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axvoter · 1 year

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Index to the Blatantly Partisan Party Reviews, 2022 Victorian state edition

This Saturday is election day in Victoria and a record number of candidates are standing. You could find yourself a little bewildered by the plethora of micro-parties on the ballot. You might have also heard about the controversies surrounding Group Ticket Voting, where Victoria is the last state to retain this anti-democratic system that allows parties to control some preferences.

I’ve written my blog entries to demystify these micro-parties and to explain how to ensure you stay in control of your own preferences. All entries are written from a left-wing perspective sympathetic to democratic socialism and green politics, so calibrate according to your own predilections. I make no pretension to false objectivity—that’s why these are blatantly partisan party reviews.

When you go to vote, you will receive two ballot papers. One will be a very large ballot for the Legislative Council (the upper house). The state is divided into eight regions that each elect five members of the Legislative Council. Every registered party is contesting every region. But the Legislative Council is the house of review; government is formed in the Legislative Assembly (the lower house). It contains 88 seats, and the number of candidates—both party-affiliated and independent—varies significantly between electorates.

On the small ballot for the Legislative Assembly, you must number every square. Do not skip or repeat a number. You are in full control of your preferences on this ballot: if your preferred candidate is not elected, your vote transfers at full value to your second preference, and so on. You might receive a How To Vote card from party campaigners: this is a suggestion only and you can fill out your preferences in any order you like.

On the large ballot for the Legislative Council, you can either vote above the line or below the line and I CANNOT EMPHASISE ENOUGH THAT YOU SHOULD VOTE BELOW THE LINE. If you vote above the line, you will receive the preferences lodged on a group ticket by the party for whom you vote 1. Any other preferences you mark will be ignored. Many of these group tickets are dodgy, decided by backroom deals, and none of them reflect what a party’s voters do when they can give preferences freely.

To vote below the line, you must number at least five candidates sequentially 1–5. You can then give as many more preferences as you want. You can stop at 5, or you can preference everyone, or do anything in between; it’s up to you. I recommend preferencing as far as you can express a meaningful preference, including between gradations of bad, as this maximises the power of your vote. I also recommend preparing your vote beforehand on a template such as that from ClueyVoter, and then copying this onto your ballot in the booth. If you want a more detailed discussion of this system and how to make best use of your vote, Kevin Bonham's got you covered.

This entry includes links to my reviews of each micro-party. Earlier today I posted a cheat sheet with my recommended preference categories. I do not review Labor, Liberal/National, Greens, or One Nation, as anyone interested enough to read this blog presumably already has opinions on those parties. I did float the prospect of reviewing the state branch of One Nation when I began the reviews, but their website still lacks meaningful content for the state election and it seems they aren’t presenting any Vic-specific platform, so it's same old guff.

Angry Victorians Party (covid conspiracists)

Animal Justice Party (animal rights)

Australia One (unregistered covid conspiracists endorsing six independents)

Companions and Pets Party (animal breeding and racing industry front)

Democratic Labour Party (Catholic conservatism)

Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party (tough-on-crime centrism)

Family First Victoria (Protestant extreme right)

Fiona Patten’s Reason Party (left-wing civil libertarian)

Freedom Party of Victoria (covid conspiracists)

Fusion: Science, Pirate, Secular, Climate Emergency (centre-left pragmatists; unregistered party endorsing three independents)

Health Australia Party (anti-vaxxers who were anti-vax before covid made it the trendy thing for conspiracists)

Indigenous–Aboriginal Party of Australia (Indigenous rights; unregistered party endorsing three independents)

Legalise Cannabis Victoria (single issue)

Liberal Democratic Party (far-right libertarians)

New Democrats (centre-right)

Restore Democracy Sack Dan Andrews (personal grudge and/or preference-harvesting front)

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party (anti-environmentalist gun nuts)

Socialist Alliance (socialism; unregistered party endorsing four independents)

Sustainable Australia—Stop Overdevelopment/Corruption (anti-immigration NIMBYs)

Transport Matters Party (centre-left taxi industry front)

United Australia Party (covid grievance-mongers floating in a policy-free zone)

Victorian Socialists (socialism)

Overviews of independents for the Legislative Assembly and for the Legislative Council

If you want more perspectives, I recommend the Something for Cate blog for extended takes, and the Notionoriety blog for pithy ones (also this entry covers lower house independents that I haven’t covered). For really short takes, I whipped up a Twitter thread.

Happy voting and enjoy your democracy sausage!

#auspol #springst #vicvotes #vicvotes22 #vicvotes2022 #Victorian election #Victoria #Melbourne #Election 2022 #politics #political parties #political candidates #independent politics #independent politicians #democracy sausage

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lesbiangummybearmafia · 8 months

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Ok so 1953 was 70 years ago... 2053 is only 29 years away. This is my point the conservatives and Republicans in this country want to drag us all back 70 years ago if they had their way. I chose 1953 out of thin air, but pretty much any year of 50s. Because white men controlled everything back then. It's the 21st century for fuck sake, we're closer to 2053 now, are we all going to sit idly by allow them to this? Y'all realize we could easily vote all those old white bastards out of congress if enough got up off our butts and actually went out and voted, no matter what it takes. The only reason they stay in Congress and everywhere else is because more old conservatives and Republicans get out and vote. And I get those fuckers make impossible in alot of places to vote if we aren't one of them. But we gotta be fuck you, we're stronger, smarter, better, younger, more determined to have a better future. So we're not going to let their bullshit trickery and straight up cheating stop us from voting we'll get it done. Even just to piss those motherfuckers off. Vote for people of color, lgbtqia+ candidates, trans candidates, vote for not Republicans or Democratic candidates (if they get enough votes they'll win), vote for candidates that are younger then 50!! Just fucking vote, because even if think it does nothing, if dislike/hate conservatives/republican/fascist politicians voting against them will piss them the fuck off, prove them wrong about all of us, make them look stupid (which is always fun) and hopefully save our democracy. Because those motherfuckers are chipping away at it, it now huge fucking pieces their taking off not little pebbles. Just look at all laws they've passed at the state level to restrict our civil liberties, control free speech by banning books, passing laws to control women's reproductive rights, first the Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade now having state after state passing insane laws banning abortions. In every case is a clear indication how much conservatives man don't care about women or our lives. Then the onslaught of laws targeting the trans community, limiting their access to health care they need and unleashing a wave of transphobic all over ourcountry. Also laws targeting the lgbtqia+ community, banning drag shows, that in theit history never hurt anyone. There a celebration.

We the people, remember there are way more of us then any political party, any amount of politicians, no matter how much powerful they think they are. We our number them! We are louder, we are angry, we are feed up, we are tried of the lies, we are tried of all the bullshit, we done being told what America should be like. Because that definition doesn't work anymore, we're gonna give America a new definition for right now! For the 21st century, for 2023 because we're not going the fuck backwards no fucking more. The only direction is forward, into the future, we want to know what America can be in 5, 10, 15, 20 years from now. That is not some conservative, Republican, fascist, authoritarian old white man wet dream!!! Nope, not happening not on our watch assholes!

We will not go gentle into that good night! We will rage, rage against the dying of the light!! In other words will not allow our democracy to be killed by traitors to our country that even now spit fascist ideals in Congress, in Governor offices, state legislators, mayors officials, city councils, school districts. Just look at horrors that been unleashed on Florida because of Ron DeSantis who is without doubt a fascist and an authoritarian!

