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napoleondidthat · 3 years

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What Happened to Michel Ney?

So maybe you don't want to read the book, let's talk about this crazy situation in Napoleonic history. I've gotten a few inquries through the years on here that occasionally bring up P.S. Ney and the possibility that it could have been Marshal Ney. So let's delve a bit.

This whole event is like, to quote Churchill, a mystery wrapped inside a riddle, wrapped inside an engima.

Let's not get too bogged down in the life of Michel Ney. Most will have a working knowledge of the man. He was the last man out of Russia. He lead out the rear guard from Russia, encountering hellish conditions, Cossack attacks and every other type of FUBAR event that he could. He helped with Napoleon's first abdication and then famously said he would bring Napoleon back in an iron cage when he escaped from Elba (spoiler alert: he didn't). He fought at Waterloo, though by this time his relationship with Napoleon had grown colder. He practically went nuts on the Waterloo battlefield, fighting until the bloody end and until his sword had broken in two. Still he carried on, one of the last to leave the battlefield.

He was later arrested, tried for treason, found guilty and shot.

Other things to know in order to piece Michel Ney with P.S. Ney, would be that Ney was gruff in manner, but kind-hearted. Had a "plain way" of speaking. Shied away from notoriety, money and promotions. Married to Aglae (whom he called Louise) with whom he shared four sons. It is known he spoke both French and German and apparently a bit of English as well. He played the flute.

Trial of Ney:

Ney's trial was a bit of a mess and to abbreviate it down, let's say that he cooperated, gave answers in his interrogations, and his lawyers tried to argue that he (Ney) was protected by Article 2 of a treaty that was drawn up after Waterloo and when that didn't work, argued that Ney wasn't beholden to French law, because he really wasn't French but German, because of the part of France he hailed from. This did not sit well with Ney, who shouted out at the trial that was French and would die French. He also gave a different and incorrect(?) birthdate at the start and in a strange twist told his lawyers to stand down in the middle of the trial.

Ney was found guilty, something Ney seemed to know was going to be the conclusion, and his death was voted on in the House of Peers. Strangely, most of the men who voted on it, then immediately went to Richelieu and let it be known that even though they voted for his death, they didn't want to see the sentence carried out. This leads to people from Richelieu and maybe even Wellington seeing if the sentence could be commuted. The King had no interest in doing so.

During his trial, Ney was jailed first at the Concergerie and then the Luxembourg, back to the Conceergerie, back to the Luxembourg where he had a huge security detail surrounding him at all times. The government had heard word of the various plots out there hoping to rescue Ney and became paranoid to keep him jailed.

Execution:

Instructions were sent on how the execution was to take place, and in a change of plans, Ney would be executed outside the Luxembourg and not in a military ground where executions usually took place. The deceased was to be shot, then lie there for those to see for a quarter of an hour at least. Ney met his fate calmly when the news was read to him and was driven out a few feet to the firing squad. Here eyewitness accounts vary on what was said and how he died. He was to be blindfolded and put on his knees, something he declined to do. Instead, he faced the squad, upright, hand on his heart, proclaiming his innocence and saying to "aim high". Shots were fired, Ney dropped face first and a pool of blood was on the ground under him.

Ney was dead. Or was he?

P.S. Ney Reporting:

In the United States, a man who roughly fit the description of Michel Ney appeared in the Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia area as a school teacher. He had reddish hair, balding. He was a plain spoken man but kind hearted and imposing. He said he was a French refugee and had served under Napoleon. He wasn't prone to drinking, but when he did and took too much, he let it slip that he was indeed the one and only Marshal Ney who had not died, but escaped. Who helped him? He didn't really say but did mention to a few people Wellington. Others heard the Freemasons, who Ney was a member of, did the work.

Peter Stuart Ney never spoke of his father but did often speak of his mother who he said was Scottish. He said his wife and children were in France and he hoped to return to them one day. He claimed his wife was close to Josephine and Hortense (this is true). He said he had four sons, never spoke of daughters. Others said he said he had two daughters and a son. What they all agreed on was that this P.S. Ney was the best teacher they ever had. He was kind, fair, tough but just. He was the best swordsmen they had ever seen. He was an accomplished horsemen, a good marksmen.

He taught language: English, Latin, Greek. Was reluctant to speak French but could. Also spoke a bit of Polish and Hebrew (?). Some said he had a Scottish brogue, others said a German brogue, others said it just sounded foreign.

He also played the flute. But was also a poet and artist. Drew a wonderful portrait of Napoleon. He was a fierce Bonapartist. When he heard of Napoleon's death, he fainted and later slit his throat in a suicide attempt. It failed and he was doctored. Later when he found out Reichstadt had died and wouldn't be placed on the throne, he despaired and said he'd never return to France or his family now.

He had a portrait of Napoleon and Napoleon's grave on St. Helena in his classroom.

A few who knew him thought he wasn't Marshal Ney, some thought maybe a relation. Some later changed their mind, yes, he was Marshal Ney, some never doubted.

