#218 party

[todayontumblr]

from this list, what is your favorite piece of shrek 2 (2004) trivia?

#today on tumblr #shrek 2 #shrek #facts #interesting #shrek facts #brainteasers #mongo #godzilla #puss in boats #ogre #lean mean and green #shrek 2 (2004)

[w0-2013-365]

218/365

(spot the) party 🥳

#365 #365 project #day 218 #party #garden

[teriri-sayes]

Reactions to Chaos Creator's Chapter 254

TL;DR - Cale's group arrives at a desert near 1st Star Ryan's castle. Cale is worried about Alberu. Horns feel anxious about the destructive trio.

The Funny Moments Cale's group arrived near Ryan's lair, which was a dense forest in the middle of a desert. White Snake admitted that it was odd, but also unique. And we had our first funny moment with the three kids.

Hong and Raon decided to roll down the sand as On watched them. But Cale was concerned when he heard Raon laughing "Kwahahaha!" instead of his usual "Hihi" or "Hehe". I guess Raon's been hanging out with Toonka lately? 😂

Up next was the scene of Cale worrying about Alberu:

Tasha, who caught Cale's gaze, smiled. -Human, human! Tasha's gotten really strong! As Raon said, who flew by him, Tasha became really strong. 'She's dependable.' Cale smiled naturally. It was a good to have a strong ally. -The crown prince would be happy to know this! Too bad you can't reach him! Crown Prince Alberu Crossman. Cale attempted a video call to him, but unfortunately he couldn't get in touch. Instead, a few hours later, he got a message. -I'm playing the game. Cale thought he couldn't get in touch because Alberu was playing a virtual reality game. "Let's go." The whole party set out. Cale, who was trying to follow, paused for a moment. '…No way-' Crown Prince Alberu Crossman. 'He's not obsessed with that game, right?' Impossible. That thorough-minded person would never be so addicted to games that he would skip work and meals just to play games, right? Cale let out a laugh. "Silly me." What a ridiculous idea. He shook his head and quickly followed his companions. 'Yes.' The sudden chill and cold feeling down his spine right now was probably due to the cool breeze blowing in from his companions who had moved ahead of him. Cale tried to ignore the hot sunlight of the desert that was unlike the north, and rubbed the goosebumps on his arms.

AHAHAHAHAHA!!! Alberu is a game addict confirmed! 🤣🤣🤣

Lastly was the scene with poor Horns and the destructive trio as they arrived at the capital and saw the central temple.

Horns: We're here. Rasheel: *standing in a tilted position* The capital is indeed the capital. Quite flashy, huh? Hannah: *fiddling with her sword handle* Its grandeur is less than the Church of the Sun God. Clopeh: Fufu. *laughing shallowly with a handsome appearance* Horns: *feeling very anxious but keeping it inside*...Let's go.

Clopeh, why are you laughing like that? Are you really planning to... convert that church to Caleism? 😂

Wolf Tribe Chief The wolf tribe chieftain finally returned to her normal self today, and she also went with Cale's group in the desert. The problem was... the author forgot the name given to her in an earlier chapter.

She was called Jessie back in chapters 217-218, but in today's chapter, she was called "Nia." 🤨 It's like that Black Blood patriarch situation again with "Wallot" and "Reddok." 😂

So Nia was described as a timid girl the same age as Lock. She calmed down after Lock and Gashan exhausted her strength, like how CH and Rosalyn did to Lock back then. Nia clearly recalled what she did during her berserk transformation, so she was feeling shy and apologized to everyone about the trouble she caused.

Cale thought that she resembled Lock in that timid aspect, but from what he heard from the other beastkin, she was not originally like this. She was more of a Litana. Her berserk experience temporarily turned her into a Lock.

Ending Remarks Game addict Alberu was today's highlight for me. 🤣🤣🤣 Next chapter would be Cale meeting Wisha's secret allies who would guide them to the source of the world.

#tcf spoilers #trash of the count's family

[simonalkenmayer]

For those of you unaware of what is happening in USA politics right now, it’s absolutely historic. This is how the Republican Party began, and this time it’s them collapsing.

