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asoiafcanonjonsnow · 1 year

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JON SNOW || MAB DAROGAN

According to Welsh mythology, Mab Darogan or the "Son of Destiny" is a messianic figure that would force the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings out of Britain and reclaim it for the Celtic Britons.

In ASOIAF, Jon Snow is assassinated while he's about to rail against the Boltons who have usurped his family's castle and currently rule the North. It's possible that after his eventual resurrection, he will still want to fight against the Boltons and drive them out of his ancestral house. After he succeeds, the people of the North who have suffered under Bolton's rule will see him not only as their rightful ruler since he's the heir to their late King Robb Stark but also as a savior (aka a messianic figure).

Through the centuries various historical and mythological figures have been linked to Mab Darogan.

Jon Snow shares some parallels with two of those: the mythical King Arthur and the historical Henry VII of England.

Both Arthur and Jon are illegitimate kids of royalty. King Uther Pendragon fell in love with the married Igraine and either forced her to be with him or she also fell in love with him depending on the version of the story. Similarly, Prince and Heir to the throne Rhaegar Targaryen fell in love with Lyanna Stark, who was engaged to another man, and according to rumors in Westeros, he kidnapped her and raped her. However, it's more likely by various hints we get through the books that the affair between Rhaegar and Lyanna was consensual. Both affairs lead to wars and Uther and Rhaegar dying without meeting their sons.

It is worth noticing that in some tales, Uther and Igraine are married after her first husband's death so Arthur isn't illegitimate. In ASOIAF universe, Rhaegar could have possibly married Lyanna as Targaryen aren't against polygamy and thus making Jon his legitimate heir. Not that it actually matters, because just like Arthur is the true heir to his father even in the versions he's a bastard, similarly Jon Snow is the narrative heir of Rhaegar who can save the world regardless of his bastard status or lack of it.

Let's move to the similarities between Henry VII and Jon Snow. Martin has already shared that the War of Roses was a major inspiration for the book series. At the end of the War of Roses, it's neither House Lancaster (inspiration for House Lannister) nor House York (inspiration for House Stark) which emerges victorious but instead the new King is Henry Tudor who starts his own dynasty. The said King wasn't the most likely candidate to the throne as he wasn't closed related to any of the previous Kings, like Jon isn't related to either Tommen/Joffrey/Robert/Stannis/Renly. Instead he drew his claim through kinship to older generation Kings with whom he didn't share the same surname. Jon is also related with all Targaryen Kings despite not sharing their surname.

Henry's father died in battle before he was born, like Rhaegar died on Trident. Both Henry and Jon were raised by their uncles who shaped lot of their views. Henry spent a long time in exile hiding from his opponents and similarly Eddard Stark raised Jon Snow to the far north to keep him away from King Robert's wrath- in case he found out about Jon's existence. Besides, even after leaving Winterfell, Jon went to the Wall which counts as a sort of exile away from the rest of the Kingdom. Henry returned to England from exile and fought and won the english crown against King Richard III. Jon is dying as he tries to raise an army to fight Ramsay Bolton in order to reclaim Winterfell. When he's eventually resurrected, he's gonna continue his fight against Boltons and probably like Henry Tudor he will come out victorious. Could he also battle the possible King candidates of the South? That's something up to speculation.

Coat of Arms of King Henry VII of England.

Another interesting thing about Henry VII is that his coat of arms included a white dog and a red dragon, which is very similar to a possible Jon Snow's coat of arms (a red dragon for House Targaryen and a white direwolf for House Stark).

The famous badge of House Tudor (Henry VII's House) consists of the combination of the white rose (House York) and the red rose (House Lancaster). Could Jon Snow also combine both Targaryen and Stark colors on his own badge? Or maybe he'll adapt the blue rose which is significant to his parents'story?

Above is portrayed the rose of House Tudor while below there are those of House Lancaster and House York.

#asoiafcanonjonsnow #Jon Snow #Meta #valyrianscrolls #Parallels #King Arthur #Henry VII of England #Mab Darogan #Speculation #Politics and Rulership #R+L=J #CanonJonSnow #Winter Rose #ASOIAF #A Song of Ice and Fire #Original Post

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coatl-cuddles · 10 months

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The year botw launched I drew a zora for Art Fight. With the release of totk it was only right to redesign him. Welcome back Lancaster ♡

#zora #i fucking wuv him #he is now a widdle 6 yr old baby #he likes glow in the dark snails #and fleet lotuses #holds him gently #botw #totk #breath of the wild #tears of the kingdom #oc #my art #redesign

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vague-humanoid · 8 months

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Whether England is the home of football or not matters little to women and children whose abusers make home hell after major football games. It is a hell that decreases by 5 percent during the 2-hour duration of the game, but that starts increasing and peaks about ten hours after the game, researchers at the London School of Economics Centre for Economic Performance found. They examined eight years of call and crime data from Greater Manchester police, correlating with the timing of almost 800 games played by Manchester United and Manchester City between April 2012 and June 2019.

The researchers say that “all increases are driven by perpetrators that had consumed alcohol, and when games were played before 7pm,”; games which start during the day give supporters more time to drink.

As useful as it is to know all of that, it is imperative to resist the temptation of thinking that simply moving all football games to evening start times will end domestic abuse associated with games. The starting time of games is the trees. We must stay focused on the forest: patriarchy.

Moreover, researchers from UK’s Lancaster University who analysed domestic violence figures from England’s games in the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cup found that incidents of domestic abuse were 11 percent higher the day after an England match.

More alarmingly: incidents of domestic abuse rose by 38 percent when the England team lost and increased by 26 percent where England won or drew, compared with days when there was no England match.

Their findings were used in a photo campaign by the UK’s National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) with the tagline, “If England gets beaten, so will she.” The NCDV’s campaign extended to other nations in the World Cup, including Switzerland, Japan, Belgium and France and showed images of national flags imprinted onto women’s faces in blood.

#domestic violence mention cw #patriarchy #football #soccer

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usafphantom2 · 28 days

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80 years ago - 30th-31st March 1944. On a clear, moonlit night, over 700 aircraft of Bomber Command took off to attack Nuremberg. 95 would be shot down, while more crashed on returning to base; over 500 aircrew were killed. The city itself was covered with cloud and suffered only minor damage.

See this great talk by @jamesjhistory for more information👇

access.historyhit.com/videos/nurembu…

Pictured:

(L) ‘Long Leg To Nuremberg’ by Hendrik Aviation Art. Hauptmann Martin Drewes in his Bf 110 attacks the first Lancaster (LM425 BQ-N of 550 Squadron) to be shot down by fighters that night.

📷 cdnb.artstation.com

(R) Crew of Lancaster DV276 SR-R of 101 Squadron, Ludford Magna. All were killed when their aircraft was shot down and crashed at Röthenbach, near Nuremberg.

