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uhforfuckssake · 3 years

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Holbeck: A Case Study of Hell — FiLiA

By Dr Em

Holbeck is a case study of hell. It is misogyny and objectification in the legal system, a triumph of men’s rights activists. Alan Caton, the detective who led the investigation into the murders of five prostituted women in Ipswich in 2006 and subsequently led the strategy to put an end to street prostitution in Ipswich is highly critical of the Leeds ‘managed approach’. Canton is clear that ‘I totally disagree with it’ he is of the opinion that ‘it plays right into the hands of pimps and abusers of women, and turns a blind eye to the most vulnerable people in our society. It allows men to carry on in their misogynistic ways, to abuse and exploit women who are out on the street selling sex’.1 Canton added that ‘The demand is there in this country because men are allowed unfettered to buy sex from women, to do what they want to them’.2 ‘Because that demand is never quelled, people will use all sorts of criminal avenues to traffic and exploit women. It's all about tackling that demand, telling men it's not acceptable to buy women and abuse them in that way’.3 In Holbeck human trafficking is rebranded as ‘migration for sex work’, paedophilia and child molestation becomes ‘under-age sex work’, rape becomes ‘a disputed sale’.

If one wants to know how unempowering the situation is for prostituted women and girls, one needs only read the punter reviews. Yes – reviews – like one would review a restaurant or hotel. Men describe their experiences to each other using degrading language and slang. For example, women likely trafficked from Romania are known as ‘Roms’, from Poland, ‘EE’, while men bemoan their lack of English or desire to participate, and the presence of pimps. Other men get a sexual kick out of the fact that the women and girls are disengaged. ‘Howaboutit’ related how:

‘i've had a few girls from down Holbeck - usually pass through at about 5am on a saturday morning. Always at least 1 or 2 around, as mentioned above, some are horrors!… total lack of interest while i had her in missionary.. but that kind of turns me on. Bored and checking her texts while i unload bare inside her!!’.4

One particular poster uses the moniker ‘Yorkshireripper’, referencing the serial killer Peter Sutcliffe who murdered prostituted women in Leeds during the 1970s. ‘Many of his attacks came after he had cruised the streets looking for victims, and the area’s reputation as a red light district meant that it was easier for him to persuade women to get into his car while soliciting’.5 ‘Yorkshireripper’ described one prostituted woman thus:

‘she looks a shit fuck based on that video [an uploaded porn film taken during street ‘sex work’] but I just think there's something about her being a really lowlife desperate dirty prostitute with such a shit background who's cunt has had many hundreds of hard cocks up her … that makes me want to empty my filth in her, just for the thrill of it’.6

‘Yorkshireripper’ had actually gone in search of potentially underage girls that night, he informed the other men that ‘I was seeking teenagers or under 25s’.7 ‘Yorkshireripper’ likes to negotiate the already low prices down further, he particularly likes bad weather as a means of creating more desperation in the women. He outlined how he:

‘went for a little scouting mission myself last night, first time in a few months due to reports of increased surveillance by anti whore brigade. Was a cold, wet and rainy night which is my favourite time as it seems gives you that extra cover of visibility and offers a quick respite from the cold as an incentive to the girls when your knocking down the price’.8

The women are looked upon as objects which the men can use, abuse, consume and collect. One ‘Richard1982’ described how ‘Of all the girls I've picked up she's the only one I haven't bb'd [had sex without a condom] so I want to collect the full set lol’.9 And the ‘sex work is work’ champions claim it is empowering for women. Do you feel empowered after reading that? Alan Caton, the detective who led the investigation into Stephen Wright who murdered five prostituted women in Ipswich in 2006 has related that “When I asked the [men] about it, they said: ‘I am paying for it, I can do what I want.’ That helped me form the view over time that this is not right. Men should not be able to exploit and abuse women in that way”.

DESPERATION & DRUGS

Holbeck creates a desperate cycle which we see trapping prostituted women across the world. Drugs and prostitution become a ‘chicken and egg’ problem. Women enter the trade to fund their, or their partner’s, drug addiction and then require more drugs to cope with what they are experiencing. Drugs become a means to endure male violence. While talking about Holbeck, Jenni described how she ‘gave up drugs to get out of the ‘managed’ red light zone – it was too dangerous’.11 Julie Bindel stated that in the opinion of one exited survivor of Holbeck ‘Her biggest criticism of the managed zone is the failure to offer women a route out of a world where drugs are rife’.12 Jenni discussed how “All the girls are down there because they’re dependent on drugs. I don’t believe it’s their choice to do it,” she says. “The key is to stop the drug use and it will stop the girls having to work for drugs”.13 Charles Hymas and Corinne Redfern reported how in Holbeck, it ‘was the sight of a prostitute injecting drugs into her groin on the backseat of a car in full view of residents in the neat terraced street in Beeston, Leeds, that convinced artist Claire Bentley-Smith it was time to act’.14 In 2019 'A woodland of suffering' was discovered by a mum-of-two dropping her children off at school which revealed a ‘sex worker's’ 'home' next to a Leeds primary school.15The drug litter is a constant in the area and a sharp reminder that allowing men to buy women on the street is ineffective at tackling the women’s drug addiction. In one clean-up of one small wooded area it took more than 20 vans to remove mounds of waste from a 'needle and condom hotspot' in Holbeck.16

Then men purchasing the women know they are desperate and many are addicts. One ‘Munterhunter’ said of the prostituted women in Holbeck that:

‘in most cases it's to feed a drug addiction or because some pimp is telling them "go and earn me 200 quid tonight".

I know that a large number of street prostitutes have serious drug habits my mate's wife works with a project which operates all over the UK working with street prostitutes and the biggest challenge they face is drugs. My mate is a support worker working with people on drug rehab and community punishment orders from the courts his wife works for a national organisation working with street prostitutes’.17

Yet he was undeterred from buying women. Mark Edmonds has outlined how in Holbeck, ‘there are no sanctions and no risk of conviction. Widespread drug-taking — sadly an integral part of the lives of many of these women, who have often been abused as teenagers and are subsequently used by pimps who see them as no more than a commodity — is also tolerated, under a scheme that costs local taxpayers £200,000 per year to run’.18 A BBC documentary highlighted the link between drug addiction and prostitution. In the documentary Sammie-Jo described how she ‘has been forced to work as a prostitute in the red-light district of Holbeck in Leeds to fund her addiction’.19 Yet still the ‘sex work is work’ lobby talk about women choosing this.

Safety and Violence

The ‘sex work is work’ pimp lobby and men’s sexual rights activists argue that prostitution should be decriminalised to make it safer for those being sold. Holbeck, and other examples such as in the Netherlands, shows this is false.20 It makes it more dangerous for the women being sold and other women in the area. In 2015, within months of the ‘managed approach’ zone in Holbeck becoming operational Daria Pionko was murdered by a punter.21 Julie Bindel spoke to one Holbeck prostitute who told her: ‘Because [the men] can’t get arrested, they think they can do anything they like. I’ve been raped, and one man urinated on me once and then took a photo’.22 With the first year of the ‘managed approach’ figures released by police show complaints of rape almost trebled … and have remained significantly higher than before’.23Alongside this, rapes are under-reported as the police and courts do not take it seriously, particularly if the woman is prostituted. On the 7th September 2018 Holbeck residents, David and Calum, reported stopping a rape of a prostituted woman. They stated that while walking home through Holbeck after they had finished work at a club they heard a woman’s voice calling for help. They ‘saw a man trying to strangle a woman. He released her as soon as we approached and she ran towards us… she’s a sex worker and he’s a punter. The fight was about condoms. He wanted her to have sex without a condom… but she refused’.24 The fetish killer, Donald Sheridan, who the council and probation service decided to house in the managed zone in Holbeck while he was on parole, told police in an interview regarding his abduction and attempted rape of a woman in Holbeck in 2019 that ‘he still experiences urges to rape and murder women, especially strangling them, and he had recently felt the urge to strangle an older sex worker after using her services’.25

The frequency of sex attacks on women in the small area of Holbeck was highlighted in 2019 when there were three sex attacks within 36 hours. Samantha Gildea and Kristian Johnson reported that ‘A female sex worker was assaulted by a male client in Shafton Lane on Sunday afternoon, then in the evening, a woman was grabbed on a footpath near Kenneth Street in an attempted rape at around 5.30pm. A third incident was reported to officer after a woman was physically assaulted in Holbeck Moor Park at around 10.15pm last night’.26 Julie Bindel interviewed ‘Sammy, who was pimped on her 17th birthday straight into the zone by her “boyfriend”, who told her that the police “don’t give a fuck about the women”. Sammy said that “One night I was screaming my head off when a nasty punter got really rough with me, but these two coppers just walked past’.27 Another prostituted woman, Jenni, told Chris Hymas and Bindel of ‘the constant threat of robbery, sex tourism, exploitation by traffickers, and women so desperate for drugs they sold sex for just £10’.28 Hymas and Bindel reported that ‘the zone, designed to crack down on pimping, was in reality a magnet for men seeking to exploit the women by charging them for protection’.29 Jenni described how “There were loads of young lads who were basically glorified pimps.. There were more and more attacks before I left, of people coming into the area to rob the girls, knowing they were on their own with money’30. Rather than improve relations between the prostituted woman and the police, the managed approach has caused them to deteriorate and the prostituted women feel even less protected.31 Nevertheless, ‘the council says the increase in crime is due to improved reporting and includes Beeston which is not part of the zone. Others disagree. “It was a disaster from day one,” a senior police officer told The Telegraph on condition of anonymity. “Other criminals came into the area quick as a flash. Drug dealers, pimps, even traffickers that brought the women from Romania’.32

Male violence and rape, and police inaction over these crimes, is also a problem for women and children not in prostitution who live near or enter the Holbeck zone. In 2015, ‘Sally – a young woman with learning disabilities, then aged 17 – was approached at a bus stop in Beeston on a weekday afternoon, bundled into a car, and raped in a nearby home. With DNA evidence, the attacker was quickly arrested and prosecuted in court. However, during a gruelling court case which saw Sally forced into a cross-examination, the defence lawyer argued that his client had simply mistaken Sally for a sex worker, and he walked free’.33 In 2017, Ian Staines, managing director of the Fresco Group, a local business, told the Daily Mail regarding the increase in rapes and sexual assaults that ‘these figures do not surprise me. Female members of our staff feel threatened. The police aren’t interested’.34 In 2018, a Holbeck woman was raped on her way home from work by a group of men who assumed she was a prostitute’.35 In another case of rape in the small Holbeck zone, Ed Carlisle reported of the rape of Alice, a previous victim of domestic abuse, that she had moved into a hostel in Holbeck, where she was repeatedly approached by kerb crawlers. Then in May 2018 ‘a gang of men manhandled her into a car, refused to believe she wasn’t a sex worker, and took her to a nearby house, where one of the men raped her. With DNA evidence, the attacker was quickly arrested, but again (supported by the testimonies of his friends) argued for mistaken identity, and was not even prosecuted’.36 At 4pm Saturday 8th September 2018 a resident reported that ‘my 12 year old daughter walking home from school rang me to tell me she’s just seen a lady being raped! 2 men had her pinned against the wall… one was pulling her knickers off as she screamed. My daughter ran home and I’ve called 999’.37 In November 2018 it was reported to the police and the press that a man tried to buy a baby for an hour in Holbeck. ‘The 47-year-old [woman] was carrying her four-month old grandchild in a pram in the area before the man reportedly said 'Give me an hour with it and I will bring it back'.38 In 2019 a woman claimed that while simply out walking she 'was raped in the street in Holbeck'.39 She did not report this as she thought the police would just say her rapist thought she was a ‘sex worker’ and he would thus walk free. Also in 2019 Donald Sheridan, a convicted fetish murderer, was housed in Holbeck while on parole, and later went on to abduct and strangle a woman until a passer-by intervened.40 The housing of Sheridan in Holbeck highlights how the judiciary and police view the women of Holbeck as dispensable. Susie Beever reported in 2019 how ‘many of the area's female residents feel at risk, preyed upon and "constantly scrutinised". Holbeck has one of the highest recorded crime rates in the entire Leeds South policing ward. There were 161 crimes reported in the area in September alone, of which 51 were classed as violent or sexual offences’.41/sup>

The Save Our Eyes community campaign group set up by residents of Holbeck records their experiences. One resident recorded how ‘My granddaughter was approached at 3.15pm in the afternoon in her school uniform by a punter looking for sex’.42 Another resident shared her experience of how ‘My daughter was followed home from school by a man making rude comments and trying to touch her’.43 13 year old Katy tells the story of how while waiting at a bus stop in a residential street adjoining the Holbeck managed zone on a Saturday morning with her mum ‘A man came up to us and said “Are you working?” My mum was confused and asked what he meant. He replied “Not you! I mean her. Is she working?” and pointed at me. My mum… shouted at him “She’s only 13, she’s a child!” but he wasn’t even bothered. He carried on, “It doesn’t matter about her age. She looks like one (meaning a prostitute)… It’s acceptable on Holbeck to ask”.44 Helen, Katie’s mum, described how ‘the man who wanted to buy her on Saturday argued with me. He felt he had a right to ask any woman in the area for sex’.45

Conclusion

Yet despite all of this evidence and Holbeck conforming to the pattern of other decriminalised areas of prostitution around the world in terms of an increase in crime and danger to women Chief Super Intendent Steve Cotter, of West Yorkshire Police, ‘said the force "remain convinced" the system was working’.46 One wonders how Mr Cotter defines success. Mr Cotter elaborated, that the managed approach in Holbeck ‘provides the best opportunity to safeguard the vulnerable women involved in street sex work, to limit the issues that impact on residents and businesses and to reduce the level of street sex work in Leeds," he said’.47 This is contradicted by reality. Still, a controversial report published in 2020 has claimed that the managed approach in Holbeck has had a positive result. This report’s statements are not supported by the data and the report itself ‘failed to comply with the legal obligations of public bodies to consider the equality impact of their policies and did not properly investigate how the scheme affects local women and children’.48 As Nordic Model Now asserts, ‘Prostitution has been recognized by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women to be a form of gender-based violence – meaning that not only is prostitution inherently violent, but it is also an intrinsic part of the systemic oppression of women and girls’.49 Why would this be different in Holbeck?

#radical feminism #feminism #sex work is not work #sex work hurts women #sex workers are women too #anti sex industry #link #ref #anti prostitution

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dockdaisy83 · 3 years

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Family Arbitration Ni.

Why Mediation Must Be Made Use Of To Deal With Youngster Protection Disagreements.

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The Benefits Of Arbitration In Resolving Household Disputes

Separation As Well As Xmases: Just How To Make Call Arrangements

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Mediation Has A Tendency To Be Less Expensive Than Court Process.

Our arbitrators are specifically trained to help you reach your very own friendly remedy. If you assume this may aid your household your family conciliator will certainly discover this very first with you to see if it is a suitable case. Extremely broadly the litigation procedures can take in between six months as well as eighteen months, whereas a normal Mediation procedure takes approximately 2 to four months.

At Southern Family Mediation we are right here to assist make the procedure as painless as possible and also guarantee the very best end result in the future for you as well as your family members. Your agreement are laid out in a document called a Memorandum of Understanding. The Memorandum will certainly create the material of an approval order, which will certainly be endorsed by the Court as well as end up being lawfully binding. If you are reviewing an economic negotiation then you will certainly be required to make full financial disclosure per other prior to considering your choices. click here to learn about Regarding Relatives to be aware of the Family mediator Process will compose an economic statement setting out your monetary events.

The Benefits Of Arbitration In Settling Family Conflicts

When the second lockdown has actually been lifted, we will certainly be providing one-on-one meetings once again, maintaining to the government's social distancing standards. Because of the pandemic episode of COVID-19 and the assistance being provided/ upgraded daily by the government it has actually been decided that all arbitration sessions will certainly be performed from another location from currently on. Meetings will be conducted using modern technology had by the majority of individuals as well as calling for no added charge. This will make it possible for arbitration meetings to be carried out in the same way as they would certainly have been yet from the security of your very own residences.

Two Valley Unified partners seek extension of DOE deadline for regional school - fiddleheadfocus.com

Two Valley Unified partners seek extension of DOE deadline for regional school.

Posted: Wed, 06 Jan 2021 20:39:00 GMT [source]

Whether a child needs to transfer to an additional nation, as well as if so what unique plans may require to be made to protect the child's partnership with any type of family staying in England and also Wales. FMNI seeks to ensure that the UNCRC is the emphasis of all arbitration that includes youngsters. The moderator will certainly assist you both produce options to find contract to co-parent into the future.

