Israeli canvas boots

Warning: this is a very petty post, revolving but not fixated on the release of Ubisoft's new Assassin's Creed game. If you have a life, stop reading.
Ubisoft, a western video game studio, has launched its advertising campaign for its new game set in Japan. If you are familiar with the Assassin's Creed series, you are aware that Ubisoft shits one of these out every three to four years, much to their awaiting fans glee.
Controversy however has been stirred up over not only the usual and predictable matter (the liberal fetishization of a character's skin colour) but by inevitably the same group of people who take this news about as well as Praljak took his cyanide.
This post is not about the rift betwen these two sides, which are if anything two halves to the same mass-produced industrial sized circle, but the lack of an inbetween in the leftist commentary. More specifically, how people who see themselves as socialists will deliberately bat down the most orthodox of Marxist critiques because they see in this movement, to portray fictional characters with different racial stereotypes, as a value of the progressive nature of capitalism.
To anybody who has any knowledge, even second hand, of the various critiques that are made, the argument is simple: Yes, Capitalism produces an impetus for the revolution of its industrial base and subsequently, in the process, liquidates the existent order (all that is solid melts into air), but the reality is that this progress is about as socially revolutionary as genocide.
(The Indian continent was swept under the boot of the British colonial system, ending if not totally then the domination of the feudal structrue that had prevailed there).
If you want a contemporary comparison, it is about as socially progressive as the Israelis bulldozing hospitals within which they've mass-executed Palestinians to build allotments.
But over the course of arguing, this comparison is not so neat. 'Socialists' will even forgo recognising that the very system which produces this gabrage, these endless stream of commodities, is one which shackles the globe to wage slavery.
They will posit, even in spite of this, in spite of the fact that they know full well what they are essentially doing is eating shit, that these trends, over the change of the mere content of these commodities, are a good thing. They are fastened, even in their resistance, to the system. The overlap then becomes clear, what these individuals essentialy stand in support for is nothing akin to the demands that the socialists were making a hundred years ago.
They would have it that the clock simply be turned back to the model of the socially democratic welfarist state which prevailed 60 or 70 years ago, whilst retaining what is about is revolutionary as a brand change in the commercial logic of production.
Argue with them, and you will eventually draw the point out: either they have understood the Marxist critique, or they have not. This adoption of socialist principles by these individuals online has become one in which an individual chooses the brand of their identity. The system of Marxist thought has been burried to history, and what stands atop it is something akin to Disneyland.
As a final note, I ended up two days ago arguing with someone, a 'socialist', who began to defend the pride movement on the basis that it was, again, socially progressive.
Them: "But Castro himself endorsed the pride movement in Nicaraguan media!"
Me: "Ah yes, Castro, notoriously the enemy of the CIA, who have come out even more triumphantly to endorse the pride movement"
Them: "You just wish to post pictures of Raytheon pride floats to engage in homophobia!"
Me: "Perhaps there is nothing inherently progresive about being a sexual minority. It is about inherently revolutionary as being Jewish"
Them: "No, there is nothing inherently revolutionary about being Jewish, but granting the rights to be Jewish is progresive!"
Ignoring the fact that, 50 posts before, I had summarised a critique of this position (the pride movement simply stands for the legal ascension of rights under the bourgeois state and not for the material liberation) I had to quite litearlly quote to them On The Jewish Question (1843) to make known not only the origin of this argument but the fact that it had essentially taken place 200 years before!
On the Jewish Question is such a key text to Marxist literature because it is the beginning of which Marx outlines his formal critique of the Hegelian Philosophy Of Right.
I feel like I'm going mad. You're claiming to be a socialist and yet you're expounding the most pro-capitalist sentiment possible.
But sit back and watch, as so-called socialists run to the defence of their bourgeois masters anytime a commodity with pretty pink colours emerges.

JavaScript 10 Projects in 10 Days Course for Beginners
https://courze.org/javascript-10-projects-in-10-days-course-for-beginners-2/
Easy WPF in C# Windows Presentation Foundation for Beginners
https://courze.org/easy-wpf-in-c-windows-presentation-foundation-for-beginners/
Adobe After Effects: From Beginner to Motion Master
https://courze.org/adobe-after-effects-from-beginner-to-motion-maste
Adobe Illustrator Essentials: Zero to Hero for Beginners
https://courze.org/adobe-illustrator-essentials-zero-to-hero-for-beginners/
Understanding Quantum Science
https://courze.org/understanding-quantum-science/
Conflict Management: ChatGPT For Conflict Resolution At Work
https://courze.org/conflict-management-chatgpt-for-conflict-resolution-at-work/
Deep trance and Advanced Conditioning in Hypnosis
https://courze.org/deep-trance-and-advanced-conditioning-in-hypnosis/
Introduction to Fiverr (Fiverr Business Affiliate Model)
https://courze.org/introduction-to-fiverr-fiverr-business-affiliate-model/
Complete Python 2024 For Absolute Beginners
https://courze.org/complete-python-2023-for-absolute-beginners/
SAP Production Planning (PP) Module
https://courze.org/sap-production-planning-pp-module/
Java + Spring Boot, Rest Web Services, MVC, Microservices
https://courze.org/java-mastery-unleashing-the-power-of-programming-jdbcsql/
Affiliate Marketing: Make Money Online Working From Home
https://courze.org/affiliate-marketing-guide-to-earn-passive-income-online/
Professional Diploma of the Executive Assistant
https://courze.org/professional-diploma-of-the-executive-assistant/
JavaScript And PHP And Python Programming Complete Course
https://courze.org/javascript-and-php-and-python-programming-complete-course/
Complete Course in AutoCAD Electrical 2021
https://courze.org/complete-course-in-autocad-electrical-2021/
Complete Course in CATIA
https://courze.org/complete-course-in-catia/
Learning SOLIDWORKS : For Students, Engineers, and Designers
https://courze.org/learning-solidworks-for-students-engineers-and-designers/
Essential Canva for Graphics Design to Boost Productivity
https://courze.org/essential-canva-for-graphics-design-to-boost-productivity/
Professional Diploma in Agile and Scrum
https://courze.org/professional-diploma-in-agile-and-scrum/
Adobe Illustrator for Everyone: Design Like a Pro
https://courze.org/adobe-illustrator-for-everyone-design-like-a-pro/
Learn Canva for Advance Graphics Design
https://courze.org/learn-canva-for-advance-graphics-design/
Mastering Adobe Premiere Pro CC: From Beginner to Pro Editor
https://courze.org/mastering-adobe-premiere-pro-cc-from-beginner-to-pro-edito
Adobe After Effect Essential: Learn Video Motion Animation
https://courze.org/adobe-after-effect-essential-learn-video-motion-animation/
Strategic Creative Thinking
https://courze.org/strategic-creative-thinking/
Mini MBA in Technology Management
https://courze.org/mini-mba-in-technology-management/
T-Shirt Design for Beginner to Advanced with Adobe Photoshop
https://courze.org/t-shirt-design-for-beginner-to-advanced-with-adobe-photoshop/
Computer Science: Self Guided Learning with ChatGPT
https://courze.org/computer-science-self-guided-learning-with-chatgpt-prompts/
Executive Diploma of Chief Technology Officer
https://courze.org/executive-diploma-of-chief-technology-office
Leveraging Generative AI for Scholarly Research Writing
https://courze.org/leveraging-generative-ai-for-scholarly-research-writing/
UIUX with Figma and Adobe XD
https://courze.org/uiux-with-figma-and-adobe-xd/
Youtube Masterclass With Video Editing and Graphics Design
https://courze.org/youtube-masterclass-with-video-editing-and-graphics-design/
Mastering Python, Pandas, Numpy for Absolute Beginners
https://courze.org/python-with-numpy-for-absolute-beginners/
Basic Interviewing Skills – Master Basic Interviewing Skills
https://courze.org/basic-interviewing-skills-master-basic-interviewing-skills/
Interview Essentials – Master Your Interview Essentials Now
https://courze.org/interview-essentials-master-your-interview-essentials-now/
Complete Algorithmic Trading Course – Forex, Stocks, Crypto
https://courze.org/complete-algorithmic-trading-course-forex-stocks-crypto/
The Complete B2B Sales Course: Lead Generation to Closing
https://courze.org/the-complete-b2b-sales-course-lead-generation-to-closing/
The Complete Business Etiquette Course – Biz Social Skills
https://courze.org/the-complete-business-etiquette-course-biz-social-skills/
Business Fundamentals & Questions to Answer Before Launching
https://courze.org/business-fundamentals-questions-to-answer-before-launching/
39 Travel Tips to Make Your Travel More Enjoyable – 1 Hour
https://courze.org/39-travel-tips-to-make-your-travel-more-enjoyable-1-hou
49 Weight Loss Tips You Can Stick To Forever – Be Thinner
https://courze.org/49-weight-loss-tips-you-can-stick-to-forever-be-thinne

I have 6 toes on my feet, I’m looking for running shoe recs for concrete/pavement. My feet/toes are correctly shaped just with extra toes.
I found whitin canvas barefoot shoes to be the best fit for daily’s with thick sole inserts.
I tried their running shoes, they fit perfectly, even had soft mesh going all the way around the area where my pinky toe is so it stretches without rubbing or pinching. But the soles are like running on concrete lol and ended up hurting my feet a lot.
The only other natural toe box shoes iv tried have been Topo Phantom 3s which were just a little tight and I wasn’t confident they’d stretch so I returned them.
Any recommendations for street running shoes would be greatly appreciated!!!
Ps. Bonus points if you have any rec for wide steal toe boots lol

