#tourism labels

[captainadwen]

Made a joke in a fic and now I feel urge to follow through and write the og story

#the joke is in the 1/2 prince au #uh spoilers for next ch again #lpm is protagonist of the hit jnovel “my father is the last boss of a hidden dungeon” #u just know the type with like reincarnation or transmigration or time travel and like face slapping etc etc #mostly they bore me #so i thought #how WOULD i write this so that i enjoy #the anwer is to play it straight no memories whatnot or face slapping #everyone in the “dungeon' is just a retired force of the evil lord / big boss who follows their own boss (the dad) into retirement #the mom is miss Not Dead/Dramatically Absent. she is another boss and wields a mace #the final boss main attack is (after 20 years of child care) inescapable dad chats #the protag went off to uni trying to improve tourism or economy or whatever but its hard when you live in a hidden dungeon #where everyone beats up intruders as soon as they are spotted #the big boss is not dead either he is trying to get a struggling music career off the ground #its hard bc hes like 50s/200s and all the labels only want to sign hot teenagers #if there is a traditional reincarnation/ty/transmigration it is not the protag but like. a love interest #og story ideas

[margaretthatchersdead]

Reasons to end the monarchy: Charles Edition

Well it's the coronation so you know what it's time for.

The entire concept of a monarchy is actively undemocratic. The head of state should not be someone who is only in that position because they were born into a certain family.

Having a monarchy upholds classism as a specific family of great wealth and power are viewed as superior to others.

They stand for a history of racism and imperialism. This country has done some truly terrible things in its history and the monarchy are a symbol of that. In order to attempt to begin to undo the harm that we have done, we need to remove this symbol of oppression.

The royal family have previously lobbied the government to hide their own personal wealth. Despite this, we are obviously aware that they have a large amount of wealth.

Prince Charles has himself lobbied the government on a number of occasions. His 'black spider memos' show that he has repeatedly pressured ministers on a wide range of topics from the Iraq war to badger culling to alternative therapies. He has used his power to lobby the government on subjects that would affect him.

The monarch does not occupy a ceremonial role as is frequently claimed. Ministers and civil servants have to consult the monarch. Civil servants have to get the consent of the royals on pieces of legislation, which can cause delays on implementation.

Even if the monarch did occupy a purely ceremonial role, as a literal billionaire he wields a ridiculously high amount of power over people.

Windsor Castle brings in less money than Windsor Legoland does. The many castles that are owned by the royal family could be used to create spaces for the public to enjoy or to be used as a shelter for the homeless. The Louvre in Paris used to be house of the French monarchy and gets over twenty times the tourists. Edinburgh castle hasn't had the monarchy live in it for centuries and yet still brings in tourism.

Prince Andrew is widely known to be connected to Jeffrey Epstein; yet he has not had to face any repercussions for his actions despite blatantly lying when being asked about his actions. The royal family have defended him and prevented him from facing the consequences of his actions.

They cost around £334 million per year. This money could be used to help the poor, given to the NHS, to repair and build infrastructure, to support small businesses that are struggling, pretty much anything.

The royal household publishes a much lower figure about the cost of the royal family, so they are actively trying to cover up their cost.

Charles has had access to confidential Cabinet papers, undermining our democracy.

He has publicly championed alternative medicine and has repeatedly promoted it. He sent at least seven letters to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, that then shortly relaxed the rules governing the labeling of herbal products, ones he as part of Charles's Duchy Originals produces.

He lobbied the health secretary regarding greater provision of alternative treatments on the NHS.

In 2018, 46% of Britons wanted him to abdicate immediately after Elizabeth died. He’s barely wanted by the country even with the sheer amount of pro-monarchy propaganda going around. Charles specifically is very unpopular.

In order to speak to him, broadcasters had to sign a 15-page contract, which includes Clarence house attending the rough and fine cut edits of films and if unhappy can remove that contribution, as well as stipulating that all questions directed at him must be pre-approved and vetted by his representative.

His personal wealth is £1.8 billion. He inherited a large amount of this from Elizabeth, with it being exempt from inheritance tax. Having an immunity from this tax when others don’t is ridiculous.

The Duchy of Cornwall was named in the Paradise papers.

The coronation is going to cost £100 million during a cost of living crisis.

People have been banned from protesting Charles with official warning letters were sent to anti-monarchists.

Protestors who block roads, airports and railways could face an entire year behind bars. Locking yourself to others, objects or buildings could go to prison for six months and face an unlimited fine. Police are allowed to head off disruption by stopping and searching protestors that they suspect.

The public were encouraged to swear allegiance to the new King when he gets sworn in, this is a deeply disturbing suggestion.

He's a billionaire who's going to use the public's money to celebrate himself.

The monarch has sweeping immunity from many laws

He owns business parks and small rented cottages, six of the ten top residential homes, 285,000 acres of mineral rich land. He’s ridiculously rich in a country where so many people are facing extreme poverty.

#uk politics #british royal family #fuck the monarchy #imperialism #royals #king charles III #may he end up like the first

[breslicht]

Weed

#Any Vision #Labels #fun #recreation #tourism #vacation #vehicle

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“Find No More Wrong Labels,” Windsor Star. May 28, 1942. Page 3. ---- UPON DRUG BOTTLES ---- Camphorated Oil Victim Has Recovered ---- Windsor police officials said today that investigation into the wrong labeling of a castor oil bottle which contained camphorated oil and sent a woman to hospital yesterday, had disclosed no more bottles in city drug stores of this nature. 

The woman, Mrs. Doris Mulhall, of Toronto, staying temporarily at a tourist camp on Dougall road with her husband, purchased the bottle of what she believed to be castor oil at a downtown drug store. She took a table-spoonful and became ill, her husband said. She was rushed to Hotel Dieu where today she was said to have recovered fully from the effects of a dose of camphorated oil. 

As police started their investigation yesterday they ordered drug stores to halt sale of medicines bottled by a Toronto firm until they had checked the stock thoroughly. 

"We have had no reports of any wrongly labeled bottles,” a police official said. "We have concluded that this must have been an isolated instance.”

#windsor #police investigation #wrong label #camphorated oil #castor oil #drug sture #drug store delivery #tourist camp #tourism in canada #canada during world war 2

[jonathanrook]

obviously i understand that the shaniac/boogara labels were initially coined as a means of expressing whether or not you believe in ghosts, but now that the boys have moved on and have a wider variety of shows where they can express more opinions, i propose we expand the labels for other things they have taken strong and opposing positions on.

for example, i'm a shaniac for ghosts, but also a shaniac of breakfast cereals (not only is oatmeal a cereal it is, indeed, the best one), tourism (the more run down and out of the way a tourist trap is, the better it's gonna be), and shipping discourse (a pairing becomes boring the second it goes canon).

#i'm a boogara for chips tho shrimp chips are godly #watcher #rachel rants #ghoul boys

[missywritesfor7]

❤️‍🩹Lifeline | MYG❤️‍🩹

Synopsis: It’s long been controversial for idols to date, but idols dating each other can be really beautiful or a complete nightmare. When Yoongi's relationship with another idol is discovered, he decides maybe it’s time to break the taboo and show people it’s ok for idols to date. Instead, they find themselves caught in the midst of one media frenzy after another and struggle to keep their relationship as strong as it had been the past 2 years. Yoongi finds a self destructive way to cope, and it causes even more problems than it solves. As they fight for their relationship and their careers, they discover that sometimes, the only way to truly be free is to let go.

Pairing: idol!Yoongi x idol!OC

Warnings: nsfw, alcoholism, cheating, depression, anxiety, Yoongi goes through a bisexy ho phase, Yoongi is also in his alcoholic phase, post-military BTS

Next chapter | Masterlist

In the spirit of the season I thought I’d give the first chapter of this new fic to you all 🤗 I haven’t fully worked out the specific day, but I’ll be posting a chapter a week after the new year so stay tuned! 💜

Ch. 1: Love

Time seems slow when you’re in the middle of it. Even slower when you’re looking forward to something. Yoongi spent 21 months away from his home, his members, Army, his family, and his girlfriend who he had only been dating 3 short months before he had to leave.