Divorce And Christmas: Just How To Make Contact Plans

Your conciliator will be watching on how you are feeling, but if you start to feel uneasy or anxious regarding anything, you must let the moderator recognize. All certified family moderators belong to among the five organisations that together compose the Household Arbitration Council. The FMA is one of the Household Arbitration Council organisations, and also our participants are all certified moderators.

How much does a family mediator make?

California Average As of Dec 29, 2020, the average annual pay for a Family Mediator in California is $78,209 an year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $37.60 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,504/week or $6,517/month.

bring your mediator Family Work & Commercial Mediators Minehead to the future pay their share, however you can agree that one individual will pay in full. There is more about that pays for family mediation in our blog here. The majority of household arbitrators operate in a reasonably casual setting, as well as all certified family members arbitrators provide clients with an unwinded and also safe atmosphere. During the session, the conciliator will certainly videotape crucial pieces of details or concepts or specific choices in a way that allows both of you to see what has been created and also to discuss it. Generally the arbitrator will certainly use a flip-chart to do this, but numerous also use a lot more modern-day technology. You will certainly be encouraged to ask questions and also discuss what is being documented. If you do not recognize something that is being said by any individual in the space, or do not comprehend something that has been written on the flip-chart by the conciliator, it is extremely crucial to state so.

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If you have any type of inquiries concerning a mediator's qualifications, consult the moderator's participant organisation, which ought to have the ability to assist. Certified conciliators should also have suitable professional insurance policy.

Most importantly, Andrew offers the mediation discussion forum three decades of hands-on experience in all facets of commercial disagreement resolution in both residential and also international litigation and adjudication.

Andrew is CEDR certified as well as has actually been involved in the arbitration of conflicts because 1996 and has experience of over 150 arbitrations.

He has actually acted as lead moderator in business disagreements valued at in between ₤ 50,000 to ₤ 30m.

As soon as the celebrations have gotten to a decision and it is put in creating and signed, it is binding on them as an agreement.

This permits him to be able to help the celebrations to the mediation by being able to recognize for the celebrations the staminas as well as weaknesses of their case, truth examination the events' cases and also recommend choices for settlements.

By seeing the entire picture-- not simply one side or the other-- we fix disputes rapidly and also maintain prices to a minimum.

Since 2001, we have actually educated moderators from all over the world who have actually utilized their skills to solve complex office conflicts, complaints and disagreements.

We are a developed, credible service and also charity collaborating with youngsters as well as family members for the past 75 years. It is easier on your kids-- when parents co-operate it aids them preserve vital family relationships. The mediator can also give you details about other solutions that give assistance and also support as well as the other alternatives you could have to resolve points. Household mediation is a successful, fast as well as low-priced method to deal with individual as well as hard disputes between parents as well as former partners. Remember, you only pay the per hour rate for arbitration until you prepare to choose a legal plan that is best fit to you, on reaching your arrangement. As soon as you have gotten to an arrangement, we can exercise one of the most economical legal plan for you based on the variety of arbitration sessions you have used. And also don't neglect we are the very best reviewed family members mediation company in England & Wales.

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We understand that every family is special which is why we carefully customize our suggestions to fit specific families' needs and strive to safeguard the best outcome for you. As we stated above, judges may refuse to hear some litigation if you can't show that you contend the very least thought about arbitration before going down that route. Able to provide you and your ex-spouse extra control over just how your problems are fixed. Your conciliator will certainly assist you to find an option that works for both of you.

To get invites to our events, as well as information and short articles on legal problems and also market advancements that are of passion to you, please register to Newsroom. " I found mediation to be a great and really handy all rounded solution."

In any case, if you apply to the court to hear your situation, the court is likely to refuse to hear it unless you have at the very least thought about arbitration initially. Dividing from your spouse or long-term partner can be a difficult and tough time in anyone's life. With a lot unpredictability bordering your lives, as well as emotions usually running high up on both sides, it can become impossible to sit down as well as review important issues with each various other. Our specially experienced mediators have the ability to give neutral support across the nation, utilizing remote systems. Our team members all have experience of helping people at challenging times in their lives and also we are dedicated to delivering to you a specialist and also confidential service. There might be other solutions or info you may find practical. This would be a safe, respectful as well as appropriate procedure for you as well as your family members.

Your moderator will certainly aid you to overcome each parents schedule, continuing to be unbiased and also working with both parents to enable both to contribute and also locate compromise. If you go to the point of splitting up, or you are currently divided or separated, arbitration may help you concentrate on the future. Details as well as Analysis Fulfilling is typically needed before court, where it is secure to happen. Where a minimum of one party is eligible, legal help will certainly cover the costs of both events to participate in the MIAM. The person making the application to court should organize and go to the MIAM, which can happen independently or collectively with the various other celebration. If you wish to talk through your choices or discuss the arbitration procedure, then offer us a telephone call. on youngsters of moms and dads in dispute, as well as the alleviation that children experience when moms and dads begin to collaborate.

Arbitration Often Tends To Be More Affordable Than Court Procedures.

It has moved us right into a frame of mind to attempt to be co-operative - the children have actually been put first and arbitration assisted with that." It helped us in the direction of getting to arrangements on the large decisions, seeing to it that the needs of the children were thought about. it helped to take the heat out of the situation without us tearing each various other apart as well as discover a method get through it with the minimum of distress. Information Meetings At an Arbitration Info as well as Evaluation Fulfilling, the arbitrator will listen to you and also aid you to make an enlightened option regarding the very best way ahead. The moderator can also provide you information and signpost you to any kind of various other services that might be able to assist. We offer other encouraging services such as therapy as well as moms and dad support groups including the CAFCASS separated parents information program.

We have a seasoned group of professional as well as Accredited Attorney Mediators who have competence in all issues associating with the resolution of household disagreements making use of a procedure of Family members Mediation. We have years experience providing arbitration for dividing pairs to assist make these sensible decisions. Probably at this phase you are not exactly sure if the separation will certainly be short-term or irreversible. Although mediation is not a substitute for pair coaching, it does provide you an opportunity to interact constructively in a safe setting as well as this by itself can be healing as well as aid you to decide the means forward. Our Household Mediators learn as well as accredited by the Household Mediators Association and/or Resolution as well as are skilled at aiding clients interact effectively to settle all problems in disagreement. Normally matters reviewed in mediation are confidential which allow customers to go over issues easily and honestly. Cheltenham Arbitration Servicesspecialise in aiding you fix disagreements involving all kinds of family connections and also problems.

Durham Region Council's Families Information Solution does not promote nor support the services advertised on this website. Anybody looking for to use/access such solutions does so at their very own risk as well as might make all ideal enquiries about physical fitness for objective and also viability to meet their needs. Because of the ongoing coronavirus circumstance not all solutions and activities provided on this internet site will be running as typical. Anybody that wishes to make a court application about a household matter needs to participate in a MIAM prior to they can make an application to court unless details circumstances imply that you are exempt from requiring to do so. Concern for your kids can bring you closer together as co-parents-- or relocate you better apart. " Louisa did a big quantity for me, particularly with regard to how I communicated with my ex-wife and also seeing the bigger image. She made a fantastic difference to my connection with our kids."

What should you not say during mediation?

Do not make statements that are likely to leave the other side feeling insulted without fully considering the costs and benefits. “Speaking the truth”/Allocating blame: While there can be a role for blame in mediation, counsel must realize that choosing blame usually comes at the cost of an otherwise better deal.

Admin will supply directions and also information on just how this will be done as well as this website will be upgraded to offer the very same. The opportunity to go after reasonable, practical and equally acceptable agreements without the requirement to visit court. Unbiased, sensible aid for separating/divorcing couples and family members with or without children. In mediation we will work with you to assist you make solutions that are based on your's and also your household's scenarios as well as demands. At Evolve Family Arbitration we place you and also your kids at the centre of what we do.

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ayerayerproject · 5 years

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Picking up the Pieces

by Sarah Ichioka

Sarah Ichioka writes the keynote essay for Plasticity, a photography series by visual artist Ernest Goh on plastic pollution found on Punggol Beach, Singapore. The photography series was made during Exactly Foundation Art Residency programme 2018-19.

Sarah Ichioka writes the keynote essay for Plasticity, a photography series on microplastics and plastic pollution found on Singapore’s Punggol Beach, by visual artist, Ernest Goh for Exactly Foundation Art Residency programme.

On each page, a new object catches my eye; like jewels, like candy. I turn them over in my mind’s hand, admiring their lustrous surfaces, vivid colours.

My consumer-lust is aroused from its never too-deep sleep. That red shaft would make a stunning cocktail ring; that green streak, a tasty topping for a cake.

Mysterious figures appear on the white horizon. Our gazes meet. A wide-eyed soldier hoists his bayonet aloft. A wrinkled beast—a yak?—cocks a smirk in my direction. And wait, is that a… missile?

But then, suddenly, my fantasy falls to the ground. A bent red bottle cap, its curved white logo instantly recognisable. Intrigue flattens to disgust. These aren’t exotic goods whose heft begs handling; they’re nothing but so many tiny bits of trash.

++++

People who spend their time in or near the water—surfers, divers, sailors—are amongst the most passionate anti-plastic campaigners, because they see and feel the effects of ocean pollution first-hand. Photographer Ernest Goh traces the origin of his personal anti-plastic journey to a wave-borne shopping bag that smothered his face. Other friends—a married couple—have shared with me their experience of snorkeling and watching pieces of discarded plastic float by—including food packaging designed by the husband’s very own company.

Even when mediated through photos or videos, for folks more frequently in shopping malls than in the surf, there is a visual aspect of the plastic pollution crisis that imparts an immediate sense of accountability. That object I see lodged in the sea turtle’s nose is most certainly a plastic straw, just like the one I sucked my kopi peng through this morning; that cigarette lighter inside the ribcage of the albatross chick’s carcass is unmistakably the same item that my husband hides beneath his cufflinks and credit card receipts.

This visually self-evident character differentiates our plastic pollution crisis from some of the concurrent, compound emergencies we humans have created. Take our carbon pollution crisis: I have to believe climate scientists when they tell me that my holiday flights hasten the thawing of the permafrost. Or our nitrogen pollution crisis: I have to trust hydrology experts when they say that runoff from fertiliser used to grow my lunch causes massive downstream dead zones. In such cases, obfuscation and denial are easier to sustain, whether by ourselves, by industry lobbyists or by politicians.

The comparative legibility of our plastic pollution crisis might suggest that it is more politically “solvable” than some of these other potentially existential, yet less easily illustrated crises we face.

Having accepted our culpability, how might we begin to atone for it?

One response offers an appealing narrative of consumer activism: maybe we can (mindfully) shop our way out of this mess, by opting for more durable, reusable items? Certainly making a habit of carrying a water flask, a canvas shopping bag, and a set of bamboo eating utensils is a decent place to start, not least as a conversation starter and signal of one’s concern.

Perhaps the problem can be solved if we try our best to #recyclebetter, as the current Singaporean campaign urges? Or is recycling merely a “fig leaf on consumerism” as Jane Muncke, Director of Zurich's Food Packaging Forum puts it?

Maybe we should just tidy up a bit more? When I was a kid, my father would take me for an annual volunteer clean-up of the coast near our California home. Ending the day with sore muscles and a sack full of bullet casings (from a nearby shooting range), cigarette butts, condoms, deodorant rollers, and crumbling chunks of styrofoam was deeply satisfying to me, as tangible evidence of my personal concern and participation. Last year, I chaperoned my daughter’s preschool class on a similar clean-up outing to Singapore’s East Coast Park. This time, I felt rather less contented, overwhelmed by the seeming futility of our attempts, observing casual littering by park users and the floating trash ready to wash ashore as soon as we’d cleared our patch of beach.

As it happens, in about the same timespan as that between my leaving university and becoming a mother, the global volume of plastic production doubled. The same report that documents this leap estimates that global industries have produced 8,300 million metric tons of plastic since 1950. 6,400 million metric tons of this plastic—that’s roughly 100 times the weight of the concrete used to build the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest manmade structure—have become waste, nearly 80% of which sits in landfills or our natural environment. Less than 10% has been recycled, while the remainder has been incinerated (as has until recently been standard practice in Singapore).

In Singapore itself, plastic waste per capita has increased nearly 20 percent over the last 15 years. Looking at this country’s plastic bag usage alone, about 2,640 bags are thrown away every three seconds.

Projecting forward current production and pollution trends, another report predicts by 2050 our oceans could contain more plastics than fish (by weight), while the plastics industry itself could consume 15% of our annual carbon budget, and 20% of global oil production.

While our plastic pollution crisis is so overwhelmingly large, it is also mind-twistingly small. Here I mean small in the sense probed by Goh’s photographs: the scale of the microplastics, and now nano-plastics, whose presence has been documented in nearly every corner of our terrestrial and aquatic habitats, and which are now entering our food chain, with unknown, but potentially toxic effects.

The proximity of Goh’s plastic-strewn Punggol beach to a seafood restaurant seems apt. We study the food chain and hydrological cycles as concepts in school, but when most of us enter the “real” world we conveniently forget the practical implications of our systemic connections with the rest of nature.

Understanding the interconnected nature of plastic pollution’s causes and effects is a kind of reawakening. It destabilises the narrative that sees human culture as separate from the natural environment. That story of separation has been a necessary psychological cover for the exploitation of living systems that underpins nearly every aspect of our current economic and political order. Once we remember that ecocide is suicide, will we continue it?

Have we trashed Earth beyond habitability? No problem, we’ll just migrate to Mars, as deckhands or stowaways on a tech oligarch’s spaceship. But wait, turns out we’ve already trashed outer space too. Parts of broken satellites and rockets currently amount to over 8 million kilos of space waste. Rather like ocean plastics, the larger bits of space waste are fragmenting into smaller and smaller pieces, which interfere with digital communications and might even hinder future spacecraft launches.

So let’s turn our eyes back to our damaged and depleted, yet still living and magnificent planet.

“Reduce, reuse, recycle, refuse”? Yes of course, let’s do that. But politely declining plastic straws and rinsing our Coke bottles is simply not enough. Also—and in my view, more importantly—we must act not just as individual consumers but collectively, as concerned citizens and social beings.

With this in mind, let me leave you with an alternative “4 Rs” to consider:

Rebel: Let us raise our voices together, unashamed to share our grief, rage, and disgust at the devastation that our overconsumption-based society has unleashed all around us, clogging our commons and poisoning our sources of sustenance. Let’s insist on better, for ourselves, and for the complex living systems upon which our survival depends.

Root: Let us ground the solutions to our plastic pollution crisis in the lived history and culture of Singapore and its region*. What local wisdom and practices, from karung guni men, to metal tiffins, to banana leaf wrappers and beyond, might be usefully revisited for contemporary use? How might technological and behavioural innovations ground themselves in Singaporeans’ particular resources and values?

Relate: Let us decipher and then communicate the underlying systems that perpetuate this global crisis. Let’s understand for example, who benefits from the otherwise dangerous proliferation of plastics, and how they exert influence on policies and regulations. Let’s study why some national and local governments have taken action to solve the plastic pollution crisis more swiftly than others, and what successful changes early actors have made. Let’s explore how our plastic pollution crisis intersects with other economic, environmental and social systems.

And finally, Regenerate: Let us draw inspiration from the natural world to craft materials and manufacturing cycles that are truly waste-free. Let’s design, build, and inhabit systems that proactively repair past damage, clean up our rubbish, and co-create the conditions for our living world to flourish. It will be a beautiful sight.

Sarah Mineko Ichioka is a Singapore-based urbanist, curator and writer. She leads Desire Lines, a consultancy for environmental, cultural, and social-impact organisations. www.sarahichioka.com

*Ernest Goh’s MA thesis at Goldsmiths followed a similar vein, looking to historical urban successes to inspire contemporary applications. In Goh’s case, the water fountains of ancient Rome inspired the idea for new public water fountains for Singapore, which will be piloted as a part of this project at ADEX 2019.

++++++

Further reading: https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/

https://polymerdatabase.com/polymer%20classes/Plastics%20Industry%20Facts.html

https://polymerdatabase.com/Polymer%20Brands/Plastic%20Manufacturers.html

https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/lookup.php (tip: enter “plastic” in the Issue search field)

https://www.edb.gov.sg/en/our-industries/energy-and-chemicals.html

http://singapore-companies-directory.com/categories/singapore_plastics.htm

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toocomplexforthehumanmind · 3 years

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Opening Up – Collective Joy in Prison and Beyond

Originally posted here .

‘Hozho is not something you can experience on your own,

the eagles tell us as they lock talons in the stratosphere and fall to the earth as one.

Hozho is interbeauty.’

