#saying ‘the CCP can’t stop me! >:)’

[zerosocialskillz]

For some reason, I’m thinking of V1 and Gabriel in the world of Genshin Impact

I don’t even know what their vision elements are going to be

#attempts at socializing #Ultrakill #Genshin impact #I’m thinking about them as like #Gabriel is a spirit ‘possessing’ V1 after ‘dying’ due to the loss of his light #they both woke up in Teyvat once both died #everyone can hear Gabriel but no one can see him (unless he wants to be) #this results to the inhabitants thinking that Gabriel and v1 are one and the same #rumors saying that it gave itself the name ‘Gabriel’ but still responding to its model name #but because they are separate people #they get two visions each after idk #declared that they would take care and protect one another or some gay shit #if I get to write their relationship in this world #I’ll challenge myself to make ‘em gay for each other while abiding to the CCP’s rules #why? just to see if I could ig #and also because I want to make it a huge middle finger against the homophobes #saying ‘the CCP can’t stop me! >:)’

[odinsblog]

Since 2014, millions of Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other minorities have been locked up in China and subjected to torture and forced labour. Some of those freed talk about trying to rebuild their lives in neighbouring Kazakhstan.

Photography by Robin Tutenges

A Chinese course book

Saliman Yesbolat used to live in Ghulja county, Xinjiang. After she refused to denounce her Uyghur neighbours to the police, she was forced to perform the raising of the Chinese flag every Monday at dawn, and to attend Chinese lessons twice a week in the basement of her building, where she would learn the Chinese language, patriotic songs and Xi Jinping's discourses by heart. This is her exercise book.

Forced to leave China

At 65, Imam Madi Toleukhan is one of the oldest refugees in Bekbolat, Kazakhstan, where more than 100 families took shelter after fleeing the Chinese regime. 'We were richer back there. I owned a herd, but I was too afraid for my sons, my grandchildren and their future: I came to Kazakhstan to save them. I didn't want them to be the fourth generation to suffer at the hands of the Chinese government, he says.

Remembering Uyghur culture in exile

Two members of the Dolan Ensemble, a Uyghur dance troupe based in Kazakhstan, get ready before performing a traditional dance to mark 40 days since the birth of a baby. Founded in 2016, the troupe performs at festivals or private events that bring together members of the Uyghur community, some of whom have had to leave Xinjiang.

Torture, infertility and damaged genitalia

In Kazakhstan, medical care for camp survivors is poor. Most victims can barely afford to see a family doctor. Anara*, an endocrinologist in a Kazakh hospital who has examined about 50 camp survivors since 2020, noticed recurrent infertility problems among her patients. 'Men or women, many have damaged genitalia. Some told me they'd been given drugs, others said they'd been raped. As they didn't come to us right after being released from the camps, it's impossible to know what kind of drugs they were administered in Xinjiang, she says. *Not her real name

The tiger chair

Ospan* spent a year in a re-education camp. He says his mind and body were crushed by the tortures he experienced in a tiger chair - a steel apparatus with handcuffs that restrains the body in painful positions. Aged about 50, this former shepherd, who took refuge with his family in eastern Kazakhstan, is no longer fit for work. Physically wrecked and prone to headaches, he mourns the loss of his memory above all. 'I used to know a lot of songs and I loved to sing; I also knew poems by heart ... Now, I can't sing any more, I can't remember the words,' he says. *Not his real name

Broken families and imprisonment

Aikamal Rashibek saw the dreadful efficiency of the CCP's brainwashing on her husband, Kerimbek Bakytali, after he was released from a Chinese psychiatric hospital. 'He disappeared for a year. When he came back, he didn't tell me anything about what happened to him. He was highly unhinged, always nervous, and got angry whenever I asked questions. He couldn't stop repeating that he hated Kazakhstan now, and that he wanted to go back to China with the kids to give them a Chinese education, says Aikamal. They are now separated.

Missing loved ones in China’s camps

In March 2017, Miyessar Muhedamu, left, a Uyghur woman, was arrested in Xinjiang under the pretext that she had studied Arabic in Egypt when she was young. Her husband, Sadirzhan Ayupov, right, and her three children have not seen her since. Now that Miyessar has left the camp, Sadirzhan receives a short call every few months. He suspects she might have suffered abuse, yet Miyessar can’t speak freely. ‘She told me she’d been in a re-education camp, and that she’d been released. When I ask her what she went through there, she doesn’t answer,’ says Sadirzhan.

Life after fleeing China

Sent to a re-education camp in 2018 at the age of 64, Yerke* saw her health quickly deteriorate. Locked a tiny cell with dozens of other women, she almost lost the use of her legs due to the cold floor she had to lie on. She was in the camp when she learned of her son’s death: pressured by the Chinese authorities, he took his own life. After her release, Yerke fled to Kazakhstan with some family members, but two of her children remain in China. *Not her real name

Forced labour and confessions

Dina Nurdybay, 32, was arrested in Nilka county, Xinjiang, because her traditional Kazakh clothing business made her a separatist, according to the Chinese authorities. She spent 11 months between two re-education camps, a CCP school and a forced-labour sewing factory. After proving she was capable of being ‘well behaved’ and having performed a self-criticism in front of the whole village, Dina was released and managed to escape when she obtained a week’s leave to visit her ailing father in Kazakhstan.

Cultural genocide

China’s repression of ethnic minorities also involves cultural genocide. As Muslim rituals are forbidden in Xinjiang, people are trying to keep their traditions alive across borders. Here, a family is praying together in Kazakhstan after the death of one of their relatives in Xinjiang. They could not repatriate the body because the border between the two countries was closed at the time.

(continue reading)

#politics #uyghur genocide #islamophobia #china #cultural genocide #uyghurs #photojournalism #genocide #uyghur refugees #kazakhstan

[flumpermergen]

Okay I’ve been wanting to rant about this for a while and I feel like now is the best time to do so after this um… very galpal trailer came out lmao.

But I’ve always found it so stupid when people in the community act as if hoyo would never put any queer coding/queer characters in their games because “they’re a Chinese company so that makes them homophobic (or something); stop trying to spread your agenda!!!!! Not everything has to be queer!!! 🤬" People INSIST that others are just “reading into things too much”.

And listen, I don’t think that any ships or headcannons of mine are actually canon in game and obviously you don’t have to ship characters or think they’re queer that’s totally up to you.

But saying hoyo would NEVER queer code is objectively false. Like, please I’m begging you to look into the HI3 lore/story for just two seconds. There’s even a canonical kiss between Seele and Bronya. They have been creating queer characters for years. I mean come on, you can’t watch that hsr trailer and look me in the eyes claiming they’re dancing in a friendly way lmao.

Yes, there is a lot of censorship from the CCP but censorship is the reason why queer coding exists in the first place. I mean the kiss that I talked about prior I believe is censored in the Chinese release, but the fact that hoyo even tried to include it in the first place is hella commendable and shows that they want to include queer characters in their stories.

That being said, I do think there is a conversation to be held critiquing hoyo when it relates to queer characters such as how a lot of queer coding hoyoverse does is fanservice. I mean hey, companies will be companies and at the end of the day hoyo is trying to sell us a product to get more sweet sweet money. Hoyo isn’t blind; they know when two characters are commonly paired together. Sometimes they play into this to make people more inclined to pull on banners. Black Swan and Acheron are good examples (exhibit a is up above lmao).

I know I’m preaching to the choir here considering Tumblr is not the place most bigots flock to. However, my point in all of this is just to let people interact with media in the way they want to and stop calling queer people delusional when we call out obvious queer undertones in characters. Again, you don’t have to believe said undertones or think any of this is canon, but don’t put queer people down for wanting to see ourselves represented in media.

TLDR: Hoyo is a company known for queer coding and bigots need to let people live.

#honkai star rail #hsr #genshin impact #genshin #hsr 2.1 #black swan #hsr black swan #acheron #hsr acheron #lgbtqia #queer #flump! #I’ve been posting a lot lately can you tell I have a lot more free time??? #anyways I’ve been wanting to talk about this for a while so thanks for reading my little rant #on a lighter note me and who? #I was SCREAMING when I saw that trailer I love women #I wish black swan would kiss my hand :(

[emptymanuscript]

You know, as the Democratic Party fundraiser texts are getting into the 1 text per 1 hour range, 1 tph, I have to wonder about the ratio of investment, effort, infrastructure, engagement, and return.

I can’t help but feel that if the Democrats fiddled with those first three - say putting 9/10’s of even that relatively low amount of energy that went into messaging me at 1 tph - they would actually get a much better result on the last two.

If they did something BIG, a progressive accomplishment which everyone could easily see, I suspect that they would get more money at even a significantly reduced tph.

I dare say they might get more dollars $ at .001 tph as a reward for a job well done than they get at 1 tph as a plea to keep trying to stop people from stopping them from doing their job.

That’s just me though.

AND I admit that I am locked in. With my understanding of the world, I can’t, in good conscience, vote for or support anyone but a Democratic candidate for a given post. But this is because I am essentially voting my conscience against the Republican candidate come general election time.

I’m not really voting Blue as much as I am voting anti-Red.

So every text feels like preaching to the choir. I’ve already been sold on the idea that Republicans are dangerous and have to be stopped. I literally changed my party affiliation in 2015 because I realized I had hit the point of anti-Redness that I would Vote Blue No Matter Who, whatever the letter next to my name was, so I might as well leverage that letter instead of maintaining the illusion that I was actually independent.

