#and THIS is why we support public broadcasting mates!

[akajustmerry]

"Chisel should be warm."

Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe. Episode 5: 'We're Getting a Toilet Door' (2023)

#aunty donna #rupert murdoch #aunty donna's coffee cafe #tv #australia #/ #and THIS is why we support public broadcasting mates! #i love the tiny digs at murdoch abc fights for their lives to include #anyways no one gets me like them <3333

[player1064]

Hi! All such great carraville drabbles so far! If you’re still doing them, may I request them coming out publicly and the various reactions of news broadcasters, other ex/current footballers and of course, the internet. Thanks!

aaa thank you!!! and yessss I love fics where it's public reaction to stuff and i LOVE multi-media type fics so this was fun to write (even though i am much too lazy to come up with fake twitter usernames)

---

Group: MU mob

Phillip: forwarded an instagram post by gneville2 Phillip: ???

Gary: what Gary: do u think I was too nice to him in the caption Gary: I can edit it to add something about scousers maybe Gary: or how he never won the league

Phillip: you and Carragher???

Gary: ?

Paul: whyd u make me look at that rot first thing in the morning Paul: put me off my breakfast that did

Ryan: im not installing instagram for this whats he done now

Nicky: ^

Phillip: he’s dating Carragher?????

Ryan: where have u been for the last 2 years its literally all he talks about

Phillip: America! I have been! In! America! Phillip: Gaz I can’t believe you told them and not me?

Paul: I wish he hadnt told us to be fair Paul: they r so annoying

Gary: sorry phil I mustve forgot Gary: timezones etc Gary: gtg we’re having breakfast before he has to head to studio 🥞😍

David: nice post Gary 😊🏳️‍🌈 Happy for you x

Chat: Stevie G

Missed call from Stevie

Stevie: Carra

Missed call from Stevie

Stevie: Jamie Lee Duncan Carragher Stevie: pick up your damn phone Stevie: you are shit at this best friend thing yknow Stevie: also Gary Neville??? Stevie: you were moaning about him when I called you just last week Stevie: but if he makes you happy that’s alright then Stevie: tell him he’s buying me a pint next time I’m home Stevie: in liverpool mind Stevie: don’t care if you love him you won’t see me in pub in manchester

The Daily Mail

LIVERPOOL AND MAN UTD LEGENDS JAMIE CARRAGHER AND GARY NEVILLE REVEAL GAY RELATIONSHIP?

Former rivals turned co-pundits posted Valentine’s day messages on their Instagram accounts which appear to show an intimate relationship between the two men, who were both married to women for over ten years. Neither has responded for comment.

Comments:

> they’re the worst pundits on sky anyway they don’t even try to hide the bias for their teams

> gary neville’s always trying to bring politics into everything rishi was right he should stick to football!

> well I will be getting my commentary from MOTD moving forward. wish I could cancel sky sports but can’t afford to miss all the match coverage so they will be getting a strongly worded letter from me instead.

The Guardian

OPINION: IT’S 2024. WHY HAS THE FOOTBALL WORLD NOT CAUGHT UP?

There are still no openly gay players in the top tier of the men’s game. Now that two retired premier league footballers have come out, we have to ask: why is this headline news?

Both Liverpool and Manchester United football clubs have posted messages in support of Neville & Carragher, and so have many current and former players. But it begs the question why they thought that support might not be implicit, or why the two pundits had to publicly “come out” at all.

Comments:

> tbh I didn’t even know who they were until I saw Beckham’s ig story 💀

> surprised Gerrard’s not said anything, thought he and Carragher were mates >>> probably can’t if he wants to keep his manager contract $$$

> the guardian: why is the media making a fuss about two ex-footballers coming out? the guardian: is part of the media making a fuss about two ex-footballers coming out…

Twitter

Sports - Trending Gary Neville 264k tweets

Jamie Carragher 151k tweets

@.1111 they’ve been obsessed with each other for years is anyone really surprised

@.222 ngl I thought Gary Neville was already out as gay? You’re telling me people have believed he’s straight this whole time??

@.333 it’s giving slow burn enemies to lovers 150k words…

@.444 sky already wheels the two of them out together whenever they need to promote ANYTHING I bet it’s gonna get 10x worse now

Chat: J ❤️

G 👹👸: good luck on show tonight G 👹👸: no vday dinner :( G 👹👸: I shall have to waste away and pine instead G 👹👸: drown my sorrows etc

J ❤️: should be back to hotel by 1 at the latest J ❤️: I know that’s past ur bedtime old man so don’t wait up

G 👹👸: I will be up (😉😉) and ready to give you your dessert 😘 G 👹👸: might have a cheeky nap before though to be fair

#sorry to stevie g for being slightly mean to him in this but well. i dont approve of his recent career choices <3 #thanks for the prompt!!! i really really enjoyed writing all the text messages daskjsghfdg #carraville #drabbles #place ur bets now did gary successfully wake from his nap on time to greet jamie or did he fall asleep immediately

[1ddiscourseoftheday]

Mon 5 April ‘21

Louis came online to tweet about The Snuts again (the Scottish indie band he followed after their livestream recently)-- or wassss that why he was around? He also unfollowed Jedward, the Irish singing twin act who got famous on The X Factor, who were tweeting a series of posts about 1D and contracts that hadn’t really gotten a lot of attention- but OH BOY DID THEY after Louis unfollowed! “We have 1D’s contract which was sent to use by mistake cuz we had the same label! Same management! Same security and accountants!” they said, and a long series of related tweets, including “Legally posting contracts online is gonna end up in court but we’ve known for many years the situation! Niall! Liam! Louis! Zayn! Harry! You’re survivors”, “There’s a reason Syco is called Psycho! 1D and Little Mix are legally fucked in contracts and can never speak out so we are!”, “There’s nothing MODEST about their previous management dictating their every move from Relationships to how they live their own lives! Justice for 1D & Little Mix”, and “Simon Cowell thinks he’s the Mafia leader of the music industry when in reality he’s nothing but a bad facelift.” They went on to talk more generally about industry issues, saying “eating disorders and depression are very common in the music industry”, “When artists ask too much questions they’re a threat and are blacklisted and not given the Radio/PR cuz they want them to fail”, and more. This stuff isn’t news but as long as it continues to be relevant, I guess it will need to be repeated.

Louis did not respond to the tweets (the screenshot of him commenting on it in a group-chat is fake), but the guys from The Snuts did respond to his support of their album, which is poised to potentially hit #1 this week; “Yes brother appreciate that massively.” Blogger Jaiden Michael, who has been tweeting about Louis being gay (ie, attempting to use his public platform to out him) for many years did respond so he could get back to doing that, with a bonus of bragging that he’d been doing it longer. That’s not really something to be proud of, mate! And Rebecca Ferguson, who has been talking a lot about her experiences of getting screwed over by Syco/ The X Factor (as well as the very memorable “a boyband member told me they were being picked up and thrown against walls [by management] when they challenged decisions”) also commented, calling for a Netflix documentary about it all. Any platform with a legal department brave (and well funded) enough to take on that project will definitely have a wide and ever increasing pool of people willing to talk on the record...

Anyway, Liam is playing a show! A show that sounds really weird and confusing thanks to the absolutely ludicrously jargon-y press announcement but is actually not that complex. The BAFTAS (British Film and TV Awards) are next week (April 10 & 11 at Royal Albert Hall) and Liam is performing as part of the show, but also it’s a special high tech performance, because the awards show is presented by a mobile network. He’ll perform on the 11th at 6:45, viewable in real time but only via a special app (and augmented reality, more on that in a minute) 15 minutes before the main broadcast, but then he’ll also perform as the opening act of the broadcast show at 7:00 (viewable by everyone). But not just him! The early version is only viewable through the special 5G app that will turn Liam into an avatar (in an animated scape of some kind if I understand correctly which I definitely might not) but that’s just the set up-- “the avatar will then join Payne as a hologram on the stage of Royal Albert Hall.”  YESS CLONE!LIAM! INTO IT!! So he’ll perform a 15 minute set, which you can get this special app to watch, with him as a cartoon, they’ll record the avatar singing, then he’ll immediately perform the same set again (on the opposite side of the stage one assumes) and they’ll project a hologram of the performance he just did to, like, harmonize with him. So that’s really silly, and also I LOVE IT, it will be ridiculous(ly awesome?!) Just think, finally one of them will do a live show collab with a member of 1D!! (WDYM that wasn’t what you meant? Aren’t you excited, I don’t understand I thought this was what you wanted??) Anyway if you think that’s weird, wait’ll you see his promo spot announcements which say “we’re BLEEPING excited!” and have him bleeped out as if he were swearing every couple minutes, and honestly make no sense; possibly they were trying to imply they were bleeping out exciting details which will later be revealed? Not real sure.

And finally, some random Bonus Content to tie the days reports together, why do Louis and the guy from The Snuts both follow the mobile network that’s sponsoring Liam’s BAFTAS performance? I really couldn’t tell you.

Also Niall tweeted about golf.

#Louis tomlinson #Liam Payne #the snuts #jedward #jaiden michael #rebecca ferguson #niall + golf #5 apr 21 #virtual liam #clone liam #liam/liam content #the ship name is.. Liam (the mash up is silent) #sbb #simon cowell #the x factor #contracts

[writer-k-pop]

I Would

왜나하면 나는 우리의 모든 데이트가 우리 둘 모두에게 행복하고 즐거운 시간이 되길 원하기 때뭉이야. Because I want our every date to be a happy and fun time for both of us.

Description: During a live TV interview, Jeonghan is faced with a comment from  a particularly problematic host. With the need to defend himself and you, you watched for the first time as Jeonghan sternly, and slightly angered, puts someone in their place during a live show. Warnings: Swearing Genre: Angst, Fluff ending, Idol!Jeonghan x Fem!Reader Word Count: 2.6k

Seventeen Masterlist | Masterlists

You brought your knees up to your chest, attention focused on the TV where a live broadcast of your boyfriend, Jeonghan, and his group mates, Seventeen, was airing. Jeonghan was always super excited to do any show but this show had him, and the entire group for that matter, on edge.

The reason being that one of the hosts was a very questionable person. The host, Jack, made comments that made many of the public feel uncomfortable and even with all the outcry, he was still appearing on TV. The night before as I sat with the members, talking and trying to relax for the night, the boys couldn't stop worrying about how they were going to handle any concerning comments that came from that particular host. Seungcheol and Jeonghan were trying their best to give words of encouragement and disperse the worry but you could tell Jeonghan's mind was running a 100 miles per hour with the same worry as the other members.

They finished with their introduction segment and moved onto the first topic. During the entirety, you tried to focus on what was being said but all you could really focus on was Jeonghan. The other members had taken Seungcheol and Jeonghan's advice to just do the interview as normal and for the most part, Seungcheol looked like he had also taken his advice. But Jeonghan was a different story.

He sat between Jun and Dino but you could tell his mind was analyzing every word coming out of every mouth in preparation to combat any wrong comment. Jeonghan was physically there but mentally fighting a war that hadn't even happened yet.

You pouted in concern but that was all you could do. The broadcast was live. All you could do was sit and watch and hope that the rest of the broadcast went without a hitch.

But of course, your hope was soon crushed.

It was the third and final segment called 'I Adore.' You knew about this segment because the some of the members had asked your opinion on if their items were 'okay' as an item/hobby/thing they adored. And because Jeonghan had asked your permission to use a picture of the two of you. You didn't care, the public already knew about your relationship. One more picture wouldn't hurt.

The members went through their 'I Adore' stories one by one and somehow Jeonghan was picked to go last. Probably because of the picture.

A picture of you and Jeonghan out on a date a few weeks ago pops up on the screen and the two other non-problematic hosts, Hangyeol and Kwangho, cooed at the picture.

"Would you like to explain, Jeonghan?" Hangyeol gestured towards Jeonghan.

You watched as he pulled himself out of his war with a deep breath.

"Yes, well, I adore (y/n)." Jeonghan leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. "I adore her a lot but I couldn't bring her here so I brought a picture instead."

"This is a good alternative." Kwangho commented, "When was this taken?"

"A couple weeks ago." Jeonghan answered right away, "We were out on a shopping date looking for Dino's birthday gift, I think. She was feeling cute so we took a lot of pictures."

"They took so many pictures." Dokyeom agreed, "Like hundreds and hundreds." He exaggerated.

You rolled your eyes and smiled at his antics. The hosts and the members laugh.

"So why did you pick her for this segment?" Hangyeol asked, glancing down at his cue cards.

"Ever since we started dating, she is always supporting and encouraging me. And just when I think I know all of her little ticks, she surprises me with another one." Jeonghan explained and your heart fluttered. "(y/n)'s really cool and she always knows what I'm thinking and it's nice having someone to talk to like that."

"Ah, you must really love her." Kwangho nodded, "I can see it in your face."

Jeonghan smiled widely and blushed.

"He does." Dino agreed with the host. "Sometimes he'll ditch us to go see her."

"But wouldn't you if you had that kind of girl by your side?" Hangyeol defended Jeonghan.

"How long have you been dating?" Jack, the problematic host, questioned which made your breath hitch. The members also went silent for a second and a nervous glance was thrown between them.

"Uh, about a year or so now." Jeonghan answered confidently.

Jack nodded and let the other hosts continue. You breathed a sigh of relief with that hurdle passed.

"Actually, that's not the only picture we have of you two." Hangyeol said sheepishly.

Jeonghan looked at the hosts with a questioning look.

"We found some pictures on Twitter capturing you on your date." Hangyeol explained and a few pictures popped up on the screen.

They were of the same date but from farther away and a little later into the date after some shopping had been done.

"Fans must've taken them." You muttered to yourself not bothered as it happens sometimes.

They pull up one and focus on it. You're walking backwards talking to Jeonghan while he holds the couple of shopping bags and your bright pastel purse. You smile remembering the day with fondness.

"What's going on in this one?" Kwangho asked with genuine interest.

"Ah," Jeonghan lifts his head in remembrance of the moment, "We were leaving the shopping center and she was talking about something that I completely forget now. But I do remember having to yell at her millions of times because she was about to run into something or someone." He chuckled.

"Wait a minute," Jack chirped up and the nervous glances returned. "You said you were getting a gift for Dino, why do you have so many bags?"

Jeonghan sat up straighter, "One of the bags was Dino's gift, one was a shirt that (y/n) said I would look good in, and the other is her purse."

"Woah, he even carries her purse!" Kwangho cooed to Hangyeol in admiration of Jeonghan's act.

"Yah, he such a cool guy." Hangyeol agreed.

"He does that all the time." Seungcheol added on.