Lyla June Johnston – Hozho

As a trainee Good Vibrations facilitator, my first visit to a prison was not a typical one. As I approached the grey, hunched, fort-like building, went through security, and was led through a maze of corridors, locked doors and barbed wire fence I felt my body tense up with claustrophobia and anxiety. This combined uneasily with the guilty relief that I was a visitor – not a resident – of such a place. Yet not long after this, I was in a nondescript backroom surrounded by tuned, ornate brass Gamelan instruments resonating together in harmony, improvising and composing a unique and beautiful piece of music with a group of smiling strangers. My nervous system was confused, to say the least.

I don’t recall exactly when I heard the expression ‘collective joy’, but I remember that satisfying sense of something being named which needed naming. In a basic sense it refers to that transcendent feeling of connection and creative communion we can experience only in relationship with others. We need collective joy, and, after a year of lockdown restrictions and enforced ‘social isolation’, we are missing it now, more than ever. As such, we are in a better position than usual to imagine, in some miniscule way, what life might be like for the 80,000 odd people in the UK - and some nine million worldwide - who were isolated in prisons before the pandemic, and have suffered even harsher conditions since, locked up for an average of 22 hours a day.

Is there even any such thing as joy which isn’t collective? According to Jeremy Gilbert, a cultural theory academic and DJ I interviewed last summer for Good Vibrations, joy is ‘always sort of collective. You can experience collective joy sitting quietly in a library, relating to people through reading their books…’ . Yet there is something particularly important about the ability to experience connection with other humans in the flesh; the multidimensional complexity of another being responding to your own complexity in the moment. Collective joy is also in no way a given in the presence of other humans of course - in a traffic jam say, or at a gathering at which you feel unwelcome or disconnected from or even fearful of the people around you. Some degree of safety (both real and perceived) and trust in the people around you is a necessary condition for collective joy. It is inevitably hard to access in an oppressive institutional setting like a prison. This is one of the main problems with the existing criminal justice system, as Gilbert puts it: ‘there’s a tendency for prison to produce people who come out more alienated than they went in, and less able to effectively relate to other people around them’.

This analysis is borne out by another moving interview with Good Vibrations past participant and former prisoner Russ Haynes: ‘You’re on guard 24/7… the way I survived was to close up… you’re careful who you speak to, you’re really careful about what you say, where you go, who you interact with… and all of that happening on a day to day basis can be really mentally exhausting’. Yet even small, genuine experiences of collective joy can also cultivate the ability to trust in others and see collectivity as a source of potential joy, empowerment and liberation, as he described recalling his first experience of a gamelan workshop:

‘There was something about it that was so… and this sounds really cringey but it’s the only word I can use to describe it… so spiritual… I just felt.. there was a sense of freedom. It was the first time I felt truly free to express how I was feeling through music. It took me away from my environment, I remember how I felt, it was so calming, it was so spiritual, it was so relaxing… that that sort of stone of anger that I had inside me was starting to break away and I was not only connecting with the guys around me but connecting with the battle I was having inside of myself at the time. And it opened me up to experience emotions that I was suppressing because of my anger, because I didn’t want to be perceived as as weak as I felt. The whole thing gave me an experience I needed at the time which was to be able to relax and feel something… for me it was my first step to communicating with the outside world, which before I was refusing to let in.’

Gilbert’s understanding of the phenomenon of collective joy is influenced by the 17th Century German philosopher Baruch Spinoza. In this understanding, it refers to ‘that dimension of any experience which is a product of even a microscopic enhancement of a subject’s capacities’. Collective joy is a form of freedom in other words - not the kind of freedom associated with the rugged individual (usually male) hero, enforcing his will upon the world, but the empowered freedom you feel when you transcend your limited capacity as an individual via acting together, consensually and creatively with others. Prison in this sense restricts not just your literal freedom to move, but your ability and your natural instinct to access liberatory forms of collectivity.

Collective joy and the impacts of its absence is not a topic relevant purely prison or even of the pandemic lockdown however. I think this concept means so much to me because as someone who has experienced chronic depression since my early twenties, genuine collective joy feels like its opposite. Depression is the ultimate feeling of psychic isolation, alienation and disconnection; a prison of the soul. At its worst it is not a feeling of sadness, or even despair, but of nothingness, and it is very much a ‘disease of civilisation’ (i.e Western civilisation). Recovery and staying well for me has always been associated with an ability to reach out and connect with the people and the world around me. The sad truth is experiencing this kind of collectivity was for many of us an all too rare experience even before the pandemic however. This is not to say we crave collectivity all of the time of course - many of us, myself included, need and appreciate ‘alone’ time. But we are social mammals nonetheless, and forced isolation, and its associated affective state, loneliness, is not just an unpleasant emotional reality impacting our mental health but increasingly recognised as a devastating threat to physical health with a mortality risk impact akin to smoking.

Before ‘socially isolating’ became a public health instruction, it was mostly known as a public health problem, with increasing attempts to address it, and identify its deep root causes. Some point to the loss of community and shared spaces of collectivity associated with the decline of religion. I formerly worked as a Community Organiser for secular congregational community Sunday Assembly, founding a new congregation in the East End of London. Sunday Assembly was founded in 2013 by two comedians, Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans, who wanted to recreate the feelings of community and connection they remembered from attending church in their youth, without the framing of a faith they had since lost. They kept the basic ingredients of a church service; a reason to get up and be with others on a Sunday morning; a shared celebration of life in all its tragedy; an emphasis on community service and crucially communal singing - pop singalongs with a live band. The first assemblies were a huge success and the idea quickly gained traction, leading to assemblies springing up around the world. Yet I remember the first time I attended an assembly, and the awkwardness and reluctance and self-consciousness I felt - and felt others feel - when asked to stand and sing with a room of strangers. That feeling got easier to manage and bypass but never fully disappeared: though we crave it, collective joy doesn’t always come naturally anymore, because it’s culturally pretty alien to many of us. We can very quickly feel ‘self-conscious’ - worried about embarrassing our all-important individual selves. How many of us are able to dance and sing enthusiastically and freely without the aid of alcohol for instance? What does our culture do to our children - such natural dancers - to inhibit them from doing so when they grow up?

Sunday Assembly East End

This line of inquiry has inherently political implications. Gilbert places at least some of the blame on the dominant political and economic ideology forced on the world over the last 50 years: neoliberalism:

‘Under advanced capitalist culture, neoliberal culture, we are discouraged from experiencing collectivity as joyful, we’re encouraged to think of any meaningful or satisfying experience as being by its nature private… we are encouraged to feel that the only truly satisfying and meaningful agency in the world is to to buy something and to consume it… we’re encouraged to think of every aspect of lives in terms of something that we’re acquiring, something we’re buying, something we’re making an investment in from everything from relationships to education.’

This loss has deeper and older roots however and it is perhaps no accident that Good Vibrations employs a non-Western (Indonesian) musical form to facilitate experiences of collective joy. In ‘Dancing in the Streets - A History of Collective Joy’ Barbara Ehrenreich details the fascination and horror of early European colonialists when they witnessed the ‘almost ubiquitous practice of ecstatic ritual, in which the natives would gather to dance, sing or chant to a state of exhaustion and, beyond that, sometimes trance’. Such examples of collective joy and ritual ‘ecstasy’ are well known to anthropologists as universal human impulses which have had to be heavily repressed to facilitate the strange, lonely and disconnected individual selfhood prized and developed in the West then exported forcibly upon the rest of world over the last five hundred years or so. Even now the forms of music and dance we associate with contemporary Western cultures of collective joy, from jazz to techno, largely have their roots in the African diaspora.

‘Tam Tam’ weekly open jam session, Montreal

Experiences of collective joy, particularly through music, can facilitate deep healing, in the most inhospitable of conditions, supporting people locked up, whether in literal and psychological cell, to experience even for a moment the possibility of a world beyond. Yet this has lessons for our wider culture too, about what we’ve lost and what we need to heal collectively. Going further, it may even have implications for our relationship to not just ourselves and each other but the natural world. Can opening up to the world beyond our individual selfhood begin to undo the dangerous disconnection from the ecological foundations of life which has in no small part facilitated the devastation we continue to wreck upon it? Collective Joy in this sense seems to me to relate in some sense to the untranslatable word ‘Hozho’, said to be the most important word in Diné Bizaad, a Native American language, and described by Navajo poet Lyla June Johnston (quoted at the beginning) as a sense of ‘interbeauty’, in which we feel intimately connected to all of life. As ecological activist and philosopher Joanna Macy argues, to truly transform our relationship to the natural world, instead of ‘caring’ for nature as an abstract other, we must ‘extend our notions of self-interest; ‘it would not occur to me to plead with you, “Don’t saw off your leg. That would be an act of violence.” It wouldn’t occur to me because your leg is part of your body. Well, so are the trees in the Amazon rain basin. They are our external lungs. We are beginning to realize that the world is our body.’

Ende Gelände anti-coal protest, 2016

This may sound like a standard hippie appeal to oneness. But the more we learn about ecology, biology and physics, the more it turns out the hippies were right, right? Everything is connected, and like love, this reality is only a superficial cliche to the extent it is abstract and disembodied. When you truly experience it, you know it. You feel great, you smile at the people and the world around you, and feel part of it again... yet you also open up yourself to deep grief at the violence we regularly do to each other and the biosphere. To ourselves. In this sense perhaps collective joy can only truly be accessed if we are prepared to open ourselves up to collective grief. Perhaps this is the deepest reason so many of us are resistant to it.

Perhaps it is time to open the gates and let it all in.

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researchandpracticerv001 · 3 years

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Activity 13

Activity 13:

1) You should take some time to consider your response to each question and make some notes as you do so:

Which parts of the programme have you enjoyed most so far? Can you say why?

I would say I enjoyed being able to post on Tumblr the most. I did not have any online creative community friends yet, but I am sure I would. Meeting new creative people and having creative conversations stimulates me in a joyful manner. Also, the spoken presentation in act 12 was a challenge because I did not like my voice and I am not very experienced in video editing. This really put me out of my comfort zone and I realised how much fun and freeing it is to present work in this format.

Which parts of the programme did you find easiest to work through? Can you say why? Did you find the easier parts of the programme the most enjoyable or not? Again, can you say why?

The easiest part of the programme was creating the Tumblr blog. I think this is also the reason I enjoyed this activity so much. I really enjoyed spending time reading and looking at other’s creative work in a blog format. This is because there is no rush or expectancy for comments as in the IDI forum or studio. In Tumblr, I am a stranger talking freely to other creative strangers. Something about sharing ideas this way is very liberating and put out a lot of judgment for feedback besides being visually attractive and fun to use.

Which parts of the programme did you find the most difficult and challenging? Can you identify the cause or causes of these difficulties? If you did find parts of the course difficult and challenging, how did you cope with these challenges? Did you use any particular strategies?

Besides enjoying the spoken video presentation, I feel that with this activity was the one I learned most from. This is because I have never completed a presentation in this format. It was a huge challenge to pronounce the English correctly in my video slides. I am also not familiar with video editing so I spent many hours figuring out the video editing software, DaVinci Resolve. I really liked this activity and I decided to choose the spoken video presentation and not a poster because I wanted to learn how to present in a video media format. However, it took me a while to put the activity together.

What were the overall strengths of your working process? Can you state why you think these were particularly effective?

I would say that the research into different research methodologies took me a while as I trying to understand act 08 and 09. This is because it is not clear or easy to present these methodologies, approaches or concepts. Online, my tutor helped me clarify my understanding and corrected me because I was lost, but now that I have understood the utility and differences between practice-based research and practice-led research. I can also see how important and how relevant these are for creative research and my own investigation in my MA project. I think understanding these methodologies will help me gather the best information towards the final MA project outcome.

What were the overall weaknesses of your working process? Why were these problematic? How did you overcome any difficulties you experienced in this area?

I would say that due that to the topics learned in this module being totally new for me, I had to find information myself. This was a difficult because in the research and activity process, I was not sure if what I was doing was the correct thing to do. The module activity were really free and independent to do, therefore all my classmates were working on the same topic but related to their own project and interests. Due to this, their feedback and approaches were totally different to mine. I would say that this module took me more time to independent investigation process and more time reading and understanding new concepts and methodologies than others.

What do you think you have learned to date while studying at MA level? Please try to be specific in your response. Are there specific areas or skills that you would like to explore further?

I have learned how to properly investigate and gather information in a coherent cohesive manner that is relevant to my MA project ideas. I have also learned how to discard or measure the level of importance and hierarchy that each area of information should have. This is so that my research does not look like a compilation of random pieces of information and I think this knowledge helped me to organise and prioritise my research. I have also learned about new methodologies and ways of presenting my research and ideas. I am definitely not an expert in video editing, but I have learned how to put together a spoken-video presentation and this is something that took me lot of effort. Overall, I think my mind has a more straightforward and organised thought process to develop and based an argument for my MA project on. So far, my MA project has evolved and become something that makes sense and can be explained and supported with real life facts. This contrasts with the beginning that was only a dreamy idea of something in my mind. It made me feel that my ideas can be something useful and relevant to society and the research process and research methodology has been a huge tool for me when collecting and presenting the MA project this way.

The areas I would like and I plan to focus on further are actually the level of realistic possibilities on how my project can actually happen. I know it may not be the case, but I want for my project to be refined enough to look attractive and be considered for a real-life project.

Which aspect of the programme inspired you the most? Why did you find this particular aspect of inspiring?

Activity 12 really pushed me to do something new and work towards the presentation of my MA project. I definitely spent more than a week figuring out the video editing software, DaVinci Resolve because I wanted to create a professional spoken presentation. This type of work towards the benefit of my project inspired me and put me in the mindset of aspiration goals and I am very pleased that I completed the video spoken presentation.

What do you feel you need to do to improve your learning process in the next modules?

I have started to contact local NHS workers and alternative wellbeing coaches to include as much detail of real-life practices towards the function of my design. This is something that I want to keep doing and gather as much information as possible. This is because I want my project to be truly useful and beneficial in function and form, not just be a good idea with good arguments. I want to be something beyond a good idea with arguments to a solution for an existing problem.

What range of new skills and techniques did you learn and how do you think this new knowledge will impact on your future development as a creative practitioner?

Video-media presentation format

Blog sharing creative feedback

Practice lead and practice based research methodologies

Organization and refinement of research information

In what direction do you see your practice heading now?

At the beginning of this module I found my first job as an interior designer in a kitchen, bathroom and interior design company. After few months, I saw the reality of the interior design company rules and margins towards the clients and I quit as soon as I could because of the lack of freedom and creative work. I refused to participate in poor design practices. This made me realise that I really wanted to pursue the research body and contribute to the importance and consequences of design in human life. My goal is not to find a job or earn knowledge to suit a job role anymore. My goal is to be able to keep researching on my field and keep collecting information to pass on. I am seriously considering the PhD options after the MA program because I can always get a job and even any search for another creative job, so the job goal is not my goal anymore. Any job will keep me alive, but I also do not want to not be researching and form part of new concepts and new ideas within design because I truly believe that architecture and interior design can help humanity advance and evolve.

#maproject #researchpractice #research

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a-mad-scientist-approaches · 6 years

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Multiverse is a Curse Word (4)

Dodoodoodoodo seeing how much of this I can post before Christmas …

@the-subpar-ghost your Adrift AU is amazing and I’ve wanted to make content for it for ages.

@hntrgurl13 I am in love with Addi, as you know, but thanks again for creating her, the Dimension Jumper AU, and the Drifting Dimensions AU. I can’t stay away from them!

@scipunk63 I swear I’m not just tantalising you with the promise of your Addiford ship appearing.

My buddies. My dudes. @thejesterlyfictionista and @deadpool-demon-diva. Tell me what you think.

AO3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Chapter 4: Broken Heart or Broken Bones - Your Choice

“Doctor Pines, a word if you please,” Wesley called.

Ford rose from the couch they were cooking breakfast on and went over to the resistance leader.

“I thought it would be a good idea to let you know that we are planning to undertake a strike mission against Wikert Expansion Enterprises tonight, in case you wonder about all the extra weapons around,”

“Actually, there’s a good chance I wouldn’t have noticed. Mabel and I were planning to leave today,” informed Ford.

Wesley appeared surprised. “Really? When you have not even paid back your debt?”

Ford went cold. “Debt?”

“Why, we saved you, and your child, from certain death. We cured you, vaccinated you, even performed a blood transfusion, and you do not think you owe us anything?” Wesley asked innocently.

Ford stood silently for a moment, thinking through his options. This was undoubtedly a ploy to rope him further into the organisation. He had no problem harshly replying that no, he did not think he owed them anything, because when a child is in trouble you damn well help them, however he did not think Wesley would take a simple rejection for an answer. Fighting his way out would be tantamount to suicide in the middle of all these people, so that left one remaining option.

“Fine. What do you want me to do?”