Yoongi and Hyeri had known each other before, both being under Hybe as artists. Na Hyeri, stage name: Rainbow, began her idol career with a short lived girl group called Two Piece under a much smaller company. The group disbanded after just two mini albums, and a lot of attention thanks to their company infamously mishandling everything from money to the artist’s safety and well-being. When the smoke died down, Hyeri signed with Hybe as a solo artist and has made a name for herself in the few years since her solo debut.

She first met Yoongi when he produced a song that she performed for a tourism campaign. The song made waves across social media and beyond and Hyeri found herself gaining a mass of new fans. The first time they ran into each other after the campaign took off, Hyeri jokingly thanked Yoongi for the new fans. That turned into an hour long conversation that was the beginning of a new relationship.

After endless texts, phone calls, and sneaking to see each other around the company building whenever they could, they became official. To themselves mostly and close family and friends. Yoongi told the rest of the members and Hyeri told her best friends and former bandmates, Haeun and Minji. To the rest of the world they’re just label mates who worked on a song together.

Being under the same company made things easy. Moving in together 2 months later made things even easier. Yoongi’s enlistment however, made things harder.

For 21 months Hyeri lived alone waiting for Yoongi with the rest of the world. His few vacation times never seemed long enough and his discharge date seemed like it was centuries away.

Then he was back. And just like that those 21 months didn’t seem so bad after all. Things were as they had been before with all seven of them back together again.

Hyeri had begun taking more and more acting jobs so she was fairly busy, but always left a note and a snack for Yoongi when she’d leave before him. Other times she would give him a soft kiss when she’d come home late and find him already asleep. Yoongi always sent her a meal if she were home and he wasn’t. The nights he spent in his studio instead of home he would make up for with more gifts than necessary. Jewelry, stuffed animals, posters of himself, and the occasional pair of shoes despite him telling her he wouldn’t buy her shoes since she already has so many.

Once the group’s big post-military comeback had concluded, Yoongi felt truly happy. He was back with his brothers making music and seeing Army again, and he had his girlfriend by his side who he’s deeply in love with. All felt right in the world.

Yoongi had begun working on new music for the group’s upcoming full length album. He’s been in his studio much more instead of home, but it’s not too bad. Hyeri finished shooting her small parts in a drama she was cast in and had begun working on a couple of songs for the soundtrack. When she was done recording for the day, she would come by Yoongi’s studio and spend as much time there as she could since she knows he may not come home that night.

This day is like any other. Hyeri finished her final recording session and dropped by Yoongi’s studio with a dinner of his favorite cheat meal, noodles. They both sit on his couch eating, chatting, and cuddling a bit once they’ve cleared their bowls.

“I think this may have been my last recording session,” Hyeri says with her legs rested across Yoongi’s lap.

“So you’re really going to do it?” Yoongi asks.

“Yeah,” she sighs. “I know it’s going to suck and you’re going to hate it, but I just…” she pauses and looks up at his face. He may be expressionless, but she knows that’s just him trying to hide his disappointment.

“Hybe is more of a music company, you know that,” she continues. “I just really think I’ll have much better acting opportunities with JJS since they’re such a successful acting agency.”

JJS is one of the top entertainment agencies in the acting world. They house some of the best entertainers in the industry, from romance movie heartthrobs, variety show comedians who have become household names, and even action movie baddies. Hyeri had been looking into switching companies so that she can embark on her new career as a full time actress. She’s gotten a number of roles through Hybe already. Mostly a few commercials and a couple of small cameos in tv shows. For her, switching to JJS could mean finally getting her breakout opportunity to send her acting career soaring.

“I know we won’t get to see each other like this anymore,” she says. “But we’ll still see each other at home. Don’t be mad,” she pouts.

“I’m not mad,” Yoongi says caressing her leg. “I told you before I would support you no matter what you decide.”

“But you still don’t like it.”

“It’s fine. We’ll see each other at home, right?”

“We never see each other at home,” she pouts more.

“You just said…” he chuckles shaking his head and pulls her closer to him. “We’ll make it work. I want you to follow your dreams. Don’t hold yourself back because of me.”

“Are you sure you’re ok with it? Do you think it will make things hard?”

“Not as hard as me being away for 21 months,” he chuckles. “Trust me.”She nods and he gives her a reassuring kiss.

Hyeri goes back and forth on whether she’s making the right decision. Yoongi constantly tells her she is but she’s struggling to believe it. She spends less time in the company building since she’s not working on anything and will be leaving soon. That means she’s been home alone a lot. It’s nothing new to her, but she’s starting to realize how hard it may actually be. Especially when she starts working again.

Yoongi is the perfect support for her. He keeps her sane and assures her that he’ll stand by her no matter what she does or where she goes. Sure it will come with challenges, but he knows they can make it work.

Things start off fine. News of Hyeri signing with JJS was met with lots of support from her fans. She immediately landed a small supporting role in a movie and Yoongi couldn’t be happier for her.

Shooting on the movie began and that became the true test of their relationship. They rarely saw each other. When one of them would leave or come home, the other would be asleep. Yoongi would even spend less time in his studio so he could be home on the off chance that she gets there early. She never did and he would spend another night falling asleep alone.

It’s frustrating for them both to be so close yet so far from each other. Yoongi has completed the majority of his work on the songs for their new album. Even with endless recording and dance practices, he still can’t seem to find enough to do to keep his mind off of the empty space in his bed that smells like Hyeri.

They text when they can but it’s never enough. They miss each other and start to feel like they were able to talk to each other more when he was in the military. No matter how hard they try or how bad they want it, they can never seem to get their schedules to line up.

One day that finally changes. A month into Hyeri’s shoot, and about a month before Yoongi embarks on another BTS comeback era, they find an overlap in free time in their schedules. Yoongi had a gap in his schedule that gave him a bit of free time. He typically would spend that time in his studio. However, Hyeri had a last minute cancellation that gave her the rest of the evening off.

Yoongi only has an hour to see Hyeri so he rushes out and tells her to meet him at a nearby restaurant for dinner. He would rather see her at home so they can be in private, but the further he has to go, the less time that will leave him with Hyeri. He’s so desperate that he doesn’t want to lose a second.

Since time is limited and privacy is important, Yoongi chose a small snack food place that he and the members had been going to for many years. They always have a table in the back away from the public eye for them. It’s private enough and a quick meal.

Yoongi arrives at the restaurant first. He doesn’t have to wait long before Hyeri arrives, though to him it felt like hours. She looks around a moment then runs to give Yoongi a long kiss filled with so much pent up longing.

“I feel like I haven’t seen you in years,” Hyeri says kissing him again.

“I missed you,” he says stealing one more kiss before she takes her seat across from him.

“I wish we had time but I’ll take this over nothing,” she says quickly scanning the menu. “There’s so much I want to tell you about the movie shoot! It’s been so much fun and everyone has been really cool. I really think I made the right choice. I just wish it didn’t keep me away from you so much.”

“I know, Bow,” he says, calling her by the shortened version of her stage name, Rainbow. “You’ll have more time once the shooting is done. Then even more time when you finish all the promos.”

“I know, baby, but aren’t you guys going on your world tour around the time I finish shooting? I know things haven’t been finalized yet, but we really wouldn’t have much time together before you’re off traveling the world.”

Yoongi knows she’s right and it breaks his heart to see the sadness in her eyes. Their server comes by to take their order before he can think of something to say to make her feel better.

After placing their order and sitting in silence a few moments, Yoongi reaches across the table and takes Hyeri’s small hands into his.

“I wish I could take you with me,” he says forcing a smile.

“I don’t know,” she chuckles trying to lighten the mood. “You might get sick of me then.”

“I won’t get sick of you,” he chuckles. “Even when you’re annoying, you’re still beautiful.”

“Are you trying to romance me, Mr. Min?” She jokes.

“I was only stating a fact,” he chuckles.

��Admit it, Yoon-gya, you like me,” she laughs calling him by the nickname that never fails to make him laugh.