"Honestly, he's a really great boyfriend." Mingyu commented and Jeonghan hid his face in embarrassment.

"Ah, stop." Jeonghan whined and his members chuckle, Dino even patted his shoulder.

Across the interview table, Jack lowered his head and muttered something meant to go unheard. But Jeonghan's super sonic hearing heard him and he immediately snapped his head up, staring hard Jack.

"What did you say?" Jeonghan asked, his tone causing confusion between the members.

"I didn't-"

"No, please say it." Jeonghan cut Jack off and gestures for him to continue, "You said it for a reason."

Jack'glances around the studio and towards his fellow hosts for support, but they offer him none. Hangyeol and Kwangho, having heard his comment, were finally done putting up with his attitude.

"I just think that she should be able to carry her own purse. Why do you have to carry it when she obviously has her own arms." Jack shrugged nonchalantly.

You scoffed and rolled your eyes at his misguided opinion. From the TV, a few members also scoff while others lean back and cross their arms with stares as sharp as knives.

"I would carry her purse even if she had 8 arms and I had none." Jeonghan said in a slightly tensed tone. "Because I love her."

A feeling of 'yeah, you show him' was soon followed by a gut punch realization that Jeonghan just said that he loves you for the first time on TV. Ever.

"Still I don't get why she would make you carry all the bags and her purse." Jack continued his warped train of thought.

Jeonghan shook his head, "I told her to give me the bags. She actually didn't want me to carry them but I insisted."

"You shouldn't have given in then." Jack scoffed, crossed his arms, and leaned back in his chair. "You can't be that weak."

At this comment, you sat up and angrily grumbled at the TV.

"Who does he think he's calling weak? How can a person be this awful?" You wondered.

While you grumbled, the members also all leaned forward in anger at Jack's comment and the hosts started to lean away from Jack in an attempt to separate themselves from him. The entire atmosphere of the interview, even through the TV, turned icy in a second. Even as you sat on your couch at home, a shiver ran down your spine.

Jeonghan put a hand on Dino's arm, telling him to sit back down.

"I don't think it was weak." Jeonghan said with a 'you want to mess with me?' look in his eyes. "I think it's very strong of men and people to offer to carry other's things when they care for said person. You see," Jeonghan cleared his throat, "If I didn't take the bags from (y/n), she wouldn't have been able to walk backwards and talk to me so animatedly. Then I wouldn't have been able to smile and laugh at her like I am in the picture." He gestures to the screen where the picture was still up. "Then I wouldn't have been able to enjoy her enjoying herself on our date. And that would've made me disappointed. Because I want our every date to be a happy and fun time for both of us."

Listening to his defense, Jeonghan's words touched your heart and for a split second you forgot your anger and only felt love for the man you get to call yours.

Having been defeated, Jack sat silent in his chair. Kwangho and Hangyeol have successfully moved their chairs away. The other members listened intently and were all nodding their heads in agreement.

"I think we would all do the same." Hangyeol commented, trying to diffuse the tention. He then turned to the other members, "Wouldn't we?"

The other members nodded while Seungcheol actually spoke.

"Without hesitation." He nodded, giving one last glare towards Jack.

"Well, we have run out of time. But thank you for stopping by and giving us your time." Knwagho said to the members. They all nod and give their thanks except for Jeonghan. He was just staring at Jack with a glare as deadly as lasers.

Seungcheol led the group in their exit greeting and Jeonghan barely managed to make the ending bow before the show cuts off.

As commercials ran past the screen, you just sat on the couch, scrolling through posts and comments of the interview. Many expressed anger at the problematic host but a greater number were praising Jeonghan for his eloquent response to such a comment.

And not 10 minutes after the interview ended, a call from Jeonghan lit up your phone.

"HI there." You answered, already forgetting most of the annoyance you had from earlier.

"Hey." Jeonghan replied, his voice sounding tired with a hint of anger around the edges. "What are you doing right now?"

"Me?" You asked, "I'm sitting on the couch scrolling through my phone."

Jeonghan breathed out, "So you watched it, huh?"

"Yeah, I saw it." You said with a nod.

"Ugh, I was really hoping you didn't." Jeonghan muttered.

"Why not?" You wondered. You could see him running a hand through his hair.

"It was just so ridiculous. What he said." Jeonghan groaned.

You chuckled, "Yeah, it was pretty ridiculous but you handled it like an absolute pro." You offered, "Made me extremely proud, too."

"Really?" He asked, his voice perking up slightly.

"Oh totally." You answered, "You put him in his place and made me feel like a princess. I swear I think my heart exploded."

Jeonghan finally laughed and you felt relieved to hear his laughter.

"Where are you?" You asked after a couple seconds.

"In a taxi." He answered.

"Where are you going?" You questioned, "Shouldn't you be with the others going back to the dorm?"

"I should be." Jeonghan said, "But after that interview, I really needed to see you so I sort of ran off."

"Jeonghan!" You scolded him.

"It's fine!" He defended himself, "I told Seungcheol so I didn't entirely ditch without telling anyone."

"Did you even get out of your interview clothes?" You asked, knowing it takes Seventeen ages to get into and out of outfits.

There was a pause before Jeonghan answered.

"...No." His answer made you laugh.

"You're lucky you have clothes here." You told him before moving to the bathroom to retrieve some makeup removing supplies.

"I'm lucky I've got you." He said softly.

"Yes you are lucky you've got me." You joked and Jeonghan chuckled.

"I'll be there in like 20 minutes. Wait for me." He told you.

"I'll be here with makeup remover and open arms." You said before hanging up.

And as he said, 20 minutes later, Jeonghan punched in the lock code and strode into your home, straight into your arms. He rested his chin over your shoulder while squeezing you tightly.

"Hey superhero." You smiled and cuddled into his hug.

"Hey." Jeonghan relaxed and his shoulders sagged from exhaustion.

"Go get changed and then I'll take off your make up for you." You instructed him and he followed without a moment's hesitation.

You sat on the couch, set the make up wipes near your lap, and waited for Jeonghan to come back. After many of his schedules, his make up would be wiped off or he'd be with the members. But on occasion, he'd come to yours, make up on, and you would take off his make up for him. It was one of his favorite things. You often offered when you knew he had a stressful day because it was something that helped him to relax.

After a few minutes, Jeonghan returned out of his interview outfit and in pajamas. He flopped onto the couch and rested his head in you lap, eyes closed, ready for his make up to be removed.

As you wiped away the layers of makeup, his bare face that you loved so much began to show.

"Did you see the comments?" You asked, wiping down his cheek.

"No." Jeonghan said, "The members were blowing up my phone with texts so I had to pay attention to them."

"Well, people are very impressed by you and your comments." You told him, "I'm sure people will be talking about it tomorrow."

"Eh, I just said what needed to be said. That host needed to be put in his place." Jeonghan scrunched up his nose and you wiped that area to soothe out the skin.

"And you did just that." You told him. "So what do you want to do?"

"Lay here forever." Jeonghan answered.

You threw away the makeup wipe and reached for another, "I can do that."

"Forever?" Jeonghan glanced up at you with a questioning look.

"Forever." You smiled and leaned down to give him a kiss.

Happily, Jeonghan snuggled deeper into your lap and you resumed wiping his face.

"Next time bring me." You said absently mindedly.

"And let you be attacked like that? No way." Jeonghan shut down the idea immediately.

"But then you wouldn't have to be in a situation like you were today." You explained, wiping away the last bit of stubborn foundation.

Jeonghan opened his eyes and looked up at you. "(y/n)."

"Jeonghan." You copied his sentence type.

"I would go through that alone on national TV a million times over before I would even consider letting you go through it." Jeonghan told you. "I would go through it again if it meant I got to come home to you."

You smiled at his sincere words, "Then keep coming home to me."

He smiled widely and pulled you down for another kiss, one deeper than the one you had given him. One full of 'I love you's' to last a hundred years. And they all belonged to you and you alone.

#seventeen #seventeen imagine #seventeen jeonghan imagine #yoon jeonghan imagine #jeonghan imagine #yoon jeonghan #jeonghan #seventeen jeonghan

[ataswegianabroad]

Alone Amongst the Gum Trees Part 4 - Digital News Report: Australia - A Murdoch Review

NOTE - this article has been migrated to Medium. As of 2021, A Taswegian Abroad will be closed down, and all of my writing will be published on my Medium profile.

---

After seeing a significant public outcry to my story based on a response to Sally McManus on twitter - I recently spoke with the ABC on being an Aussie overseas and the challenges we’ve faced getting home. The failure once again of Morrison’s government to provide enough vaccines and a proper quarantine system (covered up by the Murdoch Press protection racket) is having real implications on everyday Australians.

I strongly believe that for this to change, the media needs to perform its function of holding both elected officials, and their peers in the press, accountable for such actions.

Until Australia has reestablished media fairness among the press, improved media literacy amongst its citizens, and have mostly removed the cancer of Murdoch’s News Corp dominating mainstream media, we will never break this cycle of government ineptitude, gaslighting, negligence, and outright corruption with little to almost zero accountability.

You don't need to look far for proof. The ones that immediately come to mind for me:

2020 Bushfires and consistent climate change denial - "I don't hold a hose mate"

Freedom of speech is threatened where internet comedians get arrested in their own homes for making jokes about a LNP Deputy Premier

Kate and the horrendous Christian Porter alleged rape case

The four stage plan to make a plan about having a plan for Covid, 18 months into the pandemic, with literally no dates or vaccination targets.

Back in March, I caught onto calls for a Murdoch Royal Commission by former prime minister Kevin Rudd, and since then I’ve been keeping a very sharp eye on the Australian media landscape.

Despite over 500,000 petition signatures and the ramping exposure by Rudd online (leading to a full senate enquiry), the Murdoch press is doing its best to discredit, misdirect, or, blatantly ignore the storm that’s brewing. A couple of major things have caught my attention since that date.

News Corp outlets are still consistently cowing their competitors at Nine, Seven, the ABC, and more into towing the pro-Coalition narrative THEY choose, or, risk facing character assassination. This applies to everyone who dares step out of line: reporters, ministers, producers, senators, editors, presenters, janitors… no one is safe.

This sort of behaviour and influence is not easy to show on graphs and charts, but if you read between the lines, you can see it. Let me show you.

The ABC Presents the Data

In April of 2021, the ABC published a fact-file article outlining the power of the Murdoch press - the first article from an at least somewhat reputable source addressing this that I’ve seen on this topic.

The biggest things I took from it are that despite there seeming to be a diverse ownership pool across many mediums, News Corp (Murdoch) newspapers significantly dominate the national market for print papers, and, have recently been crowned leaders of the #1 source of news for Australians: social media (via mostly viral, opinion, and video based content primarily from News.com.au and Sky News pages on Facebook and YouTube).

Remember this point - spoiler alert: it’s important.

At the recent senate enquiries, News Corp claims there is in fact diversity - focusing on different mediums such as online, social media, radio, television etc. available to represent “diversity”. This is response refers to medium diversity, and is quite frankly a misdirection based on a technicality to avoid the real question. Classic News Corp.

Rudd says “each story published online or broadcast over the airwaves finds its point of origin in a print story, often a Murdoch print story". The former PM is referring to content diversity where factual reporting reigns supreme, and different points of view are given equal time in the sun without the blurring of opinion and fact.

As Kevin likes to say: “pigs might fly”

While you might be thinking “so what? News Corp is strong in print and social, Nine is strong for television and online news, ABC is strong on radio and social, Seven is strong on radio and television etc” - I’d like to ask you a question: where then is the accountability for elected officials in the media?

The Murdoch press won’t say a word about the Coalition’s ever growing laundry list of corruption, negligence, ineptitude or incompetence, but if a Labor politician sneezes, they’re likely to be labelled a Covid super spreader on the front page of 15 national and state papers the next day.

How about this doozy from the Herald Sun in May 2021 after Dan Andrews quite literally broke his back and took medical leave:

I didn’t see one peep from the Murdoch reptiles about Morrison's three day actual disappearing act only last week after his bogus "AstraZeneca is OK for under 40’s / go to your GP” comments.

The key thing to point out here is that the news provider who ranks number one in Australia's largest news medium (social media) is a well known right wing protection racket that doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, and there's mountains of evidence that exists to prove they don’t play a fair game.

Let’s Go To the Numbers

To really drill down into how important online media control is, I found the Digital News Report: Australia 2021 (i.e “the report” for the rest of this article), recently published by the University of Canberra by way of the Reuters Digital News Report: 2021

Below I've outlined a number of key headers from the report, and more specifically tried to point out exactly where Murdoch and News Corp are exploiting and manipulating their way into control. The data shows us both what has been going on, and the direction it will likely continue in.

Having worked in digital marketing for the better part of the last four years, I couldn’t wait to dive into this data and explain just how much of a rort this all is for the sake of profit.

1: Local News

Replaced by Murdoch Sky News, Invests in Social Media

“For ‘hard news’ such as local politics, economy, crime and health, local news consumers continue to turn to traditional local news outlets, such as the newspaper or TV. However, for most other news and information, consumers are using internet search and other internet sites to get localised information.”

The report tells us that:

“2020 was a difficult year in Australian news sector, with news companies closing or suspended. This is in part a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it reflects a longer-term gradual decline in newspaper consumption that is replaced by online offerings”

So why did the BBC report in 2020 that Murdoch shuts 112 Australia print papers in major digital shift? CNN covered it too, as did the Guardian. I couldn’t find anything on a Murdoch owned site or outlet. That’s because Rupert is rolling out “Sky News Regional” to replace them all.

The report outlines:

“This year’s data highlights the important role of newspapers in generating a sense of community, particularly among older news consumers . Further, newspapers are perceived to be the best source of information about local government and politics, which is central to the functioning and accountability of local communities. It is important for industry and government to remember that the closure of a local newspaper not only leaves a gap in the provision of quality news, but also a loss of critical information that is connected to people’s sense of attachment to their community”

How on earth does one far-right Sydney run “news” channel represent hundreds of regional communities? Answer: It doesn’t - it’s designed to influence regional voters to think the way that suits the Murdoch press agenda.

2: Impartiality of News

Murdoch Cuts ABC Funding via Coalition, Ramps-Up Online Polarisation

The report tells us that 

“traditionally, values of independence, and impartiality — or ‘objectivity’ — have been central to journalism’s mission and deemed important to perceptions of trust in news. However, in the digital media environment, former demarcations between news, features, opinion, and advertising continue to blur.

“News audiences are becoming more polarised and are increasingly attracted to news brands that offer partisan perspectives.”

What you’re seeing here is that while the data reveals a strong desire for news outlets to attempt fairness, balance, and an impartial approach to reporting - the demographics more likely to use social media (the medium that Murdoch now leads, mostly containing Millennials and Gen Z) are less supportive of impartiality, neutrality and giving equal time. More on this in Part 8.