Pilot: P/O. 'Batt' John Batten-Smith DFC, 22

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Robert Armstrong, 20

Nav: P/O. Graham Harries Williams

Spec/Op: P/O. Howard Ernest Beer, 21

W/OP/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Robert Russell Roberts, 23

Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. Allan Henry Ross, 22

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Hugh Fleming McClenaghan, 19

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Arthur Haynes, 21

Theirs was one of seven 101 Squadron aircraft lost that night, most with no survivors.

📷 aircrewremembered.com

@JamieMctrusty via X

#avro lancaster #raf #bomber command #ww2 #night bombing

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vanana-r0tat3 · 1 year

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BATIM/BATDR characters as vocaloid songs

[PREV POST]

sorry if any of these feel ooc </3 some of these are covers //just like last time heres the playlist//

Joey Drew: World is Mine - ryo [Jubyphonic Cover] (i am only half joking with this one...) Outer Science - Jin [Kuraiinu Cover] The Game of Life - Yuzuhico [Jubyphonic Cover] Matoryoshka - Hachi

Henry Stein: Bad Apple - Minoshima [Jubyphonic Cover] Donut Hole - Hachi [MioDioDaVinci KYO Cover] Nonsense speaker - Nekobolo

other characters below the cut :)

Sammy Lawrence: Stop Nagging Me - Neru Crystaline - CirCrush Echo - Crusher [JubyPhonic & Mes] yes i am plugging my old mashup Phony - Tsumiki [Will Stetson Cover] Love me, Love me, Love me - Kikuo [Mey Chan Cover]

The Ink Demon: Karma - CircusP Copycat - CircusP [Dima Lancaster Cover] Amygdala's Rag Doll - GHOST The Cat's Dining Table - Kikuo You are a Worthless Child - Kikuo

Audrey: Rolling Girl - wowoka White Happy - MARETU Brain Fluid Explosion Girl - rerulili

Susie Campbell/Malice Angel: Let's go to Heaven - Kikuo Hitorinbo Envy - koyori Machine Gun - KIRA Again - Crusher [ARAKI Cover] Bacterial Contamination - Kanimiso-P

Norman Polk/The Projectionist: Emptiness, Emptiness, Emptiness of Emptiness - Kikuo

Henry and Joey: Therefore You and Me - TadanoCo Patchwork Staccato - toa [Jubyphonic Cover] Talent Sampler - koyori [Agi UTAU Cover] Monster - KIRA [Aruvn Cover] Mind Brand - MARETU [Kuraiinu Cover]

Sammy and Joey: Honey I'm Home - GHOST I Hate You - dennoko-P Disillusioned - MARETU

Sammy and Norman: Hole Dwelling - Kikuo Corpse Dance - Kikuo

Audrey and The Ink Demon/Bendy: Hide and Seek - SeeU [Lizz Robinett Cover] S.I.U - MARETU [Chinjireta Cover] A Tale of Six Trillion Years and a Night - kemu Childish War - Giga-P & Reol

Audrey and Joey: Death Should Not Have Taken Thee - Jesus-P [Jubyphonic Cover] sorry i just think this one is silly lol

and of course, leekspin for wally miku's levan polkka is so fucking funny bc apparently shes not even singing in finnish shes just singing giberish that sounds vaguely like the original song its great

ALSO SHOUTOUT TO YOU BTW BECAUSE YOUR MIND 💥

i already had karma down before seeing this but i put it under bendy HFGHJDFJHD definitely fits sammy i think too!

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thelibrarylesstrektraveled · 1 year

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To The Victor Chapter Three - Can't Be Claimed

Summary: Although Omegas had won the legal battle for equal rights, society was slow to catch up. Thought to be the weakest of the genders, they struggled to find opportunities that Alphas and Betas took for granted. Known as the Guillotine, Emmaline Beaumont was woman with a secret. Head of her family’s company; she was smart, shrewd, and tough as nails. At sixteen she presented as Omega and she’s hidden it ever since. Suppressants and hormone reassignment therapy allowed her to live her life as the Alpha her family needed her to be. The perfect solution, so long as she never allowed herself to be claimed. As the President of Winchester Inc. Dean’s professional life was golden. As an unmated Alpha nearing forty, he was restless. Charming and devastatingly handsome, Dean was rarely without female company, but he wanted more. He wanted what his parents had. Someone made especially for him. His match, his true mate. Finding her on a trip to New York had been an unexpected dream come true, but no one ever said the road to love was easy.

Pairing: Alpha!Dean x Omega!OFC, Dean x OFC, Dean Winchester x OFC

Characters: Dean Winchester, OFC, Sam Winchester, Jessica Moore, John Winchester, Jody Mills

Warnings: ABO dynamics, Heat/Rut cycles, Smut (Unprotected sex, knotting, oral sex, claiming bites), hurt/comfort, sickfic, hospitals and medical talk, fluff and angst, age difference (Dean is 39, OFC is 27), True mates, self hate (OFC struggles with gender)

Chapter Three: Can't Be Claimed

Word Count: 3348

Masterlist

To The Victor Masterlist

The twenty minutes it took for help to arrive were nothing short of agony for Dean. He kept Emma cradled close. Whispering sweet words of encouragement in her ear, telling her to hold on, that help was on the way. She never responded, but he had to believe that she could hear him or at least knew he was there. That he wasn’t leaving her. That he was going to take care of her.

God, she’s so cold!

Dean tugged the blankets closer around the two of them and rubbed her arms roughly, desperate to infuse every ounce of his own heat to her chilled flesh. Give her his strength. Surround her with his scent. In his mind, he kept going over the conversation with Emma’s sister.

Emma can’t be claimed. Family doctor treating her since childhood.

Just what the hell did that mean? If it hadn’t been for the insistent tone in Jess’ voice, Dean would have called 911 instead. As it was, he was doubting his decision.

He pressed a kiss to Emma’s temple, “Keep fighting sweetheart, I’m right here.”

The door to the suite opened without so much as a knock of warning and a short, slight man entered. He wore a slim black suit and tie with a matching fedora pulled down over dark hair. His unsmiling face was sharply featured with beady eyes and a crooked, hawk-like nose. Everything about him was severe and unpleasant. The expression he wore was a mix of displeasure and annoyance. Going by the classic leather satchel in his hand, this man must be the family doctor.

Dean shifted Emma’s unconscious body off his chest and stood, “You the doctor?”

The man removed his hat and placed it on the table along with his bag, “I am Doctor Lancaster, and you are the Alpha who caused all the trouble.” He never spared Dean a glance as he rifled through his bag. His tone suggested an absolute disgust with the situation.

Dean crossed his arms over his chest. He didn’t appreciate being judged by a gargoyle in cheap mortician’s suit. Especially not when his mate’s life was hanging by a thread. “Yup, that’s me. So, are you able to help her?”