That why the next elections are so important. Why it's so important to register to vote at

And go out vote or to make it easier if your state allows voting by mail, that what I do. I'm in Arizona, they send me a ballot in mail, I fill it out. I can either mail it or drop it off. It's great!! To see if your state has voting by mail go to.

Some other voting resources:

https://rockthevote.org

https://vote411.org

(Helps if your homeless and want to vote)

(Helps people with disabilities to vote)

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developbyme · 13 days

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The Quantum Leap in Trading: Unlocking Success with Quantum AI Technology

In the world of trading, where every second and every decision counts, imagine having a tool that works like a time machine, giving you insights into market trends before they happen. This is not the stuff of science fiction; it's the reality of what Quantum AI technology is bringing to the trading world. Let's dive into how this groundbreaking technology is paving the way for a new era in trading.

Quantum AI: The Game Changer in Trading

Quantum AI is revolutionizing trading by bringing in computational power and analytics capabilities far beyond what traditional computers can achieve. It's like having the ultimate cheat sheet that forecasts market movements with astonishing accuracy.

How Does Quantum AI Work?

Quantum AI leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to process information at an exponential rate. Think of it as a supercharged brain, capable of analyzing vast amounts of data in the blink of an eye.

The Advantages of Quantum AI in Trading

Speed and Accuracy: Quantum AI's ability to process information rapidly and accurately gives traders a significant advantage in making swift, informed decisions.

Predictive Insights: By analyzing historical and real-time data, Quantum AI can predict market trends, helping traders to stay one step ahead.

Quantum AI Transforming Market Analysis

With Quantum AI, market analysis becomes more comprehensive and nuanced, enabling traders to understand market dynamics at a much deeper level, much like seeing the matrix behind the market moves.

The Impact of Quantum AI on Decision Making

Quantum AI empowers traders to make decisions based on data-driven insights, reducing the reliance on guesswork and intuition, and leading to more strategic and profitable outcomes.

Challenges and Solutions in Quantum Trading

While Quantum AI offers immense benefits, it also presents challenges such as high costs and technical complexities. However, as technology advances, these challenges are becoming more manageable, paving the way for wider adoption.

Quantum AI vs. Traditional Trading Systems

Unlike traditional trading systems that are linear and slower, Quantum AI operates in a multi-dimensional space, processing and analyzing data at speeds and depths that were previously unimaginable.

The Future of Trading with Quantum AI

The integration of Quantum AI in trading signifies a leap towards an era of hyper-efficient markets, where information is processed and acted upon in real-time, eliminating inefficiencies and opening up new opportunities for traders.

Ethical Considerations in Quantum Trading

As with any powerful technology, Quantum AI brings ethical considerations, especially in terms of market fairness and data privacy. It's imperative to establish guidelines that ensure its use promotes transparency and equity in trading.

Real-World Success Stories of Quantum AI

Companies and traders who have adopted Quantum AI are already seeing tangible benefits, with improved accuracy in market predictions and increased profitability, showcasing the practical value of this technology.

How to Get Started with Quantum AI

Getting started with Quantum AI in trading involves understanding the basics of quantum computing, familiarizing oneself with AI systems, and gradually integrating these technologies into existing trading practices.

Quantum AI in Day-to-Day Trading

For the average trader, Quantum AI can be a game-changer, providing tools and insights that were once the domain of large financial institutions, democratizing access to advanced trading technologies.

Global Influence of Quantum AI on Trading

Quantum AI is not just changing the trading landscape in one region but is having a global impact, with markets around the world beginning to leverage its potential to drive efficiency and profitability.

Conclusion: The New Era of Quantum Trading

Quantum AI is ushering in a new era in trading, characterized by unparalleled efficiency, accuracy, and profitability. As we stand on the brink of this quantum leap, the future of trading looks brighter and more exciting than ever, promising a world where success is not just a possibility but a probability powered by Quantum AI technology

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bllsbailey · 4 months

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Big Win For Dems: Wisconsin Supreme Court Orders New Legislative Maps (Only way Dems can win is by cheating)

Christmas came early this year for Wisconsin Democrats as the left-leaning Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to overturn Republican-drawn legislative maps.

On Friday, in a vote of 4-3, the court approved the decision to create newly-drawn district boundary lines.

Democrats argued that the legislative maps are not constitutional since the districts drawn are not contiguous. Additionally, they argued that the Supreme Court had violated the separation of powers doctrine.

“Because the current state legislative districts contain separate, detached territory and therefore violate the constitution’s contiguity requirements, we enjoin the Wisconsin Elections Commission from using the current legislative maps in future elections,” Justice Jill Karofksy wrote for the majority.

Previously, liberal Justice Janet Janet Protasiewicz has gone as far as to call the GOP-drawn maps “unfair” and even “rigged.”

The lawsuit to redistrict the boundary lines was filed the day after the court flipped to a Democrat majority, back in August.

Republicans from the Badger State have power in passing maps that Governor Tony Evers (D-Wis.) will sign, as Wisconsin is a Republican-controlled Legislature. However, he vetoed the current map.

The court announced that it will begin adopting the remedial maps so that they can be used for the upcoming 2024 election.

Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts

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scottiestoybox · 9 months

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RFK Super PAC Largely Funded By GOP Megadonor

RFK Super PAC Largely Funded By GOP Megadonor Well we knew that. The republicans recruited him to run as a chaos agent to suck votes from Biden. Republicans know their candidates and the ideas they push are unpopular with the people. So they only way they can stay in power is to cheat, suppress votes of the democrats, and gerrymander to create districts that only republicans can win. Rather…

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longwindedbore · 2 years

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Reposting with comments.

It would be great IF there weren’t more over 50 Dem voters than under 50. Then ~ maybe ~ Dem officials would fear.

Perhaps women’s rights would be defended by Elected Dem officials if over 50 Dems hadn’t embraced the patriarchy and

Turned on the President for *allowing* an activist First Lady in 1994 who was not conforming to ‘norms’ expected of not-submissive political wives.

Chosen a relatively untried male in the 2008 primaries over that same competent woman of strong character.

Chosen a popular but historically politically vocal/ineffective male in 2016 primaries over the now even more competent woman of strong character. Losing the candidacy to her only because of vote tally cheating? Then she’s crushed in the November election by an obvious bigoted idiot because so many white, brown, black voters stayed home.

Chosen overwhelmingly in the 2020 primaries the next Paul von Hindenburg (who in the 1970s was also architect of the USA’s crushing student debt). *Brandon von Hindenburg* actually crushing the ineffectual male primary champion of 2016 who was no longer running against a woman of recognized strong character.

Our still-involved Democrat friends report that many of the Dem voters they are soliciting are going to vote GOP in November because of…gas prices. (When I walked the precincts in 2016 to remind Dems of the importance of voting in the mid-terms the general response from registered voters was “Huh?”. Texas voters my wife has contacted to vote for Beto brillantly ask, “Huh?”)

Manchin and many many many other Dem officials keep getting re-elected because their views REFLECT their Democratic constituents.

It’s not just the Republican voters who are ignorant of history. Who don’t know to whom the Hindenburg of the past transferred power. Von Hindy got a zeppelin named in honor of his work insuring a “smooth transfer of power”.

The movies tell us one strong woman with a bow and arrow can reclaim democracy.