On the flip side: 

"news consumers who prefer impartiality are much more likely to say they distrust news on social media.”

“Both the 2020 and 2021 data highlight that these traditional journalism ideals are more strongly supported by older generations and those who use traditional sources of news."

You need not look further than the blatant defunding of the ABC to see how the Murdoch Cancer continues to take over.

So, if the majority of Australians believe the ABC is impartial and does a “good job”, why has the ABC had $783m in funding cut since 2014 by the Coalition government?

Seems to suit the Murdoch agenda pretty nicely.

3: News Representation

Low Media Literacy in Under-Represented Demographics

“Importantly, a large proportion of Australians say they don’t know if the amount of media coverage of ‘people like them’ is sufficient or fair. Those who have low education are much more likely to say they don’t know. This indicates a lack of engagement and adequate media literacy to identify misrepresentation and bias in the news.

“Combined with a lack of awareness about misinformation, lower interest in and consumption of news, these findings confirm the ongoing need for targeted media literacy interventions"

The only way the public can push back against misinformation is by knowing they’re witnessing it first hand. That does not suit what Murdoch is selling.

Misinformation breeds confusion, smoke and mirrors, and is aided by political spin, gaslighting and stone throwing to keep people moderately confused and ultimately giving up on understanding the “truth”, or, deciding their own convenient version of truth.

The closure of the Australian Alternative Press due to revoked funding by Nine and News Corp in 2020 should be enough to tell you the media landscape is gravitating consistently to the right.

4: News Access

People Losing Interest, Murdoch Keeps the Elderly Onside

As traditional mediums (television, radio, and print) are on the decline, social media and online news is on the rise with the aid of mobile device popularity (45% of Australians preferred news devices).

It's not a surprise to learn that during COVID-19, older Australians have increasingly turned to social media platforms to get news.

“The percentage of 75+ who use social media as their main source of news has more than tripled in two years from 3% to 10%. Among this age group, social media is now comparable to print use.” the report states.

While it’s hard to point this as a direct plot by News Corp, this is still great news for Murdoch. All News Corp had to do was weaken the traditional mediums that aren’t making them as much money, and push the audience toward social media. It worked.

75+ votes still count, and they are more likely to click the “clickbait” articles to make News Corp that sweet, sweet ad platform revenue.

5: Emerging New Habits 

Murdoch Funds the Fuel for the Fire

Despite people being somewhat varied on their social media usage for news specifically, the important statistic here is that more than half of Australians consume news videos.

The below statistics from the ABC should set alarm bells screaming. To put it plainly:

More people on social media than ever before

Murdoch ramps up social media content (Facebook posts / videos & YouTube videos mainly), then mega-funds paid advertising on said content

Drives subscribers and views through the roof

Overtakes ABC (yes, the one he’s got his politician friends/puppets actively defunding)

Don’t believe me? See for yourself.

The ABC outlines that: 

“Fact Check has analysed audience data for media accounts on what Canberra University found were the two most popular platforms: Facebook (used by 39 per cent of news consumers ) and YouTube (21 per cent).”

“Data from the analytics site Social Blade shows that Sky News Australia's YouTube channel had more than a million subscribers at the start of 2021, having doubled its following in just six months. Its subscriber base began to pull ahead of Channel 7 and Channel 9 from mid-2020, and by March 2021 Sky had overtaken ABC News”

The University of Canberra report aligns to these trends, and summaries that:

“Australian news consumers are accessing news online from a diverse range of sources including news videos, podcast apps, and numerous social media platforms alongside traditional branded news websites.”

“Although social (media) is the most common main pathway to news online it is common for consumers on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram to say they mostly see news incidentally while they are on those platforms for other reasons.”

6: Trust and Misinformation

Rupert’s Bread & Butter

“Tackling disinformation and misinformation is complex and won’t be solved by platforms alone. Responsibility must be shared across governments, digital platforms, users, news media and society to make sure Australians can access accurate and reliable news and information online, while ensuring rights to freedom of expression are protected.”

Creina Chapman, Deputy Chair, Australian Communications and Media Authority

This in part ties back to my earlier points in part 3 regarding media literacy - the report indicates that trust remains high where people use both multiple mediums AND multiple sources for news. This is further compounded by the evidence that low educated readers are less likely to know they’ve encountered misinformation.

The report confirms this by indicating:

“The differences between high and low educated Australian consumers in relation to concern about COVID-19 misinformation and their ability to discern it, points to an ongoing need to boost media and information literacy among socio-economically disadvantaged groups in Australia”

The ABC and SBS still continue to be the most trusted brands, however, it needs to be highlighted that “Local or Regional Newspaper” comes in third (62% trustworthy) - the vast majority of which Murdoch owns.

In 2020, survey participants were most concerned about Australian governments and politicians being sources of general misinformation (35%), followed by activists or activist groups (20%).

Despite this, 2021 shows that trust in news has increased in 2021 (43%), rebounding off trust associated with COVID-19 news reporting. The report breaks this down further:

“The data show(s) that concern about journalism as a source of misinformation about COVID-19 is very low (9%). In 2018, we asked about ‘fake news’ and 63% of news consumers said they were concerned about poor quality journalism as a source of ‘fake news’, and 40% said they had encountered it. This signals a possible positive shift in perception of journalism after 12 months of reporting expert health advice about the COVID-19 pandemic.”

"The data also highlight(s) ongoing low levels of trust in news found on social media (18%) compared to trust in news generally. Given much of the news encountered on digital platforms is the same as that which appears on the homepages and front pages of well-respected news brands, the findings suggest that the nature of the online environment itself is one the factors lowering perceptions of trust, rather than the news content."

Creina Chapman, Deputy Chair, Australian Communications and Media Authority states in the report that:

“In the context of online news, nearly two-thirds of Australians remain concerned about what is real and fake on the internet. And a variety of surveys over the past 12 months have shown a concerning portion of the population believe dangerous falsehoods about COVID-19 that have been circulating online.

"Any lack of trust in authoritative or reliable sources of news and information is particularly worrisome during a global pandemic, as it may drive people to spaces where misinformation is more prevalent. This, in turn, increases exposure to false conspiratorial narratives that can result in real-world harm to both individual users and broader societal institutions”

Where does Murdoch benefit here? Same as always: smoke, mirrors, confusion, and spin all wrapped into enormous volumes of social media content.

7: Paying for News and Funding Journalism

Conveniently Avoiding the Issue

“To ensure media diversity and plurality in Australia, a mix of substantive, fiscal measures is necessary to support, transition and stimulate existing news businesses and encourage new entrants”

Anna Draffin, Chief Executive Officer, Public Interest Journalism Initiative

Despite a fair and balanced media being a must-have for any democracy - this is not surprising, given the low amounts of trust for online media content. Overall, given that Australians are not concerned about the poor financial state of news outlets, it’s sad but not surprising that many feel the government should not step in to help.

What is the most dangerous here is the simple fact that when there’s no money to fund decent and ethical journalism, we end up with tabloids, opinion pieces, shock jocks, and anything that just gets you to first: SEE it (an “impression” in the marketing world) and second: CLICK on it. Both of these things make News Corp richer.

Here’s the report evidence:

“A quarter (25%) of left-wing news consumers and 27% of centre-leaning are supportive of government intervention (to assist struggling journalism). However, more than half of right-wing (58%) news consumers are opposed to government assistance for financially struggling news companies."

“This is consistent with the findings that left-wing news consumers are more likely to say they are concerned about the financial state of news businesses (41%) compared to centre (37%) or right-wing (34%) news consumers”.

News consumers who think their political views are represented fairly for online news are another win for Murdoch. This is compounded by the fact that those who think news should take a position are also more likely to pay for that news.

That means if the mainstream media is pro-right wing, for example, then more people look at right wing news and pay for right wing reporting, ultimately leaving the left without funding, and fighting a losing battle. All Murdoch needs to do is discredit who he deems as “left” and it’s game over.

But Murdoch doesn’t need subscriptions. That’s just pocket money for him. With the introduction of the News Media Bargaining Code, Rupert & News Corp continue to improve their financial revenue streams through digital marketing strategies (views and clicks) without needing people to pay for fact based, objective journalism.

8: Political Orientation

Stealing the Centre & Making Opinion the “News”

Of all the elements of this report, this one shocks and upsets me the most.

The majority of Australians (61%) identify with the centre-left of politics (30% political ‘centre’ and 31% identify as either ‘very left-wing’, ‘fairly left-wing’ or ‘slightly left of centre’).

Only 22% of Australians align themselves with the right wing, and 18% don’t know their political orientation.

Younger generations have historically been the drivers of progressive social change, and younger Australians are more concerned about the environment and the impacts of things like climate change and equality.

Clare Armstrong, National Political Reporter at the The Daily Telegraph outlines in the commentary that: 

“many young Australians may rightly feel their futures, livelihoods and social activities have been either jeopardised or overlooked by a centre-right government, and subsequently a larger cohort has been pushed toward the left”

To begin in closing, based on this - how do Conservative/Right Wing parties keep winning federal elections?

It’s by doing exactly what we’ve mentioned in the first 7 sections:

Flooding the online and social media landscape with non-factual spin and confusion

This is aided by the bedrock of owning the majority of national, capital city, and regional papers which in turn steer the daily political narrative on television/radio

This is all driven home by bullying competitors into following suit, or, suffering the consequences

There is no governing or peer run body with teeth (or guts) to hold Murdoch and News Corp responsible or accountable

According to the report; 

“Younger generations, who say they feel less attached to their local community, and who also access social media widely for general news, are more likely to seek local news and information from the internet and online platforms.”

As Clare Armstrong also states: 

“Social media has significantly fuelled political polarisation in the last decade as its algorithms, by design, show users more of what they want to see, rather than a broader mix of ideas presented in traditional media.”

In summary - this quote from the Political Orientation trends leaves a long-lasting impression on my psyche:

“Left-wing news consumers (61% of the country) are more comfortable with news that takes a position rather than maintaining neutrality.”

Rupert has them right where he wants them: thinking that opinion is news.

#murdochroyalcommission #scotty from marketing #covid australia #auspol

[entertainment]

Entertainment Spotlight: Miriam A. Hyman, The Chi

From bringing characters to life on screen and stage to writing and recording hip-hop lyrics, Miriam A. Hyman has many talents. She can currently be seen in season three of The Chi, where she plays Dre, who is newly married to Nina, and a new step-mom to Kevin (Alex Hibbert) and Kiesha (Birgundi Baker). She played Bolingbroke in The Public Theater’s and WNYC’s production of Richard II. Originally scheduled to begin the 2020 Free Shakespeare in the Park season, Richard II broadcasted on WNYC as a free four-part radio play from July 13-16, 2020. When she isn’t on set, Miriam is a songwriter and hip-hop lyricist, recording under the moniker Robyn Hood. She also writes for others, is a ghostwriter for former Yale grad classmate Lupita Nyong’ o, and co-wrote the single Melanin by Ciara (featuring Nyong’ o, Ester Dean, City Girls, and fellow The Chi cast-mate La La Anthony). 

Your character Dre is a queer Black woman, a supportive partner to Nina, and a new parent to Kevin and Kiesha. Why do you think it is important to bring visibility to characters like Dre? 

Because art should mirror life, the  Dres of the world actually exist and they matter.  I think it’s imperative that we offer options and variety as it pertains to family and love. All races, ethnicities can I identify with family and love so why should it only look one way? It can’t, not any more. The level of toleration for this type of exclusion has reached it max.

You’re also a songwriter and hip-hop lyricist, and recently released your EP, Alter Ego. How would you describe your music, and what does music give you that acting doesn’t? 

I have an acronym for it and I apply it to all my life professionally and privately. I describe it as being H.O.T.: honest, open and truthful. I think my lyrics are raw, fun and thought provoking. What my music gives me that acting does not is the full liberty to express what I want how I want. It doesn’t have to be censored in anyway. It can be as creative or not as I choose. With acting, I lack full autonomy as it pertains to the text and character, what I’m saying and who I’m playing. The only way I have the ultimate say is if I’m in the writer’s seat. Being a lyricist gives me that opportunity and privilege.

You are an outspoken advocate in the Black Lives Matter movement. How do you embody the mission of #BlackExcellence365 in your everyday work, on or off-camera? 

#BlackExcellence365: I feel I embody the mission by being a consistent force of positive energy. Through my music and through the characters I portray on TV, film or theater, be it an August Wilson play or Shakespeare, I will always do my part to exhibit black excellence. I will continue to uplift, challenge and inspire via my actions, my lyrics, my contributions in my community. I will march, make donations, speak up on behalf of myself and others that are underrepresented. I say it in my song “Brotha George,” the last track on my EP, Alter Ego: “my existence is resistance.” I embody black excellence by just being.

What would you change about the experience of the entertainment industry for young Black actors just starting out? 

Well, for starters, I would raise the level of access that is offered to young black actors. I would make casting fair and create more opportunities i.e. roles on and off camera. I would diversify the reps that speak on behalf and pitch this talent. I would give these artists more of a choice which translates to having more of a voice. Lastly, I would level out the playing field so racially, balance always exists amongst these artist and the rooms they are learning to navigate.

What are you most excited about right now? 

I’m most excited about the change that is coming about in our country and globally. I’m grateful that the discussion of systematic racism is on the lips, hearts and minds of many. I’m believing in revolutionary optimism as we tear down the many prejudices that have plagued this country.

Thanks for taking the time, Miriam! Catch The Chi on Showtime on Sundays at 9pm.

Photo: The Rikers Brothers

#entertainment spotlight #miriam a hyman #miriam hyman #blackexcellence365 #black excellence

[paralianprince]

The Crown Prince of Sealand gives an exclusive glimpse into life on the off-shore platform

AS A principality, it doesn't quite have the glamour or style of Monte Carlo. There's no castle for the Royal Family and even basic luxuries, such as soap, are in short supply. Sealand is, in truth, a rather ugly, lonely pile of concrete and rusting metal which rises above the choppy waters of the North Sea some seven miles off the coast of Suffolk.

Yet the “hard as nails” Bates family have put their lives on the line on more than one occasion to remain the undisputed monarchs of their self-styled kingdom since 1966. For them it’s certainly not just two giant concrete legs rising out of the sea to support a thin metal platform measuring 120 feet by 60 feet – roughly the size of two tennis courts. “There is a very powerful family bond with Sealand which is difficult to explain but it won’t be broken,” says ruling monarch Crown Prince Michael Bates, 68, in a rare and exclusive interview.