Lancaster moved over his patient with efficiency. After he took a few vitals, he drew out a vial and syringe from his bag of tricks. “I believe so, it was a good thing you called when you did. Another hour and she’d be dead.” He swiped an alcohol swab over the crook of Emma’s elbow and administered a hefty dose of the drug.

“What are you giving her?”

“Botox.”

The Alpha didn’t appreciate the sarcasm. He let out a low, menacing growl and clenched his jaw so that the muscle there twitched.

The doctor was equally unimpressed with the show of aggression. “It’s a combination of adrenaline, beta blockers and hormone booster.”

Dean frowned as he realized the implication, “She was on suppressants?”

“Ah! An Alpha with a brain! Nice to know at least one of you rutting beasts can think with something other than your nether regions.” Lancaster checked Emma’s pulse one last time. With a satisfied nod, he shut his bag and stood.

“Your Omega is going to be fine. Her temperature is already rising, and her heat cycle will now continue as normal.” The doctor gave Dean an appraising once over. “Judging by your own state, I’d say you are already aware of that.”

Dean was loathed to admit this quack was right about anything. The cavalier way he was treating a medical emergency should have him barred from practicing medicine anywhere in the civilized world. The fact that the emergency was his mate, made Dean want to rip the man’s throat out on principle alone. Yet, the little troll had done something right, because he could now pick up Emma’s scent. It was intoxicating, and stronger than it had ever been. Apple orchards and magnolia blossoms, it made his mouth water. His rut, that had been threatening since meeting Emma was now in full swing. His thoughts were quickly giving way to is Alpha instincts; protect, care for, and knot his mate.

Lancaster already had his hand on the door, knowing his presence wouldn’t be tolerated by a rutting Alpha for much longer. “She’ll wake in a couple of hours. When she does, the best treatment for her, is you.”

It was the faint, high pitched whine that finally pulled Emma from her dreamless sleep. She felt warm and secure. That lovely scent of sun-warmed cedar forest tickled her nose and she sighed in contentment, snuggling towards it.

“’Mega?”

The worry edged fear in that deep voice had her frowning before she even opened her eyes. When she did, Dean’s face was mere inches from hers, his handsome features tight with stress. The anxiety that rolled off him in waves made her heart clench. He was terrified.

She brought her hand out from under the nest of blankets and threaded it through Dean’s hair, “Alpha.”

Dean crushed her to his chest, his whole body trembled, weak with relief. After that wretched doctor left, Dean had ridded them both of their clothes and bundled them up under a mountain of blankets. He kept their bodies pressed as closely together as possible, his instincts telling him skin to skin contact was crucial to his Omega’s recovery. A warm, safe nest for just the two of them where he could protect her and look after her properly.

He scented her deeply, desperate to drown himself in the sweet fragrance. “Thank God,” he murmured over and over again.

“Shh, it’s alright. I’m alright,” she soothed, brushing kisses against his forehead. She held him tight as he shook in her arms. A virile, strong Alpha like him wouldn’t be scared by much, and that told her all she needed to know about how critical things had gotten.

He had taken care of her, gotten her help and no doubt saved her life. Now it was her turn to take care of him, “I’ve got you; I’m right here.”

He kissed her roughly, stealing her words along with her breath. Desperation and urgency in every heated pass of his mouth over hers. His hands groped her aggressively, pawing at any bit of softness he could find. It took him several minutes to regain his control. He abruptly pulled away, panting for composure he would not easily grasp.

“I’m sorry… sorry.” He let his forehead fall against hers as his chest heaved. His voice was low and hoarse. “You need rest.”

Emma studied Dean’s pinched features. The tension coiled uncomfortably, barely contained, under the surface, sweat dotted his skin and his rock-hard length twitched between them. His eyes were nearly black, overtaken by the hormones and lust ravaging his system. This whole mess had triggered his rut, God knows how long he had been suffering with it while she was unconscious. The added worry that his mate was dying had made it nearly unbearable.

Her heart broke for him then and with it came guilt. This whole thing was her fault. She knew the consequences of doing anything with an Alpha while she was still taking the treatments. It was reckless and irresponsible and unforgivably selfish.

She cupped the side of his face, gently brushing her thumb over the ridge of his cheekbone. He closed his eyes and leaned into her soothing touch. “I don’t need rest. I only need you.”

“No,” he muttered, trying to ignore the urges running through him. “I’m rough. Too rough. Don’t wanna hurt you.”

She continued to stroke his face, calming and soothing. “You won’t hurt me, I’m your Omega. And your Omega is a strong Omega.”

Dean mustered up a final ounce of control and looked into her deep, blue eyes. The comfort and consent he saw there eased the tightness in his chest. “’Mega mine.”

“Yours.” Emma confirmed softly and brushed her lips feather-light over his, “Mate now. Rest later.”

It lasted five days in total. Each of them seamlessly providing what the other needed most. Alpha and Omega. Balanced. Each a perfect counterpoint to the other. They relished in the joy of being together. Every experience was exciting and new, every touch satisfied in ways that surprised. Very few words were spoken, their connection was so strong that it over-rode the need to talk. That knowing, that deep down in the soul kind of certainty was staggering. The intimacy of their bond was deeper and more complex than either of them had ever known.

Now that their respective heat and rut cycles had ended, they were left with the rather mundane task of how to weave their lives together. These were the boring, yet very necessary details of the real world. The world outside of cozy one they’d created within the confines of the hotel suite. Neither of them were particularly excited at the prospect.

“So, going by this hotel room we’ve been honeymooning in, I’m guessing you’re not a New Yorker.”

Dean caught her gaze in the mirror as he deftly buttoned up the crisp, white dress shirt and smiled. Even her reflection caused his stomach to flip over. “Nope, Chicago. Born and bred. You?”

“Manhattan.”

“You ever been to the windy city?”

“A couple of times,” she shrugged, tucking her legs up demurely under her backside. “It’s not bad for fly-over country.”

“Fly-over country?” Dean scoffed, “Chicago is in the heartland, the Midwest. Everything a big city has to offer with access to wide open spaces. Way better than this uptight sand bar.”

“Is that so? Then what’s a guy like you doing slumming it around the boroughs? Cruising for a mate?”

“Nah, I just got lucky.” Dean plopped down to sit beside her on the bed and kissed her loudly. “I travel a lot for work. I’m in New York once a month or so.”

“Will you come back more now?” She asked hopefully, the thought of only seeing him once a month had her heart twisting.

“Well, I thought that you’d come back with me. You know, live with me in Chicago.” Seeing her face fall, he rushed to reassure her, hoping that he wasn’t bungling things too much. “I’m sure you will need some time to get things tied up here, but I want you with me ‘Mega. And we can come back as often as you like.”

“Why don’t you move here with me?”

Dean nearly scoffed, but the earnest look in her eyes suggested a softer approach might be better. “Sweetheart, my business is in Chicago. I make a good living, an excellent living actually. I have an apartment there along with some property in the country. I’ll take good care of you; you won’t have to worry about anything ever again.”