When Hyeri first met Jin he was speaking so fast she could hardly understand him. When she heard him shout “Yoongi-ah” it sounded like “Yoon-gya” to her. After they began dating she asked Yoongi why Jin calls him “Yoon-gya”. Yoongi was confused at first, but once he realized what she was saying he never let it go. In return she calls him that whenever she’s messing with him.

“I love you,” he chuckles. “But still…you’ll wait for me, won’t you?”

“Of course I will, babe.” She shakes her head knowing he should know better. “I’m not going anywhere. It’s going to take more than an enlistment and a world tour to get rid of me.”

He gives her hands a light squeeze and flashes his gummy smile in happiness. Both of them are soaking up each other’s presence in this rare moment they have together. They continue talking about work and things they haven’t been able to tell through text. Their food arrives and they continue chatting as they eat.

That hour is much too short. It only felt like a few minutes to them, but they look and now it’s time for Yoongi to return to the office for his scheduled recording session. It’s hard for them to let each other go. They stand in front of the restaurant lingering a moment trying to find the courage to leave.

“I’ll try to stay up for you,” Hyeri says.

“Hopefully we can make it quick. I’ll come straight home once I’m done.” He reaches for her hand out of habit briefly forgetting that they’re out on the street. She doesn’t stop him though. She takes his hand for just a brief moment to feel his warmth a second longer, then let’s go.

“Don’t keep me waiting too long,” she smiles. “I love you.”

“Love you too,” he smiles.

They both head to their cars and go off their separate ways. They hate to leave after finally getting a moment of togetherness. That only gives Yoongi a much greater sense of urgency the rest of the evening.

When he returns to the studio it’s clear to everyone he’s trying to get things done quickly. He has no time for small talk or getting off track with mindless conversations. The sooner this is done the better.

“Hyung,” Jimin says exiting the recording booth. “Take it easy. Why are you in such a hurry?”

“She’s waiting for me,” Yoongi says with no further explanation.

“Ah,” Jimin nods. He knows exactly what Yoongi means. He knows what Hyeri means to Yoongi so he doesn’t need any further explanation. “Get in there and finish up then.”

Before Yoongi, Jimin is the last one to finish recording. Now that he’s done he switches places with Yoongi to help things move along faster. Jimin doesn’t mind staying a bit later so Yoongi can get home. It takes a little longer than Yoongi would like, but he finally finishes and rushes off to go home without giving Jimin a second look. Jimin follows him out and simply laughs to himself at how flustered his hyung is. He knows Yoongi is in deep.

Yoongi returns home at 1am hoping Hyeri is still awake. When he steps inside all of the lights are off and he fears he may be too late. That is, until he reaches the bedroom and he can hear the shower running.

Hyeri had just gotten in the shower after finishing a late meal. She was fighting her sleep in hopes that Yoongi would be home soon. She decided to hop in the shower in an attempt to stay awake just a little longer.

She leans her head back and closes her eyes as the water runs through her hair and down her back. The warm water is relaxing so she stands there not moving for a few moments. She takes a deep breath and just then she can feel a hand on her waist.

She opens her eyes to see Yoongi entering the shower and pulling her close to his bare body. She isn’t sure how he managed to get home and get undressed without her hearing a thing, but it doesn’t matter. She instantly wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him in for a kiss.

“I’m so glad you’re still awake,” Yoongi says in a low tone. “I feel like I haven’t gotten to hold you in way too long.”

“I know,” she says kissing him again. “I never knew I could miss you so much when we live together.”

He feels the same but rather than saying so, he pulls her in tighter for a heavier kiss. His hands trace every wet part of her body until he reaches between her legs and softly teases her clit. He lives for the breathy moan she lets out at the feeling of him. The sound he’s missed, the feel he’s missed, the taste he’s missed. It’s all too much and not enough at the same time.

He continues kissing her, slipping his tongue into her mouth and swallowing every sound of hers until he presses her back against the shower wall. His level of arousal is almost unbearable in this moment. So many missed connections and lonely nights are overflowing and poking her pelvis in the process.

“I love you so much, Bow,” he growls lifting her leg and wrapping it around his waist.

“I love you too, baby,” she whispers anticipating his entry that is much desired.

He presses her into the wall harder and takes his tongue on a tour of her neck and chest until he reaches her tits. He loves to see her like this. Melting in his arms and breathing heavily for what he’s about to give her.

He fills her up slowly sending waves of heat through her body until he can’t go any further. He pauses in place and stares her down. He could die in her big brown eyes that are staring up at him with lustful anticipation.

He starts slowly. Easing in and out of her delicately as if she were made of porcelain. In his mind she is. Right now, she’s his beautiful porcelain doll that he’ll never break.

“You feel so good,” he whispers taking her lips again.

She tightens her hold around his neck and arches her back pressing her chest into him more. It’s her silent way of telling him she wants it faster and harder. She wants his love to break her.

He takes the hint and picks up speed while pressing her harder against the shower wall. Her unsteady breaths fuel his powerful strokes more and more. Her moans sing a song that he’ll never get tired of. He can feel that overwhelming pressure within him getting closer to exploding out of every part of him.

The way her nails dig into the back of his neck lets him know she’s just about to lose it. He’s just about to lose it. Her pussy tightens around him sucking his oxygen out.

He growls at her, becoming more relentless and desperate with each stroke.

“I love you so fucking much,” she pants.

The rhythm of his hips sends her over the moon. Her nails dig deeper into his skin as she searches for some bit of stability. He lets out a deep purr when his muscles start to tense and his vision begins to fade.

“I love you,” she repeats kissing his neck. She continues to hang on to him until his hips slow to a stop and his purrs decrease to heavy breaths.

“I love you too, Hyeri,” he says once he has his voice back.

He slides out of her and kisses her softly. She lowers her leg from around his waist and smiles up at him.

“I don’t think I’ll have trouble falling asleep tonight,” she says.

“Good,” he says nipping at her bottom lip. “You only have about three hours before you have to leave.”

“Perfect,” she sarcastically huffs dreading her very early call time that she could have been well rested for had she not stayed up waiting for Yoongi. “I guess I should get to bed then.”

#bts #bts au #bts fanfic #bts fic #cross posted on ao3 #bts smut #angst #yoongi au #min Yoongi #Yoongi #yoongi fic #yoongi fanfic #yoongi smut #Suga #suga au #suga smut #suga fic #suga fanfic #suga x oc #yoongi x oc #idol au #tw alcoholism #tw depression #established relationship

[nerdylilpeebee]

the skin whiteners shows that racist beauty standards that favor whiteness or paleness are still horrifically common even amoung POC. There are fucking sweatshops all over the global south all run by western companies and like a shit ton on "convenient" produce (bananas, coffee, sugar) come from modern plantations. also what do you mean by corporate greed =/= capitalism, like thats the driving force behind our current system. Again the hawai'i tourism relates to colonialism, again. Im talking about Nonblack artists piggybacking off of black mediums to get rich. Also the apartheid thing kind of makes me think that the genocide you are talking about (and just seems to be farm attacks) is using scare language. Genocide implies a government hand. I dunno, the alt right seems to have power because of the JAN 6 RIOT, Y'KNOW THE THING THAT HAPPENED 3 YEARS AGO REMEMBER THAT? AND LIKE, THE LEGALIZED SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION? Yes poor white neighborhoods are also overpoliced but thats Whataboutism, you are changing the subject

also TBH, I think that the worldview that proudly proclaims that everything is just fineeeee and that no systemic racism existssss everrrrrrr is significantly and vastly more black and white than one where it does.

Okay, but THAT'S NOT OPPRESSION. Poc adopting "racist beauty standards" is not white people oppressing poc. It's not racist oppression.

Sweatshops are absolutely fucked up and stupid, but they are not racially motivated and do not mean poc elsewhere are oppressed. That is a corporate greed thing, not a racism thing.

Corporate greed is not capitalism. Capitalism as a system is all about free trade. What you are thinking of is corporatism, Hun.

Colonialism. Right. Cuz Hawaii's government favoring tourism for it's economy totally means poc are oppressed by white people, even ones that don't live in Hawaii, a non-white majority state.

