product sold today is somehow reliant on the production of plastic containers. These types of exclusive plastic container sets are used in industry, commerce and services, and the modern world could not be deprived of them.

These plastic containers, supplied by the exclusive plastic container set manufacturers are perfect for high-quality goods transport and storage. These containers are models for packing goods and moving houses.

Why should you choose a plastic container set?

 The advantages of nested containers with covers are:

1. Safe storage

Locking seals on the covers stops the lid from primary, closes the plastic container and seals it. You can effortlessly check that the contents of plastic boxes have been retrieved during distribution; if the seal is broken, the container has been opened by illegal persons. Thanks to the compact construction of the containers, all your products will be correctly secured during transport within the country or abroad. This is particularly useful if you are transporting high-value goods.

2. Saving costs

Altering disposable cardboard boxes with reusable plastic containers will help you save money by dropping supply chain costs. Each plastic container can surely replace hundreds of individual cartons because you can use it many times. It is also much tougher. These containers are maintenance-free, save on disposal or installation costs (such as stripes) and can be used to save valued space through return transport. The savings are also because you do not have to purchase these plastic containers right away, but you can rent them rapidly and easily for a single event or delivery.

3. Space-saving

Did you distinguish that nesting empty plastic containers save up to 76% of space? Thanks to their trapezoidal construction, empty containers nest secret one another, which lets you save on the return transport of empty packaging. When the lid is closed, the bin can be loaded, and when it is opened, nest into one another, which saves space throughout transport or storage.

4. Brand building

Printed gen or codes on sealed containers also advertise user branches, particularly in applications targeted at customers in the trade and service sector. The large surface of the printed container with the lid allows the clear presentation of both the company logo and contact details. Using plastic lid containers, your business looks expert compared to paper cartons or bags.

5. Pollution prevention and sustainability

The big benefit of plastic containers for distribution is their toughness and impact resistance. These products are made of polypropylene and they are resistant to extreme temperatures reaching from -20 °C to 40 °C. Thanks to the lid close to the tray, everything you store will be protected from external factors. Properly fitted seals protect against efforts to manipulate the product.

Qualities of the exclusive plastic container set manufacturers

Having experience and expertise

Maintaining the quality Standards

Innovation and Technology

Having the customization capabilities

Doing sustainable business practices

Able to deliver anywhere in the country

Contact us for an Exclusive plastic container set from Pramukh Enterprise.

#plastic container set

[tanktop-lou]

Also should be illegal to do an exam at 1 pm with 40°C outside

#i'm sweating on the bus i want to go homeee #ramblings

[chanelfunnell]

mail, Interesting one

A) anon, possibly casino, maybe he missed a disco in United Centre cave and maybe a strip bar for Sidney Crosby. I don't care I say it's always better to be a party boy/girl in your 20s rather than late bloomer hitting a dance floor with daddy dance and moves in late 30/40s like Crosby. Maybe he has been doing it for 20 years lol at least we know Tazer Captain Grumpy can dance not just on the ice so good , sign,

B) anon, Tazer's recent head on bad blurry cropped close up but from yesterday. No he is not all right and he was not bloated months ago closer to his ,illness,

C) anon, you can ride a pony after scoring a goal in NHL. I guess it needs a low IQ for playing a pond hockey or majority of elementary things to have a look on , someone's' IN with boring grid of shoes, coffee etc to scroll down to one or two photos of the horses.

I am speaking about Marketa and Meghan Markle who married into the family of horse riders. If you dig a dirt and create fabrications it is good to have a base. She is stupid and so Czech ex communist ice hockey officers with Jagr linked to ex KGB STB ex PM Andrey Babis. His children did not ride horses but the Windsors as not just UK royal family do. Also wealthy UK people and aristocratic girls. At least Meghan Markle should know it. You don't need to go into her Stories with boring stuff, Croatia not just last summer for special forces to train there and horses. Marketa Windsor has been apolitical for ages until Markle with fat UK politician and his bedmate dragged her into political trashing for different reasons from army info to just personal vendetta and low self esteem and J Jagr threw her to the wolves for the same reason to ex kGB Babis. Markle has contacted Babis as well as Jagr and ex communist Czech ice hockey mafians with her bs about M but we know that Markle is not so sharp and Marketa is not a zero and ugly as they orchestrated her Czech ID photo. Beside her super IQ and skills she is ...

Very smart princess and a commander who is able to skate out from all scrimmages and melees with head up grace and class wit and without harm. With a plan..she did not comment some mayor of Prague and so Babis but they monitor him and so not so secret pact that he hopes to be Czech President with recent court for corruption and one candidate less ..

I'd not go further and Babis with Jagr should stick to their Czech level of corruption and mafian tactics bcs it smells by bigger troubles linked to Arthur Landon and a man called Jack Mann linked to very stupid (Prince) Harry. We know the prince I'd stupid big mouth run by his Narciss wife and unable to run a tap of water, just playing games on Play station. No helicopter license, no way out of US army base in Afghanistan. Stupid with media posing and lack of reality check like his uncle Andrew who saw the action . The father's of Mann, Landon were warmongers, arms smugglers. They are around Harry, they got Markle into his set before she kicked them out. Jack Mann's father planned a coup in Africa., Jack Mann was seized as a mercenary up to Libya. It is not about Babis and Jagr's home turf and their Crimean trips. Even fat Kim of North Korea parade's with his daughter aka a girl in front of the rockets..Marines called Markle as Mata Harry, that exPM falls and rises with Markle as an abuse of the power and more serious stuff linked to UK princess and NATO army security than his illegal subsidies in the case that will continue with numerous appeals and playing about time than his Cray timing about the election of Czech President. He will not get there. He gets just a bigger blame and huge punishment linked to Markle. Marketa candy co watches him and autographs of Nagano gold medailist's son in Sherbrook or a brother of Columbus Blue Jackets prospect getting a play as a 26 yrs old junior with huge ice time. M waits until Harry finishes his whacking his drivel and Czech elections with more stuff. Her book out and so more stuff...it is not read and react but read and dictate the game, Jagr's political chum in cobra lullaby led into mine field as she called him stupid for getting BAbis and Bures with the same number of letters and places for vocals as well as the same letters, stupid like 4 bit show girl Markle than 264 bit encryption. Lion King, not by Markle leaving Royal Marines behind. M is a lion cub not a dove. Out of ice hockey topic, poking a bear in dangerous murky waters outside 9f Czech carp pond. Rambling about Marketa and ice hockey by hiring Czech NHLers David Krejci or prospects by Czech police for recruitment by exPM is nonsense. Not Margaret Maultasch. Little Big Horn.

#jonathan toews #Patrick Kane #Nhl #ice hockey #Chicago Blackhawks #Sidney Crosby

[drst]

How to build a world without abortion (US-centric post)

Anyone who is genuinely opposed to abortion should be supporting measures to reduce the number of abortions that occur. If you really believe abortion is a murder, you should be vocally demanding the government take whatever steps it can to reduce the number of abortions no matter what those steps are, as quickly as possible. But you don't. You never have. You convince yourselves you have some sort of moral high ground, but there are a multitude of concrete steps that could be taken right now that could slash the abortion rate, and you oppose them. Almost like you care more about using your moral position as a cudgel than actually reducing abortions.

Case in point: banning abortion? Does nothing. Abortions will still happen. They will just be much less safe.

You don't eliminate abortion by making it illegal. You eliminate abortion by making it unnecessary. Here's how:

Almost all abortions occur for one of two reasons: 1) A pregnancy goes wrong 2) The person didn't want to get pregnant

Banning abortion does nothing to address the root causes. Banning abortion does impact #1 though - it means more people will die because their pregnancy has gone wrong and the hospital and doctors are afraid to do anything for fear of criminal charges or other legal consequences. #Savita

So how do we address cause #1, the pregnancy has gone wrong?

A) Universal healthcare. Every person should have access to whatever medical care (including for their eyes and teeth) they need throughout their lifetime. No $$ limits. The earlier a pregnancy is under a doctor's care, the better. It costs about $10,000 to give birth in a hospital in the US. That's for a healthy birth with no complications. If you don't have insurance to provide you birth control, you sure as hell don't have insurance to cover 10 grand for giving birth. One of the most commonly cited reasons to have an abortion is the cost of pregnancy and child care. If you could cut 40% of abortions by passing a single piece of legislation that also would save billions of dollars and millions of lives, why wouldn't you?

B) Also universal day care and pre-school, as well as free college, and better programs for food and housing assistance, all of which contribute to the cost of raising a child.

C) Free college and a better system for funding medical school than saddling someone with debt. The student loan system is a disaster. We want the brightest and most dedicated people becoming doctors. Requiring them to take on a quarter of a million dollars in debt to do it is not working.

D) Funding. Fund medical schools. Fund training programs for doctors and nurses. Train them better than previous generations steeped in systemic inequities that produce things like the horrific black maternal mortality rate in the US. Build more hospitals. Stop the Catholic takeover of hospitals. Fund research into pregnancy and childbirth, invent new treatments and technologies to make it safer.

This is going to take time, of course. But there are absolutely no downsides to any of these proposals. Better quality of life, healthier population, healthier babies, more doctors and nurses, more hospitals, less debt. It can all be done.

How do we address cause #2, the pregnancy was unwanted?

A) To repeat myself, universal healthcare. Free and unrestricted access to all forms of contraception, including long-acting ones, for everyone. Make it easy for people to avoid an unplanned pregnancy. Make it taboo to have sex without knowing what contraceptives your partner(s) are using and that you are using. Never have sex with someone without knowing what the possible outcomes are.

Fun fact: I want the person who doesn't want kids to have access to whatever contraceptives and interventions they need to ensure they don't have kids AND I want the person who wants 10 kids to have access to whatever medical care they and their kids need forever. You know who opposes this? Republicans. The so-called "pro-life" people oppose getting that woman who wants "as many babies as God gives me" medical care. Which side is really pro-life here?

B) Mandatory health education, no exemptions allowed. Everyone should know exactly how a pregnancy occurs so they know how to prevent it if they want. If they don't want to prevent it so they can have a lot of babies, great, this knowledge helps them too! And no bs religious exemptions on this. Any time someone gets pregnant it should be because they chose to get pregnant, because they took actions they knew were going to lead to pregnancy.

C) Which leads to the other part: end rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, reproductive coercion, and all other forms of sexual violence. Yeah, obviously, this is a HUGE challenge, but we still have to do it. No one should ever get pregnant unless they want to get pregnant, and as long as people are forcing pregnancy on other people, abortion must be available. No rape victim should be punished for months for the fact that another person chose to rape them. No one should have to risk their life and health as a result of someone else's crime against them. Abusers force pregnancy and parenthood on victims to trap them, it's a method of control. That has to end too.

Imagine a world where there is no rape, no abuse. A world where every pregnancy was freely chosen, and every parent was consenting. Imagine what kind of damn utopia that would be, where every child was wanted and every parent was willing. That's the actual goal of the progressives in the US. Building that better world.

Not once in my entire 50 years on this earth have I heard a "pro-life" Republican support ANY OF THIS. Not one Republican has ever supported a single policy that would accomplish any of these things. Not once.

The Republicans' only ideas are "ban abortion" and "tell people not to have sex." Banning abortion accomplishes nothing, as I’ve said here, and never ever in the entire history of the human species has a cranky old man screaming "DON'T HAVE SEX!" actually stopped people from having sex. It would be nonsensical if it wasn't a deadly reality.