History, however, suggests that we are in a very bad place with dark decades ahead.

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loreweaver-universe · 4 years

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Okay, no. Hang on. Stop.

Stop pretending like Biden and Trump are the same thing.

There’s a SHIT TON wrong with Biden. There’s a SHIT TON wrong with the Democratic Party. But to try to equate your average old white establishment with the party that is literally dismantling our democracy and selling us out to foreign powers is fucking ridiculous. Trump is a madman. He’s a wannabe dictator. He’s a grifter, a cheat, a fraud. The Republican Party refuses to hold him accountable for any of his many crimes--and they are crimes, and there’s a lot of them--and are perfectly willing to dismantle every protection they can get their hands on in the name of Republican power consolidation. This needs to stop, and it needed to stop years ago.

Anyone who wants you to throw your vote away in protest is not to be trusted. Anyone who wants you to not vote or vote third-party in this particular election is damaging to this country at best. At worst, they’re actively seeking to steer votes away from the Democrats to better aid the Republicans. They’re either dupes or stooges. Don’t let them sway your vote.

Yes, I know it sucks that Bernie didn’t win. Yes, I know that it sucks that this guy is our best shot. But we have one job this November, and it’s to vote out any Republican we can. Not just the President, Congress too. Our country is in danger. Our country is in danger, and the only way to save it is to take it back from the people who want to destroy it.

We can deal with Biden’s failings once he’s president. They’re nowhere near Trump’s myriad crimes, nothing like Trump’s horrific behavior and policies. Biden can be reasoned with, and he can be counted on to move the country in a better direction than the fucking mess it is right now. Just because it’s not the best direction doesn’t mean it’s not one we should move in.

Don’t stay home. Don’t vote third-party. I threw my vote away in 2016 because I felt secure knowing that Trump couldn’t win. I was, obviously, horrifically wrong. He can win, but his greatest weapon is our own apathy. Don’t give in. Don’t give up.

Don’t let this continue. Vote for Biden in November if you want this nightmare to end. I don’t care if you ~dislike~ him. He’s not Trump, and he never will be.

#bloggin #inbetween #politics #I'm sorry for breaking my no politics rule #but I'm so fucking sick of seeing people advocate for you to vote Libertarian or Green or whatever #people who say that are either trying to help the Republicans or have been fooled by someone who was #vote in november #vote for biden #we need it to happen

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dehydratedpercy · 3 years

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So, when I hear about the Prophecy of the Seven, I thought about Luke being the one "foe" that they would see on the Door of Death. I love Bob, and Damasen, but now I think that there was a Big Wasted oportunity.

Because while in Tartarus Percy starts to really understand Luke's view. And imagine him there?!

First. "Why" it's the question. It was his punishment? Please, Zeus wanted to send his family that wanted to form a democratic Olympus and he didn't because the one that helped him made him promise that he wouldn't.

Bringing Kronos? Free Pass to Tartarus. And Percy and Annabeth how would react? And Luke, would he want to help them o Gaia or Tartarus make him work for them?

But maybe not? He was actually in the Fields of Punishment, and as a Son of Hermes, the God That Can Do A Lot Of Stuff, like travel between other god's domains, he may manage to escape the Furies. And his dad the Messenger Divine Dude he may have heard some way that Annabeth and Percy were on Tartarus and he... jump to join. Three is better than Two, right?

So either the motive, we have Luke. In Tartarus. Along with Annabeth and Percy. Who are so done with their fate.

And how would that be? Luke as "Oh, the gods didn't respect their words? I'm so surprised" or "Mood. Let me help you save the world this time". Luke as "Goofy Ex Villain". And either he sacrifices himself, or manage to escape along them. Or try to betray them? A sort of Marvel's Loki? Who knows?

Who knows?!

I'm gonna just go ahead and assume you're talking about in canon, and not in PoR bc PoR Luke doesn't get a redemption arch.

But I've heard mention of this idea before and I really like it! Damen and Bob were okay, but they were very much disposable characters that were created just to serve a purpose, so it'd be interesting to see an alternate option.

I like the idea of Luke escaping the fields of punishment bc he's a willy son of Hermes-- maybe also, it's easier to escape if you literally escape to tartarus? So like, maybe his punishment included him walking near an entrance to tartarus or something (maybe he had the leaky bucket punishment) and he always looked at it and then one day he heard a rumor that Annabeth and Percy were down there and he was like oh worm??

So Luke jumps down to tartarus, bucket and all. He's still very much dead, but dead in a "fields of punishment" kind of way. This means he can't sleep, he can't eat, but he always can't exhaust himself (he's supposed to walk, carrying this heavy bucket, for all eternity, which means he'd be constantly tired but could never run out of steam). Let's say, more specifically, his punishment involves walking a long distance, past a pit of tartarus, dumping his bucket in the river Styx (or another river), which burns his hands and makes them raw, and then he has to walk back to where he came from and dump the water out, but by that point most of it had leaked out anyways. There's no way to keep the bucket from leaking, and his hands heal naturally, so every time he dumps his bucket in the river there is fresh pain from his hands burning again and again.

Which sucks. BUT. When he escapes into tartarus, he retains those traits, which means that he can't tire, he doesn't need food or sleep, and he heals automatically (though slowly). This would be a big advantage in tartarus.

I imagine him jumping down and saving Annabeth and Percy from a baddie at the exact right moment. They're fucked, they're injured and weaponless, the fight is not going well, and then the monster is about to make its kill shot when BAM! It's hit over the head with an enchanted celestial bronze-infuzed leaky bucket, and it dissolves into dust. And there's Luke.

Who's to say how Percy and Annabeth would react. I'm gonna go ahead and guess "poorly", because damn, they almost died and now here's fucking /Luke/. Maybe, they were told that Luke went to Elysium because he was a hero in the end, but the gods had actually lied, always intending to send him to the fields of punishment for betraying and trying to overthrow them (regardless of how he was manipulated into that choice, regardless of how he changed his mind and defeated Kronos in the end). So now Percy is feeling /really/ fucking betrayed, because shit man, the gods really are just liars and cheats and torturers.

I feel like this would naturally settle into a very of HoO that ends with the gods being overthrown as well. Which, imma be honest, its not my favorite version-- who would run the place? Will demigods die out? Will the current demigods absorb the old gods powers and rule like they did, eventually becoming more and more corrupt? I don't know. BUT, I feel like in this version of the story, Luke helps Annabeth and Percy through tartarus and his mere existence feeds into Percy's already-present anger at the gods and subsequent rejection of them. Luke dies at the doors of death, idk how, but somehow he is the sacrifice, and there's no coming back this time. His soul will be scattered in the wind, not going to the Underworld again, and in some ways its a tragedy because he deserved Elysium, and in some ways its good because he was never meant to stay in one place for all eternity, and now the willy son of Hermes is free for good.

So Luke's gone. Annabeth and Percy go up to the mortal world again. Grover is there (in this version, he'd be there instead of coach hedge), and he knows something is very very wrong, but Percy won't talk to him about it. Eventually Annabeth does, though, so Grover understands why Percy does what he does next.

Gaea rises in Greece, and Percy and the others fight her, and make it seem like they're just killing her. But, at the same time, they manage to connect all of the Olympian life forces to her, so when she goes down, they go down with her. The gods only realize too late. They are killed, and their power is transferred, making the 7 questers the New Olympians.