"black mediums." What black mediums..name them and then how that's racist. This is a free country, and if those mediums do not have rules banning white users they are not black mediums and do not have a right to cry racism if non-blacks use them, let alone try to blame it on white people if non-blacks "get rich" on them.

Sure, Hun, cuz killing people en mass because of their race isn't genocide if they're white. We get it you're a racist.

And honey, sweetie pie, the Jan 6 RIOT? where there were no casualties on the side of the cops caused by the "rioters" but casualties on the "rioters" side? That's fucking funny given the summer of riots BLM performed with the government not even trying to stop them, black people blatantly supporting the riots, claiming it was their right to burn shit down and it was racist to oppose the riots or even defend yourself from rioters cuz "property doesn't matter over black lives. UwU". You wanna call Jan 6 a riot when they didn't even destroy property, I'm so fucking done. What's even more fucking funny is that there is no legalized sexual discrimination. That is not a thing.

And no, that's not whataboutism, you listed black neighborhoods being overpoliced as a form of oppression black people face. I pointed out white people face it too, meaning it is not racially motivated, ergo cannot be racist oppression, ergo cannot be racism even by your shitty definition. And I never changed the subject. I was literally on fucking subject, you just don't like me proving that what you listed is not racism.

And that's funniest fucking thing you've said so far.

Motherfucker, WHERE DID I SAY SYSTEMIC RACISM DOESN'T EXIST??? You wanna claim I'm changing the subject while you're putting words in my mouth. Systemic racism does exist, but really only the conviction rates you listed was systemic racism, and oh guess fucking what? Even in America white people face systemic racism too (legalized discrimination in hiring processes, for example, being the majority of police violence victims, being able to be murdered with clear racial motivations without it being labeled a racist hate crime, etc), and systemic racism existing does not mean you cannot be racist to white people.

Again, you are just mad that I am not agreeing with you. I never changed the subject, I never said systemic racism doesn't exist, I just don't follow your nonsensical "power plus privilege" view on the matter (which in itself doesn't make sense as the vast majority of white people hold no more power or privilege than any poc, and there are poc with far more power AND privilege than the average white person).

#tvp discourse #long post #racism

[trashcanwithsprinkles]

Hi! I'm back, I'm the anon who's got permanent Chrome tabs for CN and ITYSG(AINLY).

I just wanna ask if you have any idea of how different Xiao from CN would be compared to canon!Xiao? Like of course he'd no longer be the war-torn veteran, so do you have like any headcanon for CN!Xiao?

And also, I've had this on my mind after the first time I finished reading CN. Like I thought of how fun it would be for Guizhong and the kids or other adepti to tour Childe's world when he travels. Or maybe the other way around, like the Tsaritsa or Arlecchino or the others touring Teyvat. Like they'd be the ones 'ooh-ing' and 'ahh-ing' in each other's worlds.

And lastly, should Childe and Morax ever wed, I think it'd be cute if the Tsaritsa and OG!Skirk would be the ones walking Childe down the aisle or something coz they're his moms 🤣

you're so right about both the wedding and the tourism. if i were to ever write a all-fluff no drama literally just slice-of-life sort of continuation of CN (which I highly doubt), having them all tour teyvat and the earth would be like... number 1 on my list hahah (and also the wedding ofc)

as for xiao headcanons, i do have some? i think? obviously he wouldn't be depressed, chronically ill, and all doom and gloom (and wouldn't have the slight edge he does have in canon, even though i wouldn't label him as edgy). i think he'd grow up to be like... that one smart character who doesn't speak much about themselves, is kinda mysterious, and often gets paired w a far more enthusiastic n active character? like that. i can't think of any examples atm. and while he wouldn't be as battle-hardened (nor as proficient at slaughtering i think) as canon xiao, i do think he'd be far better at group combat. not saying canon xiao isn't, but y'know- he's probably lost the ease of it with everyone having been dead for a while now

so uh... yeah! food for thought

#thank you <3 <3 #ily <3

[brian-in-finance]

Diana Gabaldon spoke at the University of Glasgow's Outlander conference. Photo: Martin Shields

Diana Gabaldon recalls how first Outlander book ‘almost cancelled’

Best-selling Outlander author Diana Gabaldon has created nine beloved books and a seven-season TV series - but the franchise almost didn't happen.

The American writer told fans in Glasgow her first novel was almost cancelled because publishers could not decide what to do with it.

It took more than a year to go on sale as a debate raged about where it would sit on bookshop shelves.

The series has boosted Scottish tourism with fans flocking to Scotland to visit the book and TV programme's locations.

The author spoke at the word's first international academic Outlander conference at the University of Glasgow, which has been the backdrop for several scenes in the Starz TV series.

Expert scholars and Outlander fans have come together for events in the city, exploring themes such as Jacobite history, screen production, Scottish tourism, Gaelic and Scots, costume design, fandom, main character Claire Fraser's medicine, and witchcraft.

Ms Gabaldon - originally an academic herself - was awarded an honorary doctorate by the university in June last year.

The drama series stars Catriona Balfe and Sam Heughan as Claire and Jamie Fraser. Photo: Starz

Speaking about her first book, she said: "It took the publishers 18 months to figure out what to do with it. I learned later that they came very close to cancelling the contract and giving me back the book because they couldn't decide how to sell it.

"This was before Amazon where a book can be classified as several things at once and people can pick off the web what they want, and they still get the same book.

"Back in the day it was only bookstores, you had to put a book on a certain shelf, the shelf had to have a label and the book also had to have that label."

She said the decision to sell it as a romance came as a shock.

"My agent finally called me up and said they had decided to publish it but sell it as a romance. I said, 'What?' that isn't what I wrote.

"He pointed out that a best seller in fantasy fiction was 50,000 copies in paperback while in romance it is 500,000 copies. So we sold it as romance."

'Too weird'

She said that the success of the books was down to readers' recommendations.

"My first editor said to me early on these have to be word of mouths books because they are too weird to describe, which is totally true and that is also true about the word of mouth.

"So that being the case it made total sense to expose the book to 500,000 people in the romance category who will go out and tell their friends and the word will spread.

"So we did that and that is exactly what happened."

The Outlander series is currently nine books, with the author working on the tenth - and believed to be the final - book.

It follows the story of a post-World War Two nurse visiting Scotland who accidentally time travels to the Jacobite era.

Roger (Richard Rankin) and Brianna (Sophie Skelton) are main characters in the show. Photo: Aimee Spinks

It has now become one of the bestselling book series of all time and spawned the popular TV series, currently in its seventh season.

Ms Gabaldon's talk was entitled, '"Why Scotland? Why Not Mexico?" Genes, Borders, Culture and Fiction: Why They Matter and When They Don't'.

In it, she explained why she picked Scotland as the location of Outlander.

She said: "What I learned from my research and contact with Scots is that Scots are, and historically were, very literate. They wrote down things. They also have a very strong oral culture, they told their stories.

"They also have a lot of history available. Then there is the nature of Scottish history, it has a lot of heroes and heroines as well as conflict which is what you need for a good story."

The conference runs until Saturday and has seen fringe events including music concerts and battle re-enactments in the university's famous cloisters.

Transformative impact

Senior Lecturer in Gaelic at the University, Gillebride Macmillan, who has appeared in the programme, said it had been really important for the Gaelic language.

"It's so important for a minoritized language, such as Gaelic, to be seen on a world level, on a world stage, and Outlander gives Gaelic that opportunity.

"And I think it's been fantastic to hear Gaelic spoken by the actors and in the books, and also the use of Gaelic music, Gaelic song. I've been very lucky myself to be a part of that and I think it's been an incredibly positive thing for the language.

"Which I think has been born out by things such as, one and a half million people learning Gaelic in Duolingo. Obviously, many people are learning Gaelic for many different reasons, but Outlander has been one of the major factors for that."

Prof Willy Maley, professor of Renaissance studies (English Literature), at the university, said: "Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series has had a transformative impact on Scottish culture, generating global interest in the history, languages and landscapes of Scotland.