He is currently involved in discussions with Hollywood filmmakers planning a movie about Sealand, and a book is published this week chronicling its fascinating history. Suddenly, Sealand is attracting an awful lot of attention, mainly because of a public yearning for wild tales of English eccentricity.

Built in 1942 by British engineer Guy Maunsell, it was one of a handful of his so-called Maunsell naval forts put up off the East Coast to stall a German invasion force which never arrived. Marines occupied the forts to pound enemy aircraft with 28lb anti-aircraft shells, destroying 22 planes, one submarine and 33 doodlebugs, a record which justified the cost of building them.

However, at the end of the war the forts were abandoned. Their purpose had been served and nobody knew what to do with them. For years, they lay empty and unloved, convenient rest stops for passing seagulls.

Then former soldier Roy Bates, Michael’s father, had a brainwave. Injured in fighting in Italy in 1944, Roy hadn’t adapted well to life in civvy street.

After literally hurling his bowler hat and briefcase into the sea near his home in Southend, Essex, he told his wife Joan, a former beauty queen he married in 1948 – six weeks after meeting her at a dance hall – he wanted to lead a more exciting life.

He bought a boat and adapted well to the rigours of North Sea fishing but found it difficult to make a good living. The couple also tried running a chain of butchers and an estate agents, but neither business satisfied Roy’s yearning for adventure.

While sailing off Essex, Roy became fascinated with the naval forts. When he learned that one, Knock John, was being used as a base for a pirate radio station he decided to set up his own.

With the help of some Southend musclemen, Roy turfed off Radio City and claimed Knock John as the base for his pirate station, Radio Essex, which began broadcasting on October 27, 1965.

As the listenership grew, advertisers started coming on board but the authorities took a dim view of his activities on Knock John Fort and successfully prosecuted him for broadcasting illegally.

Paying the £200 fine meant genuine hardship, so, undeterred, he decided to take over another fort, called Roughs Tower, which was further out in the sea and did not come under British jurisdiction.

The only problem was the pirate radio station Radio Caroline was using Roughs Tower as a base. But that issue was resolved when Roy and his mates arrived with iron bars on Christmas Day 1966. Unsurprisingly, the Radio Caroline crew agreed to share the platform.

However, the first chance he had, Roy took the opportunity to seize full control and ejected the competition.

“I was a 14-year-old lad at a private school in Wales at the time, but I loved visiting Roughs Tower in the holidays,” recalls Michael.

Roy certainly needed him to shore up their defences, especially when Radio Caroline unsuccessfully attempted to retake the tower. To deter them Michael tossed molotov cocktails down from above.

A later attempt was foiled when one of Michael’s petrol bombs started a fire on the invaders’ boat. His sister Penny, who was three years older, was also on hand to brandish weapons at any aggressor trying to land on what had now become the self-styled Principality of Sealand.

“One of the guns we had was taken from a German soldier my dad shot while he was fighting in Italy,” says Michael.

“The other was a 9mm Beretta Dad brought back from the war.”

There is a famous picture of Penny brandishing the weapons on Sealand, sending a clear signal to anyone else thinking of muscling in. Force would be met with force.

Other weapons in the Bates’ arsenal included a flamethrower and shotguns. Old gas canisters were strategically placed to drop on unwelcome vessels arriving with the intention of scaling the dangling rope ladder, the only way to get to the platform.

The defiance of 6ft 3in “hard as nails” Roy Bates was drawn to the attention of then Prime Minister Harold Wilson, who instructed the armed forces to switfly reclaim the fort.

But when Royal Marines arrived, Michael and his mother armed themselves with weapons and made it clear they would not leave without a fight. Rather than risk bloodshed, the Marines beat a retreat.

On another occasion, when the crew of a navigational installation boat came a bit too close and made cheeky remarks to a sunbathing Penny, then 19, Michael fired a couple of warning shots across their bow.

However, by then Penny was tired of holding the fort and wanted a more normal life back in Southend.

“My father was very demanding,” admits Michael. “I don’t blame my sister for not sticking with it. It was a strange kind of upbringing for sure.”

Penny told Dylan Taylor-Lehman, author of the new book, that life as a Princess was not all it was cracked up to be. Just getting to the principality was gruelling.

“It was hours and hours on the boat going chug, chug, chug. I used to sit there in a blanket and think, ‘For God’s sake will someone kill me please’. It was horrible, horrible.”

While Michael kept himself busy securing defences and fishing for lobsters over the side, Penny survived on rationed tin food and biscuits made from flour and distilled sea water. When the water tanks ran dry, they had to rely on rainfall.

In the late Sixties and Seventies, Sealand stamps, passports and coinage were produced to satisfy the curiosity of an increasing number of people.

There were also plans to go into business with some Germans who wanted to build a casino, a heliport and duty-free shops.

But while Roy and Joan were discussing the options in Salzburg, the crafty Germans teamed up with some Dutch allies and staged a coup. “I was on Sealand when I heard a helicopter approaching,” Michael recalls. “We had a big mast to stop helicopters landing but they came down on a winch and said my father had signed a contract with them to sign the fort over to them.

“I knew my dad would never do that. I kept telling them I needed to speak to my father. I was armed but I didn’t really know what to do.”

By now, effectively kidnapped, Michael was locked up in a room for several days. When he was finally let out there was a physical fight.

“They tied my ankles together and my wrists and I heard one say they were thinking of throwing me over the side.”

He was forced off the platform and dispatched back to land. But after regrouping with his father and friends, they vowed to take back Sealand and, appropriately, employed a helicopter pilot who had worked on James Bond films to assist them.

“When we took the fort back it was the biggest adrenaline rush in my life,” Michael says. “Sliding down a rope with a shotgun around your neck is very exciting.”

After he fired one shot in the air, order was restored and Sealand was back in the hands of the Prince of Sealand, Roy Bates, who died peacefully in 2012, aged 91.

After the death of his mother Joan in 2016, Sealand was pretty much run by Prince Michael, although Penny, now 70, takes a close interest. Michael’s grown-up sons Liam and James spend time on Sealand, along with caretakers to deter potential invaders.

Through the Sealand website, knighthoods can be purchased for £99.99 and dukedoms for £499. England cricketer Ben Stokes was given an honorary lordship, along with the singer Ed Sheeran. Founder Roy has become a revered figure among Sealand supporters who see him as a patriotic ex-serviceman who fearlessly realised his swashbuckling dream to create his own kingdom, complete with its own black, white and red flag.

When a journalist once asked him why he took over the fort, Roy replied: “I’ve asked myself that question many times and I’m damned if I know the answer. But it was a challenge, and I can’t resist a challenge.”

Michael spends most of his time in Southend with his Chinese wife Mei, who served in the Chinese army. Last year he faced the rather more pleasurable challenge of judging a beauty pageant in China, just one of the many perks of being a Prince.

“Life is a lot quieter now but we’ll never give up Sealand. You never know what will happen but we’re ready for anything,” he says with a laugh. If the movie version of Sealand is made, the scriptwriters certainly won’t be short of material.

#i have this book but havent read it yet im excited that there might be anything new in it!! #anyway i dont notice any fact errors in this article which is (rare) nice!! #sealand

[chicagocityfclanspromoblog]

Percival ‘Percy’ McCormick III → Charlie Cox → Dhole

→ Basic Information

Age: 228

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Straight

Born or Made: Born

Birthday: January 22nd

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Religion: Jewish

→ His Personality Percy has very rarely failed in his life. This is not necessarily because of his skills or brains, but mainly his family’s money. He is a creative and often idealistic person, who is focused on pushing the envelope to see what else is out there. He is confident and charming, and has managed to make most things he creates work. One thing that isn’t working is his idea of a joint pack. It began in the 1930s as a way to bring people to Chicago and keep themselves above boat during the Depression. It worked for a while, but in the last 20 years has begun to spiral. Violence and hatred have gotten to a boiling point and the pressure only rises with new members moving in every month. He still thinks it is working and an idea worth fighting for, however even he is feeling the cracks. Percy has become an insomniac and his emotions are so high strung that his eyes frequently flip back and forth between white and his typical brown. He has taken to carrying sunglasses to hide his effect from those in and outside of his pack.

He has recently decided, under Liz’s recommendation, that he needs to destress his life. Percy gets self-confidence and pride from his work, so slowing down feels as though he is failing more. It has allowed him to attempt to fix his relationship with his wife. He is absent at best and neglectful at worst when it comes to Rose, and he realized he had started to become exactly like his father. He wants kids and he wants his kids to see two people in love raising them. Percy has a habit of thinking about those who benefit from all his actions, rather than those who must suffer with the other side. He is willing to sacrifice the few for the many and even if it hurts others, may refuse to give up what he wants.

→ His Personal Facts

Occupation: Head of the Triumvirate and Owner of WJDF station, The Chicago Herald, McCormick Media, and a conglomerate of publications.

Scars: None

Tattoos: Up to Player

Two Likes: Sunglasses and Skyscrapers

Two Dislikes: Close minded people and Conspiracy Theorists

Two Fears: Bankruptcy and People thinking he’s fraud

Two Hobbies: Genealogy and Proofreading

Three Positive Traits: Idealistic, Charming, Confident

Three Negative Traits: Assertive, Proud, Unyielding

→ His Connections

Parent Names:

Percival McCormick II (Father): Percival II built the media in Chicago from the ground up. He initially ran the telegraph and telegram stations out of Chicago and eventually created The Chicago Herald and the radio station. These catered to humans, but also supernaturals. There were special channels to broadcast supernatural news and it created the foundation for other supernaturals to create content and information for themselves. Creating an empire so expansive was not without cost. Percival II was rarely home and treated his wife and son as merely objects set out to impress. It left him with a constant need to prove to his father that he was just as clever as he was, even in death. Percy III created the first television station and has expanded into the internet and digital sphere as time has gone on.

Pamela McCormick (Mother): Pamela was not frequently involved with Percy. She was there for the worst moments to comfort him, but she was dealing with her own issues and didn’t have the time to help both. She was never cruel and often was willing to listen and entertain his imaginative ideas.

Sibling Names:

None

Children Names:

None

Romantic Connections:

Rose McCormick (Wife): Percy is admittedly a horrible husband. He’d like to blame it on the way he was raised, but even he knows he could stop that cycle whenever he wants. Rose is smart and fierce, but didn’t fully know what she was getting into when marrying him. He needed someone to stand by his side and have no desire to get involved in his life. He’d provide for whatever she wanted as long as she’d keep everything in their marriage private and eventually have a kid with him. It’s been a decade since they’ve been married, and they’ve kept up their deal. She has her own bedroom and they only typically see each other over dinner. Rose hates him and he understands why. Recently, Percy has begun to think being open with his wife and mate may calm him down more. He wants to start a real relationship with Rose, and is attempting to show that to her. She is becoming more receptive though she doubts him.

Platonic Connections:

Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Snow (Best Friend): Percy knows Liz better than anyone else. Liz is the only one who has truly seen him at his most vulnerable. They understand each other and the choices they make and support one another fully. It’s hard not to fall in love with someone who knows you well, and Percy was not immune to this. However, he knew it would never work. He found a dhole shifter who would agree to what he wanted from a marriage and tried to block out any thoughts of Liz, unsuccessfully. He still is much more emotionally connected with Liz and confides in her, rather than in Rose.

Simon Brodeur (Packmate): Percy has over 90,000 nimbles in his care and would be lying if he said he knew all of them by heart. However, Simon has recently popped up on his rader and Percy has been keeping a worrisome eye on him. Percy has never had a bad experience with Simon but when Simon’s mate was obviously killed by a hunter, Simon had blacked out causing a mess for Percy. Simon had gone into a frenzy and changed a few humans. Percy and Liz were able to cover it up and Simon was released punishment free but Percy is unsure what his next step should be and whether to go after the hunters who did this.

Austin Semler (Packmate): Percy is familiar with Austin work and the work of Austin parents. Percy knows potential when he sees it and Austin is bursting with potential but it is clear to Percy that Austin isn’t ready yet.

Isla Johns (Packmate): Isla acts as the speaker for the prey members of their clan and is also a member of the Triumvirate. Percy and Isla are nearly never on the same page making Liz their referee on larger impact topics. They can never have a strong relationship while he knows what she thinks of him and how he runs the clan. It would both him more, if he wasn’t as confident that Liz saw his vision and wanted it to succeed.

Anton Kowalski (Unsure): Anton has not been a part of his clan for long but Percy isn’t blind to how Anton avoids him in comparison to the way he flocks to everyone else. While Anton isn’t the first coywolf that Percy has met, he is one of the first shifters to transition into Chicago in decades from a single shift nimble pack; meaning their pack one had one type of nimble species. He’s been keeping an eye on Anton and plans on giving him a proper introduction soon.

Clarisse ‘Clara’ Fields (Clan Leader): Percy and Clara have known one another since they were kids. While Asa and Sam preferred leaving him in the dust, Clara was always a bit more willing to be friendly. He was glad when she took over as head of the Heavies and they often end up on the same side in council meetings.

Chris Bialar (Clan Leader): Chris stated once that he would be neutral when it came to nimble affairs and Percy has done the same for him. Percy personally doesn’t care about the local cat clan and only communicates at council meetings with them. Percy, however, has recently heard rumors about Chris and Ellis discussing a supernatural schooling system and wants in on the project.

Ellis Watts (Clan Leader): Percy has little interactions with the jackal clan and stands neutral when it comes to Ellis. Percy, however, has recently heard rumors about Chris and Ellis discussing a supernatural schooling system and wants in on the project.

Nick Hamelin (Clan Leader): Nick has been around for a while and was friends with Percy’s father. This made things a little easier when it was Percy’s time to take over. Nick and Percy are the closet of allies and their clans often work together to gather information. Percy’s people teach the rats reporting and/or journalistic investigating skills in exchanging for information and leads.

Isaac Baker (Clan Leader): Percy rarely has to deal with the wolves. When he does he typically sends Isla to discuss any incidents they come across with the wolves. Isaac certainly brings more spontaneity to the votes and certainly makes council meetings more interesting.

Scorpius Getta (Clan Leader): Percy is indifferent about Getta and the vampire community as a whole. The only time they communicate is at council meetings.

Sirius Cobic (Clan Leader): Sirius and Percy have come to an understanding as the police and media to keep the people of Chicago from finding out that over 1/3rd of their population is composed of supernatural beings. Their people work closely together but Percy personally deals with Sirius each time as a sign of respect and good faith.

Hostile Connections:

Sam Thompson (Childhood Bully): Sam and Asa used to bully Percy as a child. They would bring him into the middle of the woods, shift and then run. He frequently got lost, and only found his way back by accident, or by Clara helping him. He thinks Sam believing he could be the head of the Heavies is laughable, and ignores any contact that Sam tries to make with him.