#not preserve or raze #canon #luke castellan #tartarus #doors of death #ask

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croesow · 2 years

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Adreffe and its relationship with Interpol.

Huge thank you to Marshii for talking through this with me last night, and thank you to @fallen-exalt for reminding me to write this up!

For the sake of brevity, what I’m going to be referring to as ‘Interpol’ includes all law enforcement, regardless of if they’re region-locked or internationally recognised.

While Adreffe isn’t praised for the skill of its staff (which they have no issue with - obviously a novice League is going to be significantly easier), something that has garnered a lot of attention is its unconditional safe haven policy. Anyone is allowed to seek redemption there, and as long as they make no attempts to harm any other island resident, they will be welcome to stay. This rule applies to petty criminals, those that might have been barred from their own regional Leagues due to disruptive behaviour or attempts to cheat, all the way upwards to prominent (and highly wanted) members of villainous teams.

It’s that latter part that’s caused quite a few clashes with Interpol, and the current relationship between them is tense at best.

Unlike in other regions, Adreffe has no divide between the Champion and government. There is no higher authority than whoever’s got the reigning title at the time, and so their word is law. If Siôn allows someone to remain in the region even after being made aware of their status as a wanted criminal, there’s nothing Interpol can do to forcibly remove the individual in question. That’d be a direct violation of the Champion’s judgement and would be a crime in and of itself.

The most Interpol can do is request that the wanted person is made aware of their presence and asked if they wish to cooperate with the police. If they choose not to cooperate and instead stay in Adreffe, there’s nothing more that can be done unless Siôn chooses to hand them over (something that would only be done if the individual was a serious threat to others’ safety). The more wanted people he shelters, the more Interpol gets frustrated with Adreffe’s policies and their lack of power to overrule them, and as that frustration grows Siôn’s own patience with them starts wearing thin. He’s a busy man, and he doesn’t want to waste time entertaining their inquiries when they all know what the end result is going to be.

There have been a few rare occasions where Galar and Kalos have been contacted in an attempt to overrule Adreffe’s judgement and force a change, with Siôn eventually getting called into meetings with their own governmental bodies, but he has never bent under these pressures. His region is an independent one despite its close geographical proximity to the aforementioned two, and it is under no obligation to heed others’ wants or demands.

Of course, back on home soil he keeps everything as democratic and transparent as possible. All staff are invited to frequent meet-ups to give everyone a chance to discuss how they think it would be best to address the situation, but it’s rare that anyone has much of an objection. They work on Adreffe fully aware of its welcome policies, and as long as the person is trying to improve then they see no reason to deny them that chance. People can’t be expected to get better if they’re never given a support network to help guide them.

This also ties into the ‘no questions asked’ policy in that while Adreffe is obligated to ask if the individual wishes to cooperate with Interpol and leave with them, there is no further attempt to pry for details or dig up information about the person. They don’t care who you were or what you did, the only thing that matters is who you are now. The only information they’ll keep on file is what the individual themselves tells them and the generic school notes every student gets, nothing more and nothing less.

#↪ worldbuilding and headcanons.

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solarbird · 3 years

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In a lot of ways, this is a very long subtweet at one person. But it's more than that - it's for every Civility Democrat out there. We're well and firmly past civil,, with the possible exception of war. We have to hold here, and we should, but - it doesn't get nice or normal again any time soon. Not until this entire movement is in the ditch. And maybe not then. [Original thread on Twitter]

[Transcript]

The New York Times

Breaking News: Senator Mitch McConnell threw his support behind President Trump’s refusal to concede the election, declining to recognize Joe Biden's victory. https://nyti.ms/

Okay, this? This is why Republicans can't be allowed to keep the Senate.

I've got someone making 1990s "divided government is good" noise on my Twitter feed.

Maybe there was a point to that in 1996.

But there is _no_ good point to that as long as Republicans oppose democracy.

Don't get this wrong: where there's a WAY, there is a WILL. I know that expression usually goes the other way around, but this way around is AT LEAST as valid.

If they can overturn the election and keep power, _they will_.

I've seen some people saying, "This is about keeping the base riled up for the runoff elections in Georgia," and others saying, "this is a last big cash dip, scamming their rubes."

Those are both probably true.

But this is _also_ true: these goals are not mutually exclusive.

They will try and _are trying_ literally everything.

And they'll take everything they can get.

This isn't over.

I don't think they'll pull it off. If we're vigilant, and keep at the wheel, they won't.

Just... _stay on station_. World War II wasn't over at the Battle of the Bulge, and this isn't over now.

We'll win.

But only if we _don't_ let them up.

Now here's the thing: they tell themselves they don't oppose democracy, for the most part. They do! But they tell themselves they don't.

And it's all about telling themselves that Democrats always cheat, so they can do literally anything and it's okay.

This goes back at least to Kennedy/Nixon in 1960. Yes, 1960. I've had people who were alive then tell me stories about how Chicago kept not reporting results as numbers piled in from southern Illinois - until Democrats knew how many votes they needed to win.

They say they _remember_ this. They say they watched it on television. Live in coverage. At the time.

But here's the thing:

It didn't happen.

I mean, I can't say there wasn't some TV station reporting it that way. Maybe there was. Videotape wasn't much of a thing yet and those live broadcasts weren't kept.

But the newspapers were. And there were a lot more, then. And more importantly: newspapers with evening editions.

Afternoon and evening both, in fact. (Hell, Seattle didn't lose its last afternoon edition newspaper until the mid-1990s. We were subscribers to it.)

And _they_ reported the votes reported from Chicago, many, many hours before these supposed late-into-the-night non-returns.

It's a story they've told themselves for so many years that they believe it.

I write heavily about memory and how it can be manipulated, in fiction. It's SF, sort of - but mostly, it's really not.

They _do_ remember it.

It just never actually happened.

But since it's "happened" for them now...

...now they have permission to do literally anything, and it's fair game, as far as they're concerned.

And that's how they can lie like this, know they're lying, and yet still believe it, and call themselves believers in democracy.

Understand that, and the fundamentalist absolutist political viewpoint that conquered the Republican Party in the late 1990s, and everything they do is eminently predictable.

And you also know why it must - _must_ - be stopped.

Stay on station.

We'll win.

But it'll be rough.

#election 2020 #election2020 #us election #biden2020 #biden 2020

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artielu · 3 years

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[Yes, this is long, but it is worth your time to read the whole thing.]

January 6, 2021 (Wednesday)

Today the Confederate flag flew in the United States Capitol.

This morning, results from the Georgia senatorial runoff elections showed that Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff had beaten their Republican opponents—both incumbents—by more than the threshold that would require a recount. The Senate is now split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, so the position of majority leader goes to a Democrat. Mitch McConnell, who has bent the government to his will since he took over the position of majority leader in 2007, will be replaced.

With the Democrats in control of both Congress and the Executive Branch, it is reasonable to expect we will see voting rights legislation, which will doom the current-day Republican Party, depending as it has on voter suppression to stay in power.

Trump Republicans and McConnell Republicans had just begun to blame each other for the debacle when Congress began to count the certified electoral votes from the states to establish that Democrat Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election. The election was not close—Biden won the popular vote by more than 7 million votes and the Electoral College by 306 to 232—but Trump contends that he won the election in a landslide and “fraud” made Biden the winner.