Stories abounded that Ney was spotted by French refugees who served in the Grand Army and would see P.S. Ney and immediately say "It's Marshal Ney!"

P.S. Ney had war wounds. Some of the very same wounds that Ney had had. A wound in the thigh, a wound in the shoulder, the foot. A scar on his face that he said he got at Waterloo.

P.S. Ney never returned to France, died in Virigina of typhus fever but made the deathbed confession that he was indeed Marshal Ney. He escaped. He was given a bladder full of red fluid to hold under his shirt and when he fell he was to crush that bladder so he would look like he had been shot. The firing squad was made up of his old commrades an they recognized his order "Aim high" because Ney in battle would say the opposite, aim low. When they shot, he collapsed and the bullets went over him. Barely. It was a risk, but one that paid off. He sunk into a coma but his last words were akin to "Bessieres is dead. Let me die"

Oddities of the execution:

Ney was shot point-blank range with heavy bullets. According to the official reports, 10 bullets hit Ney, one hit the wall behind him, and the blank. Three hit his head, one is arm, the rest into his chest. The power of the gunblasts should have thrown him backwards, not forwards onto his stomach. There should have been blood spray on the wall, but only one official report says Ney's blood was on the wall and only one says he fell back. Eyewitness accounts say he fell forward and that the only blood was from under him. Ballistic experts haven't been able to answer the question of why on this.

Ney's body was taken to the Maternity Hospital where it was claimed by his brother-in-law and secretary. According to some reports, as many as 500 people saw his body while at the hospital. However, there doesn't seem to be any accounts or mentions by people in power or memoirs that they went to view Ney's body. Not that this proves there was none. Only a few eyewitness accounts do claim to have seen him, one being Ida St. Elme, and there it is mentioned that Ney had his vest buttoned to his throat and there were bullet holes, but no evidence of them hitting the chest. One said that the body was lain in a dark room that made it hard to discern features. Another said he looked peaceful and slumber and no obvious damage had been done from the bullets. Yet...he was shot three times in the head with heavy ammunition and no damage?

He was buried the following morning and no one attended in the family except for his brother in law and secretary again. His wife never once came to see the body or claim it. He was placed in a lead coffin and then an oak coffin, a practice usually only done for royalty. Or could it be because there would be no body and the weight of the lead would hide it? His grave became a bit of a place to leave anti-royalist propaganda and they government decided to move Ney to a vault that would be nameless so people couldn't find it. This was done. Later Ney would be removed from that vault and placed back at the gravesite. At this time, his coffins were opened and his grandson said there was a body with three bullet holes in the forehead proving Ney did die and was there. Later, during the reign of Napoleon III, it was a common telling that Ney escaped his execution that Napoleon III had the grave opened and there eyewitnesses said there was no body in the coffins. However, as big as a revelation this would be, the papers are mysteriously quiet on this new discovery at the time.

There are no records of who made up the firing squad. To this day, we don't know who the people were or having any of their testimonies.

Ney's wife never would visit the grave and would later remarry but the marriage would be on the quiet side and only immediate family seems to have known she re-married. When she dies, she is not laid in the Ney grave, but in a church crypt with her sisters.

On the other hand, the Ney family never stopped trying to clear their father's name and worked at it, lost their money and Ney's sons were all under survellience due to their hostilities to the new government. One even challenged Wellington to a duel. All odd behavior if Ney wasn't dead. Or did they not know?

P.S Ney did seem to have the general look and enough in common with Michel Ney to pass as him. The wounds match up, except the the facial wound. Michel Ney wasn't documented of having a facial wound, not to say that he couldn't have gotten one at Waterloo. Ida St Elme claimed to see him on the field of battle with a bloodied face. On the other hand, there was no mention of a wound when he was on trial. P.S. Ney could speak the multiple languages, and though we know Michel Ney spoke more than French, there is no proof he ever spoke Greek or Hebrew. He could have picked up some Polish being stationed with the Army. He could have had an understanding of Latin from his studies and maybe he did learn Hebrew and Greek after. P.S.Ney was also very good at maths, Michel Ney has no documentation that he was a mathematician. P.S Ney was a poet and artist, no documentation Michel Ney was, except for the flute playing. However, all of Ney's sons were quite artistic. Could have Michel Ney become more artistic when he no longer was in the military? Maybe. P.S. Ney seemed to know some intimate details of the life of M. Ney, namely he called his wife Louise and not Agale. He also said she was dark eyed with black hair which seemed true. Could he have seen a picture of her? Michel Ney also also a very quiet man about his personal life, maybe he was these things and it just went undocumented. Michel Ney was with Bessieres when he was killed in battle, right next to him. P.S. Ney's last words harkened back to Bessieres being dead. If P.S. Ney wasn't Michel Ney it seems he certainly believed rightly or wrongly he was.

P.S. Ney didn't get everything right. Namely his mother whom he said was Isabel Stuart, who is not the mother of Michel Ney.

Conclusion:

I don't know. Though I am not convinced P.S. Ney was Michel Ney, I'm not convinced that Ney's execution was completely legit either. There is definitely weirdness abounding here.