Asa Fields (Childhood Bully): Sam and Asa used to bully Percy as a child. They would bring him into the middle of the woods, shift and then run. He frequently got lost, and only found his way back by accident, or by Clara helping him. Asa disappeared about a hundred years ago, which Percy was grateful for. Unfortunately he’s returned and apparently wants to make things right within his pack.

Pets:

None

→ History (paragraph(s) on background)

→ The Present (paragraph(s) on how the character connects to the plot)

→ Available Gif Hunts (we do not own these)

Charlie Cox (Percival “Percy” McCormick III) [1][2][3][4]

#charlie cox #Supernautral RPG #FANTASY RP #original lsrpg #OC RPG

[theliberaltony]

via Politics – FiveThirtyEight

The recent protests against police brutality are some of the largest and most widespread in American history. An estimated 15 million to 26 million Americans have taken to the streets to protest police violence and advocate for Black lives.

The remarkable size and scope of these demonstrations has translated into real policy gains, too. Dozens of state and local police reforms have been enacted since the protests started. And at the federal level, President Trump signed an executive order that outlines his administration’s priorities for police reform, including creating a national database that catalogues police misconduct. The House of Representatives passed an even more ambitious piece of legislation that proposes a series of reforms, like tying federal funding to bans on chokeholds and setting up a task force to address excessive police force, but the GOP-controlled Senate hasn’t taken it up.

Arguably, though, the protests’ impact on public opinion has been even more immediate and wide-ranging. Unfavorable views of the police, acknowledgement of widespread discrimination against African Americans and support for Black Lives Matter all jumped up by at least 10 percentage points, according to tracking polls conducted shortly before and after the protests by both Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape and Civiqs.

These changes in public opinion are being driven in large part by white Americans, who for years have been much less likely than Black Americans to acknowledge that racial inequality remains a real problem. Since the first wave of large-scale Black Lives Matter protests in 2014, white Americans’ racial attitudes have gradually become more liberalized while Black Americans’ views have remained relatively steady.

Trump’s many offensive statements may be contributing to this trend, as they seem to be driving Democrats, particularly white Democrats, to adopt more liberal views on race in response. That’s one reason so many white Democrats showed up at the most recent protests.

But the protests’ impact on public opinion appears to be fading — particularly among white Americans, as you can see in the chart below. Black Americans’ opinions have stayed much steadier, as they have in the past.

Drawing on data from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape’s weekly tracking surveys, I found that unfavorable views of the police are trending back down toward their pre-protest levels among white Americans and have dipped among Black Americans. White respondents are also becoming somewhat less likely to say that African Americans face “a lot” or “a great deal” of discrimination, though those numbers remain higher than they were before before George Floyd was killed in May. Black Americans’ views on the discrimination they face have remained essentially unchanged.

The same patterns are evident in tracking surveys from Civiqs and YouGov/The Economist. In the Civiqs data, white respondents’ net support (support minus opposition) for the Black Lives Matter movement surged from -4 shortly before the protests to +10 in early June, but has since dropped to 6 points underwater. Meanwhile, Black Americans’ net support went from +76 in early May to +85 in early June and has remained within a point of that mark ever since. And in the YouGov/The Economist surveys, the share of white Americans who said racism is a big problem decreased from 45 percent in June to 33 percent when the question was last asked in early August. Three-quarters of Black Americans, on the other hand, said racism was a big problem in both surveys.

Why, then, do white Americans’ views on racism and the police seem to be returning to their baseline, but Black Americans’ views remain steady? Well, as media attention turns away from the protests, it may simply be easier for white people to forget about the issue, while the stakes were always greater for Black Americans.

In an analysis of closed captioning data of cable news broadcasts from the TV News Archive,1 we found a huge spike in the number of clips that mentioned “racism” or “Black Lives Matter” as the protests raged during the first two weeks of June. But, as you can see in the chart below, the amount of attention cable news paid to racism and the Black Lives Matter movement has dropped as we’ve moved farther away from peak protest activity. (Coverage of these two issues is still higher than it was prior to Floyd’s death, however.)2

This surge and decline in media attention clearly corresponds to changes in public opinion among white Americans, and it’s possible that some of the historic gains we’ve seen in white views of the Black Lives Matter movement might not last.

This drop is not surprising, since we’ve seen it before in how public opinion changes on school shootings, for example. Because media attention on even the most high-profile mass shootings tends to be fleeting, so are these shootings’ effects on public opinion. And now, white Americans’ opinion of the Black Lives Matter movement may be following the same trajectory. That’s driving a decline in overall public support even as Black Americans continue to back the movement at very high rates.

This decline in public opinion is consistent with a long line of political science research that tells us that the effects of events on public opinion tend to last only for as long as they are at the forefront of the country’s — or, in this case, one group’s — collective consciousness. That also means that without prolonged activism and sustained media attention, the impact of this year’s protests on white public opinion could evaporate entirely.

#IFTTT #Politics – FiveThirtyEight #politics #538 #Michael Tesler

[butgilinsky]

eight months ago // sm

warning; drinking, cursing, smoking

summary; shawn gets drunk and calls y/n eight months after their breakup. 

i was listening to tequila by dan + shay, and this came out of it. 

shawn shot back another ounce of tequila, smiling a wide, drunk smile at brian who was still unsure of this plan. when shawn brought up the idea of going out tonight, brian knew what he was trying to do. brian knew he would come out and get plastered, and think about calling y/n. 

“i still remember the first time i saw her.” shawn smiled brightly while motioning the bartender to get him another shot. although he was deep into the night and had had too many drinks, he didn’t think he could stop now. 

“i know you do mate-”

“she was wearing a shirt that was a cranberry-ish color.” he cut his friend off, wanting to reminisce on the night for a moment. “it was one of her sorority shirts. she has so many of those things.” he laughed to himself, remembering the section of her closet that held all of her shirts from her sorority. 

“she wore the same exact shirt the first time i got high with her.” he smiled softly at the memory, remembering how much he hated it, but was okay since he was with her. 

~ 

“shawn!” the girl tried to warn him, and couldn’t help but laugh as shawn coughed harder than he had ever coughed before. he clutched his chest while the girl next to him in the drivers seat giggled to herself. “that was a big hit.” she wiggled her eyebrows at him and he shook his head. 

“i feel it in my chest.” he coughed again, making the girls head fly back as she let out a loud laugh. 

“watch.” she leaned forward to take the joint from his fingertips and pressed it against her lips. she inhaled deeply for a few seconds, removing the joint from her lips as she continued to inhale it, blowing out smoke moments later. 

she repeated the action a few times before shawn leaned forward to press his lips firmly against hers. his hands grabbed at her hips, which made her giggle softly. eventually she pushed the boy’s chest softly and disconnected their lips. she pressed the white cylinder against her lips again, and this time blew the smoke into shawn’s face. 

“i’ve never found smoking attractive until this very moment.” he spoke aloud, not thinking twice before the words left his mouth. 

“thanks shawny boy.” she smiled and kissed the boy again. this time when she pulled away from him, she opened the car door and stepped out. 

she walked to the edge of the cliff they were parked on, and looked out at the city of toronto. she was about to take another hit when she felt the boy standing beside her. “do you want to try it again?” she asked softly, her eyes looking up at him almost hypnotizing him. 

he nodded slowly, scared to cough up a lung but interested in the substance. 

needless to say, shawn and y/n got high and stayed atop of that cliff for a while. 

~

“i was such a pussy.” he mumbled with a small laugh. 

“maybe we should go home shawn-”

“im gonna call her.” he stood up at the bar, downing the shot in front of him and practically slamming the glass down on the bar. he told the bartender that he wanted to close out and pulled his phone out of his pocket, looking for her number. 

“shawn i don’t think that’s a good idea-”

“what do you know?” the boy yelled at his friend for what felt like the tenth time tonight, making brian sigh in defeat. 

“shawn she’s not going to answer-”

“she’ll answer.” shawn cut him off again, having full faith in the girl. 

shawn thanked the bartender when he brought him his check and card. he scribbled the tip and his signature on the piece of paper, swiping his card and shoving it in his wallet quickly before pressing the call button he had geared up on his phone. 

he walked out of the bar, brian hot on his tails. phone pressed to his ear and bottom lip between his teeth as he waited for the rings to turn into an answer. after the first call went to voicemail, he felt his heart drop slightly before he had a moment of realization and checked the time. 

1:45 am

he figured the time was the reason she didn’t answer and decided to call again. this time the call only ran about three times before the ringing stopped and he heard noises coming from the other end. 

“are you okay?” was the first thing she said, making his chest ache slightly. 

“uh, yeah im okay i just-”

“shawn are you drunk?” she already knew the answer to her question. his slurring and late night call giving it away almost immediately. 

“only a little bit but-”

“is brian there?” she was getting slightly concerned, feeling her chest grow heavier as she worried about the boy’s safety. 

“yeah he is.” he looked up at his friend who furrowed his eyebrows at the mention of him. 

“did brian drink?” he couldn’t help but smile slightly when he realized that she was truly concerned. she always asked the same set of questions when shawn would go out, not wanting him to be in a car with anybody who had been drinking, behind the wheel. 

“a little but he’s okay-” he wasn’t sure why he tried to stop her. he knew that she was going to come anyway. 

“where are you shawn?” he could hear her moving now, assuming she was getting out of bed, which she was. 

she was getting out of bed and reached for her glasses beside her bed. she threw the gold frames on quickly before throwing on a quick outfit consisting of a pair of leggings and an old t shirt. 

“the bar that i took you to after our third date.” he remembered another moment the two of them shared, bringing a large smile to his face. 

she knew exactly which bar he was talking about. it was his favorite bar. 

“i’ll be there in ten minutes. don’t do anything stupid.” he nodded once, even though she couldn’t see it, but frowned when he heard the beeps that signaled she had hung up. 

“she’s coming isn’t she?” brian asked, which made shawn nod with a large smile. “i wouldn’t smile just yet, loverboy. there’s a 90% chance that she’s going to yell at you.” he remarked, making shawn roll his eyes. 

“i’d rather have her yell at me than not be next to me at all.” 

he stood on the street, hoping to see her car pull up soon. he shifted his weight between the two of his feet, hands shoved in his jean pockets as he nervously bit his lip. 

when he saw the familiar car turn the corner, he smiled widely as she stopped right in front of him. he got in the front seat while brian got in the back. 

“hi baby-”

“shawn.” she cut him off, peeling away from the bar as fast as she could. “we broke up eight months ago.” she reminded him, making his smile drop. 

“i know but-”

“why are you at a bar at 2 am shawn? you’re a public figure shawn you can’t be drunk in public like this.” she rambled off reasons why she was worried for him, making brian give him an ‘i told you so’ expression. 

“i know i know i just- needed to cope i guess. i needed to get you out of my head but you won’t get out!” his voice got louder with every word, and now he was leaning back in his chair and staring at the roof of her car. 

“well i’m sorry that it’s hard for you to forget about a relationship that was over two years long, but i’m not the one who wrecked everything.” she said plainly, making shawn recall all the times he threw a wrench in their relationship. 

“i’m so sorry y/n. i-” 

“can we talk about this when i drop off brian?” she looked at the boy for a minute, realizing that he was truly hurting from all of this. 

he nodded softly, knowing that she never liked details of their relationship to be broadcasted to the whole world. she was a private person when it came to her relationship, and although she struggled with that while dating shawn, he did his best to hide details of their relationship. 

the ride was silent until she pulled in front of brian’s apartment building, not too far from shawns. 

“bye y/n, thank you.”

“bye bri.” she said softly. brian patted shawn’s shoulder and told him to call if he needed anything before getting out of the car. 

the girl waited for him to walk into the building before driving off. shawn didn’t say anything, waiting for her to be ready to have this conversation.

“why did you call me?” she asked after a few seconds of silence. 

“i just miss you, and i think that i was wrong for leaving. no, i know i was wrong for leaving.” he convinced himself that walking out eight months ago was a bad decision on his part. he knew what he wanted, even if it came a little late. 

“what about the time you told me you would be able to forget about me so easily? or the time you called me at 2 am, at a bar, kinda like tonight, but you told me that you only think of me when you drink tequila? what about that time shawn?” she was screaming now, upset that he wouldn’t let her go. “you can’t keep doing this shawn.” she was shaking her head now, upset over all of it. 

“i love you, y/n. i know that for a fact. and i know that i miss being with you-”

“it’s ridiculous that you get to dictate this whole relationship. you called almost all of the shots and for the most part, i was okay with it. i followed your lead. but it isn’t fucking fair that you got to break up with me after two years of everything you could’ve asked for, shawn. just two years thrown away because of a career i supported from the beginning. it’s not far that you get to write songs about me and i have to listen to them on the radio even after you left me! i have to see you on my tv and on billboards all over the city. i can’t even leave home without seeing you anymore! and then you do shit like this, where you go out and you get shit faced and call me to tell me how much you love me or how much you miss me and its just, its not fair!” she was screaming, but she couldn’t help it. shawn was nodding throughout her speech, agreeing with everything she said. 

“its not fair. i’m sorry. i’ve been a prick, and it’s not fair to you.” she was slightly surprised that he agreed to her confession. 

“it’s not fair that you get to end things and the second i’m starting to be okay, you decide you want things the way they were a year ago. you threw it all away shawn and now you want it back.” she looked at him for a split second to see that he was looking straight ahead at the city life. 

“it’s shitty of me to do all of this, which is why i don’t expect anything. i want to call you every second of the day, but i only get the courage when im drunk. i’m too scared sober. for fucks sake y/n, i smoked weed the other day to feel close to you!” the girl let a soft smile tug at her lips, knowing how much the boy didn’t like being high. that’s what she used to do for fun and although she still indulges in the act, she didn’t do it as much as she had when she was dating shawn for the same reason. it made her feel too close to him, and that was hard for her to handle. 

“you don’t function very well when you’re high.” she stated a fact that he was well aware of, making him laugh softly. 

“i don’t function very well when i’m not with you.” he looked at the girl, shooting her a sincere look of hurt. 

“shawn-”

“please hear me out-” he cut himself off when she passed the turn she always took towards his house. he smiled widely and she rolled her eyes quickly. 

“if you don’t make it worth it i’ll turn around.” she cut off his happy thoughts, earning a nod. 