The Speaker of the House is third in line for the Presidency. It is an elected position within congress. Often it goes to the majority leader, but the majority leader is Kevin McCarthy. He’s being challenged right now from 20 house members of his own party. Which means that minority leader Hakeem Jeffries has 212 votes out of the 218 necessary, while McCarthy has only 202. If McCarthy cannot get 16 more votes, he cannot become speaker. Hakeem Jeffries is in line to be only the second black speaker in history. It looks as if those 20 will stand their ground. If they continue to hold the election hostage, we cannot place a speaker. Stable republicans might switch sides just to get it over with.

The last time this happened was 1856, when the government collapsed beneath Lincoln. And then yes…SC seceded of course, and but a bit later we began the civil war.

If Hakeem Jeffries flips just 6 republicans, he does something doubly historic and the country, in my opinion, will be much better off. If McCarthy gets 16, he does so at great cost. He’s fucked either way for the duration of his career.

Keep your eyes peeled. They voted 3 times today and adjourned to tomorrow. The record is over 133 votes.

Why am I telling you this?

Narcissistic collapse. Remember I predicted a bit ago that we would begin to see infighting and the narcissism of small differences? Well…they’re all bitching and moaning at each other and bickering over the carving of the carcass and how much they’ll get. They aren’t thinking at all about people. MTG did nothing but bemoan her lack of committees. McCarthy bemoaned his results and claimed he was being unfairly squeezed and so on.

Watch it. See what patterns you notice

[boyduroy]

adad 2023: 218/365

slumber party night at the mega pizzaplex!

don't forget your fazzy footie pajamas (and a toothbrush)

#sketch doodle #pencil sketch #a doodle a day #adad 2023 #adad #fnaf #five nights at freddy's #fnaf gregory #fnaf cassie #fnaf security breach #fnaf security breach ruin #security breach #security breach ruin #five nights at freddy's security breach

[twice-inamillion]

Master List 2

Twice Dome Arc

Chapter 174: First Day in Osaka

Chapter 174.5 Side Story: Flashed

Chapter 175: Second Day in Osaka

Chapter 175.5 Side Story: Overdue Punishment

Chapter 176: Meeting Her Parents

Chapter 177: Mina’s Birthday Gift

Chapter 177.5 Side Story: Family Trip

Chapter 177.6 Side Story: New Trainer

Chapter 178: Tokyo Dome Surprise

Chapter 179: Eating Out with Momo

Chapter 179.5 Side Story: Drunken Date

Chapter 180: Tokyo Trip

Chapter 180.5 Side Story: Relaxation

Fancy Arc

Chapter 181: Sana’s News

Chapter 182 Side Story: Teasing 2Yeon

Chapter 183: Tzuyu's Congratulation Gift 

Chapter 184 Side Story: Pushing Boundaries

Chapter 185: Showcase - Fancy You

Chapter 186: Chaeyoung’s Birthday Wish

Chapter 187 Side Story: Award Show

Chapter 188 Side Story: Protector

Chapter 189: Children’s Day

Chapter 190: Jihyo’s Concern

Chapter 191: Twice’s Future?

Chapter 192 Side Story: Prepping

Chapter 193: Play In Future Home

Chapter 194 Side Story: Jealousy

Chapter 195: A Special Date

Chapter 196: Nayeon’s First Night

Chapter 197: Nayeon’s Morning Sex

Twicelights World Tour Arc

Chapter 198 Side Story: Viewing Party

Chapter 199: Dahyun’s Birthday Sex

Chapter 200 Side Story: Bratty

Chapter 204: Member/ House update

Chapter 201: Member Practice

Chapter 202: Sana’s Appointment

Chapter 203 Side Story: Doctor’s Orders

Chapter 205: Tzuyu’s First Time in Bangkok

Chapter 206 Side Story: Addiction to you

Twice in Hawaii Mini Arc

Chapter 207: Happy, Happy

Chapter 208: Night With Mommies

Chapter 209 Side Story: Poolside Chat

Chapter 210: Forever Jihyo

Chapter 211: Shower Sex

Chapter 212: Honeymoon in Hawaii 

Chapter 213: Children Adventures

Chapter 214: Family Trip (Jihyo, Jisoo, OC)