She raised her chin to look Dean square in the eye, “My business is in New York. I make an excellent living and I own a beautiful Brownstone on the upper east side. I don’t have a country cottage, but I’m willing to work that into our negotiations.”

“Negotiations?!” He sat back with a laugh, “You are something else, you know that? Omegas don’t negotiate living arrangements with their Alphas.”

She leveled her gaze, “Yours does.”

His mate wasn’t one to give in easily, and he loved that about her. Her spirit. Her fight. She challenged him, made him earn her submission. Made him prove he was worthy of her. He was happy to oblige her.

He leaned in close, his mouth centimeters from hers but not touching. He ghosted over, getting tantalizingly close but never making contact. Catching on, she let him edge her backwards on the bed. It was one of those games teenagers play, like there’s an invisible barrier around their bodies that allow them to get close but never touch. They moved in tandem, he filled up space she had occupied only moments before. She retreated as he advanced.

Dean’s movements were sleek and slow, like a panther. He never stopped his progression, never broke contact with her gaze. He watched with hooded eyes as the glint of rebellion gave over to something softer.

He hovered over her body only a hair’s breadth away, his grin was predatory, “Lucky for you, I’m an expert negotiator.”

Emma struggled to keep her thoughts orderly. It was growing increasingly difficult as her mate hovered above her. His scent surrounded her, his arms and legs caging her in. He was everywhere and she could feel herself start to float on that heady, seductive cloud. She couldn’t help the sigh that escaped her lips. Nowhere in the whole world felt as good, as right, as being with him.

It wasn’t until he saw her eyes flutter shut that he broke that invisible barrier between them. His nose brushed the claiming mark and inhaled deeply before moving on to the spot just behind her ear. It was one of her favorites and he had discovered just how sensitive it was over the past few days.

When he nuzzled her then nipped, she moaned and brought her fingers up to comb through his hair still damp from the shower. “Mmm… you make a valid point.”

He chuckled as he continued his assault. Moving down the graceful column of her neck, he sampled silky skin.

“I have an idea,” she said as Dean made his way to the zipper of her hoodie and started to ease it down. When he didn’t reply but moved his fingers moved to her waistband, she gave a sharp tug on the short hairs at the base of his skull.

“Agh!” He grunted as she wiggled out from under him. With a pained sigh and a semi hard erection, he propped himself up on one elbow. “Better watch it, Sweetheart. You know I like it rough.”

Emma sat up, regal as a queen. Determined to get back to business. “I think we should date.”

“Date,” he repeated. “We’re mated. We’ve spent the last five days claiming each other in every way possible. Don’t you think we’re a little past the dating phase?”

A worried frown creased her brow, “You don’t want to date me?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“I know it’s a little… backwards, but so what? Why should we do things the way other people do?” She gave a shy smile as she appealed to him. “I want to get to know you.”

He sat himself up completely and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, “We are going to spend the rest of our lives getting to know each other.”

He instead of reassuring her, he felt her pull away. He felt like kicking himself, somehow, he’d managed to say something wrong. He crooked a finger under her chin and forced her to look at him. There was disappointment there, “It means that much to you?”

“Well, I thought it would be fun and I… I’ve never dated before. Not really, anyway.” She replied, struggling to keep embarrassment from coloring her voice.

Dean couldn’t help being surprised. Shocked. She was a beautiful woman, stunning actually. He had no doubt that his pretty little Omega had turned heads from an early age. She was so smart and fun and sexy, it seemed impossible that no one had ever tried to date her. Although the very thought had his possessive Alpha jealousy flaring.

“Never? No boyfriend ever?”

She shook her head and bit her lip. One of her more noticeable nervous tells. “No, not really. I mean, I’ve gone on a few dates but there was never anyone special.”

“Does this have to do with those black-market suppressants you were taking?”

“They weren’t black-market,” she countered, “I wasn’t getting shot up in back alleys, I was under a doctor’s care.”

“Oh, you mean that gargoyle that showed up? That guy was a dick, he had the bedside manner of a cab driver!”

“What he lacks in congeniality he makes up for in discretion.” Emma crossed her arms over her chest defensively. She wasn’t accustomed to defending her actions to anyone, especially regarding her presentation treatments. It was a well-guarded family secret, discussing it with anyone else made her very uneasy. Even if that person was her Alpha, the one person meant to protect her.

“Being an Omega is nothing but a liability, it’s a weakness. This city is full of Alphas who think they can drag me back to their cave by my ponytail. Or boss me around because the world order says they should be in charge of everything!”

Frustrated, she blinked back the stinging in her eyes. Tears that threatened to fall only seemed to undermine her point. Usually, she had a tight rein on her emotions but ever since being claimed, they refused to stay where she put them. They were like a storm she was constantly trying to keep from breaking through.

“I just wanted to live my life without having to worry that my presentation would get me overlooked for a promotion or kidnapped by a rut-crazed Alpha.”

Dean hated the fear and stress he felt from her. Her eyes bright with unshed tears. He knew the world wasn’t an easy place for Omegas. Emma certainly wasn’t alone in her feelings on the matter and many others had taken the same route. Suppressants and scent blockers were a common and safe method for most people who wanted a bit of anonymity.

“You’re right,” he said with a sigh, taking both of her hands in his. Reveling in how delicate they seemed compared to his. How easily they could be bruised or broken. “There’s nothing wrong with Omegas using suppressants. Hell, if I were in your shoes, I’d probably do the same thing. It’s just that reaction you had, you were so cold. I thought I was going to lose you. I’ve never been that scared. And then that creepy doctor… acting like he didn’t care if you lived or died. I wanted to kill him with my bare hands.”

Emma leaned forward and rested her forehead against his. “I know. I’m sorry Dean, it’s my fault. I knew better, I just got caught up. And then when my heat started, I couldn’t think straight.”

“It’s understandable. I did kind of sweep you off your feet.”

“You did,” she smiled softly. “That’s why I had only been with Betas before.”

Dean pulled back and looked at her with curiosity, “So you’ve never been with an Alpha before me?”

“No.”

His grin was instant and cocky as his chest puffed out. “Good.”

She rolled her eyes, “Shut up.”

He laughed and pulled her onto his lap, tucking her head under his chin. She fit there so perfectly; Dean knew he would never grow tired of holding her. Leaving New York without her, would likely be one of the hardest things he would ever do. He took a deep inhale of her sweet scent and groaned. “Okay Sweetheart, you win. Let’s date.”

Emma drew back and looked up at him with wide, hopeful eyes, “Really?”

“Hell, why not!”

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him with such enthusiasm that he nearly toppled backwards. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“Just you wait,” he muttered through their joined lips, “I’ve got all kinds of romantic cards up my sleeve.”