“i love you. and i always have. i thought ending things would be easier for the two of us since it was hard for us to separate. i thought that we got too attached and i thought i didn’t need that. i thought being alone would work, and i was wrong. i need you, i want you. i need you in my life, and i want you beside me at the end of every night. coming home to an empty house everyday is the worst feeling in the world because i know that if i hadn’t fucked up eight months ago, that you’d be there waiting for me. i’m so sorry.” by the time he had finished his speech, she was in his driveway. a wave of anxiety his him as he felt his chest cave in, assuming that his time to talk to her was over. 

she unbuckled her seat belt and stared at the house in front of her. she took a deep breath and held it for a while, before nodding and blowing out the air, as if she was speaking to herself the entire time. 

she opened the door, got out of the car and shut it before shawn could even open his. she walked to the front of the car and held her arms out as if asking if he was planning on getting out of the car. 

he smiled widely at the girl who smiled softly back, and got out of the car. he stumbled a little on his way over to her, but she just walked to the front door and looked for the bright blue key that she had still on her keychain. he had gotten her the key about three months after he moved in, gifting it to her for their anniversary. he told her that he wanted her to move in as much as she could without being uncomfortable. he knew that she liked the idea of keeping her apartment incase something happened, which turned out to be a good thing eight months ago. 

she kicked the door open and grabbed shawn’s hand to help him into the house. 

“this doesn’t mean we’re together.” she said, partially to remind herself that she couldn’t jump back in as if the past eight months didnt happen. he nodded, knowing that he would have to work her. the two walked into the house, locking the car and the front door behind them. 

she smiled as she saw all of their pictures still on the walls, proving to her that he didn’t want to get rid of her. she walked into the bedroom and let shawn fall on his back, noticing that everything she bought for him was still on his dresser and bedside table as if his room was a museum of things she bought him. 

“sit up mendes.” she pulled on his hands, getting him to sit up as she unbuttoned his shirt for him. he sent her a drunken smirk, making her laugh softly before pushing his chest softly. 

he placed his hands on her hips as she continued to unbutton his shirt, and gripped them tightly. 

“don’t push it.” she whispered as she pushed the material down his shoulders. he nodded, not wanting to push her more than he already was. 

“can you take your own pants off?” she asked with slight humor laced within her words. he nodded as he tried to unbutton his skinny jeans. she watched in amusement as he struggled to get the material off of his thick thighs, finally peeling them off. 

she grabbed his hand and brought him to his feet. “lets go shower and brush your teeth rockstar.” he groaned loudly, making her laugh slightly as they walked into his bathroom. 

she turned the shower on to shawn’s preferred temperature and opened the door for him, laughing as he stripped off his boxers and smirked at her. “you can join-”

“no drunky, now get in.” he rolled his eyes but smiled as he pressed a kiss to her forehead before walking into her room

she put on music for him to hum along to as she went back into his room and picked up stray pieces of clothing that had been thrown around the floor. she set aside a clean pair of boxers for him when he got out of the shower. when she got everything off of the bedroom floor, she walked into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. 

while that was brewing, she walked back in the bathroom to see shawn leaning against the counter with a towel wrapped around his waist. she presented him a clean pair of underwear that he slipped on. she pulled a vanity stool out for him to sit on, that she had originally bought for her to do her makeup in the mornings, but it was also useful for things like this. 

he sat down while she reached for his toothbrush, smiling at the sight of her own still sitting in the tall cup. she wet the brush, put toothpaste on it and wet it one more time before handing it to shawn and ruffling his hair as if he was a child. 

he rolled his eyes as he started to brush his teeth slowly. she walked back into the kitchen and poured some of the brewed coffee into a couple of mugs. she stared at the fridge for a second before silently hoping that there was creamer in there. 

sure enough, she opened the door and saw a brand new, unopened, bottle of the exact creamer she used every morning. shawn hadn’t purposefully bought things that she ate, but this last trip to the grocery store has ended him having multiple things that he was used to buying for her. he didn’t realize the mishap until he got home and was unloading the bags, finding a handful of things that he didn’t need.

she poured a decent amount of creamer into one mug, while leaving the other with plain, black coffee. she walked into the bathroom and smiled as shawn threw his head back and screwed his eyes shut at the sight of coffee. 

“i love you so much.” he mumbled before taking a sip of the coffee. he almost hadn’t realized he said it, but made no effort to subtract the statement.

“i love you too, shawn.” his eyes widened slightly as he stared at the girl, unsure if she had actually just said that. she nodded slowly and kissed the top of his head to let him know that he was in fact, not dreaming. 

she walked out of the bathroom and finally took her shoes off, kicking them next to the closet. she put the coffee on the bedside table on her side of the bed. 

she took her leggings off and set them on a chair in the corner of the room before crawling into the large bed, and slipping underneath the sheets. she sat up straight and turned the tv on, trying to find something decent to watch. finding a rerun of the new saturday night live, she selected it and continued to drink the coffee as shawn came out of the bathroom for a second, only to disappear into the rest of the house. she heard him place his mug in the sink and watched as the lights were shut off before he walked into the room, shutting the door behind him. 

he pulled the sheets back and crawled into the large bed, but crawled all the way over to the girl and laid down next to her. he grabbed the leg closest to him and wrapped it between his large legs before laying his head in her lap. she smiled to herself while running her fingers through his hair, making sure that his nails were dancing across the top of his head, a feeling he never stopped missing. 

she set the cup of unfinished coffee on the bedside table once again and slid down the bed so she was face to face with him. 

she put a hand on his cheek, making him smile as he turned his head further into her palm. 

“you’re probably going to be confused in the morning, and might not remember why i’m here at first, but i love you. and i have this entire time. i just wish you would’ve called eight months ago.” she pressed her lips to his, catching him by surprise. 

he smiled widely as she pulled back and pressed her lips to his forehead. 

“sleep tight shawny. i’ll be here when you wake up.” with that, shawn felt himself drift off peacefully. 

shawn woke up with a bright smile on his face, and he remembered every bit of the night before. 

#shawn mendes #Shawn Mendes Imagine #shawn #shawn mendes x reader #mendes #imagine #imagines #shawn peter raul mendes

[hbarfxkmwel-blog]

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[supastareden]

Inside the Sadness Plaguing K-Pop

by NATALIE FINN | Thu., Mar. 29, 2018 3:07 PM [X]

Nothing cheers you up, lifts you up, brings you life quite like pop music. Even when it's Harry Styles or Adeleor Sam Smith or BTS achingly belting their despair into that cold, lonely night...songs that make you feel all the feelings are still songs that are taking you to new heights. There's nothing quite like a tune that hurts so good.

As we wallow, so do we celebrate.

In South Korea, the genre is known as K-Pop—a catchy moniker established in the 1990s that's starting to catch fire around the globe—and all the hallmarks of the superstars of the Western world are present and accounted for: Charismatic boy bands, polished pop princesses, infectious chart-topping singles, carefully crafted images and tender-aged men and women who've inspired a level of fanaticism reserved for...well, almost no one besides pop stars these days.

Music is the universal language, after all.

But for the second time in four months, the K-pop world is in mourning, this time following the sudden death on March 25 of 100% singer Seo Minwoo. He was 33.

The actor and boyband heartthrob reportedly suffered cardiac arrest; an official cause of death has not yet been announced.

TOP Media founder Andy Lee, the singer turned K-pop impresario who's behind the groups 100%, Teen Top, Shinhwa and UP10TION, expressed his condolences in a statement online, calling Seo a leader known for his tenderness and sincerity.

While American audiences may still be largely in the dark when it comes to the ins and outs of K-pop and its artists, our mainstream exposure fairly limited to PSY's "Gangnam Style" and, more recently, the emergence of BTS on the world stage, fans took to social media to share exactly what Seo meant to them.

"Seo Minwoo is my life mentor. He gave up everything for 100% and perfection. Words are not enough to describe how great of a person he is. How lovely, caring and talented he is. Seo Minwoo, my king... I love you," wrote Haya on Twitter.

She continued, "Seo Minwoo gave up is acting career for 100%. Fought Top Media over and over again (f*ck you tm) to keep 100% together. Everything he did he put his absolute everything in. He openly supported LGBTQ, did vlives often to talk with perfection about their concerns."

Haya's current pinned tweet is from Dec. 24, 2015: "If 100% were a religion, I'd build them a church and dedicate my whole life and soul to them."

While that's a lot, it's indicative of the level of devotion that some K-pop stars have awoken in their fans.

A number of people tweeted that upcoming "selca days"—specific days each month on which fans post selfies with their favorite idols—should be canceled out of respect for Minwoo. 100%'s fandom is called Perfection.

And SHINee World knows what they're going through.

On Dec. 18, 2017, SHINee singer Kim Jong-hyun (known as Jonghyun) committed suicide, baffling fans and even fellow K-pop stars who figured the 27-year-old was on top of the world.

"It was so shocking, because we had seen him so often at events," BTS' RM told Billboard last month. He was so successful."

"My Poet My Artist My Jonghyun I miss you," tweeted w today. In fact, there are so many newly posted photos and video clips of the young man on Twitter that, aside from the occasional mournful missive like this one, you'd be forgiven for not knowing that he's gone.

The account Jonghyun On This Day is also doing its part to keep his memory alive.

But Jonghyun's death—authorities found charred coal briquettes in a frying pan on the stove, which produced carbon monoxide—obviously rattled the music world at large on multiple levels. In addition to the personal loss felt alike by loved ones and fans who felt they knew him, mental health is not an issue that tends to get much media attention in South Korea—or in Asia overall.

"To the South Korean government: Let #Jonghyun be the light in death that he was in life," tweeted Xavier on Dec. 18. "Recognize that suicide is an epidemic in South Korea and takes strides to ending the negative stigmas around mental health and to combat this issue. Don't let Jonghyun be another statistic."

A fan started a Change.org petition demanding that entertainment companies set up mental health support systems for their artists. More than 430,000 people have signed.

After some discussion, his family agreed to make public the suicide note the singer and songwriter, who made his solo debut in 2015 with the well-received album Base, left behind. His friend and Dear Cloud singer Jang Hee-yeon, known as Nine9, posted it on her Instagram. She said she'd obtained the note two weeks before Jonghyun's death and was asked to publish it if he "disappeared from the world."

"I'm broken from the inside," the note read. "The depression that has slowly eaten away at me has finally consumed me, and I couldn't beat it."

It concluded, "The life of fame was not for me. They say it's hard to bump up against the world and become famous. Why did I choose this life? It's a funny thing. It's a miracle that I lasted this long...

"What else is there to say? Just tell me I did well. Tell me that this is enough. Tell me I worked hard. Even if you can't smile, please don't blame me as you send me off. Well done. You've really worked hard. Goodbye."

In a sign that Jonghyun's death could help bring about positive change in the way mental health and depression are publicly discussed, the circumstances of his death continue to be a topic of conversation—one that Seo Minwoo's passing, no matter what the cause, only brings to mind all over again.

Just today a fan tweeted, "Nine said on the last interview Jonghyun once told her that she brings comfort to him. She noticed his condition got worse after blue night and when he gave her the letter she told his family right away, tried to save him, to prevent the worst from happening...

"I really believe everyone around him knew about his condition and tried their best to help him. that's why it hurts so much, that even though he got help he still wanted to leave."

In an interview with Billboard last month, members of BTS said that they wanted to keep the discussion about mental health going.

"I really want to say that everyone in the world is lonely and everyone is sad," Suga, 25, said, "and if we know that everyone is suffering and lonely, I hope we can create an environment where we can ask for help, and say things are hard when they're hard, and say that we miss someone when we miss them."

Bucking national mores and the pressure to be upbeat or put up an artificially glossy front all the time, Jonghyun, who also hosted the long-running music radio program Blue Night, had spoken out publicly about his battle with depression—much like young American stars such as Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Zayn Malikand Keshahave been widely applauded for doing these days.

His last Blue Night broadcast was in March 2017 after three years behind the mic. He admitted to Esquire Korea that he didn't like traveling and considered himself a homebody—and the close confines of a radio studio, just him alone with some music, had been a perfect fit.

"It may be that I came running to radio in order to escape," he reflected to the magazine, per an English translation. "I don't really like going outside. And I don't really like having to meet a lot of people. I'm also afraid of trying new things. The radio now felt like my own personal space. It had become an escape hatch for me to greet new things without feeling awkward."

Jonghyun, who cited personal matters as the reason he was leaving the radio show, said it had become important to him to share his metaphorical scars with the world.

"I'm fundamentally a pessimistic person," he said. "Ever since I was little I showed a lot of depressive feelings, and it's the same in the present. But I don't think I can keep living my life sustaining those depressive feelings forever. You might be able to go through the early-to-mid-part of your life with that kind of melancholy. But if you want to grow, you can only survive if you throw those feelings away.

"Unless you want to get trapped within yourself and die, you have to grow no matter how much it hurts—but if you stop because you're afraid, in the end it's inevitable that you'd remain in an immature state of mind. I chose the path to transform myself. To reveal myself to the public. To attempt to make my thoughts understood. I have to make people aware that this is the kind of person I am, and I can only be on the defensive if I know that they know."

The translator noted that she avoided using the word "depression," because Jonghyun didn't use what amounted to that word specifically. Even in talking about it, those feelings of sadness remained a beast with no name.

When Jonghyun died, his SHINee band mates and members of the group Super Junior (both groups under the S.M. Entertainment umbrella), all clad in black, carried his coffin from Asan Medical Center in Seoul to a waiting vehicle. His sister headed the procession, carrying a photo of her late brother.

The funeral was private, for friends and family only, but hundreds of people lined up to see the coffin leave the hospital.

A statement from S.M. Entertainment read in part (according to Rolling Stone), "The deep sorrow cannot be compared to ones of his family who had to let go of their loving son and brother but the employees and artists of SM Entertainment, also in deep shock and sorrow, are offering condolences. Jonghyun was the best artist who loved music more than anyone and always worked hard for his performance. We ask you to refrain from making rumors or assumptions based on reports in respect of his family who are in deep sorrow from the sudden news. As his family wished, his funeral will be carried out in the quietest manner with his family members and co-workers."

But Jonghyun's death was hardly the first time the punishing pace of the K-pop machine had come under fire.

In addition to being expected to tour and crank out albums, sometimes in multiple languages (SHINee had also recorded in Japanese), the artists often appear on a never-ending stream of competition TV series in addition to doing talk shows, photo shoots and public appearances to keep the fans both sated and hungry for more.

But despite the seeming glut of artists and groups to remember (there are so manyselca days), truly breaking through as a star remains an elusive concept—and standing out in South Korea's youth-obsessed culture can feel like an insurmountable challenge.

And then there's the appearance factor. "If a girl has a bad face and a good body, the problem can be fixed with plastic surgery," Kim Min-seok, a former trainer with YG Entertainment (considered along with S.M. and JYP as the "Big Three" agencies), told Broadly. in 2016.