Twicelights World Tour Arc

Chapter 215: Lips

Chapter 216: Momo in the Studio

Chapter 217: Side Story- Clothes

Sana Mini Arc

Chapter 218: Ambush

Chapter 219: Sorrow

Chapter 220: Twisted Reality

Chapter 221: Side Story- Confused

Chapter 222: Without Sana

Chapter 223: A Change in Sana

Chapter 224: Side Story- Imagination

Chapter 225: Childhood Dream

Chapter 226: Reunion

Chapter 227: Side Story- Stretching

Chapter 228: Side Story: A Rough Ride Home

Chapter 229: Bunny Nayeon

Chapter 230: Feel Special

Chapter 231: Side Story - Green Room

Chapter 232: Sister Talk

Chapter 233: After Jimmy Choo

#twice smut #kpop smut #male reader #twice #twice fluff #kpop fluff #twice nayeon #twice jeongyeon #twice momo #twice sana #twice jihyo #twice mina #twice dahyun #twice chaeyoung #twice tzuyu #tm smut

[dicapiito]

House is controlled by GOP white evangelical Mike Johnson and for things to pass, 218 votes are needed and the GOP has the most House seats

Senate is only marginally Democratically controlled but for things to pass; Senate needs to have 60 votes and with Manchin retiring; it’s imperative to vote or Mitch McConnell gets to be the Senate majority leader again

Supreme Court is GOP controlled since Trump elected THREE Supreme Court Justices and got to overturn Roe Vs Wade and have even more overturning up their sleeves. Something Hilary Clinton warned people about should he have been elected

So for those who want to not vote; here’s the GOP plan for everyone who’s not white

So DO NOT listen to those idiotic leftists who don’t know basic shit about US politics but once again a reminder that white people vote in every single election. EVERY SINGLE ELECTION.

They’re counting on leftists and third party candidates to help the GOP get back into power in all three branches and if they succeed; then we will never see Democracy again but live in a fascist country where only yt people get to live even more comfortable lives while the rest suffer.

#us elections #presidential elections #state elections #us politics

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

Two disillusioned House Republicans unloaded on their vengeful leadership for inadvertently making a hero out of Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar by publicly stripping her of a high-profile committee assignment in what one deemed the "stupidest vote in the world."

The not-so-private condemnation of Speaker Kevin McCarthy's campaign to remove Omar from the House Foreign Affairs panel happened after Republicans clinched the retaliatory strike on a party-line vote of 218-211.

As they rode the elevator away from the House floor, congressional newspaper Roll Call reported that Foreign Affairs Committee GOP member Ken Buck and Republican Rep. Mike Simpson reflected on what had just transpired and decided it was a boneheaded move.

After Buck decreed it the "stupidest" political move, Simpson said the expulsion would probably make the Minnesota Democrat into a "martyr."

After airing their grievances, the pair reportedly asked those around them "not to let leadership know their thoughts."

Buck and Simpson's offices did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

The polarizing ouster only fell into place after McCarthy won over a handful of Republicans who had voiced objections to the effort — including Republican Reps. Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Victoria Spartz of Indiana — by promising to reform internal punishment procedures moving forward.

Incensed Democrats like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York denounced the entire process as hypocrisy writ large.

"Don't tell me that this is about a condemnation of anti-Semitic remarks, when you have a member of the Republican caucus who has talked about Jewish space lasers, and also elevated her to some of the highest committee assignments in this body," Ocasio-Cortez said on the floor, referring to Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. "This is about targeting women of color in the United States of America."