Roe is going to be overturned in a few weeks, and the fight to protect bodily autonomy moves into its next stage. Think about which side actually supports “life” and choose accordingly.

#abortion #politics

[nerdygaymormon]

Doctrine & Covenants 132 : New and Everlasting Covenant

This Section was recorded in 1843, but the ideas about plural marriage first began forming for Joseph in 1831 while studying the Bible. He had questions about the Biblical practice of having more than one wife, which seemed like adultery to Joseph. He also had a question from Matthew 22 where Jesus taught that “in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.”

The Book of Mormon forbids plural marriage unless the Lord commands it (Jacob 2:28-30). Both the 1835 & 1844 versions of the Doctrine and Covenants prohibited polygamy and declared monogamy is the only acceptable form of marriage (Section 101 in 1835, became section 109 in 1844 - neither of these sections appears in our current D&C).

Joseph began teaching select individuals about plural marriage in 1831 or 1832. Joseph obtained multiple wives in the years before Section 132 was written. Even after 1843, plural marriage was kept very hushed even from most church members. Most members didn’t suspect the top church leaders were involved in plural marriage because they publicly condemned polygamy, it was illegal, and against the published scriptures.

It seems Emma knew about some of the sealings of Joseph to other women and even consented to a few. She seems to have times where she accepted the idea and other times where she rejected it.

Joseph was very worried about how to introduce the concept of plural marriage to his brother Hyrum, and how to get Emma to accept it once and for all.

Hyrum was initially skeptical, but Joseph talked about how Hyrum can still be sealed & married to his wife who had died. That was very hopeful to Hyrum. He encouraged Joseph to get a revelation from the Lord and Hyrum would take it to Emma and try to convince her. Section 132 is the result of that request. It was not meant for the world or even the Church, it was specifically for Emma.

The idea of Section 132 is to explain plural marriage and make a persuasive case for it, although I think it can be debated whether it is persuasive or manipulative. When Emma read the revelation, it didn't go very well. Hyrum Smith used words like ‘resentment’ and ‘bitterness’ to describe Emma's reaction to the revelation, which frankly is understandable.

It wasn’t until 1852 when most of the Church was safely in Utah territory that the Church publicly announced that the Church practices polygamy. Section 132 wasn’t published until the 1876 edition of the Doctrine & Covenants, and the section was removed which said a man should only have one wife and a woman should only have one husband.

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In the modern church, we view Section 132 & the term ‘New & Everlasting Covenant’ to be about eternal marriage. And we think of eternal marriage as including polygamy and monogamy. 

When we teach Section 132, we focus on the sealing power and the blessings that come to a sealed, married couple. 

However, the early Church understood ‘new and everlasting covenant’ to mean plural marriage. They understood it as the requirement for exaltation.

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Section 132 is long (66 verses) and complicated. It touches on a variety of topics. This makes it difficult to teach a 40-minute Sunday School class or write a short blog post about it in a coherent way.

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Verse 1 – This goes back to the question Joseph had in 1831. The Lord says He justified Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David and Solomon in having wives and concubines. 

This is interesting because the Bible records that Isaac was monogamous, he had Rebecca and no others. He is not like the others in the list. I wonder if that was an error to include him.

Verse 3 – Maybe you asked for more than you bargained for because everyone that I (the Lord) reveal this law to is required to obey it. And since you asked, I’m going to reveal it.

Verse 4-6 – Once the Lord reveals the new and everlasting covenant to you, if you don’t obey it then you’re damned.

Verse 7 – Here’s the conditions of the law—unless sealed by the power being given to Joseph, “all covenants, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectation” are null and void after the resurrection, they end when people die.

This list goes way beyond marriages, in fact, marriage isn’t even listed, it gets included because it’s a type of agreement. It’s just one of many possible commitments that can be included in this list.

I don’t see any reason that a gay marriage cannot be sealed. Queer marriages fit into this list just as well as straight marriages do. 

Heck, the sealing power has been used to seal all sorts of relationships, such as unrelated men to be father & son, polygamous marriages, and sealing parents to adopted children. They once even sealed an African-American woman to be a servant to Joseph Smith for eternity. Exactly what can be sealed seems very broad. If we practice it in a very limited way, that’s our choice, not the Lord’s.

Also, this phrase, 'sealed by the holy spirit of promise,’ that doesn’t sound like the priesthood, although that’s how the Church interprets it. 

I have had an alternate theory in my head for years about what the actual sealing power is. A few years back it was said in General Conference (I wish I could remember who said it and in which year) that the sealing power is in effect only if both parties want it to be. That combined with how we allow women to be sealed to multiple husbands once she has died, and she’ll determine which sealing is in effect in heaven, got me thinking the real sealing power is love. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, but Section 132 has me questioning how we often teach that once something is sealed, that’s the end, it’s permanent.

Verse 13 – No matter what men do in the name of government or other power, if it’s not also sealed by the Lord’s power, it will not remain in effect after death nor in the resurrection.

Verse 15 & 16 – We’re given an example of the sealing power, the marriage of a man and a woman. If their relationship wasn’t sealed, then they aren’t joined after they’re dead. If their marriage isn’t in effect after the resurrection, then they become angels to serve those with higher eternal glory (presumably everyone whose marriages are sealed in heaven).

I want to point out, marriage is given as one example of a thing that can be sealed, but we usually talk of the sealing power as if marriages are the only thing that gets sealed.  

D&C Section 22 declares that baptism is the new and everlasting covenant. In addition to baptism and marriage, I believe we can say any gospel ordinance is sealed by Christ’s power, otherwise those won’t be in effect when we die. Who is it that “seals” these ordinances? Men with the priesthood. The sealing power seems to be much more widespread than we usually think of it.

Verse 17 - People who do not “abide my law,” aka get sealed together, “remain separately and singly, without exaltation.” They are to be forever separate and alone! It also says they will not be exalted or become gods, but will be angels who “minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory.” We will forever be serving those who qualified to be gods.

This begs the question “where does this leave queer people?”

Are we to be eternally punished because the form of acceptable marriage (man+woman) doesn’t work for us, even though there are other forms of marriage which do? That does not sound like the God of mercy, love and justice that we teach. Queer people have been put in an unfair, unequal predicament.

I think it important to point out that LDS belief is that a child who dies before the age of accountability (8-years old) does not need to have their ordinances performed at the temple. No baptism, no endowment, no marriage sealed, yet they’re saved in the Celestial Kingdom. In other words, there’s more than one path to the Celestial Kingdom and exaltation.

Joseph Smith had a vision of his younger brother Alvin in the Celestial Kingdom, and this surprised Joseph because his brother died before the restoration of the gospel. Alvin was saved because the desires of his heart was to do what God wanted. Even though Alvin didn’t receive any gospel ordinances performed by the sealing power of the priesthood, it doesn’t matter, he was saved, showing yet another path.

I think of the many gay individuals who entered mixed-orientation marriages. They wanted so badly to follow God’s law that they married someone they’re not compatible with romantically or sexually. Most of those marriages fail. I can’t help but think of the desires of their heart that led them to enter those marriages is enough to qualify them to be exalted. I think this is true even of queer people who don’t actually enter a mixed-orientation marriage. We wanted to obey but it was just impossible to.

Verse 18 – Big reminder, a marriage of a man and a woman breaks up at death if it hasn’t been anointed by someone that has been appointed with this sealing power.

Verse 19 – But if your marriage was sealed, you will come forth in the first resurrection and inherit “thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths.” Well, the Lord also adds that in addition to having your marriage sealed, you can’t commit murder. If you kill an innocent person then the sealing is no good.

Verse 20 – Those whose marriage is sealed and they managed not to commit murder, they become gods. They will have “all power,” and angels are subject to them.

Verse 22 – Not many people are gonna make it to exaltation because very few people will receive Jesus in this world.

This makes me think about how so many people, including in our church, claim to be followers of Christ, but then are against immigrants and refugees, they want to become rich, they vote against expanding education and health care and anti-hunger initiatives, they want tougher laws that will fill up the prisons. This is not receiving Jesus and the things He taught.

Verse 23 & 24 – If we get to know Jesus while in this world, that is eternal life, and you should receive Jesus’ law (about sealing).

Verse 25 – Most people aren’t going to have eternal life because they don’t receive Jesus in this life, and of those who do, only some of them abide His law (of sealing).

It’s interesting because most of Christianity teaches that believers will be with Christ, therefore if me and my spouse are both believers, then we’ll be together with Christ. It’s a very Mormon thing to say your marriage and family are doomed to be ripped apart unless you believe & accept Jesus and have your marriage sealed by someone with Christ’s power. We send missionaries out to teach what we view as a very hopeful message, you can be together for eternity with your spouse. Except what we’re really saying is you only thought you were going to be together, but you got to get on board with us for this to happen.

Verse 26 – Even if you have your marriage sealed, if you commit any sin or transgression of the ‘new and everlasting covenant,’ or blasphemies, or commit murder, doesn’t matter that you were sealed, you’ll be delivered to Satan

This seems to be saying that although you need to have your marriage sealed in order to make it to eternal life with Christ, it puts you at risk of instead being given to Satan.

Verse 27 – Clarifies ‘blasphemies’ to mean blasphemy against the Holy Ghost and that is not forgivable. Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is explained as you commit murder, or you assent to the death of Christ after receiving the new and everlasting covenant. In that case, you are damned.

Verse 28 – The Lord will now give to us the law of the Lord’s Holy Priesthood. (the following verses teach that the law is to do whatever Christ commands and don’t murder anyone)

Verses 29-37 - This says that the Jewish Patriarch Abraham is exalted. We’re told to be like Abraham and obey the laws of the Lord. Abraham was married to Sarah but also took the servant Hagar to be his wife. Abraham was commanded to kill his son Isaac and tried to murder him, even though the law says not to commit murder. Abraham had children with concubines. If we obey like Abraham did, then we will be exalted.

It sounds like Abraham is blessed for offering to murder his son and also blessed for not actually doing it because killing an innocent person is a sin.

Verses 38-39 - This is followed by a lesson about adultery by the King David. David only committed one sin, adultery with Bathsheba (and also having her husband killed) and as a result, lost his exaltation and all of his other marriages were dissolved at death. In fact, God gave his wives to another.

This is interesting because no one is given in marriage once the resurrection happens. So it appears that after they died but before they are resurrected, Christ stepped in to save all these women who were married to King David so that they don’t lose eternal life because of what he did.

Verse 40 – Christ commands Joseph to restore all things (which implies to restore the power of sealing, and also polygamy)

Verse 41-43 – Lots of talk about adultery, especially about is someone committing adultery if they enter the new and everlasting covenant with one person but they’re also married to another person.

Verse 44 – Joseph will be able to tell who is committing adultery and who isn’t, and he can take the women who aren’t committing adultery and give them to men who also aren’t committing adultery.

Joseph essentially can dissolve people’s sealed marriages if he determines one of the partners is committing adultery. I guess it’s meant to save the innocent person from winding up barred from eternal life and exaltation because of their spouse’s sins.

Verse 46 – Joseph is given the power to seal on earth and heaven

Verse 49 – Christ will honor the bindings that Joseph seals. Oh, and by the way, Christ also seals Joseph with exaltation, so guess that’s a done deal. When Christ is done giving this revelation, he’s going to prepare a throne for Joseph.

Verse 50 – Jesus has seen Joseph’s sacrifices and Joseph’s sins. All his sins are forgiven.