Moreover, the litany of groups also tend to be carefully managed, meticulously packaged pop confections, with a management company pulling the strings behind the scenes. Those who hope to make it big are expected to dedicate their lives to that goal, and that's basically what signing a contract entails.

In January 2015, NBC News cited a survey of South Korean pre-teens: When asked about career aspirations, 21 percent said they wanted to be K-pop stars.

"I am thinking only one thing—our song keeps being played," 20-year-old Sowon, a member of the girl group GFriend, which had an international hit at the time with their debut single "Glass Bead," told NBC News. "I hope to perform anywhere, anytime, even if I can't sleep or I am tired."

On Feb. 24, 2015, aspiring K-pop star Ahn So Jin died after falling 10 stories from an apartment building, with police concluding that her death was a suicide. The 22-year-old had made a splash the previous year after making it to the finals of The Kara Project—a competition show held to find girl group Kara a new member after two girls had left.

"It has to be this, or nothing," Sojin said on the show's premiere. "I can't miss this." She had been a K-pop trainee with Kara manager DSP Media for five years but her contract had reportedly ended the month before her death.

Kara disbanded for good in January 2016.

ng Ha-Jin, a 23-year-old university student who had once been a trainee with S.M. Entertainment after winning a talent competition, told NBC News in 2015 that she wasn't allowed to have a cell phone while in the program and the competition to earn a coveted slot in an actual girl group was fierce—and stressful.

"The most difficult part in fact was when I saw myself and felt like I didn't grow up," she said.

The loss of individuality isn't limited to K-pop, either.

In 2013, Minami Minegishi of Japan's AKB48—a group with over 100 rotating members who appear in different configurations at different events—shaved her head and tearfully apologized in a video confession after she spent the night with her boyfriend, an apparent infraction of a no-dating rule.

"I don't believe just doing this means I can be forgiven for what I did, but the first thing I thought was that I don't want to quit AKB48," Minegishi said, according to the BBC. AKB48's manager said Minegishi, an original member of the group when it formed in 2005, had been demoted to trainee status.

Her fans, more appalled by the self-flagellation than anything else, rallied around her, insisting she not be punished for just wanting to live her life.

In 2015, the BBC reported that members of Japanese boy band SMAP somberly dressed in black and publicly apologized on their weekly show SMAPxSMAP after they attempted to leave their longtime agency Johnny & Associates.

The K-pop scene doesn't sound quite so rigid these days, with managers and producers perhaps not wanting to alienate coveted Western audiences with oppressive behavioral strictures, but it still demands a level of old-fashioned poise and accommodation from its artists.

"If you go to the agency, every young trainee will give you a very polite bow and there are notices with the company rules on the wall to remind them how to behave," K-pop industry expert Mark Russell told the BBC in 2016.

In June 2014, Taeyeon of Girls Generation and Baekhyun of boy band EXO apologized to their respective fan bases for the "disappointment, anger, hatred, frustration, and dejection" they presumably felt when they found out that Taeyeon and Baekhyun were dating (a coupling that would seemingly send their fans over the moon, Jelena-style).

Last June, T.O.P. of the group Big Bang was hospitalized for several days after overdosing on prescription medication, the incident occurring a day after he was charged with smoking marijuana—a crime punishable by up to five years in prison in South Korea. According to Today Online, when he was caught smoking in October 2016, he issued a handwritten apology letter stating, "I deserve punishment for hurting the (BIGBANG) members, agency, public, fans and family. I'll regret this for tens of thousands of years."

T.O.P. was found guilty and received a suspended 10-month prison sentence because the judge determined that, although he had admitted his guilt and "disappointed his family and fans," he seemed sufficiently remorseful.

"I'm truly sorry that I disappointed my fans and the public," the 29-year-old, whose real name is Choi Seung-Hyun, told reporters after his sentencing last summer. I will do my best to make a fresh start and not to make such a mistake again with what I've learned from this lesson,"

In August, management company WM Entertainment announced that JinE of Oh My Girl was taking a break from the group while she sought treatment for anorexia, stating, "We will wholeheartedly support JinE while she rests and receives treatment. We apologize once more for bringing this sudden news to fans and ask that you continue to show Oh My Girl unchanging love and interest." JinE's permanent exit from the group was announced in October.

It's impossible not to note a hint of concern over past K-pop tragedy and the pitfalls of fame in this otherwise cheerful birthday greeting sent today (already March 30 in South Korea) to Cha Eunwoo, or Eunwoo, of the six-member boy band Astro.

"Mr. Cha Eunwoo Happy birthday to our sweet and sparkling fluff. AROHA are so lucky to have you," wrote Ashlyn Akiko (who changed her handle to #happychaeunwooday for the occasion). "Stay happy and healthy."

#Inside the Sadness Plaguing K-Pop #kpop #big bang #t.o.p #choi seunghyun #SHINee #Onew #Jonghyun #Key #Minho #Taemin #Kim Jonghyun #Kara #astro #cha eunwoo #oh my girl #jinE

[lol-jackles]

What's the story behind William Shatner and Jared? I saw where Shatner defended Jared via Twitter several times. That seems like an odd pairing and I'm just wondering how they know each other? Also, have you noticed that Jared seems to have more non-spn friends than Jensen? Jensen pretty much hangs out with his loser in-laws.

Shatner originally got involved with the SPN fandom because he live-tweeted Misha’s directorial debut episode “Mother’s Little Helper”.  It was successful that other CW  actors asked him to live tweet their shows too.  Shatners said “sure” in exchange for his endorsement the CW actors have to sign and donate items for his charity auctions.  According to the New York Post, Shatner’s live tweeting helped increase viewership numbers for Star-Crossed and The Tomorrow People.  Shatners is a sci-fi guy so he’s more than happy to help out the “last bastion of Science Fiction shows on broadcast network”.  

Then a vapid Destiel shipper @ExorcisingEmily got kicked out of a Chicago convention in 2014 and the DailyDot website took her side.  Somehow she and Shatner got talking and it devolved into a fight.  Shatner felt bullied by @ExorcisingEmily and her mother and in retaliation he published screenshots of their private conversation, which is a Kill Bill siren for the SPN fandom.  Sowhenever Destiel shippers get out of line, the Shatner is there to Kobayashi Maru their ass.  This could be partly why Shatner comes to Jared’s defense against the Destiel shippers since Shatner experienced for himself similar attacks.  But I think it’s mostly to get on Jared’s good side because Jared is the show’s lead and the top charity fundraiser among CW actors.Shatner has raised tens of millions of dollars over the last 30 years through his charity horse show to support hundreds of charity organizations that focus on veterans, police, and children with special needs, like St. Jude Hospital. Shatner may like to say stuff to gin up publicity, regardless of the underlying correctness beneath the statements.  He doesn’t take stuff seriously and loves to rile up those that do aka Destiel shippers. 

What Shatner doesn’t do is celebrity feuds for PR. 

Shatner was very competitive with his cast mates and they resented it and talked about it and dissed him over it.  But as far as I remember Shatner never dissed anyone else on the show.  That’s because he doesn’t subscribe to (fake) celebrity feuds.  Notice that it’s the other ST cast members that keep trotting out their 50 years old feud with Shatner (cough) George Takei (cough) to keep themselves relevant in the fandom. 

Its like Katy Perry keep bringing up her feud with Taylor Swift.to keep herself in the headlines, meanwhile Swift quietly and cleverly put her entire catalog back on streaming services the same day Perry released her album.  Perry thought if she persist on keeping the feud with Swift alive it would keep people talkig about her latest album, but instead all people were talking about is Taylor Swift.George Teiki talks about his feud with Shatner but all we talk about is William Shatner.

This is what I keep trying to tell the bitter Sam girls, it’s Sam that most characters talk about on the show.  Sam has less screentime than Dean but Sam (by extension Jared) is the one that everybody talks about: Ackles Army, Destiel shippers, Minons, and J2 Tinhats.William Shatner is just doing what everybody else is doing in the SPN fandom, talking about Jared.

have you noticed that Jared seems to have more non-spn friends than Jensen?

I haven’t paid attention but I’m not surprised.  Rich successful people diversify their portfolio.

#william shatner

[opedguy]

Nation Celebrates Biden Victory

LOS ANGELES (OnlineColumnist.com), Nov. 7, 2020.--Delivering a victory speech tonight in Wilmington, De., 77-year-old President-elect Joe Biden asked the nation to heal the wounds over the last four years, asking Americans, whether they voted for him or not, to come together to “marshal the forces”  to fight the Covid-19 crisis, racism and climate change.  Striking the right tone for his supporters, Biden’s victory lap sparked street celebrations around the country, where the voters realized a great relief to see Trump defeated.  More that 146 million Americans voted, most by mail-n ballot, with 0ver 75 million going to Joe and his running mate 56-year-old Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (D-Calif.).  “Folks, the people of this nation have spoken.  They’ve delivered us as clear victory. A convincing victory.  A victory for we the people.  We’ve won it with the most votes ever case on the presidential ticket in the history of the nation: 74 million.” Biden said.    

         Biden speech was designed to help heal the bitter wounds from four years of media demonization of Trump, never accepting the outcome of the 2016.  Before Trump was elected, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton branded Trump with her fake “dossier” as a Russian asset, prompting the nation’s national security apparatus to secretly spy on Trump’s campaign and his presidency.  Not a day went by in Trump’s presidency when he wasn’t under and FBI counterintelligence investigation or accused by Democrats and the press of Russian collusion.  Trump’s win prompted to calls by 17 intel agencies insisting that Russian interfered with the 2016 election.  After Hillary’s loss Nov. 8, 2016, she blamed her loss on Russian meddling, blaming Trump for colluding with the Kremlin to win the election.  Biden talks about “demonization” but it was Democrats and the press that demonized Trump.   

          Democrats aren’t talking about Russian collusion now that they’ve beaten Trump.  But because the public, including Republicans, have moved on from the election, Republican cries of voter fraud will be a drowned out by the country’s euphoria over Biden’s victory.  Whether or not there was substantial voter fraud or not, the public has moved on celebrating Biden’s big win.  “I am humbled by the trust and confidence you placed in me.  I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but unify.  Who doesn’t see red and blue states, but only the United States,” Biden said, taking a page from former President Barack Obama’s 2004 speech to the Democratic National Convention backing Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) for president.  Biden received prime time coverage from all TV networks and cable new stations, preempting college football games and popular TV shows.       

      Unlike Trump, Biden has the U.S. media 100% behind him, ignoring Trump’s attempts to claim voter fraud, filing for injunctive relief in federal court.  While federal courts will respectfully accept Trump’s lawsuits, they’re going to fall on deaf ears, as Trump’s lawyers don’t have much of a case.  “Let this grim era of demonization begin to end, here and now,” Biden said.  “The refusal of Democrats and Republicans to cooperate with one another, it’s not some mysterious force beyond our control.  It’s a decsion, a choice we made.  And if we can decide not to cooperate, then we can decide to cooperate,” Biden said.  But Biden forgets who started and perpetuated the demonization, not admitting that Democrats and the press never accepted the Trump presidency. From Day 1, Democrats and the press worked night-and-day to oust Trump from office, eventually impeaching him over a phone call.       

      If Biden really wants a new era of cooperation, he’d get to the bottom of what happened during the Trump years with the nation’s national security apparatus used to spy on his campaign and presidency.  Biden will also want to let the Federal Communication Commission [FCC] study why the U.S. media became universally against the Trump presidency, often looking indistinguishable from the Democrat Party.  Newsrooms around the country, in broadcast and print, joined the Democrat Party’s effort to sabotage the Trump presidency.  Biden, of course, will not seek answers for why the FBI under former President Barack Obama saw fit to spy on Trump’s campaign and presidency.  Biden was Obama’s VP and part of the White House scheme to spy in Trump’s former National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn.  Biden wants to end demonization but not owning Democrats and the media’s role.  

           Biden set a generally positive tone in his victory speech, talking about a dark chapter in American history, without naming Trump.  “Let this grim era of demonization begin to end, here and now,” Biden said, not admitting that it was his Party and the media that relentless tormented Trump for four years.  “Joe is a healer.  A uniter. A tested and steady hand.  A person whose own experience of loss gives him a sense of purpose that will help us as a nation reclaim our own sense of purpose,” Vice President-elect Kamal Harris said.  If Joe and Kamala want a new era to begin, they need to acknowledge the role they played in persecuting a duly elected president for his four years in office.  Judging by Biden’s own words, he sees Trump as the one responsible for the divisions spreading violence on American streets.  Biden and Harris must recognize that nearly 50% of public aren’t celebrating with them.

 About the Author 

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

[chicagocityofclans]

Percival ‘Percy’ McCormick III → Charlie Cox → Dhole

→ Basic Information

Age: 228

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Straight

Born or Made: Born

Birthday: January 22nd

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Religion: Jewish

→ His Personality Percy has very rarely failed in his life. This is not necessarily because of his skills or brains, but mainly his family’s money. He is a creative and often idealistic person, who is focused on pushing the envelope to see what else is out there. He is confident and charming, and has managed to make most things he creates work. One thing that isn’t working is his idea of a joint pack. It began in the 1930s as a way to bring people to Chicago and keep themselves above boat during the Depression. It worked for a while, but in the last 20 years has begun to spiral. Violence and hatred have gotten to a boiling point and the pressure only rises with new members moving in every month. He still thinks it is working and an idea worth fighting for, however even he is feeling the cracks. Percy has become an insomniac and his emotions are so high strung that his eyes frequently flip back and forth between white and his typical brown. He has taken to carrying sunglasses to hide his effect from those in and outside of his pack.

He has recently decided, under Liz’s recommendation, that he needs to destress his life. Percy gets self-confidence and pride from his work, so slowing down feels as though he is failing more. It has allowed him to attempt to fix his relationship with his wife. He is absent at best and neglectful at worst when it comes to Rose, and he realized he had started to become exactly like his father. He wants kids and he wants his kids to see two people in love raising them. Percy has a habit of thinking about those who benefit from all his actions, rather than those who must suffer with the other side. He is willing to sacrifice the few for the many and even if it hurts others, may refuse to give up what he wants.

→ His Personal Facts

Occupation: Head of the Triumvirate and Owner of WJDF station, The Chicago Herald, McCormick Media, and a conglomerate of publications.