Wastelander
A thin veil of sand blew across the road, danced in erratic swirls over the cracked pavement, and then capered off into the dunes.
Kaelar watched it spin into a small dust devil that swept past the skeletal branches of dead shrubs and the faded remnant of an old sign sagging into the sand. Rocks and bits of concrete jumped from countless pits and holes weathered into the road, kicked out in front of him with each measured step.
The dust devil whirled up the face of a sandy hill and vanished down the other side. He fingered his water skin, still nearly full. Some of the old folk said dust devils could lead you to water. Kaelar had tried once, but all he’d found was more dust.
He returned his attention to the road and what lay at the end. Or rather, what he would do once he arrived. Most of the Old World had hidden troves of valuable artifacts in broken buildings and infrastructure, the decaying crypts that were once people’s homes. But the treasures were dwindling, and the waste was encroaching. Arable land was a unicorn, and clean water was scarce. And there was no shortage of violent gangs roaming the wastes, circling the small ramshackle communities like wolves, watching for any sign of weakness.
Towns were dying.
Hell, the planet was dying, some said. Murdered by the poisons unleashed by her children back before his father’s father’s time. Maybe it was true.
Kaelar put the thought out of his mind and peered through the shimmering heat at the shattered remains of a city rising out of the ash. Mercury, he called it, for he did not know its true name. In the distant past, something had destroyed the city, blasted its buildings and cratered its parks, unalived its people.
Now nothing remained but the dust of shattered dreams. You could walk an entire day and not cross Mercury. Unwise, but you could do it.
He passed another sign, larger than before but just as faded. This one straddled the highway on great metal legs that did not rust. The edges of the road crumbled and sagged into the sand, mirroring the slow decay of Mercury. Nothing grew out here in the waste but sun-bleached bones and stony cliffs.
He walked on.
The city loomed larger and took shape as the hours passed.
He could make out tiny details now. Windows gaping with no glass, rooftops jagged and crumbling, the rusted relics of countless vehicles choking intersections and the bones of an entire city scattered through debris-strewn streets. He detoured around collapsed walls blocking his way and ravines that had recently opened to swallow entire blocks. This took time, precious hours he did not have to spare. Crap.
Kaelar tipped back his wide-brimmed hat and glanced at the sun, blazing overhead. Ten hours til dark. He had to hurry.
Lowering his hat, he took a small sip from his waterskin. It was hot and tasted terrible, but soothed his parched throat. The air was hotter still, dry but stifling, and hard to breathe when the dust was up. Despite this, he wore old leathers, suffered them for the small protection they offered. A scrape could prove deadly.
He adjusted his canvas satchel, more of an extensive collection of mismatched patches than an actual bag, but strong enough to accommodate even the best hauls. His gloves were fingerless, and weighted across the knuckles in case he had need.
His eyes never stopped moving, scanning ahead, probing into the shadows gathered in doorways and alleys, ever wary of the dangers present within the Old World. Wild beasts were the least of his worries. Men were the deadliest creatures of all.
He dusted off his goggles and glanced at his pistol in a worn leather holster belted at his hip. Each cartridge in the gun’s cylinder was worth a week of clean water. He had four left. If I’m right, I’ll have more after today.
Kaelar moved deeper into the city, to the heart of the ruins. His destination was just ahead, a place he’d searched before but never found the heart to explore past the fourth level.
Today, that would change.
A sudden clattering sound came from an alley to his right.
Kaelar instinctively ducked and leaped to press himself against the side of a rusted-out truck. Peering over the hood, he listened; he watched. No movement. He was surprised to find his pistol in his hand, glinting in the sunlight. He didn’t remember drawing it.
His eyes scanned deeper into the alley, past refuse and debris. Nothing.
Kaelar turned, drew in a deep breath and rested on his haunches with his back against the truck. Something had made that sound. Was someone stalking him? Other scavengers could be dangerous. Some would open your veins just for stepping into what they perceived as their territory. Sweat tracked down through the dust on his face. A moment later he decided he couldn’t leave it to chance. Never leave an enemy at your back, his father had told him. That advice had served him well over the years.
There was no movement as far as he could see in any direction facing away from the alley. Just the skeletal girders and broken concrete of a dead city. That left the alley at his back.
He went to his belly and peered under the truck. Nothing. He stayed there for some time, watching and waiting. Sweating.
When nothing showed, he rose to a crouch and slowly advanced into the alley, pistol leading.
It was deserted. There was nothing of value, not a bit of lead. Clattering came from above, faint and distant. Jaw clenched, he holstered his weapon and shimmied up a drain pipe to the roof.
Strange machines made two neat rows on one side and a small shack with a single door on the other. Sunlight soaked into the roof’s black skin, shimmering up in waves. But that wasn’t what held his eye. A second structure rose beside the one on which he stood, snugged tight to it like lovers. The leeward wall sat in the shade, and something clung there to the brick.
Kaelar couldn’t believe his eyes.
His heart leapt for joy. He rushed to the wall, and reached out with a trembling hand to gently brush the white petals of the vines climbing the brick. It was real. It was alive!
“You can’t have them!” Kaelar felt a hot explosion in the back of his head. The world tilted on its side and the roof rushed up to meet him.
A figure stood over him, dark and terrible and haloed by the sunlight.
“Your kind are not welcome here, Wastelander.”
Kaelar reeled with vertigo. He opened his mouth to speak but a heavy boot snapped out and blasted away his world.
It was alive.

I have 6 toes on my feet, I’m looking for running shoe recs for concrete/pavement. My feet/toes are correctly shaped just with extra toes.
I found whitin canvas barefoot shoes to be the best fit for daily’s with thick sole inserts.
I tried their running shoes, they fit perfectly, even had soft mesh going all the way around the area where my pinky toe is so it stretches without rubbing or pinching. But the soles are like running on concrete lol and ended up hurting my feet a lot.
The only other natural toe box shoes iv tried have been Topo Phantom 3s which were just a little tight and I wasn’t confident they’d stretch so I returned them.
Any recommendations for street running shoes would be greatly appreciated!!!
Ps. Bonus points if you have any rec for wide steal toe boots lol

Thoughts on summer boots? I love wearing them in the fall and winter, and normally run with RM Williams Chelsea boots.
The thing is, during spring and summer, they start to feel really heavy and constrictive and also look bizarre if you wear them with shorts.
Would a canvas Converse-esque boot pass? Specifically, I'm looking at the Frye's Hoyt boot at the moment.
Also, is there a niche sub like this one where you can get broader fashion advice? Something that's keyed into the Outlier, Lululemon, Icebreaker, etc. aesthetic.

So I pretty much just wear my combat boots for 2/3 of the year, but it gets SUPER hot where I live, and sometimes even canvas shoes with socks are too hot. But for some reason I haven't been able to find sandals that I like so I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions.

It is for the facebook page activity. English isn’t my first language and I accidentally wrote it too long… 💀What have I done they don’t even reward diamonds 🫠🫠🫠
1
After knowing Eric was killed by the cold arrows, in countless lonely night, Celestine doesn’t remember how many times she couldn’t help but sobbing underneath the moon. Everything from that dreamlike memory turns against her, making regret and yearning as her tear. The secret they have shared and the happiness they have experienced for only a short while, now is remaining as a hole in her which fills with unspeakable agony.
Yes, unspeakable. As long as the Fairy and the Sanguine are still enemy, the knot of her mind could never untie, no matter how much concern and care were shown to her. Because the reason she couldn’t relief can only be a secret that bury in her deepest mind.
2
Her fairy friends bring her brushes and pigments, expected that Art could be a way to heal her. When she picks up a brush, the flashback of that moonlit night of the first time she met with him is very much clearly recalling in her mind, as if it was happened yesterday. Tear droppes from her bowing head, a strong feeling bloom in her heart, ‘If getting to understand the thing he liked, can I get closer to him?’
In later days, she spends all her days to soak in the world of color. Except it is a way to commemorate her beloved one, sooner she has found that art could also be the way to express her true feelings beneath the deepest side of her mind, and so she feels so much relief than before. Years and years, by the artwork in her memory which she has seen from talented him as a goal, she worked very hard to improve her art skill, in order to paint the world he has seen. Every years, she would paint the lake where he drew and where they‘ve met once, until one day, she found that her skill has already been to where she has once wished to reach. “I could see the same view as you now…”
Somehow, a feeling of emptiness comes over Celestine.
3
As she walks to home in the deepest forest, the thick woods gradually cover the moonlight and the starlight from the sky. Beneath the shadow of branches and leaves, she takes out a new canvas, and starting to draft an appearance of a person.
“He had a pair of branch-like dark wings without feather and unlike any fairies, the black and light purple suited perfectly outlines his artistic body, the pair of high heel boots quietly brought out of his sexiness, and that slightly worn hood whispers his mystery. He looked so dangerous with his bone hands but I was so much into his touching. When he took my hands into dance, the moonlight fell on his flowing silver hair, making lively of his….”
…How was his face looked like?
Celestine, then sinking into shocked.
——
A few days later, a friend who visited Celestine has found that her house was in a mess. There were a lot of canvas scattered around everywhere, which were all depicted about the same person but with an erased face. However, Celestine herself was nowhere to be found. The only thing the fairies could find after a long while, is an existence who is known as Mrs. Bone.
—-—
——-
4
“I finally meet you… I finally meet you… I finally meet you…”
A repeating whisper echoes in the Shadow City, no body knows how did the master of this voice entered into here. Leading by a Sanguine, the fairy who holds tight of a skeleton which is wrapping by some muddy, broken clothes in her arms, kneels in front of the throne of tomb. The giant wings of white devil and black angel spread, showing the glamorous body and the blood lust gaze of the queen from that dark throne.
"Are you gonna pay for your desire, even if the cost is to render yourself into darkness?", she asked, with a slow, arrogant voice.
"Show me your madness then, soak your soul into BLOOD!"
——
5
Putting on a dress that made of the bone under her feet, to make herself a well-match wife to him - You’re in black, I’m in white, and we’re in bone.
Upon the cluster of rose and bone, the man who has only bone remained, opening his “eyes”. He is unable to speak, since he has no throat. (But this will be just temporary)
He has never expected that he could awake from his everlasting “sleep” in this form, seeing the world, and meeting her once again. Her atmosphere seems slightly different, but still, her light skin is as beautiful as the moon of Lake Bovaly, her purple eyes is as deep as the sky of Shadow City, and her tender smile is like the meteor they’ve seen together, which streaks into his very heart. Tears that reflects the color of the blood moon shud from her eyes, and he just reaches out, wipes her tears away from her endearing face. Yet she holds his hand and rubbing her face with it, to feel this touching of long lost - she has been waiting for this day for so long in countless lonely nights. And now, she’s not the girl who has only the understanding of the art he likes, but also has learnt the desire of blood that root in his sanguine nature - it is for the sake of maintaining the spells of his resurrection, rebuilding, and existence. But most importantly, for the sake of LOVE.
“Even death could never separate us anymore.”
-End-
Thank you for reading and Sorry for my grammar and weird story🫠

I have a refurbished Surface Pro 6 off Amazon that I've barely used. I originally bought it for digital sketching but stopped when I noticed tiny wrinkles in the replaced screen.
The other day I decided to give it another chance. But every time I boot up a art program (Krita, Mischief, Sketchbook, Whiteboard, etc) the hand gesture controls immediately stop working. The odd think is I can still use my fingers to click buttons in the program's, but I suddenly can't rotate the canvas nor zoom in and or out.
It needs to be noted that these issues began after a forced large Windows 11 updates.