Verse 51-52 – Now Christ gives a commandment to Emma. Christ tested Joseph, just as he tested Abraham, by requiring Joseph get married to additional women. Now here’s the commandment, Emma should accept all those who were “given” unto Joseph. Oh, but by the way, if any of those women are unpure, they’ll be destroyed.

This very much says that Jesus gave Joseph all these women. It’s hard to get the exact number, but the Church estimates he had over 40 wives.

Verse 53 – Because Joseph was faithful in a few things, the Lord is making Joseph ruler over many things.

Verse 54 – Emma is commanded to abide and cleave to her husband Joseph and to no others. And if she strays from Joseph then she’ll be destroyed

I guess this is consistent with the earlier verse where there’s an innocent spouse and the spouse who commits adultery. Joseph just had all his sins forgiven and sealed to exaltation, so now Emma is the one who might mess things up by sinning.

Also, Joseph can have lots of wives, but Emma better only have Joseph, or else. What’s good for the goose is not good for the gander. The inequity between the genders is on full display. 

Verse 55 – It’s a little vague, but it seems this verse is saying if Emma won’t go along with polygamy, if she won’t approve and accept the additional wives, then Joseph is to still go ahead so that he has lots of wives and children.

This is totally unfair, it’s a catch-22. The first wife gets the opportunity to approve of any additional wife for her husband, except that if she refuses and can’t give a good reason, such as that woman is already married to some other man, then the man is to go ahead and get married anyway. This is not consent, this is coercion, or at best it’s a formality. He has to show he tried and then can move forward regardless of whether his first wife agreed.

Verse 56 – Emma is commanded to forgive Joseph, and if she does, then Christ will forgive her and her heart will rejoice.

Clearly Joseph has sinned, that’s being admitted

Verse 57 – Joseph isn’t to put his property out of his hand or else an enemy will destroy it.

I think this is saying to keep the plural marriages secret, that if people find out it will ruin everything

Verse 58 & 59 – The Law of the priesthood is that whoever is called by God and Christ and given the keys of the priesthood, and they don’t commit sin, whatever they do in Christ’s name will be law and will be Christ’s law.

I think this reinforces my comment for verses 15 & 16, the priesthood is the sealing power, and most men in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been given this.

Verse 60 – Everyone should lay off of Joseph. He’s gonna be forced to do the sacrifice that the Lord requires to make up for his transgressions, and then everything is cool, Christ will “justify him”

Verse 61--63 – If a man marries a virgin, this means his first wife, and then he wants to marry another virgin, his first wife needs to agree. This next wife needs to be a virgin and not married to anyone else. If these conditions are met, it’s not adultery. Even if he marries 10 virgins, it’s still not adultery. But if any of those women “be with another man, she has committed adultery, and shall be destroyed.”

We know that Emma opposed Joseph getting multiple wives, and Joseph says he was commanded and threatened by an angel with a sword to get married to additional women, so he did it even without Emma’s blessing, which is the opposite of what Section 132 says is allowable. Some of the women he married were married to other men, they weren’t virgins. I think Joseph made a huge mess of things in regards to polygamy.

Verse 64-65 – If a man holds the keys of this sealing power and he teaches his wife about this law, she better believe and allow it or else she’ll be destroyed. If she will not approve of additional wives, then she’s the transgressor. Too bad, she’s not going to get in the way of Jesus blessing this man with the ability to multiply.

Verse 66 – The Lord will reveal more later about this law.

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Section 132 was supposed to answer some questions and relieve Emma and convince her to go along with plural marriage. Instead it creates more anxieties than it alleviates. It creates more questions than it answers. It causes problems.

This section is meant for Emma but it mostly gives Joseph a lot of blessings and tells Emma to get on board or else. It’s very tone deaf given what the purpose is.

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In 1930, the Church published Latter-day Revelations: Selections from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This work was characterized as containing “Sections and parts of Sections from the Doctrine and Covenants, the sections comprising scriptures of general and enduring value…” 95 sections of the Doctrine and Covenants were completely omitted, along with parts of 21 others. The most noteworthy omission was the entirety of Section 132. Fundamentalist Mormons were outraged. A lot of lives had been affected and upended from living according to Section 132 and it contains a lot of ideas not found elsewhere. Church President Heber J. Grant ordered the work immediately “withdrawn” from sale and the remaining copies “shredded to avoid further conflict with the fundamentalists” 

Isn’t that interesting, the new and everlasting covenant as taught in Section 132, which we usually interpret as the ability to seal relationships together, was deemed not of “enduring value” by apostles and omitted from that compilation. 

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Many women have been and currently are irritated and uncomfortable by Section 132. I think that’s fair, it gives a lot of answers and benefits to men, but not so much to women. It’s one thing to say a widower is allowed to get married again, but it’s something different to say the three of you are going to be partners in the eternities so I hope you like who your husband chose. 

We can think up all sorts of scenarios not addressed in Section 132 and wonder what the answer is. For example, what if a person thinks their spouse, who has been missing, is dead, but they show up after 10 years only to find the other person has gotten married to someone else. Did the person who remarried commit adultery? Are they going to be damned? This section opens the doors for a myriad of unanswered questions.

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One clarification we’ve received in the past 10~15 years is that a sealing is binding only if the people sealed want it to be in effect. Here’s one example of this being taught:

“We know covenants are binding and eternal ONLY BY MUTUAL CONSENT of the parties affected and when confirmed by a merciful heaven’s manifestation of the Holy Ghost, which the scriptures describe as the Holy Spirit of Promise.” Gerrit W. Gong, “Strengthen One Another in the Lord”, 4 May 2018

We won’t be forced to be married to someone in heaven if we don’t want to. Many people feel secure in their sealing but whose treatment of their spouse may cause them to walk away from the sealing when they get the opportunity in heaven. 

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Furthermore, this section does nothing to elucidate on queer relationships. They’re not mentioned at all. Marriage between a man and a woman (or between a man and multiple women) is given as an example, but our church treats it like it is THE example. That example is anything but exhaustive, this sealing power applies to all sorts of agreements and relationships, which our church doesn’t seem to have explored. It doesn’t feel fair to say because queer relationships weren’t used as an example, our relationships can’t be sealed.

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The final verse says we’re going to get more revealed about this sealing power. The Old Testament says we learn line upon line and precept upon precept. Since 1843 we have learned a lot about queer people and their relationships. When are we going to get the revelation that Christ never excluded us from the sealing power, that was done because of the limitation in the understanding of humans? 

#long post #queer scriptures

[potteresque-ire]

Hi, I hope you're doing well! I recently read what you shared RE: the risk of being outed for GG/DD & I appreciate your insight. Would you mind sharing your thoughts on the popularity of The Untamed in China, and the production of other BL dramas given the issues of censorship and cultural perceptions of queerness? If dramas with queer subtext are profitable, are those in power willing to "overlook" the queerness as long as it's done in a way that can be plausibly denied? Thanks for your time!

Happy 2021 Anon! I may not be the most qualified to answer the question about popularity, because I feel these answers can only be discerned at the ground level-- ie, I have to live in China, or have to have followed the the developments on China’s social media since the airing of the series. Because of time limitations, I’ve been satisfying my curiosity about the cultural aspects surrounding The Untamed and BJYX mainly by scouring the internet for news, social commentaries and opinion pieces. This weekend is the first time I do more than observe and interact  directly with fans of the series and the pairings. :)

Re: censorship, and the government’s response to the onslaught of “adapted” BL dramas (“dangai”). Here’s my admittedly still very limited knowledge so far. First of all, I think it’s important to emphasise that there are three censorship issues surrounding these dramas:

1) the original works from which the dramas are adapted, which are often called IP (Intellectual property). These stories are published online, and therefore bypass the censorship board  

2) the queer / BL elements of these works, in word form

3) how the queer / BL elements are handled when they are adapted for TV, which has its own set of censorship rules.

International fans often focus on 2) and 3).  1), however, is the one that I believe has got the most attention from the government — it’s a flaw in the country’s tightly-controlled speech environment. Millennials are avid IP readers; IPs are also very popular among overseas Chinese readers (ie, they can be effective propaganda tools).

I’m not sure if this is common knowledge among its international fandom, but this is something I think all Untamed fans should know:

In 2020 November, the author of MDZS, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (MXTX) (real name: Yuan Yimei 袁依楣, was sentenced for “illegal business operation (非法經營) ”. The details of the sentence — including if she’s found guilty or not — was not disclosed (Reminder that China isn’t a transparent country). According to insiders, MXTX was sentenced to three years imprisonment, + 400,000 RMB (~61,227 USD) in fines. (Sorry, can’t find a good English link)

(This is yet another example of China’s lack of transparency.) (For reference: the conviction rate in China’s judicial system is 99.93% in China in 2013, and 99.97% in 2018 and 2019.)

News of her arrest first spread in August 2019 (when The Untamed aired). At the time, Jinjiang, the site where her works were hosted, denied being under any investigations related to her. Still, fans continued to be suspicious as MXTX was known to be very good at advertising her works, creating merchandise etc. She hadn’t updated her site since February 2019 and remained quiet through the airing of the Untamed, when most authors would ‘ve said something, especially considering the series’ popularity.

What does it mean by “Illegal business”? Some says it means publishing their works without going through publishing houses. This has been a common practice among IP writers; all publishing houses in China are licensed through the General Administration of Press and Publication  (GAPP) and have the rights to screen / censor / ban and so, to bypass publishing houses is to bypass the censorship apparatus. Some says it is a cover for her selling pornographic material. MXTX isn’t the first BL author to get jail time. Since 2017, there have been, for example, Tian Yi 天一 and Shen Hai Xian Cheng 深海先生. Some are charged for selling pornography, some also for “illegal business operations”. 深海先生 was considered to be the first BL author imprisoned for her work (she got a 4 year sentence). In 天一’s case, the author and the owner of the printing shop both got a 10-year sentence. The cover artists got a 4-year sentence. The internet shop owner who sold the books got ten month sentence. They sold 7000 books total. 

Was it the pornography that hits a nerve of the Chinese government? The queerness in the pornography? The bypassing publishing houses? No one really knows for sure. The co-sentencing of the printer and seller seems to suggest the issue is with the illegal publishing, but that, again, is a common practice. So is writing BL. If no one knows what hits a nerve, it means…no one knows how to avoid it for sure.

What people do know is this: The rights to adapt MXTX’s Tian Guan Ci Fu (天官賜福) into Donghua was sold for 40 million RMB (6.1 million USD) in 2018 July. Her arrest and sentencing have not deterred the airing and popularity of the donghua, or the preparation of the live-action drama. Not only has The Untamed been highly profitable, THE China’s state newspaper, People’s Daily 人民日報 (Overseas version), dedicated an article in praise of the series, which is considered a very high honour. The article focused on the series’ artistic direction and brushed over the dangai element, described LWJ as WWX’s best friend. 

The messages from the state have therefore been mixed and inconsistent. It seems to approve of the TV series but isn’t happy with the source material, which seems to support the hypothesis that as long as the romance in the original work is modified into “socialist brotherhood” (what fans of these dramas calls the modified relationship), the government is okay with these adapted BL series. However, plausible denial from the production team isn’t the same as perception from the audience, and the temporary ban on The Guardian 鎮魂 (2018), which many would call the predecessor of The Untamed as the first popular adapted BL series, seems to suggest that the censorship board would still move to remove the drama from the shelves if the audience decides that the central relationship is queer. As far as I can tell, The Untamed didn’t generate a lot of noise before its airing, and the production team never tried to sell the drama as a thinly veiled BL — in fact, it did the opposite, intentionally or not; the rumour that Wen Qing would be paired with WWX (which, according to the unofficial BTS, seemed to be a backup plan) enraged the book fans, but also provided an impression that the BL element could be completely eliminated from the product. So, when the article from People’s Daily came out within the first few days of the series’s broadcast, it could describe the relationship between LWJ and WWX a simple friendship without irony.