And anyone who hasn’t seen CCP Grey’s videos on Politics in the Animal Kingdom should really check them out for a fantastic and easy explanation for why that’s a problem. I believe Minority Rule is the first video in the series: https://youtu.be/s7tWHJfhiyo?si=Pykn9h6PkkzorMKK

Or I guess you could just insert it, that’s fine too, tumblr.

The problem is that unless there’s a viable alternative in the Democratic Primary for a given position, I’m probably not voting FOR anybody.

Because, yeah, I’m voting Blue strategically. Anti-Red. Because I am so far to the left of the Democrats that me voting for them is just… yeah, no.

So, whatever, I guess.

I am really kinda feeling the EMOTIONAL appeal of the give up crowd this year. EMOTIONALLY, I hate everybody. I don’t want to vote for or support anyone. Or at least not anyone that I am actually able to vote for.

So it’s become pure LOGICAL calculation. I know I have to support and vote for the Democrat. Or I will get something much worse. LOGICALLY, there’s no contest, it’s downright simple. The debate IS stupid.

That just doesn’t make me FEEL good. It isn’t good for engagement. It is in the category of take your meds to survive.

I will Vote Blue No Matter Who. I will give them time, energy, and money. I will encourage everyone else to do the same. Because that’s what will keep us alive.

I would just appreciate a little bit more sugar to make that bitter pill go down.

And I would like to have a better argument for why we deserve to live than simply because we exist. Like, yeah, that’s enough. But existing, living, and thriving are three very different things. I am really tired of feeling like I’m entirely in that first category.

Hmmph. Depression sucks. And Politics really doesn’t help it. :/ nothing helps that much really :/ but Politics makes it worse, I think. We’re so far down the wrong path that I feel like it’s hard not to feel a little like maybe cutting off life support would be a mercy. I just know that’s my depression talking. I know Imperius (my part X, the part of me that wants to be sick). I know that motherfucker lies. He lies especially when he tells the truth because he is a goddamn expert on quoting the exact facts that will lead me back to him and obscuring those truths that might lead me away. He’s a liar because he is Trumplike - he’ll say whatever, anything, he doesn’t care, he’ll even tell the truth on occasion, as long it serves him. Truth and falsehood and lies are tools for him to manipulate me. He literally doesn’t care. All he cares about is keeping me doing what he wants. The ends justify the means.

And he just loves pointing out that I am making the same calculation when I do anything for Biden just because I am Anti-Trump.

Fuck off, Imperius.

#politics #depression #I think I am talking to myself #Youtube

[imakuvii]

Okay Notice or Get off the Floor - That Plant Would lic and That Is Trouble even for me she is watch me on social media trying to sell drugs get out leach in the modem time I’m still using the new but the stuff I use just to pop out the Inner Posin no there waiting on me to grow up CCP or Xi and all yeah I would have brought a ghost instead or clone but full on body which they do get iffy I’m sorry I do read to much of there era I am not saying no you should watch that yup it’s what 9 days for it was the min d from a different stem it’s my jowl that can’t fill up it’s almost I’m working out I’m going back right now okay monkey pox to me it’s like Music Pusher and Polio no way I feel dry we’ll the code words or sectors the Magnaa that’s a lot say that’s why I ask why you using really destructive naming well ppff the homeless pff I passed that bill on my end cause they won’t help build a little house hold and won’t stop messing around aahh love you okay we have said these I believe so lol omg very body does do martial Arts here in America now not when that film took off from

[accio-victuuri]

Hello Anon! 👋🏼 I will try to answer your questions. I don’t know how I can answer this without going into the plan of a Socialist China + other main issues. I will touch upon some of those.

I’m keeping this under the cut so those who are here for FANDOM only can skip. 🤍

So. About Danmei. I won’t go into history, let’s just discuss the recent conversation that has been going on.The gist is they are saying Danmei is perpetuating bad values and unrealistic beauty standards. Some people are also calling out the fact that companies use this genre to bait people — selling it as a product instead of wanting to tell a story. Tho I agree that this genre is/was exploited by companies + Danmei stories have questionable themes I don’t think that it should be targeted the way it is.

There are other medias that show “bad values” but are not getting banned. The comment section I shared was about minors and video games which is not solely a problem of Tencent or Netease. It should not be all on them. These kids have ways to get around it. The notion that this will somehow influence their sexuality is complete bullshit to me. They are trying to appeal to the people’s morality by dropping words like VALUES / CULTURE but it’s all just a ploy to silence LGBT media. They can’t make it too popular to the point that people will accept it.

About Religion and is it a part of Why all this Homophobia in CHN? I’ll answer that with a No right now. Since we’re talking about the present and what all this suppression is about.

• LGBT movement calls for people coming together w/ a common goal that does not show NATIONALISM (whatever that is) or not applauding the CCP so naturally, it should be shut down. The thing with the communist party is they don’t really care what cause you’re peddling, if you’re eclipsing them and their message then you should be out. Take for example the Pride Parade in Shanghai, when asked about it, officials don’t really care much that it’s an LGBT parade. They are calling it out because people are uniting about something that isn’t about The Motherland. You can only organize things like this if it’s about Propaganda.

• The Three Child Policy. You may have heard of this going around but it’s one of CHN’s problem right now— Their aging population. So having Danmei media is not good if they want people to get married and have babies (according to them lol). But really, they put up a poll on Weibo if people are ready for this change and 97% said no. Then they deleted the post. The people are overworked and underpaid. The world is shitty. The younger population who just got out of college can’t find decent jobs ( top universities are rumored to be lying about their student’s job placement rates). Maybe they should look into that first as reasons why people don’t want to procreate before blaming it on Danmei and the LGBT community.

Digging up dirt regarding celebrities is not something new. The Antis and YXH have always been there to get the dirt about these celebrities. It’s their job. They want the clicks. It’s like in Hollywood etc where people dig up old tweets of problematic celebrities and expose them.

There is a crackdown going on in C-ent — not just artists but companies that benefit from them. You are seeing it. It’s only gonna get worse. I’ve talked about Celebrities in CHN being expected to have higher moral standards than regular people. That still applies but this is taking it to the extreme. Celebrities are doing what they can to prove their love for China for example :

• reposting the mandatory posts shared by government accounts.

• if someone gets cancelled they will delete that person’s existence in their social media accounts so they won’t be affected by association.

• cutting ties with brands that are Anti China ( or let’s call it pro Taiwan and Hongkong independence ).

• trying to get their hands on more projects that are 💯 backed by the government. working hand in hand with certain sectors of the government to relay the propaganda to people.

• using their platform to support government causes.

They might as well tattoo I love China on their foreheads as an ultimate act of Nationalism and not get cancelled.

I don’t understand the Logic too. What they are doing is not sustainable at all. The Common Prosperity idea the CCP is trying to instill isn’t the end goal.

They preach about breaking companies who are getting Monopoly of industries when the truth is— It’s only the government who is allowed Monopoly. That’s why they are hitting celebrities with Tax Evasion. They get money. Silencing Billionaires. Seizing their assets. They will get the money. No one can be more powerful than the CCP. It’s a pig farm and once one gets too fat— they will be slaughtered. The media is trying to spin it as trying to stop toxic fan culture, which is, sure, I can agree to than on some level but it’s an excuse to do take more control of celebrities/media.

I just focused on what happening right now to keep it short. My thoughts aren’t always the more organized but I hope this made sense to you 😌🙏🏼

#ask response

[detectivenyx]

When it comes to what I had interests in, it’s an old battlefield littered with corpses. I used to enjoy JonTron until finding out he was a massive white supremacist. I used to enjoy Nostalgia Critic until finding out he and his brother were abusing their employees. I used to enjoy Overwatch until Activision-Blizzard pulled the plug on their support for a Hong Kong player who protested the CCP’s tyranny on their country, and just when I considered coming back, all of the horrific abuse going on at the company came to light, and I opted to never support them again.

I’ve had friends who got me through hard times that I had to let go because they were bigoted, abusive, horrible people. I’ve cut off money support because it came from a place that supported police brutality or more lax laws regarding child exploitation.

All are things I enjoyed; used to help my depression in dark times, and all things I cut off my support for upon finding out that they were, indeed, very harmful people.

If I, someone who has a decades long history of suicidal behaviour and trauma bad enough to develop Disassociative Identity Disorder, can let go and stop supporting harmful things just because they make my brain serotonin go brrrr, there is literally no reason why Harry Potter fans can’t do the exact same thing.

Don’t let anyone who tries to keep hold of this series try to fool you by saying they need it because “it’s their childhood”. They’re liars; they could absolutely let go if they wanted. Instead, they decided that their stick-waggling wizard twit was worth more to them than trans women, people of colour, disabled people, Jewish people - they put themself and the most dangerous woman to transgender people in the UK before the marginalised groups she hurt. They think you’re stupid enough to buy a vague admission of guilt and something something I have autism and/or depression. Don’t fall for it.

#Sayaka (he/him)

[pumpkinpaix]

** the disclaimer still applies: don’t fucking dogpile, don’t harass using this as a springboard. furthermore, do NOT @ robin about this for fuck’s sake she’s already taken far more than what was warranted and this is not about her **

@daciafelix, out of respect for robin’s request to lay things to rest, I will be speaking to you on a separate post here.

however, I will not be letting your replies on the post in question slide. I’m very angry with you, and I want you to fucking know it. I’ll paste the three replies here.