"Vivid and visceral, Outlander is an otherworldly but never unworldly phenomenon that takes a time-travelling nurse-turned-doctor and propels her from 1946 to 1743, two worlds of war that collide in an elaborate and painstaking reconstruction that make the series much more than historical fiction and more an innovative and pioneering rethinking of how we excavate and examine the narratives of the past.

"Outlander has also been a brilliant boost for the Scottish film industry."

BBC News

Gifs: @scotsmanandsassenach S01E03 The Way Out, Gillebride Macmillan as Gwyllyn the bard

Remember… I think it's been fantastic to hear Gaelic spoken by the actors and in the books, and also the use of Gaelic music, Gaelic song. I've been very lucky myself to be a part of that and I think it's been an incredibly positive thing for the language. — Gillebride Macmillan

#Tait rhymes with hat #Good times #Outlander #Diana Gabaldon #BBC News #22 July 2023 #Outlander Conference #University of Glasgow #18-23 July 2023

[zvaigzdelasas]

Maldives president courts investors in China as Indian ties sag - Reuters

At an "Invest Maldives" forum in a southern Chinese port city, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu shook hands and exchanged words with smiling local officials on a China visit set to deepen bilateral ties as the archipelagic nation pirouettes [sic?] away from India.[...]

Muizzu became president of the Indian Ocean nation in November after winning on his "India Out" campaign platform under which he called New Delhi's huge influence a threat to sovereignty. His government has since asked dozens of locally based Indian military personnel to leave. And in an apparent snub to India, Muizzu is in China this week, before any visit to his country's giant neighbour. In Fuzhou, the Chinese city designated as the start of China's maritime "Silk Road", Muizzu said China remained one of his country's "closest allies and developmental partners", according to a statement released by his office. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Increasing export of fish products to China under the two countries' free trade agreement will be a key priority, Muizzu added. Fishing is the largest source of employment in the Maldives, where 99% of its territory comprises the sea. Aquatic products account for over 98% of exports by volume and value. Muizzu also said his government was keen to explore partnerships under Xi's Belt and Road Initiative, including the expansion of the country's central airport and commercial port.

Under the Belt and Road Initiative aimed at building a global trade and infrastructure network, China has already helped expand the Velana International Airport in Male and built the cross-sea China-Maldives Friendship Bridge.[...]

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was snorkelling last week in Lakshadweep, an archipelago of atolls and reefs off the coast of Kerala, a visit that some viewed as an attempt to draw tourists away from the nearby Maldivian islands.[...]

Modi's Lakshadweep visit prompted three Maldivian government officials to call him names including "a clown", leading some Indian tourists to share screenshots of cancelled bookings of Maldivian holidays. #ExploreIndianIslands became a trending hashtag in India on X. One of India's largest travel platforms suspended flight bookings to the tourism-dependent Maldives on Monday . "India's strained relations with certain countries in South Asia can be attributed to its perception of being the regional boss," China's Global Times reported on Monday, citing analysts. And, the newspaper added, quoting a Chinese academic, India's current "nervousness" about Muizzu's visit to China showed its "lack of confidence".

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promotion of tourism on an Indian island chain has sparked a row with the Maldives after senior officials from that country accused Modi of being a “puppet of Israel”.[...]

Maryam Shiuna, a deputy minister in the Maldives’ government, labelled Modi “a clown” and “puppet of Israel” on X. Another official slammed Modi as a “terrorist”.[...]

After the uproar, the Maldivian government said it had suspended three deputy ministers who made the critical remarks. Their social media posts were deleted and disavowed by the government. But Modi is close to Israel, and on Monday an account on X linked to the Israeli embassy in India appeared to turn the criticism against Modi into a sign of endorsement. “We were in #Lakshadweep last year upon the federal government's request to initiate the desalination program,” the social media post said. “Israel is ready to commence working on this project tomorrow.” Other social media users critical of Modi reacted to the news, seemingly praising the Maldivian officials.

9 Jan 24

[p8rasite]

PAGTINGIN ˳ CAFFEINE RUSH RIDE !

YN LN, ACTOR UNDER POESIA ENTERTAINMENT. once a rookie, now a well-known face. is a cinnamon roll, has three best friends who will kill you. actually a dog lover but yuehua’s cat was too cute to not make the pfp.

ZHANG YUEHUA, MODEL UNDER JASMINE LAB. makes friends with everyone but those in the same label as her. don’t ask, that’s just how her social skills work. pretty much yn’s work wife atp since they’re almost always by each other’s side.

ZHANG HAO, MODEL UNDER POESIA ENTERTAINMENT. ever since yn set his ringtone to ive’s love dive, he hasn’t changed it. has this habit called i’ll buy it because it’s pretty. looks like he can kill you.. probably will tbh.

SUNG HANBIN, 2ND YEAR TOURISM STUDENT. the advice and caffeine supplier. actually auditioned to be a trainee under poesia ent. and passed, but realized that’s not his dream so he quit. it’s fine, he likes being the sanity that his friends need.

ADORYN, TWT FAN ACC. been there since yn’s second acting gig and has not stopped updating ever since. fan account on top; very dedicated and peaceful (as in you never see them in the fan wars). probably posted a face reveal at some point but it got eaten up by them fawning over the actor.

EP. INDEX. how to twitter for dummies jiwoong 𖦹 masterlist

⠀  ❥  . .  DIRECTOR’S CUT. it’s official! kim jiwoong has finally landed a main role; the breakthrough of his career. but while he and his co-star get along splendidly, is there a possibility that their reel feelings can become real? or shall we say, can their perspectives be shifted—their pagtingin of each other?

⠀  ❥  . .  MAIN LEADS. kim jiwoong x gn! reader

⠀ ❥  . .  AND, ACTION. slice of life, fluff, possible angst, attempted comedy (warnings will be included per chapter).

⠀  ❥  . .  FANBASE. @stealanity @rickyschicky @i520u @taerrrrrae @justemalove @mins-fins @zerobaseonefics @hikarii02 @jinkiseason + send an ASK if you’d like to be added to the taglist!

P8RASITE, 2023. do not steal become i can and will bite. 

#ep i. pagtingin #zumblrfics #zb1 x reader #zerobaseone #zb1 #zb1 smau #zerobaseone smau #zerobaseone imagines #zerobaseone scenarios #zb1 imagines #zb1 scenarios #zerobaseone x reader #jiwoong scenarios #jiwoong imagines #jiwoong smau

[clairelsonao3]

5 Songs You Actually Listen to Tag Game (Holiday Version) plus a whumpy song bonus!

RULES: When you get this you have to put 5 songs you actually listen to, then tag 10 people!! (Not necessarily holiday songs, I'm just choosing to take it in that direction for this post!)

@thebejeweledwatercat (post here) tagged me in this one, and given the season and my general year-round obsession with music, I decided it made sense to do a holiday version to help narrow it down. And also so I can be totally nerdy and annoying by choosing 5 holiday songs off my dozens of obscure seasonal playlists! (If you HAVE heard of and/or listened to any of these songs, step right up and get your gingerbread cookie!)

I generally use Spotify to link to music, but many of these are so obscure they aren't on Spotify. Many of them originate from growing up with my dad, who in turn was obsessed with obscure Christmas music before I was, and who not only played his mixtapes on car trips to see our relatives in Duluth, Minnesota every year around the holidays, but actually had a seasonal side gig appearing on local radio stations as their seasonal Dr. Demento. And thus the cycle continues.

To all of you there

From all of us here

Capitol sends a bundle of cheer

Capitol is goin' to town!

This is exactly what it sounds like: a very hastily produced 1945 Christmas promo of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" with the lyrics changed courtesy of Johnny Mercer and a group of the label's artists and other random staffers from the Capitol Records office, many of whom get name-checked in the song.

Perhaps part of the reason my dad turned out how he did is because he grew up in the one and only Christmas City of the North (TM): Duluth, Minnesota. The song (another promo, I can't help it!) was originally recorded by Merv Griffin in 1962 for the KBJR Christmas City Parade. I don't know if it actually increased holiday tourism to the city at the time, but it certainly paid off 50 or so years later.