abandon, ability, able, about, above, absence, absolute, absolutely, abstract, abundance, academy, accent, accept, access, accident, accompany, accomplish, according, account, accurate, achieve, achievement, acid, acknowledge, acquire, across, action, active, activity, actor, actual, actually, adapt, addition, additional, address, adequate, adjust, administration, admire, admission, admit, adolescent, adopt, adult, advance, advantage, adventure, advertise, advice, advise, adviser, advocate, affair, affect, afford, afraid, after, afternoon, again, against, age, agency, agenda, agent, aggressive, ago, agree, agreement, agriculture, ahead, aid, aim, air, aircraft, airline, airport, alarm, album, alcohol, alive, all, alliance, allow, ally, almost, alone, along, already, also, alter, alternative, although, always, amateur, amazing, ambition, ambulance, among, amount, analysis, analyst, analyze, ancient, and, anger, angle, angry, animal, anniversary, announce, annual, another, answer, anticipate, anxiety, any, anybody, anymore, anyone, anything, anyway, anywhere, apart, apartment, apologize, apparent, apparently, appeal, appear, appearance, apple, application, apply, appoint, appointment, appreciate, approach, appropriate, approval, approve, approximately, architect, area, argue, argument, arise, arm, armed, army, around, arrange, arrangement, arrest, arrival, arrive, art, article, artist, artistic, as, ashamed, aside, ask, asleep, aspect, assault, assert, assess, assessment, asset, assign, assignment, assist, assistance, assistant, associate, association, assume, assumption, assure, at, athlete, athletic, atmosphere, attach, attack, attempt, attend, attention, attitude, attorney, attract, attraction, attractive, attribute, audience, author, authority, auto, available, average, avoid, award, aware, awareness, away, awful, baby, back, background, bad, badly, bag, balance, ball, ban, band, bank, bar, barely, barrel, barrier, base, baseball, basic, basically, basis, basket, basketball, bath, bathroom, battery, battle, be, beach, bear, beat, beautiful, beauty, because, become, bed, bedroom, bee, beef, beer, before, begin, beginning, behavior, behind, being, belief, believe, bell, belong, below, belt, bench, bend, beneath, benefit, beside, besides, best, bet, better, between, beyond, bicycle, big, bike, bill, billion, bind, biological, bird, birth, birthday, bit, bite, black, blade, blame, blanket, blind, block, blood, blow, blue, board, boat, body, bomb, bombing, bond, bone, book, boom, boot, border, boring, born, borrow, boss, both, bother, bottle, bottom, boundary, bowl, box, boy, boyfriend, brain, branch, brand, brave, bread, break, breakfast, breast, breath, breathe, brick, bridge, brief, briefly, bright, brilliant, bring, broad, broken, brother, brown, brush, buck, budget, build, building, bullet, bunch, burden, burn, bury, bus, business, busy, but, butter, button, buy, buyer, by, cabin, cabinet, cable, cake, calculate, call, camera, camp, campaign, campus, can, Canadian, cancer, candidate, cap, capability, capable, capacity, capital, captain, capture, car, carbon, card, care, career, careful, carefully, carrier, carry, case, cash, cast, cat, catch, category, Catholic, cause, ceiling, celebrate, celebration, celebrity, cell, center, central, century, CEO, ceremony, certain, certainly, chain, chair, chairman, challenge, chamber, champion, championship, chance, change, changing, channel, chapter, character, characteristic, characterize, charge, charity, chart, chase, cheap, check, cheek, cheese, chef, chemical, chest, chicken, chief, child, childhood, Chinese, chip, chocolate, choice, cholesterol, choose, Christian, Christmas, church, cigarette, circle, circumstance, cite, citizen, city, civil, civilian, claim, class, classic, classroom, clean, clear, clearly, client, climate, climb, clinic, clinical, clock, close, closely, closer, clothes, clothing, cloud, club, clue, cluster, coach, coal, coalition, coast, coat, code, coffee, cognitive, cold, collapse, colleague, collect, collection, collective, college, colonial, color, column, combination, combine, come, comedy, comfort, comfortable, command, commander, comment, commercial, commission, commit, commitment, committee, common, communicate, communication, community, company, compare, comparison, compete, competition, competitive, competitor, complain, complaint, complete, completely, complex, complexity, compliance, complicate, complicated, component, compose, composition, comprehensive, computer, concentrate, concentration, concept, concern, concerned, concert, conclude, conclusion, concrete, condition, conduct, conference, confidence, confident, confirm, conflict, confront, confusion, Congress, congressional, connect, connection, consciousness, consensus, consequence, conservative, consider, considerable, consideration, consist, consistent, constant, constantly, constitute, constitutional, construct, construction, consultant, consume, consumer, consumption, contact, contain, container, contemporary, content, contest, context, continue, continued, contract, contrast, contribute, contribution, control, controversial, controversy, convention, conventional, conversation, convert, conviction, convince, cook, cookie, cooking, cool, cooperation, cop, cope, copy, core, corn, corner, corporate, corporation, correct, correspondent, cost, cotton, couch, could, council, count, counter, country, county, couple, courage, course, court, cousin, cover, coverage, cow, crack, craft, crash, crazy, cream, create, creation, creative, creature, credit, crew, crime, criminal, crisis, criteria, critic, critical, criticism, criticize, crop, cross, crowd, crucial, cry, cultural, culture, cup, curious, current, currently, curriculum, custom, customer, cut, cycle, dad, daily, damage, dance, danger, dangerous, dare, dark, darkness, data, database, date, daughter, day, dead, deal, dealer, dear, death, debate, debt, decade, decide, decision, deck, declare, decline, decrease, deep, deeply, deer, defeat, defend, defendant, defense, defensive, deficit, define, definitely, definition, degree, delay, deliver, delivery, demand, democracy, Democratic, Democrat, demonstrate, demonstration, deny, department, depend, dependent, depending, depict, depression, depth, deputy, derive, describe, description, desert, deserve, design, designer, desire, desk, desperate, despite, destroy, destruction, detail, detailed, detect, detection, detective, determine, develop, developing, development, device, devil, dialogue, diet, differ, difference, different, differently, difficult, difficulty, dig, digital, dimension, dining, dinner, direct, direction, directly, director, dirt, disability, disagree, disappear, disaster, discipline, disclose, discover, discovery, discrimination, discuss, discussion, disease, dish, dismiss, disorder, display, dispute, distance, distinct, distinction, distinguish, distribute, distribution, district, diverse, diversity, divide, division, divorce, DNA, do, doctor, document, dog, domestic, dominant, dominate, door, double, doubt, down, downtown, dozen, draft, drag, drama, dramatic, dramatically, draw, drawer, drawing, dream, dress, drink, drive, driver, drop, drug, dry, due, during, dust, duty, dwell, dying, dynamic, each, eager, ear, earlier, early, earn, earnings, earth, earthquake, ease, easily, east, eastern, easy, eat, economic, economy, edge, edit, edition, editor, educate, education, educational, educator, effect, effective, effectively, efficiency, efficient, effort, egg, eight, either, elderly, elect, election, electric, electrical, electricity, electronic, element, elementary, eliminate, elite, else, elsewhere, e-mail, embrace, emerge, emergency, emission, emotion, emotional, emphasis, emphasize, employ, employee, employer, employment, empty, enable, encounter, encourage, end, enemy, energy, enforcement, engage, engine, engineer, engineering, English, enhance, enjoy, enormous, enough, ensure, enter, enterprise, entertain, entertainment, entire, entirely, entrance, entry, environment, environmental, episode, equal, equally, equipment, equivalent, era, error, escape, especially, essay, essential, essentially, establish, establishment, estate, estimate, etc, ethics, ethnic, European, evaluate, evaluation, evening, event, eventually, ever, every, everybody, everyday, everyone, everything, everywhere, evidence, evolution, evolve, exact, exactly, exam, examination, examine, example, exceed, excellent, except, exception, exchange, exciting, executive, exercise, exhibit, exhibition, exist, existence, existing, expand, expansion, expect, expectation, expense, expensive, experience, experiment, expert, explain, explanation, explode, explore, explosion, expose, exposure, express, expression, extend, extension, extensive, extent, external, extra, extraordinary, extreme, extremely, eye, fabric, face, facility, fact, factor, factory, faculty, fade, fail, failure, fair, fairly, faith, fall, false, familiar, family, famous, fan, fantasy, far, farm, farmer, fashion, fast, fat, fate, father, fault, favor, favorite, fear, feature, federal, fee, feed, feel, feeling, fellow, female, fence, festival, few, fewer, fiber, fiction, field, fifteen, fifth, fifty, fight, fighter, fighting, figure, file, fill, film, final, finally, finance, financial, find, finding, fine, finger, finish, fire, firm, first, fish, fishing, fit, fitness, five, fix, flag, flame, flat, flavor, flee, flesh, flight, float, floor, flow, flower, fly, focus, folk, follow, following, food, foot, football, for, force, foreign, forest, forever, forget, form, formal, formation, former, formula, forth, fortune, forward, found, foundation, founder, four, fourth, frame, framework, free, freedom, freeze, French, frequency, frequent, frequently, fresh, friend, friendly, friendship, from, front, fruit, frustration, fuel, fulfill, full, fully, fun, function, fund, fundamental, funding, funeral, funny, furniture, furthermore, future, gain, galaxy, gallery, game, gang, gap, garage, garden, garlic, gas, gate, gather, gay, gaze, gear, gender, gene, general, generally, generate, generation, genetic, gentleman, gently, German, gesture, get, ghost, giant, gift, gifted, girl, girlfriend, give, given, glad, glance, glass, global, glove, go, goal, God, gold, golden, golf, good, govern, government, governor, grab, grace, grade, gradually, graduate, grain, grand, grandmother, grant, grass, grave, gray, great, green, grocery, ground, group, grow, growing, growth, guarantee, guard, guess, guest, guide, guideline, guilty, gun, guy, habit, habitat, hair, half, hall, hand, handful, handle, hang, happen, happy, harbor, hard, hardly, hat, hate, have, he, head, headline, headquarters, health, healthy, hear, hearing, heart, heat, heaven, heavily, heavy, heel, height, helicopter, hell, hello, help, helpful, hence, her, herb, here, heritage, hero, herself, hey, hi, hide, high, highlight, highly, highway, hill, him, himself, hip, hire, his, historic, historical, history, hit, hold, hole, holiday, holy, home, homeless, honest, honey, honor, hope, horizon, horror, horse, hospital, host, hot, hotel, hour, house, household, housing, how, however, huge, human, humor, hundred, hungry, hunter, hunting, hurt, husband, hypothesis, ice, idea, ideal, identification, identify, identity, ignore, ill, illegal, illness, illustrate, image, imagination, imagine, immediate, immediately, immigrant, immigration, impact, implement, implication, imply, importance, important, impose, impossible, impress, impression, impressive, improve, improvement, incentive, incident, include, including, income, incorporate, increase, increased, increasingly, incredible, indeed, independence, independent, index, indicate, indication, individual, industrial, industry, infant, infection, inflation, influence, inform, information, ingredient, initial, initially, initiative, injury, inner, innocent, inquiry, inside, insight, insist, inspire, install, instance, instead, institute, institution, institutional, instruction, instructor, instrument, insurance, intellectual, intelligence, intend, intense, intensity, intention, interaction, interest, interested, interesting, internal, international, Internet, interpret, interpretation, intervention, interview, introduce, introduction, invasion, invest, investigation, investigator, investment, investor, invite, involve, involved, involvement, Iraqi, Irish, iron, Islamic, island, Israeli, issue, it, Italian, item, its, itself, jacket, jail, Japanese, jet, Jew, Jewish, job, join, joint, joke, journal, journalist, journey, joy, judge, judgment, juice, jump, junior, jury, just, justice, justify, keep, key, kick, kid, kill, killer, killing, kind, king, kiss, kitchen, knee, knife, knock, know, knowledge, lab, label, labor, laboratory, lack