If you want to delve into this more I strongly recommend Empire's Eagles by Thomas Crockner. I just gave the briefest of the evidence, but the book goes more into depth in other evidence that both points to things not being right and reasons they are also right.

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frenchly-anxious · 4 years

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She denied her rapists a closed hearing: Claudine Cordani tells her story

“I wasn’t the one who was supposed to feel ashamed”

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Here’s a quick video I just discovered of an amazing French woman, Claudine Cordani. She’s a rape survivor and was, in France, the first minor to make her rapists’ trial go public. Nothing’s graphic in the way she retells it, but obviously, trigger warning for rape.

I did a full English translation because there are only French subtitles. And well, I felt her story deserved to be told as much as possible.

“I am, in France, the first minor who has denied their rapist a closed hearing, and who wanted everybody to be able to come because I wasn’t the one who was supposed to feel ashamed.”

February the 2nd, 1984, Claudine Cordani is kidnapped while exiting the subway. She was 17…

“I’m about to live a few hours of hell, where I’m raped by this 2 men, then they bring me in an apartment, where they actually live, in the suburb.

What I know is: I truly almost died that day. I almost took a bullet, that’s for certain. There. I saw only one pistol in my life, and it was that night.

At some point, the 2 men leave, I stay in the apartment of the 3rd man who was living there… but I hear other voices and when I exit the room, fully dressed and ready to leave, I stumble upon 2 youngsters that I didn’t know, who ask me questions very quickly.

I understand really quickly that they had a disagreement, that morning or the evening before – no, the evening before, and… And well, they’re the ones who give me their names… Thanks to this 2 men, I was able to know the names of my rapists.

The 2 persons I had dealt with, they were 2 well-known thugs who already went to prison before, one was the cousin of the other, and the cousin had been released the day before.”

Immediately after leaving the apartment, she goes to report it to the police.

“I arrived in such a state… my face was burned, they had pissed on me, it wasn’t raining. I mean, well, I was dripping like… I was dripping from a rape, something sordid, really. So, I mean, it was obvious. It was obvious I had just came back from hell.

I was really well taken care off. So yes, I got lucky, because I didn’t have to suffer through another shock. I didn’t have to suffer through another shock in a police station where I was verbally disrespected, in a hospital or in a gynecology service where I was poorly treated*. I didn’t endure that.”

(*note: there, she says in French “mal traité, en deux mots” = “poorly treated (or poorly taken care of), in two words”; she precises “in two words” because “maltraité” means “abused, tortured”)

When she meet the judge for the first time, he tells her that her rapists’ trials will be a closed hearing.

“When he pronounces the words ‘closed hearing’, it’s an expression I don’t know. So I ask him what it means, and he explains: “The closed hearing, because you were a minor at the time it occurred, means no one will be able to enter the room. There will be the president of the Assize Court (criminal trial court in France), the members of the jury, all the persons…”

And that’s it and I told him: “Ah no. Ah no no no.” I said: “Personally, I want the doors to be open.”

And so at this moment, I was refusing the closed hearing. He was astonished.

He’s someone very professional, with a lot of control, who looked at me very calmly and asked me: “Why? Why are you refusing?”

And then, I replied: “But that’s because I’m not the one who’s supposed to be ashamed.”

For me, actually, it was plainly obvious. That’s why I never was ashamed. I mean, I never felt guilt or shame because I’m not the one who should feel ashamed, actually. Let’s set things straight. The shame, it’s not for the victims.

So from there, the doors shouldn’t have to be closed. And I told him: “I want everybody to know. I want everybody to be able to come. I want society to know.” And, the paradoxical thing is, I don’t tell my parents. Well, paradoxical, yes and no, because you can have reasons to do things and reasons not to do them. Because I had decided to press charges and handle things by myself, I was gonna handle it by myself. It meant, and the judge Jean-Pierre Getti understood it, I said– he told me– he exposed to me a real difficulty, because being a minor when it occurred, my parents had to come sign for me if I was refusing the closed hearing. Except – and that’s when he was confronted with something quite unusual I guess – except I didn’t want my parents to know. So I asked him to find a solution.

My big brother, the eldest, came to sign. So he came with me one day to the Palais de justice (law court), he came to sign the papers, he left, I told him ‘Thank you’, and that’s it. I didn’t want to involve them any more, I didn’t want to tell them, I had told my brothers and my sister: “Here’s what happened to me. Here’s the procedure I’m undertaking and we don’t tell the parents about it. I’ll manage.” And still today, I’m managing it.”

At the end of the trial, her 2 rapists were sentenced to 12 and 10 years in prison.

“Personally, the things I wanted when I pressed charges, it was first for justice to be done and prevent them from doing it again to other people, because rapists don’t stop. It means there’s one time, but there are others. And I wanted to be the last they would hurt.

The most important is: we almost died, clearly. We partly died. When I say ‘we’, I don’t only mean women, I mean all the persons, kids, men, who went through this; every person who went through this: it’s a violation of their life. So, after, you have to rebuild your life, and it takes time.”