“Come with us.” Said Wesley immediately. “I’m going to need the best two hackers I have, and you are number one.”

The lab yesterday was a test, Ford realised. “Where are we going?”

“A research facility. Military owned, military operated. Fortunately, most of their personnel has been called away to address an issue I organised, leaving it up for the taking. We need your help to break into the data centre and steal one specific file: WEE.rc736,”

Ford took a deep breath, and paraphrased. “You want me to participate in an incursion to a military institution owned by an evil, interdimensional capitalist corporation, trusting people I don’t know or like to watch my back, all the while most likely initiating a warzone over a digital file called urine.”

“Not sure if you can handle it?” asked Wesley pleasantly.

Ford seethed. “You expect me to bring a twelve-year-old into all this?”

“Oh no, by all means, she is welcome to stay here until our return,”

“If we return,” said Ford through clenched teeth.

“Are you going to repay your debt or not?” Wesley’s tone had not changed from that of an agreeable conversation the entire time.

I’ll just ask Addi to look after her, Ford reasoned.

⃝

An alarm rang through the complex and continued sounding as everyone began to move towards the hangar.

Ford had been trapped in a conference room with Wesley all day, going over and memorising a plan weeks in the making which the other eighty participants were already up to date on. He had not had a chance to speak to Adeline and Mabel.

The hangar was on the ground floor towards the back of the base, one wall completely missing to act as the exit. There were four shuttles inside, all of which would be used in the assault. As Ford made his way there he did not see either Adeline or Mabel, and he could feel the stress mounting. It was bad enough that he had to do this, and he should at least get a chance to say goodbye to his niece. He was striding over to Wesley’s ship with the intention of demanding he transmit a message to Adeline, when he heard her call out behind him.

“There you are. Here’s your niece, see you when we get back.” She clapped him on the shoulder as she passed.

“You’re coming?”

“Well yeah, I’ve got a database to help hack.” She frowned. “You’re not coming, are you?”

I’m going to need the two best hackers I have …

“You’re the second hacker,” he realised.

“Second?” Adeline’s expression was changing as she started to grasp what was going on.

Well who did you expect? Thought Ford furiously. Of course it’s her, you just refused to think about it, blocking it out because it interfered with your plans, because you needed her here, looking after –

“What’s going on?” asked Mabel with a nervous smile. “Are we going on the mission too, Grunkle Ford?”

The very thought filled him with fear, and sent him small flashbacks to other resistance efforts, other missions, other battlefields, other soldiers who were little more than teenagers, dead on the orders of some faceless leader, explosions that rocked entire worlds, weapons firing every colour of the rainbow, dark dungeons and prison cells that were the price of failure, and everyone ceaselessly believing in a non-existent hope that things would get better when how could they? The equilibrium of the multiverse was too stable to change in his favour. It was a buffer system of bad things.

Ford’s heart started to beat faster as he frantically thought of solutions.

“No.” He said distantly. “Just me. Adeline and I are both needed to steal a file for this resistance cell.” He watched Mabel’s smile fade as her eyes flicked between the two adults.

“Wesley needs the best people available for this. He’s collecting on the debt we owe him for saving us,” he had no idea why he was continuing to explain. It was obvious she had already put two and two together and come up with a less than satisfactory answer.

“You need to stay here,” The acknowledgement of this reality shattered the unnatural calm which had befallen both of them.

“What? No, Grunkle Ford, I have to come with you.” She shook her head and used both hands to grab onto his sleeves, correcting him as though it was a simple mathematical error he had made.

“It’s too dangerous. I’m sorry Mabel, not this time,”

“No. No, you can’t leave me here.” She insisted, tightening her grip.

“I can’t take you with me, Mabel. I’m not joking around, you need to stay here,”

Why isn’t she listening? Thought Ford as he numbly tried to twist out of her hold. Can’t she see this is serious? She could get hurt, she could die.

The hangar seemed to be getting colder by the second.

She cannot come. I draw the line here.

Regardless, Mabel was refusing to let go of him, and he could not bring himself to use more force than he already was. A quick glance behind him showed that Adeline’s face was going pale and Wesley was calmly continuing to direct weaponry and supplies onto the aircraft.

Ford was suddenly angry. Angry at Wesley for forcing him into this position. Angry at Adeline for involving him in yet another resistance. He was angry at Mabel for not listening to him, angry at Stan for pushing him into the bloody portal and then getting his niece thrown in too. He was angry at Bill fucking Cipher for ever approaching him with designs for the portal, at Fiddleford for not trying harder to convince him of Bill’s treachery, at himself for not listening to Fiddleford. At himself because he had no idea how to take care of children, or how to keep them safe, and angry at Stan again because he did. He was angry that his anger changed nothing.

“Mabel, it’ll be okay, you’ll be okay here, I’ll come back-” But how do you know that –

“No!” Mabel’s shout was violent enough to cause him to stop dead. “No, it’s not okay, it’s not safe here! You were awake last night too, I know you were, you heard what was going on!” Tears were filling Mabel’s eyes now, whether from anger or fear he did not know. Most likely both …

His mouth going dry and his pulse was thundering in his ears. Yes, he had been awake last night, he had heard Adeline’s sword sing and the muttered threats she had given their visitors. Another thing he had refused to think about in his efforts to convince himself that Mabel would be safe when he left her, because the truth was he did not know what he would come back to if she stayed. It was no use trying to say that most of the resisters were coming on the mission, that she could hide, that whatever happened would surely be better than being captured, tortured and killed – but that could happen here too. The very thought of the results of either decision made him sick.

He turned to Wesley. “Please, is there any other way to pay you back? Anything?”

“I am sorry Doctor Pines, this is the only thing you can do for me. I need your skills now, on this specific job,” he said unsympathetically.

“Wesley, come on!” Adeline said, shocked. “She’s a kid! You can’t let her stay here alone.”

“I never said she had to stay. That decision was all courtesy of Doctor Pines,” Wesley said flatly.

“Wes, I can’t believe this! Let’s just go back to the original plan, Kot and I can handle it. Hell, I’ll do it by myself if you want a medic!”

“Alternatively, what if Wikert has safeguards that we do not know about? What if you hit a block similar to the one on the lab? No, Doctor Pines is coming with us, no matter what. Make a decision Stanford: choose to break her heart or break her bones, but do it quickly,”

The last of the ammunition was loaded onto the vehicle. Wesley started ordering the personnel into shuttles. The hangar began to hum as engines ignited.

Break her heart or break her bones. Which choice leads to which exactly? He stared into the girl’s own glassy eyes like he would find the answer there.

“Mabel, sweetheart, please …” Please don’t make me choose, please understand, please do something to make this easier …

“No.” Her voice shook but she held his gaze steadily, and continued to clutch at his sleeves like a lifeline. They might have been.

“We do not have unlimited time, Stanford Pines,”

“I know, I can hear the fucking sirens!” Ford snapped. Of course this would happen, of course, why wouldn’t it, of course ofcourseofcourse-

Hardening his heart, he turned back to his niece hating himself. She was going to stay here, she was going to be fine, he was going to get the damn file, he would come back, and he would figure out how to make this up to her. She would deal with it, and so would he. The tightness in his chest meant nothing.

He braced himself to pull away and said, “Trust me.”

“NO!” It was the seventh time she had said it, and the most shocking. The word ripped convulsively out of her, and the tears started to break from their dam.

“I mean – I mean, yeah, I do …” She struggled to find the right words. “But, the last time I said that,” she was looking at him, desperate to have him understand whatever was going through her mind, trying to convey a message that was almost too painful to speak aloud.

“I let go of the only thing holding me to the ground and I fell into the portal. And I’m sorry, but I really, really wish I hadn’t, I’m so sorry.”

That was the sentence that broke both of them. Ford sank to his knees and hugged her tightly as Mabel collapsed onto his shoulder, sobbing. There was no way he could leave her after that.

⃝

After a few seconds Mabel was able to regain control of herself. She peeled herself off her uncle and Addi came over to take her hand. She looked scared.

“Come on kiddo, let’s get you into the ship,” She sounded as confident as ever.

“I’ll be right there,” Mabel heard Ford say quietly. Emotionally drained, she was too sapped to feel embarrassed, or scared, or anything other than relieved. She wasn’t going to be left behind. She wasn’t going to lose her family again.

Mabel nodded, and Addi briefly squeezed her uncle’s hand before strapping her into a seat and sitting next to her.

From out in the hangar came a loud “Shit!”, which caused Mabel to wince, followed by the sound of a boot slamming into the aircraft’s side. Footsteps thudded over to where Wesley waited.

“If anything happens to her …”

“Nothing will,”

“For your sake you should hope so,”

Addi’s knuckles had gone white.

Then Ford climbed into the craft and sat on Mabel’s other side, pinching the bridge of his nose. A moment later the doors slid shut, the alarms ceased, and the shuttles lifted up into the air.

No going back now, Mabel thought.

#ANGST #to balance out the FLUFF from last time #sorry if you trusted wesley #stupid polar bear #gravity falls #fanfiction #adrift au #dimension jumper au #drifting dimensions au #portal ford #portal mabel #portal addi #adeline marks #stanford pines #mabel pines #multiverse is a curse word #my writing

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doggonneit · 6 years

Text

In a Flash of Blue

Fandom: Dramatical Murder

Characters: Aoba, Mizuki, Mink, Virus, Trip, OCs

Rating: M for Mature

Warnings: Implied/Referenced Character Death, Smoking, Sibling Soulmates

Words: 7,368

A.N. This was originally for DMMD Bigbang 2017 but things happened and I didn’t upload in time :/

Summary:

"Legends and myths tell us humans used to live as individual souls in individual bodies, but they were fragile in that state. Left alone, humans were too volatile and ended up self-destructing. They needed another soul to make up for the imperfections, so humans became two souls in one body that lived harmoniously together and in society."

Usui is the key.

She can lead Aoba to the soulmate that he never knew.

But she disappeared.

Maybe she's never coming back.

[Read on AO3]

They called it an arena but it was just a patch of dirt surrounded by a chain-link fence, hardly anything worthy of a game that used to garner so much attention.

Rhyme used to be one hell of a spectacle, organised battles raging in lit stadiums and televised to the entire nation of Midorijima. Now they were just alley games played for pocket money.

Sometimes Aoba thought back to those matches and craved the surge of adrenaline that came with Usui’s deep, booming voice and the audience’s frenzied screams. It had been a while since he heard either of those.

He ground his boots into the dirt, eyeing his opponents and their avian Allmate. He’d seen the brothers around, always dressed in thick leather and heavy chains that clanked with every step. They were highly regarded in the arena but he’d never had the opportunity to fight them before today.

The brothers strolled the perimeter, rolling their shoulders to show off their tightly coiled muscles and goading the audience into jeering at Aoba. What a useless effort to intimidate—Rhyme was rarely physical between players and this one-sided pissing contest was just a show for an audience who didn’t give a rat’s ass about anything.

This game had really gone to shit.

“On the red side looking all done up in fetish gear, yeah, that’s right, fetish gear, we have the brothers Daisuke-Hideo and their birdy Allmate… Wingo!”

Aoba barely suppressed a snort. Wingo? Lame.

“And over on the blue side in a blue jacket, I see what you did there, bud, pal, mate, love the matching outfit, we have Ao—uhh… it’s just Aoba? Where’s the other name?”

“Get on with it!” Aoba shouted at the commentator. This one didn’t know when the hell to keep his mouth shut.

“All right, all right, calm your tits, man. Sorry folks, looks like we don’t get to meet the brother today. So you lot are going to have to settle for Aoba and his doggy Allmate… Ren!”

Cheers and whoops rose and died as the digital field rose like a tsunami and caged them in an endless ocean of blue, taking all the noise of the outside world away. A shudder jolted down Aoba’s body as his every instinct screamed home.

A moment of reprieve and then the Allmates appeared in their digital forms, barely humanoid and their eyes covered by some sort of accessory. Wingo emerged just as finely decorated as his owners and he stretched his grotesquely elongated arms out and let out a bloodcurdling shriek that resonated throughout the field.

Aoba flinched, but took comfort in Ren’s presence. Ren was a solid and steady form in a signature navy shawl who didn’t bother with theatrics; he preferred not to make a fool of himself and watched impassively as Wingo continued to scream.

Aoba took the chance to cast his gaze around. A field of blue and green grids that stretched as far as his eye could see, and yet none of it showed him what he wanted to see most.

Where did you go?

“Aoba,” Ren said in his deep timbre.

Hope dimmed but still flickered in Aoba’s chest.

Maybe next time.

“Ren.” Seconds before the battle began, Aoba let his fangs shine though with an animalistic grin. “Get ’em, boy.”

The digital field dissolved back into the crappy dirt and fence arena, and all the sounds of the real world rushed in and bombarded Aoba’s ears. Laughs, cheers, curses.

The standard fare.

Aoba scooped Ren up into his shoulder bag and ignored the screams of pain, physical and mental, coming from the brothers and their broken Allmate. They could heal the wounds on their body but that Allmate was fried to its core. Aoba took no pleasure in destruction, not like he used to, but now he did it because it was easier than letting his opponents come back stronger.

This was the way of Rhyme now, where anything that happened in the digital world impacted the physical world. Ever since the Glitch, as it was known, the rules of Rhyme had been twisted into something fierce and violent. It wasn’t about fame and glory anymore; it was about fame and glory and blood.

All the better for Aoba—blood brought money.

“That should tide us over for the next week,” Aoba absentmindedly said as he brushed past onlookers milling around the arena. There were a few familiar faces who gave lukewarm greetings and he returned them with casual nods.

“It is more likely to last us the next four days,” Ren said, resting his muzzle on the outside of the bag and letting his little tongue loll out. “My body sustained minor damage that will cost us in repairs.”

Aoba pursed his lips. He relied heavily on the money from these matches because they paid for his ailing grandmother’s medicine, and to have such a large portion of it rerouted elsewhere was rather inconvenient.

Ren was an older model of Allmate and his parts had to be specially ordered and delivered from overseas. The cost of maintaining him was becoming unfeasible, especially since he had to keep participating in Rhyme just to bring the money in to repair him. There would come a day when Aoba would have to admit it was endless cycle going nowhere, but for now he curled his fingers into Ren’s soft fur and told himself there was still time.

“Aoba?” Ren asked.

“We’ll be fine,” Aoba said. “We’ll make the money stretch the week.”

“You cannot continue brushing off your own medicines to pay for Tae’s,” Ren said. “It is having a negative impact on your health and I do not wish to see it deteriorate into a larger issue.”

“It won’t,” Aoba insisted, wondering about the number of times he’d thrown his prescriptions into the bin just to scrounge up a few extra bills. No doubt Ren could tell him and give the exact dates and times to boot.

There was another match coming up and from the chatter in the crowd, promising to be a good one. Aoba wasn’t particularly interested in matches outside of his own, and weaved through the throng of bodies, scanning for one face in particular. He found them on the fringe of the crowd, lazily holding a cigarette between their fingers and observing the growing commotion.

Every individual had their peculiarities despite sharing a body and these two were no different, no matter how similarly they tried to present themselves. It was all too easy to see through them when Aoba had known them for so long.

“Virus, Trip.” Aoba elbowed them in their ribs, making them choke on the inhale. “Thought you guys were trying to quit?”

“We were, but Trip was insistent.”

Names weren’t necessary to know which of them was speaking. Virus always stood with relaxed shoulders and head tilted sideways in the perfect picture of patronising curiosity. Trip, on the other hand, always stood back hunched and spoke in a bored drawl like he couldn’t give two shits about conversation.

The only thing they shared in common was their pride in their horrible fashion sense. They liked wearing high-end clothes and they sported a gaudy suit as usual, today a checkered pink and blue. Aoba secretly thought they were colourblind and had no clue how hideous their combinations were, but he’d never been able to prove it.

“Trip, you should be more considerate of your health,” Aoba admonished. “It’s not just your body, you know.”

Heat smouldered in his chest; maybe it was jealousy, and it burned too close to destruction. Aoba took a second to calm himself, sweeping his fringe to the side. It grated on his nerves how others took their soulmates for granted—if only they knew what it was like to live without their most precious person in the world.

But he kept his mouth shut.

“Trip’s of the opinion that we ride and die together,” Virus dryly said. “He’s always been the more melodramatic of us. But we’re not here to talk about Trip’s more abominable qualities—we’re here to talk about your money. I’ve already transferred your winnings to your account. It could’ve been more, you know, if you’d let the match last longer than one minute.”

“Whatever. Sign me up for more.”

“Don’t push yourself, Aoba.”

“I don’t need you to mother me.”

“It comes from a place of concern,” Virus said. “That’s not something to be ashamed of. We all need someone to take of us, don’t we?”