When her face lit up Dean felt his heart swell. Yeah, being separated for any amount of time would be torture, but worth it if it made her so happy.

She eyed him with suspicion. “You aren’t just giving me my way because I cried, are you?”

“I hate seeing you cry, but no. You made a valid point. It’ll take us time to get everything figured out, why not have some fun while we’re at it?”

The dimple in her left cheek appeared and her eyes sparkled with the smile that bloomed. She was practically glowing with excitement and hope. Shining like the sun, the new center of his universe. His whole future held in his arms.

#alpha!dean x omega!reader #alpha!dean winchester #a/b/o #jensen ackles #jensen x reader #jensen x y/n #Jensen x ofc #dean winchester #dean winchester fanfiction #dean x reader #dean x y/n #dean x you #Dean x ofc #a/b/o smut #spn fic #supernatural #To The Victor

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toastybugguy · 3 months

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a return to the mini-sketchbook for some zombies and the associated zomblorbos.. in order from newest to oldest. mmmbngh I love drawing zombies…

#tino redesign of sorts !! they are now cooler and edgier. And Cooler #drawing Drew’s little lip scar brings me such joy #toastytag #the zomblorbos #apologies for the awful photography I have never been good at taking pics of my art 😿👍#zombies #drew lancaster #tino le #gabriel zhang #sketches #sketchbook #original character #oc art #my ocs #traditional art

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pilot-boi · 2 years

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Drew @curiousscientistkae’s Lancaster kids as a commission. They’re SUPER cute not gonna lie

[Buy Me A Ko-Fi]

#rwby #jaune arc #ruby rose #lancaster #mine #my art #kofi stuff #commissions #curiousscientistkae

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deadlockorignalfilms · 1 month

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This seems really important

youtube

List of reported and confirmed Warner Home Video DVDs that have rotted:

Box Sets and Series:

4 film favorites: Hugh Grant

4 Film Favorites: King of Horror- The Dreamcatcher side of Disc 1 doesn't load in any player. That side of the disc has become discolored.

4 Film Favorites: Lethal Weapon

4 Film Favorites: Urban Action (Black Belt Jones, Hot Potato, Black Samson, Three the Hard Way) - Hot Potato freezes at layer chagne

Adventures of Superman: The Complete Fifth & Sixth Seasons - Disc 2 (2U / L907)

Alfred Hitchcock - The Signature Collection-All these discs fail at the layer change:- Foreign Correspondent- Strangers on a Train: Two-Disc Special Edition (both discs)- Stage Fright- Suspicion- The Wrong Man

Animaniacs Seasons

Astaire and Rogers Collection Vol 1 and 2 and complete set

Barbara Stanwyck Signature Collection

Batman - The Complete Animated Series- Volume 2, Disc 3 starts skipping at episode 5.- Volume 3, Disc 2 doesn't play the last episode.

Bette Davis Collection Vol 1

Bette Davis Collection Vol 2

Bette Davis Collection Vol 3

Blade Runner 4 Disc Collector’s Edition-Disc 1,2 and 4

Burt Lancaster Signature Collection

Busby Berkeley Collection Vol 1

Busby Berkeley Collection Vol 2

Buster Keaton TCM Archives collection

Cary Grant Signature Collection

Clark Gable Signature Collection

Classic Comedies Collection

Classic Comedy Teams Collection

Classic Musicals From the Dream Factory Vol 2

Classic Musicals From the Dream Factory Vol 3

Cult Camp Classics Volumes

Dallas-multiple seasons

Doris Day Collection Vol 2

Dukes of Hazzard - Multiple Seasons

Elizabeth Taylor-Richard Burton collection

Elvis Presley [Deluxe 2-Volume] (10-Disc Set)

Errol Flynn Signature Collection Vol 2

Errol Flynn TCM Spotlight WWII Adventures

Esther Williams Collection Vol 1

Film Noir Classic Collection Vol 3

Film Noir Classic Collection Vol 4

Film Noir Classic Collection Vol 5

Forbidden Hollywood Vol 1

Forbidden Hollywood Vol 2

Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends

Friends: Season 3, Disc 1,Season 6, Discs 1, 3, and 4

F-Troop Season 2

Gary Cooper Signature Collection

Greta Garbo Signature Collection

Henrik Ibsen Collection- The Master Builder and The Lady From The Sea will not play.

Humphrey Bogart Signature Collection Vol 2

James Cagney Signature collection

James Stewart Signature Collection

Joan Crawford Collection Vol 1 and 2

John Ford and John Wayne Collection

John Ford Collection

Katharine Hepburn 100th Anniversary Collection

Katharine Hepburn Collection

Legends of Horror Collection-all discs rot.

Literary Classics Collection

Lois & Clark - The Complete Fourth Season: Disc 4 freezes at episode 3 on one player and read as invalid on another.

Looney Tunes Gold Coll 5 - Disc 2,Disc 4

Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 2: Disc 3

Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 4 - all four discs have rotted

Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 5 - all four discs have rotted

Lucille Ball Film Collection

Man From Uncle Complete Series: Season 2 Disc 6

Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland Collection- TCM reissue pack is okay

Motion Picture Masterpieces Collection

Myrna Loy and William Powell Collection TCM Spotlight

Nancy Drew Movie Mystery Collection

One Tree Hill

Paul Newman Collection

Pinky and the Brain seasons

Popeye Volumes

Powerpuff Girls Complete Series

Rooney & Garland Collection

Sam Peckinpah Collection

Shakespeare Collection

SilverHawks Volume One - Disc 4 (2U / L906)

Smallville - The Complete Sixth Season: Disc 2 skips and freezes. Discs 3 and 4 only play the first two episodes on one player and read as invalid on another.

Spawn: The Animated Collection - 10th Anniversary Signature Edition (Steelbook)- Disc 1 freezes and skips over the opening eight minutes of the first episode.

Stanley Kubrick - Warner Home Video Director's Series

Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show - Disc 2 (60, L387)

Superman Ultimate Collector’s Edition Tin-multiple films and extras no longer play. Some discs completely rotted.

Superman: The Theatrical Serials Collection: Disc 4

Supernatural (Season 2), some episodes on discs 4 & 5 won't play

Tales from the Crypt - The Complete Fifth Season: Disc 1, Disc 2 froze before the end of the last episode on one player and read as invalid on another.

Tales from the Crypt - The Complete First Season: Disc 1 doesn't play.

Tales from the Crypt - The Complete Sixth Season: Disc 1 & 2 won't play some of the episodes. At least three are inaccessible.

Tarzan Collection Vol 2

TCM Archives Laurel and Hardy Collection - both discs rotted

TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection - Horror

Tennessee Williams collection

Tex Avery's Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection - both discs rotted

The All-New Super Friends Hour Volume One - Disc 1 (2U / L908), Disc 2 (2U / L907)

The Christopher Reeve Superman Collection

The Cult Camp collection

The Exorcist - The Complete Anthology- Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist fails at the layer change.