1:

mirrorofprinces go back under the bridge please. Robin, you should ignore the trolls, they aren’t solitary creature it seems. You apologized and you should move on. I am tired of seeing a good author beaten down by people who don’t seem to understand how nonprofit fictional worlds work, not to mention reality. Dear “Chinese diaspora” , your trauma is real, attacking people is not the way to solve it. This type of attitude is what got Archiveofourown banned in China.

what the actual fuck was this? “Dear ‘Chinese diaspora’“? you have the audacity to tell us not to attack people while mocking us in the same goddamn breath? the lack of self-awareness that takes is stunning. congratulations for lowering the fucking bar once again!

perfunctorily saying that our “trauma is real” means nothing when the rest of your response dismisses us wholesale as “trolls”, insults our cultural identity -- one that we have repeatedly explained is a complex, difficult topic -- asserts that we have no grasp on the politics of fandom, that we’re delusional, and then!! has the fucking sanctimonious presumption to blame us for CCP censorship of AO3 in china. whether or not you intended any of that is irrelevant, because you still fucking said all of it and we still fucking heard it.

you don’t know jack fucking shit about the 227 event and it shows. the lack of respect that you exhibited in this reply is unbelievable. I was fucking there when this went down, I cried for days. I watched my chinese friends having mental breakdowns in private forums, a chinese friend i had met literally two weeks prior on AO3 emailed me in dismay for what had happened -- this is someone who had been working up the courage to send me a message for literal months and we managed to exchange emails just before the firewall went up -- you don’t understand, you can’t understand the sort of devastation that was felt. if you did, you wouldn’t have brought it up like this as a cudgel for sweeping our legitimate pain aside. blaming the victims for the acts of a violent and oppressive government is a fucking shitty look.

2:

Cloudyfromoobsession I have read it [*the chinese diaspora statement], it makes me really disappointed. They treat fan fiction as some deep existential writing, which is not necessarily wrong but they have to acknowledge that not everyone is divining the meaning of life in a mdzs fic or any other fandom. Transformative work as a principle is based in the exploration of alternative visions starting from a canonical point, there is no rule that fan fic needs to appease a certain portion of the fandom or even stay true to canon.

I see that you have shit reading comprehension as well! not to mention a seriously questionable philosophy on the responsibility of transformative work as a whole. once again, you mock our genuine efforts to express something very important to us by saying that not everyone is trying to “divine the meaning of life” from a fic -- we never once said that fandom wasn’t supposed to be lighthearted and fun -- I’m pretty sure we said the opposite in fact! I love that you think that our concerns are a matter of taking things too seriously! you’re basically just telling us hey, it’s not that deep! let it go!

why should i fucking have to let this go when so many people act like you and have in every sphere of my life from the time I was born? why should I continue to bite my tongue, smile and play nice? because it’s not convenient when the model minority kicks up a fuss?

“there is no rule that fan fic needs to appease a certain portion of the fandom or even stay true to canon,” you say, like our race, identity, generational trauma, are just a matter of differing headcanons or taste. this isn’t about fucking appeasement, it’s about human respect and compassion. no, there’s no rule that all fic has to match anyone’s personal taste, but there is a fucking expectation that fic, and any other creative endeavor in this community, has a responsibility to examine its own impact in context. how explicit must the harm be before you put your foot down? if the characters said “ching chong” and chinese diaspora shouted it down, would you still say, “well, it doesn’t have to appease you”? “just look away”? “but I liked it”?

tell me to ignore my own oppression again for your personal comfort, I fucking dare you.

3:

mirror, as the author has asked to put all this to rest I will not engage with you. I’m well aware that Chinese censorship is a more complex issue and larger that a fandom spat, and yes it had nothing to do with chinese diaspora fans, it was the spirit of this type of “poisoning the well” I was invoking.Limited word comments are not good for exhaustive discussion. But being rude and dismissive to someone who apologized(I mean the author) makes you an immature bully. Good day

funny how you think you can act like you’re taking the moral high ground by acting like you’re complying with robin’s wishes to “lay things to rest” when you ignored her requests to stop defending her twice with your asinine bullshit. if you’re going to act like you’ve got the moral high ground, you better make damn fucking sure you actually have it.

I am going to give you. a sliver of the benefit of the doubt and try to believe that you didn’t intentionally try to justify your sinophobia using a turn of phrase with  antisemitic associations (one that was already discussed at length during the previous incident). I know that the history of “poisoning the well” isn’t terribly well-known, so this is just a reminder/to let you know that it’s a loaded phrase and should be used with caution, especially in a discussion that involves antisemitism.

in any case, you’ve already demonstrated an incredible amount of ignorance regarding chinese politics, so I don’t see any reason to believe that you are “well aware” of the complexity that underlies chinese censorship. the fact that you invoked it at all betrays how little sense you have of the history, how close it is, how much very real, terrifying harm has been wrought -- people love to use the CCP as a gotcha! to shut down or derail conversations about sinophobia. it’s an extremely common tactic, whether or not you realized it. do you all not realize that the people who suffer the most from an oppressive government are the people that live under its shadow? why is that so hard to grasp?

i have friends younger than me whose parents were close enough to tiananmen to hear the first shots ring out. the daughter of one of the photographers of tank man that snuck it out of the country is a year older than I am. my mother has been cautioning me for having political views since I was in middle school, citing the red guards of her generation and how they were manipulated and left to die by the CCP. I could tell you about shit that happened in my immediate family that would make your blood curdle. these stories are not unique or rare. keep that in mind the next time you want to whip out the CCP in an argument.

you’ve stated that limited character replies aren’t a good medium for discussion. fine. you’re welcome to pick this up in reblogs if you want. I’ve said my piece. good fucking day.

#daciafelix #asks and replies #mine #cyanide #racism

[rorodawnchorus]

The Chinese journalist who’s been writing about Uyghur people

"Uyghurs are working in factories that are in the supply chains of at least 82 well-known global brands in the technology, clothing and automotive sectors, including Apple, BMW, Gap, Huawei, Nike, Samsung, Sony and Volkswagen.” - Uyghurs For Sale

Vicky Xu was born and raised in China. She thought the Tiananmen Square massacre was fake and she used to be very nationalistic, often standing up for the CCP. Now, she has been writing about the oppression and cultural genocide Uyghur people have been experiencing for years. In this tweet, she talks about her experience and why she was driven to do investigative journalism on human rights abuses in China, particularly Xinjiang. 

https://mobile.twitter.com/xu_xiuzhong/status/1377527819715010561

(I won’t be translating her thread word for word but I’ll translate some quotes and also the gist of the thread) 

She says she’s questioned herself about taking huge risks and writing about Xinjiang and Uyghur people. She’s wondered if it was all “worth it”. She says “no matter how difficult it is, I must report about all that has befallen on Uyghur people. The root of the oppression on Uyghur people stems from the governing authority which is held by the majority Han Chinese government and this is the destruction of Uyghur people and culture.” Using the excuse of anti-terrorism policies, Uyghur people who are just average citizens with no intention to overthrow the government, they’re being put into concentration camps that are called “re-education camps” by the CCP. “As an ethnic majority Han Chinese” she says, “I cannot sit by idly and remain silent.” 

In 2017, when she was writing for New York Times, she was told that articles written in English would more likely fly under the radar of the CCP so she decided to do that. However, her articles had been translated and she has been cyberbullied, her family and friends have been harassed in China, and deepfake sex tapes/nudes have been spread online with claims that it is her. 

When she graduated in 2018, she joined Australian Broadcasting Company. However, due to lack of funds, she was only able to interview Uyghur people who have moved to Australia (there is a community in Adelaide, as per her tweet). At first, she noted, they were reluctant to open up to her and share more with her. She says, “At that time, all I could do was to write and tell the truth. Even if no one cares about it now or what the truth is, at least I’m leaving a historical record.” She would listen to her interviewees in tears, talking about their captured relatives in Xinjiang. Then she would return to her office and draft an email asking for China’s formal response on these claims; she would always watch as her hand tremble, hesitant about sending the email. 

In 2019, she wrote a piece for the NY Times which had enough international attention which put pressure on the CCP to release the relatives of the two families in that article. Ever since then, her family and friends in China began receiving threats and were harassed. Her Uyghur friends said to her at the time: “You’ve become like us.” 

Later, she joined the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and was the lead author for a research publication, Uyghur For Sale. In that report, it was mentioned that “Uyghurs are working in factories that are in the supply chains of at least 82 well-known global brands in the technology, clothing and automotive sectors, including Apple, BMW, Gap, Huawei, Nike, Samsung, Sony and Volkswagen.” 

“This report” she says in her tweet, “illustrates the undeniable relation between every other person to the human rights abuses against Uyghur people: Everyone could possibly be wearing a product that was manufactured through forced labour. This research report was passed on within the journalism industry and the influence it has far exceeds the expectations which my colleagues and I initially had. I haven’t purchased any new clothes or mobile phone this year for I know that once I step into the mall, I would see all the brands involved which I have written about and I would feel guilty (about buying any one of them).” 

She says the State Security has been detaining, interrogating and harassing people in Mainland China who are close to her. They’ve also attempted to paint her in a bad light by “exposing” her sexual affairs, etc. 

Recently, she has been accused for being the mastermind behind the “fake news” of Xinjiang Cotton. She clarifies that she’s never written about “Xinjiang Cotton” specifically but have only been reporting on supply chains involving forced labour. She also emphasised that in the past years, countless journalists and scholars have been writing about these human rights abuses. This was how so many countries were able to arrive at a conclusion regarding the allegations of human rights abuses, thus making policy decisions to stop import or penalise any companies involved. 

She says “China is using “Xinjiang Cotton” to confuse the public (divert attention). The fact is that many companies, whether they are fashion houses, electronics companies or medical equipment manufacturers, or even food product manufacturers, they have all had some kind of relation to the Uyghur forced labour (through supply chains). This problem runs deeper than “Xinjiang cotton”*. The Chinese government is attempting to equate the forced labour issue in Xinjiang with the China-US trade war, completely ignoring the fact that Australian, American, European, Japanese and even some Chinese consumers are concerned about purchasing products that were manufactured through force labour.”   