Aoba glared, knowing exactly what Virus was referring to, but not getting into it. Virus had a tongue that could cut through glass and engaging with it would only end in humiliation. He changed the subject instead. “What have you heard about Usui?”

Virus dropped the cigarette onto the ground and snuffed it out with the sole of their polished leather shoe. “There hasn’t been anything new,” he said. “We’ve asked around the different sectors but everyone’s story is the same. All matches running at the time glitched out. When the technicians got the fields up again, Usui was gone and she hasn’t been seen since.”

Aoba let out a frustrated huff. He’d hoped that Virus and Trip, with their yakuza contacts, would have more information surrounding the mystery of the Glitch but apparently this was beyond them too.

“No-one’s seen Sly Blue either,” Virus pointed out. “Why do you keep refusing to enter using both names? You would see a far greater profit considering people love a bloodbath, and we all remember how bloodthirsty Sly Blue could get.”

“He’s not real,” Aoba said. “He never was.”

He didn’t elaborate anymore on that point—all Virus and Trip needed to know was that he didn’t share his body with another soul. Maybe even that was too much information. There were times he caught their pitying stares and he didn’t want to know what they’d look like if they knew he’d created another voice in his head to pretend he wasn’t broken.

“If that’s all, I’ll catch you guys later.”

Aoba turned on his heel and began walking off, but not before one last person chipped in with a lazy drawl.

“Give your grandmothers our best.”

Aoba flipped them the finger without looking back. He only had one grandmother and those bastards knew it.

Rhyme had always been one of those things Aoba could lose himself in for hours. It was so easy to step into a field and let himself get swept into the tide and forget about everything in the outside world. Rhyme was safe, and it was home.

The only thing Aoba disliked about the game was how it left pains shooting through his head and down to the tips of his hair. It cascaded down in waves, and only hospital-grade painkillers could take it away. It didn’t help that Virus and Trip chose to be jerks today, because it meant they chose to cut him open and sprinkle salt in his wounds.

Aoba found himself traipsing to Black Needle, a bar and parlour hybrid that his long-time friends Mizuki and Chino ran. The three of them had known each other since their early troublemaking teen years and somehow always stayed close.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t our favourite Rhymer finally dropping in for a visit.”

Aoba stepped through onto shiny black and grey tiles, and squinted to shield his eyes from the flashing neon lights. Those obnoxious things were going to do his head in, though it spoke volumes that Mizuki hurried to turn them off and gesture for him to take a seat at the bar.

“Thanks,” Aoba said, sitting on a stool and setting his bag on the next one. “The match today was a breeze, but damn if it wasn’t a pain in ass too.”

“I still can’t believe you gave up Rib.” Mizuki clucked his tongue and gave a sad shake of his head that didn’t fool anybody. Sure, Rib had been great—the physical nature of it was addictive like a drug but it could never compare to the familiarity Aoba soaked in when he fought in Rhyme.

“There’s no money in Rib,” Aoba reminded. “It’s all about territory and that’s not the life for me.”

“Money isn’t everything, you dumb fuck.”

Aoba resisted the urge to roll his eyes and gave a wry smile instead. “Hello, Chino.”

Where Mizuki exuded an aura of warmth and friendliness, his brother was the complete opposite. Chino stood with hunched shoulders and a perpetual sneer that warned people away, but there were times he liked to invade people’s personal space and make them piss their pants.

It happened once, with a salaryman who refused to stop hitting on Aoba because he believed in all of his drunken glory that Aoba was a siren. He’d spouted awful lines about Aoba leading him to water and how he’d willingly drown for a chance to spend a night with him.

It was only funny when Chino lost his patience and told the salaryman to fuck off or he’d drown the dumbass himself.

Chino leaned over the bar and into Aoba’s space, so close they were almost nose to nose. “Rib’s got family and that’s where the shit is. Come back and join Dry Juice—Mizuki’ll suck your dick for free.”

“He’d do that anyway,” Aoba shot back.

Chino gave a sharp bark of laughter and in his moment of surprise, Mizuki wrested control of their body again.

“Shut up!” Mizuki snapped, olive skin tinted a telling shade of pink. “I would not!”

“Of course not.” Aoba appeased him, trying not to let his amusement show but he could feel the corners of his lips twitching. Chino had long informed him about Mizuki’s crush and it was impossible not to poke fun sometimes. “Chino would do it for you anyway.”

Mizuki’s face went up in flames and that let Chino take control again. Sometimes it felt like whiplash with how often and how quickly these two switched places, but it was nice to have the chance to talk to them both equally.

Aoba envied them that.

“I’d take one for the team and blow you,” Chino solemnly said, all traces of scorn and mockery gone. “Fellas aren’t my type but you look so much like a girl sometimes I don’t think it’d make much of a difference.”

“Fuck you,” Aoba said. He’d heard enough jokes about his sex to last a lifetime.

“Yeah, yeah, fuck you too. What’d you crawl into this hole for anyway? Don’t suppose you’re finally reconsidering my offer to tattoo your ass?”

Aoba burst out laughing. He remembered that night with great fondness, mainly because Mizuki and Chino had been completely sloshed and ended up revealing each other’s dirtiest secrets in a nasty cycle of revenge. That was how Aoba came to learn about Mizuki’s crush and Chino’s desire to tattoo a heart on him. At least Chino owned up to it and proclaimed the tattoo would be free of charge. Mizuki though? Still in denial anything ever happened.

“Nah, I just wanted to catch up and have a drink.”

“Sure you should be drinking with that headache of yours?” Chino clearly didn’t care either way, having already brought out two ice-cold beers, and slid one over to Aoba.

It was probably a bad idea but the pain already hurt so much a little more wouldn’t make much of a difference. It would eventually disappear anyway, he’d just need time.

Aoba grabbed the bottle, delighting in the sensation of the cold glass numbing the tips of his fingers, and clanked the neck against Chino’s bottle before taking a sip.

“So let’s drop the whole I’m fucking dandy pretence and do the whole weary customer spewing their troubles to the weary bartender thing. We all know you don’t come here just to say hello anymore.” Chino produced a rag and pretended to polish the counter. “What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?”

It’d be all too easy to punch Chino in the face, but Aoba knew with all the certainty in the world that they’d end up in an all-out brawl that would cost heaps in property damage.

Instead, Aoba gave a vague wave of his hand. It was slightly insulting how easily Chino saw through him but it was the truth. Aoba rarely came by Black Needle anymore, unable to find his place amongst members of a Rib gang when Rhyme was his life. Nowadays, he only visited when he needed a drink and a place to think.

He did regret that.

“It’s the Glitch,” Aoba said. The incident had been mysterious and the consequences following it dire. Even the oldest citizens who knew nothing about Rhyme were aware of its downfall and its current pitiful state. “I’m still trying to glean information where I can but it’s frustrating. Everything so far has led to dead ends and it’s getting to the point I’m afraid there’s nowhere else to look.”

“Sounds like your yakuza boys and hacker boys are doing jack shit,” Chino commented, grabbing his beer and taking a heavy gulp.

“They’re doing their best,” Aoba defended them, knowing they were a fickle lot but would put in their best effort anyway. No-one on this island could do what they did. “That being said, I’m screwed so badly I might as well be a cork.”

Chino snorted, almost spraying the counter he’d just pretended to clean. “Tell you what,” he coughed, setting his bottle down with a clunk, “I might be able to point you to someone who can lend a hand.”

Chino, dropping the asshole façade and being actually being helpful?

Hell’s freezing over, Aoba thought.

“What’s the catch?” he said out loud. “I’m still not letting you tattoo my ass.”

“There goes that idea.” Chino gave an easy shrug. “But no, that’s not the catch. There’s no real catch, not the way you’re thinking.”

“So…” Aoba hedged.

“How much do you believe in the whole mystic bullshit deal?”

Aoba narrowed his eyes, trying to see if a smirk lay hidden behind sharp eyes and even sharper teeth. He wouldn’t put it past his friend. “Are you taking the piss?”

“At you? Nah, never. So come on, you believe or not?”

“Not particularly,” Aoba answered. The only experiences he’d had with this kind of thing were psychic weirdos calling him up and coaxing him to pay top dollar to find out when he’d meet the love of his life. Once was funny, twice was amusing, and every time after that was plain annoying. “Don’t tell me you do. That seems more like Mizuki’s kinda thing.”

“Yeah.” Chino gave a strangely affectionate nod. “He’s into all of that mystic magic crap, but I figure it’s more convincing coming from me because you know I don’t give a rat’s ass about any of those cheap tricks.”

If Aoba didn’t know any better, he’d accuse Chino of having him on. Chino was the world’s biggest sceptic and didn’t believe in anything he couldn’t verify with his own two eyes. Whatever he was talking about now had to be really unbelievable, yet promising, if he was forced to acknowledge its existence.

“Does that mean you believe in psychics now?” Aoba asked.

“I believe in Mink,” Chino corrected. “He’s some oldass felon running some oldass shop in some oldass part of town. Word on the street is that he’s got magic in his blood, and sees into the spirit world or talks with them or some other weird and otherworldly crap. Point is, Mink’s been in a couple of times and we exchanged ink for readings. The bastard’s freakishly accurate.”

“Are you sure you didn’t get completely hammered around him and started spilling all of your secrets again?” Aoba teased. Chino had a nasty habit of doing that and oftentimes Mizuki was powerless to stop him. No-one could get between Chino and alcohol on a good day and there was no point trying on a bad day.

Chino ignored the jab and raised one hand to the teardrop tattoo on their cheek. Slowly, he said, “Mink knew things only Mizuki and I should know.”

That stopped Aoba in his tracks. The teardrop tattoo? Aoba had pestered them about that since day one and never received an answer to allay his curiosity, not even when they were drunk to the point of unconsciousness. Neither brother ever broke their silence over the significance of the tattoo, and it remained one of the biggest mysteries in Aoba’s life. The idea that a stranger was aware of its meaning was unsettling and astonishing at the same time.

“You’re sure this Mink is legitimate?” Aoba doubtfully asked.

“I’d bet my soul on it,” Chino said. “The shop name’s Scratch. Go talk to him, tell him I sent you. He can do his weird magic and help you out but I’m telling you now, you’ll have to pay one hell of a price.”

That wasn’t much of a deterrent at all. Money was not an issue, not when Usui was involved.

“How much does he charge?”

“Not that kinda price.” Chino pulled a face and waved his gloved hands about. “He takes whatever shit he fancies. Calls it sentimental equivalency, whatever the hell that means.”

This pricing system was a foreign concept but it did not wane Aoba’s curiosity. If anything, he had been properly baited and hooked onto this strange man called Mink and the strange powers he possessed. Aoba had his doubts, certainly, but at this point he stood to gain more than he stood to lose.

What was the harm in trying?

“I’ll check them out,” Aoba decided. “What’s his brother’s name?”

Chino shrugged. “Beats me, guy’s never mentioned it. Keeps it under wraps from everyone, and he won’t say why. He’s just Mink, like you’re just Aoba.”

“You don’t think…” Aoba trailed off. What were the chances that there was someone out there who was just like him?

“He doesn’t have a soulmate either? I don’t know. You can ask him if you’re brave enough.” With a snigger, Chino’s good cheer returned to full force.

A quick glance out the window told Aoba there were still a few hours left of daylight, so he picked up his bag and hefted it over one shoulder, careful not to jostle Ren who was slumbering. “I’ll see if the shop’s still open then.”

“Aoba.”

Aoba tilted his head in response to his name, and blinked at the softer features that meant it was Mizuki reaching out.

“He’ll take anything, so beware.”

Aoba hadn’t thought much of what Mink could take from him, not until Mizuki saw fit to warn him. What could he possibly give Mink that had the same value as the information he wanted?

The worries that nipped at him didn’t stop him seeking Scratch out. It was a dinky little thing hidden in the corner of a lonely street. The surrounding buildings blocked off the sound of traffic and pedestrians from the main road. It was a narrow and muted space that soothed his senses and allowed his nerves to ease.

Aoba gingerly pushed the wooden sliding door to the side, careful not to put too much pressure on it because it felt worn and fragile under his fingertips. It opened up to the interior that gave off the same weary feeling as its exterior, dim with minimal lighting filtering through the roof slats and aged furniture warm with quilts and cushions.

What could be seen as entirely in place or entirely out of place were strange trinkets that littered the shelves and hung from the ceiling beams, chains so fine they looked like they would snap with the slightest tug and pendants with strange designs he’d never seen the likes of before. They winked prettily with the soft lighting and emitted warm welcomes.

Aoba cast his gaze around; it didn’t look like there was anyone else in the shop. “Hello?” he called, wandering through the shelves and brushing past the trinkets. “I’m looking for Mink. Is he here right now?”

No response.

Aoba began thinking he had come at a bad time, but then the floorboards creaked with heavy footsteps and a door behind the counter opened up and revealed one of the biggest men Aoba had ever seen. He stood tall and sure, and every action held careful intent behind it. His golden eyes swung and settled on Aoba.

“You’re looking for me?”

When Chino said Mink said otherworldly abilities, Aoba created a vague image of oversized glasses and thick lenses, wrinkled hands that made themselves at home waving over crystal balls and an unearthly voice that wailed prophecies. But the man that stood in front of him could not have been further from that stereotype; his large frame radiated calmness and protection, and Aoba knew he could trust this man.

“Chino sent me. From Black Needle.”

Mink dipped his head in acknowledgement, brown dreadlocks swaying around his square face, and made his way around the counter to take a seat at one of the couches. He motioned for Aoba to do the same.

“Mizuki-Chino.” Mink’s voice rumbled, deep and gravelly like rocks crunching on a mountainside road. “The tattoo artists. They were presumptuous to send you here.”

“Presumptuous?” Aoba repeated. “You mean I shouldn’t have come?”

“Mizuki-Chino have good intentions but they have overestimated my abilities in this case. I know why you’re here. I cannot give you the information you seek.”

“What?” Aoba started. How could this be possible? He’d barely been in this shop for thirty seconds and this lead was disappearing before his very eyes. No, he was not going to let this man dismiss him so quickly. “You can’t possibly know the specifics. You can’t decide already that I’m a lost cause!”

“If Mizuki-Chino sent you, then you know what I’m capable of.” Mink sighed and reached into his jacket to pull out a case which had a wooden pipe in it. He took his time lighting it up blew a plume of smoke up into the air where it swirled with dust motes. “I can see how it danced around your body, broken and yearning. You search for your brother but I cannot help you find someone who no longer exists.”

Icy fingers gripped Aoba’s heart.

It can’t be, he wildly thought, he can’t be dead!

“He’s alive!” Aoba shouted, slamming his palms on the table before them. “I know it, I felt him!”

Mink’s penetrating eyes tracked his every move, steady and watchful, a silent observer in his upcoming breakdown. “You’ve made contact,” he said.

Aoba hadn’t meant to let that slip. He’d held it close to his heart as his own little secret—only Ren knew and that was because he had been there too.

It had been a Rhyme game, it could never be anything else, the ones back in the day when the whole island considered a sport worthy of investment.

And Usui was there.

Aoba had always noticed Usui, fascinated by the contrast between her feminine figure and masculine voice, but respected the person behind that persona and never approached them outside communicated with them beyond a Rhyme capacity.

But the match had gone wrong; Aoba let his guard down for moment and he’d been blasted off his feet and onto the other end of the field. In the moment he was suspended in the air, Aoba’s hand passed through Usui’s and he didn’t know how to describe what happened except connection and a burst of familiarity and longing for something his body once knew.

Brother.

The other soul who should have shared his body, his thoughts and his heart. It had once been his, but it had been taken from him, and he wanted answers.

“The truth,” Aoba said. “It was me. I caused the Glitch.”

Mink said nothing, just kept puffing away at his pipe, and stared down at Aoba with an indecipherable look. Maybe it was condescension, maybe it was pity.

“That’s how I know he’s still alive,” Aoba pressed on, desperate to keep the flicker of hope in his chest burning just a little while longer. “The Glitch is proof that he exists.”

Maybe Aoba’s conviction did something to crack Mink’s walls, or maybe Mink really did feel sorry for him. Whatever the reason, Aoba didn’t care, Mink pulled the pipe from his lips and handed him a lifeline.

“I cannot tell you where he is. But I can tell you how you two came to be. The price, as you know, will be steep.”

It wasn’t the information Aoba came for but it was information nonetheless. There was no hesitation and it was almost laughable how desperate he was to snatch at scraps of information about his soulmate.

He would gladly pay any price.

“Name it,” he said.

“Your brother is important to you, and his existence will grow far more so in the coming days. For this information, you will be required to pay with ten strands of your hair.”