, lady, lake, land, landscape, language, lap, large, largely, last, late, later, Latin, latter, laugh, launch, law, lawsuit, lawyer, lay, layer, lead, leader, leadership, leading, leaf, league, lean, learn, learning, least, leather, leave, left, leg, legacy, legal, legend, legislation, legislative, legislator, legitimate, lemon, length, less, lesson, let, letter, level, liberal, library, license, lie, life, lifestyle, lifetime, lift, light, like, likely, limit, limitation, limited, line, link, lip, list, listen, literary, literature, little, live, living, load, loan, local, locate, location, lock, long, long-term, look, loose, lose, loss, lost, lot, lots, loud, love, lovely, lover, low, lower, luck, lucky, lunch, luxury, machine, mad, magazine, mail, main, mainly, maintain, maintenance, major, majority, make, maker, makeup, male, mall, man, manage, management, manager, manner, manufacturer, manufacturing, many, map, margin, mark, market, marketing, marriage, married, marry, mask, mass, massive, master, match, material, math, matter, may, maybe, mayor, me, meal, mean, meaning, meanwhile, measure, measurement, meat, mechanism, media, medical, medication, medicine, medium, meet, meeting, member, membership, memory, mental, mention, menu, mere, merely, mess, message, metal, meter, method, Mexican, middle, might, military, milk, million, mind, mine, minister, minor, minority, minute, miracle, mirror, miss, missile, mission, mistake, mix, mixture, mm-hmm, mode, model, moderate, modern, modest, mom, moment, money, monitor, month, mood, moon, moral, more, moreover, morning, mortgage, most, mostly, mother, motion, motivation, motor, mountain, mouse, mouth, move, movement, movie, Mr, Mrs, Ms, much, multiple, murder, muscle, museum, music, musical, musician, Muslim, must, mutual, my, myself, mystery, myth, naked, name, narrative, narrow, nation, national, native, natural, naturally, nature, near, nearby, nearly, necessarily, necessary, neck, need, negative, negotiate, negotiation, neighbor, neighborhood, neither, nerve, nervous, net, network, never, nevertheless, new, newly, news, newspaper, next, nice, night, nine, no, nobody, nod, noise, nomination, nominee, none, nonetheless, nor, normal, normally, north, northern, nose, not, note, nothing, notice, notion, novel, now, nowhere, nuclear, number, numerous, nurse, nut, object, objective, obligation, observation, observe, observer, obtain, obvious, obviously, occasion, occasionally, occupation, occupy, occur, ocean, odd, odds, of, off, offense, offensive, offer, office, officer, official, often, oh, oil, okay, old, Olympic, on, once, one, ongoing, onion, online, only, onto, open, opening, operate, operating, operation, operator, opinion, opponent, opportunity, oppose, opposed, opposite, opposition, option, or, orange, order, ordinary, organic, organization, organize, orientation, origin, original, originally, other, others, otherwise, ought, our, ours, ourselves, out, outcome, outside, oven, over, overall, overcome, overlook, owe, own, owner, pace, pack, package, page, pain, painful, paint, painter, painting, pair, pale, Palestinian, palm, pan, panel, panic, pant, paper, paragraph, parent, park, parking, part, participant, participate, participation, particle, particular, particularly, partly, partner, partnership, party, pass, passage, passenger, passion, past, patch, path, patient, pattern, pause, pay, payment, PC, peace, peak, peer, pen, penalty, people, pepper, per, perceive, percentage, perception, perfect, perfectly, perform, performance, perhaps, period, permanent, permission, permit, person, personal, personality, personally, personnel, perspective, persuade, pet, phase, phenomenon, philosophy, phone, photo, photographer, phrase, physical, physically, physician, piano, pick, picture, pie, piece, pile, pilot, pine, pink, pipe, pitch, place, plan, plane, planet, planning, plant, plastic, plate, platform, play, player, please, pleasure, plenty, plot, plus, PM, pocket, poem, poet, poetry, point, police, policy, political, politically, politician, politics, poll, pollution, pool, poor, pop, popular, population, porch, port, portion, portrait, portray, pose, position, positive, possess, possession, possibility, possible, possibly, post, pot, potato, potential, potentially, pound, pour, poverty, powder, power, powerful, practical, practice, prayer, preach, precisely, predict, prediction, prefer, preference, pregnancy, pregnant, preparation, prepare, prescription, presence, present, presentation, preserve, president, presidential, press, pressure, pretend, pretty, prevent, previous, previously, price, pride, priest, primarily, primary, prime, principal, principle, print, prior, priority, prison, prisoner, privacy, private, probably, problem, procedure, proceed, process, processing, processor, proclaim, produce, producer, product, production, profession, professional, professor, profile, profit, program, progress, progressive, project, prominent, promise, promote, prompt, proof, proper, properly, property, proportion, proposal, propose, prosecutor, prospect, protect, protection, protein, protest, proud, prove, provide, provider, province, provision, psychological, psychology, public, publication, publicity, publish, publisher, pull, punishment, purchase, pure, purpose, pursue, push, put, qualify, quality, quarter, quarterback, quarterly, queen, quest, question, quick, quickly, quiet, quietly, quit, quite, quote, race, racial, radiation, radical, radio, rail, rain, raise, range, rank, rapid, rapidly, rare, rarely, rate, rather, rating, ratio, raw, reach, react, reaction, reader, reading, ready, real, reality, realize, really, reason, reasonable, recall, receive, recent, recently, reception, recipe, recipient, recognition, recognize, recommend, recommendation, record, recording, recover, recovery, recruit, red, reduce, reduction, refer, reference, reflect, reflection, reform, refugee, refuse, regard, regarding, regardless, regime, region, regional, register, regular, regularly, regulate, regulation, regulator, reinforce, reject, relate, relation, relationship, relative, relatively, relax, release, relevant, relief, religion, religious, rely, remain, remaining, remarkable, remember, remind, remote, remove, repeat, repeatedly, replace, replacement, reply, report, reporter, represent, representation, representative, Republican, reputation, request, require, requirement, research, researcher, resemble, reservation, resident, residential, resign, resist, resistance, resolution, resolve, resort, resource, respect, respond, response, responsibility, responsible, rest, restaurant, restore, restriction, result, retain, retire, retirement, return, reveal, revenue, review, revolution, rhythm, rice, rich, rid, ride, rifle, right, ring, rise, risk, river, road, rock, role, roll, romantic, roof, room, root, rope, rose, rough, roughly, round, route, routine, row, rub, rubber, rude, ruin, rule, run, running, rural, rush, Russian, sacred, sad, safe, safety, sake, salad, salary, sale, sales, salt, same, sample, sanction, sand, satellite, satisfaction, satisfied, satisfy, sauce, save, saving, say, scale, scandal, scare, scatter, scenario, scene, schedule, scheme, scholar, scholarship, school, science, scientific, scientist, scope, score, scream, screen, script, sea, search, season, seat, second, secondary, secret, secretary, section, sector, secure, security, see, seed, seek, seem, segment, seize, select, selection, self, sell, Senate, senator, send, senior, sense, sensitive, sentence, separate, sequence, series, serious, seriously, servant, serve, service, session, set, setting, settle, settlement, seven, several, severe, sex, sexual, shade, shadow, shake, shall, shallow, shape, share, sharp, she, sheet, shelf, shell, shelter, shift, shine, ship, shirt, shock, shoe, shoot, shooting, shop, shopping, short, shortly, shot, should, shoulder, shout, show, shower, shrug, shut, shy, sibling, sick, side, sigh, sight, sign, signal, significant, significantly, silence, silent, silver, similar, similarly, simple, simply, sin, since, sing, singer, single, sink, sir, sister, sit, site, situation, six, size, ski, skill, skin, skirt, sky, slave, sleep, slice, slide, slight, slightly, slip, slow, slowly, small, smart, smell, smile, smoke, smooth, snap, snow, so, so-called, soccer, social, society, soft, software, soil, solar, soldier, sole, solid, solution, solve, some, somebody, somehow, someone, something, sometimes, somewhat, somewhere, son, song, soon, sophisticated, sorry, sort, soul, sound, soup, source, south, southern, Soviet, space, Spanish, speak, speaker, special, specialist, species, specific, specifically, specify, speech, speed, spend, spending, spin, spirit, spiritual, split, spoil, sponsor, sport, spot, spray, spread, spring, square, squeeze, stability, stable, staff, stage, stain, stair, stake, stand, standard, standing, star, stare, start, state, statement, station, statistical, status, stay, steady, steal, steel, steep, stem, step, stick, still, stimulate, stimulus, stir, stock, stomach, stone, stop, storage, store, storm, story, straight, strange, stranger, strategic, strategy, stream, street, strength, strengthen, stress, stretch, strike, string, strip, stroke, strong, strongly, structural, structure, struggle, student, studio, study, stuff, stupid, style, subject, submit, subsequent, substance, substantial, substitute, succeed, success, successful, successfully, such, sudden, suddenly, sue, suffer, sufficient, sugar, suggest, suggestion, suicide, suit, summer, summit, sun, super, supply, support, supporter, suppose, supposed, Supreme, sure, surely, surface, surgery, surprise, surprised, surprising, surprisingly, surround, survey, survival, survive, survivor, suspect, sustain, swear, sweep, sweet, swim, swing, switch, symbol, symptom, system, table, tactic, tail, take, tale, talent, talk, tall, tank, tap, tape, target, task, taste, tax, taxi, tea, teach, teacher, teaching, team, tear, technical, technique, technology, teen, teenager, telephone, telescope, television, tell, temperature, temporary, ten, tend, tendency, tennis, tension, tent, term, terms, terrible, territory, terror, terrorist, test, testimony, testing, text, than, thank, thanks, that, the, theater, their, them, theme, themselves, then, theory, therapy, there, therefore, these, they, thick, thin, thing, think, thinking, third, thirty, this, those, though, thought, thousand, threat, threaten, three, throat, through, throughout, throw, thus, ticket, tie, tight, time, tiny, tip, tire, tissue, title, to, tobacco, today, toe, together, toilet, token, tolerate, tomato, tomorrow, tone, tongue, tonight, too, tool, tooth, top, topic, toss, total, totally, touch, tough, tour, tourist, tournament, toward, towards, tower, town, toy, trace, track, trade, tradition, traditional, traffic, tragedy, trail, train, training, transfer, transform, transformation, transition, translate, translation, transmission, transmit, transport, transportation, travel, treat, treatment, treaty, tree, tremendous, trend, trial, tribe, trick, trip, troop, trouble, truck, true, truly, trust, truth, try, tube, tunnel, turn, TV, twelve, twenty, twice, twin, two, type, typical, typically, ugly, ultimate, ultimately, unable, uncle, undergo, understand, understanding, unfortunately, uniform, union, unique, unit, United, universal, universe, university, unknown, unless, unlike, until, unusual, up, upon, upper, urban, urge, us, use, used, useful, user, usual, usually, utility, utilize, vacation, valley, valuable, value, variable, variation, variety, various, vary, vast, vegetable, vehicle, venture, version, versus, very, vessel, veteran, via, victim, victory, video, view, viewer, village, violate, violation, violence, violent, virtually, virtue, virus, visibility, visible, vision, visit, visitor, visual, vital, voice, volume, voluntary, volunteer, vote, voter, voting, wage, wait, wake, walk, wall, wander, want, war, warm, warn, warning, wash, waste, watch, water, wave, way, we, weak, weakness, wealth, wealthy, weapon, wear, weather, web, website, wedding, week, weekend, weekly, weigh, weight, welcome, welfare, well, west, western, wet, what, whatever, wheel, when, whenever, where, whereas, whether, which, while, whisper, white, who, whole, whom, whose, why, wide, widely, widespread, wife, wild, wildlife, will, willing, win, wind, window, wine, wing, winner, winter, wipe, wire, wisdom, wise, wish, with, withdraw, within, without, witness, woman, wonder, wonderful, wood, wooden, word, work, worker, working, workout, workplace, works, workshop, world, worried, worry, worth, would, wound, wrap, write, writer, writing, wrong, yard, yeah, year, yell, yellow, yes, yesterday, yet, yield, you, young, your, yours, yourself, youth, zone.