“At first, I chose to become a journalist because I didn’t have the courage to become an activist. While working in the newsroom, I was less outspoken and seldom expressed my personal views. Now, I see myself being labelled “a devilish woman”, “Han traitor (a traitor to China)”; I feel helpless but amused at the same time. I started from “secretly writing in English to leave some historical record” to becoming the target of State machinations, painting me as the female monster causing disaster to befall on countless Chinese people.” 

“If I previously held onto the faint thought of remaining silent to save my own skin, I have become purged of all these thoughts after going through the cyberbullying. All I can do is to continue writing; I shall write to the day these “re-education camps” are closed down; I shall write until I see the day forced labour is put to an end; I shall write to the end of the earth. Personally, I must carry on doing what is right. The price which I must pay will all be worthy for the troubles I have caused to the people around me, I will repay them myself.” 

*** 

Note: The CCP and their 50 cent army/Little Pink movement online constantly tries to place the focus on Xinjiang cotton, pulling out a photo of enslaved Black people during a press statement, saying “Look! The US did this. We, on the other hand, use highly mechanized harvest operations in Xinjiang.” to claim that there are no human rights abuses taking place there.  

She concludes her tweet by saying she has not written in Chinese for some time and the CCP machinations has forced her to use a “translation tone Chinese” in her writing as response to the cyberbullying from C-netz. So this is basically  a translation of a Twitter thread written like a translation O_O

I would like to add, though, the way I see the CCP works is that they like to use nationalism and patriotism to inflame C-netz and cause them to “take things into their own hands”. They caused this “national boycott” of Western fashion houses within Mainland China using nationalistic sentiments and “a sign of loyalty”; to act in any other way online or in public could bring about verbal attacks. Some Chinese staff of Adidas or other stores in China are being cyberbullied as well. Some Taiwanese consumers have expressed that they feel less guilty about shopping at fashion houses like H&M since they took this stance but I wonder how many people around the world actually cared enough to take on the personal initiative to consciously choose what they are purchasing? Obviously, a Twitter thread can’t go into the complex psychological workings of all that’s going on. 

(Hopefully this adds to the voice for Uyghur people as well. Do not be confused by the whole “Western imperialism against China” talk. It does not erase or reduce the fact that there are human rights abuses happening.)  

#Uyghur #Uyghur people #Xinjiang #Xinjiang cotton #Journalist #Vicky Xu #China #human rights #CCP

[thegreymoon]

Broker

This has got to be one of the stupidest plots to get two people in a bedroom alone ever conceived. 

Also, to hell with all these meddling busybodies who apparently have nothing better to do with their time than interfere in the love life of their work colleagues. 

I am so done with this forced breakup plot, it’s unreal. This script has devolved into utter and complete nonsense. 

***

This is supposed to be such an emotional whump scene and yet all I feel is embarrassment for the writers 🙄

If you want us to feel anything for and with your characters, you’ve got to write them in a way that makes sense, you know? You can’t just throw two people at each other and call it a day. 

***

LMAO, of course he’s fully awake 🙄🙄

This whole thing is so forced and stupid, I cannot. Anyway, here’s more of his pretty face as a consolation prize for still putting up with this nonsense. 

***

LMAO, ‘white lies’ 🤣🤣

She kidnapped your sister and held her at knifepoint with more than half a mind to murder her! 

When it comes to idiotic themes and dialogues, this show is really giving me so much to choose from. We’ve been so blessed in that department 🤣🤣

***

LMAOOOO, evil mom is seriously unhinged 🤣🤣

I wonder if she thinks Jiaxin and Mo Li are together-together and that’s why she’s going all evil underhanded scheming evil mother-in-law on her and pushing boyfriends on her daughter. 

***

👀👀

If this was a normal show, she would 100% be worried they are fucking. 

***

LMAO, the CCP propaganda is strong with this drama. 

But at least it comes with his pretty face 🖤

***

LMAOOOOO 🤣🤣

Of all the contrived nonsense!! 🤣🤣

***

Which would all be good and well if I believed you for a second. 

It’s been a while since I came across a more unconvincing romance. 

***

She’s just excellent. 

She’s easily the best part of this drama, she’s so talented and believable, in spite of the garbage script she was given to work with. I’m even going to go as far as saying she’s better than LYX in this role. 

***

So pretty when he cries 😋

This show will redeem itself with his tears! 

***

Aww, she keeps the photo of her and Jiaxin as her screensaver! 🤗

And she wouldn’t let him delete it!!

Sail my lovely ship, sail!! To hell with the men, you two are the best thing that’s come out of this drama, even if it’s admittedly a low bar. 

***

Noooooo 😭😭 Mo Li is saying goodbye!!

But also this:

I hate that this is probably permanent goodbye for them. I want to watch a drama with the two of them, where Jianing fucks off to be sanctimonious somewhere on a different continent, Jiaxin grows some common sense and stops being so annoying, and she and Mo Li ditch the deadweight men and toxic parental figures to ride off into the sunset together. 

The two of them (but mostly Mo Li) were the only good things to come out of this entire mess. 

***

Oh, fun! I like this new guy already!

Also, I have to admit I am somewhat surprised that this Xianglan even existed and that the entire bullshit story that ZXS told QJN was not a complete lie. But then again, I did see the spoilers that ZXS apparently has a little daughter.

I am guessing this evildoer is after the child, not trying to resurrect a dead woman.  

***

Oh, so it’s not the child, he’s just crazy. 

Anyway, I do love the intense, insane characters so I’m definitely looking forward to this guy pushing Qin Bin and the office gossips out of screen time. Maybe this show will become watchable again. 

Does anyone have a summary of the novel or something? I bet this Xianglan nonsense makes more sense in the original. 

***

I wish I looked this good when depressed 😢

***

Mte.

The way all these irrelevant people keep sticking their noses into other people’s personal business is just wtf. Who thinks that makes for good storytelling? 

***

Please let’s go back to the evil son-in-law 😭😭 I have zero fucks to give for the sick kid and that stupid storyline. 

#luo yunxi #broker #broker spoilers #broker ep25 #broker ep26

[thedispatched]

Lol I liked that you allowed people to come comment and discuss because there’s no room for that and it’s about choosing sides right now.

Regarding Lay, I think his grandfather was part of the Chinese government and he himself last I remember reading is a youth ambassador for some political stuff for the CCP. He’s a whole different story with the political stuff 😅

But anyway, I agree that even if they don’t agree with the politics they would have to post it for their careers and for their safety. I’m sorry if I didn’t make myself clear. I think what that Twitter post was just trying to highlight was that everyone is saying it’s right for him to leave because his actions were unmoral/unethical. but I think she wanted them to also think about was how they would also eventually have to bend over backwards for the government even if they didn’t want to and how would that sit with some of them because again of how like you said the international world views China as unmoral/unethical. i totally get what he did to the girls and politics are different things but I think was also about how long will they think it’s okay to go along with the CCP before some people might have enough of it. I don’t know if I’m making sense now 😐😐

there was a talk about why the admins of his fanbar closed so fast. I think it was reddit but anyway there were/are speculations that the people had stopped being a fan of his but had stayed on cause they make a lot of money for themselves just running those things. you can take it with a grain of salt.

Do you mind me asking you if they go back to China to promote without him, do you think they will get enough exposure? It’s going to be if sm know what they doing and I know ww and ten fans are nuts with the buying but how about from like a television platform or such. Is it possible for them to garner the attention? I keep in mind and I don’t know if you do that ten is Thai with Chinese (lineage?) so he’s going to be subjected to i feel like more scrutiny and racist stuff because even before all this happening lucas faced a lot of colorist and racists stuff daily for being of mixed. For ww I don’t know sm is even doing with him. I know some people might not agree and you might not either, but with your section how lucas was the link for wayv to China he was I guess the face for them. There’s been fighting that gp didn’t even recognize Lucas’s face prior to all this so he really isn’t all that important but I do think he has/had a bit more advantage because of KR. Like who can be I guess the next “face” for them and link the group to China?

Sorry for writing so much

Everyone is choosing sides without knowing everything and it pisses me off.

You don’t need to apologize for writing too much! I don’t mind hearing what you have to say ^^

I know Lay’s situation is different. I just mentioned it as a way of saying that I have a basic idea of what goes on on c-ent in general and I’m not making all these posts based on what other people say. I just used Lay’s name as I figured most people would know who he is, but I did mention afterwards that I sometimes check in on other celebrities.

The way I see it, as long as they’re Chinese they’d have to go along with the CCP/whatever is going on there to look after themselves.

They have to play by China’s rules. If i-fans can’t handle that, then they either need to educate themselves on why they’re doing it and be understanding or just unstan. Their Chinese fandom, in the end, is gonna be more important and they need to do what makes them happy.

From what I know, if an admin of the fancafe leaves, another will step up and take their place. Some fans are only staying to see how this ends. If they stayed on because of money, I wouldn’t be surprised 🤷‍♀️

I mean, in general SM never promoted them much in China, plus the pandemic ruined a lot. Without Lucas, SM would need to actually need to learn how to promote them. (I’m curious to know what would’ve happened if the pandemic didn’t ruin things)

WinWin has been in China for months, I believe, so it’d be interesting to see if there’s solo work for him coming out.

However, they need to promote all members and not just certain ones. If they focus too much on specific members, especially when WayV is barely established, it could possibly lead to solo success rather than group success.