Aoba’s hands instinctively flew over his head in a protective gesture; pulling them out would be a simple task for anyone else but to him it was different—the nerve endings in his hair would screech like writhing, tortured souls.

“That is the price,” Mink said, not even surprised at Aoba’s reaction.

It would hurt. It would hurt like severing a finger from his body and he wouldn’t be able to stop the tears from falling. But it would mean knowing the soul that should have shared a home in his body, and that alone was worth anything.

Aoba slowly let his hands fall from his head. It would stop hurting in a few hours, he convinced himself, the strands would grow back like they were never cut. The pain would be nothing compared to what he had to gain.

Mink slipped a small pocketknife from him jacket. It had a wooden hilt with a faded floral design painted onto it and a string of beads dangling at the end. Aoba took it and flicked it open, then held the blade to the roots of his hair.

Heart racing, deep breath, then—

Scream.

“It doesn’t hurt,” Aoba gasped, clutching the long blue strands in his shaking fist. He couldn’t see past the tears blurring his vision; he swiped his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket and blindly thrust the strands and the knife in front of him. “They’re yours.”

“You paid with more than ten strands,” Mink mildly said as the tucked the pocketknife away and gathered the strands of hair together with genteel care. He must have noticed the surprise on Aoba’s face because he added, “I know how precious your hair is, and I will treat it as reverently as you have.”

Aoba’s breath came out in stutters but the pain, which had felt like a slicing burn, was already fading to a sharp throbbing at the newly cut ends, and soon would be nothing more than the ache of a memory. The fact that Mink did not trivialise his pain helped him push it aside, and he sat up straighter.

“Will you tell the story of us?”

“Yes.” Mink began twisting the strands together like he was creating a small rope. It was an odd splash of colour on his otherwise grey appearance. “You know how soulmates first came to be, yes?”

“Balance,” Aoba said. “Legends and myths tell us humans used to live as individual souls in individual bodies, but they were fragile in that state. Left alone, humans were too volatile and ended up self-destructing. They needed another soul to make up for the imperfections, so humans became two souls in one body that lived harmoniously together and in society.”

“As our fathers and their fathers before them have told us,” Mink murmured. “They are only stories, and we could never hope to find proof of how we came to be. Yet the story resounds across every nation, so there must be a grain of truth to it. Is that what you believe?”

“I… uh…” Aoba had never put much thought into it before, not being the type to think too deeply about things in the first place. The story of how soulmates came to be? He’d always treated it as a tale that mothers told their children, with no substantial evidence to back up its claims. But now that it had been posed as a question, Aoba found he didn’t have such a concrete answer after all. “I’m not sure?” he offered. “I’ve never had the chance to think about it.”

“I’m offering you the chance to think about it now,” Mink said. “Do you think it’s possible for humans to be born with only one soul?”

“It has to be.” Without thinking, Aoba pulled on a strand of his hair and shivered at the sensation that travelled up to the roots. “I’m living proof, aren’t I?”

Mink slowly shook his head. “There is no human being on this earth that does not have someone bound to them. Your bond exists but it is frayed, meaning you were once bound but then forcibly torn apart. The bond between soulmates is sacred, and someone has caused you the greatest offence by tearing it apart.”

“So I… we… were together?” Aoba asked. “But how? You can’t take a soul out of a body, can you? It’s not… it can’t be a physical thing you can just remove.”

Mink tapped the strands of hair still in his hands, being knotted and tugged into shape. “Have you never wondered why your hair can feel? Surely even someone as dense as you realised there is something unique about that.”

“Hey!” Aoba protested, not entirely sure where that jab had come from but he couldn’t deny it to save his life. So what if he could be a bit of an airhead? His hair was just another thing he’d grown up with and never saw it as a big deal. Apparently, he was very wrong on that count. “What’s it got to do with my soulmate?”

“Your hair feels because it’s alive. It’s alive because it was the only thing linking your to your brother, the only part of your bodies that made you one.”

“Linked… by our hair?” Aoba looked at the strands in his grasp, like examining the ends could give him greater insight into this revelation. “That’s still two bodies, isn’t it? How does that even happen?”

“It was one body,” Mink said. His pipe was still burning away, and every puff sent up a plume of smoke that made the shop hazier. Or maybe Aoba’s head was spinning with all the new information too.

Two beating hearts, one living body.

It hurt so much more to know.

“I cannot tell you the circumstances that led to your separation.” Mink’s fingers worked deftly like he had done this a million times, no doubt a master of this craft. “But what I told you earlier remains the same. I cannot help you find your brother because he no longer exists in this world. He hasn’t for quite some time.”

“How?” The word felt thick in throat, a lump that he had to force out. “How did he—how was he—”

“You do not want to know,” Mink interrupted. “The truth will only cause you pain.”

Aoba shook his head doggedly. He’d come this far to find the truth, and he would listen to all of it because he needed the endless questions and sleepless night to stop. “Tell me.”

Mink regarded him for a moment, sizing him up, maybe wondering how far he could be pushed before breaking down. Aoba tilted his chin forward defiantly—it’d take more than words to push him away.

“You were violent before.”

The non-sequitur threw Aoba off. “Huh?”

“You were destructive, and needed someone to temper the rage that festered within your body. You created a persona, gave it a name and a life but it was only a paper soul.”

“Sly Blue,” Aoba murmured.

“Paper crumbles far too easily,” Mink continued. “Your brother was the same, needing a persona to keep himself sane. He created an extension of himself as you did.”

“Usui.”

That, Aoba knew without a doubt. He still remembered his hand passing through hers during the match, and the shock of familiarity that surged into him because it was home.

“She disappeared when I touched her,” Aoba said. Then he shook his head and added, “Sly Blue did as well.”

“There’s no reason for them to exist when you found each other again,” Mink said.

“That doesn’t explain why you keep saying my brother’s dead,” Aoba said. “Sly Blue’s gone, but I’m still here. Usui is gone, but my brother’s gone with her? That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Think carefully,” Mink said, lowering his eyes to the growing band of blue. “What happened after you touched Usui’s hand?”

Afterwards? Aoba had been reeling from the shock to notice much of anything. He vaguely remembered a dark silhouette, a shrill scream that rang in his ears and the field around them dissolving back into reality.

Why did his soulmate scream?

“Blue light,” Aoba muttered. “There was a bright—it was Ren’s. He felt it, the shock. He thought it was an attack and he—oh god, he—”

The Glitch.

Where everything that happened in the digital world impacted the physical world.

“It was Ren,” Aoba realised. “He killed—”

“He was not to know.” Mink’s hands stilled and he brushed a calloused thumb over the knotted parts of the band. “He thought he was protecting you.”

Aoba squeezed his eyes shut, unable to look down at his bag where his Allmate was hibernating. How could he face Ren after this, knowing everything that had been in his reach had been snatched away just as fast as he had found it? How could he use Ren again in a Rhyme match knowing he was the reason he could never find joy in the thrill of the game again? How could he look Ren in the eyes knowing he was a murderer?

Aoba shot up from his seat, teetering on his heels. There was too much flying through his mind right now, a hurricane that needed time to weaken and die. He grabbed his bag, still not looking at the blue lump inside, and stumbled towards the door.

“Is that it?” Aoba asked, keeping his head low and eyes on the smoked wood flooring. “Anything else I need to know?”

“That was the information for my price.” Mink stopped knotting the hair and pulled the pipe from his lips to set it down. “You have, however, paid above that set price. You are welcome to return should there be more information you seek.”

What else could Aoba ever care to know? Today had been enough. God only knew how Mizuki and Chino handled their sessions with Mink and kept going back for more.

“There is no deadline,” Mink said. “Whenever you are ready, whenever you have questions, you are welcome in this shop.”

It was too real, too raw, to think about that now.

A small thought niggled at the back of Aoba’s mind and he blurted out the one thing that Mizuki and Chino had been needling the man about.

“Who’s your soulmate? The one you refuse to acknowledge?”

Maybe Aoba was hurting and he wanted to hurt someone too. Why else would he pry into such a private and personal matter that Mink had gone to great lengths to keep quiet?

Mink stared at him, seemingly calm and composed as though he’d expected the question. “The answer will not benefit you in any way,” he said. “It’s a worthless thing to waste your hair upon.”

“But it’s important to you,” Aoba pressed. “That’s balanced, isn’t it?”

Mink was silent for a moment more, then gave a slight huff either in exasperation or amusement. “Lulakan.”

“Lulakan.” Aoba rolled the name on his tongue, and tasted its foreign origins. “Why do you hide him? Are you ashamed of him?”

“Never,” Mink growled, his golden eyes flashing with indignation. “He is still a part of me.”

“Then why?”

Mink turned his head, the first show of uncertainty since Aoba walked through the shop door. “He doesn’t speak to anyone.”

“Not even you?”

“…No.”

What was it like, to have a constant companion that chose to stay away?

“Must be lonely,” Aoba said.

“You must know what that’s like.”

Maybe they both knew that special brand of loneliness that came with being the only active souls in a body, but Aoba couldn’t imagine how Mink was living day to day. Aoba’s soulmate couldn’t speak to him and Mink’s brother wouldn’t speak to him—there in that choice lay silent and deliberate harm.

“Enough with this.” Mink waved him off with a large hand. “You need time to grieve.”

Aoba clutched his fingers tighter around the strap of his bag. “Am I still welcome to return?”

“You’ll have to trade again.”

That didn’t mean much. No trade would ever hurt as much as this one.

Lying in his bed with only blinking lights outside and the dull sound of traffic to accompany him, Aoba shuffled until he was on his back and stared up at the rood.

The initial shock had worn off and there was only numbness in his heart and in his mind, like a wall that was stopping him from falling to pieces.

He couldn’t stop touching his hair, running his fingers through the strands until they came to an abrupt stop at the ends. They never should have ended, but instead flowed on and connected him to his brother.

Aoba brushed his finger against the tips, wondering who had the merciless heart to cut them apart and how the two of them must have wailed from both pain and loss. Hurting children? It wasn’t humane.

There was no getting sleep tonight—not even music could calm his racing mind. Instead, Aoba tapped on his coil and brought up a game he’d received months ago. It’d been sent to him anonymously, and there had been no way to trace the number since it had come up as various shapes and symbols. But once Ren had confirmed it was safe, Aoba had downloaded it and spent his spare time playing it. It appeared to be released in parts, and there had been no updates for quite some time. Still, he had to beat the most current level.

Aoba tapped the screen and watched as his avatar traversed pixelated lands and fought pixelated monsters to get to the princess trapped inside the castle. These retro games all had the same kind of theme, but it never got old. This one in particular never failed to bring a smile to Aoba’s face—the character designs were cute and the music was catchy.

Once his avatar was inside, it was a battle against the boss monster who had kidnapped the princess and kept her prisoner. It was a tough end battle, and Aoba always got stuck at this point, but he glared at the screen and tapped so hard his nails clacked loudly against the glass.

Ka-boom.

The boss monster opened its mouth to scream in defeat, then blew up into a pixelated mushroom cloud. The feeling of victory came and went—Aoba was far too drained to enjoy it properly and he half-wished he’d left it for a later time when he could appreciate it better.

But it was done, and all Aoba could do now was wait till the next update. He was about to close the game when the princess suddenly took off her crown and presented it to his avatar. The crown floated in the air, bobbing up and down invitingly. Aoba held his finger over it hesitantly. What was he supposed to do?

Slowly, he pressed his finger down on the crown and the screen went black. Then, one word appeared, one letter at a time.

s e i

#dramatical murder #dmmd #aoba seragaki #mink (dmmd)#mizuki (dmmd)#virus (dmmd)#trip (dmmd)

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consolatione · 7 years

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There is still light

I lie in bed looking at the windows. The nights are still light, but they are getting darker. It's easier to notice the change now that we only come to the country side on the weekends, driving up the coast on Fridays after work, arriving late. Soon it will be pitch black and we won't go here anymore, the house is too cold, and we are selling it to afford to move permanently to some place outside of the city. I can't wait. But I will miss this place, miss going for a morning swim. Miss the house. Miss the cobbled path we made.

In a few weeks, it will be pitch black at this hour, but now as I listen to my son go to sleep, the curtains are backlit even if it is quite late. As he gently snores and drifts away to his childhood dreams, I dream my dreams. I dream of this place. I dream of the place we will settle down in. The hunting season has started, and I dream of that too. To go out early in the morning and sit still waiting as the day breaks. To take care of the game and to cook it with chanterelles and eat it in the company of good friends. I dream of hiking, of going on a long ski trip, to sit around a fire in the winter, to smell of smoke and drink coffee made in a sooty pot.

He sleeps. I go outside and stand beneath the 100-year-old trees that are dark silhouettes against the starry, deep blue sky, and I listen to the strange chirping of the tawny owls, a sound that is very un-owl-like. The Norwegian neighbours are singing. I long for singing at a party with friends too, even if I doubt anyone but my kids long for my singing in return.

All these dreams are of quiet, connected places, and I scurry between them in my mind as if I was in a hurry. Maybe I long for them because I have lost them and have to recreate them. They are mine when I can make them mine, when I can buy their luxury. These things that feel like the most natural thing.

I have spent the day speaking about tech and devices. Thinking about things that should marvel us. I'm not marvelled. Instead I think of paths in the landscape, paths made by man's feet. Over lifetimes people have walked over landscapes, carving their journeys into the ground, even forcing trees to bend their branches so that they grow crooked. These are runes carved by walking, their stories quietly span millennia. The old oak stands witness.

This is Modernity, I think. To ever long for quiet. To be captured by the new, to make a commodity of that which is natural. The man who desired everything, and got it, only to find himself missing wanting itself. Not that I think all that is modern is bad, nothing is ever just bad. If it were, we would get rid of it. We are not victims of Modernity, we are spellbound by it. It's a drug. A spiral.

I read what is said about me. Getting messages from friends who understand. They sigh. I sigh. I tell them I don't care, but I can't help but getting angry anyway, so I postpone writing back. Nothing good ever comes from responding in anger, and anyway, every word I write feels sordid, dirty. Why should I have to reply to such nonsense? I remind myself that they are the voices I wrote about in the Taiga, voices that have no meaning unless you grant them meaning. I wish I had that old poetry collection here, so I could remind myself of those words. They still make sense to me, they paint an inner landscape.

I know how this sounds, I know how any reply to my detractors sounds too. Its dramaturgical. It has an almost Aristotelean dramatic structure to it. I have tried before to explain things prosaically, to explain how Modernity has caught us. My views put into words for people that are stuck in the loop. I remember telling the story of the freedom of the serfs in Russia. They had lived their lives in captivity, but were mostly left alone. They saw their masters a few times in a lifetime perhaps, the rest of the time they lived as they always had. Sang their songs, cooked their food. Toiled. It was a hard life at someone else’s mercy. Then they were freed, millions of illiterate people who for thousands of years had stayed in one place were let go, only to be mangled by industrialism, where Modernity was ready with her ideologies. ‘Escape this!’, she said, and they did, only to find themselves in yet another trap. And just a few decades earlier there had been life that made them humans beyond their destitution and serfdom, something that made things bearable. Expelled from the land they used to be bound to, they had instead looked to employment, and their new masters had clocks for them to punch and quotas to meet. Trying to escape that, they were caught in starvation, brutalism, the anonymity of urban life and the most savage wars. And then, they ran from that into atomisation. Someone thought out a new structure for society, perfect in the minds of ideologues. Straight lines, like borders on a map drawn by colonialists, far removed from the fabric which is actual life.

I tried telling their story, but in Modernity there is no fire to sit around and talk. A fire reduces the pedantry of the listener. Humans have listened to stories like that since the dawn of time, until the stories became archetypical and everlasting. I think that maybe we evolved to listen attentively and without hostility around a fire. But in Modernity we refuse to listen. ‘Would you rather we had serfs?’ ‘No.’ ‘Would you rather we had feudalism?’ ‘No.’ ‘You are suspect anyway.’ ‘I guess.’ You are missing the point. It’s the elk that flees that is driven towards the cliff, not the one that isn’t scared and calmly keeps his head with him. I am not sure the analogy holds up. In any case, the serfs ended up running from poverty and the injustice they knew, into a machine that ground them down and supplied them with an ideology that could only ever make things worse. They were played. In the new economy they were outdated, needed elsewhere. They were told they had to fight for freedom. The old structure which kept them up had to go and they ended up in Modernity’s battlefield.