#us politics #news #business insider #2023 #118th congress #us house of representatives #rep. kevin mccarthy #speaker of the house #rep. ilhan omar #rep. mike simpson #rep. Ken Buck #house foreign affairs committee #Rep. Nancy Mace #rep. Victoria Spartz #Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez #house committee assignments

[gardensgatekeeper]

Brightest Star

"After all, you're my brightest star."

Pairing: Josh Kiszka x Reader

Word Count: 218

Warnings: Just fluff, absolute heart melting mush

You'd always been a fan of Josh's eccentric style. In fact, it was the first thing you'd noticed about him the first time you two met at a party. While everyone was dressed casual, he somehow effortlessly stood out in a flashy blazer and loafers you could've sworn actually came out of your closet. The way he challenged feminine and masculine clothing standards to create uniquely stylish looks was something you truly admired. So when you tagged along with Josh for a wardrobe fitting for their upcoming tour, you weren't the least bit surprised to see a plethora of pieces with sequins, sparkles, and shiny fabrics. But you were taken aback when Josh revealed his favorite piece, a large cape adorned with thousands of intricately placed beads in a beautiful star-constellation pattern. "You wanna know why this one is my favorite? Well apart from the obvious." He chuckled before continuing. "See the placement of the stars? Those were the constellations in the sky the night we met." You gasped, turning to look him in the eyes as yours began to water. "Josh...I-" You were in absolute shock. Nobody had ever done something so meaningful for you in this way. "That way, you're always with me even when you actually aren't. After all, you are my brightest star."

#greta #greta van fic #gvf #gvf imagine #gvf josh #joshkiszka #josh kiszka #josh kiszka x reader #josh kiszka x you #josh kiszka x y/n #joshua michael kiszka #gardensgatekeeper

[tamamita]

I don't know if you're genuinely curios or not, but here's a quick recap of what's going on at the Capitol: the House of Representatives needs to elect a Speaker in order to conduct official business. Despite winning the majority, the Republican party is too splintered to agree on who to elect, meaning their main nominee, Kevin McCarthy, keeps falling short of the votes needed to be sworn in (203 out of 218). At the same time, the Democratic nominee was unanimously voted for by his party but also fell short (212), due to the Democrats having less members. This has resulted in a deadlock, with votes being held over and over again and the results being the same each time. McCarthy, who had made a big show of being the next Speaker, is now being publicly embarrassed by losing 12 votes in a row due to his party being unable to agree.

Ok, yeah that's pretty damn hilarious!

But if they keep failing to choose a speaker, what will happen? Do they just have to hold votes over and over again?

[taylor]

Soooooo 216 Republicans and 2 Democrats just voted 218-203 to overturn President Biden's student debt relief plan (that would have given up to $20,000 in loan forgiveness to borrowers, estimated to benefit 40 million borrowers).

Like, this is why "both sides suck, that's why I'm not voting!11!1!!!" kills me so much. Yes, there are MANY problems within the Democratic party but to act like they are at ALL the same fucking problems?? You're saying a nuclear bomb is on the same level as a decaying tuna sandwich? Sure, I'd prefer we live in a world where we didn't sometimes have to vote a decaying tuna sandwich into office, but that is HOW IT CURRENTLY IS. If we, if YOU want that to change, put your time, money, effort where your mouth is!!!

Otherwise, if you're one of the folks (who live in the USA, should have said that upfront, this is directed towards American followers) who refuses to vote because one candidate isn't "perfect" enough for you - shit like this will happen.

And this is just loan forgiveness! Nothing to mention the violently anti-trans and anti-queer legislation being passed and passing through as we speak.

The student debt forgiveness plan would have HELPED millions get out of debt that they otherwise would never be able to climb out of, and now because of Republicans who don't give a SHIT about you or me (they really don't, unless you're a white man or subservient white woman who abides by their "morals"), and because of two spineless Democrats who joined them, we can't.

I hate it here.

#us politics #i just FUCK #makes me so mad

[apollomes-supremacy]

LO Dionysus design 🍇🎭

| Apollo | Persephone | Hermes | Ares | Artemis | Ganymede | Aphrodite | Eros | Zeus |

This will be a long post since Dionysus isn’t a character yet so I had to create him from 0.