Personally, if Lucas was casted on Keep Running because of Knowing Bros, then SM doesn’t need to only focus on getting them in a Chinese show. They could also promote them in Korea more and hope they get invited/recommended like Lucas did. I’m excited to see YangYang, Hendery, and XiaoJun on We Became A Family and I hope this leads to something good for them.

I saw a lot of people asking similar things on who would be the next “face” of the group and personally I can’t make a guess. I think WayV need to do more solo stuff in terms of tv appearances to get a feel for who would be the best, even though I hope all of them get opportunities.

I read a comment that said idol’s acting in China only leads to solo success instead of group success so WayV would need to focus on variety.

As for Ten, his whole Chinese lineage thing always confused me so I apologize if what I say sounds ignorant or dumb.

I always thought Ten identified as Thai and the lineage thing was a way of justifying him being placed in a Chinese group.

I am surprised at how Ten is one of the top 3 famous members due to his race, but I honestly have no idea of the extent of racist comments he receives in China.

I personally don’t see Ten trying to establish a solo career in China so I don’t think he’d have to do as much as the other members in terms of supporting whatever is going on there, but he would have to do some stuff for the sake of group image. He’d have more freedom, I believe.

Isn’t Lucas the most tanned member of WayV? The other members are lighter skin? If they are then they wouldn’t have to worry that much about receiving colorist comments if they have “lighter skin” of course they could still get it as anything happens when you’re famous. But I’m just guessing on this.

I hope I addressed everything!

#ask #lc #wyh

[moltre-s]

hi! sorry for being nosy, but im interested as to what life is like in HK as a (non asian?) foreigner & how do you navigate your way around, how others treat you and if you feel "out of place"? sorry if its too personal, im just looking to eventually move to hong kong and im collecting notes of as many experiences/advice/etc. as i can to better prepare myself haha.

hey! omg no ur not nosy!! i love hk and i love talking about it!!

tldr; overall, living in hk has been a great experience and i’m so grateful that i grew up there :)

on navigating around:      hk is very easy to navigate as an english-speaker. the official languages of hk are canto and english, so most people speak at least a little english and pretty much all signs/announcements/news/etc. will be in english.      public transport is incredibly easy, clean, cheap, and convenient, and u’ll get the hang of it super quickly :) hk is also generally very safe (especially compared to the u.s. where i go to university).      also, everyone has an octopus card which is basically like a debit card that works for public transport, supermarket, fast food restaurants, and more. it’s so convenient and u can add money back onto it whenever u want.

on how i’m treated / feeling “out of place”:      there are quite a few expats in hk, and expats are generally treated well. growing up as a white girl, i did feel like i had to to act/behave a certain (non-western) way. i felt like i was always representing all foreigners - if i were to do something stupid in public, people would assume it was because i’m a foreigner. however, if someone else were to make the same mistake, it would just be viewed as that individual person doing something stupid. i think this is a common experience of minorities everywhere, and even though i absolutely benefit from white privilege in hk, i’m still a minority there, and do sometimes feel out of place.      i’ll also note that there is definitely discrimination/racism against ethnic minorities in hk (eg. Black people, brown people, SE asians, etc.). unfortunately, many places have this problem, so it isn’t unique to hk, but should be addressed nonetheless      all that said, my feelings of being “out of place” have been a small part of my life in hk, and i want to emphasise that my experience is overwhelmingly positive otherwise!! i just want to share the less glamourous side of things because it’s much easier to see all of the wonderful, amazing things about hk :)

all in all, hk is very accommodating of expats, and there is a large, friendly, welcoming expat community that is super helpful and a great resource for newcomers. there are tons of online websites/forums and organisations created to help expats adjust and make friends!

i’ll also note that i’m basing this off of my life (as an affluent white american girl) the past 10 years. with the national security law, hk will probably change quite a bit over the next couple of years and has already undergone changes in the past few months. i can’t predict how the nsl (and whatever else the ccp imposes) will impact life in hk, but it is such an incredible place full of amazing, passionate people, and i don’t think anything the ccp does can change that.

some random quick tips/advice:

the local and street food is AMAZING. i miss pineapple buns every. single. day. when i’m at university

get an octopus card first thing when u arrive! super useful

7/11’s are amazing. u can get fresh garlic noodles, a bottle of vodka, and a SIM card all in one stop

as someone who doesn’t know much canto - try and learn it! it’s notoriously difficult (even harder than mandarin!), but worth it :)

this isn’t a tip, but i just want to say that my favourite thing is when old men taxi drivers sing cantonese opera to me. literally makes my whole week and it happens more than you’d think

if ur american, stock up on american snacks before u go! british/australian/japanese/korean/etc. snacks are pretty easy to come by, but american snacks not so much

do the tourist-y things! big buddha and cheung chau are super underrated imho

since most people walk to the supermarket, when u check out they can deliver ur non-perishables right to the door of ur flat that afternoon so u don’t have to lug it all back yourself

people will wear t-shirts with random incoherent english words and it’s amazing. like u’ll see a little old grandma walking down the street with a shirt that says “hey, nice drug” and i love it

lots of fun english names. can’t tell u how many women i’ve met named Princess, Kitty, and Rainbow. i’ve also met multiple people named Double which is neat

take advantage of the gorgeous hiking trails!!

be prepared for insane humidity. i have to wear waterproof mascara bc the non-waterproof stuff just melts off

if ur pale and wear makeup, stock up before u go! i’m very pale and could never find concealer or foundation in my shade

hk style karaoke is 1000x more fun than american style

that’s all i can think of for now, but if u have any other questions or want me to clarify anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out!! :)

#thanks for the question!!! #ask #anon #text #long post #mine

[libertarian-druid-in-greater-vt]

If I’m being real about my politics

And you guys know, I’m not heavy leaning one way or the other, but the more restriction I see on what we can and can’t do, the more I start to lean to the Libertarian right. 

What that doesn’t mean:

I’m a fan of eugenics and racism

I’m for restriction on marriage.

I want bailouts for private companies

I want to shut down planned parenthood

I’m the steryotype Christian conservative. 

What that does mean:

I’m for a smaller government, massively so. 

I’m anti censorship

I’m pro gun rights for all. As it sits, gun rights are (in practice) just for the wealthy and white people. Because yes, black people are targeted by police.

I’m pro drug legalization. All drugs. 

I’m anti interventionalist.  

I’m anti (US participation in) NATO.

I’m pro free market.

I hate the ATF and DEA, despite not using drugs or posessing anything that may be outlawed by the Biden administration now.

I’m pro art for private production, this ties into anti censorship.

I’m anti CCP

I’m pro Taiwan.

I’m pro medical research being privatized without being limited heavily by the FDA.

For clarification, this isn’t some sort of Ayn Rand inspired viewpoint or stand. I just see how the overinvolvement of our government has fucked up America. And when I say America, I don’t mean the US alone. Our heavy handed stance on intervention has fucked over countless nations. Ask Columbia and Panama about how Panama was created and what we did to get the Panama Canal built. The US is guilty of so many crimes that I can’t say I’m a patriot like I used to in high school. We, as a nation, have sat idly by while we created terrorists, killed countless civilians, created a nation where people are guilty until proven innocent, and spent far more than we can ever hope to make. 

Our government has fucked us, our children, and if we continue down the path we have been, every future generation. If we want to ensure future generations’ lives be decent, then we need to step back on our spending, intervention, and contributions to NATO. And while I’m no fan of taxation, we can make up the money we recklessly spend on an endless war by legalizing and taxing narcotics sales. Which, since there won’t be as much of a stigma around being addicted to these narcotics, will decrease their use. 

If I’m able to run for president, that will be the platform I run on. Punitive measures for police going off of the NYC stop and frisk policy. Legalization of all narcotics as well as cannabis products on the federal level. Shrinking the size of the US government. Withdrawal of troops from any nation that doesn’t explicitly say that they want us there. Repairing infrastructure using the money saved (for the first couple of years, then going to pay our debts). And finally, the loosening of restrictions on medical research. 

I’m not going to say that I approve of everything Trump did in office, that should be obvious, but his walking back of our contributions to NATO was a good call. The other member nations were not contributing what they should have been.

I want you all to know, I will be running under the name Jack. Likely for the Libertarian party because the main 2 hate anyone with that set of beliefs. Trump was a rare exception to that as he did hold some of those values. Some, but far from all. 

I’m not sponsored by anyone. I haven’t been paid to say anything I just did. In all reality, I might not even be chosen to run by the Libertarian party. But what I ask is not that you write in the name Jack. Vote for people who take on any of those values. Someone who knows that we spend far too much. Someone who is anti war. Someone who declares that they want to legalize narcotics or at minimum cannabis. 

That’s it, that’s all I’m gonna say. You’re free to disagree with me. You’re free to think what you want of me. But you see what I think, what I don’t think, and the reasons behind at least part of it. 

#Long post #libertarianism #politics

[spootiliousrps]

Injured Wolfstar Take 2 (Soft Sirius

You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say STAND WITH HONG KONG AGAINST THE CCP!

You both like wolfstar.

You: [Remus never went to Hogwarts, instead he studied at Durmstrang. He was never part of the Marauders and has never met serious. He was recruited into Order of the Phoenix about the same time as Tonks. TW: Blood] Remus stumbled, doing his best to hold some of his weight on his own. Pain shot through him at the unintended motion, the wound at his side bleeding all the more profusely, making him hiss in a wincing breath. “Stay still, will you!” Kingsley’s deep voice growled, pulling Remus’ arm tighter over his shoulder as he practically carried him towards the door of 12 Grimmauld Place. “And let me do the talking.” Remus could only grunt his response, leaning more heavily into the man, his scarred faced obscured a bit under his messy matted locks. Kingsley didn’t even bother to knock before shoving open the door forcefully and dragging Lupin inside. “Is anyone here?!!” he called loudly, voice booming so loudly that it echoed off the walls. “I’ve got a wounded! Could use some help!” he called over the shrieking cries of a nearby portrait, dragging Lupin towards what appeared to be a disused dinning room and pulling him to lay on the table.