Indulge in timeless style with this versatile ensemble. Pair classic denim jeans with sleek black pants for a modern twist on a traditional look. The contrast between the denim's casual vibe and the black pants' sophistication adds depth to your outfit. A crisp white tee serves as the perfect canvas, offering a clean and understated backdrop. This combination effortlessly transitions from day to night, offering endless styling possibilities. Elevate the ensemble with sneakers for a laid-back vibe or dress it up with boots for a more polished look. Embrace effortless edge and timeless appeal with this wardrobe staple. Pin this versatile ensemble for everyday style inspiration.

A week ago, someone asked why “divestment from IDF contracts is so difficult.” After the actions, suspensions, and arrests of last week, I have also wondered why protestors and MIT’s administration did not reach an agreement. Here’s an effort to explain it.
I’m looking to read the protest demands carefully and generously, then consider MIT’s constraints generously. My conclusion is that if the core demands had broad support on campus—and I can't say whether they do or do not—MIT could not agree to them for principled, consistent reasons.
Please add anything I’ve missed about the SAGE and MIT positions in the comments. Factual corrections or additional details are appreciated.
(If you’re here for hot takes, you’re in the wrong thread. I’m not saying what MIT should do about the demands, I'm not sharing opinions about Israel's military, and I'm not sharing opinions about student protests or MIT's response. Please feel welcome to share your opinions about these separate topics in other posts about these topics.)
The demands
The core demands of the Scientists against the Genocide Encampment (SAGE) are:

1. The immediate termination of two active faculty contracts with the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMoD)
2. A ban on future faculty contracts with IMoD.[1]

The protestors identified these contracts in the MIT Brown Books, which provide detailed information about all sponsored research projects on campus. SAGE says the following two basic research contracts are active:

• “Autonomous Robotic Swarms: Distributed Coordination and Perception.” SAGE alleges this project can be used to “target Gazan citizens or American protestors.”[1]
• “Field-capable Bacterial Biosensors with Hyperspectral Reporters for Remote Detection of Analytes of Interest." I have not seen any specifically alleged concerns about this project. [3]

SAGE proposes to end current funding for these projects, but says they can proceed with alternative funding.[2] SAGE also says a review of project-specific human rights risks or new limits on foreign military research would only work if they ended these two contracts with immediate effect.[2] So while their public statements do take issue with at least one of the research subjects, the demands focus only on the sponsor.
Two facts about these contracts have been widely misreported. First, the contracts appear to be funded by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), not IMoD.[4] As the “direct sponsor,” IMoD chooses which academic research projects to fund. DoD involvement does not appear to be an important consideration to SAGE. I suspect, but don't know for certain, that ending contracts with a primary government funder could add complications for MIT.
Second, SAGE has said that “more than $11M” has been funded through DoD/IMoD since 2015.[1][3] But the data SAGE has published duplicates balances for many multi-year awards. Once deduplicated, the amount allocated by DoD since 2015 is closer to $3.4 million*, of which $3.2 million has been spent.[4] The demands do not address spent research funds, only the unspent balance of the two active grants. Neither SAGE nor MIT have publicly said how much that is, but it's not likely the cost is a material issue for either side. On 5/14, MIT said the unspent balance is $265,000.[13] However, the cost of the demands is not a material issue for either side.
*$3.4M reflects my clean up of obvious accounting errors in the second-hand SAGE data. MIT now says the amount is "just under $4 million dollars."[13] Since fixing SAGE's data shows a lower number, I am inclined to trust MIT's first-hand estimate.
Conflicts between the demands and MIT’s research policy
Meeting protestors’ core demands would require MIT to do something it has not done before: electively ban faculty from working with a specific sponsor. Doing this would conflict with the MIT faculty’s longstanding position on “research freedom,” which A) lets faculty freely choose collaborators and topics and B) limits university intervention when their research faces criticism.[5][6]
Consistent with research freedom, MIT has not previously banned sponsors or ended research contracts except when required by U.S. law. For example, when many MIT faculty said that MIT should sever all ties with the Saudi kingdom after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, MIT did not terminate any Saudi-affiliated research contracts.[5] MIT has similarly rejected calls to stop faculty research contracts with fossil fuel industry partners.
MIT’s faculty and administration have taken related public positions favoring “research openness,” including research in host countries criticized for human rights concerns like Russia and China.[5][6] These positions assert that science requires open collaboration even during foreign policy conflicts. MIT recently reaffirmed its position on openness as Congress considered new limits on U.S.-China research collaboration.[7]
SAGE argues that research freedom was disregarded in February 2022, when MIT terminated a $100M/year collaboration agreement with Russia’s Skoltech after the Russian military invaded Ukraine.[1][8] However, as a broad university-level partnership between MIT and Skoltech, it did not implicate faculty research freedom as SAGE’s demands do.[8] MIT continues to allow faculty to work with Russian sponsors and collaborators, although U.S. State Department sanctions now restrict research collaborations with many Russian institutions, including Skoltech.[9]
The Saudi and Skoltech decisions show MIT's inflexible position on faculty research freedom, even when human rights concerns are broadly held in the MIT community. MIT exercises more discretion over non-research funding, like direct partnerships and gifts. But unless required by U.S. law or foreign policy, MIT seems unlikely to create a tailored ban on one faculty research sponsor.
Other policy limits on military-sponsored campus research
MIT’s existing rules for campus research limit how military-sponsored research can be conducted, but not the collaborators or subjects faculty can choose. Research projects:

• must be publishable without restriction.
• cannot require students to work on classified topics.
• cannot exclude researchers by country of origin.[10]

These rules practically limit the military projects that can happen on campus. For instance, no research project could be kept secret from anyone else at MIT. (See [11] for reasons that MIT has opted to limit military research through conduct restrictions.)
Why "elevated risk review" wouldn't resolve the stated demands (Partially addressing an insightful comment from last week)
For sponsors in some countries, MIT applies an “elevated-risk project review” to faculty research proposals when the content could present risks to human rights, U.S. national security, or U.S. economic competitiveness.[12] These reviews involve both an MIT-wide faculty committee and senior administrators. They can result in project modifications, contract changes, or a refusal of MIT support.[4][12] Elevated-risk reviews are not done for approved research contracts because “the bar for administrative intervention to terminate such projects should be set very high.”[4]
There are at least two reasons an elevated-risk review would not satisfy SAGE's stated demands. First, SAGE seeks a content-independent ban on contracts with IMoD, which does not fit a review process for content-specific risks.
Second, expanding these reviews would limit faculty research freedom, so MIT would normally involve faculty in a decision that affects them. But getting faculty involved means that changes could not happen immediately, something SAGE has said it cannot accept.
Addendum: On "robotic swarms" research at MIT
As I have stressed, the demands listed by SAGE do not seek to end any particular project, only to sever two projects from their sponsor. However, their public statements give a lot of attention to a research project on "autonomous robotic swarms". As someone who doesn't do any work in this area, the name does give some "Black Mirror" vibes.
But after looking around, I find it hard to distinguish the title or outputs of the project from at least a half-dozen other MIT projects on UAV swarms and distributed control. The papers from these projects cite broad commercial and military applications. Unclassified projects on this topic have been ongoing at MIT for at least ten years, in several departments, with a lot of different sponsors.
Given that all these projects are basic research under MIT's rules, i.e. openly published and nonproprietary, I have yet to see an objection to the one IMoD project that wouldn't apply to all the others. Which doubly affirms that the SAGE demands focus only on the sponsor, not project-specific human rights risks.
Sources and further reading
[1] SAGE website
[2] SAGE final proposal to MIT administration
[3] MIT Graduate Students for Palestine, “No more MIT research for Israel’s Ministry of Defense,” The Tech, 10 May 2024
[4] SAGE data extracts of MIT Brown Book research contracts
[5] Richard Lester, "Review and Reassessment of MIT’s Relationship to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" (2019)
[6] MIT Faculty, "MIT Statement on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom" (2022)
[7] Maria Zuber, “Written Testimony to House Committee on Science, Space and Technology” (2021)
[8] Phillip Martin, “MIT abandons Russian high-tech campus partnership in light of Ukraine invasion” WGBH News (2022)
[9] “Information Regarding Informal Research Collaborations with Peers at Russian Institutions” MIT VPR website (2022)
[10] MIT Policy & Procedures 14.2 (“Open Research and Free Interchange of Information”)
[11] Harvey Brooks on research freedom, protests, and military contracts at MIT (1973)
[12] MIT VPR, “Elevated risk project review process” (2019)
[13] MIT Chancellor, "FAQ: Campus Events in Challenging Times" (May 14, 2024)
EDIT 1: Since posting I've fixed typos, made formatting adjustments for reading clarity, and corrected a few statements based on comments below (see my in-thread responses).
EDIT 2: Added a section on "robotic swarms."
EDIT 3: Added new IMoD grant data information published by MIT.