In France in 2018, among 34 000 persons suspected to have committed acts of sexual violence, less than 5 800 have been convicted.

[In France] An adult rape victim can press charges until 20 years after the rape occurred. A minor victim can press charges during the 30 years after they reached the age of majority.

“I’m asking for rape to be recognized as a crime against humanity. It’s, for me, after doing researches, the only way to remove the statute of limitations. It could help clear up a lot of cases. It could also bring – and it’s what I say at some point in my book – it could bring some kind of sword of Damocles above the head of those people, because us, we do get a life sentence actually. We do get a life sentence. For my part, I still have nightmares of this rape, of course, and during the day I sometime think about it. I do have some techniques to push back those ideas, to think about something else, and I manage differently, I’m almost 54, it’s been more than 36 years and a half, I manage differently. But we do get a life sentence. Those people should, before they even commit such thing, get some kind of sword of Damocles, they should clearly know what they’re risking.”

#trigger warning: rape #tw: rape #rape #rape survivor #claudine cordani #french #learning french #english translation #the shame is not for the victims

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wren-hawk · 5 years

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Campaign 1, Episode 55

A first time watch and live commentary three years too late.

tl;dr: Vax and Scanlan manage to not be digested, no one plummets to their death, Shale is old and awesome, and Grog fulfills his destiny.

Laura actually forgot her dice. Truly we are on the edge of total collapse. Awww, Travis being the good husband and going to find them/enabling her addiction. Remember this moment three years from now.

Travis is doing the ad read?? This is so wrong. Oh thank God, Sam is here just in time. Dodged a bullet. The bullet being actually hearing about the sponsor.

I can shorten that recap for you Matt: Everything was great. Until it wasn’t.

12, 13, and 13. Great initiative rolls guys. Really boding well for the night.

Oh god, is Umbrasyl trying to shit them out?! Oh no, he’s just going to puke them out and eat them again. Like a dog.

Scanlan as a snake is trying to go into a wound. There’s something really wrong with that and I just can’t put my finger on it.

“Oh, did you want to chase after them?” Really Matt?! That’s a question?! “Eh, fare thee well comrades. We’ll meet again some sunny day.”

Air is queefing out of the slit opened in the dragon. Is this the origin story of Arsequeef?

“I would like to fist the wound.” Amazing. Matt’s face is a landscape of both hatred and giddiness at the same time. I feel like that is a common experience with DMs. Are you fisting or fingering though Sam? Get it right!

Travis’s Nat 1 failure on the chain of returning a turn ago might have saved his life.

Taliesin’s face when he remembers he lost Hex:

Vax is trapped in the wound. My visual is essentially a baby halfway through being birthed.

Well, Scanlan fists the wound once more creating a whole that he leaps through as Bigby’s hand catches him. My favorite thing right now about watching these old episodes is imagining what these scenes could look like animated some day. This whole episode has been a real visual so far.

Travis with his whole bro look this episode talking about his love for Harry Potter fills me with joy.

And now they’re plummeting out of the dragon. Sophie’s Choice for Scanlan. Sophie chooses Grog.

HAHAHAHAHA Grog is smarter as the eagle. That’s amazing.

Good job Keyleth. Way to be on time to the party as she finally is able to gate stone to the party. Marisha is now debating about whether or not to take the fall damage as an earth elemental... Guys, I think we should have seen the Keyfish incident coming.

Chris Perkins! I like that he’s playing an older woman, we don’t really get to see older characters in TTRPGs unless they’re a magic class )or a monk). Probably for obvious reasons as you probably don’t have a long lifespan as an adventurer.

Vax is still tiny. I still don’t understand what the reasoning was for that.

Matt is a liar and a bringer of death and he smiles at you while he does it.

Seriously Travis, you’ve got it at least half damaged, Chris Perkins is here judging you, saddle up chosen one.

Thank god for Pass Without a Trace. These are some low stealth rolls even with that +10.

Pretentious asshole Percy. Schmutz him up Vex!

Only men name their weapons. Testify Shale. Testify.

Shale whacks Vax. I love her.

Vex bemoaning the lack of a plan. To be fair though Vex, your plans fall apart in 2 seconds anyway, so what’s the diff?

Old rocks, as old as Shale. None of those rocks (or magic) you learn in a hoity-toity tower that those damn millennials are so obsessed with.

“He’s a mad little one isn’t he?” Shale says as Vax runs into the invisible Umbrasyl.

Oof, a 20 and a 1 as Percy’s other gun breaks. Bad News broke earlier and Percy right now is kind of screwed.

Oh god, acid bees! This is the worst!!!

“Oh shut up you flying suitcase.” Shale is my old cantankerous French grandma and I love her.

Second Vax/Vex screw up of the night. Sam plans to roll Vix as his next character; I hope Vix is an some sort of weird aunt to Vax and Vex that sells some weird merchandise that’s super eclectic and only 4 people in the world are interested in like fossilized faerie farts or something. Maybe that’s my first ever D&D character.