Up on the hilltops pick on an icicle

Chew it while you slide to fun below

Down in midtown people are nicicle

Come this Christmas to the Christmas City I'll go

As some may not know, there's a whole cavalcade of lovable Christmas characters who failed in their attempts to become the next Rudolph or Frosty, from Suzy Snowflake to Santa Mouse to Lil Elfy (the elf who, of all things, was just TOO small) to Lil Klinker ("the pup who woke Santa up").

But none beats Jingle-O the Brownie, the OG Elf on the Shelf, 50 years or so before that was a thing. You can't convince me any different.

Now Jingle-O, he makes a trip each day in his red rocket ship

Around the world to see if you've been being good or bad

He's got a great big magic eye that watches you from in the sky

And when he sees you acting mean poor Jingle-O is sad

I probably could do a whole separate post on whumpy Christmas songs alone. But for now, I'll let you choose: Do you want the one about Baby Jesus killing innocent children for refusing to play with him and then being beaten by Mary with a withy switch as punishment?

So he made a bridge of beams of the sun

And over the river ran he

And after him ran these rich young lords

And drowned they all three

Or do you want the one about the guy who drives drunk, crashes into a cop car, nearly kills himself, gets thrown in jail after apparently receiving no medical treatment whatsoever, then is further tortured by being forced to listen to people happily celebrating the holiday outside of his cell?

Got rocks in my head

Wish I was dead

Ain't gonna drink and drive no more

And BONUS!

OR do you want the one about two Irish ne'er-do-wells who encounter a couple of army recruiters on a Christmas morning walk by the seaside, and instead of entertaining their pro-military-industrial-complex bullshit, choose to beat them half to death with a shillelagh?

I know it says to tag 10 people, but I'm just gonna OPEN TAG it and let people chime in if they want.

Merry Christmas if you do Christmas, and Season's Greetings and Happy New Year to all!

#christmas #happy holidays #whump #not writing #christmas music #tag game #whumpy music #holidays #merry christmas #Youtube

[coochiequeens]

Who the hell looks at a WAR ZONE and thinks that's a good place to start a babies life?

Ukraine, amid war-torn chaos, has emerged as the go-to surrogacy haven for Western couples seeking parenthood. But behind the brave smiles of new parents lies a shadow of corruption, abuse, and economic struggles, calling for a deeper look at the nation’s surrogacy tale.

Ukraine has long been known as a surrogacy hotspot, with a quarter of the world’s surrogate babies born there in 2018. Despite the ongoing war, surrogacy clinics in Kyiv are still attracting foreign couples, including those from Italy, Romania, Germany, and Britain, eager to have a child.

That percentage has likely increased since Moscow banned the practice for foreign couples last year, with Russian lawmakers citing the need to “prevent the trafficking of our children.”

Dark Shadows of Corruption and Abuse

In Ukraine over 1,000 children have been born in Ukraine to surrogate mothers since the start of the Russian invasion, with more than 600 born at the BiotexCom clinic in Kyiv, one of Europe’s largest surrogacy clinics. Pechenoha, one of the staff of Biotexcom said “I have not met a single woman with a good economic situation who has decided to go through this process out of kindness.” 

Economic Setbacks and the Call for Women’s Return

However, behind the apparent success of the surrogacy industry, allegations of corruption and abuse have surfaced, raising concerns about the authorities’ protection in both Kiev and Washington. The industry has faced criticism, with some referring to clinics as “children factories” and calling for restrictions on foreign use of Ukrainian surrogate services during periods of martial law. 

For the surrogate mothers, financial reasons often drive their decision to carry a child for others, but the process is significantly less joyous. 

One Ukrainian woman told Al Jazeera in 2018 that the German firm promised her an apartment for the duration, but forced her to share it with four other pregnant women, and to share a bed for seven months of her pregnancy. Another said that women who left their accommodation and failed to return before a curfew would be subjected to fines, as would women who criticized the company or attempted to communicate with the foreign parents. 

“We were treated like cattle and mocked by the doctors,” she said.

Moreover, Ukraine’s economy has faced significant setbacks due to Russia’s invasion, with a staggering 30% contraction in 2022. As a result, Ukraine is pleading to its women to return from abroad to bolster the economy.  Bloomberg reported, Ukraine is planning an incentive scheme to call Ukrainian women back into the war-torn nation from Europe. 

Owing to the war, many intelligent and talented individuals, particularly young women, have left Ukraine. The exodus of skilled individuals from the country is becoming a hindrance to Ukraine’s economic progress, resulting in the loss of valuable human resources. 

However, Ukraine’s focus on encouraging Ukrainian women to return seems surprising, as it appears to be based on misinformation and plain lies. It’s unrealistic to believe that by simply bringing back women, Ukraine wants to generate a revenue of $20 billion. 

Now, let’s not forget Ukraine being labeled as a “European hub of Sex Tourism.” Before the Ukraine war, sex tourism in the country was on the rise, attracting foreign visitors seeking sexual activities. Unfortunately, Ukrainian women gained an infamous reputation for engaging in prostitution for meager earnings. Which clears the air and give answers to our questions. 

Now, despite the complexities of the surrogacy landscape and the ongoing conflict, Ukraine’s surrogacy clinics have emerged as the top choice since Feb 2022. 

It seems like even amid conflict, people are eager to be parents, but with the industry’s reputation for corruption, it’s not just baby bumps that have everyone talking! 

#anti surrogacy sunday #surrogacy exploits women #babies are not commodities #Surrogacy in a war zone #ukraine #Surrogacy exploits poor women #Surrogacy agencies fined the surrogates for criticizing the company

[breslicht]

Venezia

#Any Vision #Labels #alley #bazaar #building #city #downtown #evening #facade #market #marketplace #metropolis #neighbourhood #pedestrian #public space #road #shopping #sky #street #tourism

[mariacallous]

U.S. President Joe Biden talked about democracy vs. autocracy a lot in his early days in office. This was an attempt to reinvigorate democracy as a source of American soft power. The Russian invasion of Ukraine was an opportunity to drive home the message of this new geopolitical challenge to surmount. The democracy summits were an attempt to build on Biden’s vision, even though they were flawed in their criteria of which countries to include. Nevertheless, the third democracy summit in Seoul has drowned in the fog of the Israel-Hamas war. The administration’s management of the crisis has acted as a wrecking ball on the framework it was trying to build. While the United States has repeatedly blocked attempts at a permanent cease-fire, China is appealing to the global south by acknowledging the Palestinian right to armed resistance at the International Court of Justice. Allowing the conflict to drag on will keep discrediting the United States, elevate the standing of China and Russia, and undermine the prospects of democracy globally. And current events in Egypt, a historic strategic partner to the United States, showcase the consequences of this inertia.

An initial commitment to democracy in the Middle East came from then-President George W. Bush. In 2005, pressure from Bush’s administration resulted in Egypt’s first competitive presidential election, marking a significant shift in its political landscape. (Before that date, presidents renewed their mandate through referenda.) This first election gave a new life to the first movement that defied then-President Hosni Mubarak’s grip over power, Kifaya (Arabic for “enough”). A new generation became politically engaged, and, according to V-Dem datasets, there was a rise in participation in independent political associations. This new generation led Egypt’s revolution in 2011.

Barack Obama’s speech at Cairo University in 2009 was a rare moment when an American president visiting an Arab country was warmly welcomed. He promised a “new beginning” with the Muslim world after the shocking invasion of Iraq by Bush’s administration. The peak alignment with America’s calls for democracy happened during the Arab Spring of 2011, when the youth in Tahrir Square agitated to overthrow Mubarak with Obama’s support.

When Abdel Fattah al-Sisi took power in 2014, he identified Egypt’s evolving civil society, along with the Muslim Brotherhood, as threats he needed to take down in order to avoid a fate like Mubarak’s. Sisi’s regime has been characterized by a crackdown on dissent, with civil society actors who align with Western values of human rights and democracy labeled as traitors. The United States has come under continuous attack by state-sponsored media as a sponsor of chaos in the region; this propaganda in turn has worked to discredit the Western model of democracy. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s favorite dictator received little pushback from an administration that did not have democracy on its agenda.