PAYPAL INVOICE ONLY!
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
TAGGED & TIMESTAMPED
.

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE VINTAGE TEE
Brand new, Never worn.
Brockum Tag
Single stitch with distressing details.
50$ + Shipping
.

HELMUT LANG ASTRO MOTO JACKET RE-EDITION - Authentic
Lightly worn, Great condition.
Uses high quality LAMPO Zippers throughout the entire jacket.
Size : M
400$ + Shipping
.
MARGIELA GERMAN ARMY TRAINERS 1 - Authentic
Used but overall in good condition!
Canvas + Splattered Paint Version
No box
Size : 43
200$ + Shipping
.
MARGIELA GERMAN ARMY TRAINERS 2 - Authentic
Used but overall in good condition!
Original White Version
No box
Size : 43
300$ + Shipping
.
ANDERSON BELL WHITE PANEL DENIM - Authentic
Lightly worn
Size : 32
100$ + Shipping
.
SAINT LAURENT CALFSKIN TRI-FOLD WALLET - Authentic
Used Condition
100$ + Shipping
.
JORDAN 1 HIGH 85 NEUTRAL GREY - Authentic
Worn 1 time, Almost brand new
With box, Nike tag, etc
Size : 8
200$ + Shipping
.
RICK OWENS BANANA CUT WAXED JEANS SOLD
MARTINE ROSE NAPPAPIJRI FLEECE JACKET SOLD
ANDERSON BELL MOHAIR JACKET SOLD
SUPREME STRIPED HALF ZIP LONG SLEEVE SOLD
SUPREME SCRIPT HOODIE SOLD
HUMAN MADE X CPFM PLANT CAP (Brown) SOLD
VINTAGE WUTANG RAP TEE SOLD
STEFAN COOKE STRAP SOLD
ANDERSON BELL VARSITY JACKET - BLUE SOLD
ANDERSON BELL VARSITY JACKET - BLACK SOLD
DENIM TEARS X LEVIS JEANS SOLD
OUR LEGACY BLEACHED DENIM SOLD
PRADA STRIPED BUTTON UP SHIRT VINTAGE SOLD
GUESS X ASAP ROCKY Collab T-Shirt SOLD
STUSSY KNIT SWEATER SOLD
OUR LEGACY KNIT SHIRT SOLD
HUMAN MADE X CPFM PLANT CAP (Navy) SOLD
TCB SAIGON SQUARE TOE BOOTS Vibram Sole - Authentic - SOLD
MARTINE ROSE BELT - Authentic - SOLD
SUPREME PLAYBOY SWEATPANTS - SOLD
SUPREME GONZ BUTTERFLY SWEATPANTS - SOLD
.
If you're interested in multiple items, I can give you a discounted price!
I'm open to offers!

Hi all!
I'm new to this so sorry if the formatting sucks.
My character is going to be Cassidy, a non binary elf, amab. They come from a family of hippy elves, that live outside Seattle, lifing off the grid. They spent one weekend experiencing the city and left the hippy life behind.
Now they seek thrills as a decker, shadowrunning for excitement and to fund their pursuit of ancient gaming tech. They won't admit it, but they miss their family and sometimes even just not being in a city.
Appearance wise, I see them having a rounder face shape. Thin, but not particularly muscular. They stand at about five foot eight. Long Black hair, to the small of their back, usually pulled into a messy ponytail.
Clothing is green canvas pants and maybe black boots? A black crop top, with a slightly oversized blue jean jacket. I also imagine maybe something as an homage to home. Or some references to vintage games.
I appreciate anyone who read this far. I hope you all have a great day/night/whatever time is left.
Thank you!

[SELLING, PRICED TO MOVE]
SHIRTS, TOPS
SMALL J CREW Slim Oxford Shirt AND Merona Casual Shirt
SMALL J CREW Thomas Mason Ludlow Dress Shirt
SMALL EVERLANE Shirt Charcoal
SMALL Brooks Brothers Zip Merino Sweater Striped
SMALL ZARA White Dress Shirt
SMALL Merona OBCD Short Sleeve and OBCD Long Sleeve Shirts
EXTRA SMALL Patterned Blue/Navy Blue Sweater
EXTRA SMALL Murano Linen Slim Fit Short Sleeve Button Down
SMALL Uniqlo Non-iron Cutaway Collar Dress Shirts x 2
SMALL TAYLOR STITCH Grey Shirt MiUSA
SHORTS and PANTS
30x30 TWO J CREW Bowery/Ludlow Slim French Navy Pants Stretch
30x30 J CREW Navy Fleece Lined Pants
31 LANDS END CANVAS Olive Shorts
30 LANDS END Fitted Navy Shorts
31x30 J CREW Wool Pants Hopsack Bowery Pants
TAILORING
38R MARKS AND SPENCER Navy Blazer Slim
FOOTWEAR
COLE HAAN Made in Maine Pinch Loafers with OG box, shoe bags 8.5
HI TEC Altitude IV Hiking Boots Dark Chocolate 10
NORDSTROM Chukka Boots Black Water Resistant, Ortholite 9
SEBAGO Campsides Camp Mocs Made in USA 9.5
ACCESSORIES
TWO Ties 2.5", Banana Republic, Silk, Cotton, Vintage Pink And Gray, Made In USA, Italy
FARIBAULT WOOLEN MILLS Weekender /Duffel Bag Navy / Tartan Plaid Wool / Canvas
HOW TO BUY
On Grailed, which now forces sellers to use exorbitantly priced labels of theirs (20 bucks for a pair of pants that I can ship via USPS for 4 bucks...), so message here for best price, bundling. I'll send full invoice via PayPal with same buyer protection and copy of the item page, etc: https://www.grailed.com/users/8189-crzyboystewardrobe
NOTES

• I tend not to do price drops until I'm out of free bumps, but please don't hesitate to make an offer meanwhile. I will also do my best to answer any questions you may have as soon as I can.
• I always ship at the latest by the Friday after you buy with tracking and generally via USPS priority or USPS ground package. International is no longer something I do; USPS has made it untenably expensive. Still, if interested, shoot me a message and I can see how much it comes out to.
• I have perfect feedback across many transactions (see history) and do my best to address any issues that may come up, so please purchase with confidence.

Finally, thanks for looking, and check out all my listings if you're so inclined. Happy to make deals (bundled shipping and possibly additional discount) for multiple purchases.