The Flash: The Complete Original Series - Disc 2 (2U / L907), Disc 6 (2U / L907)

The John Wayne Collection

The Sopranos

The Twisted Terror collection

The West Wing-Multiple Seasons

Tom & Jerry Spotlight Collection Volume 2: Discs 1 and 2

Tom & Jerry Spotlight Collection Volume 3: Disc 1

Tough Guys Collection-reissued as Gangsters Volume 2

Twisted Terror Collection

Vacation/European Vacation- Comedy Double Feature release

Val Lewton Collection-I Walked With A Zombie / The Body Snatcher, The Leopard Man / The Ghost Ship

Veronica Mars

Veronica Mars - The Complete Second Season

Veronica Mars - The Complete Third Season

Warner Bros Gangsters Vol 1

Warner Bros Gangsters Vol 2

Warner Bros Gangsters Vol 3

Warner Bros Gangsters Vol 4

Individual Titles (Boxsets listed if originally released as part of a set):

2001: A Space Odyssey-Stanley Kubrick Director’s Series

30 Seconds to Tokyo

A Clockwork Orange-Stanley Kubrick Director’s Series

A Free Soul/Divorcee-A free Soul rotted-Forbidden Hollywood Collection - Volume 2

A Midsummer Night’s Dream-Shakespeare collection and standalone

A Nightmare on Elm Street - Infinifilm Edition

A Slight Case of Murder-Tough Guys Collection and Gangsters V2

Across the Pacific-Humphrey Bogart: The Signature Collection - Volume 2

Act of Violence /Mystery Street (Only Plays Mystery Street) Film Noir v4

Action in the North Atlantic-Bogart Signature Collection v2

Adventures of Don Juan-Errol Flynn SC V2

Air Force

All This and Heaven Too

Angels in the Outfield (1951)

Arsenic and Old Lace-snapper case

Austin Powers in Goldmember (Infinifilm Series)

Babes In Arms- Rooney & Garland Coll

Babes on Broadway- Rooney & Garland Coll

Bathing Beauty-Esther Williams Vol. 1

Best Foot Forward

Billy Budd-Literary Classics Coll

Black Legion-Gangsters V3

Blade Runner- 4 disc collector’s edition

Bombers B-52

Boom Town

Born to Dance

Bringing Up Baby-Classic Comedies Collection

Broadway 1936

Brother Orchid-Gangsters v4

Bullets or Ballots-Tough Guys Collection and Gangsters V2

By the Light of the Silvery Moon-The Doris Day Collection, Vol. 2

Captain Blood-Errol Flynn SC V1

Captain Horatio Hornblower-Literary Classics Coll

Captain of the Clouds-James Cagney Signature Collection

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof-Tennessee Williams collection

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory SE

City for Conquest-Tough Guys Collection and Gangsters V2

Command Decision

Crime Wave/Decoy-Film Noir V4

Critic’s Choice

Cruising

Damn Yankees

Dance Girl Dance

Dangerous When Wet-Esther Williams, Vol. 1

Dark Passage

David Copperfield-Motion Picture Masterpieces

Decoy-Film Noir Classic Collection Volume 4

Deep in My Heart-Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory: Volume 3

Desperate Journey-Errol Flynn TCM WWII Adventures

Destination Tokyo-The Cary Grant Signature Collection

Dinner at Eight-Standalone copy

Dive Bomber-Errol Flynn SC V2

Dog Day Afternoon SE

Dr. X/Mask of Fu Manchu-Legends of Horror

Dragon Seed-Katharine Hepburn 100th Anniv Coll

Droopy

Du Barry Was a Lady

Each Dawn I Die-Tough Guys Collection and Gangsters V2

East of Eden SE

East Side West Side

Eight Legged Freaks

Evelyn Prentice-Powell and Loy TCM Collection

Executive Suite-Barbara Stanwyck Signature Collection

Eyes Wide Shut-Stanley Kubrick Director’s Series

Female/Three on a Match-Forbidden Hollywood v2

Firecreek-James Stewart Signature collection

Flamingo Road-Joan Crawford V2

Flying Down to Rio (Astaire/Rogers Collection)

Fort Apache

Friendly Persuasion

G Men-Tough Guys Collection and Gangsters V2

Garbo Silents Collection-Garbo Signature Collection

Gentleman Jim-Errol Flynn Signature Collection V2

Girl Crazy-Rooney & Garland Coll

Gold Raiders/Meet the Baron double feature

Hairspray SE

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix SE

High Sierra

His Kind of Woman-Noir V3

His Majesty O'Keefe-Burt Lancaster Signature Collection

Hit the Deck-Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory: Volume 3

I Love You Again (Loy/Powell collection)

I'll See You in My Dreams-The Doris Day Collection, Vol. 2

Illegal / The Big Steal (only plays Illegal)-Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol 4

In This Our Life-Bette Davis collection v2

Invisible Stripes-Gangsters V4

Jeopardy-Barbara Stanwyck: The Signature Collection

Jailhouse Rock Remastered (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) - Elvis Presley 10 Film Set

John Carpenter’s Someone is Watching Me

Julius Caesar

Kismet-Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory: Volume 3

Lady Be Good- Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory: Volume 3

Lady Killer-Gangsters V3

Land of the Pharaohs-Cult Camp Classics v1

Looney Tunes Golden Collection vol 1 disc 1 & vol 5 disc 4

Love Crazy-Powell and Loy TCM Collection

Lucky Me-The Doris Day Collection, Vol. 2

Madame Bovary-Literary Classics Coll

Manhattan Melodrama-Powell and Loy TCM Collection

Meet the Baron/Gold Raiders-Gold Raiders won’t play

Mogambo-Clark Gable SC

Mr. Skeffington-Bette Davis collection v1

My Dream Is Yours-The Doris Day Collection, Vol. 2

Mystery Street-Film Noir Classic Collection Volume 4

Neptune's Daughter-Esther Williams, Vol. 1

Night and Day-The Cary Grant Signature Collection

Night of the Iguana

Ninotchka-Garbo Signature Collection

Nothing But Trouble-Classic Comedy Teams Collection

Lucky Man

On An Island With You-Esther Williams V1

On Moonlight Bay-The Doris Day Collection, Vol. 2

Operation Crossbow

Othello-Shakespeare Coll

Passage to Marseille-Bogart Signature Coll V2

Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid SE-Peckinpah Collection

The Wild Bunch 2 disc SE-Peckinpah collection

Personal Best

Popeye

Popeye vol 1 discs 1 & 4

Presenting Lily Mars

Pride and Prejudice-Motion Pic Masterpieces

Prince of The City

Rebel Without a Cause

Red-Headed Woman-TCM Archives: Forbidden Hollywood Collection - Volume 1

Reflections in a Golden Eye

Reunion in France

Rio Bravo

Roberta-Astaire Rogers coll

Romance on the High Seas-The Doris Day Collection, Vol. 2

Romeo and Juliet-Shakespeare coll

Royal Wedding-Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory: Volume 2

Sadie McKee-Joan Crawford V2

Shawshank Redemption SE

Shoot the Moon-Rooney and Garland coll

Side Street-Film Noir Classic Collection Volume 4

Splendor in the Grass-snapper

Story of Vernon and Irene Castle-Astaire and Rogers

Straight Time

Streetcar Named Desire

Strike Up the Band-Rooney and Garland Collection

Superman the Movie [Four Disc Edition]