This isn’t true anymore with the adapted BL dramas currently in the works. They are hotly anticipated, and internet is already filled with articles describing their BL element, and the beautiful men who will/may play the leads and what these leads have done in the original IP (that has mostly bypassed the state’s censorship board). The most likely series to challenge The Untamed in terms of popularity, Immortality 皓衣行, is already building its cp (“couple”), and is doing so for both the characters and the actors. Leaked photos not only show the leads touching each other, arranging each other’s costumes etc etc on set, but them wearing couple necklaces and matching brands of clothes off work.

(The title of an article says: even BJYX didn’t do that.)

This strategy works in that it generates buzz, successfully captures the attention (and ire, in some cases) of The Untamed fans who the marketing teams see as the target audience. I’m not sure how well or long the state can tolerate this kind of “advertisements”, however, because the underlying message is this: the “socialist brotherhood” is a joke to fool the censorship board, which isn’t a message a regime so intent on demonstrating its might wants to hear. Assuming that the economic health of c-ent isn’t in such shambles that these dramas are its only hope of avoiding financial ruin, and if I must put in a guess — there have honestly been too many logic-defying policies by the Xi regime to make educated guesses — I’d imagine, after a series or two, one of the well-respected state media will call out on these publicity stunts. Depending on how harsh the critique is (and how well the already aired dramas fare), it may put an at least temporary hold on those that haven’t been aired.

#pie answers #Anonymous #The Untamed #BJYX #Yizhan #pie metas #okay I promise I wont babble on anymore :)

[hops-hunny]

Distance Makes the Heart Grow

CHAPTER 5.5

Series Masterlist

Pairing: Mafia Boss!Neville Longbottom x Reader

Pronouns: She/Her

Word Count: 2.7k

Summary: (Y/n) lives a normal life. But that’s the issue, it’s normal, it’s plain, and it’s growing boring. Everyday she wishes for something, anything to spice up her life. But, when her old school friend (and crush) shows up at her bakery with a new look (and what looks like a new life), what will it bring for her? Will their puppy love grow? Will his big secret lead to the end of them or will it spark a new beginning?

Warnings: wizards experiencing muggle items, one line about sexual temptation, illegal bribery

A/N: LMAO WHY IS THE HALF CHAPTER LONGER THAN CHAPTER 5 PLS THIS IS SO EMBARASSING

(Y/n) rubbed the sleep from her eyes, still tired despite going through her entire morning routine. Although she was exhausted, she also felt an extreme burst of excitement. Although she grew up wealthy for a small portion of her life, her parents had never liked to travel. They much preferred sticking to themselves and associating with other pure bloods. The furthest they had ever traveled was from their main home to their summer home and even then the two weren’t that far from one another. She nuzzled into Neville’s neck further, tightening her grasp around him as he carried her down the stairs.

When they got to the landing, he brought them to the main living room where everyone was waiting. She heard a familiar squeal causing her eyes to snap open just in time to see a camera flash.

“Sorry you guys are just so cute together! Plus who knew you were this adorable when you’re sleepy?” Twyla said, cooing as she walked over and pinching the girl’s cheek. She grumbled, smacking her hand away as she buried her head back in Neville’s neck.

“Twyla? What are you doing here? You’re coming too?” she asked, watching as the girl nodded, jumping in excitement. Her (e/c) eyes narrowed as she peeked at her. “Really? I also suspect that you requested this time off?” the blonde scratched the back of her neck, backing away from the girl slowly.

“Listen, (Y/n), baby, dear boss of mine. Permission to have time off in order to go to Italy?” she pleaded, flashing her a sickly sweet smile. 

“Request denied.” she replied almost instantaneously. She giggled some at the girl’s reaction, trying to keep the straight face she had going on. But she couldn’t, Twyla’s over dramatic scene she was causing was far too funny. “I’m only kidding Twy, there’s no one I’d rather spend time in a new country with. Well, maybe there is.” Neville squeezed at her thighs, lifting her up higher at the announcement. He went to tease her before Harrison cleared his throat, standing on a stool so the mass of people could see him.

“Alright well I’ve got some news.” he started but was cut short.

“Good or bad?” the twins said in unison, glaring at each other for having the same thought.

“Well, it’s news. Because there’s so many of us, it’d be a bit strange for us to use floo powder. It’d cause way too much attention which would already have people quite suspicious about our visit.” he said, clasping his hands together. “Which means we’ll be using muggle transportation.” The main eight chimed up, all their speech lapping over each other. Twyla whistled, causing them all to stop speaking. “Thank you. Now if there’s any questions, please ask them one at a time.”

“How the hell are we gonna drive to Italy?! Can cars go in the water?” Seamus blurted out, causing everyone in the room to give him a disappointed look. Ron smacked the back of his head, letting out a troubled sigh.

“Whoever said there was no such thing as a dumb question must’ve never met you, Finnegan.” Harrison said in a fake sweet tone. “We’re going by plane which means we’ll need to go through the muggle airport.” Neville cleared his throat, causing everyone to turn their attention to him.

“And what about our guns? Weapons? Correct me if I’m wrong, but those can’t be taken through airport security.” he said, everyone else to make noises of agreement. The bearded man sucked on his teeth, releasing a soft breath.

“Well, we’re all smart, capable people. Plus you know muggles, money talks with them. Shouldn’t be too hard to get ourselves through with our weapons intact.” he said, causing everyone to go into thought about what they’d do to evade security. “Any more questions?”

“Yeah, how long are we going to be there for? I sorta have a job.” Twyla said. (Y/n) rolled her eyes, squinting them at the back of the girl’s head which caused a small jolt of electricity to shock her. She let out a yelp, glaring knowingly at the girl. “I know that was you!”

“Alright if there’s no more questions, let’s get to the airport!”

---------------------------------

As they got out of the car, (Y/n) looked around in awe. The airport had to be one of the busiest places she’d ever been, and she attended Hogwarts. Many different tunnels, windows, and levels all stacked as high as her sight could reach. The worst part of it all was the abundance of people, especially with them being muggles. It wasn’t that she disliked them, it was more so she feared them. She constantly felt anxious like they could see right through her and would call her out on the spot. As she felt her breath get shallow, she ran up to Neville clinging to his arm as they walked. He looked down at her smiling before intertwining their fingers.

She gasped as the door walked open automatically as they went through, eyes growing wide. Neville heard the noise looking down at her. She gave him a confused look. “I thought you said there was no magic here?” she said, confused by how the doors were doing that. He chuckled some, pecking the top of her head.

“There isn’t. It’s all muggle technology. If you think that’s cool, I’m curious what your reaction to the plane will be.” 

(Y/n) kept close to the tall man’s side, ignoring the weird looks they were receiving. She couldn’t blame them. Her and Neville were complete opposites. It was as if they both climbed out of two separate books and had formed a new one which in a way, they had. Everyone continued to follow Harrison, watching as he slid a large numbered bill to the man. He moved out of the way, letting them skip the line before they got to the metal detectors. (Y/n) began to sweat nervously knowing that every single man with her right now was fully armed and loaded.

“I’ve got this, don’t worry mini boss!” Seamus said, walking up to the front of the line. Neville groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. He cleared his throat as he stepped up to the short man in the uniform. The man crossed his arms, glaring up at him. “Hello…” he trailed off, looking at the nametag on the man, “Alfredo! Listen, why don’t you be a champ and let us by?” he said, handing the man a few 20s. However, he didn’t budge.

“You think I’m going to let you through for 40 bucks?” he snapped. “I happen to take my job as an airport security member very seriously. I’d have half the mind to call the cops on you right now for not wanting to follow the mandatory metal detector procedure.” At this point the girl was shaking. Blaise rolled his eyes, walking up to the man. He gave him a charismatic smirk. Grabbing the man’s hand he placed a kiss on his knuckles.

“Alfredo, right?” he asked, watching as the boy nodded along in a trance. “Charmed. I’m Blaise Zabini. Listen, I know my friend here insulted your character and you seem like a very nice, good boy,” he purred, staring into his eyes intently. Whipping out his wallet he pulled out four hundred dollar bills tucking them into the boy’s front pocket, leaving his hand to linger there. “So why don’t you let us through, yeah? And maybe when I come back you can give me a call.” The boy stumbled behind the machine, looking both ways before turning off the sensors. They all began to quickly file through before anyone would notice. Blaise being the last one threw the man a wink before catching up with his friends.

“That’s not fair! Blaise has pretty privilege!” Seamus whined, causing Fred to snort.

“Perhaps you should invest in some then. You seemed like you could use it back there.” he said, snickering as George joined in. Draco even gave a few chuckles before covering it with a cough.

(Y/n) looked around the airport, still curious about everything. Sure Hogwarts had a few moving floors and stairs that moved but these were..different? Maybe they were some more of that muggle technology Neville had mentioned earlier.

“You see that?” the boss said, pointing to a set of the moving stairs. She nodded, continuing to eye them curiously. “Those are called escalators. You stand on them and they move. We’re about to get on one in a second!” she gulped at that but nodded.

“U-um, will you hold my hand on it? It’s kinda scary..” she asked, jumping in surprise as he wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her into his chest, embracing her tightly.

“God, you're so precious. Of course I’ll hold your hand.” he reached his hand out, grabbing her smaller one in his large one. As they neared it, she found she wasn’t as nervous as she had been previously. Especially not with the twins running up the wrong side, screaming at each other in confusion about why they weren’t moving anywhere.

“They seem to be out of order!” George said, continuing to run up them. Ron turned around glaring at his pathetic older brothers.

“They’re not broken, you’re just on the wrong side, idiots! Why do you think we got on this one?” he yelled to them, watching as they froze. As they reached the landing again they ran up the correct side, giving Ron a smack on the back of the head as they passed him.

“Oh you know, for flavor!”

As they neared the terminal, her eyes began to sparkle with curiosity. Even though the majority of it was covered by the window panes, she could see bits of the different planes in between.

“Alright for most of you, this is your spot. The boarding should be beginning soon so keep an ear peeled.” Harrison said. The extra men that had come with the nodded before making their way to the long line. They looked very out of place compared to everyone else in line. Although some had disguised themselves in Hawaiian shirts, a lot of them still adorned their usual attire of all black suits. (Y/n) went to join them but was pulled back, the tattooed man giving her a look.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“To get on the plane? I thought we were taking one?” she said, a lost look on her face. He smiled at her, dragging her along.

“Oh we are, we’re just taking one of our own.” he said, a smug look present on his face. She went to ask him what he meant but stopped as they made it to a private section of the airport, walking straight through a terminal with no line. 

“Woah! This is yours, Nev?” she asked, running around the interior. It was larger than she thought it’d be. There were a few couches inside along with a few cushioned chairs. Tables were embedded into the ground, stationed around the various seats.

“Yep! All mine, petal. Only the best for you, pretty girl.” Her heart began to race at the name, looking back at him with a smile. 

“Geez, he really is Mr.Moneybags! This thing is loaded, bigger than any plane I’ve ever been on.” Twyla chimed, throwing herself onto one of the couches with a sigh. Draco took a seat beside her, lifting her legs into his lap.