The beginning of Dionysus’ introduction started on EP 93 (with Semele, Dionysus’ mother), but it has been more than 100 episodes and we got absolutely nothing from that plot, which is bad considering that other gods get involved in the og myth (Zeus, Hera and Hermes, mainly), but none of them (before and after the time skip) display any knowledge or memory of the event, especially Zeus, who is the one who accidentally kills Semele in the first place.

I already talked about it here, but im 100% sure that the child mentioned in episode 218 is Dionysus. He should be 10 yo right now and he’s the only character (vaguely) introduced who is around that age. Not to mention, Dionysus does have some connections with the Underworld. My main theory is that he will be adopted by HxP and will remain a child for the rest of the series (probably skipping the majority of Dionysus’ myths). And that’s honestly such a waste of potential. So I decided to give my take on him if he was in LO, like the redesigns I did with many other characters.

Design

My main inspo was 60′s and 70′s Hippie fashion, with a lot of patterns, accessories (crystals, evil eyes, beads, rings, etc), loose clothes and a more lazy/cozy look. He’s two shades of purple that split his face, which is meant to represent his duality as the god of parties and joy & god of wrathful madness. Hermes gave him nymph ears to use as a disguise when he was young, but he doesnt want to change them back because he grew up and feels comfortable with them. He has a very androgynous/feminine look, which leads to a lot of people thinking he’s an actual nymph.

In his true form (which can come out voluntarily, but usually happens when the god gets so mad that they are unable to control themselves) he can get really big. Leafs and grapes sprout everywhere, he gets another pair of arms made of plants’ stems and his eyes go full neon green.

Story

His story is very similar to the og myths, with just some small differences. He is born from Zeus’ thighs and goes to live with Demeter and Persephone as one of their nymphs to escape Hera’s wrath. There he starts to question a lot about himself, like his gender and his origins (he doesn’t know he is not an actual nymph), and when puberty hits, his body and his powers go crazy. Its also around that time when he meets and falls in love with Ampelos (and you know how that story ends).

When the wine he creates starts growing in popularity and Dionysus starts getting worshipped by some cities, Zeus decides that there’s no reason to hide him from Hera anymore, so he brings Dionysus to Olympus and reveals the truth, inviting him to become an Olympian. Dionysus says yes without thinking twice, so he moves in and starts to get prepared for his ceremony and his new life.

But there’s a problem. The Olympus lifestyle is way too different from Dionysus’. People are sophisticated, modern and even mean-spirited, while he is the complete opposite. It’s hard for him to fit in and he just wants to go home with the nymphs and satyrs, and he eventually does... illegally.

Personality & relationships

Dionysus is very outgoing and funny. He’s kind to everyone around him (not discriminating against nymphs, satyrs or mortals), but he can get very emotional very fast. He gets easily annoyed, which will prob just result in some unwanted vines around the house and a grumpy look, but the moment he gets mad is when everything falls apart (wrath form). Anger issues + no control over powers = no good.

He sees Demeter as a mother and Persephone and the nymphs as older sisters, while Silenus and the other satyrs served as fathers. His favorite brother is Hermes who kept an eye on him during his entire childhood and still cares deeply for him. He also has an interesting relationship with Apollo, he is very scared and intimidated by him (I understand why lol) but wants to start a friendship. Except for the fact that Apollo already has a soft spot for him, Dionysus is just oblivious to it. Ares is also scary and kinda mean, but he likes Dionysus and cares for him. He’s very indifferent towards Zeus, Hera hates him (he hates her too) and everyone else is pretty neutral, considering he doesnt know a lot of people outside of the nymphs and satyrs.

Powers

Dionysus is a fertility god (which in this universe doesnt mean that much), this means he has powers over vegetation (like Demeter) and mortals’ desires (like Aphrodite). Being the god of madness also means that he can make people so mad to the point of committing atrocities and completely losing their minds. In his true form, simply looking at him can lower your sanity. He also has the powers all the other gods have, like changing forms, cursing and blessing people, being summoned by mortals, etc. 