Scars: None

Tattoos: Up to Player

Two Likes: Sunglasses and Skyscrapers

Two Dislikes: Close minded people and Conspiracy Theorists

Two Fears: Bankruptcy and People thinking he’s fraud

Two Hobbies: Genealogy and Proofreading

Three Positive Traits: Idealistic, Charming, Confident

Three Negative Traits: Assertive, Proud, Unyielding

→ His Connections

Parent Names:

Percival McCormick II (Father): Percival II built the media in Chicago from the ground up. He initially ran the telegraph and telegram stations out of Chicago and eventually created The Chicago Herald and the radio station. These catered to humans, but also supernaturals. There were special channels to broadcast supernatural news and it created the foundation for other supernaturals to create content and information for themselves. Creating an empire so expansive was not without cost. Percival II was rarely home and treated his wife and son as merely objects set out to impress. It left him with a constant need to prove to his father that he was just as clever as he was, even in death. Percy III created the first television station and has expanded into the internet and digital sphere as time has gone on.

Pamela McCormick (Mother): Pamela was not frequently involved with Percy. She was there for the worst moments to comfort him, but she was dealing with her own issues and didn’t have the time to help both. She was never cruel and often was willing to listen and entertain his imaginative ideas.

Sibling Names:

None

Children Names:

None

Romantic Connections:

Rose McCormick (Wife): Percy is admittedly a horrible husband. He’d like to blame it on the way he was raised, but even he knows he could stop that cycle whenever he wants. Rose is smart and fierce, but didn’t fully know what she was getting into when marrying him. He needed someone to stand by his side and have no desire to get involved in his life. He’d provide for whatever she wanted as long as she’d keep everything in their marriage private and eventually have a kid with him. It’s been a decade since they’ve been married, and they’ve kept up their deal. She has her own bedroom and they only typically see each other over dinner. Rose hates him and he understands why. Recently, Percy has begun to think being open with his wife and mate may calm him down more. He wants to start a real relationship with Rose, and is attempting to show that to her. She is becoming more receptive though she doubts him.

Platonic Connections:

Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Snow (Best Friend): Percy knows Liz better than anyone else. Liz is the only one who has truly seen him at his most vulnerable. They understand each other and the choices they make and support one another fully. It’s hard not to fall in love with someone who knows you well, and Percy was not immune to this. However, he knew it would never work. He found a dhole shifter who would agree to what he wanted from a marriage and tried to block out any thoughts of Liz, unsuccessfully. He still is much more emotionally connected with Liz and confides in her, rather than in Rose.

Simon Brodeur (Packmate): Percy has over 90,000 nimbles in his care and would be lying if he said he knew all of them by heart. However, Simon has recently popped up on his rader and Percy has been keeping a worrisome eye on him. Percy has never had a bad experience with Simon but when Simon’s mate was obviously killed by a hunter, Simon had blacked out causing a mess for Percy. Simon had gone into a frenzy and changed a few humans. Percy and Liz were able to cover it up and Simon was released punishment free but Percy is unsure what his next step should be and whether to go after the hunters who did this.

Austin Semler (Packmate): Percy is familiar with Austin work and the work of Austin parents. Percy knows potential when he sees it and Austin is bursting with potential but it is clear to Percy that Austin isn’t ready yet.

Isla Johns (Packmate): Isla acts as the speaker for the prey members of their clan and is also a member of the Triumvirate. Percy and Isla are nearly never on the same page making Liz their referee on larger impact topics. They can never have a strong relationship while he knows what she thinks of him and how he runs the clan. It would both him more, if he wasn’t as confident that Liz saw his vision and wanted it to succeed.

Anton Kowalski (Unsure): Anton has not been a part of his clan for long but Percy isn’t blind to how Anton avoids him in comparison to the way he flocks to everyone else. While Anton isn’t the first coywolf that Percy has met, he is one of the first shifters to transition into Chicago in decades from a single shift nimble pack; meaning their pack one had one type of nimble species. He’s been keeping an eye on Anton and plans on giving him a proper introduction soon.

Clarisse ‘Clara’ Fields (Clan Leader): Percy and Clara have known one another since they were kids. While Asa and Sam preferred leaving him in the dust, Clara was always a bit more willing to be friendly. He was glad when she took over as head of the Heavies and they often end up on the same side in council meetings.

Chris Bialar (Clan Leader): Chris stated once that he would be neutral when it came to nimble affairs and Percy has done the same for him. Percy personally doesn’t care about the local cat clan and only communicates at council meetings with them. Percy, however, has recently heard rumors about Chris and Ellis discussing a supernatural schooling system and wants in on the project.

Ellis Watts (Clan Leader): Percy has little interactions with the jackal clan and stands neutral when it comes to Ellis. Percy, however, has recently heard rumors about Chris and Ellis discussing a supernatural schooling system and wants in on the project.

Nick Hamelin (Clan Leader): Nick has been around for a while and was friends with Percy’s father. This made things a little easier when it was Percy’s time to take over. Nick and Percy are the closet of allies and their clans often work together to gather information. Percy’s people teach the rats reporting and/or journalistic investigating skills in exchanging for information and leads.

Isaac Baker (Clan Leader): Percy rarely has to deal with the wolves. When he does he typically sends Isla to discuss any incidents they come across with the wolves. Isaac certainly brings more spontaneity to the votes and certainly makes council meetings more interesting.

Scorpius Getta (Clan Leader): Percy is indifferent about Getta and the vampire community as a whole. The only time they communicate is at council meetings.

Sirius Cobic (Clan Leader): Sirius and Percy have come to an understanding as the police and media to keep the people of Chicago from finding out that over 1/3rd of their population is composed of supernatural beings. Their people work closely together but Percy personally deals with Sirius each time as a sign of respect and good faith.

Hostile Connections:

Sam Thompson (Childhood Bully): Sam and Asa used to bully Percy as a child. They would bring him into the middle of the woods, shift and then run. He frequently got lost, and only found his way back by accident, or by Clara helping him. He thinks Sam believing he could be the head of the Heavies is laughable, and ignores any contact that Sam tries to make with him.

Asa Fields (Childhood Bully): Sam and Asa used to bully Percy as a child. They would bring him into the middle of the woods, shift and then run. He frequently got lost, and only found his way back by accident, or by Clara helping him. Asa disappeared about a hundred years ago, which Percy was grateful for. Unfortunately he’s returned and apparently wants to make things right within his pack.

Pets:

None

→ History (paragraph(s) on background)

→ The Present (paragraph(s) on how the character connects to the plot)

→ Available Gif Hunts (we do not own these)

Charlie Cox (Percival “Percy” McCormick III) [1][2][3][4]

#Percy McCormick #OM #OMAS #OAS #OMN #Open #Percival Mccormick

[chicagocityfclanspromoblog]

Percival ‘Percy’ McCormick III → Charlie Cox → Dhole

→ Basic Information

Age: 228

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Straight

Born or Made: Born

Birthday: January 22nd

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Religion: Jewish

→ His Personality Percy has very rarely failed in his life. This is not necessarily because of his skills or brains, but mainly his family’s money. He is a creative and often idealistic person, who is focused on pushing the envelope to see what else is out there. He is confident and charming, and has managed to make most things he creates work. One thing that isn’t working is his idea of a joint pack. It began in the 1930s as a way to bring people to Chicago and keep themselves above boat during the Depression. It worked for a while, but in the last 20 years has begun to spiral. Violence and hatred have gotten to a boiling point and the pressure only rises with new members moving in every month. He still thinks it is working and an idea worth fighting for, however even he is feeling the cracks. Percy has become an insomniac and his emotions are so high strung that his eyes frequently flip back and forth between white and his typical brown. He has taken to carrying sunglasses to hide his effect from those in and outside of his pack.

He has recently decided, under Liz’s recommendation, that he needs to destress his life. Percy gets self-confidence and pride from his work, so slowing down feels as though he is failing more. It has allowed him to attempt to fix his relationship with his wife. He is absent at best and neglectful at worst when it comes to Rose, and he realized he had started to become exactly like his father. He wants kids and he wants his kids to see two people in love raising them. Percy has a habit of thinking about those who benefit from all his actions, rather than those who must suffer with the other side. He is willing to sacrifice the few for the many and even if it hurts others, may refuse to give up what he wants.

→ His Personal Facts

Occupation: Head of the Triumvirate and Owner of WJDF station, The Chicago Herald, McCormick Media, and a conglomerate of publications.

Scars: None

Tattoos: Up to Player

Two Likes: Sunglasses and Skyscrapers

Two Dislikes: Close minded people and Conspiracy Theorists

Two Fears: Bankruptcy and People thinking he’s fraud

Two Hobbies: Genealogy and Proofreading

Three Positive Traits: Idealistic, Charming, Confident

Three Negative Traits: Assertive, Proud, Unyielding

→ His Connections

Parent Names:

Percival McCormick II (Father): Percival II built the media in Chicago from the ground up. He initially ran the telegraph and telegram stations out of Chicago and eventually created The Chicago Herald and the radio station. These catered to humans, but also supernaturals. There were special channels to broadcast supernatural news and it created the foundation for other supernaturals to create content and information for themselves. Creating an empire so expansive was not without cost. Percival II was rarely home and treated his wife and son as merely objects set out to impress. It left him with a constant need to prove to his father that he was just as clever as he was, even in death. Percy III created the first television station and has expanded into the internet and digital sphere as time has gone on.

Pamela McCormick (Mother): Pamela was not frequently involved with Percy. She was there for the worst moments to comfort him, but she was dealing with her own issues and didn’t have the time to help both. She was never cruel and often was willing to listen and entertain his imaginative ideas.

Sibling Names:

None

Children Names:

None

Romantic Connections:

Rose McCormick (Wife): Percy is admittedly a horrible husband. He’d like to blame it on the way he was raised, but even he knows he could stop that cycle whenever he wants. Rose is smart and fierce, but didn’t fully know what she was getting into when marrying him. He needed someone to stand by his side and have no desire to get involved in his life. He’d provide for whatever she wanted as long as she’d keep everything in their marriage private and eventually have a kid with him. It’s been a decade since they’ve been married, and they’ve kept up their deal. She has her own bedroom and they only typically see each other over dinner. Rose hates him and he understands why. Recently, Percy has begun to think being open with his wife and mate may calm him down more. He wants to start a real relationship with Rose, and is attempting to show that to her. She is becoming more receptive though she doubts him.

Platonic Connections:

Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Snow (Best Friend): Percy knows Liz better than anyone else. Liz is the only one who has truly seen him at his most vulnerable. They understand each other and the choices they make and support one another fully. It’s hard not to fall in love with someone who knows you well, and Percy was not immune to this. However, he knew it would never work. He found a dhole shifter who would agree to what he wanted from a marriage and tried to block out any thoughts of Liz, unsuccessfully. He still is much more emotionally connected with Liz and confides in her, rather than in Rose.

Simon Brodeur (Packmate): Percy has over 90,000 nimbles in his care and would be lying if he said he knew all of them by heart. However, Simon has recently popped up on his rader and Percy has been keeping a worrisome eye on him. Percy has never had a bad experience with Simon but when Simon’s mate was obviously killed by a hunter, Simon had blacked out causing a mess for Percy. Simon had gone into a frenzy and changed a few humans. Percy and Liz were able to cover it up and Simon was released punishment free but Percy is unsure what his next step should be and whether to go after the hunters who did this.

Austin Semler (Packmate): Percy is familiar with Austin work and the work of Austin parents. Percy knows potential when he sees it and Austin is bursting with potential but it is clear to Percy that Austin isn’t ready yet.

Isla Johns (Packmate): Isla acts as the speaker for the prey members of their clan and is also a member of the Triumvirate. Percy and Isla are nearly never on the same page making Liz their referee on larger impact topics. They can never have a strong relationship while he knows what she thinks of him and how he runs the clan. It would both him more, if he wasn’t as confident that Liz saw his vision and wanted it to succeed.

Anton Kowalski (Unsure): Anton has not been a part of his clan for long but Percy isn’t blind to how Anton avoids him in comparison to the way he flocks to everyone else. While Anton isn’t the first coywolf that Percy has met, he is one of the first shifters to transition into Chicago in decades from a single shift nimble pack; meaning their pack one had one type of nimble species. He’s been keeping an eye on Anton and plans on giving him a proper introduction soon.

Clarisse ‘Clara’ Fields (Clan Leader): Percy and Clara have known one another since they were kids. While Asa and Sam preferred leaving him in the dust, Clara was always a bit more willing to be friendly. He was glad when she took over as head of the Heavies and they often end up on the same side in council meetings.

Chris Bialar (Clan Leader): Chris stated once that he would be neutral when it came to nimble affairs and Percy has done the same for him. Percy personally doesn’t care about the local cat clan and only communicates at council meetings with them. Percy, however, has recently heard rumors about Chris and Ellis discussing a supernatural schooling system and wants in on the project.

Ellis Watts (Clan Leader): Percy has little interactions with the jackal clan and stands neutral when it comes to Ellis. Percy, however, has recently heard rumors about Chris and Ellis discussing a supernatural schooling system and wants in on the project.

Nick Hamelin (Clan Leader): Nick has been around for a while and was friends with Percy’s father. This made things a little easier when it was Percy’s time to take over. Nick and Percy are the closet of allies and their clans often work together to gather information. Percy’s people teach the rats reporting and/or journalistic investigating skills in exchanging for information and leads.

Isaac Baker (Clan Leader): Percy rarely has to deal with the wolves. When he does he typically sends Isla to discuss any incidents they come across with the wolves. Isaac certainly brings more spontaneity to the votes and certainly makes council meetings more interesting.

Scorpius Getta (Clan Leader): Percy is indifferent about Getta and the vampire community as a whole. The only time they communicate is at council meetings.

Sirius Cobic (Clan Leader): Sirius and Percy have come to an understanding as the police and media to keep the people of Chicago from finding out that over 1/3rd of their population is composed of supernatural beings. Their people work closely together but Percy personally deals with Sirius each time as a sign of respect and good faith.

Hostile Connections:

Sam Thompson (Childhood Bully): Sam and Asa used to bully Percy as a child. They would bring him into the middle of the woods, shift and then run. He frequently got lost, and only found his way back by accident, or by Clara helping him. He thinks Sam believing he could be the head of the Heavies is laughable, and ignores any contact that Sam tries to make with him.

Asa Fields (Childhood Bully): Sam and Asa used to bully Percy as a child. They would bring him into the middle of the woods, shift and then run. He frequently got lost, and only found his way back by accident, or by Clara helping him. Asa disappeared about a hundred years ago, which Percy was grateful for. Unfortunately he’s returned and apparently wants to make things right within his pack.

Pets:

None

→ History (paragraph(s) on background)

→ The Present (paragraph(s) on how the character connects to the plot)

→ Available Gif Hunts (we do not own these)

Charlie Cox (Percival “Percy” McCormick III) [1][2][3][4]

#Charlie Cox #OC RP #Town RP #Animal rpg #Supernautral RPG