Ah ha you stupid dragon, I hope you vomit your guts out due to Stinking Cloud farts.

Wow, Sam actually advocating for Trinket to get an attack. We’re in new territory here.

Nat 20 on Pike’s anal probe on the dragon! Spiritual Weapon is good too, but I’m so used to Jester’s chainsaw lollipop that a meathook just doesn’t measure up. Sorry Pike.

Faerie Fire! Yay Keyleth! Underrated spell.

Grog! 64 points with 1 round! Awesome!

Scanlan fingers the wound again. I have closed captioning up and I did originally read it as “anally jams the finger back into the wound” so there’s that.

“Have you ever had sex?” Super awkward pause. Let’s just let that hang for as long as possible.

Holy shit Percy, go to fucking town with this sword! 172 points of damage John Wu style! That’s hot. Even with the smoke. (Especially with the smoke?)

I love when everyone starts to sing along to the inspiration songs. Or in this case, chant the ‘who? who who who?’ for ‘who let the Grogs out?’

Ugh, eye stuff, eye stuff! This sucks!

Everyone is starting to look so tired. Kill this guy!

“Did you add Sneak Attack? Oh no, because nothing hit.” Way to rub salt in the wound Matt.

Just as everyone reminds Laura about Hunter’s Mark, it’s nice to see her reminding Travis about necrotic damage.

Yes!!! HDYWTDT!! And Laura’s reminders about necrotic damage pay off! Jesus, Travis is a poet with these finishing blows.

Good job recovering from that horrible position of last episode. 1 down, 3 to go!

#critical role #vox machina #cr1 spoilers #cr1e55

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loveisalwayswise · 5 years

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The 100 Ask Game

I was tagged by @foreverandalwayscrysis! Thank you ;)

1. What Station on the Ark would you be from? Probably Factory station because my parents both work in insurance and there’s nothing like it on the ark, but since I’m training to be a chemical engineer, I’d probably transfer to Mecha or Hydra.

2. What would you get arrested for on the Ark? Stealing medecine/supplies to help someone.

3. Would you take off your wristband when you landed on the ground? No, I’d keep it because I’d probably follow Clarke everywhere haha.

4. What would the necklace Finn would make for you look like? (Clarke: deer/Raven: a raven duh..) A lynx

5. If you could resurrect any MINOR character who would it be? Wells, without hesitation. Or Roan. My boys.

6. Create a squad of 5 characters to go on missions with. Who are they? Clarke, Bellamy, Murphy, Wells and Roan

7. What Grounder Clan would you belong to? Floukru

8. What would your name be in Trigedasleng? I have no idea how my name would be changed (it’s Ariane so? maybe add an h? or an apostrophe somewhere?)

9. Thoughts on Finn? Some people hate him, and others love him, so I’m curious. I never liked him. I disliked him from the moment he got the kids killed in the pilot. It was obviously a bad idea to go floating around in a falling space shuttle.

10. Be honest. How willing would you have been to take the chip without knowing all the horrible things it does? I would’ve been completely unwilling. I don’t even drink alcohol, the chip would horrify me.

11. What character do you relate to most? 100% Clarke and it always will be. I’m the kind of person who looks at the pragmatic solution first and foremost.

12. What character do you like the least? Is this even a question? E/cho. Always E/cho. The best moment of my life was when Roan banished her, and the worst was when they decided to bring her to space so that she could survive. Fuck that.

13. Describe your delinquent outfit. (Would you wear something like Murphy’s jacket with the spikey red shoulder patch or have a trademark like Jasper’s goggles? Be creative, yet practical) Jeans, sneakers, a warm shirt and a blue pastel rain coat (with many hidden pockets)

14. Favorite type of mutant animal? I loved the underwater animal they encountered in the pilot even if we never really saw it, and I would love to see more, even if I wouldn’t want to see it in real life.

15. What would your job be on the Ark? Chemical engineer

16. Would you have willingly pumped Ontari’s heart if Abby asked? Yes, and I probably would’ve volunteered before she asked.

17. If Lexa wasn’t Heda, but she was still alive, then who would have made the best commander? I really love Roan, but maybe Indra or Luna (before she went “let everyone die”)

18. How would you act if you ate the hallucinogenic nuts like Jasper and Monty? I’d probably go hide in a corner until it was over

19. How would you have dealt with Charlotte’s crime? A more John Murphy approach or Bellamy Blake approach? More like Bellamy.

20. Who should have been the Chancellor, if anyone? The political system on the ark seems a little bit broken (which political system isn’t?), but if I had to choose, I’d prefer either s1 Abby or s2 Kane.

21. Would you have been on Pike’s side like Bellamy or on Kane’s side? Or Clarke in Polis? Kane. I wouldn’t have been on Pike’s side at all, but even after all this time, I still dislike the Grounder society, so I wouldn’t want abide by their rules in Polis.

22. Mount Weather had a lot of modern commodities. (example: Maya’s iPod) What is the one thing you would snatch while there? Anything that could be used to play music and/or play games and/or read a lot of books.