That’s all I have the energy to write rn. I tried to replicate the LO art style, and honestly I really liked the result! Hope you guys liked it too <3

(Also, Dionysus would be around his 20′s when the story takes place. He is Pansexual and is still confused about his gender but he’s fine with any pronouns).

#lo #lore olympus #anti lo #anti lore olympus #anti lo art #anti lore olympus art #lore olympus redesign #loresona #lo loresona #lo oc #lo redesign #lo dionysus #my art #art #digital art #character design #oc #original character #anti lo stories #anti rs #mine

[grumpycakes]

So as the house gets warmed up to go let me give a few updates I found out!

Voting Present LOWERS the number necessary to win, so it SHOULD be 219 with the full house but because Spartz votes Present it's 218

ARGUABLY if more Republicans vote Present but the 20 stick to their guns, the Democrats COULD win with 212 but Republicans don't want that

Buck who left for a non emergency medical procedure yesterday may not be back

We're starting up with only 275 reps present cause it's more than half but YIKES. Though I would assume more are showing up

a Californian Republican just got up to nominate McCarthy just to see how fast he loses. He's saying it's NOT ABOUT McCARTHY. FRIENDO YEAH IT IS. Lolll he's talking about serving the country with "Pure and Selfless intent~" and like idfk if any human can do taht.

ughghg the Republicans also keep bringing up fentinol overdoses and immigration and how it's going UnChEcKeD while we vote.

oh interesting, he thanked the national police (happily everyone got up and clapped for them) to pretend like Republicans care AT ALL about them.

... Sir why we talking about China, I don't think this is gonna move anybody you wanna move???

Jesus, he's trying to scare ppl into voting together cause the world is in DANGERRRR but like, THESE ARE THE PPL THAT REFUSED TO WEAR A MASK CAUSE IT MADE THEM UNCOMFY while people DIED. So loll ur talking for nothing sir. Hahahaha he's like, I agree w you shits but I WOrk w OtHeRsss and that's how you gotta WoRk!!! lolll

Oh here we go, telling the Dems they're on the EDGE of a VERY IMPORTANT VICTORY. Loll sure you lil dipshit. OH OH RUDE he just said, looking to the Dems I realize i haven't met many of you cause you're not here, voting by proxy. WOW, rumbles in the crowd and then the Clerk had to bang the gavel and be like HEY, UR SUPPOSED TO DIRECT COMMENTS TO THE BENCH.

Ur useless dude, this is too long of a speech. And stupidly blaming all of it on the Dems

South Carolina Rep is up for the Democrats

Awww he thanked the Clerk who's been running this circus and all the Dems rose and the Clerk smiled and mouthed thank you.

He's talking about learning lessons and working to be a better govt but flowery-er. Ah okay he's bringing up Jan 6. Resiliency. USA was made for liberty, justice, and freedom. Pointing out that it's the first time in over 100 years that they can't figure out who to vote for. The goodness of the american people is at stake??? Jeffries is a good dude i guess lol.

Oh lord almighty Gaetz is up and saying HE TAKES EXCEPTION TO THE CALIFORNIA REPS STATEMENTSSS. LOLL oh shit and he's saying that McCarthy is only speaker if he GETS THE VOTES and he DON'T HAVE THE VOTES. And he's saying it's vanity making McCarthy keep going. LOLL AND I THINK THE DEMS CLAPPED FOR THAT. hahaha ppl are yelling at him and order had to be called. HAHAH Gaetz just called him LaBron James but that would mean that McCarthy was a WINNER AT SOME POINT.

Oh dude don't fucking bring up PURITY you lily white fuck. Damn he's just calling out his own party. He's saying their intentions when trying to negotiate w him weren't PUUUREEE. Again humans, nothings gonna be pure my dude.

Mr SQUINTS IS BACK!!!