Link to original nosleep post:
https://www.reddit.com/nosleep/comments/1azq8ri/i_was_invited_to_play_the_games_in_the_woods_and/
When I was very young, my grandfather used to always tell me to stay out of the woods behind our house.
"Legend has it, that there's something terrible in there." He'd say, pointing to the trees behind our home with his only arm, the other of which he'd told me he had lost in the war. "And no one who goes in, ever comes back the same."
But I never took his warnings very seriously, given his age, and hard life, writing them off as the ramblings of a senile and bitter old man.
At least until a few years later, when, at the age of ten, I was told by my mother that my grandfather had passed…
...And had left me a parting gift.
It was a crumpled envelope with the word "Bobby" scribbled onto the back, sealed with more tape than an envelope needed sealing.
Inside, was a folded piece of paper, which, upon unfolding, I noticed my grandfather had sketched the layout of what looked like three games.
Beside the first two games, he had written instructions for what looked like how to beat them.
"Don't go in the box."
"Don’t run."
Beside the third, were a couple more notes.
"Don’t lift it alone."
"This is as far as I made it, before I lost my arm."
And at the very bottom of the page, Grandpa had addressed me directly.
"Bobby, if you receive an invitation to play the games in the woods, do not accept it. Run as far away as you can. But in the event you end up there anyway, may these instructions help you finish what I started."
Games in the woods? I thought to myself. After all the warnings, and all the lectures, Grandpa was trying to protect me from games?
I found the whole thing quite silly, and resolved to put it out of my mind.
And so, that's exactly what I did, burying away both the loss of my Grandfather, and the gift that he had left for me, for four long years.
That is, until, at the age of fourteen, when I was a freshman in high school, I received a scroll on my doorstep, tied together with a thorny vine.
After carefully unraveling it, I discovered an invite to the very games that my Grandfather had warned me about, grotesquely handwritten in ink.
"Bobby,
Join us in the forest behind your house tonight, to compete in the games in the woods.
Don't be late. The games will begin promptly at midnight."
I laughed out loud and immediately tore up the scroll on the spot.
But who could be the one pranking me? I wondered. Surely my mom wasn't in on it? Who could have known about the invitation that my Grandfather referenced? Maybe my Uncle Frank? He's always been a jokester. Yes, it must be Uncle Frank.
And on that note, I went about my day, and completely forgot about the scroll.
That is, until later that night, when, while fast asleep, I suddenly felt myself torn from my bed, stuffed into what felt like a canvas satchel, and dragged out my window and, from the sound of it, what must have been through the woods behind my house.
The whole time, I tried my best to kick and scream…
"This isn't funny, Uncle Frank! I know what you're up to!"
...But Uncle Frank, or so I thought, was much too strong to break free from, and the next thing I knew, I found myself dropped into the middle of the forest, and my satchel ripped away.
"Uncle Frank?" I called out, unable to see my surroundings in the dark.
Until my eyes adjusted, and I looked up to find a hooded figure, wearing a tattered brown cloak and holding a burning torch that illuminated everything around him, save for what lay under his shadowy hood.
What the heck? I thought to myself. That's not Uncle Frank.
The shrouded man said no words, and simply pointed to a footbridge, lit by torchlight, not far away, and gestured for me to cross it.
Realizing now that this wasn't Uncle Frank's doing, and in turn, that the letter, and my Grandfather's warning, must both be real, I began shaking in fear and, not knowing what else to do, obeyed the hooded figure's order.
When I got to the other side, I found myself surrounded by what must have been twenty of the hooded man's kin, all holding torches, and encircling a glen in the forest, where the moon and the stars could now be seen in the night sky.
And in the center of the glen, were four poor souls. Kids like me, who must have also received the invitation, or been dragged here against their will, or both. Kids, from my high school, that I recognized.
There was Brad Ashworth, our class valedictorian, in a sweater vest, khakis, and boots, clearly prepared for the occasion…
...Caitlin Sullivan, whom many kids called a nerd, geek, dweeb, and weirdo, but whom I found to be perfectly normal, wearing a pair of overalls and round, wire frame glasses…
...Colin Richardson, in a running suit, a jock, known for excelling at at least three sports, football, track, and basketball..
...And none other than Milton Dugan, the biggest bully in school, best known for using his sheer size to jam freshmen into lockers, wearing a pair of polka dot pajamas.
"Shut up, loser." He called out to me, noticing the smile on my face when I saw what he was wearing.
"What do you think they are?" Colin asked me, pointing to the hooded figures.
"I have no idea. But I don't think they're friendly." I replied.
Until Caitlin chimed in, "They're Druids, idiots."
"Whatever they are, I'm not scared of them." Brad added.
That's when it hit me.
Who would bring five high school students out into the middle of the woods to teach them a lesson? Well, teachers of course. That must be it! Teachers! Yes, it's teachers under those hoods!
But before I could continue to dwell on my epiphany, we were all suddenly interrupted, by the sound of a loud howl emanating from the forest.
And then…
...An old man with a white beard came hobbling out of the woods, walking stick in one hand, and an object that I couldn’t identify in his other.
It was only when he reached the center of the glen, and stopped just a few feet away from us, that I noticed he was missing something…
...The reflection of light in his eyes.
And upon further observation, it became apparent…
...That he had no eyes at all.
What the? I thought to myself, before gasping, as the old man began to speak.
"Invited ones. You stand before me tonight, under the light of the moon, with a great challenge before you. A challenge that only comes around every seventy-five years. Each of you, were hand picked to play these games tonight, for each of you represent a unique virtue. Five virtues put to the same test, to see which will overcome all others. The winner, will be awarded the greatest prize of all. While the losers, will pay a heavy price."
The other four kids and I turned to each other with looks of confusion, then turned back to the old man, who continued.
"But before we begin. Which of you, knows for a fact, that you are the best player among us? Which of you, is so brave, so courageous, so sure of your abilities, that you'll volunteer to step into the box?" He asked, pointing to an area of the glen, that had been covered in darkness, but until the Druids lit it with torchlight.
It was a wooden box, about the size of a telephone booth, completely enclosed with what appeared to be a door on one side and a metal latch to open it.
The Box! I thought to myself, remembering my Grandfather's letter, outlining three games, and assuming the first of which was this one.
"Don't go in the box.”
Easy enough. I mused, looking over at the other kids, waiting for one of them to heed the call instead, until…
"It's me. I'm the smartest, and the most talented one here. I'll do it." Brad called out, raising his hand, before turning back to us, "Cowards."
"Very well," The old man replied, walking over to the box, opening the door, and gesturing for him to enter.
And so he did.
Oh no. I thought to myself, as all of us kids cringed in anticipation of something unspeakable happening inside.
But after a minute, the old man simply walked back over to the door, opened it, and let Brad out.
He came proudly walking out of it, chest in the air, with a smug smile on his face, and belted out the words. "See! Nothing to fear, fraidy cats."
Despite his obnoxious comment, we all let out a sigh of relief.
Until suddenly, a few of the druids grabbed Brad by the arms, and pinned him to the box.
"What's going on? What are you doing?" Our valedictorian cried out, unsure of what exactly was happening.
The hooded men proceeded to pry open his jaws with their hands, as the old man hobbled over to him, revealing the object in his hand… a sharp, silver sword.
But before any of us could react, the old druid had already reached into Brad's mouth, cut off his tongue, and held it up for all to see.
Brad began crying and wailing, blood spraying from his mouth, as the druids let him go and he fell to the ground, arms flailing in pain.
Meanwhile, the rest of us kids just stood there, wide eyed in fear, unable to comprehend what we had just seen.
"That was Game One." The old man called out to us. "Let it be a lesson, that your greatest strengths can also be your greatest weaknesses. In this case, confidence begets arrogance. Now, take him away."
Upon his command, two druids ran over to Brad, who was now passed out, picked him up, and carried him away into the woods.
"Let's move on to Game Two, shall we?" The eyeless old man continued, leading us, and the other druids, out of the glen, into the forest, down a torchlit path, and to a massive field, illuminated by the moonlight.
He then took his staff, stuck it into the ground, and carved a long line in the dirt.
"Will the remaining players please stand behind the line."
Still in shock from what had just happened, we all obeyed his command, lining up before the line in the dirt, which separated us from the football field sized lawn.
"Are you gonna hurt one of us again?" Milton called out, puffing out his chest. "Cause I'm not afraid of you guys, and I’m fully capable of defending myself!"
The old man ignored his rant, and continued on with his own, "The rules of the second game are simple. When I say go, you're to run with the wolves."
"Wolves?" Caitlin whispered to me, trying to understand he meant.
Just then, a group of druids emerged from the forest, leading four ravenous wolves on leashes to the field behind us, each of them drooling at the mouth while howling and growling at us maniacally.
Caitlin and I shared a brief look of horror, before the eyeless man stepped aside and called out, "Go!"
Colin was the first one to sprint off into the field, followed by Caitlin, and then, what would have been me, but when I began to dart away, something jutted out in front of my legs and tripped me to the ground.
Confused by what had happened, I looked up from the dirt to see Milton hopping over me…
"Sucker!"
...As I realized that it must have been he who had tripped me, and saw the Druids unleash the four wolves.
I hopped up to my feet and attempted to run again, but before they hit the ground, the wolves had already caught up to me.
In that moment, I closed my eyes and braced for the worst, but when I opened them again, I saw that they had run right past me, seemingly in pursuit of the others up ahead.
But as I continued to watch the wolves run away, I noticed that they soon passed Milton too, and then Caitlin, finally making their way to Colin, who was running so fast, that he disappeared into whatever lay beyond the field.
And then, the feral dogs stopped running, just before the end of the field, and began howling and growling again, and they looked down at something below them.
Eventually catching up with the others and making my way to the end of the field, Caitlin, Milton, and myself finally saw what had happened to Colin.
There, at the end of the field, was a great pit, and at the bottom, was the star athlete himself, writhing in pain and begging for our help.
"Help me!" Colin called out, clenching his legs, which must have broken from the fall.
"Does anyone have a rope or anything we can lower down to him?" Caitlin asked.
But the druids had just arrived, and were already lowering one down to Colin.
And by the time they pulled him up, still screaming out in pain, the old eyeless druid had arrived, ready to greet him.
"Why would you put a pit at the end of the race?" Colin screamed, as he lay helpless on the ground.
"You said to run from the wolves."
"I said to run with the wolves, not from them. They mean no harm, just look at your friends here. But you. You got ahead of yourself. And for that, there is a price." The old man warned.
"Price? I already broke my legs." Colin replied.
"Well now, we take them." The eyeless man said ominously, before the druids surrounded Colin and held him down, as another approached him holding a giant scythe, its blade glimmering in the moonlight.
"Wait! No!" He cried out.
But it was too late. In an instant, one of his legs was gone. Severed from his body by the swinging scythe, as blood sprayed everywhere, and Colin screamed in agony.
A second later, I saw Caitlin remove her glasses and wipe the blood from them, before putting them back on and continuing to watch on silently in horror.
"What is wrong with you guys?" Milton called out, clenching his fists and pacing around in a threatening fashion.
For a moment, I thought about cursing out Milton for tripping me, but then I realized he had actually saved me.
And that's when I remembered my Grandfather's second clue.
"Don't run."
He was right again.
"Take him away." The old man said for a second time, as a group of druids walked over and proceeded to carry Colin off into the woods, before turning to Milton, Caitlin, and myself.
"And now for Game Three."
He then led us back into the forest, and down a rocky path that hugged a winding stream.
At the end of the path, we came to a clearing between the trees, where we saw two giant boulders, each nearly the size of a person, placed side by side on the ground.
"For this game, you have an option. Lift a boulder yourself, or pick a teammate to help you lift it. The person or team who holds it the longest, wins. And the one who's first to drop it, loses. Understand?"
Milton, Caitlin, and I all looked at each other for a moment, as we weighed the options.
But suddenly, I remembered my Grandfather’s third instruction.
"Don’t lift it alone."
And before Milton could utter a word, I ran over to Caitlin.
"Caitlin and I will be a team." I declared, as she smiled, and put her arm around my shoulder.
"But what about me?" Milton asked, offended by being the odd man out, before correcting himself. "Actually, you know what? Fine! I'm stronger than both of you combined anyway. This will be your own undoing, dorks! I'll compete by myself."
"Very well," the old man called out, as he stood between the two stones. "When I say go, lift the boulders up off the ground, for as long as you can."
Caitlin and I crouched down and gripped the boulder from below, then looked at each other.
"We got this." I assured her with a smile.
"We got this." She replied, smiling back.
Meanwhile, Milton was scrambling to grasp onto his boulder, and began begging for more time. "Just a second, I swear. This boulder's heavier on one side and it's just-"
But before he could continue, the old man raised his staff and called out, "Go!" at the top of his lungs.
Caitlin and I carefully and calmly lifted our boulder, and despite its heavy weight, strained ourselves to keep it elevated above the ground.
But Milton was not as lucky. From the very beginning, he was doomed, as he still hadn't secured his grip on the rock when the old man yelled "Go!" and bumbled when he lifted it up, catching it in hands, but in an position that looked much too uncomfortable for him sustain.
And as the stone slowly began to slip out of his arms, Milton looked over at Caitlin and I with a sour face and mumbled, "You screwed me, losers."
"Maybe if you weren't such a dick, Milton, someone might have chosen you." I replied, in an attempt to drive home the reason why he had lost.
Milton tried to think of a clever retort, "You know what, Bobby-" but before he could finish his sentence, it was too late. The stone had fallen to the ground. He stopped what he was saying and looked down at it, a look of fear washing over his face.
And as the druids began to surround him, rather than threaten them like he had in the past, Milton began to cry. "Please don't hurt me! Please, I'll do anything!"
But it was too late. The druids dragged Milton to the stump of a tree and laid his arm down upon it, as another swung an ax high above his head, and brought it slicing down through Milton's arm, leaving him with a stump of his own.
As he saw the blood pouring out of his appendage, Milton began to scream, until his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he eventually passed out.
And for a third time, the eyeless old man called out, "Take him away."
Now, only Caitlin and I remained. Together we stood there in silence, arms around each other, as Milton's limp body was carried off into the woods.
"Which brings us to Game Four," the old druid began, "Perhaps the simplest of all. For this game is decided by you and you alone. When I say go, you'll have one minute to come to a decision on who will be the winner, and who will be the loser."
Caitlin replied "Wait-"
But before she could continue, the old man interrupted her, commencing the final game, "Go!"
Caitlin and I huddled together in the woods, as the old man, and the druids, encircled us, waiting for us to come to a consensus.
"Wait, what do we do?" Caitlin whispered.
"I don't know." I whispered back.
"Should we choose both of us as the winners?"
"No, we'd be breaking the rules. He specified a winner and a loser. They'll punish us both. We need to choose one."
"But that means one of us, will suffer the same fate as the others."
"I don't know if we have any other choice.”
"Then how should we decide?"
"I don't know."
"Wait," Caitlin said, as she reached into the pocket of her overalls and removed a coin. "If you're okay with it. A coin toss would be fair. Totally up to chance.”
"It would be fair. Let's do it. But quick." I replied, knowing our minute would soon end.
"Then you choose. Heads or tails." She offered up.
"Okay. Um... heads!" I replied quickly.
And like that, Caitlin held out her fist…
...Dropped the coin…
...Towards the forest floor below…
...Time suddenly slowing…
...As it descended towards the ground…
...Spinning…
...And spinning…
…And spinning…
...Until…
...Thud.
We both crouched down, and saw the result that would seal our fate forever…
…Heads.
I had won.
Caitlin looked up at me, her eyes wide, and her mouth agape, as tears began to roll down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry." I whispered.
"It's okay." She whispered back.
And then…
...The old man spoke.
"Your time is up. What is your decision? Who is the winner, and who is the loser?"
Both Caitlin and my heads hung low, as she began to speak, "I'm the-"
"Winner." I interrupted, as she looked at me, completely surprised by what I had said. "She's the winner, and I'm the loser."
"But Bobby-" She whispered.
"Save yourself. Don't worry about me." I insisted, whispering back to her, as the old man approached us.
"Very well." He said, holding his wrinkled hand out to Caitlin, who accepted it in hers.
And so, he escorted her away, off into the woods, hobbling on his wooden staff, until they disappeared into the night.
And as for me. I… well I was left there in the dark, surrounded by a dozen druids, who slowly closed in on me.
I didn't know what to do so I, accepting my fate, simply closed my eyes and braced for the worst…
...But similar to what had come of the impending doom of the howling wolves...
...Nothing happened.
I opened my eyes, to find one of the druids standing before me.
"Congratulations..." He said, in an ominous voice, "...On winning the games."
"What?" I asked, confused how that could be possible. "I don't understand. I voted for Caitlin to be the winner."
"Yes, you did." He replied, "But humility is the virtue that always wins the games. Your selfless act, sacrificing your own life for that of another's, is why you won."
"And what do I win?" I asked, not knowing what else to say.
"Just as the keeper of the games had stated, the greatest prize of all..." He said, "..Life."
"And what about Caitlin? What will become of her?"
"That is still yet to be decided. But you will find out soon enough."
Any sort of relief that I had felt immediately disappeared, and my heart sank, as I realized that by volunteering my own life to save Caitlin's, I may have actually cost her hers.
"Wait," I called out, "Let me take her place. Please."
But before I could continue, I felt the druids shove a giant canvas satchel over me, just as they'd done earlier that night, before whisking me away into the forest.
They must have knocked me out after that, because when I came to, I found myself back in my bedroom, lying face first on the cold, wooden floor.
The next day at school, I raced to Caitlin's locker, and then her home room, desperately hoping to see her face, hoping to put my mind at ease…
...But she never showed up. That day… or ever again.
And as for Brad, Colin, and Milton, their claims about how they lost their respective body parts, despite being substantiated by me, were all written off by police, parents, and teachers alike as foolish accidents, when no such games were ever found in the woods.
Years later, as my wife and I discuss having a child, I find myself wondering if I'll ever have a grandchild of my own…
...If they, too, will be invited to play the games in the woods, the next time the druids come around…
...And if Caitlin will be one of them.