Over the same period, relations with Russia and China have grown stronger. While Mubarak maintained a good relationship with Moscow, Russia’s presence in Egypt mainly came through grain exports and tourism. Since Sisi took power in 2014, Cairo’s pivot toward Moscow was highlighted by the agreement in 2015 for Rosatom to build the first nuclear power plant on Egyptian soil—one of Russia’s most critical strategic wins in the region. Egypt’s reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine involved a provisional agreement to supply rockets to Russia and refusing to block its airspace to Russian fighter jets. Sisi justified this stance when he met American House Intelligence Committee leaders in Cairo: “When the U.S. conditions some of its arms sales and shipments to Egypt, what do you really want me to do?”  (Jim Himes, the committee’s ranking member, recounted this interaction with Sisi in an interview with CNN.) The U.S. has, since Obama, been putting conditions to uphold human rights on its aid to Egypt, which is the second-largest recipient of U.S. military assistance after Israel. Although blocks on aid usually involve a small proportion of the $1.3 billion sent annually, China and Russia offer arms deals with no such strings attached.

Cairo, too, has been moving closer to Beijing over the past decade, with Chinese investments increasing by more than 317 percent from 2017 to 2022. Because of the growing Chinese maritime presence in Egyptian ports, Egypt anticipates substantial Chinese investments in the Suez Canal region. Besides rapidly growing trade with China, Egypt’s government has had its state media adopt a Chinese propaganda narrative, organized bilateral leadership programs with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and allowed for Chinese expansion in the telecommunications sector and cyberspace. Only faint liberal voices within the minimal independent media space challenged the Egyptian official narrative that has championed China as a model of autocratic economic development.

Enclaves of activists and civil society leaders in Egypt and abroad have continued to challenge the Sisi regime, primarily through social media, and to support all those oppressed and imprisoned by him. Their pressures began to yield some results after Biden took office. His administration extended a show of support by highlighting human rights abuses in Department of State reports and withholding a small portion of military aid. Although the United States refused to increase the amount of withheld aid as called for by international human rights organizations, this helped ease some pressure on Egyptian activists. In 2022, and ahead of COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, and in an attempt to improve its image in response to the mounting U.S. pressure, Egypt  released a considerable number of political prisoners, the issued a national human rights strategy, and  establishmed a national dialogue between the regime and the opposition figures who remained inside Egypt. The results of these concessions were minimal, and some, like the human rights strategy and the dialogue, were merely cosmetic maneuvers. Nevertheless, they all happened after incoming U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken openly criticized the arrest of staffers from the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) and Biden excluded Egypt from the democracy summits. Egyptian activists understood that any wins, however limited, could be achieved through U.S. support. This was particularly evident in campaigns to release high-profile prisoners like Alaa Abdel Fattah. The war in Gaza has severely compromised this premise.

The Biden administration’s backing of Israel and the repeated American vetoes used in the U.N. Security Council to prevent a permanent cease-fire have slashed the United States’ popularity in Egypt to 9 percent, compared with 46 percent for China, as shown in a survey by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The acute rise in anti-American sentiment is not the only result of what the public perceives as hypocrisy and double standards in America’s approach to the conflict. As shown by the survey, a more alarming consequence is the prevalence of distrust in the Western model of democracy and human rights, increasingly perceived as mere rhetorical tools deployed by the United States when human rights align with U.S. interest. Revealing the extent to which this view has been adopted by the public, in its latest release the most famous Egyptian rock band, Cairokee, sang about a double-faced America that doesn’t value Palestinian lives as opposed to those of “white angels.”

What about Europe? Can it pick up America’s slack? Europe once supported democracy and human rights in Egypt, as evidenced by the resolution issued by the European Parliament in 2022 urging EU member states to support a monitoring and reporting mechanism on grave human rights violations in Egypt. But once the war in Gaza began, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged to support Sisi through financial aid packages to mitigate the refugee influx expected from Gaza—and to prevent new waves of migration to Europe.

Arab democracy and human rights advocates made it clear that they parted ways with the Western stance of support for Israel and stood firmly in solidarity with the Palestinians. As a result, human rights organizations have risked support from their partners in the West, and many have become even more isolated in their struggle under repressive regimes. For instance, Germany recently withheld funding for the anti-trafficking program of the Centre for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance (CEWLA) as a punishment to its head of the board of trustees, the award-winning human rights defender Azza Soliman, for signing a statement calling for the end of the war in Gaza and supporting the boycotting of the occupation. In solidarity, EIPR stopped all cooperation with the German government. The only winners from the weakening of civil rights organizations in Egypt are the authoritarians.

China and Russia have positioned themselves very well to capitalize on these developments. They did not rely solely on their official statements and positions in support of the ceasefire  in the U.N. Security Council, which has already enhanced their image considerably with the Arab public, as detected by the Washington Institute survey. The China in Arabic account on the X platform exemplifies how China is seizing the opportunity to spread anti-American rhetoric. The account spreads pro-Chinese and anti-Western propaganda in Arabic to more than 580,000 followers.

Moscow is already cashing in on these gains by hosting Palestinian factions, including Hamas, for reconciliation talks. China sees in the conflict an opportunity to expand its geopolitical role in the region while the United States is bogged down with Iranian proxies in Syria, Iraq, and the Red Sea, and it reaps political wins from the Houthi Red Sea attacks, which spare Chinese vessels and crew members. But those who have gained the most from the anti-American sentiment are the autocratic regimes of the region.

Sisi is relieved to have secured his third presidential term through a sham election. He blocked his main rival, Ahmed Tantawi, from running, and sentenced him after the election to a one-year suspended prison sentence and a ban from running in parliamentary elections for five years. Instead of calling out such violations, Western pressures were focused on mitigating the effects of the war and having an active Egyptian role in the day-after scenario despite its internal vulnerabilities. Nationalist and religious rhetoric has prevailed, even among activists on social media.

The United States needs to move fast to restore its image globally. This requires promptly ending the devastating war in Gaza and adopting a fair and balanced approach to the Middle East conflict. Promoting democracy should be repositioned at the center of American foreign policy to counter the global rise in authoritarianism championed by China and Russia. In parallel, measures should be taken to nudge autocratic allies in the region toward political reform. Economic and trade incentives should be linked to structural economic and political reforms. Judicial reform and unequivocal implementation of the rule of law should be mandated to guarantee the long-term efficacy of economic aid packages, as well as to extend solid support to freedom fighters unwilling to relinquish their struggles for democracy.

Pundits have criticized the Biden administration’s autocracy-vs.-democracy framework as an impractical approach to the geopolitical contest with China. Yet democratization and upholding human rights remain essential soft powers. Autocrats like Sisi already prefer aligning with China, who absolve them from any commitment to human rights. With support for China growing, displays of hard power such as military showdowns and trade wars will become the main arenas for competition.

[pizza-is-my-buziness]

Fictober 2023 Day Eight! Prompt: "Give that to me before anything happens."

Pairing: Jill/Carlos (Resident Evil)

Read the story below or on A03!

“I have to say, I didn’t expect to be back here so soon.”

Jill mumbles the words, mostly to no one, but one of the low level lab techs working a few feet away glances in her direction, offering her a tentative suggestion of a smile before returning to their work. Jill exhales, pushing herself up to her feet and grabbing the box she’d been using to collect the various debris scattered around the floor of the mostly ruined laboratory. Glass crunches under her boots as she moves toward the center of the room, dropping the box onto the cart that some BSAA underling had rolled into the room for that purpose. 

The lab and the surrounding areas are certainly busier than they were the last time Jill was here. The walls of Alcatraz echo with noise once more, though the prison is still closed to the public, the governor putting out some half-believable story about the place needing to be spruced up after an influx of recent tourism activity…which is certainly one way of putting it. But the government is nothing if not skilled in dropping a net over most incidents involving bio-weapons, so it doesn’t surprise her that they’ve managed to so effortlessly sweep this under the rug as well. 