At one time we were all tribes, tied together by blood. The biggest unit we could muster was that which could organically be upheld. Then arose the centralised state, cracking down on tribal allegiances and social structures, replacing them with institutions. It became possible to organise bigger groups of people, nations. Those who couldn’t make the transition were dominated by those who could. Tribal life was sometimes brutal, but they were never powerful enough to eradicate or colonise. To form a nation state, the kings had to change the structure of society, replace cultures, traditions with institutions the state had control over. Sometimes go to war with people who held on to their local loyalties, whose life wasn’t improved as they were forced to give up power. The nation states were necessary and over time some grew into peaceful, welfare states. Then a new power manifested itself. It had learned how to conquer, it had to attack the social fabric and undermine the institutions in place. Even the demography. The state itself was to be put under the thumb and relinquish its powers. Power, it was decided, should move farther away from people and into the hands of international courts of law; away from the troublesome nation states and demographic hegemonies. Smash it. In with the new. Just one more sacrifice and we’ll reach utopia. Give us the power to rule you and we’ll give you… nothing. Panem et circenses. The bank will own your house, your car, your institutions will lack power and only remain to uphold the bureaucracy to manage it all. You will not belong to anything, you are free, your family bonds are only contractual and temporary. You are an atom. Free as long as you do not rattle the cage.

My grandfather fought in WWI. He detested the generals after that and came close to joining the communist party, only to realise they were just as likely to send him to the slaughterhouse. He chose to bear his demons himself, or so I am told. Taking long walks. Maybe drinking too much. These people that stand before me now are fighting for their own disenfranchisement. They want the super state. They want to give up their institutions. They will get into a rage and froth at the very idea that maybe it isn’t the best of ideas to forever change the demographics of a country. They are marching again, throwing their hats into the air. We’ll be back in time for Christmas. This war will end all wars.

I get defensive, and I really shouldn’t. There's a fire in the fireplace and a stream of smoke rises across a starry sky. You never see the shifts in colour on the night sky in the city. I shouldn't be defensive, because that only means I have already failed to explain. Again. A trap.

The very participation in the debate is a trap. To not participate is the only thing that you can do, and hope there are those who see what you do anyway. To win is to do something else that is outside of their reach. To win is to build. To win is to take those who understand and make something that speaks by existing alone. Then I see that is what we do with these arts as well, but as soon as they are done, Modernity wants it. Demands it. And it uses the same fools it always has, those who find their truths in ideology and tell themselves they are the Good ones. Fighting the Good cause.

Is it too late? There’s not even a silver slither by the horizon. I need to calm down, enjoy the luxury of normality offered on the weekends until we can build something strong enough to withstand whatever this is, while he sleeps and dreams his childhood dreams.

No, it is not too late. I still believe in that which is the essence of being human. To write runes with your very life. To refuse to be caught in a loop and instead build on the love for that which is peaceful and connected. We will not be atomised.

#traditionalism #Peace #quiet #Love

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upshotre · 5 years

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Govt has impoverished Nigerians to oppress them, says Ezekwesili

Former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, has asked Nigerians to take charge of their future, adding that the passive nature of citizens was being exploited by the political class. Ezekwesili who lamented that bad governance had brought the country to its knees, said the missing link for a great future for the country was absence of citizens power. She spoke on Wednesday at an event in Ikeja, Lagos, commemorating the June 12 Democracy Day in honour of Chief MKO Abiola. The event, organised by the Pro Democracy Movement, was attended by business expert, Pat Utomi; former Kaduna State senator, Shehu Sani, Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Oginni and Muhammed Fawehinmi, the son of late prominent lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi. The convener of the BringBackOurGirls Movement said since democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people, those at the helms of affairs should be bothered about the high rate of poverty in Nigeria, a problem Abiola wanted to resolve before his mandate was stolen. She said, “What was the rate of poverty when Chief MKO Abiola enunciated a manifesto that talked about farewell to poverty? What you can see clearly from the indicators is that poverty has increased. What has happened between 1993 and now is that Nigeria has overtaken India, a nation that is about six times its population, by having the largest number of extremely poor people in its population. Today, according to the world poverty map, we have some 93 million extremely poor people among us. “If you have 93 million people living in poverty, then it means that you must focus the government on them. But what has happened is that the political class has monopolised the political and governance space and taken absolute control, excluding the citizens for whom the democracy should be for. The political class has weaponised poverty as an instrument of perpetual control. “Unfortunately, some of the 93 million people don’t vote and when they have the power to vote, they don’t clearly know how to exercise that vote in their own interest. What do you then do when the excluded have a way of conspiring with a system that has excluded them to entrench the exclusion?” Ezekwesili said blaming voters who sell their votes and engaging in political and civic education could no longer solve the problem. She explained that privileged Nigerians should rather use their positions to uplift the poor to be able to change their orientation, improve their productivity and “remove the pittance that has entrenched them in poverty.” The former minister explained that for Nigeria to be better, there was the need for leaders with strong character, competence and capacity. Ezekwesili said the greatest honour the government could give Abiola was to show that it was easier and faster to tackle poverty in the 21st century than it was when he was alive. “I have seen that when countries are governed by people who get it, what they need are sound policies, strong institutions and effective and efficient investment in public goods and services; when citizens have them, they attain a height of productivity and lift themselves out of poverty,” she added. She said Nigerians must also speak up against bad government, adding that since legitimacy lay with the people, the government relied on Nigerians. “The citizens occupy the highest office. What will guarantee progress in perpetuity is the office of the citizens. We must all make a commitment to activate our office as citizens; that we are tired of being docile citizens of Nigeria and thinking of ourselves as powerless. You are powerful beyond what you think. Stop swallowing your voice. Stop being distracted by daily bread issues. We need a coalition of forces of citizens to say, ‘we can reclaim our land.’ “This is not about tribe; it is about the massive exclusion of the majority of the citizens of the land from what governance should be all about. When you see concepts like adherence to the rule of law, participation, responsiveness, transparency, accountability, equity and equality, then you know there is good governance. But when you don’t see these, then you know there is no good governance,” she added. Sani in his words, noted that June 12 was not just about Abiola, but about Nigerians rejecting military rule and accepting democracy. He said Nigeria in the last 20 years had only witnessed civil rule. “We have not got to the promised land yet. We have seen elements of military mentality in the psyche of Nigeria’s political class. There have been violation of fundamental human rights, disobedience to court orders, refusal to accept democratic principles; breach of the constitution is still the order of the day. If we want to build a strong and virile nation, our constitution must be our compass and guiding principles,” he said. Read the full article

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michellelewis7162 · 4 years

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Canadian Immigration - An Introduction

There are a variety of methods to immigrate to Canada. Canada's 10 districts and areas enjoy some statutory authority as well as can fast lane applications for permanent residency. Those immigrants nominated by the districts and regions can have long-term homeowners visas provided by the Federal government subject only to them and their family participants passing clinical as well as background checks. https://documentsupport24hrs.com/

There are also Federal migration choices based on the so called household course i.e. on marriage, common-law and close family members partnerships. In all situations, the enroller might need to show they have the necessary revenue. For instance if you are married to a permanent resident or resident, or have actually cohabited with them for at the very least a year, you will normally have the ability to accomplish irreversible residency. Sex does not matter, given that Canada permits same-sex marriages and approves partnerships whether they are heterosexual or not. If you have dependent kids, they might be consisted of on your application. The nephew, niece, or grandchild of a Canadian person or irreversible local, may likewise be funded for residency under particular conditions. Normally, siblings can not be sponsored under the Federal program, nevertheless some Canadian districts allow this. Canadian residents as well as long-term residents of Canada may additionally fund their parents or grandparents Fast Passports.

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When you request Canadian Permanent Residence visa under the Skilled Worker Immigration system, you have 2 choices:

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According to Citizenship and also Immigration Canada (2005 ), authorized, paid representatives may just be:

- Immigration professionals who are participants in great standing of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants. If you want to confirm if an Immigration Consultant is in excellent standing of this Institution, please check out the complying with

- Lawyers who are members in good standing of a Canadian legislation culture and students-at-law under their guidance. Please see their following web site to validate a lawyer's standing in a Society:

- Notaries that are participants in excellent standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec and also students-at-law under their supervision. For additional information please go to the adhering to web site:

If you desire to employ an Immigration Representative to aid you with your Permanent Residence application, you require to complete the form called "Use of a Representative".

Its function is to assign the representative to establish communication and conduct organisation with Citizenship and also Immigration Canada on your behalf. Please note that the types might transform periodically, so you need to validate which develop you require to use at.

b) Applying by on your own You can also apply by on your own. The advantage is that you conserve the lawful charges of the Representative, which sometimes can be 2 to 3 times the federal government charges.

If you choose to use by on your own, I strongly recommend downloading Step-by-Step Immigration to Canada. This take-you-by-the-hand manual will streamline your Canadian visa application procedure.

One of one of the most discouraging points I read about Canadian Immigration is the tales of families who return to their original country after unsuccessfully trying to work out in Canada. One of the main factors for the failings, it appears, is that the major member of the home that generally sustains everyone financially is unable to acquire purposeful work in their picked occupation or trade.

A number of these tales mention that when in Canada it is promptly discovered that the foreign credentials do not satisfy Canadian criteria and so they can not find work without extensive retraining. A lot of these cases might have been avoidable if the potential work demands had been extensively looked into well in breakthrough of touchdown. Canada has an incredibly high criterion of education and learning as well as numerous other systems just do not measure up against theirs - a degree program is 4 years for example. So the chances are you will certainly have to retrain, recertify or typically as a minimum, start again near the bottom. This may appear insane yet it's the means it is - at the very least once your experience is noticeable you might well quickly discover yourself rising up the ranks.

When my better half and also I relocated to Canada I believe we had remarkable luck, but we had actually likewise spent two years thoroughly researching our respective professions in the Province of our intended location. When I realized that my certifications would not suffice I needed to make different strategies therefore gone about functioning in the direction of credentials that would certainly be eye-catching to any employer - not just my "particular niche".

An initial aid at the office training course run by the St Johns ambulance will just cost 2 days of your time and around $150.00 as well as will immediately make you slightly a lot more attractive to any type of employer - most Provinces have Laws calling for employers to educate their team. Being computer system literate with a variety of applications is virtually necessary. Anything that makes you stick out and will certainly reduce the expense and time required to educate you, will certainly be an enormous increase to your Resume. Also, employers are the exact same all over the world - everybody favors people that are keen to self enhance and also make themselves much more employable.

The initial step is to make a decision which Province you want to settle in as each has its very own instructional evaluation companies as well as work regulatory authorities. The Federal application for skilled professions bases your trade on the National Occupation Classification (NOC) listing. However, some "Red Seal" professions are managed in such ways that they transfer between Provinces, however the majority of professions and also careers do not, which indicates recertification if you ever before move.

As soon as you have an idea location in Canada you want to clear up, get in touch with the company that will certainly carryout your instructional analysis and follow their instructions. Once you recognize what your qualifications relate to you will have an asset from which to start. After that using the PROVINCIAL regulatory authorities discover exactly where you stand with concerns your intended field of expertise. The International Credential Assessment Service (ICAS) in Ontario offers a service that reviews educational records to give a Canadian matching that can be made use of for employment, migration or further education and learning. ICAS also has details and also advising solutions for all kinds and also levels of education and learning - primary, additional, postsecondary and technical. I would certainly suggest contacting them well ahead of time for some expert suggestions.

If you only require to complete a couple of examinations or courses to alter over to the Canadian system then terrific, otherwise, make plans to ensure that you can support yourselves throughout the time it takes to recertify. Also, attempt to ensure that there will certainly be a great chance of work readily available as soon as you've qualified.

Certainly have a back up profession selected or identify anything you might conveniently cross over right into as points rarely function out as you mean. If you check out the "Our Story" web page on our Canadian Immigration information internet site, you'll see that events took place that meant my Plan An and also Plan B both went wrong. Thankfully some earlier research study repaid and also I managed to be used "the appropriate task" within 6 weeks.

To close this post, DO NOT rely on your settling funds to last - I would extensively recommend functioning anywhere to begin with - our spending plan offered us 6 months without work but in truth we 'd have been in trouble in 4!!!! A web servers or Bar work can be extremely lucrative but also $1,000 a month means that your money will certainly last longer or assist with retraining prices. My other half, Andie, operated in the local flick store virtually instantly and also besides the cash it indicates you fulfill individuals and begin making contacts. As the saying goes "it's not what you recognize it's who you know".

Whatever you decide concerning your Canadian Immigration journey, please ensure you totally study your employability. This can result in an effective settlement in the country of your desires.

Did you know that there are even more than 60 various Canadian immigration programs? That, there are 20,000 applications being thought about every year? That in the previous years, there were some modifications in Immigration Laws that impacted the opportunities of Immigration applicants? That, the NOC noted 31 eligible skilled occupations?

The Canadian government and also rural federal governments are regularly updating their programs to make certain that Canadian immigration is successful, both for novices and also for Canada. With these purposes, specific Immigration policies and also laws were enacted. If the program prevents the federal government's objective, undoubtedly, a change or change is being made.

Some Canadian Immigration Laws in the last few years that affected the influx of migrants to Canada. Example of such changes are: In 2002, the factors rack up demand for the Canadian knowledgeable worker category boost from 28 to 75 points, meaning, that also one of the most highly certified applicants did not get adequate points to pass. While in adhering to year, 2003, this passing factor was minimized to 67. The small decline means a great deal to the applicants. The modification raise the number of possible immigrant employees to Canada.

Applications made on or after 27 February, 2008 were affected by the adjustments made just recently.

Today, to be qualified for processing, a candidate has to be:

- a qualified employer has actually supplied you a work.

- a Canadian citizen for a minimum of a year as a worker with short-lived tenure.

- experienced employee of a minimum of one year in among the eligible competent line of work.

Canadian Immigration plan, like any various other nations, Canada has its own. This plan has two departments: The momentary access as well as the permanent migration to Canada. Visitors as well as trainees, fiancé or fiancée, care-givers who have temporary visas are part of the very first classification.

Canadian Visa Assessment System reviews the applicant's qualification. There is an assessment form to be filled out by the candidate. Just one form for each and every field and also in less than 24 hrs, you will certainly recognize if you are qualified for the setting.

Today, there are 31 Canadian Eligible Skilled Occupations provided by the Canadian National Occupation Classification a.k.a. NOC. These competent jobs apply to people applying for migration to Canada on or after 26 June, 2010. Maximum applications of 20,000 Federal Skilled Worker are considered annually. As application benefits only one work, the applicant ought to thoroughly fill up this kind prior to sending to the authority. For each qualified occupation noted, just 1,000 applicants are considered. To be one of the effective candidates, an individual has to have a minimum of 1 year experience in the provided Federal Skilled Worker. Job References are essential to make sure honor factors for the task being looked for.

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rodrickdiederich-blog · 6 years

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Hey Dad, How Perform You Handle Your Little ones Mistakes?