Superman II [2 Disc Deluxe Edition]

Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

Superman III (Deluxe Edition)

Superman IV-deluxe reissue

Superman Returns

Tarzan’s Desert Mystery-Tarzan collection v2

Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (Unrated)

That Midnight Kiss-Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory, Vol 2

That’s Entertainment 3

That's Dancing-Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory, Vol 2

The Big Cube

The Big Steal-Film Noir v4

The Charge of the Light Brigade-Errol Flynn SC V2

The Clock (1945)

The Comedians-Taylor-Burton collection

The Corn is Green-Katharine Hepburn 100th Anniv Coll

The Dawn Patrol-Errol Flynn SC V2

The Devil Doll/Return of Dr. X-Legends of Horror Collection

The Divorce-Forbidden Hollywood V2

The Fighting 69th-James Cagney Signature collection

The Flintstones

The Fountainhead-individual and Gary Cooper Signature Collection

The Golden Compass SE

The Great Lie

The Great Ziegfeld

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

The Hill-WWII collection

The Informer-John Ford collection

The Jazz Singer-2007 release

The Little Giant-Gangsters v4

The Live By Night/Side Street-Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol 4

The Maltese Falcon 3-disc SE and Humphrey Bogart: The Signature Collection - Volume 2

The Man Who Came to Dinner-Bette Davis collection

The Naked Spur-James Stewart Signature Collection

The Old Maid-Bette Davis V3

The Pirate-Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory: Volume 2

The Prince and the Pauper-snapper case

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex-Errol Flynn SC v1

The Prodigal

The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle

The Stratton Story-James Stewart SC

The Three Musketeers-Literary Classics Coll

The Toast of New Orleans-Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory, Vol 2

The West Point Story-James Cagney Signature Collection

The Wreck of the Mary Deare-Gary Cooper SC

The Yakuza-Robert Mitchum SC

There Was A Crooked Man

They Died With Their Boots On-Errol Flynn SC v1

They Live By Night-Side Street-Film Noir v4

Three Little Words

To Please a Lady/Jeopardy-Jeopardy does not play. Barbara Stanwyck SC

Torch Song-Joan Crawford V2

Treasure Island

Twilight Zone: The Movie

Undercurrent-Katharine Hepburn 100th Anniv Coll

Vacation/European Vacation Comedy Double Feature release

Wally Gator

Watch on the Rhine-Bette Davis collection V3

Waterloo Bridge-TCM Archives: Forbidden Hollywood Collection - Volume 1

West Point Story-James Cagney Signature collection

Where Danger Lives/Tension-Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol 4

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? SE-Taylor Burton Collection

Without Love-Katharine Hepburn 100th Anniv Coll

Wizard of Oz- 2 disc SE

Wonder Woman

Words and Music-Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory: Volume 2

#warner bros #dc #cartoon network #power puff girls #fosters home for imaginary friends #superman #hugh grant #alfred hitchcock #animaniacs #pinky and the brain #batman the animated series #Youtube

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newstfionline · 1 month

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Thursday, March 14, 2024

The US has its first presidential rematch since 1956 (AP) Just when Americans thought they were out, Joe Biden and Donald Trump pulled them back in. The sequel to the 2020 election is officially set as the president and his immediate predecessor secured their parties’ nominations. Biden and Trump have set up a political movie the country has seen before—even if the last version was in black and white. The last presidential rematch came in 1956, when Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower again defeated Adlai Stevenson, the Democratic opponent he had four years prior. Grover Cleveland, meanwhile, was the nation’s 22nd and 24th president, winning elections in 1884 and 1892.

Congress is becoming less productive (Reuters) The U.S. Congress is navigating yet another government funding deadline—the eighth in less than six months—and are at an impasse over sending aid to key allies in Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel. Divisions among Republicans in the House and Senate killed a major bipartisan border policy bill. Reforms to bedrock programs like Medicare and Social Security are desperately needed but no closer to getting passed. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives spent close to a month without a speaker last year due to infighting between moderate and hard right factions of the Republican party. When U.S. Representative Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas, begged his colleagues in November to “give me one thing I can campaign on and say we did,” he was articulating what many lawmakers and observers were feeling: Congress isn’t working. The simplest expression of this is the number of bills passed by Congress. Just twenty-seven bills were passed last year—a record low.

In yearly Pennsylvania tradition, Amish communities hold spring auctions to support fire departments (AP) A couple hundred used buggies—horses not included—were lined up and ready for the auctioneer’s gavel last weekend when day began at the Gordonville mud sale, a local Amish tradition dating to the 1960s. Mud sales are country auctions that benefit volunteer fire departments across what the Amish community refers to as the Lancaster settlement, located some 70 miles (113 kilometers) west of Philadelphia where the devout Christian group began to settle about 300 years ago. They don’t sell mud, although a cold rain brought plenty of it. The name refers to early spring, when wet fields have begun to thaw but may not be ready for the plow. Gordonville’s mud sale, one of at least a dozen being held this spring in the region, drew thousands of bidders and was expected to net the fire department about $100,000, about 10% of the total proceeds. Amish people make and donate much of the food and sale items and are the buyers of most of the buggies and the array of horse-drawn farm equipment.

As leader resigns, Haitian politicians rush to form new government (Washington Post) Haitian leaders scrambled Tuesday to meet a 24-hour deadline to set up a panel that will lead the deteriorating country to new elections following the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Kenyan officials, meanwhile, said they were putting the deployment of a U.N.-approved multinational security force to the beleaguered Caribbean nation on pause until a new government is in place, according to media reports. A senior U.S. State Department official said the transitional presidential council would select an interim prime minister and government in “the very near future” and the mission should “go forward without delay.” Perhaps the greatest question: Would the gangs that helped push Henry allow the transition to a new authority?

Germany hit by new wave of airport, train strikes (DPA) Germany has again been hit by a double wave of strikes in the transport sector, as train drivers and aeroplane cabin crews stopped work on Tuesday in ongoing wage disputes. Around 80% of long-distance trains were cancelled on Tuesday as train drivers from the state-owned rail company Deutsche Bahn went on strike. At major air hubs Frankfurt and Munich, tens of thousands passengers were having to reschedule their flights due to a two-day strike by the cabin crew union Ufo at Lufthansa. Individual flights were also cancelled at other locations such as Berlin's international airport.