Most of the people assigned to clean up duty are the techs that work under Rebecca, the good doctor herself gleefully overseeing the collection of Dylan’s work, all his mad scientist plans for ending the world. Everywhere Jill looks, there’s someone in a lab coat on their hands and knees gathering up biological samples or the bloodied remains of the monster Dylan had become in the end, carefully storing their finds into plastic tubes or bags, labeling them for later. Those that aren’t scrapping biological matter off the floor are collecting bullet casings, sweeping up glass, puzzling over how to repair or contain some of the bigger structural damage. Everyone clearly in their role, a cog turning happily in the BSAA machine, all of this soon to be erased and set to rights like it was never there at all.

And then there’s Jill Valentine, relegated to clean up duty. 

Clearly she’s still on someone’s shit-list. 

“I think this is pretty much the last of it.” Jill turns in the sound of the voice, the first person to break the silence other than herself in the past hour or so, to see Carlos walking into the room with two cardboard boxes stacked in his arms. These he deposits on the same cart holding the others and glances in her direction. “¿Ya casi terminas aquí?” 

“Almost,” Jill says, abandoning her spot by the window. “Though we might want to just cut out before anyone gives us something else to do.” She rolls her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. “Chris will probably have me sweeping this whole place.” 

Carlos smirks, which does little to sell his sympathetic expression. “Still in trouble with the big guy, huh?”

This eye roll is far more impressive than the one that has come before it, if Jill does say so herself. “You know how Chris is.” 

“Yeah, braver than me, trying to go against Jill Valentine,” Carlos says with a laugh. “Good luck with that.”

Jill gives him a slap to the shoulder that she’s certain Carlos barely feels anyway, his body solid beneath her touch. “I thought you were on my side.” 

“Oh, I am, querida,” he assures her quickly enough. “I’m just saying. I gotta respect a guy who doesn’t know when he’s been beat.” 

As much as she wishes that were the case… “I mean, I’m stuck here, aren’t I?” Jill scowls, glancing around the makeshift lab tucked beneath the bowels of the most visited prison in the world. “So I guess he won.”

“It’s not so bad, huh?” Carlos says, flipping open the lid on one of the cardboard boxes he’d just brought into the room. “Where else are you going to get to go through some nut job’s diaries?” He holds up a leather bound book, waving it in front of her as though in an effort to entice her interest.

Jill just lifts her eyebrows. “I think I’ve heard enough of his ramblings to last me a lifetime, thanks.” 

Carlos hitches a shoulder in a shrug, flipping through the pages of the book. The spine cracks from the movement, betraying the fact that the book might be a fair amount older than Dylan’s vendetta. The sudden expression of curiosity on Carlos’ face only adds to this suspicion, especially when he says, “Most of this isn’t even in English. Latin or Italian or…no idea.” He hums thoughtfully, flipping through a few pages. “I think this says-” 

Jill reaches over, plucking the book from his hands before he can continue. “Give that to me before anything happens,” she chides, snapping the book shut again. “I don’t think we need to be reading out loud from books written in other languages right now.” 

Carlos laughs but doesn’t protest when Jill drops the book back into the box. “What? Think I’m going to raise the dead or something?”

“At the rate things have been going lately, I’m not sure I would be surprised,” Jill mutters, shaking her head as she noses at a bit of broken glass with the toe of her boot. “Probably best not to take any chances.”

Carlos doesn’t protest this either. They’ve spent enough Saturday nights on the couch with takeout and a terrible 80s B-movie to suggest how that might go. 

“Seriously though, this guy has so much shit,” Carlos grumbles, winding his way through the room, picking up a chair and righting it. “Just once can one of these end-of-the-world types not leave a bunch of crap for the rest of us to clean up?”

Jill laughs, the sound genuine and easy, easier than things have been for the past few days. Her body is too sore and bruised, aching from the loss of adrenaline and from the battering that comes from things like this. An edge of exhaustion sticks to the edges of her thoughts, making everything gummy and slow, the ease of sleep disrupted thanks to the resurgence of old nightmares that this new one has decided to drudge up. Maybe eventually she’ll start seeing Dylan in her mind, start replaying the moments where she thought maybe it would be too late for Chris and for the others, that she might lose the friends that kept her tethered to the world when she otherwise might disappear completely, lost to the blood and gnashing teeth. She might see the monster Dylan had become, might smell the rotting flesh, the blood and burned meat of it. But for now, her mind has been all too happy to replay Jill Valentine’s greatest hits: Raccoon City and Arklay and the Zenobia, Excella and Wesker and all the rest of it. 

Absently, Jill turns back toward the windows, watching a few people in hazmat suits attempt to determine the best way to bag one of the BOW’s severed legs, rotting on the cement floor. She rubs at the scarring on her chest, the ridges and valleys left behind when Chris had prized the device from her skin and tells herself again she should be grateful for it, that a scar is proof that she’d survived long enough to let it form. 

Hands settle, gentle, on her shoulders and Jill jumps, tensing and preparing to whirl around on the defensive before all the rest of it floods her senses -the familiar smell of Carlos, of home, the sensation of his hands rather than anyone else’s- and she relaxes within the next beat of her heart. 

The presence of the one other lab tech in the room doesn’t seem to deter Carlos from stepping closer, from letting his nose brush gently against her temple, nor does it inspire Jill to move away from his touch, letting herself linger even as she tells herself it’s only for a moment. “¿Estás bien cariño?” 

Jill nods but she reaches up, letting her hand settle over his where it still sits on her shoulder. “Yeah. Fine.” 

Carlos hums but doesn’t call her on it. That conversation, if it were to ever come, is for the quiet of the late night hours, the safety of a world that consists only of the two of them, when she allows herself to be held, listening to the sound of his heart beating against the shell of her ear. 

“Thanks,” Jill says, letting the word sit between them for a moment before she quantifies, “for coming to help with all this.”

“Sure thing, Supercop,” Carlos says readily and it sounds like he means it, like he doesn’t mind at all. And Jill figures he probably doesn’t, because he’s Carlos and he has somehow managed to hold onto all the soft, tender parts of himself better than she ever could. “Wouldn’t want you to have all the fun without me.” 

One hand moves from her shoulder to settle on her hip, holding Jill close against him and she glances back to read his expression but his gaze is focused beyond her, out the window to the weapons bay. “That the guy?”

Jill follows his gaze, tries to see the monster as Carlos might, all the ragged bits and pieces of flesh and muscle and bone that had once been a behemoth intending to end the world and her with it. “Yup. Or, I guess, what’s left of him.” 

There’s a pause, the faint flexing of Carlos’ fingers on her abdomen, the movement of his body closer to hers. “I’m glad you’re okay.” This he says quietly, against the crown of her hair, the words meant for just the two of them.

When she’d headed off with Chris and Claire, she’d been brief and dismissive in her voicemail to Carlos, sent when they’d been on the ferry over to the island. At the time, it hadn’t really seemed like it would be much of anything, just a reconnaissance mission to test out Rebecca’s admittedly far-flung theory. Nothing particularly exciting, especially considering that Chris had agreed to let her participate, like she was still delicate and untested even after all these years. But as the hours had stretched out and she hadn’t been able to reach out to anyone, not headquarters, not Carlos, she can only imagine what he’d started to think, how he worries despite his brusque dismissal that he wouldn’t dream of fretting over her. 

It had been a relief to see him, to be home again. Had left her feeling momentarily too choked up to speak, seeing the way he’d looked at her when she’d finally walked in the door. How he’d taken in the blood, the bruising, the new scraps to add to the collection. How the look on his face sometimes brings her back too easily to the moment they’d finally seen one another again after she’d gotten away from Wesker, how sometimes the weight of it makes it hard to breathe even all these years later. 

Jill threads her fingers through Carlos’, squeezing, holding him close, the warmth of his body solid against hers. “Yeah. Me too.”  

#valeveira #Jill/Carlos #fictober23 #Jill Valentine/Carlos Oliveira #spoilers for Death Island