The last time we met I talked about how the following prophecy was fulfilled:
“Therefore Adonai the God of Israel says, ‘I did indeed say that your family and your father’s family would walk in my presence forever.’ But now Adonai says, ‘ Forget it! I respect those who respect me, but those who despise me will meet with contempt. The day is coming when I will break your strength and the strength of your father’s family so that no one in your family will live to old age. At a time when Israel is prospering, you will see a rival in my Dwelling; and never will anyone in your family live to old age. Still, I won’t cut off every one of your men from my altar; because that would make your eyes grow dim, and you would waste away. Nevertheless, all your descendants will die young.” -1 Samuel 2:30-33
God is speaking to Eli and letting him know that not one member of his family will live to see old age.
That prophecy was fulfilled when Saul ordered the slaughter of Achimelech and his entire household of priests.
However, there was another major prophecy fulfilled when this event occurred.
It’s contained in verse 32:
“At a time when Israel is prospering, you will see a rival in my Dwelling; and never will anyone in your family live to old age.”
So we’re told Eli’s family had a rival.
Who was this rival?
It was none other than the family of Zadok.
Eli and his offspring were from the line of Ithamar.
Ithamar was one of Aaron’s sons but it was NOT the legitimate High Priestly line.
It was only the descendants of Eleazar who were supposed to be the High Priests.
So which line did Zadok come from?
He came from the legitimate line of Eleazar…
Which means if God was gonna set things straight…
He’d have to dispose of Eli and his family in due time.
Well, we saw that He did just that when Saul ordered the slaughter of the priesthood.
However, recall one member of Eli’s family named Avyatar escaped.
He became the High Priest despite being from the illegitimate line of Ithamar.
So for a while, there were two rival High Priests in existence as follows:
Avyatar from the illegitimate line of Ithamar and…
Zadok from the legitimate line Eleazar.
David allowed these two competing High Priests to serve at the same time…
But when David’s son Solomon assumed the throne, the situation changed.
When Solomon came to power, he booted out Avyatar.
Once that happened, the way things should have been per the Torah were restored.
Now, I dunno about you but my mind is blown away here.
God allowed a terrible massacre to be carried out by a partnership between an Israelite and a gentile that resulted in the elimination of Israel’s priesthood.
This was a terrible evil that Saul committed using his gentile dog the Edomite Do’eg (pun intended).
But here’s the thing.
It was an illegitimate priesthood because it came from the illegitimate line of Ithamar.
Ya feeling me here homies?
There are a couple of amazing takeaways to be extracted from today’s article.
First, there is such a thing as righteous racism.
Bloodlines freakin’ matter man…
Especially when it comes to the Levites and God’s holy priesthood.
That’s the first takeaway.
The second takeaway…
Well heck, in terms of the second takeaway, I can do no better than to quote the Messiah Himself…
“Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah — not until everything that must happen has happened.”
See, here’s the thing…
Just because God allows some religious institutions that claim to be doing His Will to exist does NOT mean they’re legit or will stand forever.
If they’re not in alignment with the Torah, eventually they gotta go.
They could just be a tool in God’s hands to achieve His agenda before He discards it.
I’d say the gentile Christian church fits this description to a tee.
Come to think of it, ain’t that exactly what the Apostle Paul said in Romans Chapter 11?
Didn’t he say he’s using the gentile church to provoke Israel to jealousy?
And then after the full amount of Gentiles has entered in, it’s goodbye to the gentile church, and time for all Israel to be saved.
Honestly, I can’t see how God is going to allow a lawless institution like the gentile church to stand forever.
Think about it.
He allowed the very priesthood of Israel to represent Him for a time but then He eliminated it.
Do you think God is going to allow an institution that has a history of anti-Semitism and preaches that God’s Holy Torah has been done away with to stand forever?
OH HELL NO!
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“For, brothers, I want you to understand this truth which God formerly concealed but has now revealed, so that you won’t imagine you know more than you actually do. It is that stoniness, to a degree, has come upon Isra’el, until the Gentile world enters in its fullness; and that it is in this way that all Israel will be saved. As the Tanakh says, Out of Tziyon will come the Redeemer; he will turn away ungodliness from Ya‘akov and this will be my covenant with them, . . . when I take away their sins.” -Romans 11:25-27
P.S. If you wanna check out another scorching post on this topic, click HERE to read an article titled “Three Reasons Why The God Of Israel May End Christianity”.

PAYPAL INVOICE ONLY!
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
TAGGED & TIMESTAMPED
.

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE VINTAGE TEE
Brand new, Never worn.
Brockum Tag
Single stitch with distressing details.
50$ + Shipping
.

HELMUT LANG ASTRO MOTO JACKET RE-EDITION - Authentic
Lightly worn, Great condition.
Uses high quality LAMPO Zippers throughout the entire jacket.
Size : M
400$ + Shipping
.
MARGIELA GERMAN ARMY TRAINERS 1 - Authentic
Used but overall in good condition!
Canvas + Splattered Paint Version
No box
Size : 43
200$ + Shipping
.
MARGIELA GERMAN ARMY TRAINERS 2 - Authentic
Used but overall in good condition!
Original White Version
No box
Size : 43
300$ + Shipping
.
ANDERSON BELL WHITE PANEL DENIM - Authentic
Lightly worn
Size : 32
100$ + Shipping
.
SAINT LAURENT CALFSKIN TRI-FOLD WALLET - Authentic
Used Condition
100$ + Shipping
.
JORDAN 1 HIGH 85 NEUTRAL GREY - Authentic
Worn 1 time, Almost brand new
With box, Nike tag, etc
Size : 8
200$ + Shipping
.
RICK OWENS BANANA CUT WAXED JEANS SOLD
MARTINE ROSE NAPPAPIJRI FLEECE JACKET SOLD
ANDERSON BELL MOHAIR JACKET SOLD
SUPREME STRIPED HALF ZIP LONG SLEEVE SOLD
SUPREME SCRIPT HOODIE SOLD
HUMAN MADE X CPFM PLANT CAP (Brown) SOLD
VINTAGE WUTANG RAP TEE SOLD
STEFAN COOKE STRAP SOLD
ANDERSON BELL VARSITY JACKET - BLUE SOLD
ANDERSON BELL VARSITY JACKET - BLACK SOLD
DENIM TEARS X LEVIS JEANS SOLD
OUR LEGACY BLEACHED DENIM SOLD
PRADA STRIPED BUTTON UP SHIRT VINTAGE SOLD
GUESS X ASAP ROCKY Collab T-Shirt SOLD
STUSSY KNIT SWEATER SOLD
OUR LEGACY KNIT SHIRT SOLD
HUMAN MADE X CPFM PLANT CAP (Navy) SOLD
TCB SAIGON SQUARE TOE BOOTS Vibram Sole - Authentic - SOLD
MARTINE ROSE BELT - Authentic - SOLD
SUPREME PLAYBOY SWEATPANTS - SOLD
SUPREME GONZ BUTTERFLY SWEATPANTS - SOLD
.
If you're interested in multiple items, I can give you a discounted price!
I'm open to offers!