23. What would your Grounder tattoos look like? Hairstyle? War paint? I wouldn’t have any war paint, but I would probably get tattoos on both my arms, I’d want them to be really intricate, and abstract. I’d probably wear my hair loose or in a French braid.

24. Favorite quote? I have so many! It’s either "You may be the chancellor, but I'm in charge” (Clarke), "Maybe life should be about more than just surviving." (Clarke) or "Who we are and who we need to be to survive are very different things" (Bellamy)

25. If all of the characters were in the Hunger Games, who would have the best shot at winning? It depends on the season of the show. In s1, I’d said probably a grounder (Roan, Indra, Luna and Lexa would definitely be in the finals). By the end of s2, I’d say Clarke or Bellamy might have a chance. By s3, Clarke would be the clear winner for me.

26. Least favorite ship? Favorite canon ship? Favorite non-canon ship?

Least favorite: B/echo

Favorite canon ship: Marper

Favorite non-canon: Bellarke. Always.

27. A song that should be included in the next season? If there had to be another guest star like Shawn Mendes on the show, who would you want to make a cameo? My swiftie side is showing, but anything involving Taylor Swift would make me very happy.

28. What would you do if you were stuck in the bunker with Murphy for all that time? I’d probably spend all my time trying to figure out how to get out of there? Because since we’d be two in the bunker, the food supply would go out twice as fast and we’d probably starve if we stayed as long as Murphy did.

29. You’re an extra that gets killed off. How do you die? In an epic duel (that I almost won, if only my opponent hadn’t cheated) with the villain of the season, a sword through the heart. It makes the delinquents want revenge for my death. ;) ;) ;)

30. A character you’d like to learn more about and get flashbacks of? I know he’s dead, but Roan. I really wanted to learn more about his past.

31. A character you’d bang? Bellamy or Roan or Wells.

32. Would you stay in the Bunker? Go up to Space? Or live on your own in Eden? Before s5 I would’ve said space, but now I want to stay with Clarke and Madi on the ground, and never have to worry about other people ever again (or at least until 6 years later)

33. In the Bunker, would you follow Octavia? What would you do to pass the time underground? Yes, but after the cannibal thing, I probably would’ve made myself as small as possible so that she wouldn’t notice me. Ever. I’d go in complete stealth mode.

34. What crime would you commit in the Bunker that lands you in the fighting pits? Trying to cover for someone who spoke up against Bloreina or did something that would get them in the pits (like stealing).

35. Up in Space, who would you bond with first? Who would be the most difficult for you to get along with? I’d bond with Monty for sure, and I wouldn’t get along with E/cho at all.

36. How long do you think you would last on Earth by yourself? I’d die within 3 days. Because water. And not being able to find it.

37. When the Eligius ship lands what do you do? I’d probably watch from a distance, hidden, to see who they are and what they’re doing. I’d probably realize that they outnumber me, so I’d show myself because there is nowhere else to go on the planet.

38. Favorite Eligius character? Least favorite? DIYOZA!!! SHE’S THE BEST!!! And my least favourite is McCreary (obviously).

39. Would you Spacewalk? Not if it used up vital oxygen, but if I could, I would. I love space.

40. Would you prefer to eat Windshield Bugs, Space Algae, or Bunker Meat? Algea

41. Would you start a war for the last spot of green on earth? What would your solution be to avoid it? No, which is why I would show myself to Eligius in the first place. I don’t want to go to war, and I since I’d be alone against them, I prefer following their rules than trying to take them out.

42. Would you rather dig out flesh-eating worms or stick thumb drives into bullet holes? Neither? Neither? Neither? Please can I do neither?

43. Are you willing to poison your sister for the Traitor Who You Love? What would you do to stop Octavia? I have a brother, and if my brother tried to do what Octavia did to Bellamy, I would poison him. And hope it wouldn’t kill him. But even if I needed to stop him, I would never intentionally be able to kill him. I’d probably even try to stop attempts on his life. So really... don’t count me in to try and stop Octavia if she’s my sister.

44. Would you go to sleep in cryo or stay awake like Marper? Cryo.

45. Who are you waking up first to explore the new planet? Clarke, Bellamy, Murphy and Diyoza. The rest can stay asleep, but I would try to eject E/cho into space at some point.

tagging @hopewolves, @anne-shirley-blythe, @talistheintrovert, @goddess-clarke, @aainiouu, @goosexdanvers, @clarkgriffon, @chants-de-lune, @chase-the-windandtouch-the-sky and @prophecy-gurl

#tag game

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aliensnipe · 6 years

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Tagged by: @soysaucevictim

Rules: Write the first 10 songs that come up on shuffle and quote your favorite lyrics from each. Then tag 10 people.

(I do not tag. I am tag-agnostic. But I want YOU to do this. Yes, YOU. Pleaz. =3)

I had to skip instrumentals, natch. They’re in italics below, if you’re curious.