‘Jamming’: How Electronic Warfare Is Reshaping Ukraine’s Battlefields (NYT) The Ukrainian soldier swore and tore off his headset. His video monitor had gone blurry at first, the landscape of shattered trees and shell craters barely visible, before blacking out completely. The Russians had jammed the signal of his drone as it was flying outside the town of Kreminna in eastern Ukraine. For a while, the Ukrainians enjoyed a honeymoon period with their self-detonating drones that were used like homemade missiles. The weapons seemed like an effective alternative to artillery shells for striking Russian forces. Now, the bad days are starting to outweigh the good ones: electronic countermeasures have become one of the Russian military’s most formidable weapons after years of honing their capabilities. Electronic warfare remains a hidden hand in much of the war, and like Ukraine’s disadvantage in troop numbers and ammunition supplies, Ukraine suffers in this area as well in comparison to Russia. Russia has more jamming equipment capable of overpowering Ukrainian signals by broadcasting on the same frequencies at higher power. It also exhibits better coordination among their units.

Naval drones versus Russian warships (BBC) The secretive G-13 unit of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency was behind the sinking of the Sergey Kotov warship last week, its fifth downing in the year since it’s been in operation. The group’s not-so-secret weapons are naval drones—cheap, unmanned and lethal. The Magura V5, named after a Slavic goddess of war, looks like a small motorboat with a flat surface instead of passenger seats. “It doesn’t emit a lot of heat, so it’s almost invisible for thermal cameras. It’s made from plastic, therefore even radars struggle to see it,” says the unit’s commander. Produced by the Ukrainian armed forces, the drone’s claimed range is 800km (500 miles), so it can easily reach the Crimean peninsula and even the Russian coastline. It can allegedly carry 250kg of payload, enough to sink a warship.

Putin warns the West: Russia is ready for nuclear war (Reuters) President Vladimir Putin warned the West on Wednesday Russia was technically ready for nuclear war and that if the U.S. sent troops to Ukraine, it would be considered a significant escalation of the conflict. Putin, speaking just days before a March 15-17 election which is certain to give him another six years in power, said the nuclear war scenario was not “rushing” up and he saw no need for the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine. “From a military-technical point of view, we are, of course, ready,” Putin, 71, told Rossiya-1 television and news agency RIA in response to a question whether the country was really ready for a nuclear war. Putin said the U.S. understood that if it deployed American troops on Russian territory—or to Ukraine—Russia would treat the move as an intervention.

Chinese trust goes bust, reflecting turbulent economy (AP) Some investors in a troubled trust fund in China are facing financial ruin under a government plan to return a fraction of their money, casualties of a slump in the property industry and a broader economic slowdown. Sichuan Trust, headquartered in the southwest city of Chengdu, announced it was insolvent in 2020, stricken by sketchy accounting and failed investments in shopping malls and other projects. A deadline earlier this month to accept a 20%-60% “haircut” or loss on their investments has left some investors in deep financial trouble. China’s economy, the world’s second largest, depends heavily on real estate development to drive growth and create jobs. Property prices and sales have languished after a crackdown on what leaders viewed as dangerous levels of borrowing, causing dozens of developers to default on their debts. The ruling Communist Party faces a dilemma: Debt is a problem, but falling home prices lead people to scrimp on spending. That squeezes companies’ sales, so they lay off workers and cut back on investment. The result: slowing growth and less wealth to go around.

Medics say they were ‘humiliated’ in raid (BBC) For several weeks, Alice Cuddy and several of our colleagues have been investigating what went on when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) raided Gaza’s Nasser hospital last month. It was at the time one of the few medical facilities still functioning in the Strip. Intelligence, the IDF said, indicated the presence of Hamas operatives—a claim denied by Hamas. Some hostages who got out of Gaza said they had been held at Nasser. Since the raid, Palestinian medical staff in Gaza have told the BBC they were blindfolded, detained, forced to strip and repeatedly beaten by Israeli soldiers. Doctor Ahmed Abu Sabha, whose account closely matches those of two medics who wished to remain anonymous, described being detained for a week. Muzzled dogs were set upon him and his hand was broken by an Israeli soldier, he said. The three men told the BBC they were beaten, doused with cold water, and forced to kneel in uncomfortable positions for hours. The IDF did not comment on the specific allegations, but said “any abuse of detainees is contrary to IDF orders”.

A Ramadan of ‘sadness’ as war-weary Gazans go hungry (Washington Post) For Mahasen Khateeb, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan used to be a time of lavish dinners, family gatherings, communal prayers and gift giving. “All of that is gone,” the 31-year-old graphic designer said by phone from Jabalya, in northern Gaza, which humanitarian groups warn is on the brink of famine after months of Israeli siege and bombardment. Khateeb doesn’t have enough food for suhoor, the traditional meal eaten before dawn, when the day-long Ramadan fast begins. On Tuesday for iftar, the post-sunset meal when people break their fast, she planned to make rounds of bread topped with canned tomato sauce. Her brother risked his life, she said, to get a bag of flour during a rare and chaotic aid delivery last week. “This situation isn’t new with Ramadan,” she said. “We’ve already been fasting for more than a month. … There are no food products to buy and eat.” Khateeb said she has mainly been subsisting on green leafy plants that grow with the winter rains and die out as spring approaches. 16 children have died of malnutrition in aid-starved Gaza, health officials say

A ship carrying 200 tons of food is heading to Gaza (Washington Post) A ship carrying nearly 200 tons of food left Cyprus on Tuesday to deliver desperately needed aid to the Gaza Strip, where concerns are mounting over the worsening humanitarian situation. The journey, if successful, would mark the first shipment of aid into Gaza via a new maritime route—but the supplies the ship is carrying represent only a fraction of the amount of aid needed after five months of a devastating war that has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The mission is being undertaken by World Central Kitchen, the aid organization founded by celebrity chef Andrés, who is based in Washington. “We have served more than 35 million meals in Gaza & the maritime corridor will allow us to provide millions more,” the group said.

Zimbabwe, After Expelling U.S. Officials, Accuses Them of Promoting ‘Regime Change’ (NYT) The government of the southern African nation of Zimbabwe detained, interrogated and deported officials and contractors working for the United States government last month, and this week accused them publicly of promoting “regime change” in their country. The incident is the latest in the Zimbabwean government’s aggressive efforts to thwart both domestic and international challenges to its authority. The incumbent government claimed victory in a chaotic election last year that several independent observer missions said lacked fairness and credibility. But it also points to a deeper tension over the United States’ proclaimed efforts to promote democracy around the globe. Some nations, including Zimbabwe, have accused America of meddling in their affairs and attempting to impose its values—as well as of hypocrisy, given the threats at home to its own democracy.

#headlines #news

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