“I have one too, you know.” he said, causing her to jerk up. Giving him a teasing smile, she pinched his cheek lovingly.

“Aww! Dray’s so cute when he’s jealous! C’mere!” she said, lunging forward onto the man as she covered his face in kisses. (Y/n) giggled some letting out a small scream as a pair of arms pulled her back. Neville nuzzled his nose into her neck before littering kisses all over her face.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist. You look so cute when you’re excited.” she smiled at his words, hiding her face in his chest. She still had yet to ask him about the room situation. There was only 2 hours till they were set to land so if she wanted to get it out, she had better do it soon.

“Hey Nev? I-I-I was wondering i-if you wanted to maybe..maybe um...share a room together?” Neville froze at the words, the movement of his hands ceasing. Had she really just said what he thought she had? So many thoughts were running through his head, some less savory than others. “I just thought it would be nice. I know you’ll probably be busy during the day so I-I’d enjoy being able to be with you at night. N-not like that! I just-”

“Of course, baby. I’d love to.” he said, turning her around so he could place a kiss on her lips. Before he could begin to deepen it, a childish chorus of ooo’s echoed across the plane. He pulled away, rolling his eyes as he pulled out his gun. “I’m not above using this. I don’t care how high we are.”

--------------------

An hour into the flight, things had really taken off. During the small duration of time, many blunts had been rolled, meals had been eaten, and alcohol had been consumed. (Y/n) found herself looking out the window, admiring the way the clouds flew by them seemingly weightless. Her attention was pulled away from the sound of a glass breaking along with a loud thud. Seamus was on the ground, his shirt tied around his shoulders like a cape. 

“I don’t think I can drink another round. You two win.” he said, commending the twins for their effort. They exchanged a look before beginning to cackle.

“We were drinking water the whole time! Do you really think we’d drink 14 shots a piece?! Man, what a moron you are, Finnegan.” Fred said, wiping the tears of laughter from his eyes. George nodded along, slapping his knee in amusement.

“Right before we have to scope out the place too? Boss isn’t gonna be too happy with you.” he said in a sing-song voice. (Y/n) couldn’t help but feel bad for the boy. She knew what it was like to go and mess things up before something important. Lifting her purse, she began sifting through it carefully, stopping once she found what she had been looking for. Walking over to the boy she handed him a small potion vile.

“Here, drink this. I always give this to Twyla when she shows up black out at my house. It should sober you up in a few minutes.” The boy looked at her like she was a god before drinking the thick liquid.

“God, who knew the boss would get such a useful girlfriend? Thanks (Y/n)! ‘Ppreciate it.” he said, handing her the now empty bottle. Her face began to heat up at his words.

“O-oh I’m not his-”

“(Y/n)! Come here, I wanna show you something.” he said, motioning her over to the chair. She nodded before walking over to him, sitting in the chair. “Okay, ready?” he asked, waiting for her approval. She nodded, sending him a smile. With a press of a button, the chair she was in began vibrating, light pressure being applied to her back. She practically purred at the feeling, closing her eyes.

“What is this?” she asked, words bumping together from the sensation of the chair. He chuckled before sitting beside her, grabbing her hand in his.

“It’s called a massage chair. It’s a muggle invention. Nice innit?” he asked, watching as she purred some more, nodding brainlessly. His eyes traveled over her relaxed expression, tracing all the curves and contour of her face. However, he couldn’t help the tightening of his pants when she began to moan in pleasure at the feeling of the muggle device. If he could barely get through this, how was he supposed to survive an entire mission with her? Especially one where they’d be sleeping in the same bed, every night? 

“Showers, a lot of cold showers.” he muttered to himself. He smiled once he realized she had fallen asleep, deciding to join her in slumber.

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#neville longbottom x reader #neville x you #Neville Longbottom #neville x reader #neville longbottom x you #harry potter imagine #harry potter imagines #Harry Potter #harry potter x reader #mafia!neville #mafia!au #mafia

[todaysdocument]

Deposition of William Chandler regarding an alleged slave ship, 3/17/1846

He testifies that the ship carried rations for enslaved people--a pound of rice and a pint of water per person per day--as well as a 4 ½’ high space for them to be transported, each sitting between the legs of the next person.

File Unit: United States v. Nathaniel T. Davis, 3/17/1846 - 5/4/1846

Series: Criminal Case Files, 1790 - 1912

Record Group 21: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685 - 2009

Transcription:

US                                                MARCH 17. 1846

vs

Nathaniel J. Davis                        Captain of Schooner Patuxent

                                                                Under act 10 May 1800 2 & 3

                                                                 Prohibiting carrying on slave trade

                                                                 1 Story laws 780

                                      William Chandler sworn- Is Lieutenant in U.S.N. - was attached in Sept. last to U.S.S. Yorktown - she was bound on her Southern cruise. Commander Bell was

Capt the Patuxent was first seen at Monrovia on or about the 25 Sept and was boarded by one of the Yorktown boats. She was only detained the usual time to make

the usual inquiries. I did not board her. Lt. [illegible] boarded her. She was again boarded the day afterwards at Cape Mount about 50 miles N.W. of Monrovia in the

afternoon or evening by the same officer. She was anchor close in with Cape Mount & the Yorktown at anchor near her - Comr Bell took possession of her & her paper, at about 9 A.M. of 27th Sept. I was ordered to the Patuxent about 1 P.M. to relieve Lt [illegible] & to  take command. I took her to  Monrovia the greater portion of the time in company with the Yorktown leaving Cape Mount on the 28th. I arriving at  Monrovia on 1st Oct & leaving again to meet the Yorktown & again arriving on 2 Oct. Left Monrovia on 4 Oct & arrived at N.Y. 9 March. Were compelled to pull into Bermuda twice -  Staid there 1st time one month repairing & the 2ᵈ time about 2 months during the whole time engaged in getting the vessel in a seaworthy condition. Davis the person now on examination was in command of the Patuxent when she was taken. I examined the vessel on the 29th but did not dis

[page 2]

turb the cargo or rather made a personal inspection.  She was from 90 to 100 tons.  I found 5 persons on board W. T. Davis the Master -- Thos l. Shaw the mate -- and Joseph Morrell, James C. .Clark & John Smith. --  The three men are now present.  That is about the usual number for a vessel of that size in the mercht service.  The men were very capable men & good seamen--

[left margin] Provisions [/left margin]I found a large quantity of provisions on board, beef, pork & bread.  There was quite enough to 15 men for 35 days and more than enough beef.  Some of the beef is yet unused.  I had been serving on the Yorktown about two months previous to the seizure--  Whilst on the station I have met with individuals who seemed to have a very good knowledge of the manner in which the slave trade was carried on.  I have principally derived my information from American Officers.  I should think 250 slaves might have been carried from Africa to Cuba in the Patuxent-- 25 days would be rather a long voyage than a short one-- I dont know how many men would be required to take charge of a cargo of that number of slaves.  8 or 10 persons more would have been quite sufficient.

[left margin]  do. Rice [/left margin]  We counted 71 bags of rice on board -- sacks of old canvass.  They averaged about 100 lbs apiece and over.  There was a tierce of 8 barrels of rice. full.  The barrels were common sized flour barrels.  The allowance for each slave is generally about a pound or pint of rice apiece.  A cargo of 250 slaves could have been subsisted 30 odd days on the amt of rice on board--  Rice & water is the usual food given the slaves.  It was African rice a good deal

[left margin] Water [/left margin] mixed with gravel & dirt.  There were 10 casks of water & 1 butt containing or capable of containing in all 1500 gallons.  In that hot climate a gallon a day to a man would be a liberal allowance for drinking, cooking & washing.  A pint is usually, as I have understood allowed per day

[page 3]

to each slave.  There were no other water casks in the vessel to my Knowledge.  I judge that 1500 galls of water is sufficient for a crew of 15 persons at a gall per day each for 30 days and at the rate of 1 pint per day for each slave for 250 slaves for 30 days.  The casks could be very easily filled on the Coast of Africa in the rainy season.  I shᵈ [should] judge they might have been filled in one night by spreading an awning.  It is not usual for vessels of that size to make such preparations for water.  It is not essential to a slaver to have a slave deck.-- We found 50 pieces of plank

[left margin] Plank  [/left margin]      of various lengths from 4 to 38 or 40 feet in length, most of it long: some 10 or 12 pieces of intermediate length-- This plank might have been laid as a deck in a very few minutes without either hatchet or saw without the slightest difficulty.  The plank was new deck plank about six inches wide & 3 inches thick  

[left margin] Stauncheons [/left margin]    The Stauncheons which we found on board the vessel were not all up and such as were up were not fixtures as is usual on board of vessels carrying cargo  This would afford a facility in laying a deck with planks -- Such a deck as this plank would make would be very useful in transporting a cargo of slaves,

[left margin] Arch of deck [/left margin]     more so than a permanent deck.  The beams of the deck were slightly arched so that the deck would be

[left margin] Deck frame [/left margin]      supported even without the stauncheons.  The deck frame seemed sounder than the rest of the vessel and from that I judged that it had been put in since the vessel was built-- Under the deck plank, I found a large quantity

[left margin] Pine plank [/left margin]       of pitch pine plank stowed  & billetted up so as to be level so that it would form a foundation for the deck plank on which it might have been laid by a few hands in a very few minutes-- I found also on board some six or seven tons of stone ballast stowed abaft the mainmast between that & the Cabin Bulkhead.

[page 4]

I found some pieces of chain in the holds. One piece about 8 fathoms & one about 5 fathoms. a small pair of chain [illegible] and a large number of assorted bolts such as come out of ships timbers rather larger than would come out of the Patuxent. a ring & bolt. some iron hooks also. a chest of old tools good for nothing. A number of spare pars ^4 spare sails ^ were found The deck could have been laid with the cargo she then had on board leaving a flush space of 4 1/2 or 5 feet under the deck. The slaves are stowed sitting, one within the legs of the other and 4 1/2 feet would have been ample. When the Patuxent was taken she was anchored about a mile from the shore.

(The Logbook of the Patuxent produced identified IS. Clark Master from June 19 1844 to 12 May 1845. Hiatus to 23 June 1845 when N. T. Davis is master. in the port of New York 26th June crew came on board. Captain, passengers & pilot went on shore Heading from N.Y. towards Coast of Africa 2 Augt. 1845. 7 a.m. made Cape Mount. 11 furled sails. Captain & passengers went on shore.

19 Augt. 1845 to 22 August Vessel lies at Cape Mount 22nd. Took in 3 passengers at Sulima for Sierra Leone. 24th at Sierra Leone. Capt. & 2 passengers went on shore.

Log Book of Brig Atalanta found on board identified 18 July 1844 commences. Johnston Martee. Heading from N.Y. to W. Coast of Africa. Arrived on coast & sailed up & down until Dec 24th 1844 Capt. told crew that vessel was sold to Capt. Canot of Cape Mount.

This last entry is in Capt. Davis's handwriting. There are other entries in the Book in his handwriting.

Is there a notorious establishment at Cape Mount for

#archivesgov #March 17 #1846 #1800s #antebellum #enslavement #slave ship #African American history #Black history #triangle trade #a pint is two cups--less than a 1/2 liter

[sciencespies]

This week's deadly heatwave shows we need a new way to talk about climate change

https://sciencespies.com/environment/this-weeks-deadly-heatwave-shows-we-need-a-new-way-to-talk-about-climate-change/

This week's deadly heatwave shows we need a new way to talk about climate change

New normal. Record-breaking. Unprecedented.