Trump has never had a case. His campaign filed and either lost or had dismissed 62 out of 63 lawsuits because it could produce no evidence for any of its wild accusations. Nonetheless, radical lawmakers courted Trump’s base by echoing Trump’s charges, then tried to argue that the fact voters no longer trusted the vote was reason to contest the certified votes.

More than 100 members of the House announced they would object to counting the votes of certain states. About 13 senators, led by Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), agreed to join them. The move would slow down the count as each chamber would have to debate and take a separate vote on whether to accept the state votes, but the objectors never had anywhere near the votes they needed to make their objections stick.

So Trump turned to pressuring Vice President Mike Pence, who would preside over the counting, to throw out the Biden votes. On Monday, Trump tweeted that “the Vice President has the power to reject fraudulently chosen electors.” This would throw the blame for the loss onto Pence, but the vice president has no constitutional power to do any such thing, and this morning he made that clear in a statement. Trump then tweeted that Pence “didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done.”

It seemed clear that the voting would be heated, but it was also clear that most of the lawmakers opposing the count were posturing to court Trump’s base for future elections. Congress would count Biden’s win.

But Trump had urged his supporters for weeks to descend on Washington, D.C., to stop what he insisted was the stealing of the election. They did so and, this morning, began to congregate near the Capitol, where the counting would take place. As he passed them on the east side of the Capitol, Hawley raised a power fist.

In the middle of the day, Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani spoke to the crowd, telling them: “Let’s have trial by combat.” Trump followed, lying that he had won the election and saying “we are going to have to fight much harder.” He warned that Pence had better “come through for us, and if he doesn’t, that will be a sad day for our country.” He warned that Chinese-driven socialists are taking over the country. And he told them to march on Congress to “save our democracy.”

As rioters took Trump at his word, Congress was counting the votes alphabetically by state. When they got to Arizona, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) stood up to echo the rhetoric radicals had been using to discredit the certified votes, saying that public distrust in the election—created out of thin air by Republicans—justified an investigation.

Within an hour, a violent mob stormed the Capitol and Cruz, along with the rest of the lawmakers, was rushed to safety (four quick-thinking staffers brought along the electoral ballots, in their ceremonial boxes). As the rioters broke in, police shot and killed one of them: Ashli Babbitt, an Air Force veteran from San Diego, QAnon believer, and staunch Trump supporter. The insurrectionists broke into the Senate chamber, where one was photographed on the dais of the Senate, shirtless and wearing a bull costume that revealed a Ku Klux Klan tattoo on his abdomen. They roamed the Capitol looking for Pence and other lawmakers they considered enemies. Not finding them, they ransacked offices. One rioter photographed himself sitting at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk with his feet on it.

They carried with them the Confederate flag.

Capitol police provided little obstruction, apparently eager to avoid confrontations that could be used as propaganda on social media. The intruders seemed a little surprised at their success, taking selfies and wandering around like tourists. One stole a lectern.

As the White House, the FBI, the Justice Department, and the Department of Homeland Security all remained silent, President-Elect Joe Biden spoke to cameras urging calm and calling on Trump to tell his supporters to go home. But CNN White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins later reported that she spoke to White House officials who were “genuinely freaked… out” that Trump was “borderline enthusiastic” about the storming of the Capitol because “it meant the certification was being derailed.”

At 4:17, Trump issued his own video, reiterating his false claims that he had been cheated of victory. Only then did he conclude with: “Go home, we love you, you’re very special.” Twitter immediately took the video down. By nighttime Trump’s Twitter feed seemed to blame his enemies for the violence the president had incited (although the rhythm of the words did not sound to me like Trump’s own usual cadence): “These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long. Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!”

Twitter took down the tweet and banned the president for at least twelve hours for inciting violence; Facebook and Instagram followed suit.

As the afternoon wore on, police found two pipe bombs near the headquarters of the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C., as well as a truck full of weapons and ammunition, and mobs gathered at statehouses across the country, including in Kansas, Ohio, Minnesota, California, and Georgia.

By 5:00, acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller issued a statement saying he had conferred with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, Vice President Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and had fully activated the D.C. National Guard.

He did not mention the president.

By late evening, Washington, D.C., police chief Robert J. Contee III announced that at least 52 people had been arrested and 14 law enforcement officers injured. A total of four people died, including one who died of a heart attack and one who tased themself.

White House Counsel Pat Cipollone urged people to stay away from Trump to limit their chances of being prosecuted for treason under the Sedition Act. By midnight, four staffers had resigned, as well as Deputy National Security Adviser Matthew Pottinger, with other, higher level officials also talking about leaving. Even Trump adviser Stephen Miller admitted it was a bad day. Quickly, pro-Trump media began to insist that the attack was a false-flag operation of “Antifa,” despite the selfies and videos posted by known right-wing agitators, and the fact that Trump had invited, incited, and praised them.

Former Secretary of Defense James Mattis laid the blame for today’s attack squarely at the feet of Trump himself: “Today’s violent assault on our Capitol, and effort to subjugate American democracy by mob rule, was fomented by Mr. Trump. His use of the Presidency to destroy trust in our election and to poison our respect for fellow citizens has been enabled by pseudo political leaders whose names will live in infamy as profiles in cowardice.”

The attempted coup drew condemnation from all but the radical Trump supporters in government. Former President George W. Bush issued a statement “on insurrection at the Capitol,” saying “it is a sickening and heartbreaking sight.” “I am appalled by the reckless behavior of some political leaders since the election,” he said, and accused such leaders of enflaming the rioters with lies and false hopes. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) was more direct: “What happened here today was an insurrection incited by the President of the United States.”

Across the country tonight are calls for Trump’s removal through the 25th amendment, impeachment, or resignation. The Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have joined the chorus, writing to Pence urging him to invoke the 25th. Angry at Trump’s sabotaging of the Georgia elections in addition to the attack on our democracy, prominent Republicans are rumored to be doing the same.

At 8:00, heavily armed guards escorted the lawmakers back to the Capitol, thoroughly scrubbed by janitors, where the senators and representatives resumed their counting of the certified votes. The events of the afternoon had broken some of the Republicans away from their determination to challenge the votes. Fourteen Republican senators had announced they would object to counting the certified votes from Arizona; in the evening count the number dropped to six: Cruz (R-TX), Hawley (R-MO), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), John Kennedy (R-LA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).

In the House, 121 Republicans, more than half the Republican caucus, voted to throw out Biden’s electors from Arizona. As in the Senate, they lost when 303 Representatives voted in favor.

Six senators and more than half of the House Republicans backed an attempt to overthrow our government, in favor of a man caught on tape just four days ago trying to strong-arm a state election official into falsifying the election results.

Today the Confederate flag flew in the United States Capitol.

[Heather Cox Richardson is a Professor of History at Boston College. She has daily posts on Facebook that summarize the day's political events and puts them in historical context. The Facebook post link's first comment are her citations to sources.]

#read the entire thing #domestic terrorism #fuck trump #heather cox richardson

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apprenticevida · 3 years

Text

Let Us Love You 🍋🔞

Word count: 1710

Pairings: Vida/Asra/Julian

Synopsis: uhhh a wild Julian appears!

Notes: Continuing directly after Leave A Mark. @midsummer-masquerade day 2 Role Reversal, Overstimulation

Warnings: Lemon, minors dni, threesome, enthusiastic bjs, power dynamics

Vida is about to announce that they’re ready to go back out when a familiar voice breaks the silence.