Stranger: “Kingsley?” Sirius caller, hearing the commotion from upstairs he rushed, paling at the site. “Oh god, what happened?” He asked looking over the other, trying to find where the blood was coming from. He grabbed from clean towels from a wardrobe. “I’m not a healer Kingsley, we need Lily. Or someone else.” He said anxiously, gently pulling at the injured man’s robes to see where his wounds were.

You: "Lily's in labor," Kingsley informed him over Remus's cry of pain. Kingsley had began to apply pressure to the wound. "James was told just before-" As if on cue, a shimmering stag appeared dashed into the room, James' voice emanating from it. "Padfoot! It's happening! I'm heading to St. Mungos now. It'll still be a few hours. Kingsley is on his way with an injured order member. Can't give much detail but they need your help, hospital won't do. Come when you can." With that the stag disappeared, leaving the room eerily quite aside from Remus' groans of pain.

Stranger: “Christ... Okay okay. I know some spells...” He said opening the other’s robes and looking down at his shredded shirt. “I’ll buy you a new one okay?” He said before tearing the rest of the others shirt until he could see the wounds properly. They were awful. Sirius waved his wand slowly, trying to make sure he got the movement exact as he slowly cast a healing spell. The others wounds stitching together, a dull purple hue left in their wake. His hand shook as he finished the spell, gently wiping at his side. “Where else?” He asked Kingsley.

You: Remus' breathing began to easy slightly as the wound began to heal itself. "Shoulder," Kingsley answered, already cutting away Remus' shirt there as well. Before Sirius could manage to even start on the other wound, the one he had just finished tore open once more, causing the man to cry out once more. "Damn it!" Kingsley growled, moving to stop the bleeding again. "I was worried this might happen. It's those damn Deatheaters! I don't know what spell they used but it was definitely dark magic. I don't think a healing spell is going to work!" "P-potion," Remus grunted weakly. "Blood Replenishing potion," he clarified. "Stop the bleeding... replenish it before I loose too much... Then... a sealing charm." It obviously wasn't the first time the man had been wounded, not that the various amount of scars that covered his body wasn't something to go by. Still, if they did things his way, the man would go the rest of his life with a good bit of meat missing on his side. Then again, it might be the only way...

Stranger: Sirius nodded and rushed to the kitchen, coming back quickly with the potion as requested. “Okay... sealing charm.” He said licking his lips as he held his wand up again. “I...

Stranger: Stay still okay?” He said to the other slowly working on the spell as he requested, he had to make sure it wouldn’t tear again this time. “I think it’s working...” He said softly, moving his wand in slow circles.

You: Remus did as he was told to the best of his abilities, shuddering slightly with each breath. When Sirius was done, the blood had seemed to stop but the wound had no healed, only sealed itself. The pain was still ever present. "Brilliant," Kingsley complimented, examining the work. "Good thinking Remus." "Might not hold long, but it'll do for now," Lupin acknowledge, still breathing a bit shallowly from the pain. "Not the first time you've dealt with dark magic wounds I take it?" Kingsley asked. "Fraid not," Remus grunted, trying to sit up and wincing.

Stranger: “Right... here’s the potion you asked for.” Sirius said, holding the glass to the other’s lips. “We should call in another healer, I was never quite good at healing spells.” He sad, worriedly watching as the other tried to sit up. “Maybe if I go to Mungo’s I can bring someone back with me?” He asked, looking at the other worriedly. For the first time really seeing his face.

You: "No!" Remus and Kingsley rushed, though Remus was far more calm that the other. Lupin shot the Auror an even look before turning back to Sirius. Remus' face was just as scarred as the rest of his body, his hair was a light brown and unkept, his features angular but soft as he studied Sirius for a moment. "St. Mungos will not treat me," he explained "And any healer that could be brought would be in danger of retaliation." "Remus is... well he's a half-human," Kingsley began. "I hate that term," Lupin growled but Kingsley ignored him. "The ministry has recently passed a number of laws that enforces the registration, subjugations and discrimination of all half-breeds. If St. Mungos were to find out about Remus-" "I'd be better off in Azkaban," Remus interrupted. "That's a bit of an exaggeration," Kingsley argued, earning nothing more than a shrug.

Stranger: “Oh...” Sirius looked over the other, seeing now the scars that littered his body, the gold in his eyes. He had never been around anyone like this before. He remembered the horrible things his mother had told him about them, but Remus didn’t look blood thirsty. He looked kind... and handsome. “I’m sorry... I didn’t know.” He looked at Kingsley. “But I really am not too good at charms... Someone else should look over him.” He said.

You: "Sorry, Sirius," Kingsley shrugged, "You're the only one we've got. Pomfry in abroad and Dumbledore is chasing down a lead. Moody is dealing with a ministry investigation and Merlin knows where everyone else is." "It's fine," Remus said, a kind of bitterness in his voice. "It's fine," he repeated, moving to try and stand. "The help was appreciated. I can take it from here." He straightened, swaying slightly on his feet. He could tell when he wasn't wanted. His presence made people uncomfortable, he was use to that. He had a shack on the other side of town he could lay low in for a bit, lick his wounds. With luck he'd come through this. It would be better than burdening some stranger, that was for certain.

Stranger: “No.” Sirius said sternly, moving to stand in front of the other and blocking him. “I just meant that I’m not the best healer... I certainly don’t want you out there like this.” He nodded to Kingsley, “Help me get him up into one of the guest rooms. I have some texts I can look over for better spells I just need a bit of time to look over them. “I’m not kicking anyone out for something as silly as that...” He said softly, smiling at the other to try and assure him.

You: Remus blinked in surprise at the sudden sternness of his voice. Not very many people who knew what he was had the courage to speak him like that. At least, no one other than his friends. "Absolutely not," Remus replied, glancing at Kingsley, before wincing at the pain it caused. "I can manage on my own. Besides, apparently you have a godson to meet." Remus may not have ever met Sirius but James had talked about the man enough for him to know that small detail and how important it was for him to be by James' side. "Remus, you're in no condition-" Kingsley began before cutting himself off at the snarl Lupin shot him and the low growl that escaped the werewolf, his sweet demeanor gone for just a moment.

Stranger: “He’s not here yet, all I’ll have to meet right now is a waiting room at Mungos.” Sirius said, his eyes widening as Remus growled. He raised a brow, “You try and leave one more time ans I’ll smack you on the nose with a newspaper, now... be a good boy and sit.” He said, his tone a bit sharper, but playful. “Let me set you in one of the guest rooms. I’ll have plenty of time to meet my godson when he’s not covered in goo.” Sirius made a face and held out his hand to the other to help him stand up.

You: Remus was once again surprised by Sirius' reaction, so much so that he felt himself sinking down to sit on the edge of the table just as he was instructed. "Well, I can see you've got this all sorted Sirius, I'll leave you to it then," Kingsley offered. "I'm afraid that Deatheater did a number the muggle town, gotta get it cleared away before the muggles notice to much."

Stranger: “Okay, let me know if you need back up.” He said, waiting for the other to apparate before he turned back to Remus. “I can set up the couch down if you don’t think you can manage the stairs.” He said a bit quieter, assessing him. “I need a bit but I think I can fix you up a bit better then this... a bit of a panic with you bleeding all over the table and all.

You: Remus eyed him in turn, studying the man before him. Sirius Black was definitely an odd man in personality, and not much different in appearance. His shaggy black curls framed his face haphazardly, his thin angular face making him seem hard, while the stubble on his chin gave him an air of nonchalance. All in all he was ruggedly handsome. "I think I can manage the st-" Remus began cutting himself off with a shaky breath as his knee buckled. He stumbled, managing to lean against the wall to steady himself. He had obviously tried to take a step and found himself a bit too weak. "Or perhaps the couch," he nodded with no small amount of embarrassment. He was certain that if it wasn't for the blood loss he would be flushing.

Stranger: “Okay, stay boy...” He said with a bit of a cheeky grin before walking over to the hall closet pulling out a few sets of sheets. He set them down, waved his wand once more and the shergs

Stranger: sheets* set themselves over the couch easily. He walked back over to Remus, gently lifting him a bit so the other was leaning on his shoulder, walking him to the couch.

You: Remus shot the man a glare at the comment but there was very little heat behind it. Still, he waited for the other man to finish before taking a hint and leaning into him. This close to him, the scent of damp fur, campfires, and brandy filled his nostrils making him dizzy in a pleasant way, nothing like the lightheadedness he had been experiencing due to blood loss. He allowed himself to be lead to the sofa before lowering himself down slowly on the sheets. He wondered briefly if they were there because Sirius worried he'd ruin the couch or for comfort. Either way Remus was glad for them. "It's been a long time since I've seen clean sheets," he mused lightly, shifting to lean back and grimacing at the pain once more.

Stranger: “If we manage to get you fixed up I may even let you shower.” He said smiling as he got up starting to look over the book shelves, pulling a few volumes down. He needed to find better healing spells, maybe something for pain as well. He sat down beside the couch, on the low coffee table beside the couch. “So... Remus was it? What happened?” He asked nodding his side which was still mottled with bruises.