Bottom line, they don't trust McCarthy, saying it's for the ppl

WOAH WAIT HE JUST NOMINATED JIM JORDAN AGAIN, NO

Boebert is up to nominate Hern. She keeps pointing out that he was unanimously voted as chairman for something and that he's gonna be united. Blahblahblah inflation, republican talking points. Oh yay quickly ended

OH SHIT AND WE'RE VOTING ROUND 12!!!

#political o'clock #politics #us politics #speaker of the house vote 2023 #12:35PM EST

[ridenwithbiden]

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST. BLAMING THE 'DYSFUNCTION' THEIR OWN PARTY CREATES "Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who announced last month he would not run for re-election, will resign from Congress early, he confirmed in a statement Friday.

Gallagher’s departure before the end of his term in January is another blow to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Republicans, who have been struggling to govern and demonstrate stability in this Congress.

2 sources familiar with the matter told NBC News of Gallagher's plan to resign early Friday. The Wisconsin Republican then released a statement announcing that he will depart April 19.

Gallagher informed Johnson of his decision earlier this week. Johnson, in a post on X, praised Gallagher's "extraordinary work in the House" and for "courageously exposing the threat Beijing poses to the U.S."

His resignation could cause more headaches for House Republicans. Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., who also is not seeking re-election, is resigning from Congress on Friday, cutting the GOP’s minuscule majority to 218-213. When Gallagher leaves, the majority would further shrink to 217-213, meaning Republicans could only afford a single defection on any vote if Democrats vote together.

Gallagher’s decision to leave April 19 also means that there will not be a special election to fill his seat. Under Wisconsin state law, vacancies after the second Tuesday in April are filled in the general election, so Gallagher’s replacement will be decided in November and his seat will remain empty until January.

A source close to Gallagher said the decision to leave was in the works and not related to anything happening in House lately. Gallagher has a young family that he and his wife hope to grow and the House schedule is not conducive to that, the source said.

Gallagher, 40, an Iraq War veteran, is the chairman of the select committee investigating the Chinese Communist Party, and serves on the Intelligence Committee. It’s highly unusual for a committee chairman to resign in the middle of the term.

But Gallagher, an institutionalist first elected to Congress in 2016, has grown frustrated with his own party. He was one of three Republicans who voted against the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas last month.

He is one of several top Republican chairmen who are not running for re-election in November following a tumultuous House session.

Earlier Friday, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., filed a motion to oust Johnson from the speakership over his handling of funding the government, though no vote is scheduled yet. It follows a similar motion, made by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., that successfully toppled then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., last fall.

Meanwhile, shortly after the House passed its final government funding package for fiscal year 2024 on Friday, retiring Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, said she would step down as chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, setting off an early battle among Republicans to succeed her in the powerful post. Unlike Gallagher and Buck, Granger said she will serve out her House term, which ends in January.

In his statement, Gallagher said he worked closely with GOP leaders on the timing of his announcement — shortly after the House voted to avert a shutdown — and looks forward to Johnson naming a new China committee chairman.

"I will forever be proud of the work I did on the Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, chairing the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, and chairing the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party," Gallagher said. "It has truly been an honor to serve in the House of Representatives."

[utilitycaster]

Re: Em Friedman, I personally always got the impression that they're just a big fan is Aabria cuz I think Aabria was one of their first guests(?) in their TTRPG class

And that's why to me all the coverage about Acofaf, WBN and now Burrows End reads with kind of a biased perspective

Like, I love WBN but as you said, it's not really doing anything innovative per se, and the whole coverage and hype about the Bear episode in Burrows End really made it anti-climactic when the episode aired

Idk, maybe I'm wrong, but a lot of the Actual Play coverage from Polygon (not just Em) seems kind of like D20 and WBN circlejerk while they're more than happy to throw CR under the bus

Oh interesting. Like, I do get that Actual Play is not a particularly massive community and I could see how someone who interviews players regularly might end up becoming close to them and generally that maintaining distance and journalistic integrity is uniquely difficult, but also like. Here's the thing. I know Critical Role is The 800 lb Gorilla in the actual play space; no one else is selling out Wembley Arena. I don't mind if they're not getting the same boosts from publications, because they don't really need it and people love an underdog and all that. It's still not great, that this bias exists, but Critical Role is much harder to keep up with because it is at this point 8 years of content to fully know what's going on in Campaign 3, whereas you could have someone binge watch ACOFAF in a long weekend.