“Here you are!” Julian crows as he opens the door. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. It’s lucky that ‘the witch with the antlers’ and ‘white-haired magician’ aren’t common costumes tonight.”

“So lucky!” Vida responds as they adjust their mask. They crack a broad smile when they see Julian’s costume.

“Oh!! You two have dressed to match!”

“I won’t confirm or deny that it was intentional.” Asra sighs from the pillow pile.

“Oh, I need you two to sit together. I have to see the combination!” Vida waves frantically for Julian to join them on the floor.

When Julian folds his long legs together next to Asra’s lounging form, the two deign to pose for Vida.

Asra’s dressed in a flowing amethyst dressing gown, sheer all the way through. Golden piercings through his nipples shine under the gauzy fabric, a delicate T-chain connecting the two to a Venus piercing on their mons.

Julian in comparison is dressed in black. His robe is sheer and cut the same as Asra’s. He isn’t wearing piercings that Vida can see, but he has a thick leather collar around his throat to signify willing submission to any partner at the event. Under his garment is a black mesh thong cupping his cock snugly.

“You’re both so beautiful.” Vida sighs. Their heart goes soft at the blush on their partners’ faces.

Asra resituates themself so their face is resting on Julian’s lap.

“Have you had fun tonight, dear?” He asks the doctor.

“Oodles.” Julian smirks in response. “It’s amazing all these people who’ve shown up. Did you know there’s a pirate queen here?”

“Ooh!” Vida coos in delight as they curl up against Julian on the side opposite Asra. “Do you know her?”

“I don’t kiss and tell, Vidotchka,” is the doctor’s only response.

The trio continue to gossip about the people they’ve seen at the party, who’s done whom, and eventually the conversation turns to power dynamics.

“I don’t know,” Julian sighs. “I don’t think I’m really the ‘domming’ type.

“I bet you could.” Vida takes a long draw from the hookah mouthpiece and blows smoke hearts into the air. “You’re a quick learner. How many times have you let me and Asra boss you around?”

“I’ve always excelled at following orders. It’s like second nature.”

Asra snorts in response, sitting up to stretch their neck. “You only ‘follow orders’ when it’s something you would have done anyway.”

Julian cries out, the back of his hand against his forehead in mourning. “Oh! You wound me, Asra! My honor is besmirched!” Julian’s melodramatic response leaves Vida laughing.

“Okay, I’ll bite.” They set the hose in its place and crawl onto the doctor’s lap. “I command you to dominate us.”

Julian’s eye goes wide as Vida drapes their arms over his shoulders.

“T-that’s cheating!”

“What’s that phrase? All’s fair in love and war?” Asra stretches their arms above their head, letting their joints crack as they settle in place.

“Oh come now, two against one is hardly fair!”

“I’d say it’s positively democratic, don’t you agree, Asra?”

“Oh yes,” that beautiful smug smile returns. “Majority rules that you should rule over the majority.”

Julian grumbles something Vida and Asra can’t make out, but he tenderly caresses Vida’s hips with his thumbs.

“Cariño, won’t you tell us how to please you?” Vida punctuates their question with a roll of their hips. Julian can only groan in response, hiding his blushing face in the junction of Vida’s neck and shoulder. His grip tightens as he tries to keep his composure.

“Come on, Ilya,” Asra goads. “What would you command of your humble servants?”

Julian mumbles something in Vida’s neck, the vibrations causing them to twitch at the tickling sensation. They have to pull his head away to compose themselves.

“What did you say, Cariño?”

Julian’s blush is evident across his face from his ears to his neck, and he can’t quite make eye contact with either of his partners. “Do you… do you really want to put me in charge?”

“Yes!” Vida and Asra respond in unison.

“I- okay. Okay just give me a minute.” Julian extricates himself from under Vida to stand above the two magicians.

“You can’t be so close already!” Asra teases. “We’ve barely started. I haven’t even touched you.”

“Asra, you can’t talk like that!” Vida chides with a mirthful laugh. “We’re ‘humble servants’ not petulant brats.”

“R-right. Just as they said.” Their doctor nods. “I-I’m in charge here.”

No one laughs as his voice cracks, but his ‘submissives’ don’t hide their smiles.

They weren’t going to make this easy on him.

“Okay.” Julian lets out a breath. “Okay. First… First off: you two need to stop staring at me.” He clasps his hand against the lower half of his face in an attempt to hide his embarrassment.

Both obey. Vida smiles, biting their lower lip as they close their eyes. Asra decides to study the pattern of the cushion’s embroidery.

“Uhm… kneel facing each other.” Julian starts again. “Stare deeply into each other’s eyes.”

Again, his partners follow his command. Vida is absolutely giddy with the prospect, wriggling in their seat with a toothy grin. Asra remains as infuriatingly composed as ever.

“Now… start undressing each other.” Julian can’t help the creeping warmth forming in his face. “Slowly!” He adds.

Asra starts to unlace the ties of Vida’s corset as they pull the drawstring of his dressing gown. Their pace is painstakingly slow, as if to further tease the man commanding them.

When both are free from their meager coverings, it takes a moment for Julian to realize their waiting for his next order. He may have been distracted with the view before him.

“Oh! Right.” He wants so badly to do well. “Now kiss.”

“How?” Asra asks, not breaking eye contact with Vida.

“I— pardon?”

“How would you have us kiss?” Vida clarifies.

“Like this?” Asra places a chaste kiss on Vida’s lips.

“Or like this?” Vida offers before plunging their tongue into Asra’s mouth, moaning obscenely as Asra responds in kind.

“Th- the second one…” is all Julian can say in response. He steps back to find a bottle of liquor before taking a swing from the bottle. “The second one.” He repeats more firmly after swallowing the strong drink.

“Are you sure you want us only focusing on each other?” Asra asks when they’ve finished. “Don’t you want us to please you?”

Julian’s head is swimming in arousal. He doesn’t know what he’s doing. He doesn’t know where to go next.

“Master?” Vida sighs. Again, it takes Julian a moment to realize they’re talking to him. “Won’t you let us love you?”

“I… uhm that is…”

He’s floundering. His mouth has gone dry. He didn’t plan for this, how could he? He wasn’t someone to take charge. His place was to follow orders, not give them!

Vida breaks character first, turning to look at the doctor with concern in their eyes.

“Cariño?”

He can’t let them down.

“Did I tell you to look at me?” Julian scrounges for what modicum of dominance he can manage.

It works. Vida blinks once, twice, before turning back to face Asra.

“No, sir.” They breathlessly respond. Their cheeks turn a lovely shade of pink and Julian notices their nipples harden. He’s doing something right, he decides.

“Next,” Julian begins to undress himself. “You’re both going to suck me off.”

It’s impossible to miss his partners’ responses. Vida’s eyes and grin widen at Asra, whose face has blushed beautifully. Vida gets up first, pulling their magician with them.

When they kneel at Julian’s feet, Vida is doe-eyed with their mouth open and Asra looks up at him from under their white eyelashes.

“Go on then.” Julian swallows as he fists his cock, precome beading at the tip.

Vida licks from his base to his tip and Asra sucks at his balls. The two work at a steady rhythm. When Vida wraps their red lips around the tip of his cock they moan.

“I love the way you taste, Master.” They sigh before wordlessly switching places with Asra.

Each has their own way of going about their tasks.