Kenzo - “Sora ni Hikaru” (Neo-Progressive)

1. They Might Be Giants - “Fingertips” (Comedy / Alternative Rock)

I heard a sound

I turned around

I turned around to find the thing that made the sound

(...John and John, you utter trolls. X3 The ONE song (or series of songs... or series of three- to four-second musical phrases) that makes this meme break down. I could infodump about “Fingertips” all day, but we’re short on time, so just message me or something if you wanna know what I’m rambling about.)

2. Angelique Kidjo - “Try Everything” (Afropop)

Birds don’t just fly

They fall down and get up

Nobody learns

Without getting it wrong

(I’m really beginning to like Angelique Kidjo, but I need to track down more of her original work, because most of what I’ve heard from her is covers. Like, say, the above.)

Toby Fox - “Reunited” (Chiptune)

3. Serenity - “Wings of Madness” (Symphonic Power Metal)

Out on the silent battlefield

While the killing work is done

And the crimson haze is gone

Still lies the deadly sword I wield

And I’m dreaming of your face

Have begun to count the days

4. Eskaton - “Automute” (Zeuhl)

Je mate et puis j'imite

Ceux qui creent, ca m'epate

Moi je sais pas j'imite

Je copie, j'automate

(...this is less “my favorite lyric” than “the one thing I can find a reference for with my utter ignorance of French”)

5. Rush - “Halo Effect” (Hard Rock)

What did I see, fool that I was

A goddess with wings on her heels

All my illusions projected on her

The ideal that I wanted to see

6. The Psychedelic Furs - “Pretty in Pink” (New Wave)

The one who insists he was first in her line is the last to remember her name

He’s walking around in this dress that she wore

She’s gone, but the joke’s the same

7. Joe Dolce - “Shaddap You Face” (Comic)

What’samatta you, HEY! Gotta no respect

Whaddaya think you do, why you looka so sad

It’s a not so bad, it’s a nice-a place

Ah, shaddap a-you face!

(...cut me some slack. It can’t be multi-layered prog rock and death metal alla time)

8. Yes - “Parallels” (Art Rock)

It's the beginning of a new love in sight You've got the way to make it all happen Set it spinning turning roundabout Create a new dimension When we are winning we can stop and shout Making love towards perfection

9. Elvis Costello - “She” (Singer-songwriter)

She may be the reason I survive The why and wherefore I'm alive The one I'll care for through the rough and ready years

Me, I'll take her laughter and her tears

And make them all my souvenirs And where she goes I've got to be The meaning of my life is she

10. The Smashing Pumpkins - “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” (Alternative Rock)

The world is a vampire

Sent to drain

Secret destroyers

Hold you up to the flames

And what do I get

For my pain

Betrayed desires

And a piece of the game

11. Spock’s Beard - “Afterthoughts” (Progressive Rock)

To keep them out, I keep me in

‘cause they don’t get to hear the things I know

The bats up in this belfry

Fly in circles ‘cause they don’t know where to go

12. Opeth - “The Drapery Falls” (Progressive Metal)

Pull me down again

And guide me into

ah ah ah, ah-ah ah ah, ah-ahhh...

The Seventy Sound - “Bluephoria” (Library Music)

13. Premiata Forneria Marconi - “Geranio” (Progressive Rock)

Balla piano nella via Balla il vento della notte Balla un sogno che non c'è più Balla l'ombra della luna Sfiora il tempo la fortuna Balla piano, balla laggiù

(I don’t speak Italian, either, so this is the same situation as the Eskaton lyrics. Though I will say that these refrains are quite pretty in translation.)

Brand X - “Red” (Jazz Fusion)

14. The Psychedelic Furs - “India” (New Wave)

All the women form a line

Put your face upon a line

This is for the discotheque

This is stupid, I object

15. Alabama Shakes - “Gimme All Your Love” (Funk)

So much is goin’ on

But you can always come around

Why don’t you sit with me just a little while

Tell me what’s wrong

If you just gimme all your love

Gimme all you got, baby

Gimme all your love

15. Golden Earring - “Radar Love” (Classic Rock)

Radio playin’ that forgotten song

Brenda Lee comin’ on strong

And the newsman sang his same song

One more radar lover gone

16. Wolfmother - “Joker and the Thief” (Garage Rock)

Can you see the joker flying over

As she’s standing in a field of clover

Watching out every day

Wonder what would happen if he took her away

(...and they NEVER TELL US ALL THE STORY ‘BOUT THE JOKER AND THE THIEF IN THE NIGHT. NO, I’M NOT LETTING THIS GO.)

Gryphon - “Second Spasm” (Symphonic Rock)

17. Sonata Arctica - “My Land” (Power Metal)

My own land has closed its gates on me

All alone, in world that’s scaring me

I am here to prove you wrong

I’m accused of something, I live on

(...having been kicked out of home at a relatively young age, this song gives me Feelings)

Yes - “Mood for a Day” (Art Rock)

18. Yes - “Heart of the Sunrise” (Art Rock)

Love comes to you, then after

Dream on, on to the heart of the sunrise

Lost on a wave that you’re dreaming

Dream on, on to the heart of the sunrise

Sharp distance

How can the wind with its arms around me...