What gets me is that it's not just fawning and biased. It's ignorant of the actual play genre and claiming things that are flat out untrue. "Critical Role isn't as good as Dimension 20" is an opinion. I don't agree with it but it's a valid position for someone to have, and even journalists are entitled to preferences. But like, again: TAZ Balance started at level 1, with the party obtaining a legendary and dangerous artifact at a low level, and it started in late 2014. NADDPod campaign 1 also started at level 1 and ran up to level 20, and it began in early 2018.

Longform D&D/Pathfinder are also not new. Both of the examples above ran over 60 episodes; NADDPod's first campaign was an even 100. Rusty Quill Gaming ran an impressive 218 over 8 years, though they tended to stick to about an hour long per episodes so it's closer to NADDPod in actual hours of gameplay. Obviously Critical Role, while unedited and not a podcast primarily, has had 100+ episode campaigns. All of these were also set in homebrew worlds, though TAZ was extremely loosely based on Forgotten Realms to start, and RQG was essentially a divergent history of our world. So what, precisely, other than the Children's Adventure, makes WBN different? Like...I know fandoms struggle to understand this but it does not do anyone a single fucking favor to act like well-executed but traditional formats (or solid but par for the course work) is radical and innovative genius! It doesn't make me say "wow, WBN is clearly groundbreaking." It makes me go "wow, Polygon's coverage is written by a fucking idiot who's unfamiliar with the landscape of actual play."

What gets me about the bear episode is that it was also, in my opinion, very well-executed and an interesting battle, but it was not like, any different from another battle map except that the production team did a really good job making it slightly gorier than the norm. That's it. And as for the twist...look, again, I'm reserving final judgment, but I keep thinking about this (regrettably it is from Orson Scott Card, who is both a homophobic asshole, and also wrote "How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy" which was my introduction to Octavia Butler and genuinely informs my understanding of the genre to this day):

"If you are using a known foreign language, by the way, take the time and effort to get it right. Among your readers there will always be someone who speaks that language like a native. If you get it wrong, those readers lose faith in you - and rightly so. Wherever you can be truthful, you should be truthful; if your readers can see that you're acting by that credo, they'll trust you, and you'll deserve their trust. But if they catch you faking it, and doing it so carelessly that you can easily be caught, they'll figure that if the story wasn't worth much effort to you, it shouldn't be worth much to them, either. They may still like the story, but you have blunted the edge of their passion."

This is both what I'm worried might end up being true re: Burrow's End (except instead of a foreign language I speak like a native, it's How Radiation Works) but it's also true in that like...all of those longform campaigns? I've watched or listened to them in full. Acting like it's innovation to...do a thing that's been done by so many other prominent actual plays is not even reading to me as bias. It's reading to me as a combination of wildly misplaced priorities (genuinely I think between this and the ask meme I'm like "hmmm have we considered that we're asking a huge amount from a niche medium and acting like it is the responsibility of a bunch of actors with dice to constantly reinvent the artform in which they work and dismantle the kyriarchy and prevent us from getting into arguments with our friends, instead of, as WBN's own page says, play games to make stories out of sound?") and also just. Ignorance. This is a person who is talking about something they genuinely don't know about. Why should I listen? I mean the bias doesn't help, but really it's the ignorance that kills it.

#answered #Anonymous #long post

[kimmipetty]

10/26/23 - MB 218/ EF 103 - The basics are vital for a boy like Chris becoming a Miss. Every little girl loves to give a tea party. And what fun to see a boy with a cute pink bow in his hair holding his adorable dolly.

Our Throwback Thursday debuted on the now defunct Marybethsfantasy site in 2005. Thanks Christeen and Mary Beth!

#christeen #marybethsfantasy #kimmicaption