Asra isn’t afraid to use teeth and force. In fact, they seem to relish it. He’s intimately familiar with Julian’s love of pain and uses this knowledge to his advantage.

Vida is more gentle but enthusiastic. They pepper Julian’s member with kisses and licks and he has to pull them back when they try to deepthroat his cock or take both his balls in their mouth.

He wants to prolong this feeling, but with his lovers double-teaming him like this he feels that familiar heat begin to overwhelm him.

Vida and Asra each take one of his hands, interlacing fingers, and in tandem each lick a long line along Julian’s cock from base to tip. When their tongues meet they kiss each other passionately and Julian comes at the sight. He doesn’t mean to, he wanted to warn them, but his love and arousal take over his common sense.

Neither seem to mind. Instead each licks the other’s face clean before going back to focus on Julian. His brain shuts down and his knees buckle. Their mouths, their touch, and (he’s certain) their magic are too much.

He’s certain he’s blacked out from overstimulation. When he comes back to himself he’s in Vida’s lap. They’re humming under their breath and stroking his hair. Asra is finishing up cleaning Julian and places a gentle kiss on his abdomen.

“Welcome back.” Asra winks at Julian as he sets aside a rag.

“Cariño, you did wonderfully.” Vida places a kiss on Julian’s forehead, their bare breasts soft against his face.

“R-really?” Julian asks, his uncovered eye hopeful.

“Really.” Asra’s airy voice replies. Their fingers join Vida’s in carding Julian’s hair. “But if you’re going to black out like that every time, I think it’s better if one of us stays in control.”

“I don’t know, Corazón, this might be the best way to get him to actually sleep for once.”

“Or shut him up.”

They can tease all they want, Julian thinks to himself, as long as he’s between them and being loved, it really doesn’t matter.

#the arcana #the arcana game #apprentice vida #fan apprentice #asra alnazar #julian devorak #vesuviaafterdark #baby’s second lemon #midsummer masquerade #arcana midsummer masquerade #fan fiction

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clearlyshycherryblossom · 3 years

Text

January 6, 2021 (Wednesday)

Today the Confederate flag flew in the United States Capitol.

They carried with them the Confederate flag.

Twitter took down the tweet and banned the president for at least twelve hours for inciting violence; Facebook and Instagram followed suit.

He did not mention the president.

In the House, 121 Republicans, more than half the Republican caucus, voted to throw out Biden’s electors from Arizona. As in the Senate, they lost when 303 Representatives voted in favor.

Today the Confederate flag flew in the United States Capitol.

#tw #tw politics #us #us politics #tw us politics

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sweetsmellosuccess · 3 years

Text

The Best Films of 2020

The 15 Best Films of 2020

Normally, when I assess a full year of cinematic offerings, I consider both sides of that coin — the outstanding entities, and the least successful — but the year of our lord two thousand and twenty provided more than enough misery for all of us, I do believe. Ergo, in my own small way to bring better vibes into the universe, for this year’s round-up, I’m staying solely on the positive tip, highlighting those films whose unfortunate release date during the Year of the Hex shouldn’t preclude them for being fully appreciated. Let’s take a year off from negativity and schadenfreude, shall we, and just stroll amongst the poppies and bright sunshine of some of the best releases of the year.

15. The Invisible Man

“Leigh Whannell’s film is thoroughly modern in approach and sophistication, but the film it most reminded me of was made back in 1944. George Cukor’s Gaslight starred Charles Boyer as a loathsome husband who attempts to convince his already anxious wife (Ingrid Bergman) that she’s going insane by secretly rearranging things in their house and taking things from her so she thinks she’s always misplacing them. He preys on her emotional vulnerability in order to mask his own pathology and emotional detachment. The effect is absolutely enraging: Onscreen, he’s one of the more hateful villains ever committed to celluloid.”

Full Review

14. The Killing of Two Lovers

“From the opening sequence, with a distraught, estranged husband standing over the bed of his wife and her new boyfriend with malice in his heart, and a gun in hand, the film spirals out into incredibly well structured compositions, taking us inside and outside of David’s recurring psychosis, utilizing a bevy of techniques: The framing shrinks down around him, the sound gets muffled, as if underwater, save for the incredibly unnerving metallic sound of cables being stretched taut, and the sickening kathunk of a heavy car door slamming shut.”

Capsule Review

13. Another Round

“Typically, Vinterberg avoids simple conclusions — and God help us all if this film gets picked up by a U.S. studio and remade with, say, Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Steve Buscemi, and Chris Rock — providing more or less equal examples of the delirious fun drinking with your friends can be (the film opens with a group of high schoolers gleefully doing “lake races” whereby teams compete to drink a case of beer while running around the nearby body of water; and closes with the same teen crew, and some of their teachers, whooping it up in celebrating their graduation); and the horrorshow it can become (one teacher ends up peeing the bed, and on his wife in the process, another wakes up bloodied and out of it in front of his neighbor’s house), leading to very real and horrible consequences.”

Capsule Review

12. Soul

“Co-director Pete Docter is the creative force behind many of Pixar's best titles, having a hand in the Toy Story franchise, WALL-E, Up, and also directing Inside Out, a brilliantly moving treatise on the subject of emotional upheaval. This film, which he co-wrote and made along with fellow co-director Kemp Powers, is his first film back at the helm since that high-water mark, and he has again dug into the fertile earth of our mortality and come back with a particularly vibrant crop.”

Full Review

11. The Burnt Orange Heresy

“Based on the novel by Charles Willeford, the film briskly moves through its paces, clouding the waters with the schemes of duplicitous men, who have sold out any love of art for their greater obsession of cash and prestige. A literary thriller in the vein of The Talented Mr. Ripley, it’s become a genre all too rare in the era of blockbuster bravado. This film will remind you what a mistake that is.”

Full Review

10. Lovers Rock

“In the course of the party, the fuses blow while the house DJ is spinning Janet Kay's "Silly Games," a fan favorite at the time. Undaunted, the guests continue dancing away, singing the lyrics a capella in delirious unison, as McQueen's camera swirls around the living room as if nothing happened. Such a heartfelt moment of unbridled togetherness, putting into distinct bas relief the sense of community we've been denied as a species in 2020, feels like a benediction, an epitaph for the year, and a salve for what we've all been so desperately missing.”

Capsule Review

9. Time

“Ostensibly, it’s about the strain of incarceration on even the most grounded of families (an experience naturally disproportionate for POCs); but, on a deeper level, it’s also about the manner of our use of the limited number of revolutions we get to enjoy situated on this earth. It is a profound knock-out.”

Full Review

8. New Order

“Meet the new boss, only in Michel Franco’s damning portrait of a society locked forever in cycles of oppression, revolution, and new oppression, it makes no difference who you are, what your belief system is, or whether or not you subscribe to a moral set of ethics.”

Capsule Review

7. Dick Johnson is Dead

“Utilizing stunt people and special effects, Johnson kills her father off a number of different gruesome ways, as a means of softening the blow of actually losing him as his mind slowly slips away. This eventually culminates in a final gambit, both acutely painful and deeply moving, in which our sense of things gets seriously upended. As Johnson put it during the post-screening Q&A, the film serves as a “doomed experiment trying to keep my father alive forever.” This film won’t make him immortal, alas, but it does make him indelible.”