Sharp distance

How can the wind with so many around me...

(damn! Spotify shuffle really hittin’ the Yes tonight!)

19. Barclay James Harvest - “Who Do We Think We Are” (Progressive Rock)

All around we're travelling the universe Do we believe there's someone watching over us Can we be sure? Who do we think we are?

20. Rush - “Heresy” (Hard Rock)

The counter-revolution

People smiling through their tears

Who can give them back their lives

And all those wasted years?

All those wasted years

All those precious, wasted years

Who will pay?

#music meme #necessary readmore #lyrics

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opedguy · 5 years

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May Resigns as British Prime Minister

LOS ANGELES (OnlineColumnist.com), May 24, 2019.--Resigning today as Prime Minister, 62-year old Tory leader Theresa May fell on her sword for not delivering Brexit. May couldn’t get a consensus in Parliament to leave the European Union, with the stubborn Northern Ireland border situation unresolved. May couldn’t get the European Union to guarantee a passport free zone in Northern Ireland, throwing the Brexit deal into chaos. May asked and received an extension until Oct. 31, 2019 but showed no confidence that she could get a deal from the EU without crashing out without an agreement. May practically stood on her head, holding meeting-after-meeting with the EU for months, in the end giving her no better deal to satisfy the British Parliament. “I will shortly leave the job has been the honor of my life to hold,” May told the press, reluctant surrendering power. In the end, MPs had no confidence that May could deliver an acceptable Brexit deal.

Jockeying for position to take over for May, British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, former Mayor of London, a major Brexit backer, looks like the prohibitive favorite to lead the Tory Party, becoming the next resident at 10 Downing St. Johnson was one of May’s biggest critics while she worked feverishly with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk to work out a Brexit Deal. In the end, the EU wasn’t willing to give the British Parliament any more guarantees about the Northern Ireland border, leaving Brexit in limbo. “It is and will always as matter of deep regret to me that I have not been able to deliver Brexit,” May said. Labor Leader Jeremy Corbyn urged the government to let the people decide the next Prime Minister.

Corbyn would like to become Labor’s new Prime Minister, despite strong opposition in the Tory Party. Corbyn doesn’t like the fact that the Tory Party will pick its next leader to replace May as Prime Minister. Already seen leaning too far to the left, Corbyn is despised by the Tory Party. Corbyn though that getting rid of May would give him the best shot of becoming Prime Minister. While other Tories plan to run for Prime Minister, including Brexit backer Domiinic Raab, Environmental Secretary Michael Gove, former House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom and Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt, only Johnson has much chance of leading the Tory Party. Most of May’s successors want a tougher Brexit deal than the one offered at this point by the European Union. EU officials have offered no assurance that things would be different with another Prime Minister.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said that the EU was not likely to budge on its last offer to May, potentially pushing the U.K. into a hard Brexit or so-called “no Brexit” deal. “This idea that a new prime minister will be a tougher negotiator and will put it up to the EU and get a much better deal for Britian? That’s not how the EU works,” Coveney said. French Prime Minister Emanuel Macron, an influential EU member, made no promise about a better deal. Macron praised May for “courageous work,” despite knowing the EU drove her from office. Had the EU shown more flexibility on Northern Ireland, it’s possible May could have survived as Prime Minister. “I like her very much, she is a good woman, she worked very hard,” said U.S. President Donald Trump, a bigger backer of Brexit. Trump backed Brexit because it gave the U.K. more autonomy over the EU.

Britain’s betting markets give Johnson a 40% chance of winning Prime Minister, when the Tory Party finished its process of elimination, paring candidates, then voting on the favorites until one person is picked to lead the Party. “We will leave the EU on Oct. 31, deal or not deal,” Johnson told Tory Party member in Switzerland. Johnson thinks that once the U.K, is out of the EU, it could forge a “fantastic free trade relationship” but only after the U.K. has exited the EU. Defense Secretary Penny Mordaunt. International Development Secretary Rory Stewart and Home Secretary Sajid Javid have between 3%-4% chance of becoming next Prime Minister. Tory Party leaders plan to pick the next Prime Minister, not give Corbyn any chance. “The fight for the heart and soul of the Conservative Party officially starts now,” said Andrew Bridgne, a pr-Brexit MP, saying the Tory Party would pick the next leader.

May’s failure to win over Parliament for a Brexit deal hinged on a custom’s union in Northern Ireland. Since trade between the EU’s Irish Republic and Northern Ireland was paramount, May could not get the EU to guarantee a customs union. “We need a new PM as soon as possible, and who that is will decide the future of our democracy, our country and the Conservative Party,” said Bridgen. Losing ground against the U.S. dollar and euro, Britain’s Brexit woes continue to haunt the Kingdom. Conservative lawmaker Graham Brady resigned from the 1922 Committee MPs bench to toss his hat in the ring. Whatever happens in the Tory Party, there’s no guarantee a new Prime Minister can get the Parliament to go along. If Parliament rejects Brexit again it could force a new vote to keep the U.K. in the EU.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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