In recent days, as Western Canada and the United States have been broiling under a climate-fueled heat crisis, all sorts of superlatives have been used to describe never-before-seen temperatures: the British Columbia community of Lytton hit a mind-boggling 49.5 C on June 29, breaking all-time temperature records three days in a row.

People are understandably shocked and scared by those numbers. But should this have come as a surprise? No.

Scientists have been warning about the link between longer, more intense heat events and climate change for over 40 years. The language of “normals” and “new records” is rapidly becoming meaningless.

But the notion that humanity should have known, or should have done something about the crisis earlier — that we should be ashamed for our lack of inaction — is unhelpful for dealing with the climate crisis.

Talking climate

So, what’s a better, more helpful approach to communicating climate change?

The first thing to do is to spend more time talking about climate change. There is far too little discussion around this issue in the public sphere. Global heating is the biggest emergency the planet has ever faced, but one would not know it reading or listening to the news.

Last year, stories about climate change represented just 0.4 per cent of all major US broadcast news coverage. In 2019, it was 0.7 per cent. Even in the midst of an unprecedented heat wave stretching from California to Yukon, references to climate change are few and far between.

Information deficit model

Ironically, one of the biggest blind spots has to do with how information about this issue is shared with the public.

The conventional approach relies upon what’s known as the “information deficit model.” The deficit model builds on the assumption that people will take action on climate change if they have more information about it.

This information-based approach has shaped all sorts of communication, from public safety ads on drinking and driving to news reporting about climate and other important issues.

Unfortunately, the relationship between how much people know and how they act is not always linear. Feeding more facts to someone who is highly politically motivated to dismiss climate change will not convince them to pay more attention to the problem.

Climate change is a tricky story to wrap one’s head around. It can feel too big, too scary and too difficult for any one person to fix. Information, while important, is not always enough.

For there to be engagement with this subject and, by extension, political action, the climate crisis must feel personal, relatable, understandable and, most importantly, solvable.

Above: Estimated per cent of adults who think the Earth is getting warmer. The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication bears no responsibility for the analyses or interpretations of the data presented here.

Charts and graphs — even polar bears — rarely achieve that goal. Eighty-three per cent of Canadians agree that the Earth is getting warmer. But just 47 per cent think climate change will harm them personally.

To have people connect on climate, we need to have more conversations about how people are working to solve it and how those solutions are improving their quality of life where they live. These conversations foist an otherwise abstract, intangible and scary subject into the realm of the everyday — and make it feel solvable.

Solutions matter

Environmental communicators have long pointed to an excessive use of fear messaging around climate change as one of the main problems with engaging the public on this subject.

The challenge is to pair fear messaging with information about efficacy, namely what people can actually do to mitigate the fear. The combination of fear and efficacy leads to what is known as “danger control,” actions to mitigate the danger, as opposed to “fear control,” actions to shut down the fear.

In the case of COVID-19, the sense of efficacy was clear: hand washing, social distancing, masking. With climate change, efficacy information is far less obvious, and more difficult to act upon.

It’s often argued that the large emitters, notably fossil fuel producers, are the ones that harbor the most blame, and are responsible for cleaning up the mess. The Guardian points out that 100 companies are responsible for 71 per cent of emissions.

Yes, it’s clear the world needs to stop burning fossil fuels — oil, gas and coal. But to get there, individuals can also set examples of what pro-environmental behavior looks like.

It can be as simple as posting photos to social media from community cleanup drives, nature walks or posts about any kind of pro-environmental behavior, such as taking transit. This form of communication — as opposed to images that promote a high-carbon lifestyle — normalizes the urgency, importance and possibility of protecting the Earth.

Some of the most effective communicators are TV news meteorologists, who often have loyal followers. More of them are discussing ways the climate crisis is being addressed where people live.

Seeing is believing

Most communication around risk, builds on the standard of moral injunctions — that one should or must act to do something, or else. For example, a park sign might tell visitors not to feed the ducks because human food is bad for them. And yet, visitors keep feeding the ducks.

Instead, communicators should rely on “descriptive social norms,” descriptions of behavior that others, like them, are already doing and benefiting them.

In the United Kingdom, a 2015 campaign urged people to “Take your litter home, other people do.” It was more likely to reduce illegal littering than signs that said “Please keep your park clean by not littering.”

Solutions, notably in the form of stories about people and communities taking action to solve the climate crisis, are among the most effective ways of communicating the emergency.

The National Observer‘s “First Nations Forward” series is a great example of this type of reporting. Story after story details how First Nations communities in British Columbia are leading the way in the transition to a renewable-energy future.

Mainstream news media outlets, like the one I work for, Global News, are also spending more time on climate and rethinking how they cover it. One recent national story reported on the massive energy transition already under way in Alberta.

Such stories about change that is working send a message that action to mitigate the climate crisis by ordinary people is doable, normal, empowering and desirable. They energize and mobilize members of the public ready to take action, by providing visual examples of who is leading the way.

They also move the conversation beyond the conventional emphasis on skeptics and deniers, and normalize pro-environmental values and behaviors for the growing number of people who are already alarmed or concerned about the climate emergency.

Far from driving the fear narrative, stories of climate solutions unlock people’s sense of efficacy and agency in the face of impending danger. In other words, they engage the public on climate change by doing what all good communication does: meeting people where they are at, through a mobilizing story.

This is storytelling 101: engaging audiences, not turning them away, as most climate reports do.

Kamyar Razavi, PhD candidate in the School of Communication, Simon Fraser University.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

#Environment

#Environment

[foryouthegays]

spreading propaganda [Dream SMP] liveblog yall lets go. this is so long i am sorry but the end is an actual summary of what happens asldkfa

sellout timer pog: 00:30:20, 01:00:40, 01:31:35, 02:02:03 (for like a second), 02:03:00, 02:34:35

time spent reading donations: 10 minutes, 20ish seconds. 

fanart credit he puts up (all from twitter i think): snumkt, reinneart, lihnsu, sestqr, jester_u, Brigade_Lost, natonyy

also taggin @antarctic-empire-technoblade​ :) theres an actual summary at the end that isnt just me ramblin so,,,,,,ye. i am so sorry its so long a;dkfja i dont know how to condense things 

00:00:35 “i stole a lot of sand recently,” ah yes, a casual conversation starter, the admission of theft 

00:03:55 hE HAS A VILLAGER TRADING HALL CHAPEL IN THE VILLAGE SIR THAT IS ILLEGAL 

00:04:13 

tubbo: -..--...--- 

ranboo: that means beans right

no, ranboo, not it does not (i put it into a translator and it just. it doesnt mean anything. i didnt see any spaces so im just. what was mr tubbo trying to say

00:04:35: relationship advice with technoblade! [reading donation] “‘techno, my boyfriend said he’ll never sub to you, how do i handle this travesty?’ uh, clearly you need to break up with him, and send me more money, is the most- that’s the most unbiased opinion I can give you, it’s just a good life decision, alright? It’s just a good life decision.”

00:16:00 ranboo hi!!!! him garden :D 

HOUND ARMY HOUND ARMY 00:18:10

00:20:15 ‘i have not made a tier list [for dinosaurs] yet’ Y E T? ? ? ?? ? 

00:20:55

“‘Hey, are you uncomfortable with being part of the SBI family dynamic?’ Uh, I don’t really- it’s not a matter of being uncomfortable, it’s just a matter of people making massive revisions to my character and the lore three months into the story without telling me, and it’s like, ‘no, that doesn’t- the story doesn’t- so many things don’t make sense now! What?? What???’ but if you want to make like, fanart of it, it’s fine”

00:21:25 imagine believing in airplanes, couldnt be me

00:21:35 SKLDJFAK a dono is like, hey can u call my new cousin a nerd, and technos like [claps] yOUVE COME TO THE RIGHT MAN im all about bullying infant children 

lakjshdfl 00:26:15 ‘philza this does not sound lore at all please’ poor techno

00:27:30 HKJSFDL :crab: TUBBO IS GONE :crab: also i cant tell if techno says ‘KILL HIM DEAD’ or ‘KILL HIM, DAD’ 

00:30:20 ‘we should have a grinch episode, where i go around stealing presents from l’manburg’ DO IT

also i was in chat at 00:31:25ish and i said ‘subscribe to technoblade’ and RIGHT AFTER techno said ‘did i hear subscribe to technoblade?’ and i felt so heard 

00:33:25 why is his only response to being seen in enemy lines to just stay realllyyyyy still a;lkdfjasf 

00:39:45 ‘this is crucial information coming to you live from anarchy news’ A;LSDKFJA;LSDF

00:46:25 :CRAB: RANBOO IS GONE :CRAB: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES 

alkdfja; 00:47:55 techno talks (sarcastically) abt how great it is when chat tells him where his stuff is

00:48:50 awww techno showin his not-dad his hound army!!! so cute 

00:55:30 techno specifies that theyre all characters/roleplayin!!!

techno talkin to phil is literally like a kid talkin to his dad after not seein him for a while. like yeah yeah family isnt canon in this but KSJDFLA hes like ‘phillll tommys being annoying also look at this new poster!!!!’ its so cute

01:09:20 A;SDJFADSL THE VILLAGER JUST. FALLS THROUGH THE FLOOR

techno nd phil reference smp earth at 01:19:50!!!!

(ik some people dont like enbyctechno so heres ur warnin, its just for this line tho) techno says ‘no one man should have this power’ but he HAS that power. therefore. mr c!blade is not a guy 01:35:00ish idk im not goin back to check

01:38:35 alright gang lets split up and look for clues 

01:45:20 ‘my chat’s sayin theres a 0% chance this is gonna work,,,,thATS A CHANCE I’M WILLING TO TAKE, CHAT’ skjdflasl;dfjaf (also, bit after, after readin the wiki say its 0% chance: ‘i like those odds’) 

01:48:15 [abt the zombie villager baby] 

Techno: on the bright side, we may have inflicted the optimal amount of trauma onto this child for it to become funny? 

Ranboo: ooooh yeah! it can become a minecraft youtuber!

techno: yeeeeeeah!!

pls get some therapy

a;ldkfassa the mental image of techno ownin an orphanage,,,,paldkfajslfasf 01:51:35

a;ldsifjasdklf ranboo is canonically a villager now, pog 01:56:50

01:57:50 ranboo: ‘they say that im built different, i am built different, in the fact that i have no moral backbone.’

01:58:30 BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD also why is techno so good at the bow like WHAT he looks in third person and turns nd shoots in like a second and hits most of the time its scary literally look at ranboo a;ldsjkfadsf hes like a porcupine 

ASKLJDFASLDF RANBOOS ‘OH NO HE KNOWS HOW TO OPEN DOORS’ AT 02:02:25 JUST HAS SUCH TECHNO SKYBLOCK VID VIBES ADLKJFALSDFJA OH MY GOSH

02:06:35 “i feel there has been an attempt on my life,” "no thats just how we greet each other in our country” nether lore pog?

02:08:45 why does techno casually type at 120 wpm?????  god i hate him so much why is he like thisssss ugh (also it took ~3 seconds to type 7 words (34 characters) which is 140 wpm and 680 cpm if i know how to do math i hate it here) /lh

nd then he types ‘punz we’re all outside your house get over here’ which is 47 characters nd 9 words nd it took him 5 seconds to type which is 564 cpm and 108 wpm so his average (from these two samples which. isnt a lot. should i do a post abt this in the future?) is 124 wpm and 622 cpm. hes so fast. 