You: Remus had closed his eyes as Sirius went about collecting this book or that, his scent drifting to and fro pleasant. Before he knew it he was relaxing a bit. "Hm?" he hummed softly, cracking an eye open and glancing down at the place Sirius was indicating. He considered how much to tell and how much to keep to himself. Even thinking about what had happened had his anger boiling. He let him slip through his fingers AGAIN. "An old friend," he growled in answer, glancing away once more.

Stranger: “Ah, I’ve got friends like that.” Sirius said, looking over the book in his lap, mumbling a bit to himself before picking up his wand again. “Okay, just... going to try a bit of something.” He said softly speaking the spell, waving his wand to try and use the healing spell. It was meant to stitch any internal injuries and soothe pain.

You: Remus gave a small cry as his side began stitching itself up. "Easy! Damn it!" he growled, hand going to cover the spot even as the pain began to lesson. He knew he was being a bit short with the man but despite his condition and everything he had been through, Remus was still a bit of a pansy when it came to pain.

Stranger: “Sorry! I told you I was rubbish!” He said wincing as the other cried out. He reached out, gently touching his side feeling the coolness of the spell. “That should be the worst of it.” He said softly picking his wand back up to preform a pain relief spell.

You: Somehow, Remus didn't believe him. The method had been crude, like something one of the muggles would try but he had to admit it was effective. Still as Sirius picked up his wand once more Remus flinched. "I think that's fine!" he rushed. "I'm fine! Good as new!" he reassured.

Stranger: “You’re a bloody baby.” Sirius said setting his wand down. He handed him the potion. “Drink this, you look paler then me and that’s a feat in its own, I’m a Black.” He said smiling, tucking his hair a bit behind his ears.

You: Remus' had shook as he accepted the potion, sniffed it and then drank it down in one go. "Yea, well, even a Black has to have shoddy spellwork at some point I suppose," Remus commented, amusement ringing in his voice. The potion tasted terrible but he had to admit, he'd drank worse.

Stranger: “Right well... since you won’t let me do anything else I am prescribing bed or as it might seem, couch rest. I’ll go get some water for you.” He said softly, standing up and heading into the kitchen. As he turned he couldn’t help but smile as he thought of the other. He was... challenging but fascinating. But Sirius was intrigued.

You: "Much prefer a pint," Remus grumbled under his breath, not expecting Sirius to hear before relaxing back onto the couch, not even bothering to hide the fact that his gaze followed the man as he left. It would seem that Sirius' attractiveness did not end at his face.

Stranger: Sirius came back, a cup of water in one hand a small plate with biscuits on it. “I don’t have any lager but if you’re a good boy maybe I’ll pop to the shops later.” He smiled, taking one of the biscuits and popping it in his mouth.

You: Remus shot him a glare once again, but there wasn't much heat there. "Werewolf, not dog," Remus grumbled with something akin to a pout.

Stranger: “Ah, sorry.” He said smiling and looking down at the other. His body was more scars then anything else really. “Do... would it be rude to ask how long you’ve... had that furry little problem?” He asked with a smirk.

You: That earned a snort of laughter from the man, which instantly turned into a groan as pain shot through him. "What am I some kind of rabbit?" he mused, smiling for the first time since he'd arrived. The expression softened his features, taking ten years off his appearance before it was gone once more. "Since I was seven," he answered honestly. The words were simple, as if they could be discussing something as simple as the weather.

Stranger: “Seven...” Sirius couldn’t help but... find it seeet thinking of it. As awful as it was, a little puppy of a wolf with Remus’ reddish brown hair. “I’m sorry... that’s. Well I’m gonna be honest, I’ve never met a werewolf before. But I’ve heard stories.” He reached over, but stopped himself. He wanted to cup the others face, brush back his hair. It was an odd instinct... and he wasn’t sure why. He tried to play it off by just brushing a bit of dust off the sheets instead clearing his throat. “You didn’t go to Hogwarts, I would have remembered you...”

You: Remus caught the movement, pulling away slightly at it but relaxing when Sirius' hand brushed a bit of dust away and returned to his side. "Would you now?" he asked amusedly, arching a brow. He let the question of 'why' linger in the air before continuing. "No, Hogwarts didn't take in monsters like me back then. Of course that was before Dumbledore. Now, who knows what would have happened. No, I attended Durmstrang. It was the only school that would have me.

You: [I have to step away for a min sorry. Might be about 5-10min but I'll be back so sorry]

Stranger: “Oh, Drumstrang? I’ve heard of that place. Had a dee cousins go there, sounded tough...” He flushed a bit, Remus saw his hand. It was embarrassing really... “You’re not a monster...” He added quietly. “I already said... I don’t know any other werewolves but I don’t think I would call you a monster.” He said soundly.

You: [back]

You: "The fact that you haven't is probably the very reason you wouldn't," Remus pointed out. "All werewolves are monsters, if they claim they aren't then they're up to something," Remus grumbled, remembering the one he had most recently met on the battlefield against Voldemort.

Stranger: “So then... what are you up to?” He asked, leaning a bit closer and raising his brow again. He couldn’t get enough of this man for some reason. He could talk to him forever, he felt.

You: "I never claimed I wasn't a monster," Remus pointed out, Sirius' scent engulfing him as the man leaned closer. He could smell the interest on him, sense his intrigue. "I'm merely trying to survive. An ambition you should really learn to adopt," he pointed out. "Should probably start by refraining from making fun of weres," he teased lightly, meeting his gaze.

Stranger: “I’m not making fun of anyone, I’m just trying to make you smile...” He grinned, biting his lip a bit, the others gaze on him was molten.

You: Remus eyed him evenly, his golden gaze heating at the other man's closeness. How long had it been since he was this close to someone outside of a duel or running for their lives? He dispelled the thought as quickly as it came. "Yes, because telling me to sit and stay is so amusing," he deadpanned, though he had to admit, it had been. Still, if Sirius offered to play fetch he might be a bit annoyed. Damp fur, fire wood, brandy... There it was again, dulling Remus' senses. Sirius was too close... Much to close. Remus shifted away a bit, eyes narrowing in suspicion at the other man.

Stranger: “I thought it was.” He said with a rough laugh, looking at the other. “You don’t like me very much... or are you kind this with everyone you meet?” He asked, it was odd... he didn’t often find himself so at odd with someone so quickly. It was exciting... and he was suddenly very worried that they were alone together.

You: "My kind?" Remus repeated, obviously not offended but curious; as if he had never stopped to consider it. "I don't know," he admitted. "We know one another almost on sight. Can sense it. But we don't stick around long enough to really find out about one another. Not if we can help it. Being a were is bad enough on its own but having two in one spot... That's just a death wish." Then the question really sank in and he frown. "What gave you the impression I don't like you?" he pressed. He didn't trust him sure, but he didn't trust anyone.

Stranger: “Well...” He smiled, reaching forward again and watching as the other flinched back from him. “That for one... and the fact that you have been glaring at me for quite some time...” He said, his face challenging the other.

You: "Well, why do you keep trying to touch me anyways?" Remus snapped defensively. "And I'm don't keep glaring," he glared.

#wolfstar #remus/sirius #sirius/remus #remus lupin/sirius black #sirius black/remus lupin #wolfstar rp #wolfstar roleplay

[accio-victuuri]

Hello! I’m doing okay so far, It’s Friday! I hope you’re doing well too. 😌

I just wanna start this by saying I am very disappointed that this issue is getting so much traction rather than the fact that we have new content from GG. I can’t even imagine how hard this filming period was for GG. Then to have it out, of course people were excited, it went #1 on HS, then to have this. Whatever the fuck this is — take the spotlight is very unfortunate.

This kind of attitude coming just days after alot of c-net artists voiced support w/ CAC’s Clean & Bright initiative. XZ studio posted about it. Why is there some collective amnesia going on? Especially this part 👇🏼

Respect every working partner’s hard work and diligence. Focus on the work themselves and communicate in a civilized manner.

NOT TO MENTION ACE TROOPS IS A TRIBUTE DRAMA. That is backed by CCTV. That will most likely air this year just in time for CCP’s 100th anniversary. So newsflash. Not everything is about GG. The sooner people realize that, the better. I get when people are upset because they have expectations, but there is no need to pull their guns out.

IQIYI has the right to do whatever it is they wanna do in promoting this drama. It’s their conference. Also, GG is billed as a second lead in this drama. We all knew this going in. We all accepted it when he decided to take on the drama and film it. Some of us were surprised but we accepted it it, as long as we get to see him again. I don’t understand why people are suddenly expecting him to be front and center. USING XIAO ZHAN AS A BAIT for viewership is not new. People should learn to manage their expectations. This is what happens when he has other co-stars, the spotlight is not gonna be always on him. I have not watched or looked at anything from the IQIYI conf because it really doesn’t matter. I was genuinely excited with the new content. I was happy that I saw it being posted on IQIYI, CCTV and Ace weibo. That’s it for me. I waited a long time for this. When this was rumored, I was so happy. No one knew for sure if he was every gonna come back to us.

You’re right. This supposed boycott does not make any sense at all. They can choose to not watch it of course. People have their own free will. But to start some rally because of some warped idea is so toxic. See, this is what I’m afraid of with people’s protectiveness of GG. I don’t want platforms and potential co stars to be wary of being casted w/ him because of the potential attack from his fans. I don’t want him getting this type of reputation again.

I have more thoughts on this but I’ll stop cause i’d rather focus on the good side of what we have right now. 🤍

& yeah, Thank you for lovin the blog. We both have one thing in common, and that’s we love GG and support him.