I read through an article yesterday concerning a teapot that J. C. Penny is selling. After this is all around, as silly a fellow as I am actually can easily see that blunders were actually produced. The very first thing to do after producing a mistake is actually to take duty for it. Some folks create the blunder of refuting accountability as well as waste time putting guilt on others. You will definitely be startled by exactly how swiftly you respond to mistakes down the road and your ability to steer clear of comparable situations entirely. When you search for as lots of factors as you can to become grateful for in an error, you magically transform the error into benefits. You may require think about the type of blunder that has actually happened and also the moment required to discover the answer to these concerns and the nature from your task. One simple means to steer clear of the typical subscription website blunders is to have an appeal as well as go at the different other membership sites. Important Rhode Island Family Legislation idea: Many individuals use the term total protection" This is actually not a legal phrase. As an alternative, it will create you to duplicate the same blunders repeatedly again because that's the remembrance you are actually holding in your thoughts. Whether this is transforming the process that you perform points, acquiring even more customer reviews coming from your staff, or configuring a body or even putting up, putting that in to spot should help reduce these oversights later on. Viewpoint exactly what occurred as a take in that will enhance your habits and also habits, so you will not produce the same blunder once more. Both Gergen as well as Schoemaker focus on that many employers look for individuals that made blunders and came out ahead of time. Knowledge being to be possessed just from particular and also obvious honest truth, mistake is certainly not a mistake from our know-how, yet a blunder from our opinion, providing assent to that which is actually not real. Every fantastic oversight possesses a halfway moment, a flash when it could be remembered and maybe remedied. Most of the chosen ones created major oversights someplace in the activity, were plunged in the back by one more gamer, or even only merely played the game inappropriate. While today threats have been considerably lowered and also total satisfaction is higher among clients, there have been a lot of blunders in the process consisting of risky materials, doubtful medical approaches, as well as poor judgment. The list can go on and on. Nonetheless, my experience as a card-carrying participant of the POPULAR CULTURE brings me to the final thought that the ultimate mistake is the man-made . Allow on your own to dream and think significant, attempt something deserving, make bunches of oversights en route-- as well as fill out your knowledge box to the verge! Many people are afraid to even take a couple of small risks considering that they could cause an oversight." So they don't try just about anything new. Although we possess all heard the terror accounts of individuals obtaining taken advantage of by auto mechanics that have actually made tips for repair services or even services that were actually not needed, you do not desire to take the chance of the chance that your mechanic is being honest along with you, just because you are being affordable or even . Definitely, oversights benefit our team - they make our company which we are actually as well as commonly make up our most valuable prizes of understanding and expertise. Understand that your challenge with your children' oversights resides in simple fact a representation from your problem managing your own blunders; understand this as well as handle your own concerns initially. You could talk to RI Legal representative David Slepkow by going to Rhode Island Loved ones Rule Attorney or even by calling him at 401-437-1100. A guy checking out a hippopotamus may in some cases be tempted to concern a hippopotamus as a substantial error; however he is also expecteded to confess that a blessed inability stops him directly from making such blunders. That is actually as a result significant that you to start with learn more about about the usual membership internet site mistakes just before you go about the entire procedure. Be nurturing as well as soft when you connect this with her, yet don't create the oversight from ignoring it. You'll merely construct animosity as time go on, which is actually going to harm your relationship. Katie instantly called her employer, revealed the mistake and also supplied tips about exactly how they could possibly get new funding resources to always keep the organization afloat. After it is across, as silly an other as I am actually may see that mistakes were produced. The very first thing to do after making a mistake is actually to accept task for it. Some people create the blunder of refusing obligation and also waste time putting blame on others. You will certainly be amazed through exactly how promptly you react to blunders in the future as well as your capacity to avoid identical situations altogether. When you look for as numerous factors as you can to be grateful for in an error, you magically improve the oversight right into benefits. When you can easily release recent, let go of the guilt linked with the error, and also release the anxiety that producing that oversight has resulted in, you could live in today with even more gratification. Yet another popular error that many individuals make is to rush in traits and not bear with enough. The largest oversight individuals make is actually presuming if one thing is hidden from perspective, this can easily certainly not be accessed in all. The necessary point in my scenery is actually not to pin the blame for an oversight on somebody, however somewhat to figure out just what created the mistake. When you slip up you can make use of the Sedona Technique to assist you discharge the unfavorable emotional charge that supplements miscalculating. They attempt to participate in the target task, intend to show up ideal, and fully reject any kind of involvement in creating the blunder. When you have just about any questions concerning where in addition to the way to work with yellow pages advert (similar internet page), you are able to contact us from our own web-site. The ones that never ever uncovered or acknowledged their faux never produced this into the business arena and certainly never produced a difference in their personal life, or the world. That doesn t indicate you must totally reinvent the tire however you certainly should communicate a notification that you deliver one thing that none from your competitors perform. If you re puzzled for suggestions, look at generating an organisation consultant that specializes in helping firms establish a distinct identification in their business. Often purchasers are going to attempt to steer clear of utilizing an AGENT (R) under the mistaken belief that they are going to save cash through embodying themselves in an acquisition transaction. Then various other mistakes adhere to considering that it actually isn't the best circumstance for our team. So have a look at the condition and also find out whether or not the instance was one that must have been actually stayed clear of. Some of the best usual membership site oversights that most individuals often tend to produce is actually to certainly not describe their target audience effectively. Ask existing or former coworkers or even folks outside the company for their perspective on the oversight as well as what they believe you may do to recuperate. Refer to as around to a handful of insurance companies for quotes before you choose an insurer. Following time you think that you've slipped up, just smile as well as more than happy that you just made a huge deposit into you experience account. This is actually far much easier in a discovering culture than in a performance-focused society, in which oversights are actually frequently looked at more severely. Many individuals make the mistake of certainly not protecting the pre-approved loans just before trying to find houses. Any person which has ever before had the nerve to head out into the globe and do something understands there are actually just 2 sort of mistakes: ones our team can recoup coming from as well as ones our company can easily certainly not recoup off. To locate the most effective answers to errors when mounting marble flooring ceramic tiles discussed in this particular article, you may do so listed below. And consistently, ONE HUNDRED% of the amount of time, I brought in the assessment costs back in renegotiations with the resident. It is consistently sensible to figure out and rectify the mistakes just before the final make up the year are created.

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tatianalaster94-blog · 6 years

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5 65th Special day Gift Concepts That Will Touch Her Heart

Via examining the past of ear gauging in various cultures and also civilizations worldwide, this has actually been concluded that the strategy goes to the very least as old as recorded past, and also likely a lot more mature. Thus, while opting for exactly what existing to get for all your associates this Christmas, are sure to think about homemade or even customised Christmas time grant company christmas expressions quoted on an imaginative newspaper or even a piece from shaped glass. The Brazilian energy label Petrobras is actually one more case in point, it is just one of the leading significant labels in South america along with a Significant Brand Index credit rating much higher than the majority of fmcg brand names as well as retail stores. Making use of particular terms and also refusing to make use of others is actually an indicator that political authenticity like all social patterns that gain complete acceptance, could be used in sly, self hazardous and also mild techniques. Typically, you will intend to appear as expert as you can, not only to wow your employer and customers in putting on polo shirts for men however to feel confident in on your own too. Celtic cross tattoo designs are actually well-liked one of people with Celtic links (Irish, Scottish, or Welsh) in their genealogy. The analysis of training, discovering as well as significant for domain, individualized guideline, the suitable use of brand-new media in offering information as well as individual capabilities progression are core principles of Educational Innovation in the ionline education acquire terrific importance. In case you have just about any questions concerning where by as well as how you can use yellow pages people (fitnessit2017.info), you'll be able to e-mail us with our internet site. On the downside, the aroma of Meaningful Charm's French Melon for some was actually also sturdy. The significant aspect is that phrases past the minimum required usually lessen clearness. It is actually useless to mention at the start, I have to not create greater than 300 phrases on this subject", considering that 500 words may be actually the minimum necessary. An additional example would be in committing to memory the verses of the tracks or in keeping in mind tales that you might have read through in the past. Whatever type of work you do-whether you're self-employed, helping other people, or something in between-if freedom, intricacy, and a relationship between attempt as well as perks appear, that's my belief you have a much better odds from making your work relevant. Yet he certainly never revealed it. I recognize a number of you were given paints through him as presents. Although ear gauging has actually been customary among males and females from the Masai people in Kenya, young men have been significantly hesitant to use the technique. It is not surprising that it registers in our purposeful Brands Mark as the best purposeful brand name throughout all markets. To girls it is actually means from improving them, while men feel this gives all of them more significant toughness. You should know, however, that even if you find particularly great funny quotes to contribute to your speech, many of your audience participants will merely not realize the quote as amusing. In order to preserve clients and create a maintainable organisation, you should remain in contact with folks in a meaningful method. Incorporate fresh, free of cost internet material to your website like newest short articles, web tools, as well as quotations along with a solitary item of code! The everyday uses from terms in our usual patois are flags, indicators or indications from our general frame of mind. As your very own connection professional, you start to know that the partnership you have with yourself is critical to residing a content and also meaningful life. Unlike women, pubs as well as men approached at these clubs are even more receptive to the concept of going out with the people they meet, creating them much easier. When I was actually increasing up, I consistently remember my grandparents using such multicolored quotes and phrases. Later, when I wed my partner, we hung out along with his grandparents and also they had a various collection from quotes as well as sayings that were similarly as expressive however with a southern spin. Although there are many information to become thought through, maintaining the main reason for the party in the first place, your little one's rite of passage - his/her First Holy Communion, as the emphasis will certainly aid guide your choices and also thought and feelings. Only you are going to recognize exactly what is very most proper for your family members as well as this unique time, which by itself, will definitely aid you to organize an occasion that is relevant and individual for your youngster and your visitors. This quote focuses on that our team ought to take our complications as an opportunity to become even more artistic and make every effort towards abundance making lifestyle significant. Capital's Reclaim is actually less expensive, at $19.95. After the test duration, Meaningful Charm's rate lifts to $110 for three months. That is high time to permit your artistic extracts bent on create a relevant wedding ceremony gift. In phases 2 and also 3 from the significant usage motivation program, nurses are actually determining and carrying out even more of the paperwork. Terms often be actually elusive and also lead different minds to other significances based on their personal impression as well as approach of things. A Poem Journeyed down my Arm is actually a selection of verse and drawings collected through Alice Walker. These words are actually not simply core to the scripture message however they are actually tough hooked up to the guarantee from immortality. One does certainly not must have Celtic relations to use Celtic crucifix tattoo designs as this layout will definitely do for anybody that links a cross with spiritual or even spiritual implication. These changes highlight the 'do's' and 'carry out n'ts' our team could consider when coming close to significant advertising and marketing. For the entitled hospitals and CAHs, a total from 24 significant make use of purposes have actually been actually gotten beforehand, from which at least 19 should be fulfilled prior to being actually considered qualified for the motivations. Nonetheless, actually, you have to think about how relevant that label will definitely be actually to your youngster. That is actually an evident fact that when our experts slept final evening we were no longer conscious from the transactions in our settings and also indicates that whenever fatality comes knocking at the door, no Jupiter on earth can stop it off performing its own work and that is actually the reason that our company should all of do our finest to guarantee that our company make rather a meaningful effect in the lifestyles from whoever happens our technique and that, no question, is actually the essence of human quiet co-existence. Yes, most of us have an occupied schedule as well as the time clock always keeps ticking, however, when you want to take a significant breather or create an improvement in atmosphere even for a half hour, your physiology changes, your thoughts kicks back and also you move into a boosted condition from balance and also self-awareness. The moment series for significant use is divided in to three periods, starting from 2011. You need to be aware, however, that even when you discover specifically really good amusing quotes to add to your speech, a lot of your reader members are going to simply certainly not identify the quote as entertaining. In order to preserve clients as well as develop a maintainable organisation, you should keep in contact with folks in a purposeful technique. Incorporate new, totally free web information to your internet site such as most recent posts, internet tools, and quotations along with a single part of code! The everyday usages from phrases in our typical argot are flags, signs or signs of our standard mindset.

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merrillpuglisi-blog · 6 years

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Stay away from The Adhering to Blunders To Your Gown For Results.

People losing their tasks; heirs being inquired to tackle additional tasks, usually along with fewer sources; businesses going bankrupt; mortgages being actually phoned. While Katie thought that she had actually produced a huge oversight, she picked up from that. Her calendar of target dates right now likewise consists of unsaid" ones and appointments aside from the tough dates issued through funders. There is actually certainly not a considerable amount of aspect telling your employer that a blunder was created without recognizing just how or why this happened. Blunders massage therapists often make are to either fall into a regular where they offer the very same massage over and over again, or even to neglect the customer's requests for tension/ concentration and instead only focus on just what the counselor thinks is essential. When you miscalculate, the greatest trait to accomplish is admit it and try to make up for this; not excusing an error is yet another blunder. Each time you think of a blunder you've created, this's as if you're making that mistake across once again.

At that point various other mistakes observe given that that definitely isn't the correct scenario for our team. So take a look at the situation and establish regardless if the circumstance was one that ought to have been actually steered clear of. Some of the most typical subscription site oversights that most people have the tendency to make is to certainly not describe their target market properly. Inquire past or even existing coworkers or even people outside the institution for their standpoint on the oversight as well as what they feel you can possibly do to recoup. Call around to a couple of insurance companies for quotes prior to you pick an insurance carrier. For technical calculations, a party might manage to reserve the agreement on these premises provided that the other celebration performs not attempt to make use of the error, or even 'seize up' the deal (including a deal that a person performed certainly not plan to earn, unmasked through an error in arithmetic etc.). This will definitely be seen by an unprejudiced criterion, or if a realistic person would certainly have the capacity to understand that the error would certainly certainly not make sense to one of the gatherings. Designating your own self as someone which's always making mistakes accidents havoc on a person's self-confidence. Through knowing what these errors are actually, you may promptly put them responsible for you and also get along track to viewing much better outcomes. Children that are actually truthful and also experience alright concerning correcting a mistake seldom condemn others. The listing could go on and on. Nevertheless, my experience as a card-carrying participant of the POP Culture brings me to the verdict that the ultimate blunder is the artificial pas. Permit yourself to fantasize as well as think significant, dare something deserving, create tons from blunders along the road-- and also fill your know-how package to the edge! A lot of folks fear to also have a few small risks given that they might cause an error." So they do not make an effort everything brand-new. He was actually possessing an affair with a wage earner while his partner was actually perishing of cancer He likewise identified this as an error. Often succeeding your RI Kid Protection is about the oversights that you stay away from rather than what you do straight. Company & Entrepreneurial Trainees: I've interviewed 163 of the field's ideal service minds so you do not need to create the very same oversights they have. If you treasured this article and also you would like to acquire more info with regards to yellow pages advert - vivereuncorponormale2017.info, nicely visit our page. Therefore, an accused may certainly not eventually state that he or she was misinterpreted when he or she in fact knew the condition. There are actually deadly oversights that damage an idea; however there are additionally contingent ones, which work in testing the stability from a theory. When you have actually created your apologies to the others entailed, your next measure is actually to find what you need to carry out in purchase to spot traits up and also treat your mistake. This is actually the exact main reason why oversights hurt, so that our team perform learn from all of them as well as don't create them repetitively. Rather, it is going to cause you to repeat the exact same errors repeatedly once again since that's the remembrance you are actually composing your mind. Whether this is changing the procedure that you carry out points, getting more reviews from your team, or even setting up an unit or even setting up, placing this right into location should help in reducing these oversights down the road. Viewpoint what took place as an experience that is going to strengthen your habits and also actions, so you will not create the very same error once more. Fathers can easily either make choices that help to make youngsters that are actually protective and also that are located to them ... or even they could choose that aid to generate little ones which may learn from their mistakes and surpass all of them. This is certainly distressing to deal with the terror accounts from the victims from identity fraud. Quickly you'll persuade yourself that you are actually constantly producing blunders, when the reality is actually that you are actually just reliving the very same blunders on a continual manner. After that our oversights are actually not blunders in all, yet come to be stepping-stones to freedom. As well as, hopefully you'll recognize that even if you made a mistake does not indicate you permit it to negate all of the really good options you've brought in and the benefits that resides in your center. This is very important to comprehend the way that blunders could occurring arrangements so that your business is actually not become associated with contracts which may be made void or even voidable because of a mistake becoming part of the agreement. One of my favorite authors, F. W. Boreham, made this review: Leave your residence early in the early morning and also the 1st individual you meet have him or her apart and also write their profile. For the reasons of this particular write-up and to keep within the world from my knowledge, I am actually certainly not heading to manage organisation mistakes that endanger lives, even though a 10,000 tag mistake may experience that rigorous. He found yourself stealing $35,000 bucks from me. My very first oversight was actually disregarding the indications, which little mistake wound up becoming an extremely pricey oversight for me in the end. At that point other blunders comply with since this actually isn't really the ideal scenario for our company. So take a look at the condition and also find out regardless if the condition was one that should have been actually stayed away from. Some of the most typical registration website oversights that most people tend to create is actually to certainly not determine their target market correctly. Inquire existing or even previous colleagues or individuals outside the institution for their point of view on the oversight as well as what they believe you may do to recuperate. Refer to as around to a handful of insurance companies for quotes before you pick an insurer. Considering that there is a diffusion of obligation, Schoemaker takes note that group mistakes are usually easier to obtain over. Thankfully, most of us make oversights every now and again, despite exactly how brilliant, exactly how properly trained, and also exactly how experienced we are actually. Nevertheless, by knowing exactly what the popular repair shop oversights that vehicle proprietor's make you could stay clear of a undesirable and/or costly adventure. That's certainly not concerning our errors in life that defines who our experts are actually, it has to do with the character that is actually created due to them, the wisdom that our team acquire coming from all of them as well as the understanding that when our team do create errors our company are going to get past them and also still live a fantastic life. This problem, included here, is actually going viral due to the fact that it's made several smarty-pants feel like simpletons. You attract into your lifestyle what you pay attention to. Dealing with your blunders are going to certainly not safeguard you coming from producing potential mistakes. If it created individuals examine your skills, put a lot more records explain there to reconstruct their trust fund. When there is actually a product mistake about a product facet from the agreement, the essential objective of the arrangement, there is the inquiry from the belief from the danger. Sometimes errors are actually fairly small and cause low damages or nuisance. Bear in mind, no matter how many errors you make or even how slow-moving you develop, you are actually still way before everyone that isn't trying. The No 2 mistake that many Currency traders make is actually to begin multiplying up on a losing profession as well as, again, they produce this mistake for exactly the same explanation. There are actually others who refuse to acknowledge the blunders that they perform and also blame them on others. The key is to keep removaling and not dwell on each private real property putting in error that you make, especially at an early stage!

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