SDA;FKJASDF PHIL WHY R U SO VIOLENT 

02:17:00 PUNZ POG ALSO MANIFOLD KILLED IN THE HOLY LAND

technos complainin bout the fights bein boring,,,,,,,fight them all, techno. do it. 1v8. do it, coward. 

02:24:02 ‘maybe the real combat was the friends we made along the way’ 

02:25:16 i love that technos first instinct when someone dies is to check what sword/axe killed them nd what enchants r on it aldskfjads

i love how techno calls the manhunt music ‘dream music’ its so funny to me

right before he ends the stream he says ‘p e r h a p s’ to techno plushies and i just,,,, wa n t 

if ya just want an actual summary and not that MESS:

Technoblade starts the stream in his house. the first thing he does is put another piece of fanart in his house, this one by snumkt on twitter. he goes to l’manburg, where he sneaks around very sneakily (/s) and replaces anti-techno propaganda with pro-techno fanart, stating that “If they take it down, it’s ‘cause they hate fanartists.” (00:09:18). 

While placing posters, Techno checks in on his hound army, and reveals that he thinks someone had been in the area, because a wolf teleported to him while he was home. He thinks someone placed water, the dog stood up, and then teleported. (00:18:25)

After breeding the dogs, Techno reads donations and one of the questions is about the SBI family dynamics. Here’s what he says at 00:20:55 

“‘Hey, are you uncomfortable with being part of the SBI family dynamic?’ Uh, I don’t really- it’s not a matter of being uncomfortable, it’s just a matter of people making massive revisions to my character and the lore three months into the story without telling me, and it’s like, ‘no, that doesn’t- the story doesn’t- so many things don’t make sense now! What?? What???’ but if you want to make like, fanart of it, it’s fine”

He then meets up with Philza, who is being escorted by Tubbo. Techno goes to Philzas house, and hides in his new basement. He joins their VC and finds Phil, Wilbur, Tommy, and Tubbo. talking about birthdays. Tubbo goes to the basement and sees Technos invis particles, hits him, and he is revealed. Techno kills tubbo, and declares it canon as a joke. 

He goes back outside, deafened on Discord, and puts down more propaganda. Philza joins his call, and they meet up to try and find Technos stolen items. They don’t find the barrel, but they do find a hidden room under the podium. Techno puts a piece of propaganda in the room. (00:43:30)

While Phil is killing an enderman, Ranboo finds them, and is killed by Techno. (00:46:25) 

Techno takes Phil to see his Hound Army, but they’re stopped by Tubbo. Techno tries to pretend to be Ranboo, but Ranboo goes up to them, so his cover is blown. Techno’s chased to the portal. Phil and Techno meet again in the Nether, and they go back to the house. 

At the house, Phil and Techno talk about the SBI characters, the sellout timer goes off, and then they go downstairs to cure a zombie villager. While it’s curing, Techno gathers books to make a new bow, with Power V, Punch II, Unbreaking III, Flame, and Mending. 

Philza reveals that Ranboo is coming over to give Phil a present. Techno seems excited at this, mostly at the fact that Ranboo can be his new bows test subject. 

Before Ranboo arrives, the villager is cured, and they find out it is a nitwit, meaning it can’t trade or get a job. Techno and Phil start working on a tunnel to bring the villager to a lava pool, so the other villagers won’t gossip and raise their prices. 

Ranboo joins the call at 01:15:35, right before they’re going to bring the villager to the lava pool. He gifts Techno and Phil four Netherite ingots.

After struggling to get the villager to the right height, Techno forces Ranboo to boat the villager into the lava. Ranboo escapes by throwing a pearl, and the villager dies.

Ranboo, Techno, and Phil talk about duping Netherite, and the current plot, and then Techno finds a zombie baby villager. It’s caught in a boat, and Techno nametags it ‘Orphan.’ They talk about the cobblestone tower, Philzas’ death to a baby zombie, and how if you don’t see a child's parents, you should assume that they are an orphan and attack them. 

Techno talks to Jack Manifold through chat about his axe. Techno, Philza, and Ranboo go around and look for zombie villagers. Techno finds an igloo, with two villagers. Techno was going to try and turn them into zombie villagers, but decides to not when he finds out that theres a 0% chance of that happening on Easy mode. 

They all go back to Orphan, and bully it when they find out it still hasn’t grown up. Techno and Ranboo make a joke about how it’s traumatized, so it’ll be funny and can be come a minecraft youtuber. please get some help. (01:48:15)

After Orphan grows up, Techno trades and gets the Bottle of Enchanting trade for one emerald. They all joke about Techno owning an orphanage at 01:51:35.

Phil, Techno, and Ranboo decide go to the Hound Army, but Techno remembers that Ranboo is part of L’manburg, and tries to kill him (with his new bow) when they enter the nether. He doesn’t succeed, and he continues fighting until he drinks and invis pot on the Prime Path. Techno and Phil meet up in the Bee Dome, where Ranboo finds them. Techno tries to kill him, but runs out of arrows. 

After reading donations, Techno, Ranboo, and Phil are back together at the Bee Dome, and they decide to team up in case someone finds them. They go outside of the Dome, and chase Jack Manifold out of his own country.

Manifold joins the VC, and they try to blame Punz on his attempted murder. After Manifold says “i feel there has been an attempt on my life,” Techno says that that’s how he greets people in his country.

Manifold asks if they want to help him get revenge on Punz, and Techno agrees. They gather more people, and by the time they get to Punz’s tower, their party is Manifold, Techno, Phil, Ranboo, Fundy, and Antfrost. Punz is in the Nether, so they wait until he gets back. 

Ranboo and Techno have a whisper conversation:

Ranboo: are you just going to jump fundy

Techno: no im gonna make jack 1v1 LMAO

Ranboo: good plan

While Fundy is taking a screenshot of Techno for his thumbnail, Philza attacks Fundy with a crossbow and his sword. He claims it was because he was getting bored. 

In the same spirit, Techno asks if they could kill Manifold to pass the time. The mob, which now includes Fundy, chases Manifold. He runs to the Holy Land, and the mob boos him.  Techno tells Antfrost to kill Manifold, and that the mob won’t tell that he was killed in the Holy Land. Manifold hands Antfrost his sword. 

While Antfrost debates killing Manifold or not, the mob chants ‘peer pressure!’ at him. Techno quickly realizes that Antfrost isn’t in the VC, and is extremely confused. The sword gets handed to Fundy, who gets into a battle with Manifold. Philza tells Fundy that he’s forgiven, if he can kill Manifold. The battle calms, and neither of the contestants die.

Techno convinces the mob to go to the pit trap, and tries to lure someone onto the trapped blocks using rotten flesh. Fundy takes the bait, but moves out of the way before the button is pressed. Antfrost sneaks up behind him and punches him into the pit. Fundy survives the fall, but is shot by Manifold to death. 

During the commotion, Punz makes his way back to his house, and the mob moves towards him to end his life. Manifold says that he’s going to kill Punz, and Techno says that the mob’ll have his back. He tells the mob to not have Manifold’s back. 

at 02:17:00, Punz joins the call, and is confused as to why Manifold wants to kill him. Manifold explains that Punz tried to kill him, siting his source as Technoblade. 

also, 2:17:15 technoswear!

Techno encourages Punz, saying “Punz, he actually dropped his sword by accident and now I have it, so it’d be really easy to beat him up,” and “he also just killed in the holy land, so you have a sort of...religious motivation to take him out.”

Punz tries to fight Manifold without armor (Manifold is wearing a full enchanted set of armor, with a Netherite chestplate and everything else Diamond), which fails miserably, and Manifold is killed. 

Techno decides to fight Manifold with his goons (the mob) for the audience retention, and Manifold’s quickly killed. The final hit was from CaptainPuffy. Ponk rushes in and grabs some of Manifold’s items. Puffy takes the rest.

Manifold complains about getting bullied, so Techno gives him his sword back and tells him to avenge himself. While looking for Ponk (or Punz? this is kinda unclear), Punz swoops in and kills Manifold in two hits. 

Manifold finds Ponk and chases after him, trying to kill him. The mob follows, and Ranboo kills Ponk with thorns. Manifold takes Ponks stuff. 

Right after respawning, Ponk was blown up by a creeper, and Techno claimed both as canon. 

The mini fights continue, and Manifold is killed by Punz. 

Ranboo changes the ‘Days since last war crime’ sign to 0.

Phil tells Techno that he’s going back to the base, and the L’manburgians question him as to what base he’s talking about. Phil tells Fundy that he ripped off his ankle shackles and left. While they talk, Techno starts running back to the base, and Ranboo whispers “lets run back” to him. Ranboo follows Techno, but quickly looses him.

Phil and Techno join a separate VC together and they go back to the base. 

At 02:29:15, Phil says “I trust you” to Techno and I am going to cry. 

Right before getting to the base, Phil drinks some honey, and Techno says “that’s the only thing we have honey for, now that we’ve uh...uh I guess you don’t know about that.” He’s referring to the Vault, I think, because the redstone required honey to work properly. 

Philza responds, “the honey- wait, what did you use the honey for?” 

“uhhh....food.” Techno, for some reason, doesn’t want to show Phil the vault. 

Ranboo whispers to Techno: “My alliance isnt with lmanburg, its with the people who help me. phil helped me.”

out loud, Techno laughs about it with phil, saying, “well, I’ve stabbed him like twelve times this week, so, I [laughs] I don’t know if that entirely qualifies here.”

Techno messages Ranboo back with “new phone who this” 

Ranboo replies, “no one,” and then, “:)”

Going back to the honey talk, Philza asked if Techno had been hiding anything diabolical from him, and Techno asks if he would do such a thing. Philza guesses several things he could use honey for, such as a flying machine, TNT dupers, and a door.

Techno takes him to the vault. 02:32:00. i LOVE peoples reactions to the vault, it’s always so good. Philza responds with a surprised ‘HOLY SHIT’ and some laughing. Techno also confirms my math of 55 withers. 

02:34:10 “i’ve seen this government, on the server, and everything to do with government is just bad. I’ve watched it completely destroy and tear down people’s wills and change people, I’ve seen it change the nicest people into complete and utter tyrants, so...I think it’s about time--”

“We need revenge. [sellout timer goes off] and more importantly, we neED SUBSCRIBERS ON YOUTUBE DOT COM” phil joinin anarchy pog? 

anyway that was it ;alskdfjas;f

#this ended up bein abt 3000 words whoops #a;ldskfjasldf #technoblade #stream post

[madeofitzits]

In honor of the impending return of Brooklyn 99, here are 99 reasons that...