#ask response

[davidjjohnston3]

The trees are straight and true here, and the help comes without seeming harpoons.  I considered some insane things which were ‘above my pay-grade’ and as is my wont reflected on the state and implications of my former profession and what old friends and pharons meant to me.  Right now think that my core goal in life is not to blow myself up.  As a former would-have-been SecState said, ‘I love so many people.’  I am only sad that trying as I did to uproot that carrot of love just now could have resulted in the demolition of an entire root-network, of at least my own excision therefrom.

‘Some people’ want revenge against life for not going their way or not being the color or fragrance or face shape they like or feel it ought to be - ‘no that is not what I meant at all.’  They will never hold a life reliable which doesn’t resemble their ideal, imago, or ‘soul-idol’ &c.  The meaning of the name ‘Cordelia’ as in King Lear is something like ‘heart’s ideal.’  I was driving and considering a novel that I feel touched absolute supreme greatness without knowing it or in a way that could mislead some readers Mrs. Mary HK Choi’s Yolk a novel I looked forward for a very long time.  I had all these references and fractal coreferences and forgot about actual birds, like what does the chick eat in the egg.

‘Blood is the life’ - I liked etymologies for a long time and my intellectualism caused me acute trouble in Confirmation Class at Morrow Memorial United Methodist Church in about 1998.  ‘Pastor’ Gretchen taught us the word root ‘consacramentum’ which comes from dipping the hand in blood in the concave of a Roman shield - those huge rectangular shields which could be used in formation as ‘testudo’ or turtle to stop projectile weapons and allowed soldiers to make pin-point stabbing attacks from a ‘matrix(?)’ of high protection.  I forget what kind of animal was killed to pool the blood in the shield but it might have been a rabbit.

I was reading ‘Revelation,’ I don’t recall what everyone else was talking about.  Some kind of community service project, interview your parents, buy a wedding-magazine and make a whole plan for how you would get married and how much it would cost (and while you’re at it describe how you would 1) restore a classic Shelby Cobra using newspaper and Krazy Glue 2) drive foresaid drop-top to the Moon).  

The Pastor was a pipe-smoker named ‘Painter’ who used the NY Lotto’s ‘Hey you never know’ slogan to describe sth like Pascal’s Wager; OTOH St. Paul teaches us that everyone is born knowing God exists (Romans).  The problem is that people fail or omit to glorify Him or subsequently ruin or betray their own best efforts through blasphemy, turning or falling away, cowardice, denial, attachment to certain sins or being ‘yoked unequally’ with non-believers.  

I reflected starting in 2008 that I was shy of my ‘first love’ (rather, the woman I fell in love with at 14); at the time I gloried or reveled in the shyness like a Wallace Stevens poem that ends, ‘And not to have written a book.’  I could’ve written a few books by now or walked away from book-writing or changed my mind / specified which kind of book I might have written and for whom.  

I remember always admiring the ‘magic’ of literature and feeling sad I had no characters or world of my own to work magic with.  Star Wars and my own life and later much else supplied ‘materia poetica’ and till the point that I began to think in fiction and became addicted to interpreting my own in ‘story-ideas’ although that is not to say that what happened around me didn’t happen.  

America is trying to become a better country in numerous valences, loving our neighbors, holding each other accountable.  ‘Justice’ with or without the marks is important.  It is a divine Judgment that Covid fell on the world even if eventually we all shall learn who devised the virus or leaked it or modulated its mutations.  I was eager to rejoin the world feeling I might overcome my mental illness but I mishandled specific questions and tests.  I ended up turning people against me and creating monsters more than ever as well as perhaps terminally sabotaging any chance I might’ve had of fulfilling a dream or making good on the past.  I have a lot of opinions on the CCP but should’ve focused on love and family and personal responsibilities as in the past or at least held to my long-standing feeling that Chinese people deserve better rather than associating myself with hard-liners and racists or those who would simplify issues in order to bring about ultimate victory without temperance or concern for the side-effects.

In Milwaukee where I lived for far too long everyone’s spirit - electric, intellectual, visory(?), informational et cetera seemed to be militating against everybody else’s.  There were fake vaccines, radioactive ice cream (or thermogenic ice-cream), gun-battles as usual, lines crossed, all kinds of scores that people tried to settle.  I also realized that the police were probably tracking for years my various attempts to obtain weapons from samurai-swords to handguns though the purpose was defensive and I can only trust at this point that some good lawyer will prevent the bad lawyers and cops from presenting the most damning circumstantial case they could.  People in Milwaukee own AK-47′s, automatic shotguns, probably all kinds of explosives, improvised chemical weapons and (’our Black brothers’ - Schopenhauer) biological weapons - the cops don’t stand a chance that I can tell and even the National Guard perhaps could get outclassed by retired military.  I had told myself for years that it was only the ghetto’s that bore witness to this paramilitary equipage and that the retired SEAL Team 4 member with the ‘Stop Socialism’ and ‘Jobs Not Mobs’ sign on his front lawn would protect me from the Maoist-Covid Night of the Long Knives but I feel I tempted God a lot in the past.  

I read all these books and took to heart that people thought I was just entertaining myself with but now as then I should’ve guarded my heart or not begged the question of what others thought about me or saw in me.  I literally felt of late ‘I am the anti-Christ’ - good-looking at times, preach world peace, ‘form of godliness,’ want to be friends with everyone, build bridges - and had to rack my brains to come up with an ‘anti-Christology’ and science / concept of the Whore of Babylon just to make sure it was more than me alone.  I also wished to simplify my past and help kids ‘get life right the right time’ doing battle with philosophies that opposed this consciously or otherwise but stepped into numerous minefields and also tried running when I should’ve flown over.  

Everyone’s trying to get rich and build back better and I profoundly admired the American President for doing, finally, apparently, what presidents had tried to decades even as I remember ‘Flowers 1881′ a poem that implies that basically teachers can do only so much before turning their kids loose in a world no one has yet fixed and which others keep breaking; from a California almanac that also instructed me that the same old debates and cross-fires and burdens plague teachers as always, not that it is an ‘impossible profession’ but honestly that God won’t let us establish Heaven on Earth or at least not me or at least not America or at least not teachers who savor the experience of being a teacher or the beauty of their students more than the outcomes or commitment or intrinsic value of the work or the confirmed identity / vocation / personhood of the instructor.  There are always new and old at any rate and different cultures all describe the teacher as needing to keep both alive; as do descriptions of higher education and scholarship.  

I questioned my qualifications / background and wondered about re-training but can’t afford tuition anywhere so I am trying to cling to the core of my capabilities / blessings.  ABC and XYZ.  The glory of the soul or souls.  

I kept theorizing Russian literature as well as weapons-systems and ultimate destiny, sailing ships, noble names, divisions, the flaming sword of Archangel Gabriel, the mission of Russia today with respect to the world order.  I am also simply trying to be healthy and stop for a while trying to parse out who was the love of my life or what it still left in terms of action or redemption or justice or surrender or mitigation or meeting new friends or propounding the kind of understand with carefulness I have believed in - ‘saving people from themselves.’  Driving up here I remember being distressed at a gas-station in California when I was about 5 or 6 since the pump was leaking, being very upset with my parents and family.  In those days I also disliked animal-cruelty though the world today seems so depraved and deprived with respect to human interests I would make no bones about neglecting most all animals outside of military or police use.  When I was about 3 I saw white kids set a frog on fire; my mother has a history of running over cats.

I dislike winging it and taking risks.  There is a song I call to myself ‘Run Away’ though its title is ‘Paradise.’  I am not a utopian communist for believing in secular justice and its instrinsic value... I wonder whether when I helped people in the past there were always strings attached or maybe I was just trying to close my case and discharge my responsibilities too rapidly without allowing others to gestate or make an abode in my heart besides and beyond what I could get out of them, glorifying myself, or tell others about.  

What is motherhood?  What is travail?  Is there a kind of problematic ‘female gaze’ as feminists talk of a ‘male gaze’ associated with sadism or fascination / fetishism?  It’s psychology which is not my first love at all since it appeared pretentious and distracting and retarding (in the literal sense of slowing down).

I also remembered reading various things about Victor Hugo whose ‘93′ is an important novel today due to its techno-utopianism, feminism or ‘new model egalitarianism,’ fusion of revolution and religion, etc.  But I had forgotten ‘Les Miserable’ with its themes of ransom or eventual recompense, genealogies, caution, and more none of which is to negate the various complains against me or death-warrant from China or my parents with their partial private readings of Proverbs (’Let’s stone David for embarrassing us / not doing precisely what we want’ - no mention of witnesses, tribunals, questions, mitigation-hearings, actual counsels of judges etc. but just American-German ‘coalitions of the willing’ ‘run and get my gun’ ‘team-building’ etc. which in my experience ends with tanks on the street and military dictatorships as when at the end of the CultRev PLA regulars were gunning down former justice-fanatics who’d been stripping women, kicking pregnant stomachs etc. as in The Vagrants).  Naturally having grown up in a family fascinated with Lee Kwanyew and Arnold Schwarzenegger and conflicted about ‘fascism’ I had reservations about the United States’ ability to suddenly dress up and ‘stand at perpetual moral attention’ but I guess my own problems are just that I am poor with a rich kid’s mind and no one really likes me except strangers and faraway friends who were easily spooked and/or just couldn’t be there.  ‘King of South shall attack and King of North shall crush them  with chariots &c.’ - in the end righteous will prevail whichever side of the line I end up on in the final assessment.  I also remembered today a novel called ‘The Old Capital’ about a bad artist father, a virgin daughter, straight and true pines.  Some other aspects of this novel are silly as well as criminally problematic and there's a lot of that going on in new-old old news America / Babylon or at least to quote my favorite lawyer / leave lawyering movie 'First let's get out of Milwaukee.'  Miss the land of June snow.