Capsule Review

6. Martin Eden

“Marcello packs the film with offbeat bits and pieces of other films, including strips of what appear to be vintage home movies, sometimes in juxtaposition to what Martin is feeling — a group of kids swinging wildly from the bar of a fence, to a full galley ship taking in water and suddenly sinking like an iron ingot – which adds a more winsome, timeless element to the narrative. It’s clearly set in the past, but avoids being too dependent on that particular sense of place and time. Martin is a young man, at first, just coming into himself, and the actions he takes, what he goes through, the film seems to suggest, would be similar in any age.”

Full Review

5. Minari

“The film is certainly charming, but that’s not to diminish its straightforward approach to its characters’ plight. It doesn’t shy away from their difficulties, and as a result, it doesn’t cheat towards smarmy emotional closure.”

Capsule Review

4. Collective

“The breath of hope in the film, when the inept Minister of Health resigns, leading to the placing of a new, emboldened director who works quickly to clean the quagmire left by his predecessors, is just as quickly expelled after the next round of elections, in which the Social Democrat party — the very ones in charge of this catastrophe in the first place — gets re-elected with an even greater majority than what they had before. A perfect reflection of what happens when a government is allowed to exist without any meaningful oversight, other than from a bedraggled press and a disenchanted electorate.”

Full Review

3. First Cow

“Reichardt, a naturalist at heart, is not known much as a humorist, but there is a lightness to her screenplay -- co-written by Jonathan Raymond, her frequent collaborator, who wrote the original novel upon which its based -- that keeps it as sweetly airy as one of Cookie's fried confections. The two friends are so out of step with their surroundings -- the party of men Cookie initially travels with are little more than brutish thugs, and the fort upon which they end up is no better -- they almost had to find each other. They are reunited in the local bar of the fort only because literally every other patron runs out to egg on a brawl between two loutish combatants.”

Full Review

2. Never Rarely Sometimes Always

“Hittman’s eye for detail and emotional complexity — her characters can rarely articulate anything they’re experiencing — is incredibly acute, and she pulls tremendously understated performances out of her two leads.”

Capsule Review

1. Nomadland

“Perhaps no American director since Terrance Malick has made more of the collapsing light of dusk and twilight than Chloe Zhao. Much of her new film, which stars Frances McDormand as a transigent woman (“not homeless, houseless”), who traverses back and forth across the west in her beat up live-in van, doing seasonal work, takes place in that particular kind of vibrant half-darkness that shrouds the desert and its mountains with a magic kind of mystery.”

Capsule Review

Other Worthy Mentions: 7500; Assassins; Bacurau; Beanpole; Beginning; Black Bear; Bloody Nose Empty Pockets; Boys State; Come Play; Emma; Gunda; His House; Horse Girl; I Am Greta; Jacinta; La Llorona; Let Him Go; Limbo; Mangrove; Mayor; MLK/FBI; One Night in Miami…; Palm Springs; Possessor Uncut; Red, White & Blue; Relic; She Dies Tomorrow; Shirley; Shithouse; Shiva Baby; Some Kind of Heaven; Spring Blossom; Swallow; Tenet; The Dissident; The Invisible Man; The Nest; Sound of Metal; The Vast of Night; The Viewing Booth; The Way I See It; Vitalina Varella; Welcome to Chechnya

Inexplicably Underrated: 7500; Shithouse

Biggest Welcome Surprise(s): The Vast of Night; His House; She Dies Tomorrow

The Best Two Films I Saw This Year, Period: Satantango (1994); Harlan County, USA (1976)

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menfenced · 3 years

Text

I know so many Republicans right now who are saying yesterday’s attempted coup was justified because of what happened with the election (ie they think there was fraud). I have been trying to figure out how they could believe that when there is no evidence.

I have also been trying to figure out it Trump is doing all this stupid illegal shit because

A. He is a corrupt self-dealing asshole who doesn’t care that what he is doing is illegal because he will do literally anything to stay in power

B. His ego is so big that he honestly can’t conceive of a reality where he’s not the most popular president who everyone loves and therefore how could he lose?

C. He’s dumb and doesn’t know how government and elections work.

I’m guessing it’s actually a combination of all 3, but the one that pisses me off the most is that 3rd one. Trump doesn’t understand how government works and had no business running for its highest office 4 years ago, but then he spent that 4 years NOT learning how the government he was in charge of works. He spent 4 years in our highest office and he didn’t learn shit. And nobody bothered to tell him he was wrong about this shit for 4 years.

That’s when I realized why his supporters are so clueless.

The average American doesn’t know much about how their government works, and that’s mostly fine. We don’t need to know everything. We need to know some things, but we tend to learn about those when they become relevant. And that’s the problem for Republicans because their leaders, the people who should and often do know better, are actively trying to deceive their base.

Democrats listened to pundits on their news stations explain how we should expect a red wave on election night, followed by a blue wave, because Democrats and Republicans were being encouraged to vote using different platforms (mail vs in person), because of state laws that required some states not to count mail in ballots until Election Day, and because it takes people longer to vote in areas with high density populations, especially when republican administrations are actively attempting to suppress the vote in those areas by providing fewer polling stations and making people stand in line for hours to cast ballots.

Republicans listened to their pundits kiss Trump’s ass and say he could never lose.

Democrats listened to their politicians who explained how vote by mail works, what you needed to do to ensure your vote would be counted, and how you could check to make sure your ballot was received in time.

Republicans listened to their politicians who told them that the only way they could lose is if the other side cheats because Trump won the last election so how could he possibly lose this next one? You are the silent majority and there are more of you than anybody else so the only possibilities after Election Day are us winning or Democrats cheating.

The average person can be forgiven for not knowing how politics and elections work. Pundits, reporters, and politicians have no excuse. They do know how this stuff works but those on the republican side are choosing to lie to their constituents about it. They know the truth and they are lying to stay in power. They are actively trying to deceive their own base.

So I can’t lay the blame entirely at the feet of republican constituents. The people who they SHOULD be able to trust are knowingly lying to them. Giuliani is an attorney. You think he honestly believes he can win any of these court cases with zero evidence? Of course not. He knows it’s just for show. You think Ted Cruz and the other republican senators don’t understand that a higher percentage of ballots counted later in the evening will be for democrats? Of course they know that. Their campaign managers have told them that and they have actively tried to block mail in ballots, early voting, and adequate polling locations in big cities or majority minority areas because they KNOW that those voters are not voting republican. But they don’t say that to their base. They play dumb and pretend this is suspicious instead of 100% expected. This is the shit republican constituents are hearing so we can’t be surprised when they don’t understand how they could have lost this election.

Republicans in positions of authority know what they are doing and they know what their colleagues are doing, and they know damn well that it’s wrong. If only more than one of them had the balls to admit it and call their party out.

“The objectors have claimed they are doing so on behalf of the voters. Have an audit, they say, to satisfy the many people who believe that the election was stolen. Please! No Congressional led audit will ever convince those voters, particularly when the President will continue to claim that the election was stolen. The best way we can show respect for the voters who are upset is by telling them the truth. That is the burden, and the duty, of leadership. The truth is that President-elect Biden won this election. President Trump lost. Scores of courts, the President’s own Attorney General, and state election officials both Republican and Democrat have reached this unequivocal decision.” -Mitt Romney

#I don’t agree with Romney on much #and he’s not blameless in this false reality game #particularly when it comes to his own presidential bid #but he is one of the only republican congress members to show some actual integrity for the past 4 years #and I guess that counts for something

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