1. He was precocious enough to know, at 5 years old, that he wanted to change his name (x)

 2. He has a bunch of nicknames: Sandy Amberg, Young Sandwich, etc. but the most endearing one is 'Droidy', his family's name for him (x) 

3. He is still super close friends with people he's known since: Elementary School (Chelsea Peretti) (x)...

4. Junior High/High School (Kiv and Jorm) (x) 

5. … Summer Camp (Irene Neuwirth) (x)

7.  ...and Film School (Chester Tam) (x)

8. Before he met Joanna, he dated other famous ladies but - out of respect - he never discussed it/them (x) 

9. He loves turtles and tortoises. When he was a kid, he had a pet turtle that he named 'Squirt' because the first time he held it, it peed on him. His Mom, Margie, accidentally killed Squirt when Andy was at Summer camp... (x)

10. … Maybe this is why, when shooting 'Popstar', Andy fell hard for Maximus (Conner 4 Real's turtle). He says they "had a good thing going" and that he wanted to adopt him. In the end, he decided against it because there are a bunch of coyotes in his neighborhood and he was worried the little guy wouldn't be safe. (Popstar: DVD Commentary)

11. Speaking of his Mom, despite being a super private person, he appeared on 'Finding your Roots' so that he could help her track down her birth family (x)

12. When he succeeded he cried (although we never got to see it on camera) (x)

13. That's because, like all good boys, he loves his Mama which is why - as part of the same episode - he said "My mom is basically the kindest person I know… and many people would corroborate that" (x)

14. Andy's Sisters, Hannie (Johanna) and Darrow, used to make him wear diapers and put his hair in pigtails until he was 5 years old. He says he didn't mind because he just liked that they were paying attention to him (x)

15. That's why he sees his identity in comedy as being 'America's kid brother'. When he was young, he would annoy his sisters until they laughed and he claims to have been replicating that approach to entertainment ever since

16. Although a bunch of his characters have 'Daddy Issues', Andy definitely doesn't. He's super close with his Papa (Joe) and has said "he's a good man" and "the best Dad in the world" (x) 

17. Joe was Andy's youth soccer coach and in one scene in 'Hot Rod', Joe's favorite photograph can be seen in the background. It shows a very young Andy posing with a soccer ball, after "scoring the winning goal against Mersey" (x)

18. He's been a loyal Golden State Warriors fan since he was a little kid, living in Oakland (then Berkeley) and, in 2010, he correctly predicted that they would "win a Championship in my lifetime" (x) 

19. The proceeds from his Umami Burger ('The Samburger') went to a deafness early detection program in Berkeley. This cause is close to his heart because Margie uses hearing aids and used to work in the special needs program, teaching deaf kids (x)

20. He, Kiv, and Jorm have made multiple donations to their old school district, including $250 000 to its theater program (x)

21. On the subject of The Lonely Island; Andy always goes out of his way to make sure that everyone knows how much he owes to his buddies. For instance, he told Marc Maron, during his WTF appearance, that "I get a lot of credit for what Kiv and Jorm have done" (x)

22. He makes this face when he knows he’s said something naughty…

(Gif credit: @andrewsambags)

23. During his 'Wild Horses' appearance, he said that he can't watch scary movies because they freak him out too much. He told 'Complex' that he's still scared of 'The Shining' (x)...

24. … Similarly, when he was at UC Santa Cruz he worked at the Del Mar movie theater and he had a hard time coping with screenings of 'Species 2' (x)

25. He fell in love with Joanna, the moment he met her, when she greeted him by addressing him as 'Steve the C**t' (x)

 26. He listened to 'Ys', everyday for a year, before he and Joanna started dating (x)

27. He bought the original portrait that was used as the basis of the cover art for 'Ys' and gave it to Joanna as a Christmas present, so that she could hang it in her music room (x)

 28. He loves birds and goes hiking and birding with Joanna (x)

 29. Every new comment he makes about Joanna becomes an instant contender for 'most beautiful thing a person has ever said about their spouse' (x)

30. For example, he readily admits that Jake's iconic heart eyes are the result of him thinking about his amazing wife (x)

31. There are many stories about how incredibly romantic Andy and Joanna's wedding was and Jorm has said that it featured "the most magical vows I've ever heard" (x)

32. The Newsombergs now live in Charlie Chaplin's old house (x)

33. On the Emmys Red Carpet (2015), the year he hosted, they took a momentary break from posing for the world's press to whisper 'I love you' to each other (x)

34. At last year's Vanity Fair party, Andy carried Joanna's purse for her so she could grab a snack (x)

35. He was a semi-permanent fixture in the audience for her recent run of shows for the 'Strings/Keys Incident' tour, even officially confirming his status as the 'President of her Fan Club' (x)

36. He used his Golden Globes monologue to call out the government for framing and murdering the Black Panthers (x)

37. On the Carpet for the Guy's Choice Awards, he called the event "a ridiculous farce", adding that "men already have it so easy - it's insane that there's a show that celebrates them". That makes sense when you consider that he, Kiv and Jorm have made an entire career out of parodying toxic masculinity (x)

38. He once said that only "idiot-ass men" think that women aren't funny (x)

39. He’s been wearing glasses since 7th Grade and he has the most heartbreakingly cute habit of nudging them up his nose, (especially when he wears his Sol Moscot frames) (x)...

40. ... and of rubbing his eyes under them (x)

41. He barely ever wears glasses for roles but he also avoids contacts (because he doesn't like touching his eyeballs) which means he's almost always 'acting blind' (x)

42. He has worn his glasses in character a few times - as 'himself' ('Lady Dynamite'), as 'Paul' ('I Think You Should Leave') and during a very small number of SNL sketches (e.g. during his one appearance in a 'Gilly' with Kristen Wiig) (x) 

43. He can't tolerate glare and when that makes him squint it's a sight that's too cute for words (x)

44. He owns about six outfits and has been rotating them for well over a decade (x) 

45. He barely ever breaks during shooting/while performing, so when he does it's aggressively adorable. (x), (x)

46. He's a grown ass man who persuades people to come with him to the bathroom because if he goes by himself he'll get lonely (x)

47. He didn't announce he was leaving SNL, until after his last appearance, selflessly choosing not to detract from Kirsten Wiig's huge and emotional send-off (x) 

48. He undertook a quest to smell like Lorne Michaels (x) 

49. He's ageing like a fine wine (x)

50. To protect their daughter's privacy, Andy and Joanna never announced that they were expecting. They've never released their little girl's name or date of birth and most news outlets still report that they became parents in August 2017 (even though that's inaccurate) (x)

51. Although he's careful not to talk about his daughter often, sometimes he can't keep from gushing about her. For example, when asked about his first year of fatherhood he said: "It’s been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Just like a beautiful, incredible dream. It has surpassed every expectation I ever had. It’s definitely been very blissful" (x)

52. After their daughter was born, Andy and Joanna spent the first 40 days at home with her (in a practice known as 'confinement'). He's described it as being "a really special time". (x) 

53. Andy is famously mild-mannered but, when asked about what triggers his 'Dad claws', he admitted that if anyone attempted to touch his daughter, without permission, he'd "probably sock them hard in the face"…

54. ...Characteristically, he went on to add that he hopes that never happens, since he hasn't been in a fight since 6th Grade (x)

55. Cyndi Lauper was his first celebrity crush and he plays her record ('She's so unusual') for his daughter all the time. (x)

56. His is the very definition of a precious laugh (x)...

57. It's made even more wonderful by the way it makes his voice go high-pitched (x)

58.  … and the way it causes his eyebrow to rise involuntarily  

59. It's impossible not to smile at his impression of his Mom (x)

60. And laugh at his impression of John Mulaney (x)

61. He was so convinced he wouldn't win the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical, that he didn't prepare a speech. Instead, as he explained to David Letterman, he "just went… and started drinking". The resulting list of improvised 'thank yous' was perfect in every way (x)

62. As producers, Andy, Kiv and Jorm have given life to some amazing projects ('Alone Together', 'Brigsby Bear', 'I Think You Should Leave')...

63. … and gone out of their way to support women in comedy ('Party Over Here', 'PEN15') (x)

64. As well as being a comedy legend, he's a super-talented dramatic actor, who gave the performance of a lifetime in 'Celeste and Jesse Forever' but, after the movie wrapped, and it was time to do press for it, he was straight back to goofing around (x) 

65. His lip bite should be illegal (x)

66. Even though he wears the same vanishingly small number of outfits, over and over, he has a vast collection of the most excellent socks (x)

67. He always gives 'editing notes' during his own interviews (x)

68. He has a super sweet and sincere way of thanking interviewers when they compliment him (x)

69. He adjusts his hoodie constantly (x)

70. The two most perfect Jake laughs in b99 are actually real Andy laughs 'https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W38A_xuXaeg https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sVm9nYrTWRQ

71. Virtually everyone who has ever worked with Andy has talked about what a wonderful person he is. This explains why so many of them have been involved with more than one of his projects (x)

72. It's not only his colleagues who talk about what a delight he is (x), (x)

73. This lovestruck fool wore his own wife's merch when he went out to dinner (x)

74. No one else uses the word 'dinky' quite like Andy (x). The same goes for 'snacky' (see point 70)

75. He does this with his tongue (x)

76. He still likes to play soccer but his eyesight is so bad that he has to keep his glasses on for it

77. When he lets his gorgeous floofy hair grow a little it sits perfectly over the arms of his glasses (x)

78. He gifted the world with Jakey's little curl (x)

79. At the James Franco Roast, he couldn't bring himself to be mean to anyone except himself (and Jeff Ross, a little!) (x)

80. In fact, he's always been willing to laugh at himself (x) and he still is (x)

81. He changes b99 scripts to make them more feminist (x)

82. Despite their humble insistence that they just benefited from 'good timing', the reality is that Andy, Kiv and Jorm (along with Chris Parnell) revolutionized digital media, when 'Lazy Sunday' popularized YouTube, increasing its traffic by 85% overnight (x)

83. He once attended the Vanity Fair party because his Mom told him to (x)

84. He has an amazing way of subtly but firmly shutting down inappropriate questions, like when this interviewer suggested that Holt being gay was something that could have been played for laughs https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=idQsYQfkR5o

85. He auditioned for SNL at the same time as Bill Hader. Hader thought he'd blown it because Andy had a bunch of props and Bill had none. In the meantime, Andy thought he'd blown it when he saw Hader and realized 'this guy doesn't need any props' (x) 

86. His bromance with Seth Meyers is one for the ages (x)

87. Every single second of this video is proof of why Andy, Kiv and Jorm deserve the world (x)

88. He once dragged Mulaney up on stage for SNL Goodnights, even though writers weren't allowed to join in (x)

89. He has a hilarious phobia of pooping anywhere except his own bathroom (x) 

90. His beautiful, beautiful, face: His smile (radiant), his eyes (caramel - hella disarming), his ears (adorably asymmetrical), his nose (perfect), His chin (the dimple… *swoon*), his jaw (could cut glass), The 'Sambeard' (another amazing layer of pretty) (x)

91. His body: His butt (x), his thighs, (x) his soft lil tummy (The ‘Sambelly’) (x), his hands. (x), his arms (x), his hips…

(Gif credit: @amystiago /@badpostandy on Twitter)

92. All signs point to the fact that, like Jake, Andy uses his glasses case as a wallet (x) 

93. Jake's "cool-cool-cool-cool-cool-cool" is an irl Andy-ism that the writers worked into b99 scripts. What's even better is that Joanna does it, too (x)

94. He has a really good arm and is low key competitive, which is super hot https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e32K_nBDy3Q

95. He's one half of the cutest Red Carpet pose of all time (x)

96. He barely ever seems to get mad but if angry Jake is anything to go by, maybe he should... (x)

97. He's a huge nerd, who geeks out over GOT, LOTR, 'Star Wars', 'Alien(s)' and anything relating to time travel (x), (x)

98. He has a gorgeous speaking voice, especially when he’s tired or a little sick. (Bonus points for any time he uses the word ‘correct’. See point 30) (x) 

99. He’s still so committed to his b99 fans and fam, even after all this time and is as excited as the rest of us that...

#99 reasons to love #andy samberg #brooklyn nine nine #b99 #a masterpost for the best boy there is